DECISION MEMO DEVIL S ELBOW BY-PASS, BOUNDARY TRAIL NO.1 U.S. FOREST SERVICE T9N, R7E, SECTION 9 RANGE 5E COWLITZ COUNTY WA MOUNT ST. HELENS NATIONAL VOLCANIC MONUMENT, GIFFORD PINCHOT NATIONAL FOREST SKAMANIA COUNTY, WA BACKGROUND The section of the Boundary Trail No.1 known as Devils Elbow, is located 2 miles east of the Johnstone Ridge Observatory on national forest system (NFS) lands on the Mount Saint Helen s National Volcanic Monument (MSHVM) of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This section of Boundary Trail No. 1 is located on a steep, exposed slope that is sloughing off into the adjacent canyon creating a hazardous trail to some hikers. Therefore, the Forest Service developed a proposal to reroute the trail to provide hikers safer access to points east and require less trail maintenance then the current route demands. DECISION I have decided to authorize the reroute to provide safe continual east west access to the Scenic Blast Area at MSHVM. See the enclosed map for more detail of the project area. The trail will be open to hikers only and will expand opportunities for hikers connecting existing trails via new, short connector trails as outlined in the Mount St. Helens Comprehensive Management Plan of 1985. The new section of trail will be designed by members of the Washington Trails Association in conjunction with Forest Service recreation specialists, and adhere to all applicable best management practices. Once established, the trail will be maintained by the MSHVM Trail Crew and trail maintenance partners and will not add a net increase of maintenance costs to the Forest s trail program. The existing trail will be abandoned in place. The section of trail is located in the Mount St. Helens Blast Area. The new section of trail will be approximately 0.4 miles long, and would bypass approximately 0.6 miles of the existing Boundary Trail No.1. The trail alignment will follow the land contours of the nearby hill side to create a new trail with more sustainable features and slopes. Some vegetation with stems no more than six inches diameter will be trimmed and removed. The new trail will be accessible and follow Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG) as much as possible. Trail construction will begin in early fall 2016 and continue until completed. The end result will be a two-foot wide trail tread and an eight-foot by ten-foot cleared corridor. The work requires use of hand tools and chainsaws. Page 1 of 6
Pursuant to the Forest Service s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Regulations this action can be categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) or an environmental assessment (EA) if it fits a category listed in the regulations and provided there are no extraordinary circumstances. The activities fit in the following category: (1) Construction and reconstruction of trails (36 CFR 220.6(e)(1)). The project fits this category because it constructs a new section of trail. I find that there are no extraordinary circumstances that would warrant further analysis and documentation in an EA or EIS. I took into account resource conditions identified in agency procedures that should be considered in determining whether extraordinary circumstances might exist: Federally listed threatened or endangered species or designated critical habitat, species proposed for Federal listing or proposed critical habitat, or Forest Service sensitive species There are no effects expected to fish or fish habitat from the implementation of the project due to limited interaction with stream crossings and distant proximity to endangered fish (Wieman 2016). There is a low potential for wolf presence due to the close proximity of high use facilities and trail infrastructure. Therefore, no impacts are expected (Jakubowski 2016). Flood plains, wetlands, or municipal watersheds The work will not occur in close proximity to streams or other surface water. Therefore there are no anticipated effects to water quality, quantity or the timing of stream flows (McConnell 2016) Congressionally designated areas such as wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas Project activities will not occur in or near wilderness, wilderness study areas, or national recreation areas. Through Public Law 97-243, Congress designated the area as a National Volcanic Monument. Actions to be implemented in this decision are consistent with the 1985 Mount St. Helens Comprehensive Management Plan. Inventoried roadless areas or potential wilderness areas Project activities will not occur in or near inventoried roadless areas or potential wilderness areas. Research natural areas Project activities will not occur near any of the forest s research natural areas. American Indians and Alaska Native religious or cultural sites An archeologist evaluated the project and determined there would be no effect to religious or cultural sites (Flores 2016). No consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer is required per the Programmatic Agreement among the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the Washing State Historic Preservation Officer. Archaeological sites, or historic properties or areas An archeologist evaluated the project and made an assessment that No historic properties affected (Flores 2016). Consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer is not required under the programmatic agreement described above. Page 2 of 6
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT A scoping letter was sent to the forest s mailing list on February 23, 2016. There were two comments received on the project. One individual called and voiced concern about maintaining access to the current Boundary Trail No.1 after reroute is open. The other individual wrote a letter in favor of the trail improvement commenting on the erosion and safety concerns of the current section of trail. FINDINGS REQUIRED BY OTHER LAWS AND REGULATIONS This decision is consistent with the 1985 Mount Saint Helen s National Volcanic Monument Comprehensive Management Plan. The project would not cause any detrimental effects to any management indicator species and the continued viability of these species on the Forest is expected. (Wildlife Biological Evaluation, page 2). ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OPPORTUNITIES While this decision is not subject to administrative review, I encourage you to contact me if you have concerns or questions. IMPLEMENTATION DATE This decision is effective immediately. CONTACT For additional information concerning this decision, contact: Edward Huffman, Monument Manager, Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Gifford Pinchot National Forest by phone 360-449-7810; or by email: elhuffman@fs.fed.us. /s/ Edward Huffman 09/08/2016 EDWARD HUFFMAN Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Manager Date Page 3 of 6
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. Page 4 of 6
Figure 1. Vicinity Map, Devil's Elbow Bypass Proposal Page 5 of 6
Figure 2. Satellite imagery of existing trail, Devil's Elbow Bypass Proposal Figure 3. Bypass location, Devil's Elbow Bypass Proposal Page 6 of 6