Decision and Rationale

It is my decision to move forward with the Airport Urban Wildfire Reduction Project.

This project is located on the Coconino National Forest, Peaks and Mormon Lake Ranger Districts. The project area surrounds the Pulliam Airport, Pine Dale and Skunk Hollow subdivisions and is south of Ponderosa Trails, Bow and Arrow, Bennet Estates and Aspen Shadows subdivision. New developments planned adjacent to the project area include Coconino Community College, Zuni Heights and Fairway Peaks.

The following document describes the management scenario for the "Airport Project Area" (1,922 acres), which is an area that the Grand Canyon Forest Partnership is focusing their efforts on in the years 2000 and 2001 The Airport project has been studied and it has been determined there are no extraordinary circumstances or effects which would require preparation of an EA or EIS. This project is categorically excluded under 1909.15 Sec. 31.2 category 6. Documenation is located in a case file in the Peaks Ranger District Office.

This decision will allow the Peaks Ranger District to take advantage of funding that is available in the current fiscal year (FY 2001) to continue Wildland Urban Interface Wildfire Reduction work this summer and fall.

Purpose and Need

The purpose of this project is to reduce fuel loading, fuel ladders, and overall fire hazard within the project area.

Resource managers have evaluated the Airport project area and are concerned about areas of moderate to extreme fire potential. Slope, aspect, fuel loading (dead and down material), laddering potential (height from the ground to the first live limb of trees), and tree density are all factors, which affect fire potential. Slope and aspect are not factors that can be changed but dictate at what levels fuel loading, laddering potential and tree density might best be managed to lower fire potential in a given area. The Airport project specifically will reduce wildfire potential to adjacent private property to the subdivisions and developments described above.

In order to improve ecological processes and reduce the risk of catastrophic fire in the Airport Project Area, the Grand Canyon Forests Partnership proposes the following strategies to meet project objectives:

Specific Management Planned

Apply thinning and fire prescriptions to treat stands totaling 1,922 acres as follows:

1. Intermediate thinning: Small ponderosa pine predominately less than 12" diameter breast height (dbh) will be thinned wihin homogenous, young, dense stands. Approximately 850 acres that are considered high potential for wildfire will be thinned. This prescription will lower the wildfire potential from high to moderate and in some areas decrease fire potential to low, providing for increased protection to hundreds of homes bordering Forest Service land. Thinning will follow the standards set by the successful treatments as demonstrated at the Elden thinning project, and north of Lake Mary Road in the vicinity of Skunk Hollow. Trees that are fire ladders into larger trees will be removed. Stands will generally be thinned to a 40 to 120 basal area. The final result will be a discontinuous clumped, higher canopy stand with greatly reduced ladder fuels.

   feathering adjacent to private land: The Forest Service will consider landowner wishes within a 150 foot area immediately adjacent to private land. Within this 150 foot area, we may leave more trees based on land owner input.

2. Broadcast burning: Conduct burning of low inensity on 1,922 acres. Burning to remove slash may occur concurrently with broadcast burning. Smoke management will be coordinated through ADEQ and locally with Pulliam Airport operations.
3. Thinning treatments: Apply thinning systems to the sites shwn below as follows:
   • Mechanized systems on a total of 850 acres.
   • Trees would be hand-felled and firewood use is anticipated for some portion of the 850 acres.
   • All old growth trees will be maintained throughout all areas treated.
   • Only trees less than 1 inches dbh and less will be thinned.

   

4. Slash treatments: Apply fuel treatment methods within treatment areas as follows:
   • Rough pile and windrow thinning generated slash or;
   • Hand pile slash or;
   • Chip slash.
   • Prescribed fire may occur concurrent with burning slash.
5. Prescribed fire: Use prescribed fire on 1,922 acres as follows:
   • Prescribed ground/grass fire using qualified fire personnel will be implemented every five to fifteen years to reduce ground fuels and to increase the distance from the ground to potentially flammable tree canopies.
   • Follow prescribed burning prescription as specified in burn plan.
   • Protect snags and large old growth yellow pines during burning.
6. Roads: No new road construction will be needed. All areas are currently accessible through existing roads. Some blading, surfacing and drainage work may be needed to use existing roads. Some temporary road construction may be needed to access areas on the west side of the airport.

Public Involvement

This project has been listed on the Coconino Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) starting in February of 2000 and all-subsequent issues. The SOPA is mailed to approximately 500 addresses. Four organizations wrote letters in response to the SOPA asking to receive any NEPA documents related to this project. They were Forest Conservation Council, National Forest Protection Alliance, Center for Biological Diversity and Forest Guardians. A copy of this NEPA document will be mailed to these four organizations as requested. A public meeting was held July 24, 2000 to discuss the project. One person attended the open house and was supportive of the project. On February 1, 2001 a legal notice was published in reference to a letter requesting public comment in response to a court decision requiring the Forest Service to implement notice, comment, and appeal procedures for projects that implement prescribed burning, (Application of Notice, Comment and Appeal Procedures for Certain Projects and Activities - Federal Register, October 17, 200, Volume 65, Number 201). Two letters and one E-Mail were received during this comment period. One of the letters and the E-Mail expressed support for the project and one raised numerous questions and concerns. Later the settlement agreement to provide for notice and opportunity to comment pursuant to 36 CFR 215.4(b) was vacated and is no longer in effect. Though the Forest Service was instructed not to respond to letters received during this comment period (as described in a legal notice, Notice of Change in Forest Service Notice, Comment and Appeal requirements for the Airport Fuels Reduction Project, April 26, 2001), the letter expressing concerns was reviewed to determine if significant issues had been raised that would affect the level of NEPA documentation for the Airport Project. This review determined that there were no significant issues raised that were within the scope of the Airport Project. These letters are located in the Project Record.

Findings Required by Other Laws

The areas under this decision are located in Management Area 3 as detailed in the Coconino Forest Plan and actions are consistent with the Standards and Guidelines of the Plan and all amendments. These activities are also consistent with Regional and National Forest Service direction, and all Arizona State and Federal laws.

There are no effects to threatened and endangered species and a BA&E has been prepared. The cultural resource clearance is completed for this project with concurrence from the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO).

Implementation

This project may be implemented immediately. It is anticipated the project will begin in the fall of 2001.

Appeal
This decision is not subject to appeal pursuant to 36 CFR 215.

Contact Person
For more information contact Tammy Randall-Parker - Team Leader, Peaks Ranger Station 928-527-8254.

GENE WALDRIP
District Ranger

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