Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
07/01/2022 to 09/30/2022
Custer Gallatin National Forest

This report contains the best available information at the time of publication. Questions may be directed to the Project Contact.
Report Contents (click to jump to a section) :
-  Projects Occurring Nationwide
-  Projects Occurring in more than one Region (excluding Nationwide)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Custer Gallatin National Forest,  Ashland Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Custer Gallatin National Forest,  Beartooth Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Custer Gallatin National Forest,  Bozeman Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Custer Gallatin National Forest,  Gardiner Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Custer Gallatin National Forest,  Hebgen Lake Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R1 - Northern Region, Custer Gallatin National Forest,  Yellowstone Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

Projects Occurring Nationwide  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Locatable Mining Rule - 36 CFR 228, subpart A.
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  On Hold  N/A  N/A Sarah Shoemaker
907-586-7886
sarahshoemaker@fs.fed.us 
Description: The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes revisions to its regulations at 36 CFR 228, Subpart A governing locatable minerals operations on National Forest System lands.A draft EIS & proposed rule should be available for review/comment in late 2020
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57214
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - Not Applicable. These regulations apply to all NFS lands open to mineral entry under the US mining laws. More Information is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/geology/minerals/locatable-minerals/current-revisions.
Nationwide Aerial Application of Fire Retardant on National Forest System Land.
EIS
 - Regulations, Directives, Orders  In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 08/08/2020
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 02/2022  		Expected:06/2022
  		07/2022 Laura Conway
406-802-4317
laura.conway@usda.gov 
Description: Programmatic Supplemental EIS for the Nationwide Aerial Application of Fire Retardant on National Forest System Land.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60450
Location: UNIT - All Districts-level Units. STATE - All States. COUNTY - All Counties. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The direction in the SEIS will apply to use of aerially delivered fire retardant on all National Forest System land. .
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Projects Occurring in more than one Region (excluding Nationwide)  

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Nez Perce National Historic Trail Visitor Use Capacity Analysis
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Recreation management
- Heritage resource management 		 In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 06/03/2022  		Expected:10/2022
  		11/2022 Sandra Broncheau-Mcfarland
208-843-2353
sandra.broncheau-mcfarland@usda.gov 
Description: 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.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62223
Location: UNIT - Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest All Units, Bitterroot National Forest All Units, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest All Units, Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest All Units, Salmon-Challis National Forest All Units, Custer Gallatin National Forest All Units, Shoshone National Forest All Units, Caribou-Targhee National Forest All Units, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest All Units. STATE - Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming. COUNTY - Clark, Clearwater, Fremont, Idaho, Lemhi, Lewis, Nez Perce, Beaverhead, Blaine, Carbon, Chouteau, Fergus, Gallatin, Golden Valley, Lewis and Clark, Missoula, Phillips, Ravalli, Stillwater, Wheatland, Yellowstone, Asotin, Wallowa, Park, Teton. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The Nez Perce National Historic Trail is approximately 2,184 miles, extending from the vicinity of Wallowa Lake in eastern Oregon to the Bear Paw Battlefield, about 16 miles south of Chinook, MT.
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Custer Gallatin National Forest,   Ashland Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Range Telephone 10 Mile Road Fiber upgrade
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 04/14/2022  06/2022 Ronald Hecker
701-842-2393
rhecker@fs.fed.us 
Description: 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
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59784
Location: UNIT - Ashland Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Powder River. LEGAL - T. 4 S., R. 46 E., Sec. 31, 32, 33; T. 5 S., R. 46 E., Sec. 1, 2, 3, 4. Southeast of Ashland, MT east of Highway 484 on the 10 Mile Road.
South Otter Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 01/13/2021
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 06/2022  		Expected:12/2022
  		03/2023 Daniel Pliley
4065876892
Daniel.Pliley@usda.gov 
Description: 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.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58396
Location: UNIT - Ashland Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Powder River, Rosebud. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The project area lies in Powder River and Rosebud Counties, bounded on the east, west, and south by the district boundary and on the northeast by Ten Mile Road and northwest by district boundary.
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Custer Gallatin National Forest,   Beartooth Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
East Rosebud Creek Wild and Scenic River (WSR) Comprehensive River Management Plan (CRMP)
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Land management planning
- Special area management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 10/2022  		Expected:02/2024  03/2024 Sarah Browne
505-414-3301
sarah.browne@usda.gov 
Description: The project will develop a management plan and establish final boundaries to facilitate the protection and enhancement of scenery, geology, and recreation outstandingly remarkable values for the designated East Rosebud Creek Wild and Scenic River.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61902
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The designated East Rosebud Creek Wild and Scenic River is located in the Beartooth Ranger District starting in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and continuing until the creek enters private property (excluding East Rosebud Lake).
Project Telephone Fiber line installation
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 05/16/2022  06/2022 Adam McClory
208-301-8224
adam.mcclory@usda.gov 
Description: 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.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61740
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Stillwater. LEGAL - T. 5 S., R. 15 E., Sections 21, 28, 29, 32. Located south-west of Nye, MT along Highway 419 in T. 5 S., R. 15 E., Sections 21, 28, 29, and 32.
Red Lodge Mountain Fuels Project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Fuels management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 06/2022  		Expected:12/2022  06/2023 Drew Grimes
406-446-4528
drew.grimes@usda.gov 
Description: 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.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62354
Location: UNIT - Beartooth Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Carbon. LEGAL - T 7 S/R 19 E, T 7 S/R 20 E, T 8 S/R 19 E, T 8 S/R 20 E. Approx 2 mi west of Red Lodge, MT. Along Forest Service boundary extending north from West Fork Rock Creek, within/adjacent to Red Lodge Mountain Ski Area, and surrounding Timbercrest recreation area.
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Custer Gallatin National Forest,   Bozeman Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Hyalite Shooting Restriction
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Regulations, Directives, Orders
- Recreation management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 06/2022  		Expected:10/2022  10/2022 Corey Lewellen
406-522-2531
corey.lewellen@usda.gov 
Description: Prohibition on discharging a firearm, air rifle or gas gun within the Hyalite Drainage.
Location: UNIT - Bozeman Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Gallatin. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The Hyalite Drainage approximately 13 miles south of Bozeman, Montana.
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Custer Gallatin National Forest,   Gardiner Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Buffalo Creek Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (YCT) Conservation Project
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  In Progress:
Objection Period Legal Notice 06/12/2022  		Expected:07/2022
  		08/2022 Clint Sestrich
406-823-6985
csestrich@fs.fed.us 
Description: 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
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59630
Location: UNIT - Gardiner Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Park. LEGAL - T 8S, R 12E (sections 4, 5, 7-10, 16-20, 28-30, 31-33); T 9S, R 12E (sections 4-9, 16-18, PB38, PB-40, PB-42); T 8S, R 11E (sections 13, 24, 25, 36); T 9S, R 11E (sections 1, 12, 13, 14, PB45, PB47). Buffalo Creek is a tributary to Slough Creek approximately 20 miles East of Gardiner, Montana.
Cooke City Fuels and Forest Health Project
EA
 - Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Ashley Sites
208-926-8952
ashleysites@fs.fed.us 
Description: Reduce the fire intensity risk within the wildland urban interface surrounding Cooke City and Silver Gate. While also increasing forest resiliency to insect and disease infestation.
Location: UNIT - Gardiner Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Gallatin. LEGAL - T 09 S, R 14 E Sections 2, 11-15, 23-27, 34-36 and T 09 S, R 15 E, Sections 6, 7, 17-22, 28-30, 33-34 Montana and Idaho Principal and Boise Meridians. In the area of Silvergate and Cooke City Montana.
Park County Federal Roads and Trails Act(FRTA) Easement
CE
 - Special use management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Michael Thom
208-443-6839
mthom@fs.fed.us 
Description: Grant a FRTA easement on a segment of Palmer Creek Road(approx 1.35 miles)and Sin Nombre Road(approx .58 miles). County would seek abandonment on nearby redundant historical county ROW on Crevice Mtn Rd 3231. The change provides a sustainable route.
Location: UNIT - Gardiner Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Park. LEGAL - T. 9 S., R. 9 E., Sections 15, 16, 21, 22. Approximately 7 miles East-northeast of Gardiner, MT.
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Custer Gallatin National Forest,   Hebgen Lake Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Hebgen Basin Fire District-Station Development
CE
 - Special use management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Jason Brey
406-823-6961
jbrey@fs.fed.us 
Description: 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.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58664
Location: UNIT - Hebgen Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Gallatin. LEGAL - Township 12 South, Range 4 East, Section 5. Adjacent to HWY 287 approx. mile marker 13. . The site is on US-287, approximately 8.5 miles west of the intersection of US-287 and US-191, on the north side of the highway across from Hebgen Lake. .
Mittelstaedt Private Property Access Request
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 06/08/2022  06/2022 Adam McClory
208-875-1734
adam.mcclory@usda.gov 
Description: 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.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59319
Location: UNIT - Hebgen Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Gallatin. LEGAL - T. 12 S., R. 5 E., Sec. 18. Located on the East side of Hebgen Lake, approx. 7 mi. north east of West Yellowstone, off Forest Service Road 6805.
South Plateau Area Landscape Treatment Project
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 08/16/2020
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 06/2022  		Expected:12/2022
  		04/2023 Amee Rief
406-823-6975
Amee.Rief@usda.gov 
Description: 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.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57353
Location: UNIT - Hebgen Lake Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Gallatin. LEGAL - Sections within T14S, R 44E, T14S, R45E, T15S, R44E and T15S, R45ENational Forest System lands. The project is located south and southwest of West Yellowstone, Montana near South Plateau.
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Custer Gallatin National Forest,   Yellowstone Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R1 - Northern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Burnt Leather Ranch Small Tracts Act (STA) Conveyance
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Land ownership management
- Special use management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 06/01/2022  		Expected:07/2022
  		08/2022 Alex Sienkiewicz
406-823-6066
alex.sienkiewicz@usda.gov 
Description: The Forest is processing a Small Tracts Act (STA) conveyance in the West Boulder.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62311
Location: UNIT - Yellowstone Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Park. LEGAL - Principal Meridian, Montana, T. 3 S., R. 11 E., Sec. 36, NE?NW?. The STA is located adjacent to Burnt Leather Ranch in the West Boulder drainage, Park County, Montana.
Stillwater Mining Company, East Boulder Mine Amendment 004 Expansion EIS
EIS

           *UPDATED* 		- Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
NOI in Federal Register 05/27/2022
Est. DEIS NOA in Federal Register 01/2023  		Expected:02/2024
  		02/2024 Robert Grosvenor
406-848-7375 ext.28
robert.grosvenor@usda.gov 
Description: Stillwater Mining Company - East Boulder Mine, proposes an expansion of their surface facilities to include a new Tailings Storage Facility and new Waste Rock Storage Facility with associated infrastructure.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61385
Location: UNIT - Yellowstone Ranger District. STATE - Montana. COUNTY - Sweet Grass. LEGAL - Township 4 South, Range 13 East, Sections 1, 2 and 11, Principal Meridian, Montana. The East Boulder Mine is located in Sweet Grass County, approximately 16 miles south of McCloud, MT on NFS Road #205 in the East Boulder drainage.
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