Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation ...

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Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project 3.12 Late-successional Forests ............................................................................................... 3-73 3.13 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive (TES) Plant Species ........................................ 3-75 3.14 Rangeland Management................................................................................................. 3-77 3.15 Transportation ................................................................................................................ 3-79 3.16 Recreation Travel Management ..................................................................................... 3-83 3.17 Economics ...................................................................................................................... 3-87 3.18 Social.............................................................................................................................. 3-90 3.19 Heritage Resources ........................................................................................................ 3-94 3.20 Fire and Fuels Management ........................................................................................... 3-95 3.21 Noxious Weeds .............................................................................................................. 3-99 3.22 Cumulative Effects Summary ...................................................................................... 3-101 3.23 Other Disclosures ......................................................................................................... 3-103 CHAPTER 4 .................................................................................................................4-1 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 4-1 4.2 Interdisciplinary Team Members ....................................................................................... 4-1 CHAPTER 5 ................................................................................................................. 5-1 5.1 List of Agencies, Organizations, and Persons to Whom Notices of Availability of the DEIS were Sent .................................................................................................................................. 5-1 5.2 List of Agencies, Organizations, and Persons to Whom Notices of Availability of the FEIS were Sent .................................................................................................................................. 5-2 CHAPTER 6 ................................................................................................................ 6-1 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 6-1 6.2 Responses to Comments .................................................................................................... 6-1 APPENDIX A- Maps .................................................................................................. A-1 APPENDIX B- Bibliography ................................................................................... B-1 APPENDIX C- Terms & Definitions ..................................................................... C-1 C.1 Terms and Definitions ...................................................................................................... C-1 C.2 Acronyms ......................................................................................................................... C-3 APPENDIX D- Watershed Disturbance Table ................................................... D-1 APPENDIX E- Public Comment ............................................................................ E-1 E.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... E-1 Chapter 1 – Purpose & Need Page 1-v
Final Environmental Impact Statement Rio de los Pinos Vegetation Management Project 1.1 Introduction CHAPTER 1 Purpose of and Need for Action The Forest Service has prepared this Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other relevant Federal and State laws and regulations. This EIS discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts that would result from the proposed action and alternatives. It provides the Responsible Official with the information necessary to make an informed decision. The decision will be documented in a Record of Decision (ROD) accompanying the final EIS after receiving and considering public comment. This chapter describes the proposed action, the area and scope, the purpose of and need for action, direction from the Rio Grande National Forest (RGNF) Revised Land and Resource Management Plan, as amended (hereafter referred to as the Forest Plan [USDA Forest Service 1996a]), the decisions to be made, public involvement, the Key Issues associated with the proposed action, and other environmental and social concerns. Additional documentation, including more detailed analyses of project-area resources, may be found in the project planning record located at the Conejos Peak Ranger District Office in La Jara, Colorado. Words in bold italics are defined in Appendix C – List of Terms and Acronyms. 1.2 Background The spruce beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis) is the most significant cause of mortality in mature Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) stands. Large-scale spruce beetle infestations in excess of 100,000 acres have occurred over the last 25 years in North America from Alaska to Arizona. The scope of spruce beetle outbreaks can be significant, at times killing up to 80% or more of the mature spruce trees within a watershed (Holsten et al. 1999). Many areas of the Rio Grande National Forest (RGNF) are currently experiencing severe infestations of spruce beetle, including the Rio de los Pinos Analysis Area. Endemic spruce beetle populations usually live in windthrown trees but as populations increase, they may enter susceptible, large diameter standing trees. Spruce stands are highly susceptible to spruce beetle when they are on highly productive sites, have an average diameter at breast height (DBH) greater than 16 inches, have a basal area greater than 150 square feet per acre, and are in stands that are predominantly spruce (Holsten et al. 1999). Chapter 1 – Purpose & Need Page 1-1
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