Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
07/01/2011 to 09/30/2011
Monongahela National Forest

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.
Report Contents (click to jump to a section) :
-  Projects Occurring Nationwide
-  R9 - Eastern Region, Monongahela National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)
-  R9 - Eastern Region, Monongahela National Forest,  Cheat/Potomac Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R9 - Eastern Region, Monongahela National Forest,  Gauley Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R9 - Eastern Region, Monongahela National Forest,  Greenbrier Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R9 - Eastern Region, Monongahela National Forest,  Marlinton/White Sulphur Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Projects Occurring Nationwide  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Gypsy Moth Management in the United States: A Cooperative Approach
EIS
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 09/19/2008
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 09/2011  		Expected:10/2011
  		10/2011 Noel Schneeberger
610-557-4121
nschneeberger@fs.fed.us 
Description: The USDA Forest Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service are analyzing a range of strategies for controlling gypsy moth damage to forests and trees in the United States.
Web Link:  http://www.na.fs.fed.us/wv/eis/
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. Nationwide.
Land Management Planning Rule
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 02/25/2011
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 11/2011  		Expected:12/2011
  		12/2011 Larry Hayden
202-205-1559
lhayden@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Department of Agriculture proposes to promulgate a new planning rule, which will set out the process for development, revision, and amendment of National Forest System land management plans.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. Agency-wide Rule.
Nationwide Aerial Application of Fire Retardant on National Forest System Lands.
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 08/27/2010
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 05/2011  		Expected:12/2011
  		01/2012 Glen Stein
208-869-5405
gstein@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Forest Service will prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement for the continued nationwide aerial application of fire retardant on National Forest System lands.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/retardant/index.html
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. Nationwide.
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Monongahela National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)  

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Wildlife Openings
EA
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 07/2011  		Expected:01/2012  03/2012 Jay Martin
304-846-2695
jdmartin@fs.fed.us 
Description: This proposal will address maintenance of wildlife openings across the Forest through mowing, prescribed fire, herbicide, and other treatments, and will include long-term strategies for determining, prioritizing, and treating existing and new areas.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=31823
Location: UNIT - Monongahela National Forest All Units. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Grant, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, Webster. Openings are scattered across the Forest in Grant, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, and Webster Counties, WV.
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Monongahela National Forest,   Cheat/Potomac Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Army Communication Use at Stuart Knob
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 06/17/2011  06/2011 Laura Hise
304-456-3335, extension 121
lhise@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal to operate and maintain private mobile radio service equipment within existing Forest Service-owned facilities at Stuart Knob, a designated communication site.
Location: UNIT - Cheat Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Randolph. Stuart Knob.
Big Mountain
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Watershed management
- Road management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 07/2011  		Expected:12/2011  02/2012 Kristine Vollmer
304-257-4488, ext. 24
comments-eastern-monongahela-potomac@fs.fed.us 
Description: Improve oak regeneration and stand structural and age diversity, and increase mast for wildlife through a variety of methods, including commercial and noncommercial treatments. Enhance wildlife and aquatic habitats for a number of species.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=36612
Location: UNIT - Potomac Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Pendleton. Southeast part of Cheat Potomac RD. North Fork South Branch Potomac watershed. South of Spruce Knob, North of Virginia State Line.
Inskeep House Demolition and Site Rehabilitation
CE
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Facility management 		 Completed  Actual: 05/09/2011  11/2011 Kristine Vollmer
304-257-4488, ext. 24
comments-eastern-monongahela-potomac@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Inskeep House, which is in very poor condition and has been stripped of most wiring, plumbing, water delivery system, and other items, will be demolished. The driveway will be decommissioned and the site rehabilitated to native vegetation.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=33951
Location: UNIT - Potomac Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Grant. Off of Smokehole Road, 4 miles southwest of Cabins, WV, on the west side of SR 28/11.
Laneville Bridge Replacement
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Road management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 07/2011  		Expected:01/2012  03/2012 Kristine Vollmer
304-257-4488, ext. 24
comments-eastern-monongahela-potomac@fs.fed.us 
Description: Replace the Laneville bridge. Construct short sections of new access roads and rehabilitate existing access roads.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=36613
Location: UNIT - Potomac Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Randolph. East of Laneville, at the beginning of FR 19, over Red Creek. Near the southwest border of the Dolly Sods Wilderness.
Tub Run Abandoned Coal Mine Restoration
EA
 - Watershed management
- Minerals and Geology
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/26/2011
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 08/2011  		Expected:09/2011
  		10/2011 Linda Tracy
304-636-1800
lltracy@fs.fed.us 
Description: Authorize WV DEP to do restoration work on abandoned coal mine. Work includes reshaping land, covering acidic spoils, planting trees and herbaceous vegetation, decommissioning roads, and establishing drainage controls.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=34978
Location: UNIT - Cheat Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Tucker. The project is located about 4 miles southwest of Thomas, in Tucker County, West Virginia, on the northern rim of Blackwater Canyon on the Cheat Ranger District of the Monongahela National Forest.
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Monongahela National Forest,   Gauley Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Gauley Wetland Establishment Project
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/19/2011  		Expected:08/2011
  		09/2011 Jay Martin
304-846-2695
jdmartin@fs.fed.us 
Description: Permanent and ephemeral wetlands would be constructed in wooded and open areas to provide habitat for amphibians, reptiles, aquatic plants, invertebrates, birds, and mammals. The Indiana bat could also benefit.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=31163
Location: UNIT - Gauley Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Nicholas, Webster. Multiple locations on the Marlinton White Sulphur and Gauley Ranger Districts.
Lower Williams Terrestrial Liming Project
EA
 - Watershed management
- Minerals and Geology 		 In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 11/18/2010  		Expected:08/2011
  		09/2011 Stephanie Connolly
304-636-1800
sconnolly@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Gauley Ranger District of the Monongahela National Forest (MNF) is proposing to apply lime to up to 2,400 terrestrial acres in the Lower Williams EIS project area to restore calcium and enhance soil quality.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=22667
Location: UNIT - Gauley Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Webster. The Lower Williams River Soil Liming Project Area consists of 14,397 acres within the Webster County between the mouth of the Williams River and the Three Forks of Williams watershed.
WV Division of Highways Weather Information System
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 06/03/2011  06/2011 Laura Hise
304-456-3335, extension 121
lhise@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal to install, operate, and maintain a road runway weather information system (RWIS) near the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center to collect and transmit weather and road condition information for public safety.
Location: UNIT - Gauley Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Pocahontas. Near Cranberry Mountain Nature Center.
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Monongahela National Forest,   Greenbrier Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Cheat Mountain Wildlife Habitat Enhancement
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 06/07/2011  		Expected:07/2011
  		08/2011 Kristine Vollmer
304-257-4488, ext. 24
comments-eastern-monongahela-greenbrier@fs.fed.us 
Description: To improve wildlife habitat, conduct approximately 200 acres of noncommercial thinning in stands that are 20 to 25 years old, and/or create snags in stands that are 60 to 80 years old. Mechanical methods will be used.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=33947
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Randolph. On Cheat Mountain. The majority of stands treated would be in smaller tributaries to Shavers Fork (e.g., Stonecoal, Whitmeadow, and Red Runs), and tributary to Tygart Valley (e.g. McGee Run).
Lambert Restoration Project
EA
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Watershed management
- Minerals and Geology 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 06/27/2011
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 09/2011  		Expected:11/2011
  		06/2012 Shane Jones
304-456-3335, 114
scjones@fs.fed.us 
Description: This mine restoration project emphasizes improving watershed conditions, wildlife habitat, and restoration of native communities, the creation of early successional habitat, and long-term succession towards a spruce-northern hardwood ecosystem.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=35682
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Randolph. The project area is located in Randolph County, an estimated 5 miles northwest of Durbin, West Virginia. The project area is 2,667-acres, and includes the abandoned Lambert Run Strip coal mine.
Upper Greenbrier North
EA
 - Recreation management
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Watershed management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 02/24/2011  		Expected:08/2011
  		10/2011 Kristine Vollmer
304-257-4488, ext. 24
comments-eastern-monongahela-greenbrier@fs.fed.us 
Description: This project proposal includes: commercial timber harvest; timber stand improvement; spruce restoration; road decommissioning, riparian improvement, trail relocation, culvert replacement, and dispersed recreation site management.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=28198
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Pocahontas. Upper Greenbrier Watershed. Durbin, Frank, + Bartow are at south end ; Shavers Mt is west, and WV/VA state line is east.
Upper Shavers Fork Aquatic and Riparian Habitat Improvement
EA
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 Cancelled  N/A  N/A Michael Owen
304-636-1800
mdowen@fs.fed.us 
Description: Project will enhance brook trout habitat in Upper Shavers Fork by constructing natural channel design structures, placing woody debris, planting trees in riparian areas, and correcting artificial fish passage barriers.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=30481
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Randolph. LEGAL - Upper Shavers Fork River in Randolph County, WV. Region 9, Monongahela NF, Greenbrier Ranger District, MPs 4.1 and 6.1.
WV Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Rain Gauge
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 06/08/2011  06/2011 Laura Hise
304-456-3335, extension 121
lhise@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal to install a one ft round and 15 ft tall radio reporting rain gauge near the WV Division of Natural Resources building on Cheat Mountain.
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Randolph. Cheat Mountain.
WV State Rail Authority Road Right-of-Way
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 06/21/2011  06/2011 Laura Hise
304-456-3335, extension 121
lhise@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal to use and maintain approximately one mile of existing road near Old Spruce, West Virginia.
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Pocahontas. Road near Old Spruce, West Virginia.
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Monongahela National Forest,   Marlinton/White Sulphur Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Greenbrier Board of Education Communication
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 06/16/2011  06/2011 Laura Hise
304-456-3335, extension 121
lhise@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal to operate and maintain private mobile radio service equipment within existing Forest Service-owned communication facilities at Hopkins Knob, a designated communication site.
Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Greenbrier. Hopkins Knob.
Marlinton & White Sulphur Timber Stand Improvement Project
CE
 - Vegetation management (other than forest products)  Completed  Actual: 06/16/2011  06/2011 Jane Bard
304-846-2695 ext.112
jbard@fs.fed.us 
Description: Non-commercial tree thinning would occur on an estimated 1346 acres over the next ten years. The purpose is to release mast trees and other desirable tree species, remove damaging vines, and maintain timber potential in early successional stands.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=35004
Location: UNIT - Marlinton Ranger District, White Sulphur Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Greenbrier, Pocahontas. Sixty-eight stands scattered throughout the Marlinton & White Sulphur Ranger Districts.
Two-Mile Road Closure
CE
 - Road management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 02/10/2010  		Expected:10/2011
  		10/2011 Sarah Hankens
304-799-4334
shankens@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposed closure of Two-Mile Road due to considerable erosion and natural resource damage. The nearby One-Mile Road will be opened during the same time period.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=30944
Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Greenbrier. This project is located directly northwest of the community of Neola, WV.
Upper Meadow Prescribed Burn
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Kevin Taylor
304-456-3335
kltaylor@fs.fed.us 
Description: This project is on hold. Prescribed fire is proposed for multiple areas comprising approximately 3600 acres. This will be a landscape scale ecosystem restoration effort in WV and VA, in conjunction with the Fire Learning Network.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/project_content.php?project=30759
Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Greenbrier. This project is located along the WV-VA border, an estimated 13 miles southeast of Marlinton WV and directly north of Lake Sherwood.
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This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.