Sand Lick Fork Watershed Restoration Project; Daniel Boone National Forest, KY, 55796-55798 [2012-22234]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 11, 2012 / Notices
Support, Food and Nutrition Service,
(703) 305–2017.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Most U.S.
households have consistent, dependable
access to enough food for active, healthy
living. But some American households
experience food insecurity at times
during the year, meaning that their
access to adequate food is limited by a
lack of money and other resources. In
2011, 85.1 percent of U.S. households
were food secure throughout the year;
the remaining 14.9 percent were food
insecure (see ‘‘Household Food Security
in the United States in 2011’’ Economic
Research Report No. ERR–141).
Children were food insecure at times
during the year in 10.0 percent of
households with children. While
children are usually shielded from the
disrupted eating patterns and reduced
food intake that characterize very low
food security, in 2011 children
experienced instances of very low food
security in 1.0 percent of the
households with children (374,000
households).
The domestic food and nutrition
assistance programs of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture increase food
security by providing low-income
households access to food, a healthful
diet, and nutrition education. Reliable
monitoring of food security and
systematic research into the underlying
causes and consequences of hunger
contributes to the effective operation of
these programs as well as private food
assistance programs and other
initiatives aimed at reducing food
insecurity.
In recognition of the need to sustain
and expand a solid evidence base,
Section 141 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free
Kids Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111–296)
amended the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act, adding a
new Section 23, 42 U.S.C. 1769c. The
provision includes $10 million for
research on the causes, characteristics,
and consequences of childhood hunger
and food insecurity. The funding
becomes available on October 1, 2012,
and remains available until expended.
The purpose of the childhood hunger
research program, as defined in the
statute, is to advance knowledge and
understanding in the following areas:
1. Economic, health, social, cultural,
demographic, and other factors that
contribute to childhood hunger or food
insecurity;
2. The geographic distribution of
childhood hunger and food insecurity;
3. The extent to which existing
Federal assistance programs reduce
childhood hunger and food insecurity;
4. The extent to which childhood
hunger and food insecurity persist due
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to gaps in program coverage, the
inability of potential participants to
access programs, or the insufficiency of
program benefits or services;
5. The public health and medical
costs of childhood hunger and food
insecurity;
6. An estimate of the degree to which
the measure of food insecurity
underestimates childhood hunger and
food insecurity because the exclusion of
certain households, such as homeless,
or other factors;
7. The effects of childhood hunger on
child development, well-being, and
educational attainment; and
8. Other critical outcomes as
determined by the Secretary of
Agriculture.
Interested parties are asked to address
any or all of the research topics listed
above by considering and responding to
the following questions:
1. How adequate is the current state
of knowledge in each topical area?
2. Do substantial knowledge gaps
remain? If so, what are the most
important unanswered questions?
3. Can research using existing data
adequately fill critical remaining gaps,
or are new data collections needed? If
new data are needed, what kinds of
additional data would be most useful
and how could they be gathered?
4. Would additional research have a
major scientific and programmatic
impact and contribute substantially to
an improved understanding of the
causes and consequences of child
hunger and food insecurity?
In addition, commenters are invited to
identify other areas of research not
addressed in the research topics listed
that could offer important opportunities
to advance the research and knowledge
base. Commenters are also invited to
provide an assessment of relative
research priorities across topical areas.
Dated: September 5, 2012.
Robin D. Bailey, Jr.,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012–22290 Filed 9–10–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Sand Lick Fork Watershed Restoration
Project; Daniel Boone National Forest,
KY
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Sand Lick Fork
Watershed Restoration Project involves
SUMMARY:
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activities to improve water quality and
reduce soil loss by plugging abandoned
oil wells, removing abandoned flow
lines, restoration of stream channels and
associated floodplains, and managing/
maintaining the many open roads in the
Sand Lick Fork area. The project is
located on National Forest System
Lands in Powell County, Kentucky
bounded on the east by Natural Bridge
State Resort Park. Includes lands in
Sand Lick Fork, Barker Branch, Pot
Hollow, and Sand Cave Branch. Project
Activities include: Plugging of up to 165
abandoned oil wells, removal of
approximately 50 miles of abandoned
flow lines used to service the oil wells,
restoration of 2.5 miles of stream
channel and associated floodplain,
decommissioning of 1.1 mile of NFSR
212, conversion of 0.6 miles of Powell
County Road 212 to Forest Service
maintenance, conversion of 3.1 miles of
system roads open to highway legal
vehicles to administrative use only
(includes sections of NFSRs 212, 212A,
2045, 2120 and the section of county
road to be transferred to Forest Service
maintenance), conversion of 0.9 miles of
system road from administrative use
only to closed (includes NFSR 2120B
and 2120C), and obliteration of up to 22
miles of unauthorized roads when no
longer needed for well-plugging or other
proposed activities.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by
October 11, 2012. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected December 2012 and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected February 2013.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
USDA—Forest Service, 2375 KY 801
South, Morehead, KY 40351. Comments
may also be sent via email to commentssouthern-danielboonecumberland@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile
to (606) 784–6435.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom
Biebighauser at 606–784–6428
extension 102 or via email at
tombiebighauser@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
Well Plugging: The primary purpose
of the well plugging activity is to reduce
or eliminate current and future
groundwater contamination with oil and
brine leaching from the well casings or
the rock strata containing oil deposits.
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 11, 2012 / Notices
Open wells can contaminate
groundwater with chlorides and affect
drinking water. It is important to plug
the wells since the iron well casings rust
over time, allowing oil and brine to
contaminate clean groundwater. The
polluted groundwater can eventually
appear in streams, rivers, and drinking
wells far from the area, and can
potentially affect humans, fish and
wildlife, and Federally Endangered
Species. The open wells will not heal
themselves over time. The longer they
are allowed to stay open, the greater the
pollution they will cause. Homes are
located less than one mile downstream
from the oil wells, and the water these
residents are using may be affected by
these open oil wells. Goal 3 of the 2004
Forest Plan provides, in part, to manage
and/or restore watersheds to ensure
water quality supports designated
beneficial uses. Residential and
community drinking water is one such
use for this area. Objective 3.0.0 of the
Forest Plan concentrates restoration
efforts in watersheds with impairments,
such as the TMDL limit for chlorides in
Sand Lick Fork. Additionally, for
riparian areas the Forest Plan seeks to
maintain and restore the water quality
(biological and chemical) necessary to
support riparian ecosystems (1.E-Goal
3). The Commonwealth of Kentucky
provides clear direction to plug oil wells
that are no longer being used: ‘‘Unless
written permission shall be obtained
from the department, no operator or
owner shall permit any well drilled for
oil, gas, salt water disposal or any other
purpose in connection with the
production of oil and gas, to remain
unplugged after such well is no longer
used for the purpose for which it was
drilled or converted. However, nothing
herein shall prevent the department,
upon application and for good cause
shown, from issuing a temporary
permit, for a period not exceeding two
(2) years, to an operator to leave a well
unplugged, and nothing herein shall
alter the provisions of KRS 353.170
relative to utilizing a well for the
purpose of introducing air, gas, water or
other liquid pressure into or upon the
producing strata for the purpose of
recovering oil and gas. The permission
for temporary abandonment may be
renewed at the end of the two (2) year
period by reapplication. All wells on
which a temporary abandonment permit
has been issued shall be cased and
capped in such a manner so as to
protect all potential oil and/or gas zones
and fresh water.’’
Flowline and other infrastrucure
removal: The primary purpose of the
pipe removal activity is to reduce or
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eliminate current and future surface
water contamination caused by oil and
brine leaching from the flow-lines. The
polluted water can eventually appear in
streams, rivers, and drinking wells far
from the area. The flow-lines will not
heal themselves over time. The longer
they are allowed to stay open, the
greater the pollution they will cause.
Goal 3 of the 2004 Forest Plan provides,
in part, to manage and/or restore
watersheds to ensure water quality
supports designated beneficial uses.
Objective 3.0.0 of the Forest Plan
concentrates restoration efforts in
watersheds with impairments, such as
the TMDL limit for chlorides in Sand
Lick Fork. Additionally, for riparian
areas the Forest Plan seeks to maintain
and restore the water quality (biological
and chemical) necessary to support
riparian ecosystems (1.E-Goal 3).
Stream Restoration: Sand Lick Fork
and its tributaries were historically
impacted by activities that involved
channeling and straightening prior to
acquisition by the Forest Service. In
addition, portions of Sand Lick Fork are
currently used by motor vehicles for
travel. Stream bank erosion is evident
along the altered streams, and the
bottom of these streams is dominated by
bedrock or sediment, which provides
poor habitat for fish and the aquatic
organisms they depend on for food. Goal
3.1 of the Forest Plan provides for the
management of in-stream flows and
water levels to protect stream processes
and aquatic communities. The proposed
restoration would move the area
towards this goal. Additionally the
Forest Plan provides for the
maintenance of the physical integrity of
aquatic ecosystems, including stream
banks, substrate, coarse woody debris,
riffles, and other habitat components in
1.E-Goal 4.
Management of system and
unauthorized roads: Field examination
of existing roads (system and
unauthorized) reveals that the lack of
maintenance is impacting other
resources in the watershed (Figure 18).
The absence of grading, brushing, access
control, and ditch cleaning, combined
with uncontrolled use of the roads, has
created areas of exposed soil and
rutting, resulting in sedimentation of the
streams and wetlands on NFS land.
Additionally, the use of streams by
motorized vehicles has impacted habitat
and water quality in the streams. The
Forest Plan provides direction related to
the transportation system on the DBNF.
Objective 12.0.A provides for the
closure or obliteration of National Forest
System roads and trails that do not meet
their current management objectives.
The Forest Service has completed a
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55797
Travel Analysis for the watershed
containing the Sand Lick Fork area,
which identified the roads and trails
that do not meet these objectives. Goal
12.1 in the Forest Plan provides for the
minimization of sediment from roads or
trails that reach streams. The objectives
within this goal identify six specific
ways to address sediment from roads.
One is to reduce the number of road/
stream crossings and the actual amount
of road within 100 feet of streams. The
decommissioning of portions of NFSR
212 responds to this goal. Erosion from
roads may also be controlled by closing
the roads.
Proposed Action
Plugging of up to 165 abandoned oil
wells: Plugging oil wells would involve
cleaning the well of debris, using a
pump truck to remove oil and brine, and
then filling portions of the well with
concrete. Priority would be given to
wells that are most likely to have either
a groundwater and/or a surface water
connection. State approved well
plugging techniques would be used and
may be similar to the method described
below. The DBNF would work closely
with the Kentucky Division of Oil and
Gas to implement the plugging of the oil
wells. An inspector from the Kentucky
Division of Oil and Gas would normally
be onsite during the plugging operation.
None of the wells in the project area
would be used as a domestic water
source. Each well would need to be
accessed by large trucks to accomplish
the well plugging operation.
Because it would be necessary to
drive both National Forest System and
abandoned roads with large trucks to
plug the wells, these roads would need
to be improved (clearing and grading
with heavy equipment such as a dozer),
drained, and hardened with gravel.
Small diameter trees and shrubs
growing on the roads would be
removed. These improved roads would
not be maintained for public motor
vehicle use after the wells are plugged.
The use of the abandoned roads to
access the wells would be temporary,
and these roads would be closed
following use. Road closure can include
the removal of culverts, installation of
berms, re-contouring, loosening of
compacted soils, placement of woody
debris from surrounding woodland, and
planting with native trees, shrubs,
grasses, and wildflowers. Where
culverts are removed, large rocks or logs
would be buried in the ground to
provide vertical grade control,
preventing erosional head-cuts, or
waterfalls from forming and advancing
upstream.
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 11, 2012 / Notices
Removal of approximately 50-miles of
oil pipe and other oil-related
infrastructure: A large network of small
diameter iron and plastic flow-lines
were buried or laid on top of the ground
to move oil from the wells to storage or
processing facilities. Many of these
flow-lines are exposed and are rusting.
Because these flow-lines can contain oil,
they have the potential to negatively
affect water, soil, and fish and wildlife.
The flow-lines that have the highest
potential to affect the surface water
would be drained and the oil and brine
would be transported to an approved
disposal facility. Flow-lines, residual
oil, and brine would be removed and
disposed of in an environmentally
sound and state-approved manner.
Priority would be given to flow-lines
that are closest to streams and those that
are showing the greatest level of
deterioration. The flow-lines and storage
tanks, along with their contents, would
be disposed of according to existing
laws and regulations.
Restoration of approximately 2.5
miles of creek and floodplain:
Restoration of sections of Sand Lick
Fork and its tributaries would involve
the use of heavy equipment, such as
excavators and dozers, to relocate and
reshape the floodplain and stream
channel to a more natural condition.
Native wildflowers, trees, and shrubs
would be planted by hand. Erosion from
head-cuts advancing up tributaries
would be stopped. Where roads cross
streams, the crossings would be
designed to accommodate the passage of
aquatic organisms.
An electric transmission line managed
by East Kentucky Power Cooperative,
Inc. follows Sand Lick Fork where the
stream restoration is proposed. Trees
would not be planted in the sections of
right-of-way for the transmission line
that overlap the floodplain for Sand
Lick Fork to reduce the potential for
outages. The utility company would
continue to maintain the right-of-way
and structures needed for the electric
transmission line, as outlined in their
special use authorization issued by the
Forest Service for such activities.
A mixture of different types of
wetlands would be established by using
heavy equipment, such as an excavator.
This mixture would provide for a
variety of hydrologic conditions, which
would increase the types of habitat for
plants and animals.
Management of National Forest
System roads and unauthorized roads:
Proposed activities include
decommissioning of 1.1 mile of NFSR
212, conversion of 0.6 miles of Powell
County Road 212 to Forest Service
maintenance, conversion of 3.1 miles of
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system roads open to highway legal
vehicles to administrative use only
(includes sections of NFSRs 212, 212A,
2045, 2120 and the section of county
road to be transferred to Forest Service
maintenance), conversion of 0.9 miles of
system road from administrative use
only to closed (includes NFSR 2120B
and 2120C). Some of these system roads
are severely eroded and in poor
condition from intense use. The
proposed status changes would occur
following the completion of other
restoration activities that are part of this
proposed project.
For those roads where the proposed
status is ‘‘Administrative Use,’’ the
change would be accomplished by the
installation of gates that would close the
system road to public use. System roads
to be managed for administrative use
would be subject to periodic grading,
addition of gravel, ditching, culvert
cleaning, and replacement. For the
system roads where the proposed status
is ‘‘Closed’’, the change would be
accomplished by the installation of
earthen berms and other barriers, such
as guard rails. Erosion occurring on
these roads would be controlled by
installing culverts, dips, and spreading
of gravel.
For system roads where the proposed
status is ‘‘Decommissioned’’, the change
would be accomplished during stream
and wetland restoration activities.
Decommissioning may include culvert
removal, addition of buried vertical
grade control to stop head-cutting,
loosening compacted soil, contouring,
adding dips and large woody debris,
restoring small wetlands, restoring
ephemeral and intermittent stream
sections affected by the road, and
planting native trees, shrubs, grasses,
and wildflowers. Heavy equipment,
such as dozers and excavators, would be
used to complete this work.
The unauthorized roads would be
closed to public vehicle use during the
implementation of this project with
physical barriers such as gates, rocks,
and berms, and by law enforcement
action. These roads are temporarily
needed for plugging oil wells, and they
would be improved with grading and
the addition of gravel prior to work
commencing.
Unauthorized roads would be
obliterated following the
accomplishment of the other actions in
this proposal. Obliteration may include
culvert removal, addition of buried
vertical grade control to stop headcutting, loosening compacted soil,
contouring, adding dips and large
woody debris, restoring small wetlands,
restoring ephemeral and intermittent
stream sections affected by the road, and
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planting native trees, shrubs, grasses,
and wildflowers. Heavy equipment,
such as dozers and excavators, would be
used to complete this work. Rock, soil,
and trees from onsite and off-site may be
used for these purposes.
Responsible Official
James D. Manner, Cumberland District
Ranger
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will be
deciding to implement or not
implement the proposed action or some
modification of it that best meets the
purpose and need for the project.
Permits or Licenses Required
To implement the project the Forest
Service will have to acquire a Section
401 Permit and a Floodplain Permit
from the Kentucky Division of Water.
Floodplain permit.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides
thedevelopment of the environmental
impact statement. In addition, members
of the public who have in the past
requested to be notified of projects of
this type or who participated in the
Natural Bridge Integrated Resource
Management Strategy (IRMS) will be
mailed (hardcopy or electronic
depending upon their expressed
preference) a project description of this
proposed action. Also, documents
related to this proposed action,
including this NOT, will be published
on the Forest Web page.
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
such manner that they are useful to the
agency’s preparation of the
environmental impact statement.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions.
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. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered, however.
Dated: August 29, 2012.
James D. Manner,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2012–22234 Filed 9–10–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55796-55798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22234]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Sand Lick Fork Watershed Restoration Project; Daniel Boone
National Forest, KY
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Sand Lick Fork Watershed Restoration Project involves
activities to improve water quality and reduce soil loss by plugging
abandoned oil wells, removing abandoned flow lines, restoration of
stream channels and associated floodplains, and managing/maintaining
the many open roads in the Sand Lick Fork area. The project is located
on National Forest System Lands in Powell County, Kentucky bounded on
the east by Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Includes lands in Sand
Lick Fork, Barker Branch, Pot Hollow, and Sand Cave Branch. Project
Activities include: Plugging of up to 165 abandoned oil wells, removal
of approximately 50 miles of abandoned flow lines used to service the
oil wells, restoration of 2.5 miles of stream channel and associated
floodplain, decommissioning of 1.1 mile of NFSR 212, conversion of 0.6
miles of Powell County Road 212 to Forest Service maintenance,
conversion of 3.1 miles of system roads open to highway legal vehicles
to administrative use only (includes sections of NFSRs 212, 212A, 2045,
2120 and the section of county road to be transferred to Forest Service
maintenance), conversion of 0.9 miles of system road from
administrative use only to closed (includes NFSR 2120B and 2120C), and
obliteration of up to 22 miles of unauthorized roads when no longer
needed for well-plugging or other proposed activities.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by October 11, 2012. The draft environmental impact statement is
expected December 2012 and the final environmental impact statement is
expected February 2013.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to USDA--Forest Service, 2375 KY 801
South, Morehead, KY 40351. Comments may also be sent via email to
comments-southern-danielboone-cumberland@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to
(606) 784-6435.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Biebighauser at 606-784-6428
extension 102 or via email at tombiebighauser@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
Well Plugging: The primary purpose of the well plugging activity is
to reduce or eliminate current and future groundwater contamination
with oil and brine leaching from the well casings or the rock strata
containing oil deposits.
[[Page 55797]]
Open wells can contaminate groundwater with chlorides and affect
drinking water. It is important to plug the wells since the iron well
casings rust over time, allowing oil and brine to contaminate clean
groundwater. The polluted groundwater can eventually appear in streams,
rivers, and drinking wells far from the area, and can potentially
affect humans, fish and wildlife, and Federally Endangered Species. The
open wells will not heal themselves over time. The longer they are
allowed to stay open, the greater the pollution they will cause. Homes
are located less than one mile downstream from the oil wells, and the
water these residents are using may be affected by these open oil
wells. Goal 3 of the 2004 Forest Plan provides, in part, to manage and/
or restore watersheds to ensure water quality supports designated
beneficial uses. Residential and community drinking water is one such
use for this area. Objective 3.0.0 of the Forest Plan concentrates
restoration efforts in watersheds with impairments, such as the TMDL
limit for chlorides in Sand Lick Fork. Additionally, for riparian areas
the Forest Plan seeks to maintain and restore the water quality
(biological and chemical) necessary to support riparian ecosystems
(1.E-Goal 3). The Commonwealth of Kentucky provides clear direction to
plug oil wells that are no longer being used: ``Unless written
permission shall be obtained from the department, no operator or owner
shall permit any well drilled for oil, gas, salt water disposal or any
other purpose in connection with the production of oil and gas, to
remain unplugged after such well is no longer used for the purpose for
which it was drilled or converted. However, nothing herein shall
prevent the department, upon application and for good cause shown, from
issuing a temporary permit, for a period not exceeding two (2) years,
to an operator to leave a well unplugged, and nothing herein shall
alter the provisions of KRS 353.170 relative to utilizing a well for
the purpose of introducing air, gas, water or other liquid pressure
into or upon the producing strata for the purpose of recovering oil and
gas. The permission for temporary abandonment may be renewed at the end
of the two (2) year period by reapplication. All wells on which a
temporary abandonment permit has been issued shall be cased and capped
in such a manner so as to protect all potential oil and/or gas zones
and fresh water.''
Flowline and other infrastrucure removal: The primary purpose of
the pipe removal activity is to reduce or eliminate current and future
surface water contamination caused by oil and brine leaching from the
flow-lines. The polluted water can eventually appear in streams,
rivers, and drinking wells far from the area. The flow-lines will not
heal themselves over time. The longer they are allowed to stay open,
the greater the pollution they will cause. Goal 3 of the 2004 Forest
Plan provides, in part, to manage and/or restore watersheds to ensure
water quality supports designated beneficial uses. Objective 3.0.0 of
the Forest Plan concentrates restoration efforts in watersheds with
impairments, such as the TMDL limit for chlorides in Sand Lick Fork.
Additionally, for riparian areas the Forest Plan seeks to maintain and
restore the water quality (biological and chemical) necessary to
support riparian ecosystems (1.E-Goal 3).
Stream Restoration: Sand Lick Fork and its tributaries were
historically impacted by activities that involved channeling and
straightening prior to acquisition by the Forest Service. In addition,
portions of Sand Lick Fork are currently used by motor vehicles for
travel. Stream bank erosion is evident along the altered streams, and
the bottom of these streams is dominated by bedrock or sediment, which
provides poor habitat for fish and the aquatic organisms they depend on
for food. Goal 3.1 of the Forest Plan provides for the management of
in-stream flows and water levels to protect stream processes and
aquatic communities. The proposed restoration would move the area
towards this goal. Additionally the Forest Plan provides for the
maintenance of the physical integrity of aquatic ecosystems, including
stream banks, substrate, coarse woody debris, riffles, and other
habitat components in 1.E-Goal 4.
Management of system and unauthorized roads: Field examination of
existing roads (system and unauthorized) reveals that the lack of
maintenance is impacting other resources in the watershed (Figure 18).
The absence of grading, brushing, access control, and ditch cleaning,
combined with uncontrolled use of the roads, has created areas of
exposed soil and rutting, resulting in sedimentation of the streams and
wetlands on NFS land. Additionally, the use of streams by motorized
vehicles has impacted habitat and water quality in the streams. The
Forest Plan provides direction related to the transportation system on
the DBNF. Objective 12.0.A provides for the closure or obliteration of
National Forest System roads and trails that do not meet their current
management objectives. The Forest Service has completed a Travel
Analysis for the watershed containing the Sand Lick Fork area, which
identified the roads and trails that do not meet these objectives. Goal
12.1 in the Forest Plan provides for the minimization of sediment from
roads or trails that reach streams. The objectives within this goal
identify six specific ways to address sediment from roads. One is to
reduce the number of road/stream crossings and the actual amount of
road within 100 feet of streams. The decommissioning of portions of
NFSR 212 responds to this goal. Erosion from roads may also be
controlled by closing the roads.
Proposed Action
Plugging of up to 165 abandoned oil wells: Plugging oil wells would
involve cleaning the well of debris, using a pump truck to remove oil
and brine, and then filling portions of the well with concrete.
Priority would be given to wells that are most likely to have either a
groundwater and/or a surface water connection. State approved well
plugging techniques would be used and may be similar to the method
described below. The DBNF would work closely with the Kentucky Division
of Oil and Gas to implement the plugging of the oil wells. An inspector
from the Kentucky Division of Oil and Gas would normally be onsite
during the plugging operation.
None of the wells in the project area would be used as a domestic
water source. Each well would need to be accessed by large trucks to
accomplish the well plugging operation.
Because it would be necessary to drive both National Forest System
and abandoned roads with large trucks to plug the wells, these roads
would need to be improved (clearing and grading with heavy equipment
such as a dozer), drained, and hardened with gravel. Small diameter
trees and shrubs growing on the roads would be removed. These improved
roads would not be maintained for public motor vehicle use after the
wells are plugged.
The use of the abandoned roads to access the wells would be
temporary, and these roads would be closed following use. Road closure
can include the removal of culverts, installation of berms, re-
contouring, loosening of compacted soils, placement of woody debris
from surrounding woodland, and planting with native trees, shrubs,
grasses, and wildflowers. Where culverts are removed, large rocks or
logs would be buried in the ground to provide vertical grade control,
preventing erosional head-cuts, or waterfalls from forming and
advancing upstream.
[[Page 55798]]
Removal of approximately 50-miles of oil pipe and other oil-related
infrastructure: A large network of small diameter iron and plastic
flow-lines were buried or laid on top of the ground to move oil from
the wells to storage or processing facilities. Many of these flow-lines
are exposed and are rusting. Because these flow-lines can contain oil,
they have the potential to negatively affect water, soil, and fish and
wildlife. The flow-lines that have the highest potential to affect the
surface water would be drained and the oil and brine would be
transported to an approved disposal facility. Flow-lines, residual oil,
and brine would be removed and disposed of in an environmentally sound
and state-approved manner. Priority would be given to flow-lines that
are closest to streams and those that are showing the greatest level of
deterioration. The flow-lines and storage tanks, along with their
contents, would be disposed of according to existing laws and
regulations.
Restoration of approximately 2.5 miles of creek and floodplain:
Restoration of sections of Sand Lick Fork and its tributaries would
involve the use of heavy equipment, such as excavators and dozers, to
relocate and reshape the floodplain and stream channel to a more
natural condition. Native wildflowers, trees, and shrubs would be
planted by hand. Erosion from head-cuts advancing up tributaries would
be stopped. Where roads cross streams, the crossings would be designed
to accommodate the passage of aquatic organisms.
An electric transmission line managed by East Kentucky Power
Cooperative, Inc. follows Sand Lick Fork where the stream restoration
is proposed. Trees would not be planted in the sections of right-of-way
for the transmission line that overlap the floodplain for Sand Lick
Fork to reduce the potential for outages. The utility company would
continue to maintain the right-of-way and structures needed for the
electric transmission line, as outlined in their special use
authorization issued by the Forest Service for such activities.
A mixture of different types of wetlands would be established by
using heavy equipment, such as an excavator. This mixture would provide
for a variety of hydrologic conditions, which would increase the types
of habitat for plants and animals.
Management of National Forest System roads and unauthorized roads:
Proposed activities include decommissioning of 1.1 mile of NFSR 212,
conversion of 0.6 miles of Powell County Road 212 to Forest Service
maintenance, conversion of 3.1 miles of system roads open to highway
legal vehicles to administrative use only (includes sections of NFSRs
212, 212A, 2045, 2120 and the section of county road to be transferred
to Forest Service maintenance), conversion of 0.9 miles of system road
from administrative use only to closed (includes NFSR 2120B and 2120C).
Some of these system roads are severely eroded and in poor condition
from intense use. The proposed status changes would occur following the
completion of other restoration activities that are part of this
proposed project.
For those roads where the proposed status is ``Administrative
Use,'' the change would be accomplished by the installation of gates
that would close the system road to public use. System roads to be
managed for administrative use would be subject to periodic grading,
addition of gravel, ditching, culvert cleaning, and replacement. For
the system roads where the proposed status is ``Closed'', the change
would be accomplished by the installation of earthen berms and other
barriers, such as guard rails. Erosion occurring on these roads would
be controlled by installing culverts, dips, and spreading of gravel.
For system roads where the proposed status is ``Decommissioned'',
the change would be accomplished during stream and wetland restoration
activities. Decommissioning may include culvert removal, addition of
buried vertical grade control to stop head-cutting, loosening compacted
soil, contouring, adding dips and large woody debris, restoring small
wetlands, restoring ephemeral and intermittent stream sections affected
by the road, and planting native trees, shrubs, grasses, and
wildflowers. Heavy equipment, such as dozers and excavators, would be
used to complete this work.
The unauthorized roads would be closed to public vehicle use during
the implementation of this project with physical barriers such as
gates, rocks, and berms, and by law enforcement action. These roads are
temporarily needed for plugging oil wells, and they would be improved
with grading and the addition of gravel prior to work commencing.
Unauthorized roads would be obliterated following the
accomplishment of the other actions in this proposal. Obliteration may
include culvert removal, addition of buried vertical grade control to
stop head-cutting, loosening compacted soil, contouring, adding dips
and large woody debris, restoring small wetlands, restoring ephemeral
and intermittent stream sections affected by the road, and planting
native trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers. Heavy equipment, such
as dozers and excavators, would be used to complete this work. Rock,
soil, and trees from onsite and off-site may be used for these
purposes.
Responsible Official
James D. Manner, Cumberland District Ranger
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will be deciding to implement or not
implement the proposed action or some modification of it that best
meets the purpose and need for the project.
Permits or Licenses Required
To implement the project the Forest Service will have to acquire a
Section 401 Permit and a Floodplain Permit from the Kentucky Division
of Water. Floodplain permit.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
thedevelopment of the environmental impact statement. In addition,
members of the public who have in the past requested to be notified of
projects of this type or who participated in the Natural Bridge
Integrated Resource Management Strategy (IRMS) will be mailed (hardcopy
or electronic depending upon their expressed preference) a project
description of this proposed action. Also, documents related to this
proposed action, including this NOT, will be published on the Forest
Web page.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
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. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered, however.
Dated: August 29, 2012.
James D. Manner,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2012-22234 Filed 9-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
