DECISION MEMO

TONGASS NATIONAL FORESTSITKA RANGER DISTRICT

NSRAA SALMON LAKE FISHERIES RESEARCH STUDY RE-ISSUE

DECISION

It is my decision to authorize the Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association(NSRAA), to continue to operate and maintain a fisheries research study on Salmon Lake.Authorization will occur through issuance of a special use permit to NSRAA for a period of fiveyears. The site is approximately 10 miles southeast of Sitka on Salmon Lake. It is located in theCopper River Meridian, Township 56 South, Range 65 East, NW 1;4 section 31. The facilitiesoccupy approximately 0.15 acres.

This activity falls within a category of actions which normally do not individually orcumulatively have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment and, therefore,may be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement orenvironmental assessment. This category of actions is identified in 36 CFR 220.6 (e)(l5) as:

Issuance of a new special use authorization for a new term to replace an existing orexpired special use authorization when the only changes are administrative, there areno changes to the authorized facilities or increases in the scope or intensity ofauthorized activities, and the applicant or holder is in full compliance with the termsand conditions of the special use authorization.

No extraordinary circumstances exist which would result in additional impacts. No irreversibleor irretrievable commitment of resources is anticipated.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Improvements are located at or near the outlet stream of Salmon Lake to provide informationthat will be used to assess the status, distribution, and spawning escapemnent needs for SalmonLake salmon stocks. An original special use permit was issued June 26, 2008. Improvementsconsist of one 16' x 24' tent platform, one 4' x 4' outhouse, a 40' x 20' floating weir spanningthe width of the outlet stream, two sections of fixed rigid weir (150' x 20'), a 8' x 4' workingplatform adjacent to the weir, a roughly 8' x 4' aluminum live box upstream for the wier, a 4' x4' storage platform on the southwest shore of Salmon Lake and a outhaulline attached to treeson shore in Silver Bay, any lines wrapped around trees shall be padded to prevent rub or otherdamage. The tent platform is constructed with eight foot walls, doors, support poles extendingabouve the walls and a center ridgepole. Structues will be covered with a cnavas-like tentmaterial of a color that blends with the surronding environment. The season of use will be fromapproximately June 15 through November 15 annually.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

On August 29, 2013 a letter providing information and seeking comment was sent to Sitka Tribeof Alaska and Shee Atika Incorporated. No comments were received.

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Legal Notice was published in the Daily Sitka Sentinel, the newspaper of record for the SitkaRanger District on September 5, 2013. No comments were received.

BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION

Biological Evaluations were completed for sensitive plants and animals. No sensitive specieswill experience impacts that would cause or contribute to a trend towards federal listing or causea loss of viability to the population or species.

FINDINGS REQUIRED BY OTHER LAWS

2008 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan

This decision is consistent with the 2008 Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan (ForestPlan). The project is located within an area identified in the Forest Plan as having a Land UseDesignation of Old-Growth Habitat. Direction for management of this area is to provide old-growth forest habitats, in combination with other LUDs, to maintain viable populations of nativeand desired non-native fish and wildlife species and subspecies that may be closely associatedwith old-growth forests. Contribute to the habitat capability of fish and wildlife resources tosupport sustainable human subsistence and recreational uses. Maintain components of flora andfauna biodiversity and ecological processes associated with old-growth forests. Permit onlyimprovements (such as tent platforms, fish weirs, minor waterlines, minor powerlines, etc.) thatare compatible with LUD objectives.

ANILCA Section 810, Subsistence Evaluation and Finding

The effects of this project have been evaluated to determine potential effects on subsistenceopportunities and resources. There is no documented or reported subsistence use that would berestricted as a result of this decision. For this reason, this action would not result in a significantpossibility of a significant restriction of subsistence use of wildlife, fish, or other foods.

ANILCA Section 811, Access Evaluation and Finding

There is no documented or reported access that would be restricted as a result of this decision.For this reason, this action would not result in a significant possibility of a significant restrictionof subsistence users having reasonable access to subsistence resources on National ForestSystem Lands.

Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as Amended

The Alaska Coastal Management Program expired under State law on June 30, 201l.Consequently, there are no longer any requirements for consistency determinations or reviewsunder the Coastal Zone Management Act for Forest Service activities in Alaska.

Endangered Species Act of 1973

A Biological Evaluation has been completed for this action which indicates that no federallylisted threatened or endangered species will be affected by this activity.

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National Historic Preservation Act of 1966

The Forest Service program for compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)includes locating, inventorying and evaluating the National Register of Historic Places eligibilityof historic and archeological sites that may be directly or indirectly affected by scheduledactivities. Regulations (36 CFR 800) implementing Section 106 of the NHPA require federalagencies to consider the effects of their actions on sites that are determined eligible for inclusionin or are listed in the National Register of Historic Places (termed "historic properties"). AForest Service archeologist reviewed this project and made a determination of No HistoricProperties Affected in the area of potential effect for the project.

Floodplain Management m.o. 11988), Protection of Wetlands m.o. 11990)

This activity will not impact the functional value of any floodplain as defined by ExecutiveOrder 11988 and will not have negative impacts on wetlands as defined by Executive Order11990.

Recreational Fisheries m.o. 12962)

Federal agencies are required, to the extent permitted by law and where practicable, and incooperation with States and Tribes, to improve the quantity, function, sustainable productivity,and distribution of U.S. aquatic resources for increased recreational fishing opportunities. Asrequired by this Order, I have evaluated the effects of this action on aquatic systems andrecreational fisheries and determined there will be no effects to fisheries resources within theproject area. Therefore, there will be no direct, indirect or cumulative impacts related to thisOrder.

Environmental .Justice m.o. 12898)

I have determined that, in accordance with Executive Order 12898, this project does not havedisproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minoritypopulations and low income populations.

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires a finding on theeffects of this project on Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). The Proposed Action will have "noadverse effects" on EFH because the project will not measurably modify fish habitat in or nearthe project area. This project will not cause erosion or sedimentation which could reduce qualityor quantity of fish habitat in the freshwater or marine environments outside the analysis area.Therefore consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine FisheriesService to review the effects of this project on threatened, endangered and candidate species isnot required.

IMPLEMENTATION DATE

This action falls within a category of actions which are not subject to appeal. Implementation ofthis decision may occur immediately.

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CONTACT PERSONClay R. Davis, Lands SpecialistTongass National Forest, Sitka Ranger District204 Siginaka WaySitka, AK 99835907-747-4225clayrdavis@fs.fed.us

c!&1!~District Ranger

Date

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