Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
10/01/2020 to 12/31/2020
Kaibab 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
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest,  North Kaibab Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest,  Tusayan Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Kaibab National Forest,  Williams Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Projects Occurring Nationwide  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Locatable Mining Rule - 36 CFR 228, subpart A.
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  In Progress:
DEIS NOA in Federal Register 09/13/2018
Est. FEIS NOA in Federal Register 11/2021  		Expected:12/2021
  		12/2021 Nancy Rusho
202-731-9196
nancy.rusho@usda.gov 
Description: The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes revisions to its regulations at 36 CFR 228, Subpart A governing locatable minerals operations on National Forest System lands.A draft EIS & proposed rule should be available for review/comment in late 2020
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57214
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - Not Applicable. These regulations apply to all NFS lands open to mineral entry under the US mining laws. More Information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/geology/minerals/locatable-minerals/current-revisions.
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R3 - Southwestern Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide)

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Arizona National Scenic Trail Comprehensive Plan
EA
 - Recreation management
- Special area management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 09/01/2016
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 05/2020  		Expected:12/2020
  		01/2021 Laura White
520-388-8328
laura.white3@usda.gov 
Description: The comprehensive plan will establish the administrative objectives, policies, processes, and management guidelines necessary to fulfill the legislative requirements for national scenic trails under the National Trails System Act.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=49535
Location: UNIT - Coronado National Forest All Units, Kaibab National Forest All Units, Coconino National Forest All Units, Tonto National Forest All Units. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The Arizona National Scenic Trail goes from the Coronado National Monument to the Utah Border at Vermillion Cliffs- 800 miles south to north across the State of Arizona.
Prescott College Academic Outfitter and Guide Priority Use (2015-2025)
CE
 - Recreation management
- Special use management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Julie Rowe
928-203-7516
jrowe@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Forest Service proposes to authorize Prescott College to conduct academic field courses year-round across forests in Arizona including adventure education, biology, human ecology, natural history, physical geography, & field ecology.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47407
Location: UNIT - Coronado National Forest All Units, Kaibab National Forest All Units, Prescott National Forest All Units, Tonto Basin Ranger District, Coconino National Forest All Units, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests All Units. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Activities take place in a variety of locations throughout the forest.
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Kaibab National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)  

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Forest-Wide Outfitter and Guide Capacity Analysis and Needs Assessment
EA
 - Recreation management
- Special use management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 06/2020  		Expected:02/2021  02/2021 Clairisse Loucks
928-635-8365
Clairisse.Loucks@usda.gov 
Description: A forest-wide capacity analysis and needs assessment to identify potential new uses and new outfitter and guide operators and considering specific actions to more effectively manage uses in areas that experience high use.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58230
Location: UNIT - Kaibab National Forest All Units. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - Not Applicable. This project falls within the legal boundaries of the Kaibab National Forest.
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Kaibab National Forest,   North Kaibab Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Burnt Corral Vegetation Management Project
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Land management planning
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Watershed management 		 In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 03/25/2020  		Expected:02/2021
  		05/2021 David Vincelette
928-643-8143
david.vincelette@usda.gov 
Description: The purposes of the Burnt Corral project is to improve forest health and vigor, while improving habitat conditions which are more resilient to change in the event of wildfire and/or other climatic condition changes. Project = 28,090 acres.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44236
Location: UNIT - North Kaibab Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - Planning stage - General Description: Townships 35 - 37 North, Ranges 1 West to 1 East, Gila and Salt River Baseline & Meridian, (Coconino County, Arizona). The Burnt Corral project area lies in the southwest portion of the Kaibab Plateau (i.e., south-southwest of Lookout Canyon and FS Road 22) on the North Kaibab Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest.
House Rock Wildlife Area (HRWA) Bison Management Project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Land ownership management
- Special use management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 09/30/2020  		Expected:11/2020
  		11/2020 David Vincelette
928-643-8100
david.vincelette@usda.gov 
Description: Construct a new wildlife water in the northwest portion of the HRWA, and rebuild/re-establish, construct and install approximately 12 miles of existing and new pasture fence-line (including associated cattle-guards) within the HRWA.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58903
Location: UNIT - North Kaibab Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - Townships 35 and 36 North, Ranges 4 and 5 East, Gila and Salt River Baseline and Meridian (Coconino County, AZ). The House Rock Wildlife Area (HRWA) is located within the southeast corner of the Kaibab National Forest - North Kaibab Ranger District (east of Saddle Mtn. Wilderness Area) in SW House Rock Valley.
Kaibab Plateau (NKRD) Wireless Communications Sites Development -aka VT & Telephone Hill Comm. Sites
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management
- Facility management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 06/06/2018  		Expected:10/2020
  		11/2020 David Vincelette
928-643-8143
david.vincelette@usda.gov 
Description: Construct or place two new 180 foot tall communication towers on the North Kaibab Ranger District to provide reliable wireless telephone/emergency service for the Highway 67 corridor from Jacob lake to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=52587
Location: UNIT - North Kaibab Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - The VT Hill site is in the SE 1/4, Section 26, T35N, R2E. and the Telephone Hill site is in the SE 1/4 of Section 3, T36N, R2E, Gila and Salt River Base Meridian. (Coconino County, Arizona). VT Hill site is near De Motte Park, at F.S. VT Hill Comm. site (~ 20 miles south of Jacob Lake, AZ); Telephone Hill site is on Telephone Hill (~ 12 miles south of Jacob Lake, AZ); in Coconino County.
Kaibab Plateau Ecological Restoration Project (KPEP)
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Watershed management 		 In Progress:
Objection Period Legal Notice 06/25/2020  		Expected:10/2020
  		10/2020 David Vincelette
928-643-8143
david.vincelette@usda.gov 
Description: The Forest Service is proposing vegetation thinning within a 518,000-acre project area on the NKRD by using prescribed fire and small-dia. tree thinning resulting in 319,000 acres of fuels treatments, and forest vegetation and watershed improvements.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=54226
Location: UNIT - North Kaibab Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Project includes approximately 518,000 acres of the Kaibab Plateau on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. Wilderness and sensitive areas will be excluded from treatment.
Mangum Fire Emergency Actions and Rehabilitation Project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Recreation management
- Grazing management
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Watershed management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 09/30/2020  		Expected:11/2020
  		11/2020 David Vincelette
928-643-8100
david.vincelette@usda.gov 
Description: This project will remove/mitigate hazard trees along 40 miles of FS Roads and 50 miles of fence-lines, within 3,000 acres of moderate-to-severe burned area of the Mangum Fire.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58909
Location: UNIT - North Kaibab Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - The project lies within the following Townships and Ranges: T37N, R1W & R1E; T38N, R1W, R1E & R2E; T39N, R1E & R2E; T40N, R1E & R2E; Gila and Salt River Baseline & Meridian. (Coconino County, AZ). The project area is located within the NW to north-central part of the NKRD, approximately 23 to 30 miles S/SE of Fredonia (W-SW of the Jacob Lake area, and N-NE of Hwy 89-A) on Forest Service land.
Warm Springs Tank to Mangum Springs, to Big Springs Waterline Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Land management planning
- Land ownership management
- Facility management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 08/01/2017  		Expected:10/2020
  		10/2020 David Vincelette
928-643-8100
djvincelette@fs.fed.us 
Description: The project will install 8.5 miles ( /-) of new waterline from Warm Springs tank to Mangum Springs (Phase 1~6 .8 miles), to Big Springs (Phase 2~1.7 miles), to improve the Jacob Lake public water system and associated communications and control line.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47875
Location: UNIT - North Kaibab Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Starting in Sec.17, T38N, R1E, running 1.8 miles west (parallel to FSR 462), thence running 4.7 miles south (parallel to FSR 422) to Mangum Camp, thence running south 1.7 miles south to Big Springs.
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Kaibab National Forest,   Tusayan Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
U. S. Geological Survey (USGS) Monitoring Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Research and Development  Completed  Actual: 08/20/2020  09/2020 Chelsea Muise
928-474-7936
clmuise@fs.fed.us 
Description: USGS is requesting an amendment to their existing special use permit to include installation of equipment to monitor surface flow (runoff) downslope of the Canyon Mine. Up to 5 water-detection instruments and 1 game camera will be deployed.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58227
Location: UNIT - Tusayan Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - T29N R2E Section 20. The project will occur downslope from the Canyon Mine uranium mine. In the area downslope from Canyon Mine identified as being most likely to experience runoff.
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Kaibab National Forest,   Williams Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Century Link Fiber Optic Line
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 09/09/2020  09/2020 Chelsea Muise
928-635-8275
chelsea.muise@usda.gov 
Description: CenturyLink is proposing to install new fiber optic line on existing utility poles, owned by APS, which are located on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest (KNF).
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58048
Location: UNIT - Williams Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - SW quarter and SE quarter of Section 4 Township 21 North and Range 1 East, Gila and Salt River Meridian. Project is located on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, and is accessed by Interstate 40 and an unnamed dirt road that parallels the utility line.
Dogtown Water Pipeline
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 08/07/2020  08/2020 Marcos Roybal
928-635-8331
marcos.roybal@usda.gov 
Description: To provide reliable and efficient water delivery to the City of Williams. Currently, the City of Williams transfers approximately 80% of the City's water supply in one existing waterline; both raw water and potable water.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56398
Location: UNIT - Williams Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Williams, Arizona.
Drake Pozzolan Project
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
Scoping Start 09/11/2020
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 04/2021  		Expected:01/2022
  		01/2022 Jeremy Haines
928-635-8367
jeremy.haines@usda.gov 
Description: Drake Cement is proposing to mine natural pozzolan (a concrete additive) on mining claims it holds on the Williams Ranger District. The proposed mine is situated in and around Frenchy Pit, a location of previous mining and quarrying.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58789
Location: UNIT - Williams Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - T23N, R3E, Section 35, Gila and Salt River Meridian. In and around Frenchy Pit off of Forest Road 74 on the Williams Ranger District.
Kaibab Historic Logging Railroad Interpretive Trail
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Recreation management
- Heritage resource management 		 Completed
This project has changed to a CE that does not require a written decision document and will be removed from the SOPA.  		  09/2020 Neil Weintraub
928-635-5647
neil.weintraub@usda.gov 
Description: This project proposes to designate an interpretive trail along a 3.67 mile stretch of historic railroad grade on the Williams Ranger District which was used for logging in the late 1800s.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58323
Location: UNIT - Williams Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - T21N, R3E, Sections 1, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, and 23, Gila and Salt River Meridian. Just east of Sherwood Forest Estates, South to the 141 Road.
Outfitter and Guide 10-Year Term Permit
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Recreation management
- Special use management 		 Completed  Actual: 07/23/2020  07/2020 Clairisse Loucks
928-635-8365
Clairisse.Loucks@usda.gov 
Description: Current Outfitter and Guides which hold special-use permits on the Kaibab National Forest must apply for a new permit on an annual basis. Switching from an annual permit to a longer-term (10-Year) permit reduces paperwork and administrative costs.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58194
Location: UNIT - Williams Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The legal boundaries of the Kaibab National Forest within the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts.
Partridge Creek Allotment Livestock Authorization
EA
 - Grazing management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Victoria Payne
9286355632
victoriapayne@fs.fed.us 
Description: The purpose of this project is to determine if the KNF should authorize livestock grazing for the Partridge Creek Allotment.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56955
Location: UNIT - Williams Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Coconino. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Williams Ranger District.
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