Calumet Placer Bear Track Lode Mines Project Decision...

Calumet Placer & Bear Track Lode Mines Project Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact

USDA Forest Service

Payette National Forest

McCall Ranger District

Idaho County, Idaho

June 2010

Responsible Official: Lisa Klinger

McCall District Ranger

McCall, Idaho 83638

(208) 634-0400

Decision Notice/FONSI Calumet Placer & Bear Track Lode Mines Project

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Calumet Placer & Bear Track lode Mines Project Decision Notice/FONSI

Calumet Placer & Bear Track Lode Mines Project Decision Notice (ON) and

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)

Contents

CALUMET PLACER & BEAR TRACK LODE MINES PROJECT DECISION NOTICE Al~D

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ......................................... .................................................1

INTRODUCTION ....... ... ........ . .................................... . .......... .. ........... ... .............. ... ......... . . . ............. . . . ......... . ... . .. 4

BACKGROUND ..................... ... ................... ........ .... ........ ....... ... ......... .. ....... .... ................. ........ .. .. ................. 4

PURPOSE AND NEED .... . . . ........... . . : .......................... ... ........... . ..... .......... . .... ....... ....... ....... . . ................. .............. . 4

DECiSiON ..... ..... ........ .. . .. .. . ....... . . ............................ .......... . . . . . ......... . ... . . . . . . . ..... .. .. ... ...... . .. .... . .. .......... ............... 4

RATIONALE FOR DECISION . .. ...... ..... ..... . ....... . . . . . ........ .. ........ ................... ... .......... .. . .. ... .. . ....... .. ........ ....... . .... ..... 11

Forest Plan Consistency ..... .. .... ...... ... ........ ......... ... ....... ... ... ..... .... ..... .. ... ..... .. ........ .......... .. ....... ............ 12

OTHER ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED ... . ..... ...... . . . .. .. . . ..... .. . . ...... ... .. ..... . . . ...... .. . ... ...... .... ...... . ....... . . .......... ...... ... ..... 13

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ....... . ... . .. . ...... . .. .... ...... ................ . . .. ......... .... ....... .... ..... . . ... ..... ... ........ ....... ........... .... ...... 13

Tribal Consultation ..... .............................. .. ...... ...... ..... ... ....... .. ........ .. ............................ ..... ..... ...... .... .. 13

FINDING OF No SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI) ...... . .......... ..... . ... ...... .. . . ... .. ... . .................................. .. . ..... .... . .. .. ... 13

Context ..... .. ................ ........................ .... ............... ... ........... .............. ................................ .......... .. ....... 13

Intensity .. ... ... ... ... ...... .... ......... ... ...... .... ... ..... ......... ... ....... .. ... .. ..... ....... ....... ........ ... .. ......... ... ................... 14

FINDINGS REQUIRED BY OTHER LAws AND REGULATIONS .......... .. ....... .. .. ........ .... . .. ......... .... ... ....... .... .............. .... .. 16

ApPEAL OPPORTUNITIES ........................... , .................... . . . . . . .......... . . ..... ......... . . . . . ......... ... ........... .. . ... ......... . . . ... 16

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION ..... ........ ......... .. ................... ... ..... .... ........ .... .............. .... ......... .... ..... .. ....... .. 17

CONTACT PERSON, SIGNATURE, AND DATE ... ................. .. . .. ...... . ......... .. ................. ... ......... ... ...... . .... ........ ......... . . 17

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Decision Notice/FONSI Calumet Placer & Bear Track lode Mines Project

Introduction The Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Calumet Placer & Bear Track Lode Mines Project has

been prepared pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 40

CFR 1500-1508), the National Forest Management Act (NFMA, 36 CFR 219), and the 2003

Payette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) and is hereby

incorporated by reference.

Background A gold mining operation is proposed at the Calumet and Bear Track mines in Township 22 North,

Range 6 East, Sections 23 ahd 25, approximately three miles south of Warren, 10 (Figure 1). The

project would include two separate mines. The Bear Track would be an underground mine and

the Calumet would be a placer operation. Hand-sorted high grade ore from the Bear Track

would be hauled to the Calumet site to be milled. The two properties will be described

separately below.

Purpose and Need The purpose of the action is to approve a plan of operations for mineral development. The

decision whether to allow mining activity is not within the agency's jurisdiction as long as the

proposal is reasonable and the next logical step in mineral development. Through the General

Mining Laws of 1872, mining claimants have a right to locate and develop mineral resources on

any public lands open to mineral entry. The management of the subsurface mineral resource is

mainly according to Federal law and regulation rather than the management discretion of the

Forest Service. The Forest Service manages the surface of National Forest System land under

1897 Organic Act, the Multiple Use Mining Act of 1955, and the 1872 Act Surface Use

Regulations (Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations Part 228(A)). The 228 Regulations require an

operator to submit a Plan of Operations (PoO) for proposed projects. In developing the

proposed action, the Forest Service then has the latitude to include provisions such as project

design features, operational requirements, mitigation measures, and monitoring programs

deemed necessary to minimize environmental impacts to surface resources.

Decision Based on my review of the proposal, EA, FONSI, public comments, and the project record, I have

decided to proceed with Calumet Placer & Bear Track Lode Mines Project and implement

Alternative B - Proposed Action, including the Project Design Features found on page 7-14 of the

EA, hereafter, referred to as the Selected Alternative. I have determined that this alternative

will meet the purpose and need of the proposal and have minimal adverse environmental effect.

Based on my review of information in the FONSI, I have also determined that an Environmental

Impact Statement does not need to be prepared.

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Calumet Placer & Bear Track Lode Mines Project Decision Notice/FONSI

The Selected Alternative will:

Permit a gold mining operation at the Calumet and Bear Track mines in Township 22 North,

Range 6 East, Sections 23 and 25, approximately three miles south of Warren, 10. The project

will include two separate mines. The Bear Track will be an underground mine and the Calumet

will be a placer operation. Hand-sorted high grade ore from the Bear Track will be hauled to the

Calumet site to be milled. The two properties are described separately below.

Access Road

Both mines will be accessed by a temporary road . An undesignated road presently exists in this

location and will be designated as a temporary road for the duration of this project. The road

will be signed and gated at a point near the junction with the Pony Meadows road (FS #50359)

to prevent public access. In addition, large rocks will be used to permanently block access

where the road also connects with National Forest System Road 50340 at Warren Summit.

The operator will be responsible for maintaining drainage and erosion control features on the

road to the appropriate FS standards. The road will require the installation of stream crossing

structures at several locations. Sediment input to live water during installation of these

structures will be minimized by the use of appropriate erosion control methods (e.g. silt fence,

containment of loose or perched fill material, minimal crossing of channel, etc.). Stream

alteration permits will be obtained by the operator. An existing ford on Webfoot Creek will be

replaced with a temporary bridge meeting Forest Service specifications. The road approaches to

the ford will be abandoned and reclaimed once the bridge is in place. A portion of the existing

road that passes through a wetland just above the confluence of Warren Creek and Franklin

Creek will be abandoned and reclaimed because of inherent drainage problems, with an old

existing, drier roadbed being reopened as a new access route. Details of the road project's

components are described in Appendix A of the EA.

Upon completion of the project, the temporary bridge will be removed and the road will be

decommissioned. The final reclamation plan (Appendix B of the EA) calls for the removal of all

temporary stream crossing structures including the Webfoot Creek bridge. Since future mining

activity in this area is reasonably likely, the roadbed will not be obliterated (recontoured), but

will have substantial waterbars constructed to manage drainage over the long-term. The locked

gate will be retained.

Calumet placer Mine

An area of approximately 4.8 acres will be placer mined (Figure 1). The project will be

implemented in phases, with the first year's work focused primarily on road work and running a

limited production circuit using only two sluice boxes. Eventual peak production volume is

estimated to be no more than 150 cubic yards of material per day. Approximately 1.6 acres of

the proposed site has already been disturbed and reclaimed during a previous placer operation.

The other 3.2 acres will be new disturbance.

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Figure 1.

Calumet Mine Site Layout

Ma ximum Extent of Disturbance

Perennial Stream

Roads

a 50 100 200 Feet

In addition to the primary placer operation described above, up to twenty placer bulk sampling

pits (roughly 5 cubic yards in volume) will be dug at various as yet to be determined locations on

the Calumet claim . Test pits will avoid live water and known archaeological sites. Their exact

locations will be reviewed and approved by the Minerals Administrator and other necessary

resource specialists prior to any excavation. Pits will be backfilled and reclaimed in the same

operating season.

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Calumet Placer & Bear Track lode Mines Project Decision Notice/FONSI

The mining process will start with clearing the existing stand of lodgepole pine from the portion

of the area that is to be worked in any given year. Small trees and slash will be stockpiled for

spreading over the area during reclamation. Some of the larger logs will be placed in a loose

deck to dry, then used to timber the Bear Track mine shaft. Topsoil will be removed and

stockpiled for reclamation. In some of the previously worked areas where willow clumps have

reestablished, the willows will be salvaged during clearing and transplanted into the wetlands

restoration area. Depending upon the location and orientation of the trenches, short temporary

access roads may need to be constructed to get to them. Waterbars will be constructed on

these roads at appropriate intervals.

The subsoil and underlying alluvium (poorly-sorted, sand to small boulder size material) will be

removed and run through a gravity milling system to recover the gold. A series of trenches

(roughly 150 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 8 feet deep) will be dug with a tracked excavator.

Excavated material will be transported with a loader to a grizzly (a coarse screening grate). All

material less than 5 inches in diameter passing through the grizzly will then feed to a classifier (a

finer screening grate). Larger material that does not pass the grizzly will fall into a reject pile.

The classifier will pass material less than 1 inch in diameter to a sluice and wilfley table (another

type of gravity concentrator for fine gold). The gold-bearing concentrates from the sluice and

wilfley table will be taken off-site for further processing. No chemicals will be used in the gold

recovery process.

Larger material that does not pass the classifier will fall into another reject pile. If material from

the classifier reject pile is determined to have economically recoverable gold that has not

weathered out of the host rock, it will be moved to one of two places depending on whether it

was wet or dry. If dry, it will be fed into a jaw crusher, then to an impact mill, then to the sluice

and wilfley table. If the classifier reject material was wet, it will be moved to a bare area and

spread in very low windrows to dry. Once dry, it will be run through the circuit in the same

manner as the material which was initially dry.

The sluice and wilfley table will draw water from the settling pond with a pump. If additional

input water is required from the nearby streams, the operator will need to submit a

supplemental PoO for environmental analysis and approval. The reject material (a slurry of clay

to sand sized material known as "tailings") from the sluice and wilfley table will run into a

tailings pit where the solids will settle out and the decanted water will return to the primary

settling pond in a ditch.

There will be no permanent stationary fuel storage on site. Fuel will be hauled and stored in

Department of Transportation (DOT) approved containers in a pickup. The pickup will be parked

in a bermed area with an impervious liner for secondary containment. Spill clean-up materials

and a spill response plan will be kept in all vehicles. An oil-absorbent boom will be floated in

front of the primary settling pond outlet.

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In addition to the primary placer operation described above, up to twenty placer bulk sampling

pits (roughly 5 cubic yards in volume) will be dug at various as yet to be determined locations on

the Calumet claim. Test pits will avoid live water and known archaeological sites. Their exact

locations will be reviewed and approved by the Minerals Administrator and other necessary

resource specialists prior to any excavation. Pits will be backfilled and reclaimed in the same

operating season.

Partial reclamation of the site will occur concurrently with mining. Rather than being a separate

project element implemented at the end of the mining phase, reclamation will be closely

integrated with the gold recovery process. The oversized reject material from the grizzly and

the classifier, along with the tailings, will periodically be backfilled into the inactive end of the

working trench. It is possible that the rate of mining may at times exceed the rate of backfilling,

which will be reflected in a volume increase of the tailings, reject material, and drying stockpiles

at the millsite. To ensure that this volume does not exceed what is bonded in the final

reclamation plan, the Minerals Administrator will suspend operations if the stockpile volume

surpasses 200 cubic yards. No new excavation will take place until backfilling has reduced the

stockpile to less than this volume.

Reclamation of all mined ground along with removal of debris and all equipment (other than the

grizzly) will be completed by the end of each operating season. Stockpiled topsoil will be spread

over the backfilled material, fertilized with a slow-release fertilizer, and seeded with native grass

and forb species. Weed-free straw mulch will be applied over this. Stockpiled slash and small

trees will be placed over the straw. In areas with a high water table and little topsoil, willows

will be replanted using the green-staking method. Final reclamation at the end of the project

will include demolition and removal of the grizzly. Detailed reclamation requirements are given

in the final reclamation plan (Appendix B of the EA).

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Bear Track Lode Mine

The Bear Track mine is a collapsed / bridged shaft that will be reopened (Figure 2). An excavator

will be used to dig out the first twenty feet of material from the old shaft. Logs salvaged from

clearing at the Calumet site will be used to timber the shaft. Timber cribbing (dimensions of 9

feet by 9 feet) will be constructed within the excavated pit. Further sinking of the shaft through

unconsolidated surface material will be done in the traditional manner of repeatedly

Figure 2.

Bear Track Mine Site

Legend

= Roadless Boundary

TemporaryAccess Roa d

o 50 100 J I j I I ! I

2CO Feet I I

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undermining the bottom timbers and adding timbers to the top as the cribbing stack settles

deeper. This process will continue until bedrock is reached. Material will be excavated by hand

and winched to the surface using an engine-powered winch and a block and tackle suspended

from a steel headworks frame . A locking grate will be installed at the top of the shaft to prevent

public access when mine personnel are not present. Up to 100 cubic yards of loose fill may need

to be removed to fully reopen the shaft to its original depth. When the loose fill material has

been completely excavated, mining will proceed by drilling and blasting. A trailer-mounted air

compressor will be on site to run the drill and provide ventilation. Ore will be hand-sorted and

periodically hauled in a pickup to be milled at the Calumet site. Ore hauling will be limited to

one pickup load per day. A higher production rate will require the operator to submit a

supplemental PoO for environmental analysis and approval.

All waste rock and fill material will be placed on top of the existing dump and backfilled against

the existing cutbank with no new material pushed over the present dump face . A powder

magazine .for explosives storage will be placed on an old spur road nearby. A few bulk samples

«5 cubic yards) will be taken from the top of the existing dump and hauled to the Calumet site

for milling. Final reclamation requirements for the Bear Track mine include permanent shaft

closure, equipment removal, waste rock recontouring, and revegetation. Details are given in the

final reclamation plan (Appendix B of the EA).

Miscellaneous

A portable toilet and up to two small travel trailers will be kept on the Calumet site. The toilet

will be pumped weekly and all trash stored in bear-proof containers and removed from the site

periodically. All known archaeological sites in the area will be avoided and any new sites

encountered during operations will be reported to the Minerals Administrator immediately.

Blasting zones will be Signed and public excluded when blasting.

This project has been designed to maintain water quality and, thereby, protect aquatic habitat

by reducing or eliminating potential sediment sources that may cause sediment to be delivered

to stream channels. The action includes mitigation proposed by FS resource specialists that has

been incorporated as design criteria into the proponents proposed Plan of Operations. This

alternative would meet the Purpose and Need of the proposal.

Project Design Features

Project design features have been designed by the minerals administrator and the project

hydrologist to mitigate potential effects to aquatic resources. Existing management

requirements require applying Best Management Practices (BMPs), as described for Soil and

Water Conservation Practices, to all ground-disturbing activities to reduce or minimize effects

on soil and water resources. BMPs are described in the Payette National Forest Land and

Resource Management Plan (USDA Forest Service 2003).

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The mitigation measures which were incorporated into the project design features listed below

are practices that the lOT developed during this analysis to address site-specific environmental

concerns that were not sufficiently addressed by existing management requirements. Design

features for this project include:

Calumet

• A number of measures to minimize potential adverse effects to water quality. These

are described in detail in the EA Appendices.

• Partial reclamation of the site will occur concurrently with mining. Rather than being a

separate project element implemented at the end of the mining phase, reclamation will

be closely integrated with the gold recovery process. The oversized reject material from

the grizzly and the classifier, along with the tailings will be periodically backfilled into the

inactive end of the working trench. It is possible that the rate of mining may at times

exceed the rate of backfilling, which will be reflected in a volume increase of the tailings,

reject material, and drying stockpiles at the mill site. To ensure that this volume does

not exceed what is bonded in the final reclamation plan, the Minerals Administrator will

suspend operations if the stockpile volume surpasses 200 cubic yards. No new

excavation will take place until backfilling has reduced the stockpile to less than this

volume . Detailed reclamation requirements are given in the Final Reclamation Plan

(Appendix B of the EA) .

Bear Track

There are no PDFs associated with the Bear Track exploration activities.

Monitoring

Forest minerals personnel will monitor all phases of the operation to ensure compliance with

the plan of operations. A soil and water specialist will monitor operations to determine

implementation and effectiveness of limiting sediment production by applying soil and water

BMPs. Process water chemistry will be monitored to avoid chemical contamination of surface

water and groundwater. The Forest noxious weed plan for this project will determine if new

infestations have become established as a result of mining activities by requiring annual

inventory and monitoring of this mine site and access road for the duration of the mining

operation. Reclamation implementation and effectiveness will be also be monitored. Monitoring

plans can be found in the project record.

Rationale for Decision Based on my review of the proposal, EA, FONSI, public comments, and the project record, the

Selected Alternative achieves the purpose and need for this project. My rationale is based on

the following factors:

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• The Selected Alternative will allow development of mineral resources from this

historically mined site;

• The Selected Alternative will have a beneficial impact on wetlands; the road relocation

project will reclaim wetlands impacted by the existing road location.

• The Selected Alternative will protect water quality through project design features;

• Threatened and endangered species will not be adversely affected, nor will any species

move toward listing as threatened or endangered;

• The Selected Alternative will not affect any known archeological sites, nor historic

properties or areas.

My decision was guided by federal law and policy including the Mining Law of 1872, the

Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and regulations 36 CFR 228 subpart A that guide

the Forest Service management of the surface resource associated with mining.

The primary purpose for this decision was to respond to the operator's project proposal as

required in the 36 CFR 228 mining regulations. I carefully considered the scope of the project

and its potential effects to resources in the area. I have thoroughly reviewed the proposed

action and am satisfied that the project design features will fully address the concerns raised.

The action will not have an effect on extraordinary circumstances, including threatened and

endangered species. Project design features have been incorporated to ensure that there are

minimal impacts on potentially affect resources.

Forest Plan Consistency The action complies with direction in the 2003 Payette National Forest Plan to facilitate

development of minerals in an environmentally sound manner, to require mitigation and

reclamation of surface disturbances, and to integrate minerals project planning with other

resource management direction (LRIVIP, 111-48) The action is consistent with goals, objectives,

standards, and guidelines for all other potentially affected resources.

The cumulative effects analysis is consistent with direction in Council on Environmental Quality

(CEQ) Chairman Connaughton's memo of June 24, 2005, "Guidance on the Consideration of Past

Actions in Cumulative Effects Analysis." That memo interprets NEPA as requiring analysis of the

fI ••• identifiable present effects of past actions to the extent that they are relevant and useful in

analyzing whether the reasonably foreseeable effects of the agency proposal for action and its

alternatives may have a continuing, additive and significant relationship to those effects" (CEQ

2005, p. 1). It should be noted here that under 36 CFR 220 direction, only a brief summary of

these effects are actually displayed in the EA. Further detailed documentation of the effects

analysis can be found in the Project Record.

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Additionally, my decision is based on a review of the project record that shows a thorough

review of relevant scientific information, consideration of responsible opposing views, and the

acknowledgment of incomplete or unavailable information, scientific uncertainty, and risk.

Other Alternatives Considered One additional alternative was considered in the Calumet Placer & Bear Track Lode Mines

Project EA, Alternative A - No Action. I did not select Alternative A - No Action because it does

not address the purpose and need of the project.

Public Involvement The public involvement process began with a legal notice in The Star News on January 21, 2010

requesting comments on the proposal. The Forest also sent letters to 133 individuals, agencies,

and organizations. The public involvement effort combined the scoping period with the notice

and comment period for this project. Information concerning the proposal was posted on the

Payette National Forest web page and the project was included in the Payette's Schedule of

Proposed Actions. As a result of this effort, the Forest received comments from one state

agency, two organizations, and six individuals.

Tribal Consultation A letter and project description was sent to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes requesting comment

on the project. Formal consultation, in the form of a presentation, occurred with the Shoshone

Paiute Tribes of Duck Valley at the December 10, 2009 and February 11,2010 Wings and Roots

meetings. The Nez Perce Tribe was sent a consultation form describing the project along with

the complete scoping package sent to the public. The project was presented at the Nez Perce

Tribe - Payette National Forest staff to staff meeting on November 18, 2009. No tribal concerns

regarding this project were raised.

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) I have reviewed the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for significance (40 CFR

1508.27) and have determined that this decision is not a major Federal action that would

significantly affect the quality of the human environment, either individually or cumulatively.

have determined that preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to Section

102 (2) (c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 is not required. My determination is

based on the following factors, as outlined in 40 CFR 1508.27.

Context The Selected Alternative will be limited in geographic application [40 CFR 1508.27(a)]. Activities

associated with my decision will be confined to placer and hard rock mining on 4.8 acres of the

project area located in an area of historical mining operations in Township 22 North, Range 6

East, Sections 23 and 25, Boise Meridian, approximately three miles south of Warren, 10.

Further, because the Selected Alternative will be implemented on National Forest System land,

Forest Plan standards, guidelines and management direction are applicable.

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Intensity

1. My decision will not result in any significant effects. Impacts may be both beneficial

and adverse. A significant effect may exist even if the Federal agency believes that on

balance the effect will be beneficial. [40 CFR 150B.27{b) (1)}.

Both beneficial and adverse effects have been taken into consideration when making my

determination of significance. Based on my review of the analysis, I have determined that there

will be no significant effects associated with implementing the Selected Alternative (EA Chapter

3).

2. The Selected Alternative will not result in substantive effects on public health or

safety [40 CFR 150B.27{b)(2)].

This project was designed to reduce risks to public health and safety. To ensure public safety, a

locked and properly signed gate would be placed on the access road to prevent entry to the

mine site, and the operator will maintain the road sufficiently to prevent erosion of the road

surface (e.g., constructing water bars or rolling dips as appropriate). For these reasons, the

project will not result in substantive effects on public health or safety. Water quality standards

will be followed to assure any effects due to the project operations are within Federal and State

standards.

3. My decision will not result in any significant effects on any unique characteristics of

the geographic area, historic or cultural resources, park lands, prime farmlands,

wetlands, wild and scenic rivers, or ecologically critical areas [40 CFR 150B.27{b)(3)].

The Selected Alternative is not within any Inventoried Roadless Area, Wild and Scenic River

Corridor, Wilderness Area, or historic area. The project will be in an area that has been

previously disturbed by mining. The project has no effect on floodplain areas (EA Chapter 3) due

to the project design features to be implemented in the project area. There will be a small area

of wetland restoration associated with road relocation tied to the project which will have

beneficial effects. There are no park lands or prime farmlands in the project area.

4. The Selected Alternative will not result in any effects that are likely to be highly

controversial [40 CFR 150B.27{b) (4)].

Public scoping did not show the Selected Alternative to be highly controversial. Based on the

limited context of the project and my review of the public comments and the project analysis, I

do not find any controversial effects to the human environment. I have not been informed of

any substantial scientific controversy over the effects of the proposal.

5. The effects associated with the Selected Alternative will not result in any highly

uncertain, unique, or unknown risks [40 CFR 150B.27{b)(5)].

Based on my review of this project's analysiS (EA Chapter 3 and Specialists Reports in the Project

Record), I find that the possible effects on the human environment do not involve unique or

14


unknown risks. My determination is based on the use of best available data, the small scale of

the project, and similarity to other standard mining projects of a similar nature.

6. My decision does not establish a precedent for future actions with significant effects

nor does it represent a decision in principle about a future consideration [40 CFR

150B.27(b)(6)}.

The Calumet Placer and Bear Track Lodes Mine Project is a site-specific project that does notset

precedence for future actions or present a decision in principle about future considerations.

Any future action must be evaluated on its own merits and effects.

7. The analysis documented in the fA discloses that my decision will not result in any

significant short-term, long-term, or cumulative effects [40 CFR 150B.27(b)(7)j.

Short-term, long-term, and cumulative effects on the resources of concern are discussed in Chapter 3 of the EA and in the Specialist Reports in the Project Record . There will be no cumulatively significant effects on Water Quality, or Wildlife or Fish Habitat (EA Chapter 3). have reviewed the detailed information and analysis in the Project Record to support my decision.

B. My decision will not adversely affect sites or objects listed or eligible for listing in the

National Register of Historic Places, nor will it cause the loss or destruction of significant

scientific, cultural, or historic resources [40 CFR 150B.27(b)(B)j.

The area has been surveyed by Payette National Forest Heritage personnel and a report sent to

the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The Forest Archaeologist has determined that

there would be no adverse effects to cultural resources from permitting implementation of the

PoO. All historic properties would be protected by avoidance. Annual monitoring of eligible

historic properties would occur for the duration of the mining activity. SHPO has concurred with

the Forest Archaeologist's determination that the proposed project would not affect historic

properties.

9. My decision will not adversely affect threatened or endangered species or their

habitats [40 CFR 150B.27(b)(9)].

No threatened or endangered fish, wildlife, or plant species or their habitat will be adversely

affected by my decision (EA Chapter 1, Other Issues and Chapter 3; and the Biological

Assessment/Evaluations for Fish, Wildlife, and Plants located in the project record).

10. My decision is consistent with Federal, State, and local laws and requirements

imposed for the pratection of the environment [40 CFR 150B.27(b)(10)].

The project meets the above requirements imposed for the protection of the environment and

meets disclosure requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. Chapters 1 and 3 of

the EA summarize findings related to major environmental and other related laws. The project

complies with Executive Order 12898 (Environmental Justice).

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Findings Required by Other Laws and Regulations My decision will comply with all applicable laws and regulations. I have summarized some

pertinent ones below.

National Historic Preservation Act, American Indian Religious Freedom Act, and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act: This decision complies with the cited acts as

described above.

Endangered Species Act: The Forest Botanist, District Wildlife Biologist, and District Fisheries Biologist evaluated the proposed action in regards to the Endangered Species Act. Biological Evaluations/Assessments are located in the Project Record .

National Forest Management Act: In accordance with the National Forest Management Act and accompanying regulations the action is consistent with the 2003 Forest Plan, including Forestwide and Management Area direction.

National Environmental Policy Act: This Act requires public involvement and consideration of

potential environmental effects. The entirety of documentation for this decision supports

compliance with this Act.

Appeal Opportunities My decision is subject to administrative appeal pursuant to 36 CFR 215, only by those individuals and organizations who provided comments during the previous comment period. The appeal must meet the requirements at 36 CFR 215.14.

The appeal must be filed with the Appeal Deciding Officer, Suzanne C. Rainville, Payette National Forest Supervisor. Appeals filed by regular mail or express delivery must be sent to:

Appeal Deciding Officer

Intermountain Regional Office

324 25th Street

Ogden, Utah 84401

Hand delivered appeals must be submitted to the Appeal Deciding Officer at the above address between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM MST, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Appeals may also be submitted via fax at (801) 625-5277.

Electronic appeals must be submitted in a rich text format (.rtf) or Microsoft Word (.doc) format or as an email messageto:[email protected]. In cases where no identifiable name is attached to an electronic message, a verification of identify will be required. A scanned signature is one way to provide verification.

Appeals, including attachments, must be filed within 45 days from the publication date of the legal notice of decision in The Star News, the newspaper of record, McCall, Idaho. Attachments postmarked or received after the 45-day appeal period will not be considered . The publication date in The Star News, newspaper of record, is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an appeal. Those wishing to appeal this decision should not rely upon dates or timeframes provided by any other source.

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mailto:messageto:[email protected]


Implementation of the Decision If no appeals are filed within the 45-day time period, implementation of my decision may occur on, but not before, the 5th business day from the close of the appeal filing period. When appeals are filed, implementation may occur on, but not before, the 15th business day following the date of the last appeal disposition.

Contact Person, Signature, and Date For further information or a copy of the Calumet Placer & Bear Track Lode Mines Project EA and DN/FONSI, please contact Sue Dixon, Payette National Forest, 800 West Lakeside Avenue, McCall, 1083638; Telephone: 208-634-0435, Fax: 208-634-0433.

~-£, tfA%~4L Date

District Ranger McCall Ranger District

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