Los Padres National Forest: California; Environmental Impact Statement for the Removal of the Noxious Weed Tamarisk on the Los Padres National Forest, 9200-9202 [2012-3534]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 32 (Thursday, February 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9200-9202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3534]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Los Padres National Forest: California; Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Removal of the Noxious Weed Tamarisk on the Los 
Padres National Forest

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, Los Padres National Forest, gives 
notice of intent to conduct analysis and prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the removal of the noxious weed Tamarisk 
across the Los Padres National forest: This notice announces the 
beginning of scoping, describes the proposed action, decisions to be 
made, and estimates the dates for filing the draft and final EIS. This 
notice also provides information concerning public participation, and 
the names and addresses of the Agency officials who can provide 
information.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis will be received 
for 45 days from publication in the Federal Register. The draft 
environmental impact statement is expected in summer of 2012 and the 
final environmental impact statement is expected late 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Los Padres National Forest, 6755 
Hollister Avenue, Suite 150, Goleta, CA 93117, attention: Lloyd 
Simpson, Forest Botanist. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to: 
comments-pacificsouthwest-los-padres-ojai@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile 
to 805-646-0408.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
may be directed to Project Team Leader, Lloyd Simpson, Los Padres 
National Forest, Ojai Ranger District, 1190 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 
93023; or by telephone: (805) 646-4348 ext. 316. E-mail: comments-pacificsouthwest-los-padres-ojai@fs.fed.us.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    There is a need to eradicate the noxious weed tamarisk from Piru 
Creek, Lockwood Creek, Cuyama River, Santa Ynez River, Sisquoc River, 
and Arroyo Seco River in order to restore and maintain habitat for 
riparian dependent species such as the federally listed arroyo toad, 
California red-legged frog, and steelhead trout. The purpose of this 
project is to eradicate tamarisk in a timely manner and with an 
approach that is pest-specific, cost effective, and safe for the human 
and aquatic environments.
    The project area is on the Los Padres National Forest in portions 
of the Piru Creek, Lockwood Creek, Cuyama River, Santa Ynez River, 
Sisquoc River, and Arroyo Seco River watersheds. The analysis area 
covers 4,247 acres and 368 miles of perennial and intermittent streams. 
Infestations of tamarisk occurring in these streams and their 
tributaries within the analysis area are targeted for removal.
    For fish and wildlife, direction is provided to maintain fisheries 
habitat for viable populations of native fish species and to prevent 
the destruction or adverse modification of habitat essential to 
threatened, endangered, or sensitive species. The Forest Plan states 
that ``management activities or practices may occur in riparian areas 
as long as habitat and species diversity of the area is maintained in a 
healthy state'' and

[[Page 9201]]

that ``habitat improvement will enhance conditions for sensitive, 
threatened, and endangered species.''

Proposed Action

    The Los Padres National Forest (LPNF) proposes to control the 
invasive species tamarisk in portions of the Piru Creek, Lockwood 
Creek, Cuyama River, Santa Ynez River, Sisquoc River, and Arroyo Seco 
River watersheds. This action will result in the improvement of 
riparian ecosystems that have been impacted by the invasion of 
tamarisk.
    Tamarisk has replaced the native riparian plant community of 
willows, cottonwoods and other desirable native riparian species. Its 
water-consuming ability has reduced the surface water available to 
wildlife. The best management strategy is to enact control measures now 
before the tamarisk infestations become any larger.
    Successful invasive species control programs are implemented at the 
landscape level, particularly within watersheds for species that 
colonize stream courses. Partnerships are especially important for 
accomplishing weed control. Volunteers have worked for many years on 
the Los Padres to remove and control tamarisk. They will continue to be 
part of this effort.
    Tamarisk infestations have various impacts on a number of federally 
listed threatened (FT) and endangered (F-E) species, as well as some 
Region 5 Forest Service Sensitive (R5-S) species. Federally listed 
endangered Least Bell's vireo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher have 
been known to nest in large groves of habitat dominated by tamarisk, 
but this is not likely in the Los Padres NF given the scattered nature 
of the present tamarisk populations. However, it is well documented 
that tamarisk removal will restore natural habitat for these birds as 
well as arroyo toad (F-E), California red-legged frog (F-T), 
southwestern pond turtle (R5-S), two-striped garter snake (R5-S) and 
steelhead trout (both F-E and F-T) stocks.
    This project is designed to eradicate current infestations of 
Tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima, T chinensis, T gallica, T parviflora) 
and to prevent its further spread on National Forest System land. 
Tamarisk is a nonnative invasive tree-shrub that can grow in dense 
patches, out-compete native vegetation, change soil chemistry by 
depositing salts in deep ground water on the soil surface, and remove 
large amounts of water from streams and riparian areas via evapo-
transpiration through its foliage. This project covers portions of the 
Piru Creek, Lockwood Creek, Cuyama River, Santa Ynez River, Sisquoc 
River, and Arroyo Seco River watersheds.
    The current tamarisk infestation covers 368 miles or 4,247 acres of 
riparian habitat on NFS lands. The goal is to implement control 
measures now before tamarisk becomes a larger problem in riparian 
ecosystems.
    The methods of tamarisk eradication have several constraints in 
this project: (1) Many treatment areas are very steep, making access 
and logistics difficult. There is no motorized access to most of the 
project area, much of it is in Congressionally designated Wilderness. 
All supplies and equipment must either be packed or flown in. Pile-
burning cut tamarisk stems is not feasible due to the logistics of 
getting crews and suppression resources down into the canyons to do it. 
(2) There are few suitable areas to relocate tamarisk stems for 
disposal via burn piles. (3) There is habitat known for Least Bell's 
Vireo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, two federally endangered 
birds in the Piru creek watershed. The habitat area contains scattered 
tamarisk within the riparian vegetation.
    The proposed action is a combination of tamarisk treatment methods 
designed to be as light on the land as possible and at the same time 
cost and labor efficient. The methods used will be a combination of 
hand treatments, herbicide applications, and biological control. 
Tamarisk seedlings will be removed by hand by pulling and placing them 
where they cannot reestablish. Herbicides are essential to meet the 
project objectives. Tamarisk will re-sprout if simply cut down and/or 
burned. Herbicide treatments are the most effective and the most 
efficient control method currently available. Herbicide use will be 
consistent with the Forest Service Pesticide Use Policy, will be in 
compliance with state and federal regulations, will follow Region 5 
Best Management Practices for Vegetation Manipulation, the Region 5 
Supplement for Pesticide-Use Management and Coordination, and the 
Forest Plan guidance including the Supplement to Soil and Water 
Conservation Practices FSH 2509.22-2005-1. A bio-control insect bred to 
assist in the treatment and control of tamarisk infestations is 
currently available. While tamarisk distribution across NFS land may be 
too spread out to maintain effective populations of a control insect, 
use of the insect may be appropriate in areas where there is higher 
tamarisk density.
    Herbicide treatments will be restricted to ground-based/hand 
applications only; NO AERIAL SPRAYING is being proposed.
    Seedlings and young plants will be hand-pulled where possible and 
removed from the riparian area and placed in the sun minimizing soil 
contact with the roots. Experience with hand pulling has shown that 
only plants 1 foot tall or less can be successfully removed. We will 
begin removing the younger plants on the boundaries of infestations and 
do as much as we can each year.
    Large tamarisk within 10 horizontal feet of standing or running 
water will be treated with imazapyr (Habitat or similar formulation). 
Treatment type will depend on size of the individual tamarisk plant and 
the access available to do the treatment. Cut plant material will be 
removed from the waterway but left in small piles as wildlife habitat.
    Treatment methods are:
    Cut Stump Treatment: Tree trunks are cut near ground level with 
handsaws or chainsaws and then stumps are hand coated with the 
herbicide, surfactant and colorant using sponge brushes. The mixture is 
quickly absorbed by the plant's phloem and transported to the root; if 
the herbicide mixture is applied immediately (2-10 minutes), 85-95% 
control is possible.
    Frill Treatment: With this method, a hatchet is used to cut 
downward into the water-conducting tissue (phloem) of standing trees. 
This treatment would be done using a Hypo-Hatchet to directly inject a 
pre-set amount of herbicide directly into the tree. Usually one 
injection is made for every inch of stem diameter evenly spaced around 
the circumference.
    For plants beyond the 10 horizontal feet of standing or running 
water, another herbicide, triclopyr (Garlon 4 or similar formulation) 
may be used. Triclopyr is not labeled for use around water and would 
only be used on upland plants. Treatments would be similar to imazapyr 
and based on plant size. Cut material will be disposed of in the same 
way as the cut riparian tamarisk described earlier.

Resource Protection Measures

    The following resource protection measures would be employed under 
all action alternatives:
    Water Quality: Water quality would be protected following measures 
described in the Best Management Practices. Best Management Practices 
would be implemented during all activities associated with this 
proposed action. Best Management Practices (BMPs) are measures 
developed cooperatively with the Forest Service and the California 
State Water Quality Control Board to control non-point source pollution 
on National Forest

[[Page 9202]]

System lands. Many BMPs are available for use and can be tailored to 
accommodate site-specific conditions. A monitoring protocol for this 
project will be included in the project implementation plan.
    Wildlife and Fisheries: A biological assessment/evaluation of all 
threatened, endangered, and sensitive wildlife and fish species that 
potentially occur in the project would be drafted to provide an 
assessment of the impacts of the proposed action. The best management 
practices above will minimize or eliminate the exposure of wildlife and 
fisheries to pesticides. The primary effect on federally listed or 
Forest Service sensitive species will be the physical presence to work 
crews in occupied habitat. The following resource protection measures 
would be carried out during project implementation to protect federally 
listed and R5 Forest Service sensitive species:
     To avoid trampling of arroyo toads and California red-
legged frogs, a qualified biologist would conduct a training session 
for all project personnel prior to conducting the proposed action in 
habitat for arroyo toads and California red-legged frogs. At a minimum, 
the training would include a description of the arroyo toad and its 
habitat, the general provisions of the Endangered Species Act; the 
necessity for adhering to the provisions of the Act; the penalties 
associated with violating the provisions of the Act; the general 
measures that are being implemented to conserve the listed species as 
they relate to the project; and the access routes to and from project 
site boundaries within which the treatments may be accomplished.
     In arroyo toad and California red-legged frog habitat, all 
routes to treatment sites would be identified by a qualified biologist 
and used repeatedly by workers to minimize trampling of arroyo toads 
and vegetation.
     Applicators would avoid walking or stepping in water, to 
the maximum extent possible. They would also avoid spilling herbicide 
on footwear and clothing to prevent inadvertent contamination if 
contact with water occurs.
     All access routes and treatment sites within arroyo toad 
and California red-legged frog habitat would be thoroughly searched for 
the presence of arroyo toads and California red-legged frog by a 
qualified biologist, prior to the onset of project activities at each 
site. This should occur within two weeks of work commencement.
     Arroyo toads and California red-legged frog found within 
the treatment sites shall be carefully moved outside the immediate work 
area and released by a qualified biologist permitted by USFWS to handle 
these species. Animals found within access routes may be moved to 
appropriate habitat if their avoidance is not practicable. If project 
activities cease for more than three days within any one treatment 
site, access routes and treatment areas would be searched again for 
arroyo toads and California red-legged frog prior to the start of the 
day's work. Information that includes the date, time of capture, 
specific location of capture, approximate size, age and health of the 
individual would be recorded.
     Treatments will be conducted during low stream flow or no 
stream flow periods of the year to avoid potential impacts to steelhead 
trout or their spawning redds during the late fall to early winter 
months.
     If workers encounter aquatic wildlife species other than 
arroyo toads and California red-legged frog during project 
implementation they will allow the animal(s) to flee to safe areas out 
of the work sites or physically move the animals to safe locations.
    Sensitive Plants: A biological assessment/evaluation of all 
threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant species that potentially 
occur in the project would be drafted to provide an assessment of the 
impacts of the proposed action. Best Management practices above and the 
highly targeted application methods being used in this project will 
minimize the exposure of Forest Service sensitive plant species to 
herbicide.
    Noxious Weeds: Require cleaning of any tools carried into or out of 
the project area to reduce the risk of noxious weed spread.
    Heritage Resources: Areas requiring flagging and avoidance would be 
identified by a qualified heritage resources manager to the project 
planner prior to any implementation of project work.

Possible Alternatives

    A full range of alternatives will be considered including action 
and no-action. Alternatives responding to issues generated during the 
scoping process and interdisciplinary team project development will 
also be developed and considered. All alternatives will comply with the 
Los Padres National Forest Land Management Plan.

Responsible Official

    Peggy Hernandez, Forest Supervisor, Los Padres National Forest, 
Goleta California, is the responsible official for the EIS and its 
Record of Decision. As the Responsible Official, the Forest Supervisor 
will document the decision and reason for the decision in the Record of 
Decision. The decision will be subject to Forest Service Appeals 
Regulations (36 CFR part 215).

Nature of Decision to be Made

    The Responsible Official will make a decision considering the 
following:
    1. Whether the proposed action will proceed as proposed, with 
modifications, or not at all.
    2. What associated mitigation measures and monitoring requirements 
will be required.

Preliminary Issues

    Preliminary issues identified include the following:
    1. Hand removal is not controlling the current infestations of 
Tamarisk and herbicides are needed.
    2. Use of herbicides and the need to protect water quality and 
public safety.
    3. Presence of listed threatened and endangered species, their 
habitat, and/or mapped critical habitat.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.
    The Forest Supervisor is seeking public and agency comment on the 
proposed action to identify issues that arise from the proposed action. 
The issues may lead to other alternatives, or additional mitigation 
measure and monitoring requirements. In addition to this notice, public 
scoping letters will be mailed to interested parties.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such a way they are useful to the Agency's preparation of the 
environmental impact statement. The submission of timely and specific 
comments can affect a reviewer's ability to participate in subsequent 
administrative appeal of judicial review.

    Dated: February 1, 2012.
Peggy Hernandez,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2012-3534 Filed 2-15-12; 8:45 am]
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