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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES CHAPTER 3 the effects of the proposed action and its alternatives. A mere “cataloging” of effects may not provide the most useful discussion. In some cases, lumping past actions and describing them in terms of “where we are today” can be the most informative. No matter which method is used, it will be formulated to provide the most relevant, useful, helpful, necessary and informative format for the public and deciding official. Measures to mitigate or reduce adverse effects caused by the implementation of any of the actions proposed are addressed in Chapter 2, Mitigation Measures. Effective mitigation avoids, minimizes, rectifies, reduces, or compensates for potential effects of actions. The temporal and spatial scale of the analysis is variable depending upon the resource concern being evaluated, particularly for cumulative effects. The landscape within the Opine project area boundary is the focus of this EA, but adjacent lands are considered in this analysis process. Neither of the two action alternatives is related to any other actions with cumulatively significant impacts; neither is a component part of any larger action. Past, Present and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions The Opine project is one of several projects planned or ongoing within and adjacent to the project area. Table 3-1 includes those that are in the planning process and those that have been wholly or partially implemented, as well as other natural or human-caused events that have affected the landscape; effects of these projects are considered in the cumulative effects analysis disclosed in Chapter 3 of this EA. Current and On-going Actions: 1) Grazing on BLM and private lands to the north and east of the planning area; 2) BLM Upper Deschutes Resource Management Plan (Programmatic); 3) East Fort Rock and Millican (BLM) OHV trail systems, planning area outside of the EFR system, and BLM lands to the east of Pine Mountain; 4) Utility line maintenance to Antelope and Pine Mountain electronic sites and Pine Mountain Observatory; 5) R/W maintenance along the BPA powerline corridor and adjacent to the BPA substation at Sand Springs (includes removal of shrub and tree vegetation; tower maintenance, etc.); 6) Bitterbrush study plots; and 7) Firewood cutting. Table 3-1. Past, Present, and Reasonably Foreseeable Future Actions and Events. Project/Event Name General Description of Activities or Event Status Pine Mountain Observatory Master Plan EA (2004) Site plan for Improvements Ongoing Cinder Hill Range Allotment (2004) Grazing Allotment Ongoing Cluster II Range Allotment Grazing Allotment Ongoing EA (2005) Central Oregon large wildfires, including Dead Wilma (1977), Aspen Flat (1959), and Pine Mountain Fire (1914, 1968, and 1977) Class II OHV Trail (2007) Natural or human-caused wildfire events that burned through thousands of acres of timber with varying degrees of intensity and tree mortality The proposed designated Class II OHV trail on Pine Mountain would use existing system roads and undesignated routes that currently exist and have been identified 3-2 Past events Planning
AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES CHAPTER 3 Project/Event Name General Description of Activities or Event Status Ground Hog Rock Pit Rock Source used for applying to roads within the Opine Planning Area Camping, OHV riding, site seeing (vehicle), horseback ridding, deer/small game hunting, Ongoing Dispersed recreation biking, hang and para-gliding and cross country hiking. Ongoing Sunriver HFRA (2007) South Bend HFRA (2007) Opine Vegetation Management EA (2006) East Fort Rock Administrative Closure (1993) West-wide Corridor Programmatic EIS Opine Winter Range Seasonal Closure: Dec.1 to March 31 (2010) Fox Butte Cooperative Travel Management Area program (Green Dot system) Deschutes National Forest Access and Travel Management (2010) Deschutes and Ochoco Invasive Plant EIS (2006) Fuels reduction within and adjacent to Wildland Urban Interface Fuels reduction within and adjacent to Wildland Urban Interface Commercial and Non-Commercial Thinning and Fuels Reduction. 3-3 Planning Planning Planning Area Closure unless designated open. Implemented The Department of Energy analysis team is developing and analyzing alternatives for the PEIS. Proposed energy power corridor travels through eastern side of planning area and approx. 1,227 acres fall within the buffered corridor. Area Closure unless designated open. This will not take affect until after vegetation treatments are completed. Approximate date for seasonal closure to take affect is Dec.1 of 2010. Open road and motorized trail densities are reduced during the deer-hunting season that reduces open road/motorized trail densities to approximately 2.92 miles per square mile. Deschutes National Forest is currently evaluating its travel management policies and direction provided by the Washington Office of the Forest Service. The proposed new travel management direction would identify a system of roads and trails for motorized travel and eliminate cross country motorized travel except on designated routes (see OHV) Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests are currently preparing an EIS addressing invasive plants on both the Deschutes and Ochoco Forests with completion expected in early 2007 Planning Planned Implemented Planning Planning
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United States Department of Agricul
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Abstract: The Opine Planning Area i
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PROJECT LOCATION CHAPTER 1 Figure 1
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PURPOSE AND NEED CHAPTER 1 commerci
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PLANNING DIRECTION - MANAGEMENT ALL
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PLANNING DIRECTION - MANAGEMENT ALL
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OTHER PLANNING DIRECTION & STRATEGI
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OTHER PLANNING DIRECTION & STRATEGI
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ANALYSIS ISSUES CHAPTER 1 The Opine
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ANALYSIS ISSUES CHAPTER 1 Soils The
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ALTERNATIVE DESCRIPTIONS CHAPTER 2
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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTA
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AGENCIES AND PUBLICS CONSULTED CHAP
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Environmental Assessment

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