DECISION RECORD United States Geological Survey (USGS) Fault Scarp Trenching

DOI-BLM-OR-134-2011-0019-CX Bureau of Land Management BLM Wenatchee Field Office

915 Walla Walla Avenue Wenatchee, WA 98801

Decision and Rationale

It is my decision to implement the United State Geological Survey (USGS) Fault Scarp trenching proposal as described in the attached document (OR­134-2011-0019 CX) and shown on attached project description figures. These actions meet the need and will accomplish the purposes for the action.

The proposal has been reviewed by resources specialists within the BLM Wentachee Field Ofice. No Federal Threatened or Endangered (T&E) wildlife or plant species are assocaited with the subject BLM parcel where trenching is proposed. An archaeological/cultural clearence for the area of potential effect (APE) was conducted and Native American consultation was completed for the trenching proposal. As part of the mitigation a member of the Yakama Nation is to be present during trench excavation should any cultural/ archaeological artifacts be encountered. It is not anticipated that the project actions will have significant effects.

/S/ Linda Coates-Markle 03-12-2014 _____________________________________ ________

Linda Coates-Markle Date Wenatchee Field Office Manager

Administrative Review or Appeal Opportunities

Any party that is adversely affected and determined to be a party to the case, may appeal the implementation of the proposed action to the Interior Board of Land Appeals, Office of the Secretary, in accordance with the regulations contained in 43 CFR Part 4. A notice of appeal must be filed in this office (at the address above) within 30 days of receipt of this decision. The appellant has the burden of showing that the decision is in error.

An appellant may also file a petition for a stay (suspension) of this decision during the time that the appeal is being reviewed by the Board pursuant to Part 4, Subpart B, 43 CFR Part 4.21. The petition for a stay must accompany the notice of appeal. A petition for a stay is required to show sufficient justification based on the standards listed below. Copies of the notice of appeal and petition for a stay must be submitted to each party named in this decision, to the Interior Board of Land Appeals, and the Office of the Solicitor (see addresses below) at the same time the original documents are filed with this office. The appellant has the burden of proof of demonstrating that a stay should be granted.

Office of the Regional Solicitor, Pacific Northwest Region U. S. Department of the Interior 805 SW Broadway, Suite 600 Portland, Oregon 97205

Interior Board of Land Appeals Office of Hearings and Appeals 801 N. Quincy Street, Suite 300 Arlington, VA 22203.

Except as otherwise provided by law or other pertinent regulation, a petition for a stay of decision pending appeal shall show sufficient justification based on the following standards:

(a) The relative harm to the parties if the stay is granted or denied,

(b) The likelihood of the appellant’s success on the merits,

(c) The likelihood of immediate and irreparable harm if the stay is not granted, and

(d) Whether the public interest favors granting the stay.

Attachment: Categorical Exclusion Documentation

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Categorical Exclusion Documentation Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management, Spokane District 1103 North Fancher Road

Spokane Valley, WA 99212

A. Background BLM Office: Wenatchee Field Office Lease/Serial/Case File No.: USGS-UW-Department of Earth & Space Sciences

NEPA Log Number: DOI-BLM-OR-134-2011-0019 CX

Proposed Action Title: United State Geological Survey (USGS) Fault Study (Trenching proposal). Paleoseismic investigations of Burbank fault scarp.

Location of Proposed Action: Yakima County-T. 15 N., R. 19 E., Section 15 (S1/2) and Section 22 (NE1/4)

Description of Proposed Action: The USGS is responsible for investigating earthquake hazards in the Pacific Northwest region. One of USGS's goals is to find active faults that are capable of producing damaging earthquakes. The USGS uses various field mapping techniques to investigate fault activity. One method the USGS uses involves detailed soil and lithologic mapping of excavations across possible fault scarps. These scarps commonly indicate the location of a fault at the ground surface.

The USGS reconnaissance work in the Burbank area east of the Yakima River Canyon identified a possible fault scarp along the southern flank of Umtanum Ridge. Geologic maps and field exposures in the area suggested that the scarp may be related to either recent faulting associated with the Burbank fault or to erosion along a bedrock contact. The best way for the USGS to test this hypothesis is to excavate a trench across the scarp and expose the underlying geologic materials.

The USGS proposes to excavate two trenches across the scarp to determine the origin of the scarp. The sites are generally located in the south half of section 15 and the northeast quarter of section 22, T. 15 N., R. 19 E. The USGS will bring in a tracked excavator to the site along established roads and walk the excavator overland to the trench sites (about 300 feet overland to each site from the existing road) and excavate trenches across the scarp. These trenches are typically about 8 feet deep, have sloped or benched walls to achieve a 1:1 slope for the trench walls (for safety), and are between 45 to 90 feet long. Field conditions generally dictate the length and depth of each trench. Typical excavated volumes run between 100 and 200 cubic yards.

After excavating the trenches, a field team cleans and inspects the excavation walls, installs a string grid as a mapping reference, and marks important soil units and geological features with colored surveyors tape. Once the trench is gridded and marked, mapping is completed on rectified digital photographs. A final log is completed for each trench before the trench is backfilled.

The trench is then backfilled using the excavated soils and the original grade re-established. The excavated area is reseeded with a mixture of grass seed used to re-establish native grasses. The

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seed bed will also covered by straw mulch. The end goal by the USGS is no net disturbance to the site. The trenches should not be open more than three months.

All cultural clearences and consultation has been completed by the USGS and BLM. Initial Native American Consultation, area of potential effect (APE) letter was sent on March 7, 2011. A determination of effect letter was sent on September 11, 2012 for cultural consultation. A cultural consultation concurrence with determination of effects was received from the State of Washington Department of Historical Preservation (DAHP) on December 18, 2012.

The project area is completly surrounded by an exisitng road and this area is designated as open to motorized use.

See Figures 1-6 for more information about this project.

Figure 1 - General Location Map

Figure 2 - Aerial Photo of Burbank Area showing proposed trench locations

Figure 3 - Photo of potentail USGS trench locations in Burbank area.

Figure 4 - LiDAR images where USGS has interpretated fault scarps (also proposed trenchs)

Figure 5 - LiDAR image with two proposed trench locations

Figure 6 - Example of fault scarp mapping project conducted in Yakima, WA area

B. Land Use Plan Conformance Land Use Plan Name: Spokane Resource Management Plan Date Approved/Amended: Approved 1987/Amended 1992

Option 1 (conforms with LUP): The proposed action is in conformance with the applicable LUP because it is specifically provided for in the following LUP decision(s):

OR

(Opwith th

tion 2: not explicitly provided for in the LUP) The proposed action is in conformance e applicable LUP, even though it is not specifically provided for, because it is clearly

consistent with the following LUP decision(s) (objectives, terms, and conditions): Final Spokane Resource Management Plan/EIS Record of Decision (ROD) dated May 19, 1987.

Soil, Water and Air Management (p. 27) "The inventory and evaluation of soil, water, and air resources on public lands will continue." and Mineral Resources (p. 28) "…ensure that the public lands remain open and available for mineral exploration and development." This would also include geologic studies.

C. Compliance with NEPA: The proposed action is categorically excluded from further documentation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in accordance with

516 DM 11.9 F 9 - Digging of exploratory trenches for solid minerals-exploration, except in riparian areas.

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YES NO

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a Training t impacts on the stalling and nd occurs obability for use

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This categorical exclusion is appropriate in this situation because there are no extraordinary circumstances potentially having effects that may significantly affect the environment. The proposed action has been reviewed, and none of the extraordinary circumstances described in 43 CFR 46.215 apply, as shown in the following table:

CX EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES DOCUMENTATION The proposed categorical exclusion action will:

(a) Have significant impacts on public health or safety.

(b) Have significant impacts on such natural resources and unique geographic characteristics as historic or cultural resources; park, recreation or refuge lands; wilderness areas; wild or scenic rivers; national natural landmarksole or principal drinking water aquifers; prime farmlands; wetlands (ExecutiveOrder 11990); floodplains (Executive Order 11988); national monuments; migratory birds; and other ecologically significant or critical areas.

The proposed project is within the Priority Area for Conservation for the YakimCenter population of greater sage-grouse, but is not expected to have significanspecies because of short duration and low intensity of disturbance caused by inreclaiming the trench. The project would directly disturb less than 1/10 acre, aapproximately 14 kilometers from the nearest sage-grouse lek, making a low pras a nesting area. Project noise would not disturb lek sites. (c) Have highly controversial environmental effects or involve unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources [NEPA Section 102(2)(E)].

(d) Have highly uncertain and potentially significant environmental effectsor involve unique or unknown environmental risks.

(e) Establish a precedent for future action or represent a decision in principabout future actions with potentially significant environmental effects.

(f) Have a direct relationship to other actions with individually insignificanbut cumulatively significant environmental effects.

(g) Have significant impacts on properties listed, or eligible for listing, on the National Register of Historic Places as determined by either the bureau.

Initial Native American Consultation, area of potential effect (APE) letter was sent on March 7, 2011. A determination of effect letter was sent on September 11, 2012 for cultural consultation.

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form the State 8, 2012.

idate but has not

us t ies

A cultural consultation concurrence with determination of effects was receivedof Washington Department of Historical Preservation (DAHP) on December 1(h) Have significant impacts on species listed, or proposed to be listed, onthe List of Endangered or Threatened Species, or have significant impacts on designated Critical Habitat for these species.

No TES plants or wildlife occur in project area. Greater sage-grouse is a Candyet been proposed for listing in the State of Washington. (i) Violate a Federal law, or a State, local, or tribal law or requirement imposed for the protection of the environment.

(j) Have a disproportionately high and adverse effect on low income or minority populations (Executive Order 12898).

(k) Limit access to and ceremonial use of Indian sacred sites on Federal lands by Indian religious practitioners or significantly adversely affect the physical integrity of such sacred sites (Executive Order 13007).

(l) Contribute to the introduction, continued existence, or spread of noxioweeds or non-native invasive species known to occur in the area or actions thamay promote the introduction, growth, or expansion of the range of such spec(Federal Noxious Weed Control Act and Executive Order 13112).

F: Signature

_________________________________ __________________ (Authorizing Official Signature) (Date)

Name: Linda Coates-Markle Title: Wenatchee Field Office Manager

G. Contact Person For additional information concerning this CX review, contact Brent Cunderla, BLM-Wenatchee Field Office Geologist (509) 665-2136 or Chris Carlton, BLM Spokane District Office Environmental Coordinator (509) 536-1252.

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Note: A separate decision document must be prepared for the action covered by the CX.

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U.S Geological Survey (USGS)

Fault Scarp Trenching Proposal Bureau of Land Management Lands

Burbank Area – Yakima Canyon Figures

Figure 1

General location map Potential trenching locations

Figure 2 Aerial Photo of Burbank Creek Area

Google Earth Image

Trench Locations

Figure 3 Photo of Potential Trench Locations in Burbank Area

View Northeast

Figure 4

LiDAR images

Image A (top)shows LiDAR imagery.

Image B (bottom) shows where USGS has interpreted proposed

fault scarps.

Figure 5

LiDAR image with proposed trench locations

Figure 6 Example of fault scarp mapping project conducted in Yakima, WA area

(Maximum depth of trench will be about 8 feet deep)

Map geology within exposed trench to see how recently fault has moved. After geologic mapping trench will be reclaimed and seeded.