Projects

Physical closure of identified mine hazards across multiple districts oof the Custer-Gallatin National Forest.

The Custer Gallatin AML program proposes to close four abandoned mine features across the Gardiner Ranger District in 2021. These sites consist of open adits and shafts that pose a physical safety hazard to the general public on NFS administered land

The proposal is to restore the flow of Armstrong to its pre-flood channel with a diversion installation.

Restore and improve resiliency in forested and non-forested ecosystems within the Ash Creek Fire and other fires that have occurred within the last 25 to 30 years from Highway 212 to the northern most boundary of the Ashland Ranger District.

Planting of Ponderosa pine seedlings in deforested areas due to wildfire in 2000.

Dispose of logs decks created from Burned Area Emergency Rehabilitation efforts that felled hazard trees. Also, w/in 150' each side of certain roads hazard trees w/in the Ash Creek Fire area will be felled, skided, decked & disposed by various means.

Proposal to restore aspen through a variety of tools across the entire forest as funding and opportunity permits

Proposal to restore aspen throught a variety of tools across the entire forest as funding and opportunity permits

Remove hazard trees in campground area. Trees impacted from insect and disease may be removed for firewood or commercial product.

Protect the municipal watershed and treatment plant from excessive sediment or ash associated with severe fire and reduce the risk of a crown fire in the urban interface immediately north of the Forest boundary.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP), Custer Gallatin National Forest (CGNF) are jointly proposing to restore native Yellowstone cutthroat trout to the Buffalo Creek drainage in the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness

The Forest is processing a Small Tracts Act (STA) conveyance in the West Boulder.

It is proposed to construct a concrete barrier of adequate height and gradient to prevent the continued invasion of rainbow trout into the headwaters of the Cabin Creek Drainage

Closure of all identified hazardous mine openings across multiple districts on Gallatin and Custer National Forests

The Custer Gallatin National Forest is undergoing Forest Plan Revision. The Forest Plan is a comprehensive overarching document that guides forest management, use, and protection providing broad direction, standards and guidelines for years to come.

The primary purpose is to reduce fuel loadings in the East Boulder Corridor to reduce the probability and intensity of a severe wildfire, public and fftr safety,safety of employees at the East Boulder Mine, evacuation and secondary goals.

This is to study six open grazing allotments and determine if reauthorization of grazing is warranted

The East Rosebud Road #2177 was damage in 2022 flood event. Summer '23 road was repaired and section of temp constructed. This project will improve the temporary road to a permanent road, and replace the temporary bridge with a permanent bridge.

To restore ecotonal habitats- aspen, whitebark & limber pine, meadow/ grassland & forest interface riparian areas, woody draws, & montane ponderosa pine- where assessment (App. A), shows a departure from desired conditions & can support restoration.

USFS has filed an application with BLM requesting that the Secretary of Interior withdraw for a 20-year term approx 30,370 acres of NFS lands from location and entry under US mining laws.

Revise Standard A-10 of the Gallatin Travel Plan to allow for bicycles on winter motorized trails.

The proposal is to move a short section of Road 642 from private land onto national forest in the NE corner of Sec 16 and rejoin the original road location. This will improve the location and maintenance, move it away from the stream, avoid pvt land

The proposal would remove outdated, ineffective and/or unclear standards and other direction from the Gallatin National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (i.e. Forest Plan)

The Forest Service was a cooperating agency, assisting the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in that Agency's geothermal leasing analysis and decision. The BLM issued a record of decision on 12/17/2008.

Fuels reduction within the wildland urban interface (WUI). Increase the diversity of vegetation, including aspen and deciduous riparian species. Manage for resilient conditions in face of large disturbance events.

Exploratory core drilling for locatable minerals at 35 sites over the course of seven years in the Iron Mountain and Chrome Mountain area of the East Boulder Plateau on Beartooth and Yellowstone Ranger Districts.

The proposed action is to authorize, through a special use permit, the construction, operation, and maintenance of a Fire Station for a single fire engine to enhance and extend coverage for wildland fire response by the Hebgen Basin Fire District.

Exploratory drilling to assess mineral presence at 9 sites on existing roads and 3 helicopter sites in Emigrant Creek area. Total ground disturbance of approximately 0.3 acres.

Master Plan development and conversion of obsolete Special Use Permit to current format for the Miminagish Organization Church Camp in the Main Boulder canyon, Yellowstone Ranger District

Request for motorized access to private property adjacent to Hebgen Lake in T. 12 S., R. 5 E., Sec. 18, approximately 425' x 40'. Road would be improved into gravel surface for year-round vehicular travel.

Install buried fiber-optic cable capable of providing broadband technologies to underserved areas of Gallatin County, Montana.

Removal and replacement of two bridges to meet Forest Service standards to accommodate foot traffic only. Bridges at Mystic Trail mile 3.3 and 3.7 from West Rosebud Trailhead. Project expected to take 10 days.

This analysis identifies the visitor use capacity on National Forest System lands only, on the Nez Perce National Historic Trail to assist in the protection and management of trail resources.

The Forest Service proposes to provide a non-motorized trail from the Nichols Creek Trail #110 West Fork Road #2071 terminus to the Palisades Campground gate using .75 miles of existing non-system roads and 1.25 miles of new trail construction

The primary purpose and need for the Nichols Creek Road Reconstruction Project is to address road conditions that are causing resource degradation. The project responds to direction provided in the Custer Gallatin National Land Management Plan (2020)

Construct a non-motorized trail from Nichols Creek drainage to the base of the RLM ski area. The proposed trail would begin approximately 1.3 miles at the southern terminus of the Nicholas Creek road #2478 and would end approx. 2.25 at base of RLM.

Intermediate and/or regeneration harvest to reduce the risk or extent of, and increase the resiliency to insect and disease infestation while providing wood products to local mills.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP), Custer Gallatin National Forest (CGNF) and a private landowner are jointly proposing to restore native westslope cutthroat trout to the headwaters of the N FK Spanish Cr drainage in the Spanish Peaks.

Fuels reduction in the wildland-urban interface, wildlife hab improvement in aspen, whitebark pine,forest health treatments etc. Treatment methods include harvest or removal of commercial size and noncommercial trees with machinery,by hand,pres burn

Northwestern Energy has requested to convert 2.25 miles of overhead line to underground line along Highway 191 south from Big Sky, MT. The project is from just north of Red Cliff Campground south along Highway 191 to north of big sky shooting range

Proposal to upgrade the existing 69kV line to a 161 kV line

This request is to install a standard SNOTEL facility, consisting of a total 1,500' footprint. Facilities include 4'x 4 shelter, 2 vertical towers, 1 12" diameter precipitation gage; 1 10' diameter snow pillow.

The proposed action is analysis the environmental effects of authorizing, through a special use permit, the operation and maintenance of the Red Cliff Shooting Range by an responsible club or other community entity.

Convert 9.25 miles, from the West Yellowstone city limit to Reas Pass, of the abandoned Oregon Short Line rail bed into a bike path that can be used by all skill levels.

The Petrichs would construct a new road crossing a corner of National Forest System (NFS) lands for a distance of 100 feet in length x 50 feet wide to access private property. In exchange the Forest Service would receive administrative access to NF.

Salvage harvest up to 250 ac. of fire-killed ponderosa pine in the general vicinity of Whitetail Cabin and Holiday Campground.

The Forest Service will construct approximately 9 miles of new trail principally located on NFS land with permanent easements secured where the proposed new trail crosses private lands. The new section of trail will become the Porcupine Ibex Trail.

Pursue the Powerline Road as legal permanent access into the northern portion of the Pryor Mountain land unit of the Beartooth Ranger District.

Project Telephone proposes to install fiber line both where an existing right-of-way(ROW) is authorized and in new ROW adjacent to Highway 419 near Nye, MT. New ROW would be total of 4,832' x 20'(2.2 acres). If approved, permit would be amended.

The US would convey 590 acres to Shooting Star Ranch (SSR) in 2 parcels adjacent to SSR lands. The US would acquire 583 acres of private land in the Slip & Slide (Rigler Ranch) area. These lands adjoin NFS land and Montana FWP land.

Range Telephone proposes to install fiber optic cable along approximately 3.16 miles of the 10 mile road. 2.8 miles of this work will be within existing Range Telephone right-of-way and a new right-of-way will be established for .36 miles (20') width

Reduce wildfire behavior and provide a safer environment to conduct wildfire suppression. Treat 2,100 acres through commercial harvest, small tree treatments such as cutting/piling, prescribed fire, with 5 mi temp road construction/decommissioning.

An exchange of Federal and non-Federal lands of approximately equal value, located within and near the ski area permit boundary. The exchange also includes the proposed acquisition of trail easements to improve public access to nearby NFS lands.

Tractor logging, skid trails, burn slash piles

A concrete fish barrier will be constructed at an existing crossing of the Shields River at the Shields River Campground to secure approximately 25 miles of habitat for Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

SSMC East Boulder Mine proposes expanding the existing TSF an additional 14 ft. elevation using the same construction and operation methods as approved in stages 1 to 5. Final crest elevation is designed at 6,344 feet.

Sibanye-Stillwater Mining Company is proposing exploratory drilling at up to thirty-six drill sites over a six year period in the Iron Creek area and a single drill site in the area of the West Fork of the Stillwater River.

Installation of two groundwater monitoring wells at SMC's East Boulder Mine to collect baseline groundwater quality/quantity data north of the East Boulder River in the Dry Fork Drainage.

Reduce the risk or extent of, or increase resilience to, insect or disease infestations in the area by improving resiliency of stand structure, function and composition; also reduce wildfire risk to local communities and federal lands in the WUI.

Thin approximately 250 acres of mature/over mature forest vegetation on NFS lands adjacent to Bridger Bowl to a basal area ranging between 80 and 100 square feet per acre.

South Cinnamon grazing allotment fence installation and relocation and stock tank relocation

The Forest Service is proposing to exchange approximately 3,225 acres of National Forest System lands for approximately 3,797 acres of non-Federal lands located in south central Montana, northeast of Livingston and northwest of Big Timber.

Update the allotment managment plan for South Fork and Watkins Allotments. Analyze issues associated with cattle grazing ( 69 cow/calf pair). Currently there are 15 pair in the South Fork Allotment and 55 pair in the Watkins Allotment 7/1-9/30

GNF/MT FWP jointly propose restore native westslope cutthroat trout to headwaters of the S FK. Sixteenmile Cr. drainage. Project is three phases:1) construction of an upstream migration barrier to isolate area streams from the future invasion of non-

The proposed project is to help restore and maintain the structure, function, composition and ecological connectivity of the forest landscape in order to increase resiliency to future natural disturbance events like wildfire, insects, and disease.

Intermediate and regeneration harvest to reduce the risk or extent of and increase the resiliency to insect and disease infestation while providing wood products to local mills. Reduce fuels to increase fire suppression effectiveness and safety.

Geotechnical drilling at one site to evaluate whether the proposed project location is suitable for a future ventilation raise

Stillwater Mining Company has proposed constructing an exploration portal connected to an underground decline and related surface support facilities on National Forest System lands in the Benbow area approximately 4 miles southwest of Dean, MT

Exploratory core drilling proposed and reclamation at 8 drill sites accessed via helicopter. Up to five holes would be drilled at each site. Total proposed ground disturbance is approximately 0.3 acres.

Determine bonding and management practices necessary once mine ceases operations. (Was formerly listed as East Boulder Mine Post Closure Water Management Plan and BOE Ranch LAD Alternative). Peter Werner is Gallatin NF contact.

Storm Castle Allotment Section 18 Review and Finding Documentatin Supplemental Information

Use of mgmt tools:planned fire,wildland fire use,hand/mechanical thinning,pile burning,conifer/shrub planting $ seeding of native grasses and forbs to enhance/maintain resiliency of vegetative /ecological conditions in areas burned by 2006 Derby Fire

Manage this fire adapted ecosystem towards a mosaic of forest, woody draw, & grassland vegetation that restores & improves ecosystem resiliency. Use commercial timber harvest, prescribed fire, and non-commercial treatments to achieve this outcome.

Maintenance and reconstruction of Hyalite Canyon Road #62, Hyalite Canyon South Road #620, East Fork Hyalite Road #6280, and recreation enhancements such as campground road improvements, additional parking, and paving of some trailheads.

Request for motorized access to private property along Wolverine Cut-off trail #323 and existing non-system two-track road. If authorized, entire length of authorized access would be 2 miles, with a 20 foot width.

Realignment of 1.6 miles of road in the Deer Creek Travel Plan analysis unit.

WYSEF proposes to construct a warehouse/groomer shed for equipment in support of the Rendezvous Ski Trails System. Approximate building footprint would be 72' by 45'. WYSEF would operate and maintain the facility for the duration of the permit.

The tests objectives are to evaluate the durability of seven rust resistance traits under natural inoculum, the effective population size, and other environmental agents such as insects, disease, drought and cold snaps.

This project will involve mechanical, non-commercial removal of non-whitebark conifers from stands that contain or are directly adjacent to live whitebark pine trees and prescribed burns within conifer stands that contain beetle-killed whitebark pine

At Holiday Campground and Whitetail Rental Cabin, there is an immediate & long-term need to address safety concerns posed to the public from trees directly/indirectly killed &/or made unstable from Ash Creek Fire.

This FAA Project will improve the Yellowstone Airport terminal & surrounding infrastructure and authorize the placement of water and sewer lines across NFS lands from town in order to serve the Airport and the West Yellowstone Interagency Fire Cente