Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
01/01/2012 to 03/31/2012
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, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)
-  R9 - Eastern Region, Monongahela National Forest,  Cheat/Potomac 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 12/2011  		Expected:03/2012
  		01/2013 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:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 05/13/2011
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 11/2011  		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.
Back To Top

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
Expiring Permits Proposed for Renewal
CE
 - Special use management  Completed  Actual: 12/20/2011  01/2012 Laura Hise
304-456-3335, extension 121
lhise@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposals to renew existing permits for cultivation, migratory bird research, boat rental, road rights-of-way, porch encroachment, septic, cemetery, and recreation events.
Location: UNIT - Monongahela National Forest All Units. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, Webster. Various US Tracts across the Forest.
Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Suppression
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Vegetation management (other than forest products)  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 02/2012  		Expected:08/2012  09/2012 David Ede
304-636-1800 ext. 233
dede@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal for biological and chemical treatments to suppress infestations of hemlock woolly adelgid, a non-native insect that is killing hemlock trees on the Forest.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf
Location: UNIT - Monongahela National Forest All Units. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker, Webster. LEGAL - Greebrier, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker, and Webster Counties, West Virginia. Treatment areas would be scattered throughout the Monongahela NF on all Ranger Districts. EA will have a map.
Wildlife Openings
EA
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 07/2012  		Expected:04/2013  07/2013 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/nepa_project_exp.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.
Back To Top

Monongahela National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)  

R9 - Eastern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Re-issuance of Long-Term Outfitter/Guide Special Use Permits
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 01/2012  		Expected:03/2012  03/2012 Edward Sherman
304-257-4488, ext 27
ejsherman@fs.fed.us 
Description: Renewal of 9 outfitter/guide special use permits.
Location: UNIT - Cheat Ranger District, Greenbrier Ranger District, Potomac Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Grant, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker. Across Cheat Potomac and Greenbrier Ranger Districts, Monongahela National Forest.
Spruce Knob Seneca Rocks Telephone Fiber Optic Right-of-Way in Pendleton and Pocahontas County, WV
CE
 - Special use management  Completed  Actual: 12/29/2011  01/2012 Laura Hise
304-456-3335, extension 121
lhise@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal to install and maintain aerial and buried fiber optic communication lines in Pendleton and Pocahontas County, WV to provide broadband service to local residents and businesses.
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District, Potomac Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Pendleton, Pocahontas. Elk Mountain along FR 112; from Elk Mountain south to Bartow, WV paralleling Hwy 28; East of Cass, WV along Hwy 66.
Back To Top

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 Olson Communication Site
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 12/29/2011  01/2012 Laura Hise
304-456-3335, extension 121
lhise@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal to allow the Army to continue operating and maintaining private mobile radio service equipment in Forest Service owned facilities at Olson Communication Site.
Location: UNIT - Cheat Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Tucker. US Tract 90.
Big Mountain
EA
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Watershed management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 10/11/2011
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 03/2012  		Expected:05/2012
  		06/2012 Kristine Vollmer
304-257-4488
kvollmer@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/nepa_project_exp.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.
Cheat Potomac Grazing Allotments
EA
 - Grazing management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 01/2012  		Expected:04/2012  05/2012 Kristine Vollmer
304-257-4488
comments-eastern-monongahela-potomac@fs.fed.us 
Description: Management of 11 grazing allotments: Camp Bright; Coberly Sods North; Coberly Sods South; Vickers; Wratchford; Forinash; Ours; Strader Run; Whitmer; Pharis Knob; and Big Run.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=36991
Location: UNIT - Cheat Ranger District, Potomac Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Grant, Pendleton, Randolph, Tucker. On the Cheat Potomac Ranger District of the Monongahela National Forest.
Laneville Bridge Replacement
CE
 - Road management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 04/2012  		Expected:05/2012  06/2012 Kristine Vollmer
304-257-4488
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/nepa_project_exp.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.
Reauthorization of Smith Water Spring Permit
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 12/29/2011  01/2012 Laura Hise
304-456-3335, extension 121
lhise@fs.fed.us 
Description: Proposal to allow the Smith's to continue using an existing spring and water line on National Forest System lands.
Location: UNIT - Cheat Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Randolph. US Tract 26.
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 03/2012  		Expected:06/2012
  		08/2012 David Ede
304-636-1800 ext. 233
dede@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/nepa_project_exp.php?project=34978
Location: UNIT - Cheat Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Tucker. LEGAL - Tucker County, WV; Cheat Ranger District, Monongahela National Forest. The project is located about 4 miles southwest of Thomas, in Tucker County, West Virginia, above the northern rim of Blackwater Canyon on the Cheat Ranger District of the Monongahela National Forest.
Back To Top

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
Island Campground Reconstruction
EA
 - Recreation management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/16/2011
Est. 215 Comment Period Legal Notice 01/2012  		Expected:02/2012
  		04/2012 Eric Sandeno
812-276-4721
esandeno@fs.fed.us 
Description: Relocate Island Campground out of the 100-year floodplain for safety.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=37286
Location: UNIT - Greenbrier Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Pocahontas. Off of WV State Route 28, approximately 5 miles north and east of Bartow, WV.
Lambert Restoration Project
EA
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Watershed management
- Minerals and Geology 		 In Progress:
215 Comment Period Legal Notice 11/17/2011  		Expected:01/2012
  		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/nepa_project_exp.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:01/2012
  		03/2012 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/nepa_project_exp.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.
Back To Top

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
Lockridge Prescribed Burns
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 03/2012  		Expected:09/2012  10/2012 Sarah Hankens
304-799-4334
shankens@fs.fed.us 
Description: Prescribed fire is proposed for multiple burn units totaling an estimated 2,532 acres. This will be a landscape-scale burn in WV and VA, in conjunction with the Fire Learning Network.
Location: UNIT - Marlinton Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Pocahontas. LEGAL - An estimated 8-12 miles east of Marlinton, WV, between Highways 92 and 39 and the Virginia State Line. Pocahontas County, West Virginia; Marlinton Ranger District, Monongahela National Forest.
Showy Lady's Slipper Habitat Enhancement
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products) 		 Completed  Actual: 10/20/2011  10/2011 Kent Karriker
304-636-1800
kkarriker@fs.fed.us 
Description: This project is brush and seedling/sapling clearing on 1/4 acre in the Big Draft Botanical area to enhance and maintain habitat for showy lady's slipper, a Regional Forester's Sensitive Species. No soil disturbance or herbicide use will occur.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/mnf
Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Greenbrier. LEGAL - Greenbrier County, WV. White Sulphur Springs Ranger District, Monongahela NF, 6 miles north of White Sulphur Springs, WV.
Spice Run Access Improvement
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Road management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 02/2012  		Expected:06/2012  08/2012 Sarah Hankens
304-799-4334
shankens@fs.fed.us 
Description: Provide seasonal vehicle access to public lands in the area by improving Forest Road 876, including maintaining road surface, adding pull-offs and small parking area in existing landings, replacing signage, and installing gates
Location: UNIT - White Sulphur Ranger District. STATE - West Virginia. COUNTY - Greenbrier, Pocahontas. LEGAL - Forest Road 876, adjacent to Spice Run Wilderness and Calvin Price State Forest. Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties, WV; White Sulphur Springs Ranger District, Monongahela National Forest.
Two-Mile Road Closure
CE
 - Road management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 02/10/2010  		Expected:02/2012
  		02/2012 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/nepa_project_exp.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 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 02/2012  		Expected:09/2012  10/2012 Kevin Taylor
304-456-3335
kltaylor@fs.fed.us 
Description: Prescribed fire is proposed for multiple areas totaling an estimated 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/nepa_project_exp.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.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.