Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
10/01/2022 to 12/31/2022
San Juan 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
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, San Juan National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, San Juan National Forest,  Columbine Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, San Juan National Forest,  Mancos/Dolores Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R2 - Rocky Mountain Region, San Juan National Forest,  Pagosa 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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San Juan National Forest, Occurring in more than one District (excluding Forestwide)  

R2 - Rocky Mountain Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Minerals - Metallic Minerals Exploratory Core Sampling
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
Scoping Start 04/01/2022  		Expected:11/2022
  		05/2023 James Blair
970-882-6856
James.Blair2@usda.gov 
Description: Process application for exploratory core sampling to determine mineral potential in the area. ~14 drill sites located in Bedrock Creek (La Plata Canyon, Columbine RD) and headwaters of East Mancos River (Dolores RD). Some sites accessed by helicopter
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61638
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District, Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - La Plata, Montezuma. LEGAL - T36-37N R11W. Bedrock Creek (La Plata Canyon, Columbine RD) and headwaters of East Mancos River (Dolores RD).
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San Juan National Forest,   Columbine Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R2 - Rocky Mountain Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
AML - Bat Grates (Grouse Gulch and Ruby Lake)
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Minerals and Geology 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 06/28/2022  		Expected:10/2022
  		10/2022 James Blair
(970) 882-6856
James.Blair2@usda.gov 
Description: Physical closure of 2 abandoned inactive mine open adits which pose a physical hazard to the public. Will consist of steel grated adit closures with 2%u2019 X bat ladders for wildlife access. Access to both sites is by foot from existing road
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62700
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - La Plata, San Juan. LEGAL - Grouse Gulch LB1: T36N R11W Sec. 21 Ruby Lake RL3: T42N R08W Sec. 33. Grouse Gulch LB1: La Plata Canyon south of Kroeger CG Ruby Lake RL3: near Columbine Lake and Ophir Pass.
AML - Nancy Mine Safety Closure
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Minerals and Geology  Completed  Actual: 09/06/2022  09/2022 Benerito Martinez
970-385-1202
benerito.martinez@usda.gov 
Description: The proposed work includes closing the open mine shaft with polyurethane foam and then backfilling by hand with onsite material. Mining equipment and trash will be removed. All disturbed areas will be seeded. Access will be on foot with pack horses.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62698
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - San Juan. LEGAL - SW 1/4 SE 1/4 of Section 9, Township 40 N, Range 8W. 1.5 miles up West Lime Creek Trail above US Highway 550 north of Durango.
Integrated - Junction-Falls Integrated Resource Management (J-FIRM) Project
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Recreation management
- Heritage resource management
- Special area management
- Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management
- Watershed management
- Road management
- Climate Change Adaptation 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 09/2022  		Expected:03/2024  06/2024 Timothy Leishman
970-264-1510
timothy.leishman@usda.gov 
Description: Improve the four core values of the RMRI across the project landscape : 1. Communities, 2. Clean Water, 3. Forests and Wildlife, and 4. Recreation. Proposed actions include vegetation management, Rx burning, recreation/trail management, and others.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62825
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - La Plata. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Junction Creek Riparian Corridor and Trail, Logchutes, and Falls Creek/Hidden Valley.
Minerals - Petrox Northern Extension Pipeline and Horizontal Drilling Project
EA
 - Minerals and Geology
- Special use management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Walter Brown
970-385-1372
wabrown@fs.fed.us 
Description: Construction of a pipeline on FS, state, and private lands; construction of 1 new gas well pad and access road on FS land; and re-completion of 2 existing gas wells located on FS. The wells would be drilled with horizontal drilling techniques.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53825
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Archuleta. LEGAL - T34&35N R5&6W. Pipeline route runs from Lange Canyon to Fosset Gulch, 8 miles east of Bayfield.
Special Uses - Gloge Property USFS Access Road
CE
 - Special use management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Lewis Sovocool
970-884-1433
lsovocool@fs.fed.us 
Description: Grant a special use permit for construction of dirt driveway across Forest Service lands to access a residential property.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60292
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - La Plata. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Located on the southern slope of Shaefer Mountain. The proposed driveway would be accessed by Bear Creek Road, approximately 3 miles east of County Road 501.
Special Uses - Shelton's Spring Special Use Permit
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 06/02/2021  		Expected:10/2022
  		10/2022 Jason Mosher
000-000-0000
Jason.Mosher@usda.gov 
Description: Issue a 30-year FLPMA permit for the use and maintenance of existing spring and pipe facilities on NFS land.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60198
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Archuleta. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Approx. 1.25 miles east of Fosset Gulch Road (FSR 613), south of Hwy 160.
Special Uses - True Creek Motorized Trail Access
CE
 - Special use management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Lewis Sovocool
970-884-1433
lsovocool@fs.fed.us 
Description: Authorize motorized trail access, via FLPMA Private Trail Permit, to an isolated private parcel.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60139
Location: UNIT - Columbine Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - La Plata. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Southwest of Lemon Reservoir near the Aspen Trails subdivision.
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San Juan National Forest,   Mancos/Dolores Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R2 - Rocky Mountain Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Fire Prevention Sign Installation Project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Fuels management  Completed  Actual: 07/20/2022  07/2022 Emma Reinemann
000-000-0000
Emma.Reinemann@usda.gov 
Description: 54 signs with fire prevention information would be installed across the district.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62477
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Dolores, Montezuma. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Signs will be installed along roadsides across the district.
Lands - Atlantic Richfield STA Case No. 2020
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Land ownership management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 03/14/2022  		Expected:01/2023
  		02/2023 Emma Reinemann
000-000-0000
Emma.Reinemann@usda.gov 
Description: The Forest Service proposes to convey 20.9 acres of NFS lands to Atlantic Richfield under the mineral fraction category of the Small Tracts Act.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61785
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Dolores. LEGAL - W? of Section 25, Township 40 North, Range 11 West, New Mexico Principal Meridian (NMPM). One tract located east of the Dolores River approximately 0.2 miles north of the Rico Town Limits and include the existing settling ponds along the Dolores River to the south of the St. Louis Tunnel outlet.
Lands - McPhee Dam and Reservoir Area Land Withdrawal
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Land management planning  Completed  Actual: 08/30/2022  09/2022 Emma Reinemann
9708826822
Emma.Reinemann@usda.gov 
Description: This EA evaluates the withdrawal, for a period of 100 years, of 953.06 acres of public lands and 309.56 acres of National Forest System lands for reserved used by Reclamation and the USFS in connection with McPhee Dam and Reservoir.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61683
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Montezuma. LEGAL - Not Applicable. The Proposed Action is located approximately ten miles north of Cortez, Colorado within Montezuma County near McPhee Dam and Reservoir.
Minerals - Alianza Minerals Limited Twin Canyon Exploration Drilling Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
Scoping Start 06/15/2021  		Expected:10/2022
  		05/2023 James Blair
000-000-0000
James.Blair2@usda.gov 
Description: Alianza Minerals Limited (Alianza)has submitted a preliminary Plan of Operations to explore its Twin Canyon property in the Caviness Mountain area for locatable minerals through a limited exploratory drilling program.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60254
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Montezuma. LEGAL - T36N, R12W, Sections 13, 14, 23, 24. T36N, R12W, Sections 13, 14, 23, 24.
Minerals - Beaver Rim Pit Expansion
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Road management  In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 07/14/2022  		Expected:11/2022
  		05/2023 Cody Jones
970-385-1294
cody.j.jones@usda.gov 
Description: This project would expand the Beaver Rim Pit in order to extract rock for use to upgrade the road system.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61531
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Montezuma. LEGAL - T39N, R14W, Sec 31 and 32. South of Beaver Creek, to the southwest of the intersection of FSR 526 and FSR 527.
Recreation - Chicken Creek Trail Reroute Project
CE

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Recreation management  Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 09/2022  		Expected:11/2022  03/2023 Thomas Rice
970-882-6829
thomasbrice@fs.fed.us 
Description: Reroutes and trail additions in the Chicken Creek trail system area, including less than 2 miles of new trail and less than 2 miles of trail decommissioning
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Dolores. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Chicken Creek trail system.
Recreation - Dolores Recreation Access and Infrastructure Improvement Project
EA

           *NEW LISTING* 		- Recreation management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 07/27/2022
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 10/2022  		Expected:01/2023
  		03/2023 Thomas Rice
970-882-6829
thomas.b.rice@usda.gov 
Description: The project will improve recreation access and associated bathroom and parking infrastructure.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62582
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Montezuma. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Boggy Draw area, Transfer Campground Horse Corral, FSR 385.
Special Uses - Farny Road Authorization
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/10/2021  		Expected:01/2023
  		05/2023 Mary Kusnir
520-749-7709
mary.kusnir@usda.gov 
Description: This project would authorize a change an existing trail easement to a motorized access easement and transfer ownership from David and Sharon Farny to Cindy Farny.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61557
Location: UNIT - Mancos/Dolores Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Montezuma. LEGAL - Sec. 23, 24, 25, & 36 of T41N, R10W. NFSR Rd # 204A and 204A.1 near Lizard Pass off Hwy 145.
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San Juan National Forest,   Pagosa Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R2 - Rocky Mountain Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Recreation and Forest Products - Jackson Mountain Recreation and Vegetation Management project
EA
 - Recreation management
- Forest products
- Vegetation management (other than forest products)
- Fuels management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 08/2022  		Expected:03/2023  05/2023 Paul Blackman
307-745-2363
paul.blackman@usda.gov 
Description: Landscape level analysis of recreation and veg mgmt opportunities in the Jackson Mountain area, including consideration of mountain bike trails and associated facilities (parking areas, toilets, etc), and vegetation and fuels management opportunities
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61809
Location: UNIT - Pagosa Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Archuleta. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Jackson Mountain Area on the Pagosa Ranger District.
Special Uses - Xcel Energy Jackson Mt Valve Rebuild
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  Completed  Actual: 08/23/2022  08/2022 Mark Lambert
970-385-1240
mark.b.lambert@usda.gov 
Description: Xcel Energy proposes to rebuild the valve at the intersection of Hwy 160 and Jackson Mountain Road (NFSR 037)
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=61972
Location: UNIT - Pagosa Ranger District. STATE - Colorado. COUNTY - Archuleta. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Intersection of Hwy 160 and the Jackson Mountain Road (NFSR 037).
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