7 Mile

Fuels Treatment Information Packet

This packet is intended to present information necessary to work on/complete specific fuels treatments in the absence of the project lead, fuels specialist, or other Northwest Colorado Fire Management Unit personnel. Information contained in this packet includes specifications, NEPA Language, important numbers, a medical plan, and maps.

Directions to Project

Travel west from Craig about 30 miles to Maybell. Make a right hand turn onto Highway 318, then travel approximately 15 miles, take a right hand turn onto Moffat County Road 75. Travel North on Moffat County Road 75 approximately 5 Miles and the project site will on your right.

Specifications

The following criteria need to be met in order for this project to be NEPA compliant. If you have any questions regarding these criteria, please contact the project lead, the Little Snake Fuels management specialist, or the Fuels Program Lead out of Craig.

1. An approximate 25 foot buffer around the project perimeter will not be cut in order to match existing vegetation openings in the surrounding environment, to blend in with existing vegetation, and to avoid visual angular features of the treatment.

2. The treated areas would be monitored for noxious/invasive weed infestations for a minimum of three years post treatment. Any infestations identified will be suppressed/eradicated by the BLM.

3. The BLM or agent acting on behalf of the BLM would complete all fueling of equipment outside of any drainage.

4. Report all spills of fuels, lubricants, et cetera to the Project Inspector within 24 hours.

5. Vehicle use off existing roads and trails will not occur, except for the mastication equipment.

6. Treatments will not occur when surface soils are saturated to 3 inches or vehicles create ruts in soils during normal operations.

7. Any prehistoric or historic sites determined eligible to the NRHP, along with an adequate buffer, that are situated within the vegetation treatment areas will be flagged for avoidance by vegetation treatment activities.

8. The BLM project lead is responsible for informing all persons who are associated with the project that they will be subject to prosecution for knowingly disturbing archaeological sites or for collecting artifacts.

9. If any archaeological materials are discovered as a result of operations under this authorization, activity in the vicinity of the discovery will cease, and the BLM LSFO Archaeologist will be notified immediately. Work may not resume at that location until approved by the AO. The applicant will make every effort to protect the site from further impacts including looting, erosion, or other human or natural damage until BLM determines a treatment approach, and the treatment is completed. Unless previously determined in treatment plans or agreements, BLM will evaluate the cultural resources and, in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), select the appropriate mitigation option within 48 hours of the discovery. The applicant, under guidance of the BLM, will implement the mitigation in a timely manner. The process will

be fully documented in reports, site forms, maps, drawings, and photographs. The BLM will forward documentation to the SHPO for review and concurrence.

10. Pursuant to 43 CFR 10.4(g), the applicant must notify the AO, by telephone and written confirmation, immediately upon the discovery of human remains, funerary items, sacred objects, or objects of cultural patrimony. Further, pursuant to 43 CFR 10.4(c) and (d), the operator must stop activities in the vicinity of the discovery and protect it for 30 days or until notified to proceed by the AO.

11. Prior to any treatment activity, the BLM will coordinate with existing right-of-way holders, range permittees, operators, and mineral lessees.

12. Treatments will take place outside of the migratory bird nesting season (May 15 – July 15).

13. Treatment will take place outside of the sage-grouse reproductive period (March 1 – July 15).

NEPA Language

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to treat 365 acres in and around Seven Mile Ridge utilizing chainsaws to selectively remove encroaching pinyon/juniper from sage parks. This area is classified as Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) II, as it has been moderately altered from historic ranges of fire intervals due to human intervention. Full fire suppression will continue to alter the natural fire return interval, thus creating a homogeneous stand of pinyon/juniper. Vegetation treatments are often used to restore historical fire regimes to prevent losing key ecosystem components. The proposed project would reduce current fuel loading and future hazardous fuel build up within the target area.

This project falls within the C5 Axial Basin / Sand Spring fire management polygon, and seeks to promote vegetation mosaic by conducting vegetation treatments on pinyon/juniper to achieve age and structural diversity within the sage community. Managing for these objectives will help target the removal of encroaching pinyon/juniper trees in order to maintain and improve greater sage grouse habitat. The project is in priority and general sage grouse habitat. The project area consists of flat, slightly rolling terrain co-dominated by Wyoming sagebrush and pinyon/juniper. All units are observed to have a low to moderate density of Utah juniper spreading into the proposed treatment areas.

The 42 acres treatment would target the removal of encroaching pinyon/juniper. No trees larger than six inch diameter at the stump will be cut in order to prevent an excess of slash and to retain larger trees along small drainages. Trees will be hand thinned using chainsaws. The remaining slash will be lopped and scattered to a depth of no greater than 18 inches. The stumps will be cut down to a height of four inches or less. The project is expected to begin in spring 2019 and be

completed by fall of 2019.

List of Numbers

PROJECT PHONE NUMBERS:

Fuels Program Lead (NWCFAMU) Toni Toelle Cell (970) 761-0124

Fuels Management Specialist (LSFO) Michael St.Martin Desk (970) 826-5004

Cell (970) 291-8180

North Zone FMO Sean Carey Desk (970) 826-5030

Cell (970) 819-7680

Craig Dispatch Craig Dispatch (970) 826-5037

Communications Info

-Primary Repeater: Juniper

-Secondary Repeater: Lookout

-Tac: Tac 7

Maps: See following pages