Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA)
07/01/2021 to 09/30/2021
Prescott 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
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Prescott National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Prescott National Forest,  Bradshaw Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Prescott National Forest,  Chino Valley Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)
-  R3 - Southwestern Region, Prescott National Forest,  Verde 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

           *UPDATED* 		- 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.
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R3 - Southwestern Region, Occurring in more than one Forest (excluding Regionwide)

 
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Prescott College Academic Outfitter and Guide Priority Use (2015-2025)
CE
 - Recreation management
- Special use management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Julie Rowe
928-203-7516
jrowe@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Forest Service proposes to authorize Prescott College to conduct academic field courses year-round across forests in Arizona including adventure education, biology, human ecology, natural history, physical geography, & field ecology.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47407
Location: UNIT - Coronado National Forest All Units, Kaibab National Forest All Units, Prescott National Forest All Units, Tonto Basin Ranger District, Coconino National Forest All Units, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests All Units. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Activities take place in a variety of locations throughout the forest.
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Prescott National Forest, Forestwide (excluding Projects occurring in more than one Forest)  

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Forest-wide Hunting Priority Use Outfitter-Guide Permits
CE
 - Recreation management
- Special use management 		 Developing Proposal
Est. Scoping Start 06/2019  		Expected:08/2019  09/2019 Jeffrey Gilmore
928-567-1120
jlgilmore@fs.fed.us 
Description: Issuance of up to five priority use outfitter-guide permits for big game hunting on the Prescott National Forest.
Location: UNIT - Prescott National Forest All Units. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Forest-wide.
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Prescott National Forest,   Bradshaw Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
APS Pole Replacement (WA574508) with Trench (17')
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 12/11/2020  		Expected:07/2021
  		08/2021 Matthew Georgeff
541-782-5335
mjgeorgeff@fs.fed.us 
Description: APS proposes the use heavy equipment to remove/replace a substandard utility pole with an upgraded pole in APS ROW.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=59276
Location: UNIT - Bradshaw Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Groom Creek: South Senator Hwy, turn west on E. Friendly Pines Rd., turn north on South Claim Jumper Trail (private residential driveway) which is the project site.
Arizona Public Service Whitespar-Wilhoit Transmission Line Rebuild Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 04/14/2020  		Expected:06/2021
  		07/2021 Chris Welker
928-443-8072
cwelker@fs.fed.us 
Description: issuance of a temporary construction Special Use Permit to Arizona Public Service for access to areas of the Prescott National Forest, Bradshaw Ranger District in support of the existing Whitespar-Wilhoit 69 kV electric transmission line rebuild
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58976
Location: UNIT - Bradshaw Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - Sections 19, 20, 29, and 30, T. 12.5 N., R. 3 W., and Sections 13, 14, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 32, T. 13 N., R. 3 W., Gila & Salt River Meridian. Sections 19, 20, 29, and 30, T. 12.5 N., R. 3 W., and Sections 13, 14, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 32, T. 13 N., R. 3 W., Gila & Salt River Meridian.
Blue Bell/Wolf Creek Allotments Range NEPA
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Grazing management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 02/01/2018
Est. Comment Period Public Notice 09/2021  		Expected:02/2022
  		03/2022 John Kava
928-777-2200
johnakava@fs.fed.us 
Description: An analysis to determine whether to re-authorize grazing on the Blue Bell/Wolf Creek Allotment.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53264
Location: UNIT - Bradshaw Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Blue Bell and Wolf Creek grazing allotments.
Jack's Project
EA
 - Minerals and Geology  In Progress:
Comment Period Public Notice 04/05/2020  		Expected:08/2021
  		09/2021 Zakiya Shivji
928-443-8083
zshivji@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Project would authorize mining placer deposits from approximately 11 acres for up to 20 years. Mining would be conducted with suction dredges, sluice boxes, dry washers, high bankers, metal detectors, gold pans, and hand tools
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45642
Location: UNIT - Bradshaw Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - Sections 23, 24, 26 & 27 T. 12.5 N., R. 1 W; Sections 35 & 36, T. 13 N., R. 1 W; Section 24 T. 12 N., R. 1 W; Section 36 T. 12 N., R. 2 W; Section 29 T. 13 N., R 3 W; Section 1 T. 10 N., R. 1 E GSRM. Big Bug Creek, Eugene Gulch,Poland Creek, Crooks Canyon, Wolf Creek, and Copper Basin Wash.
Pine Creek Mining River Bend Placer Project
EA
 - Minerals and Geology  On Hold  N/A  N/A Frances Alvarado
928-443-8014
falvarado@fs.fed.us 
Description: This project would include gold mining operations on approximately 48 acres (10 acres in the Red Hill #2 placer mining claim (PMC) and 38 acres in the Riverbend PMC), with an additional 4 acres for processing facilities, settling ponds, and roads.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45609
Location: UNIT - Bradshaw Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - T12N,R3W,Sec11,14,15. The proposed mining project is just south of and adjacent to the existing Gold Basin mine, south of Wilhoit along the Hassayampa River.
Ponderosa Park Road (C101) Improvement Project
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management
- Road management 		 In Progress:
Scoping Start 04/08/2021  		Expected:09/2021
  		10/2021 Chris Welker
928-443-8072
cwelker@fs.fed.us 
Description: This action is for roadway realignment construction and grade reduction of a segment of the Ponderosa Park Road (C101) and related slope stabilization, erosion control, and roadway prism safety improvements under an existing FRTA easement
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=58018
Location: UNIT - Bradshaw Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - E1/2 Section 20 and E1/2 NW1/4 Section 29, T. 13 N., R. 2 W., G&SR Meridian, Yavapai, County, AZ. E1/2 Section 20 and E1/2 NW1/4 Section 29, T. 13 N., R. 2 W., G&SR Meridian, Yavapai, County, AZ.
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Prescott National Forest,   Chino Valley Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
Yavapai Ranch Reciprocal Easements Project
EA

           *UPDATED* 		- Land ownership management  Completed  Actual: 06/22/2021  07/2021 Chris Welker
928-443-8072
cwelker@fs.fed.us 
Description: Exchange reciprocal easements on approximately 18 mile of road.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=29905
Location: UNIT - Chino Valley Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Northwestern corner of Prescott National Forest in the.
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Prescott National Forest,   Verde Ranger District (excluding Projects occurring in more than one District)

R3 - Southwestern Region  
Project Name Project Purpose Planning Status Decision Expected Implementation Project Contact
AAM Priority River Rafting Outfitter and Guide Special Use Permit
CE
 - Recreation management
- Special use management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Jeffrey Gilmore
928-567-1120
jlgilmore@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Prescott National Forest proposes to issue to the outfitter/guide known as AAM a 5-year priority special use permit for a river rafting outfitter guide operation on the Verde River and Verde Wild and Scenic River Segments.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=40886
Location: UNIT - Verde Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Boat launching will occur at White Bridge and Beasley Flats River access sites on the Prescott; take outs at GAP Creek, Childs and Hoseshoe reservoir on the Prescott, Coc, and Tonto.
Gila Chub Habitat Improvement Project
CE
 - Wildlife, Fish, Rare plants  On Hold  N/A  N/A Albert Sillas
928-567-1124
asillas@fs.fed.us 
Description: Improve pool habitat by sediment removal, instream structures, exclosure fences, and removal of juniper tree encroachment in three sites.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=30425
Location: UNIT - Verde Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - T 11 N, R 4 E, sections 4, 16, 20. Near Sycamore Historic Site/Dugas area.
Interstate 17 Corridor Wireless Communications Improvements Antelope Telecommunications Site
CE

           *UPDATED* 		- Special use management  In Progress:
Scoping Start 04/01/2021  		Expected:09/2021
  		10/2021 Chris Welker
928-443-8072
chris.welker@usda.gov 
Description: The Antelope communications site proposal was developed as part of a wireless communications system that will improve the reliability and capacity of wireless telecommunications for the I-17 corridor.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56917
Location: UNIT - Verde Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - Not Applicable. NW1/4 SE1/4 Section 3, T. 12 N., R. 3 E., G&SRM, Yavapai County, AZ.
Reissuance of a Water Development Special Use Permit to Frank and Wanita Melluzzo
CE
 - Special use management  On Hold  N/A  N/A Chris Welker
928-443-8072
cwelker@fs.fed.us 
Description: The Prescott National Forest is proposing to reissue a 10-year special use permit for 2 water pipelines, 1 springbox, 600 gallon water tank, and cattle exclosure fence.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=39048
Location: UNIT - Verde Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - T14N, R3E, Sect17. Off Cherry road in Cherry, AZ.
Verde Adventures, Inc. Outfitter Guide Priority River Boating Outfitter and Guide Special Use Permit
CE
 - Recreation management
- Special use management 		 On Hold  N/A  N/A Jeffrey Gilmore
928-687-1301
jlgilmore@fs.fed.us 
Description: The PNF proposes to issue to Verde Adventures, Inc. a 10-year priority special use permit for a river boating outfitter guide operation on the Verde River.
Web Link:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=40889
Location: UNIT - Verde Ranger District. STATE - Arizona. COUNTY - Yavapai. LEGAL - Not Applicable. Boat launching and take out will occur at Skidmore, Big Notti, Black Canyon, White Bridge, Clear Creek and Beasley Flats River access sites on the PNF.
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