Plan of Development for a Fiber Optic Cable Line use on National Forest System Lands

General Guidance:

• The Standard Form (SF) 299 is required to process proposals for Special Use Authorizations on National Forest System lands.

• Proponents should batch all proposals together, if possible, into one large proposal.

• Separate authorizations are required when co-locating on an existing powerline infrastructure (one permit for powerline, one permit for fiber optic).

• If co-locating on an existing powerline infrastructure, a letter of consent from the energy provider is required.

• If the proposed use will be placed within a public road right-of-way, a letter of consent is required from that public road entity (county or state) to ensure there are no conflicts with the existing use.

• The Forest Service requires clear, understandable maps and Geographic Information System (GIS) data. Maps must show Forest Service lands, which can be found on the Geodata Clearinghouse. 

  • The only acceptable GIS data format is an ESRI File Geodatabase, ESRI Shapefiles, or a published feature layer in ArcGIS Online. Google earth (KMZ files) or other forms of data will not be accepted.

  • Maps and GIS dates must follow the mapping requirements (see mapping requirements).

SF-299:

Please answer each question on the SF-299 and include the following information in your plan of development proposal submission. It is acceptable to attach additional pages to the SF-299, if needed.

1. Purpose and Need of the Facilities:

   1. What is the proposed use (what will be installed or constructed, number of poles, etc.)?

   2. Describe the need.

   3. What alternatives were considered? Why must the use occur on National Forest System lands?

      1. If alternatives exist, please list them and explain why they were not selected.

   4. Is the proposed fiber optic line to be buried or above ground?

   5. Is the proposed fiber optic line to be alongside existing roads or through previously disturbed areas?

   6. What is the size of proposed right-of-way area (length and width, include depth if buried)? If poles are proposed, include height and class of poles. Forest Service policy is a width of 10 feet minimum.  If additional width is requested, please justify.

   7. How many acres of ground disturbance are in this proposal? Include installation of fiber optic cable, staging areas, and access roads. Is this an entirely new fiber optic line or upgrade of existing authorized line?

   8. Can this use be co-located on existing powerline infrastructure (permit is still required)? If yes, please explain and list who owns the infrastructure. Provide a letter of consent from the primary special use authorization holder for all aerial or underground placement.

   9. Will the public be impacted by the proposed installation or construction? If yes, describe.

      1. Will there be construction near recreation sites, will it be necessary to temporarily close public roads? Include a plan to ensure public safety.

   10. Will there be impacts to any Forest Service roads? If yes, please list and describe the impacts.

2. Design Factors:

   1. List all design factors to be considered, such as ancillary uses, staging areas for equipment, guy-lines for poles, structures, junction boxes, etc.

   2. Provide typical drawings for the types of facilities to be placed (poles, anchors, handholes, etc.). (see #5).

   3. Are there any temporary uses associated with construction or installation? If so, please list.

3. Existing authorization:

   1. Do you currently have an existing authorization? If yes, please list the Authorization ID number.

   2. List any planned future proposals on this Forest Service unit (forest and ranger district). If the planned work cannot be consolidated into one proposal, explain why.

4. Other Concerns:

   1. Will there be potential conflicts with other users, such as powerlines, utilities, or roads?

   2. Will you lease out the fiber optic line? If yes, to whom?

5. Right-of-Way Location, Maps and Drawings:

   1. Written description of location (list road names, County, bodies of water, etc.).

   2. Drawings of typical poles, if applicable.

   3. Engineering design drawings and/or standards for structures, roads and drainage (if applicable).

   4. Legal description of the facility (T/R/S with the quarter quarter for each section) and/or GPS coordinates.  Refer to the U.S Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management – Specifications for Description of Land 2017 for the proper format for a land description.

   5. Include GIS data, per instructions above.

   6. Include a map of the overall area of disturbance, identifying how many acres of land will be disturbed in the proposal.

   7. Include access needs (temporary and permanent) on maps and in the GIS data.

6. Construction or Installation of Facilities:

   1. Will a helicopter be required to install improvements? If so, designate the flight routes on a map.

   2. What is your construction or installation schedule?

      1. Include duration of work.

   3. Describe the method of work or construction.

      1. What type of machinery?

      2. Size of work force and number of vehicles.

   4. Will you be wanting to flag or stake the right-of-way?

   5. Describe any clearing or grading needs.

      1. Are you proposing to clear trees? If yes, how many trees are you proposing to remove? How many acres of tree removal are you proposing?

   6. Are any above-ground structures being proposed? If so, describe.

      1. Will geo-technical boring be necessary?

   7. Are there any access needs to and along the right-of-way during construction?

      1. Are the access needs temporary or permanent?

      2. Provide plans and description of proposed road construction.

   8. You must provide a safety plan for initial construction and continued operation.

   9. Will there be any industrial waste or toxic substances placed on Forest Service lands permanently or for the duration of construction?

      1. If yes, include a containment plan.

   10. Contingency Planning:

       1. Please list proponent (give multiple alternates, if possible) and contractor contact information.

7. Resource Values and Environmental Concerns:

   1. Anticipated conflicts with resources or public health and safety:

      1. Air, noise, geologic hazards, mineral and energy resources, paleontological resources, soils, water, vegetation, wildlife, threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, visual resources, other projects, recreation activities, or wilderness.

      2. The locations, if any, of environmental, cultural, and historic resources.

8. Stabilization and Rehabilitation:

   1. Will you need to implement erosion control measures?

   2. Describe the area that will need reseeding or revegetation.

9. Operation and Maintenance:

   1. Will you need access to the right-of-way in all seasons for construction and/or operation?

      1. What type of access (full sized vehicle, UTV, etc.)?

      2. What are your long-term access needs?

   2. Will operational access to the site require a helicopter?

   3. Will industrial waste or toxic substances be placed on Forest Service lands after construction has been completed?

   4. Provide your inspection, maintenance, or work schedules.

   5. Will there be signage or above ground markers? If yes, share an example.

   6. Contingency planning- please supply multiple alternate contacts.

   7. What fire control measures do you practice?

Appendices (if applicable)-

1. Access Road Siting and Management Plan.

2. Biological Resource Protection Measures.

3. Cultural Resources and Protection Plan.

4. Paleontological Resources.

5. Visual Resources Plan.

6. Water Resources Plan.

7. Environmental Monitoring and Compliance Plan.

8. Blasting Plan.

9. Dust Control and Air Quality Plan.

10. Emergency Preparedness Plan.

11. Fire Plan.

12. Flagging, Fencing and Signage Plan.

13. Geotechnical Plan.

14. Hazardous Materials Management and Oil Spill Plan.

15. Health, Safety and Noise Plans.

16. Reclamation Plan.

17. Storm Water Management Plan.

18. Traffic and Transportation Management Plan.

19. Noxious Weed Plan.

20. Operations, Maintenance and Vegetation management.

21. Permits and Authorizations Plan.

22. Right of Way Legal Descriptions.

23. Map Atlas - Maps with footprint of fiber optic line (7.5 min topographic maps or equivalent to include references to Public Land Survey system).

24. 30% Design Drawings - Initial design drawings of fiber optic line and ancillary facilities.  These initial design drawings will typically be a 30% Engineering and Civil Design package to adequately describe the proposed project and evaluate the design considerations for soils, drainage and watershed management.

Additional Supplementary Information will be required from the applicant to prepare the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis and complete the review process but is not required to be submitted with the initial plan of development. This information may be filed after the publication of a Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (if required) but is required before the Forest Service can complete the environmental analysis. This information is developed as further data is gathered on-site and as alternative designs and mitigation measures are incorporated into a final plan of development. Other environmental data and inventory information (including but not limited to cultural resources, sensitive species and other biological data) will also be required to be collected by the applicant to prepare the NEPA analysis.

Engineering and Civil Design

1. Facility survey and design drawing standards.

2. Final engineering and civil design packages for all facilities and ancillary facilities that incorporate all mitigation measures developed in the NEPA analysis and incorporated into the final plan of development.

3. Watershed and drainage analysis and calculations.

4. Watershed protection and erosion control design drawings.

5. Final site grading plans.