Coconino National Forest

Introduction

Decision Memo Flagstaff Ranger District 2016 Special Use Permits New Authorizations

Flagstaff Ranger District USDA Forest Service - Coconino National Forest

Coconino County, Arizona

The Flagstaff Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest, has completed an environmental review through the National Environmental Policy Act of three proposals requesting authorization to occupy National Forest System lands (see Figure I Map). The applicant's authorization information is listed in Table I below. The land occupancy acreages vary and are directly related to applicant's type of authorization requested. The district has analyzed these proposals and based upon the analysis, there were no significant concerns.

TABLE 1. Special use information for proposals under consideration.

1.

2.

Decision Memo

Current General Legal Occupied Use Type Permit Location Description Land

Holder (Acre)

Caraiman Site1 Located in Less than one 214-Apiary Enterprises Approximately the NE1/4 of acre Site LLC 17 miles Section 7,

northwest of T.23N., Flagstaff, AZ R.6E., and adjacent GSRBM to the intersection of FSRs 900G and 9234P. Site2 Located in Less than one 214-Apiary Approximately the NE1 /4 of acre Site 13 miles Section 7, northwest of T.23N., Flagstaff, AZ R.6E., and adjacent GSRBM to FSR 9233R.

City of Approximately Located in Less than 1 423 - Weather Flagstaff, 10 miles NW1/4 of acre. Station Stormwater northeast of Section 2 Management Flagstaff, AZ (Site 1) and Section and adjacent the NW1/4 of

to FSR 146. Section 12 (Site 2), T.22N., R.7E., GSBM.

Flagstaff Ranger District 2016 Special Use New Authorizations. 1

Permit Expiration Date

12/31/2013 Issued as a temporary permit for one season.

12/31/2013 Issued as a temporary permit for one season.

New authorization; Stations have been in place since after the Schultz Fire.

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3. Logan W. Approximately Located in Approximately 915-Water 12/31/2015 Hefner 7mile Sections 13, 3.37 acres Transmission (previously southeast of 21,23, 24,26 Pipeline,< issued to Flagstaff, AZ and 27, 12" diameter. William J and and adjacent T21 N., R.8E., Betty Lo to FSR 303 GSRBM Wells)

Purpose and Need A special use authorization is how the Forest Service approves and regulates third party activities that occur on National Forest System land for specified purposes. New special uses may be authorized upon expiration so long as such use remains consistent with the decision that originally approved the special use. To comply with the Code of Federal Regulations (36 CFR 251) regarding occupancy of National Forest System lands, there is a need to re-authorize special use permits or issue new permits to those permit holders whose permitted term was temporary or has expired.

Conformance with Land Management Plan I have determined that this decision is in compliance with the Coconino National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan - Amendment 20 - 1112004 Replacement page 24, "Administer

special uses to best meet public needs ".

This decision would also comply with management area specific direction in areas in which these authorizations occur including Management areas (MA): MA 036, Schultz; MA 003, Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer on less than 40% slope; MA 020, Highway 180; MA 005, Aspen; MA 010 Transition grassland and sparse pin yon juniper above the Mogollon Rim; MA 009, Mountain grassland; MA 004, Ponderosa pine and mixed conifer on greater than 40% slope; MA 006, Unproductive timber lands; MA 037, Walnut Canyon; and MA 033, Doney. In addition, this decision complies with other management directions in the Forest Plan.

Description of Decision I have decided to approve the issuance of new multi-year authorizations for the permit proposals listed above in Table 1.

My decision also includes the following actions and mitigation measures to avoid and /or minimize impacts to the greatest extent possible:

Noxious or Invasive Weeds Best Management Practices as outlined in Appendix B of the "Final Environmental Impact Statement for Integrated Treatment of Noxious or Invasive Weeds" (USDA 2005) will be followed to incorporate weed prevention and control in the project. The following features will be incorporated into project implementation and monitoring:

• Prior to the start and after completion of any maintenance activities involving ground disturbance; mud, dirt, and plant parts would be removed from all equipment used during project operations to prevent the spread of invasive plant species.

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• Soil disturbance is to be restricted to existing permitted area. • Monitor and treat of noxious weeds using approved Forest Service eradication

methods will be implemented in areas where soil disturbance has occurred. • Specifically addressing the reissuance of Caraiman Enterprises, LLC apiary permit:

The Permit Holder, with assistance from the Coconino National Forest, will locate apiary sites outside of known R3 Category A and E invasive plant species colonies. Rotated apiary sites should be located at least Yz mile from the Category A and E invasive plant species colonies. ·

Engineering • For public safety, warning signs will be placed at major road intersections during

major maintenance activities involving heavy equipment. • In reference to any road maintenance, the Permit Holder will follow the Coconino

National Forest's Road Maintenance Specifications.

Cultural and Historical Resource Protection

Botany

• Any ground disturbing activities will require new cultural resources review and potentially surveys if the area has not been surveyed in the past.

• Rotate hive locations on a yearly basis to reduce competition for native vegetation with native pollinators.

Vegetation Protection • Any ground disturbing activities outside of this decision will be reviewed by the

forest botanist or district wildlife biologist for potential habitat and/or occurrences. Surveys and mitigations will be developed if needed. If there is no potential habitat or occurrences within the permitted area, the ground disturbing activities may commence without TES plant surveys or mitigation measures.

Wildlife and Vegetation Protection • Specifically addressing the reissuance of Caraiman Enterprises, LLC apiary permit.

The Permit Holder is restricted to the use of open road system, will be alternating apiary site locations annually within an approximate two mile radius of the initial site locations, and will limit the number of visits to each site location.

• Any ground disturbing activities outside of this decision will be reviewed by the District Wildlife Biologist for effects to TES species and habitat.

Additional Requirements • Permit Holder and/or their contractors will observe restrictions and closure orders

required by the Coconino National Forest during routine maintenance activities to protect forest resources.

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Reasons or Categorically Excluding the Decision The effects of implementing these authorizations will be of limited context and intensity and will

result in little or no environmental effects to either the physical or biological components of the . environment. The new authorizations do not involve effects to any extraordinary circumstances. Therefore, these new authorizations can be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement.

Category of Exclusion Based on the actions proposed, and existing laws and authorities I have determined that a Categorical Exclusion is appropriate in this case. The actions described above are similar to those described in:

36 CFR 220.6(e) (3), which states:

"Approval, modification, or continuation of minor special uses of NFS lands that require less than five contiguous acres ofland."

Relationship to Extraordinary Circumstances 1. Federally listed threatened or endangered species, or designated critical habitat,

species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat" or Forest Service Sensitive Species.

• The issuance of new authorizations would have no effect on any federal threatened, endangered, proposed or candidate species or designated critical habitat.

• The issuance of new authorizations would not impact any Forest s_ensitive species nor would it alter habitat conditions for these species.

• The issuance of new authorizations would have no effect to the forest-wide trends of any MIS nor would it change available habitat for these species.

• The issuance of new authorizations would not result in take of bald eagle as described in the Bald Golden Eagle protection Act.

• The issuance of new authorizations would not result in a change in population trend for any migratory bird populations.

• The issuance of new authorizations would have no effect on known populations of invasive plant species. Additionally, it would not assist in the spread of these species, assuming the conservation measures described above are implemented.

The biological assessment is in the project file.

2. Floodplains, Wetlands, or Municipal Watersheds: • This decision will not alter any aspects of the watershed.

3. Congressionally Designated Areas, such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas:

• There are no Congressionally Designated Areas in the affected ·areas.

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4. Inventoried Roadless Areas or potential wilderness areas: • The project area is not within an inventoried Roadless Area and.is not part of a

potential wilderness area.

5. Research Natural Areas: • The project area is not within or adjacent to a research natural area.

6. American Indians and Alaska Native Religious or Cultural Sites • The proposed project is not expected to have any effects to Native American

cultural sites.

7. Archeological sites, or historic properties or areas • Given the mitigation measures listed in Cultural and Historical .Resource

Protection, no heritage sites, archaeological or historical, will not be adversely affected during project implementation.

Based on clearances from resource specialists, located in the project file, I have determined that there are no significant effects to extraordinary circumstances related to this action that require documentation in an EA or EIS.

Scoping and Public Involvement The Flagstaff Ranger District 2016 Special Use Permits Reauthorizations and New Authorizations proposal was first listed in the Coconino National Forest's Schedule of Proposed Action in August 2014.

On February 25, 2016, the Forest supplemented scoping efforts and mailed out 11 letters informing interested individuals and agencies describing the Proposed Action and one email. As a result of our scoping effort, two emails from Scott Hager, a representative of the Coconino Natural Resource Conservation District were received. The first provided his recommendation for relocating Caraiman Enterprises' proposed apiary sites to locations further away from invasive vegetation colonies and requested clarification on Caraiman Enterprises' previous status as a permit holder. The second, his response to our email, provided specific concerns with having the proposed sites located close to invasive weed colonies.

Upon consultation with District specialists, Mr. Hager's comments will be incorporated into my Description of Decisions listed above.

Findings Required by Other Laws I have determined that the proposed action is consistent with the following legal requirements:

1. Environmental Justice (Executive Order 12898) - Requires federal agencies to evaluate whether their decisions could result in disproportionate effects to minority and /or low-income populations. I have determined that no adverse

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impacts to minority or low-income populations as the effects will be limited to a small area (less than one acre) over a short period of time (approximately two weeks or less).

2. Clean Water Act - This Act is to restore and maintain the integrity of waters. The Forest Service complies with this Act through the use of Best Management Practices.

Administrative Review or Appeal Oppor tunity

This decision is not subject to an administrative review or appeal as a result of two recent statutes, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of2014 (Pub. L. No. 113-76) signed into law on January 17, 2014 and the Ag1icultural Act of2014 (Farm Bill) (Pub. L. No. 113-79) signed into law on February 7, 2014. The Forest Service will no longer offer notice, comment and appeal opportunities pursuant to 36 CFR 215 for catego1ically excluded projects.

Project Implementation This decision may be implemented immediately.

Coconino National Forest

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Date

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•.;; FLAGSTAFF RANGER DISTRICT 2016 SPECIAL USE PERMITS NEW AUTHORIZATIONS

Legend

Major_Roads

TYPE

=-:: Arizona State Highways

===County Roads

- Interstate

--~ US Highways

• City of Flagstaff

• Caraiman Enterprises Apiary

D 2Mile_Buffe_apaiarysitesr

- Logan W. Hefner

Figure 1

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This product is reproduced from geospatial information prepared bythe U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest

Service. Geospatial information and GIS product accuracy may vary. This information was released on the indicated date. The Coconino National Forest reserves the right to

correct, update, modify,or replace GIS products

Map prepared by SEM 5/11/2016

without notification.

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