the daniel boone national forest’s mission is to sustain...
TRANSCRIPT
United States
Department of
Agriculture
Forest
Service
Redbird
Ranger District
91 Peabody Road
Big Creek, KY 40914
606-598-2192
Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper
File Code: 1950 Date: April 5, 2013
Dear Interested Party:
I am proposing to monitor groundwater and collect soil data to assess the stability of the Steel
Trap Valley Fill on the Redbird Ranger District of the Daniel Boone National Forest by
installing standpipe-type piezometers in the valley fill and building a small segment of road to
access the site. You are receiving this letter because you have requested to be notified of such
proposals. The following information is provided to allow you an opportunity to review and
comment on the proposal.
LOCATION
The proposed project area is located in Clay and Leslie Counties in Kentucky. Please refer to the
attached maps for general location information.
PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION
The Daniel Boone National Forest’s mission is to sustain the ecological health and productivity
of the lands and waters entrusted to its care and provide for compatible human uses. The purpose
of this project is to collect water and soil data, while the need for action is to assess and monitor
the stability of a valley fill.
When strip mining operations occur, particularly in areas with steep terrain, valleys are
sometimes used as a disposal site for unconsolidated rock and soil that have been removed in
order to extract coal from a coal seam. The end result of such practices is a “valley fill” which is
what occurred during past mining operations in the Steel Trap valley. Sometimes, a valley fill
can become unstable, which could cause movement or slipping of the soil and rock that created
the fill. Measures can be taken to prevent this from occurring; however, the condition must first
be identified.
In 2012, a screening level evaluation of the stability of the Steel Trap Valley Fill was conducted
using existing site information and data. While conducting this analysis, it was determined that
more data would be needed in order to complete the assessment. Further collection and analysis
of water and soil samples would allow the stability assessment to be completed. To collect water
samples, standpipe-type piezometers* would be installed. Water data would be collected and
* Standpipe piezometers consist of a filter tip (a tip with holes in it that allows water in but filters out soil particles)
that connects to a riser pipe which extends to the surface. The tip allows water to flow from the surrounding soil into
the standpipe.
Steel Trap Valley Fill Stability Assessment April 2013
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analyzed by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) personnel to determine water quality and
groundwater levels, while soil samples would be collected to assess soil characteristics.
The proposed actions would provide an opportunity to work toward the forest’s goals for
management, as described in the Forest Plan. Forest Plan goals relevant to the proposed actions
are summarized below:
Goal 3 – Manage and/or restore watersheds to ensure the quality and quantity of water
necessary to protect ecological functions, aquatic species and habitats, and support state
designated beneficial uses (Forest Plan, p.2-12).
Goal 7 – Provide a sustainable mix of desired uses, valued characteristics, and services
to improve the long-term benefit to local communities and the public (Forest Plan, p. 2-
15).
Goal 10.2 – Ensure that lands disturbed by mineral and energy activities, both past and
present, are reclaimed using the best scientific knowledge and principles and returned to
other productive use (Forest Plan, p. 2-16).
Goal 14 – Engage the public and other agencies in cooperative, collaborative efforts that
build trust and support in helping to meet Desired Future Conditions (Forest Plan, p.2-
19).
PROPOSED ACTION
Action 1 - Utilizing a truck or utility vehicle (i.e. Kawasaki Mule) mounted drilling unit, 12
standpipe-type piezometers would be installed. Installation would consist of drilling 12 wells
into the valley fill and then installing a pipe casing down the hole called a “standpipe.” Drilling
depth would not exceed 100 feet and 10 of the wells would be in the 30 to 60 foot range. The
diameter of each well would be 1.5 inches or less. The use of the truck or utility mounted drilling
unit would vary depending on well depth and accessibility. Vegetation and ground disturbance
would be mitigated by use of the utility vehicle drilling unit in the event the site is not easily
accessible with the truck unit. Use of the utility vehicle would cause less surface disturbance as it
is a much lighter and agile vehicle that could access sites where the truck mounted drilling unit
would have difficulty. Well locations would be adjusted as necessary to allow for easy access of
the drilling equipment during installation. No roads would be constructed for the purpose of
accessing the wells from the main existing road. The immediate area surrounding each
piezometer site, approximately a 5 foot radius, would be maintained during summer months
using a weed-eater to keep back large shrubs and woody vegetation, reducing it to the existing
grass species found on site. Access paths to each well would also have vegetation removed as
necessary. This would be done to allow for easy access to and around the piezometers when
collecting water samples.
Action 2 – TVA would collect water samples and document water levels upon well installation.
Water samples and water level data would then be collected quarterly at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months
after installation.
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Action 3 – Soil samples would be recovered from the cores that are retrieved during piezometer
installation by use of the same equipment mentioned in Action 1. Samples would be placed in
clear plastic sleeves and capped and taped on both ends, then taken to a lab for analysis by TVA.
Action 4 – In order to access the existing road that provides entry into the Steel Trap area, a
small piece of road, approximately 350 to 450 feet long, would be constructed. The road would
be built to Forest Service specifications. This piece of road would also serve to provide future
access to the area, as the existing road crosses private land.
Action 5 – Due to the unmaintained condition of the existing access road, some road
maintenance would be done to make it more easily accessible for the truck mounted drilling unit.
Repairs would be completed with a dozer and would consist of general grading and sloping of
the road to deter erosion and eliminate the current rutting. Gravel would be added where
necessary.
DECISION TO BE MADE AND RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL
The responsible official for this decision will be the Redbird District Ranger of the Daniel Boone
National Forest. The District Ranger will decide whether or not to implement the proposed
action as described and if the proposed action is consistent with the Forest Plan.
SCOPING & PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
Scoping for this project includes public notification of the proposal and a review of the
management direction for the area in the Forest Plan, review of the National Forest Management
Act, and consultations with Forest Service and other agency resource specialists, including TVA.
The proposed action was first published in the April 2013 issue of the quarterly Schedule of
Proposed Actions and will appear in each issue until a decision is made
Planning documents can be found on the Forest Service web site at:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/dbnf/landmanagement/projects
You can help in the planning process by sharing any concerns or information you may have
about these proposals. The Forest Service will use your comments to help determine the
appropriate scope of environmental analysis to conduct. Comments submitted will become part
of the public record.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including the names and addresses of those
who comment, will be considered part of the public record and will be available for public
inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered. Additionally,
pursuant to 7 CFR1.27 (d), any person may request that a submission be withheld from the
public record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act permits such confidentiality.
Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that confidentiality is granted in only
very limited circumstances. The Forest Service will inform the requester of its decision regarding
a request for confidentiality. Where the request is denied, the submission will be returned, and
the requester notified that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address.
Steel Trap Valley Fill Stability Assessment April 2013
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REASONS FOR CATEGORICALLY EXCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION
This project appears to fall into a category of activity that may be excluded from documentation
in an EA or EIS based on 36 CFR 220.6 (e) (8); “Short-term (1 year or less) mineral, energy, or
geophysical investigations and their incidental support activities that may require cross-country
travel by vehicles and equipment, construction of less than 1 mile of low standard road, or use
and minor repair of existing roads.”
In light of a recent court ruling (Sequoia Forest Keeper v. Tidwell, 11-cv-00679-LJO-DLB (E.D.
Cal.)), the Forest Service will provide public notice, comment, and opportunity for
administrative appeal for projects and activities documented with a “Decision Memo” (36 CFR
220.6(e)) until new instructions are issued by the Washington Office, or the Agency issues
regulations addressing the Court’s ruling.
HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS
This is your opportunity to review and comment on the Steel Trap Valley Fill Stability
Assessment proposal. Individuals or organizations wishing to comment must provide the
following information as part of their comments:
i. Name and address.
ii. Title of the proposed action.
iii. Specific substantive comments (36 CFR § 215.2) on the proposed action, along
with supporting reasons that the Responsible Official should consider in reaching
a decision.
iv. Signature or other verification of identity upon request; identification of the
individual or organization who authored the comment(s) is necessary for appeal
eligibility.
Comments must be postmarked or received within 30-calendar days following the date of
publication of a legal notice in the Manchester Enterprise Newspaper. When the time period
expires on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, comments shall be accepted until the end of
the next Federal working day. Comments must be postmarked or received during this time
period.
Written comments can be mailed to:
Thomas Dozier, District Ranger
Redbird Ranger District
Daniel Boone National Forest
91 Peabody Road
Big Creek, Kentucky 40914
Written comments can be sent by facsimile to: (606) 598-3648
United States
Department of
Agriculture
Forest
Service
Redbird
Ranger District
91 Peabody Road
Big Creek, KY 40914
606-598-2192
Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper
Steel Trap Valley Fill Stability Assessment April 2013
7