Post-Fire Cheatgrass Control Project (DOE/EA-2102)

Elko County, Nevada

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is proposing to fund the Shoshone Paiute Indian Tribe to aerially apply herbicide (Plateau) and soil inoculant (MB906) to control cheatgrass on a 139-acre hillside south of Mountain City, Nevada that has become dominated by this invasive species following the 2012 Brown’s Gulch fire. The cheatgrass is hindering this area’s post-fire recovery to its native sagebrush-steppe plant community. The treatment would begin in the spring of 2019 and may be repeated in the fall or spring for up to three years.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

To understand the potential environmental impacts of this proposal, BPA prepared an environmental assessment (EA) following the procedures of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The EA evaluated the effects of aerial application of an herbicide (Imazapic) and soil inoculant (MB-906) to control cheatgrass on a 139-acre hillside south of Mountain City, Nevada that has become dominated by this invasive species following the 2012 Brown’s Gulch fire. The EA describes anticipated impacts to natural and human resources and identifies mitigation measures to help avoid or minimize impacts. During this process, BPA worked with landowners; tribes; Federal, state, and local agencies; and interest groups.

The draft EA was released for public review and comment in March 2019. No comments were received on the draft EA. The Final EA and FONSI were released in March 2019.

The proposed schedule for the environmental review is as follows:
Scoping comment period        December 28, 2018 - January 28, 2019
Draft EA comment period         March 1, 2019 - March 15, 2019
Final EA March 28, 2019
Finding of No Significant Impact (if warranted) March 28, 2019
If decision to proceed, treatment would start April 2019

CURRENT STATUS

BPA has released its final EA and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI includes a Mitigation Action Plan to help avoid or lessen potential impacts.

CONTACT

For environmental information, contact: 
Rob Shull        Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Contract Environmental Specialist        Direct Line: 503-230-3962
CorSource Technology Email: rwshull@bpa.gov 
Bonneville Power Administration - EWF-4
P.O. Box 3621
Portland, OR 97208

For project information, contact:
Cecelia Brown        Toll-free: 800-622-4519
Project Manager        Direct Line: 502-230-3462
Bonneville Power Administration - EWL-4 Email: ckbrown@bpa.gov 
P.O. Box 3621
Portland, OR 97208

DOCUMENTS

FINAL EA & FONSI
Public letter  (04/05/2019)
FONSI/Mitigation Action Plan  (03/28/2019)
Final EA  (03/28/2019)

DRAFT EA
Draft Comments received
Public letter  (03/01/2019)
Comment Form  (03/01/2019)
Draft EA  (03/01/2019)

SCOPING
Soping comments received
Public letter  (12/28/2018)
Project map  (12/28/2018)
Comment form  (12/28/2018)