3. EOTW_ROD_20250106.pdf

Final Record of Decision EIS No. 20240123 End of the World Project

United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service January 2025

Final Record of Decision End of the World Project

Salmon River Ranger District Nez Perce – Clearwater National Forests Idaho County, Idaho

Responsible Official The Forest Supervisor of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is the Responsible Official for deciding the type and extent of management activities in the End of the World project area.

HEATH PERRINE Date

Acting Forest Supervisor, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests

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Final Record of Decision End of the World Project

January 2025

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests

Salmon River Ranger District Idaho County, Idaho

Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service

Responsible Official: Heath Perrine, Acting Forest Supervisor Nez Perce – Clearwater National Forests

1008 Highway 64 Kamiah, Idaho 83536

For Information Contact: Jeff Shinn, District Ranger Salmon River Ranger District

304 Slate Creek Road White Bird, ID 83554

Table of Contents

Final Record of Decision End of the World Project Responsible Official

Final Record of Decision End of the World Project January 2025

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests Salmon River Ranger District Idaho County, Idaho

History Introduction Purpose and Need Decision

Design Elements SHPO – Mitigation Requirements Monitoring

Rationale for the Decision Purpose and Need Consideration of Issues and Concerns

Findings Required by Laws and Regulations Delegation of Authority Nez Perce Forest Plan Permits Required Prime Farmland, Rangeland and Forest Land Wilderness and Roadless Areas Other Laws, Regulations and Policies

Alternatives Considered No Action Proposed Action Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Study

Use a Combination of Dispersed and Aggregated Retention Strategies to Limit Size of Openings to Less than 40 Acres Eliminate Construction of Temporary Roads Develop Detailed Assessment of all Habitat Types, Crosswalk to Fire Groups, and Develop Project Goals and Prescriptions More Consistent with Each Stand’s Ecological Setting

Public Involvement and Consultation Issues Listed Species Consultation Tribal Consultation

Scientific Information Implementation Administrative Review or Objection Opportunities

Contact Persons and Project Information Attachment 1 – Decision Map

History Following the June 2022 Case No. 3:21-cv-00189-CWD Memorandum and Decision Order, the Decision Notice (DN) and the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the End of the World project were remanded to the Forest for further evaluation under the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) consistent with the decision.

I directed forest personnel to conduct additional review and analysis to address the Judge’s Order. In July 2024, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the End of the World Project was prepared to further evaluate old-growth and cumulative effects to old-growth under NFMA and NEPA, as directed by the court. The 2021 EA, FONSI, specialist reports for each resource, and other supporting documentation are incorporated into this EIS by reference. Potential impacts were analyzed in the 2021 EA for Silviculture, Economics, Invasive Species, Range, Watershed, Aquatics, Air, Fire and Fuels, Roads, Recreation, Soils, Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plant Species, Snags, Heritage Resources, Visuals, and Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers and found to be non-significant.

Analysis and conclusion about the potential effects are available in the EA, FONSI, specialist reports for each resource, and other supporting documentation cited in those reports. Specialist reports are contained within the project file and on the project website.

Additional analysis for climate change, wolverine, and whitebark pine was provided due to changes in regulations since the EA was published was included in the EIS.

This Final Record of Decision considers the analysis contained in both the End of the World Final EA and FONSI (both have been incorporated by reference) and the Final EIS.

Introduction This document presents my rationale and the actions to implement the End of the World project on the Salmon River Ranger District of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests.

The approved activities will occur in the End of the World project area, located approximately six (6) miles south of Grangeville, Idaho. The project area encompasses approximately 49,565 acres, within the Salmon River Ranger District of the Nez Perce - Clearwater National Forests. The project lies entirely within territory ceded to the United States by the Nez Perce Tribe in 1855.

This project is in the heart of the Forests’ Wildland Fire Crisis Emergency Landscape. The project area is also entirely within WUI identified in the Idaho County Wildfire Protection Plan and was selected by the Governor of Idaho as a Priority Landscape Treatment Area under the Farm Bill (USDA-FS 2014/2016). The Governor’s Priority Landscape Treatment areas are those where forest health and fuel hazard conditions are outside of historic or desired conditions and are where private lands and structures are located.

The project area is fully located within the Nez Perce-Clearwater-Lower Salmon Priority Landscape (Firesheds and Lower Salmon Priority Landscape Map). Treatments are planned within two high risks firesheds. Approximately 28,253 acres of the project area are in the Asbestos fireshed which is the highest priority fireshed in the priority landscape, and 21,312 acres of the project area are within the White Bird fireshed which is the sixth highest priority within the Nez Perce-Clearwater-Lower

Salmon Priority Landscape. 81% of the Asbestos fireshed and 67% of the White Bird fireshed have been identified as “high” and “very high risk.”

The Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, determined that the Forest Service may carry out Authorized Emergency Actions under section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58) on National Forest System lands in 250 identified High Risk Firesheds. Emergency actions are taken to achieve relief from threats to public health and safety, critical infrastructure, and/or to mitigate threats to natural resources. Forests projects proposed under an emergency authority must be approved by the Secretary.

The Forest requested and received approval to implement the End of the World Project as an Emergency Action Determination project. The reason for requesting this emergency authority is to mitigate the harm to life, property, or important natural or cultural resources on NFS or adjacent land;

harvest (commercial or non-commercial) to control insects or disease and remove hazardous fuels.

This action is needed, to maintain forest health and promote resilient ecosystems by managing towards more characteristic landscape level vegetation patterns, structure, patch size, fuel loading and species composition. Additionally, treatments are designed to create conditions that will moderate fire behavior such that fire fighters will have more options.

Based on observed existing conditions, as well as other supporting information (e.g. annual insect and disease aerial detection surveys, national insect and disease risk maps, community wildfire protection plan, and input from local community members), there is a need to:

• Reduce the risk or extent of, or increase resilience to, insect or disease infestation.

• Reduce wildfire risk to the local communities and surrounding federal lands.

• Restore forest vegetation, dry meadows, and grasslands to a healthy condition; and

• Improve water quality and aquatic habitats.

Opportunities exist in the project area to increase the resilience of the forest to insects, disease, fire, and climate change. To meet this need, the proposal includes timber harvesting, prescribed burning, permanent and temporary road construction, system road reconstruction, and watershed improvement activities. Alternative B (preferred alternative) includes 12 harvest units that create openings exceeding 40 acres in size.

In addition to the rationale discussion for this Record of Decision; all supporting data and analysis included in the Final EA and FONSI, and the Final EIS for the project, along with the response to comment document for the comment period; are hereby incorporated by reference. These documents are in the project record.

This Record of Decision is based on a review of the Final EIS and the Final EA and FONSI for the End of the World project, specialist reports, related scientific literature and the Nez Perce National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan; USDA Forest Service 1987a, as amended).

I considered public comments from individuals and groups and input from state and federal agencies.

I also considered, and incorporated clarifications and adjustments to the project from coordination with Nez Perce Tribal staff regarding impacts to tribal trust assets and input from state and federal agencies and other interested parties. My staff has updated the project webpage throughout the planning effort.

I have considered the public comments received during the 30-day scoping/comment period in February of 2018 and comments on the Draft EIS in July/August of 2024. An Emergency Action Determination was approved on May 16, 2024 (under section 40807 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (PL 117-58)); therefore, this project is not subject to the pre-decisional objection review process (36CFR 218 - objections).

On July 12, 2024, a Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS (USDA, Forest Service 2024) was published in the Federal Register (Federal Register, Vol. 89, No. 134, pg. 57151).

This Final Record of Decision for the End of the World project, and other project documents are available on the project website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=52541 . These documents and other information from the project record are also available by request. The project record includes the Nez Perce Forest Plan, specialist reports, and other applicable guidance, data, and information.

The Final Record of Decision and Final EIS for the End of the World project comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). All project activities were analyzed in the Final EIS and EA and FONSI to disclose the cumulative effects of the activities. I am basing my decision on these documents, with input from the interdisciplinary team and the public, to implement actions for the End of the World project.

Purpose and Need Based on the court’s ruling, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) focusing on old growth was prepared to comply with the court's remand order. The EIS provides updated information about the project’s ability to meet Forest Plan standards for old growth in the project area and the cumulative effects on old growth between the End of the World and Hungry Ridge projects. Additional analysis for climate change, wolverine, and whitebark pine was provided in the EIS due to changes in regulations since the EA was published. Other resources were addressed by following 40 CFR 1502.2(b). The EIS builds on the End of the World Project EA and FONSI. Additional documentation, including the EA, FONSI, and more detailed analyses of project area resources is incorporated by reference and may be found in the project record.

The purpose of the End of the World project is to increase the resilience of the forest to insects, disease, and fire. This action is needed, to maintain forest health and promote resilient ecosystems by managing towards more characteristic landscape level vegetation patterns, structure, patch size, fuel loading and species composition. Additionally, treatments are designed to create conditions that will moderate fire behavior such that fire fighters will have more options. This action responds to the goals and objectives outlined in the Nez Perce Forest Plan and helps move the project area towards desired conditions described in that plan (Nez Perce Forest Plan, 1987).

This action is needed, to maintain forest health and promote resilient ecosystems by managing towards more characteristic landscape level vegetation patterns, structure, patch size, fuel loading and species composition. Additionally, treatments are designed to create conditions that will moderate fire behavior such that fire fighters will have more options.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=52541

Decision I have decided to implement Alternative B. Based on my review of all alternatives, potential effects as analyzed in the Final EA, FONSI, Final EIS, resource specialist reports, and consideration of collaboration and public comments. Alternative B is displayed in Tables 1-3 (below). As described below, Alternative B, includes specific design elements (Table 4).

The acreages and mileages are approximate, based on a combination of field data and geospatial analysis. During layout and implementation, these acreages and mileages may be slightly adjusted to ensure compliance with Best Management Practices, and project design elements. In general, over 30 percent of acres are dropped during project layout when project design elements are implemented on the ground. My decision is based on the impacts of the magnitude of the treatments as presented in the Final EA, FONSI, and EIS. Impacts to resources may be less due to implementation changes or they may be in a slightly different location. The impacts from the action are within those that I considered in making this informed decision.

Table 1: Alternative B Treatment Type Quantity Alternative

B Acres Potential Pre-Commercial Thinning Total 1,098 Intermediate Harvest (Commercial Thin)2 6,120 Intermediate Harvest (Variable Density Thin) 10,033 Intermediate Harvest (Overstory Removal) 194 Intermediate Harvest Total Total

16,347 Regeneration Harvest (Clearcut with Reserves) 909 Regeneration Harvest (Shelterwood Harvest) 530 Regeneration Harvest (Seed Tree Harvest) 99 Regeneration Harvest Total Total 1,528 Over-40-acre Openings 12 Units Range from

44 to 230 Acres

Campground/Hazard Tree 51 Dry Meadow/ Range Maintenance 82 Fuels Reduction (Post Vegetation Treatment) Up to

17,908 Natural Fuels Reduction (Prescribed Burning) Total 6,783 Natural Fuels Reduction (Mechanical – Hand Thinning, Pile and Jackpot Burning)

1 Intermediate harvest and pre-commercial thinning units have refined GIS boundaries and prescriptions, hence the difference in acres between the Proposed Action document and the EA document numbers.

2 All intermediate harvest is analyzed the same and therefore commercial thinning units may be adjusted to variable density thinning during layout

Table 2: Alternative B Cont.

Treatment Alternative B Miles1

Alternative B Count

Road 221 Fuel Break 16 Temporary Roads 15

Road Reroute – New Construction < 1 Road #9469 Reconstruction < 1 Road Improvement

• Install additional cross drain culverts

• Harden stream crossings for cattle/ATVs

Road Decommissioning 28 Culvert Replacements for Aquatic Organism Passage

Culvert Removals (Road Decommissioning) 18 Riparian Planting < 1 Limitation of Cattle Access by Strategic Tree Felling

< 1

1 All mileages are approximate and are rounded up to the closest whole numbers.

Table 3: Alternative B Cont.

Resource Treatment – Alternative B Invasive Species • Consecutive targeted prescribe fires to reduce seedbed where native bunchgrass communities are not intact.

• Additional bio-control releases in partnership with the Nez Perce Tribe bio-control center.

• Aerial restoration efforts of invasive annual grass communities often produces poor results; therefore, aerial seeding both native grass/forb and introduced annual grasses that stay greener, longer may be utilized if an effective seedbed can be achieved by prescribed fire, and funding is secured.

• If the Range Specialists are able to determine that aerial restoration of annual grasslands has an economically viable chance at success, then the following may be considered if available on the market:

o Aerial application of US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified bio-pesticides such as Pseudomonas fluorescens as a tool for the management of invasive annual grasses such as cheatgrass, medusahead, and ventanata.

Presently, the only strain registered for use as a bio-pesticide in region 1 is sold under the trade name D7® by Verdesian Life Sciences and is not being commercially produced.

Range Additional fencing within the project area is proposed (if needed) to restore forest vegetation, meadows and grassland OR to maintain or improve water quality and aquatic habitats

Prescribed fire is proposed. Specific prescriptions are described in the Natural Fuels Reduction section of the Proposed Action.

Trails Trail restoration or reconstruction, bridge repair, reconstruction, or replacement, culvert replacement;

stream crossing hardening, installation of new water bars/dips, tread delineation, and possible tread base stabilization to adequately support the designed trail use and minimize soil displacement

All project activities include project design elements to avoid any irreversible or irretrievable commitment of resources. When on the ground layout of timber sales and prescribed burning begins (post NEPA planning), field personnel will ground truth, field verify, and apply all project design elements on each acre of land in the treatment areas. Finally, all project design elements will be implemented and monitored though contract administration. The practices in this decision are not new or unknown and effects are clearly understood.

Design Elements Design elements (referred to as design features in the EA) are an integral component of Alternative B.

Design elements were identified early in the NEPA process as part of developing the proposed action and acted as the sideboards for project development. Design elements are derived from Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines, and Forest Service Manual and Handbook policy and direction.

Additionally, design elements include mandatory contract provision requirements, Best Management Practices (BMPs), Idaho State Water Quality Standards, Idaho Forest Practices Act Rules, and similar laws, rules or policy. Design elements reiterate the things we are required to do to ensure our decision document is supported by an environmental analysis that is consistent with the Forest Plan and applicable laws and regulations. This decision is consistent with all applicable laws, policies, and regulations. For the End of the World Project, some (this is not an exhaustive list) of the design elements include:

No activities are proposed within old growth (MA20).

Moose Winter Range (MA21): No treatments will take place in designated MA21. Although not required, prescriptions conserving Pacific yew will be applied to stands harboring Pacific yew but which are not designated as MA21.

Silvicultural prescriptions are designed to promote within-stand resilience (as described in the purpose and need), create a variety of patch sizes on the landscape, and provide species diversification.

Regeneration harvest, intermediate harvest, and pre-commercial thinning will be utilized.

Regeneration harvest units will be replanted at varying stocking levels depending on biophysical setting and silvicultural prescription.

Replanted units will be surveyed to certify they are stocked within five years.

Coarse woody debris and snags will be retained where safe to do so.

Prescribed fire will be used after harvest, where feasible and necessary, to reduce activity fuels and provide site preparation for replanting.

Harvest units are located to achieve the desired combination of multiple-use objectives. The units cut will be shaped and blended with the natural terrain, to the extent practicable, to achieve visual (aesthetic), wildlife habitat, or other objectives, while meeting the primary need for fuels reduction in the wildland urban interface.

Treatments have been designed to protect and enhance the South Fork Clearwater River (eligible Wild and Scenic River).

PACFISH Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs) will be adhered to in all units except the limited proposed treatments in RHCAs to address hazard trees in campgrounds and conifer encroachment in dry meadows.

Dry meadow/range maintenance will consist of hand felling trees within the designated areas.

Trees will generally be left on site unless they would increase the fuel hazard in the wildland urban interface.

Prescribed fire will be evaluated as needed during the seasonal grazing plan development to determine if grazing restrictions are appropriate.

Known historic (NRHP Eligible/historically significant) properties or sites will be avoided or protected during project implementation.

Ground-disturbing activities will be halted if cultural resources are discovered until an Archaeologist can properly evaluate and document the resources in compliance with 36 CFR 800 (mandatory contract provision B6.24).

Existing road prisms within units may be used for additional temporary roads if necessary. These road prisms are part of harvest units that were modeled with NEZSED. Existing road prisms that may be used will have no stream crossings; are located on stable, upper slopes; and there will be little/discontinuous cut and fill (excavation). These road prisms will be obliterated/recontoured within 3 years after use. (mandatory contract provisions B6.63, C6.632#, and C6.633#).

Additional Design Elements Additional Design Elements (referred to as mitigation in the EA) address site-specific factors about the project that need protection over and above those already built into the design. For the End of the World Project, the following Additional Design Elements will be applied:

Table 4: End of the World Additional Design Elements

End of the World Project Additional Design Elements

Soil Resources

SR-1 Restrict activities when soils are wet to prevent resource damage (indicators include excessive rutting, soil displacement, and erosion).

SR-2 Limit ground-based skidding to slopes 45% or less (Idaho Forest Practices Act).

SR-3

Locate and design skid trails, landings and yarding corridors prior to activities to minimize the area of detrimental soil effects. Space tractor skid trails no less than 80 feet apart (edge to edge), except where converging on landings. This does not preclude the use of feller bunchers.

SR-4 In units harvested with ground-based equipment, pile slash in up to 50% of the unit area.

SR-5 Ensure suspension of one end of the log when utilizing skyline yarding systems.

SR-6

Construct drainage controls (waterbars, drain ditches) and apply available slash in log yarding corridors (cable or skyline) upon completion of harvest activities where bare mineral soil is exposed and water flow may be confined.

SR-7 Scarify and recontour excavated skid trails to restore slope hydrology and soil productivity.

SR-8 Scarify non-excavated skid trails and landings that are compacted or entrenched 3 inches or more. Scarify to a depth of 6 to 14 inches.

End of the World Project Additional Design Elements

SR-9

All temporary roads will be scarified and recontoured (decommissioned) within 3 years after use. Reshape cut/fill slopes and crossings to natural contours. Apply available slash to the re-contour surface (slash is considered available where the equipment is able to reach it from the working area where the decommissioning is occurring).

SR-10 Retain and/or return green tops within units and allow green foliage to over-winter 1 year prior to burning in units 1A, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 41, 59, 62, 63.

SR-12

Allow winter logging only during frozen conditions. Frozen conditions are defined as 4 inches of frozen ground or a barrier of unpacked snow greater than two feet in depth and packed snow one foot in depth.

SR-13 Keep slash piles (excavator piles) small (4-10’ in height).

SR-14 Retain an average of 7 to 15 tons per acre of coarse woody debris (greater than 3 inches in diameter) following completion of activities.

Water Quality and Fish habitat

WQ-2 Avoid direct ignition of fuels within RHCA’s. Allow prescribed fires to back into these areas.

Access Management & Public Safety

AM-1 Close existing gates (consistent with current motor vehicle restrictions) daily during non-operating hours.

AM-2

Consider alternative snowmobile routes and/or access and parking when winter log haul occurs on roads normally used as groomed snowmobile routes. These routes include RD 2000, 221, 243, 4600, 641, and 642. Coordinate with the contractors and local organization(s) responsible for trail grooming to minimize impacts on forest visitors.

AM-3

Prohibit log haul on Road FS221 on weekends (all day Saturday and Sunday) and on Federally recognized holidays from Midnight on the Friday before Memorial Day through Midnight on December 1st.

Wildlife

WL-1

Spring burning shall occur in units F4 and F16 to address any concerns regarding wildlife species or habitat, including migratory birds, ungulate calving/fawning, and threatened endangered and sensitive species. Coordinate implementation of spring prescribed burn operations in units with a wildlife biologist.

WL-2 Retain trees with obvious cavities or large stick nests.

WL-4 Prohibit logging activities within units 40, 41, 74A, 74B, 75, 76, 77, 79, 81, 82, 83, 134, and 143 from May 15 through June 15 to avoid impacts on ungulate calving/fawning.

WL-6 Maintain a minimum 40-acre yearlong no-treatment buffer (no ground disturbing activities) around recently occupied goshawk nest trees in units 1A, 25, and 12A.

WL-7 No ground disturbing activities shall be allowed inside known occupied post-fledgling areas from April 15 to August 15.

Air Quality

AQ-1 Limit burning to times when wind patterns would cause smoke plumes to drift away from local populated areas.

End of the World Project Additional Design Elements

AQ-2 Coordinate with the North Idaho/Montana Airshed Group when prescribed burns are scheduled (minimum 24-hour notice) to ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act.

Fisheries

FF-1

Allow instream activities in fish bearing streams between July 1 and August 15 to avoid sediment deposition on emerging steelhead or Chinook redds. These dates may be site-specifically adjusted through coordination with Central Idaho Level 1 team review and approval.

Recreation

REC-1

Protect system trails 2009A, 2026, 325, 327, 328, 340, 386, 480, along with 480A-G, and 641 by requiring the following measures within 6 feet of centerline of the trail(s):

directional felling, cutting stumps to 8 inches or less, no slash piles, and no slashing of the small diameter trees.

Noxious Weeds

NW-1

Use Forest Service approved native plant species or non-native annual species to meet erosion control needs and other management objectives. Follow regional plant and seed transfer guidelines. Require contractors to use certified seed laboratories to test seed against the all state noxious weed list, and provide documentation of the seed inspection test to the contract administrator. Apply only certified weed-free seed and mulch.

NW-2 Visually inspect that rock used for surfacing is free of noxious weed seed.

NW-3

Remove all mud, soil, and plant parts from off road equipment before moving into project area to limit the spread of noxious weeds. Conduct cleaning off National Forest lands.

NW-4 Use rock from Forest Service approved sources.

Range

RA-1

Specified existing non-system trails used to facilitate movement of livestock must be protected, or returned to same condition, not to exceed 46” width free of slash material post- timber harvest, fuel treatment, and/or other activities. Coordinate with Rangeland Management Specialist

RA-2 If any pasture fence is removed or breached to facilitate timber harvest, the fence shall be re-installed/repaired in the same season

RA-3 All roads and/or skid trails, permanent or temporary, crossing allotment boundaries will have cattle passage barriers installed and maintained.

Visuals

V-1 Within retention viewsheds within 150 feet of the viewing platform, (i.e., road, recreation sites, or administrative site); cut stumps to 8 inches or less in height.

V-2

Within retention viewsheds, harvest landing areas within 150 feet of the viewing platform (i.e., roads, recreation sites, or administrative sites); remove, bury, burn, chip or, lop to a height of 2 feet or less, any slash, root wads and other debris. If slash is buried, locate in previously disturbed areas where possible.

SHPO – Mitigation Requirements To meet the National Historic Preservation Act, a 100’ buffer will be applied to three specific sites as described in document “2020-448_FS NPCNF End of the World SHPO Signed” (located in the project record).

Monitoring NMFS Biological Opinion – Monitoring and Terms & Conditions The following monitoring and terms and conditions required in National Marine Fisheries Service will be applied to this project. The full biological opinion is in the project record.

Monitoring

Harvest

• Harvest areas will be monitored and inspected continuously throughout implementation of the

Project.

• Replanted units will be surveyed to certify they are stocked within 5 years.

PACFISH RHCA

The PACFISH RHCA monitoring would be conducted annually by the NPCNF Fisheries Biologist in conjunction with BMP audits. Monitoring would be conducted on randomly selected treatment units throughout the NPCNF. Both implementation and effectiveness of treatments would be monitored.

Specific treatments within the project area may be selected for monitoring.

Fish Salvage Data on the species, condition, and size class of removed fish, will be collected onsite and reported to

NMFS.

Road Work and Haul It is standard practice (and proposed for this action) for the NPCNF Sales Administrators (SAs) to do the following active haul road monitoring when administering timber sales (Personal communication with NPCNF Fish Biologist November 4, 2019):

• Active haul roads are monitored and inspected two to three times a week during haul, before weather fronts, and up to 4 to 5 days a week in the wet shoulder seasons of spring and fall.

Precursors to road problems are identified by SAs before damage to a road occurs.

• The SAs will document road conditions on paper and may include pictures. Contractors are notified, before damage to the road occurs, that road surfaces are softening. Contractors will self-regulate while SAs continue to monitor road conditions.

• If an erosion control issue is found, contractors are given 24 hours to fix the problem. For problems in key watersheds (i.e., anadromous fish watersheds), the problem will be fixed immediately.

• If a contractor does not comply, the issue is elevated to the timber sale purchaser.

Under wet conditions, timber purchasers, contractors, or a Sale Administrator (SA) would decide whether to cease haul to avoid road damage which would interrupt haul. When damage has occurred, because of the potential for interruptions in haul, purchasers tend to be timely with fixing identified problems. Only a couple of times in the past has the NPCNF had to use the contract to shut down haul due to noncompliance. Roads tend to deteriorate during the shoulder seasons under wet conditions; a period when SAs may increase inspections to four to five times per week.

Terms and Conditions The terms and conditions described below are non-discretionary, and the NPCNF, COE, or any applicant must comply with them in order to implement the RPMs (50 CFR 402.14). The NPCNF, COE, or any applicant has a continuing duty to monitor the impacts of incidental take and must report the progress of the action and its impact on the species as specified in this ITS (50 CFR 402.14). If the entity to whom a term and condition is directed does not comply with the following terms and conditions, protective coverage for the proposed action would likely lapse.

1) To implement RPM 1, the NPCNF and COE (for those measures relevant to the CWA section 404 permit) shall ensure that:

a) The proposed action, including all described conservation measures and BMPs, will be implemented as described in the BA and Proposed Federal Action section of this Opinion.

b) Sediment sources on reconstructed roads and haul routes will be identified and eliminated or minimized prior to log haul activities for each of the planned timber sales. Correction of these sediment sources will be field verified through implementation monitoring prior to haul.

2) To implement RPM 2 (monitoring and reporting), the NPCNF and COE (as relevant to the CWA section 404 permit) shall ensure that:

a) All steelhead handled, injured, or killed shall be identified, counted, and recorded with the date of occurrence. These data will be reported in the annual project report.

b) If project take (capture and handling) of steelhead (total of 105 fish captured or handled, or 26 killed) from fish salvage and dewatering is exceeded at the five culvert replacement sites, work will be suspended and NMFS will be called to discuss reinitiation of consultation.

c) Turbidity monitoring shall be conducted for the five culvert replacements. After a turbidity plume begins at the work site, visual turbidity shall be noted and recorded after 2 hours at 600 feet downstream. If a plume is visible, the downstream extent of the plume will also be recorded. Results of this monitoring will be reported in the project annual report. If a visible plume is visible at 600 feet downstream after 2 hours, NMFS will be called to discuss reinitiation of consultation.

d) The NPCNF shall inspect all active haul road drainage systems for signs of damage or deterioration at least once weekly during active haul and after precipitation events intense enough to cause excessive rutting, damage, or abnormal deterioration of the road surface.

Contractors will be notified, and repairs made according to the standard practices of the NPCNF and defined in the Proposed Action Section of this Opinion. Damage or deterioration of active haul roads, requiring mechanical repair, and draining to perennial streams, must be repaired no more than 6 days after the damage or deterioration is found and roads become drivable by the Sales Administrator’s vehicle. The NPCNF will keep a log of identified needed repairs and contractor compliance times. If there are no incidences of repair, this will be noted in the annual report. Log entries will be summarized, in table or text format, and submitted in the Project annual report.

e) If the extent of take described above (for steelhead mortality, turbidity, harvest, or road damage or potential damage) is exceeded, the NPCNF shall cease take-causing activities and contact NMFS within 72 hours.

f) Annual reports summarizing the results of all monitoring shall be submitted to NMFS by December 31. These annual reports shall be submitted every year until all proposed harvest and burning activities are complete. The annual project reports shall also include a statement on whether all the terms and conditions of this Opinion were successfully implemented.

g) The post-project reports shall be submitted electronically to: nmfswcr.srbo@noaa.gov. Hard copy submittals may be sent to the following address:

National Marine Fisheries Service 800 Park Boulevard Plaza IV, Suite 220 Boise, Idaho 83712-7743

h) NOTICE: If a steelhead or salmon becomes sick, injured, or killed as a result of project-related activities, and if the fish would not benefit from rescue, the finder should leave the fish alone, make note of any circumstances likely causing the death or injury, location and number of fish involved, and take photographs, if possible. If the fish in question appears capable of recovering if rescued, photograph the fish (if possible), transport the fish to a suitable location, and record the information described above. Adult fish should generally not be disturbed unless circumstances arise where an adult fish is obviously injured or killed by proposed activities, or some unnatural cause. The finder must contact NMFS Law Enforcement at (206) 526-6133 as soon as possible. The finder may be asked to carry out instructions provided by Law Enforcement to collect specimens or take other measures to ensure that evidence intrinsic to the specimen is preserved.

Rationale for the Decision When compared to the other alternatives, Alternative B will best meet the purpose and need as explained below.

I believe that Alternative B best meets the purpose and need of the project. I based my decision on how well the actions analyzed in the EA and EIS address the purpose and need of the project, how well the purpose and need is supported by scientific information, and conclusions of concerns that were raised during collaboration, coordination with the Nez Perce Tribe regarding treaty reserved resources, the scoping process, and the comment periods. I reviewed the Forest Plan, as amended, standards and guidelines for the project area and considered Nez Perce Tribe treaty rights, competing interests, and values of the public.

In reaching this conclusion, I considered how well the selected alternative achieves the desired future condition, meets the purpose and need for action, and addresses issues and concerns in the context of the other alternatives considered. Also, I considered all the environmental consequences of these actions, including the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects. Wildfires will continue to occur across the West. In 2005, the Blackerby fire threatened private land and 80 homes within and adjacent to the End of the World project area. More recently, wildfires across the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests have threatened several local communities. During the 2015, 2018, 2021, and 2022 fire seasons, many people were evacuated from their homes, some even lost homes. With its proximity to Grangeville, the End of the World project area also receives heavy recreational public use. Successful implementation of this project would result in a more fire resistant, resilient forest in which fire behavior would be moderated. This would provide for public and firefighter safety and allowing safer egress/ingress along critical travel routes.

I reviewed the alternatives analyzed in detail (EA, FONSI, EIS, and specialist reports), and find that they are responsive to the issues and concerns, as well as the purpose and need for action. I also believe that the purpose and need for action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Forest Plan, as amended.

I reviewed the alternatives analyzed but not considered in detail to ensure that an adequate range of alternatives was considered. I also considered Nez Perce Tribe and public comments. All concerns expressed during the scoping and comment processes have been appropriately analyzed and considered. Some concerns were addressed through alternative development, project design criteria, and resource protection measures. Other concerns, such as potential effects to resources were carried through the analysis (EA, EIS, and specialist reports).

Purpose and Need Reducing Wildfire Risk and Increasing Forest Resilience The End of the World project area is within rural wildland urban interface identified in the Idaho County Wildfire Protection Plan and was selected by the governor of Idaho as a Priority Landscape Treatment Area under the Farm Bill (USDA, Forest Service 2016). These are areas that have forest health and fuel hazard conditions outside of historic or desired conditions and are near private lands and structures. The End of the World project area falls entirely within the Nez Perce – Clearwater - Lower Salmon Wildfire Crisis Strategy Priority Landscape identified by Secretary Vilsack. The priority landscapes were selected based on the potential for wildfire to affect nearby communities, critical infrastructure, public water sources, and Tribal lands. High-Risk Firesheds in this priority landscape associated with the End of the World project include Asbestos Point and White Bird. This project would contribute towards forest resilience and reduce the likelihood of severity of wildfires in the priority landscape. To create more resilient ecosystems in the face of drought and climate change, we need to reestablish long-lived early seral tree species as the dominant overstory forest vegetation.

This project proposes timber harvesting, prescribed burning, permanent and temporary road construction, watershed improvement activities, and a roadside fuels break, to reduce hazardous fuels, achieve desired age class and restore forest species, improve forest conditions, improve, and restore watershed health, and improve infrastructure (roads) in the priority landscape.

The National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy includes three goals (Resilient Landscapes, Fire Adapted Communities, and Safe, Effective, Risk-based Wildfire Response), all of which were considered in my decision. This decision addresses all three of these goals, as described throughout this rationale.

I heavily weighed my responsibility to consider the locations and the state and local government concerns in selecting these actions. I also weighed safety and risk management for fire suppression personnel, trying to create a landscape which will be more resilient and resistant to wildfire and climate change. In addition, action is required to maintain forest health and promote resilient ecosystems by managing towards more characteristic landscape level vegetation patterns, structure, patch size, fuel loading and species composition. This will create the fire adapted and climate change resilient landscapes for the future.

The selected alternative will increase the margin of safety for firefighters and the public during suppression actions due to reduced fire intensity and lower fuel loading. This project will reintroduce fire to the landscape in controlled situations to restore it as an essential process of fire-dependent communities on over 24,000 acres.

The actions will:

• Reduce the risk to resource values because of reduction in accumulation of hazardous fuels that has the potential for high severity impacts. Modeling results indicate post treatment conditions would result in surface fire characteristics.

• Reduce wildfire risk to life and property. Lands adjacent to and near the project area, would be improved because post treatment conditions will allow for the use of safe efficient fire suppression management actions due to low flame lengths (less than 4 feet high), and surface fire type.

The Nez Perce-Clearwater is a forest that evolved with fire. It is not “if” wildfires burn in an area, but “when”. In recent years I have seen the efficacy of these treatments in many of the fires near this project area. Time and again, fires slow, stop, or change direction when they run into previously treated areas. Firefighters regularly use them as firelines and holding features. The photo below shows how insects and disease as well as the Rattlesnake fire of 2012 reached the edge of past treatment areas and stopped. This same effect occurred with the Johnson Bar, Wash, Slide and Baldy fires of 2014 and 2015, Hanover Fire in 2017, the Dixie Fire in 2021, and the Williams Creek fire in 2022. On the Motorway Complex, fires moved around past treatment areas without direct suppression actions. The Interface Fuels project was used to set backfires, thereby keeping the Woodrat Fire from burning the town of Syringa in 2015. The area that was treated in the Orogrande Community Protection project was instrumental in saving the community of Orogrande when the 2022 Williams Creek fire blew into and over the town. When the fire hit areas that had been harvested and prescribed

Photo near Dixie Summit showing how the Rattlesnake Fire of 2012 moved around past treatment areas (USFS).

burned, it slowed, and the crown fire dropped to the ground. This moderated the fire behavior such that structure protection measures were successful; firefighters could stay in the area longer and return more quickly; and natural resource damage was less severe. When the fire moved through the town and hit the untreated stands on the other side, the forest was again severely burnt. With the predicted impacts of climate change and past fire exclusion creating more intense fire behavior, reducing fuels in this area is even more important.

Historically, wildfire maintained open-grown ponderosa stands within portions of this area. Wildfire exclusion has allowed encroachment of shade-tolerant species into the understory, increasing the risk of stand-replacing fires by creation of ladder fuels, and increased accumulations of ground fuel.

Treatments would reduce timber stand density and reduce the encroachment of shade-tolerant tree species, therefore decreasing the risk of insect or disease outbreak and reducing the fire risk in the End of the World project area.

The decision will make progress toward the historic range of variability with the indicators of forest cover type and forest structure within treated stands.

This will shift forest tree species composition away from shade-tolerant species. Because the large, desirable species trees will be retained, there will only be a slight decrease in the large tree class. The treatments will help restore early seral species that were more prevalent in the area and are designed to begin restoring the open-grown forest structure.

The selected alternative will treat fuels within the Nez Perce – Clearwater - Lower Salmon Wildfire Crisis Strategy Priority Landscape. The project area is also a wildland urban interface area identified by Idaho County.

The alternative will reduce fuels directly adjacent to private property within the project area.

Treatments will also create a fuel break along 16 miles of Forest Service Road 221, providing safer egress and ingress for evacuations and emergency response personnel. Changing

Photo of Orogrande Community Protection Project showing an area that has been thinned. This type of fuels treatment helped change the Williams Creek wildfire movement from a crown fire to a surface fire.

the structure of the forested stands is critical to reducing risk and exposure of firefighters and the public. The selected alternative will change fire behavior, moving it from the crowns of the trees to the ground where it can be more safely managed.

None of the alternatives affects the probability of wildfire occurrence, only the potential impacts to the Forest and the private property in the project area. Vegetation treatments and prescribed fire will modify fuels. Reduced fuel loading will decrease the probability of a high intensity wildfire. Actions will lower the amount of land in the project area that are high fire hazard. Fires occurring in these treatment units will be less intense and the ability to control them will increase. Reintroduction of fire to the landscape in controlled situations is an essential process of fire-dependent communities. The selected alternative provides for the greatest margin of safety compared to the other action alternatives during fire suppression operations.

Improving Forest, Water Quality, and Aquatic Habitats This project provides the opportunity to treat the landscape holistically. It addresses upland forest health as well as improving function of the aquatic systems. The selected alternative will improve watershed health in the long term. Watershed function will improve by reducing sediment delivery to streams from road and trails, reducing the volume of water intercepted and redirecting from natural flow paths towards stream channels, increasing watershed area that has productive vegetation, and increasing aquatic organism passage, hardening…