CHAPTER 4. CONSULTATION, COORDINATION

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1 CHAPTER 4. CONSULTATION, COORDINATION Changes from Draft to Final EIS for this Chapter. The following changes were made between the DEIS and FEIS. The listing does not include corrections, explanations, or grammar and spelling. Some of the changes resulted from comments made to the DEIS. The list of preparers and contributors to the FEIS was updated. Preparers and Contributors The Forest Service consulted the following individuals, Federal, State, and local agencies, tribes and non-forest Service persons during the development of this environmental assessment: Interdisciplinary Team Members (IDT) Name Expertise Education Degree Years Experience Susan Burton Range Management BS 29 Kim Conlee Transportation Planning AA 33 Dean Curtis Range Management BS 31 Scott Cotter Fisheries Biologist MS 16 Erin Dailey NEPA Planning/ Writer/ Editor AS & BS 4 Ryan Falk District Environmental Coordinator, IDT Leader BS 24 Suzanne Grayson Wildlife Biologist BS 25 Nancy Hafer Botany BS & BA 29 Patrick Haynal Archaeology PhD 28 Cindy Kranich Botanist BS 25 Richard Larson Visuals/ Scenery & Writer/ Editor-Documentation BS 31 Alan Miller Fisheries Biology BS & MS 7 Cheri Miller Wildlife Biology BS 7 Charlotte McCumber Timber Sale Implementation/Management Planning, Economics HS 26 Robert McNeil Soil Science/Hydrology PhD 17 Russ Riemers Fuels Management AS 15 Mary Robertson Archaeology BS & MS 15 Ken Schuetz Wildlife Biology BS & MF 21 Lori Stokes Fuels Management and Silviculture BS 17 Richard Vetter Fisheries Biology BS 10 Shannon Winegar Recreation BS 23 Eric Wunz Silviculture BS 29 HS High School Diploma, AA Associate of Arts, AS Associate of Science, BA Bachelor of Arts, BS Bachelor of Science, MF Master of Forestry, MS Master of Science, PhD Doctorate Chapter 4: Consultation, Coordination 427

2 Extended Team Members, Management, or Reviewers Carole Holly Elaine Kohrman Brooks Smith Mike Montgomery Mike Tatum Forest Environmental Coordinator Economist/ Prairie City District Ranger Blue Mountain District Ranger Blue Mountain District Ranger Forest Silviculturist Consultation and Coordination The following Federal, State and local agencies, Tribal governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals provided comments during the development of this FEIS. Most of the comments were received during scoping on the proposed action, field trips, comments on the NOI published in the Federal Register, and comments received during the 45-day DEIS comment period. A summary of the Crawford Project public involvement effort is provided below. Federal, State, and Local Agencies: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Fisheries (NOAA) USDI Fish and Wildlife Service Grant County Court - Judge Dennis Reynolds (retired) State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife United States Department of the Interior Tribes: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation The Burns Paiute Tribe Organizations and Businesses: Oregon State Snowmobile Association, Howard Geiger, John Day, OR O Rorke Logging, Inc., John Day, OR Prairie Wood Products, Dan Bishop, Prairie City, OR Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project, Karen Coulter, Fossil, OR Council for Grant County Court, Ron Yockim, Roseburg, OR Malheur Lumber Company, Walt Gentis, John Day, OR Sierra Club, Asante Riverwind, Sisters, OR Terra Enterprises, Inc., Peter Vaughn, Genesee, ID Redding Silviculture Laboratory, Ritchie Martin, Redding, CA Oregon Wild, Doug Heiken and Chandra LeGue, Eugene, OR Oregon Wild, Tim Lillebo, Bend, OR Boise Cascade Corporation, John Fullerton, LaGrande, OR Grant County Conservationists, John Day, OR Elmwood Ranches, Russell Ricco, Prairie City, OR Chapter 4: Consultation, Coordination 428

3 Individuals: Ramos, Coke and Dianne, Hereford, OR Atkins, Harold and RoJean, Unity, OR Christie, Christopher, Prairie City, OR Davis, Beaverly, Canyon City, OR Driskall, Linda, John Day, OR Averett, Tom and Rosalie, Bates, OR Kolkow, Clarence, Grants Pass, OR Lysne, Michael, Redmond, OR Vidourek, Bob, John Day, OR Vinton, Joanne, Eugene, OR Smith, Jack, Burns, OR Carr, Clayton, Long Creek, OR Seal, Thom, Prairie City, OR Bach, John, Lakeview, OR McMahon, Portland, OR Cardwell, Leonard and Anita, Pendleton, OR Porter, Don, Milwaukie, OR Gaarde, Richard, Tigard, OR Baker, L. BC, WA Solomon, Laurie, Klamath Falls, OR Johnson, Chris, Jasper, OR Ryberg, Erik, Seattle, WA Ray, Gary and Ruth, Bates, OR Dave Traylor, John Day, OR Fullerton, John, Summerville, OR Public Involvement Summary Public comments were received after four separate scoping requests. The original analysis began in the fall of 1993, and was called the Flat Analysis. Two scoping efforts were initiated during this season: during November, 1993 to alert hunters to the imminent project and in late October, 1993, to alert the general public. However, the analysis was delayed because of higher priority projects until April 1999, when it was renamed the Crawford Vegetation Management Project. When the analysis resumed, the Upper Middle Fork John Day Watershed Report and its recommendations were included to define the purpose and need for the project. The formal scoping package was mailed to the public on May 21 and June 17, These letters and correspondence are filed in the Crawford Project Record. Additional public comments on the Crawford Project were received in 2000 and 2001 during comment period on two different versions of the Crawford Vegetation Management Project EA. The comment letters and Forest Service response to these comments are in the project record. A Decision Notice and FONSI were signed by Bonnie Wood, Malheur Forest Supervisor on April 26, This decision was appealed and then reviewed by the Appeal Deciding Officer, Richard Sowa. This review revealed that the analysis of cumulative effects was not sufficient to support the decision. The Forest Supervisor was directed to withdraw the decision. Chapter 4: Consultation, Coordination 429

4 Following the withdrawal of the decision, a Notice of Intent (NOI) was published in the Federal Register on October 9, The NOI asked for public comment on the scope of the analysis by November 15, One comment was received from Doug Heiken, Oregon Natural Resources Council (ONRC). Additional comments were provided by ONRC on January 31, The project has been listed in the Malheur National Forest Winter Schedule of Proposed Activities (SOPA) starting in 2003 and subsequent quarterly SOPAs through the winter of The analysis work on the Crawford Project was resumed in This delay was because Forest Planning Teams needed to work on high priority fire recovery projects. A Project Initiation Letter (letter of direction) was issued from the Blue Mountain District Ranger to the Team Leader and IDT on June 21, The Ranger stated in this letter that because there had already been substantial previous public comments received on past analysis projects in the Crawford Area. He felt this public involvement was adequate to continue the analysis without additional scoping. He directed the IDT to review all previous public comments received to date on the Crawford Project and past projects. After this review he asked the IDT to recommend any proposed changes to the key issues for his approval. To meet this direction, the IDT met in December 2005 to review the following: Comments received during initial scoping efforts. These comments were used to develop significant key issues in November, 2001 Environmental Assessment (EA). Public comments received during 30 day comment periods (November, 2001 EA). Appeal points on the November, 2001 Crawford EA and April 26, 2002 Decision Notice. Comments received on the October 9, 2003 Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS. In November 2006 the Crawford Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement was published by the Malheur National Forest, and a Notice of Availability (NOA) was published in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency on November 24, A news release announcing availability of the DEIS was also published in the Blue Mountain Eagle on November 22, The DEIS was mailed to over 50 individuals, organizations, or agencies, as well as The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the Burns Paiute Tribe. The DEIS was made available to the public for a 45-day review and comment period which ended on January 8, Six timely comments were received in response to the DEIS (see Table 4 1). Information received from these sources of public involvement was used by the Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) to help refine and develop this FEIS. Table 4 1. Individuals Who Commented During the DEIS 45-Day Comment Period. Letter Number Commenter 1 John Fullerton 2 Preston A. Sleeger, United States Department of the Interior 3 Doug Heiken, Oregon Wild (formerly Oregon Natural Resources Council) 4 Asante Riverwind, Sierra Club 5 Ryan Torland, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 6 Christine B. Reichgott, United States Environmental Protection Agency The IDT reviewed the six letters with comments on the DEIS and addressed each substantive comment provided. The six letters are disclosed in Response to Comments section in Appendix E of the FEIS. Comments received on the DEIS were assigned a number to track them through Chapter 4: Consultation, Coordination 430

5 the review and response process. Table 4 1 lists those who commented and the tracking number assigned to their letter. Distribution of the Final Environmental Impact Statement This Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) has been distributed to individuals who specifically requested a copy of the document and those who submitted comments during the formal DEIS 45-day comment period. In addition, copies have been sent to Federal agencies, federally recognized tribes, state and local governments. A notification letter along with the FEIS Summary has been sent to all other individuals, businesses, groups, and agencies that contributed to development of this FEIS. Chapter 4: Consultation, Coordination 431

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