Categorical Exclusion

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The following categorical exclusions require NEPA documentation, which will be completed as set forth at § 1b.3(g).

Exclusion Text

(USDA-47d-USFS) Forest and grassland management activities with a primary purpose of meeting restoration objectives or increasing resilience. Activities to improve ecosystem health, resilience, and other watershed and habitat conditions may not exceed 2,800 acres. (i) Activities to meet restoration and resilience objectives may include, but are not limited to: (A) Stream restoration, aquatic organism passage rehabilitation, or erosion control; (B) Invasive species control and reestablishment of native species; (C) Prescribed burning; (D) Reforestation; (E) Road and/or trail decommissioning (system and non-system); (F) Pruning; (G) Vegetation thinning; and (H) Timber harvesting. (ii) The following requirements or limitations apply to this category: (A) Projects shall be developed or refined through a collaborative process that includes multiple interested persons representing diverse interests; (B) Vegetation thinning or timber harvesting activities shall be designed to achieve ecological restoration objectives, but shall not include salvage harvesting as defined in Agency policy; and (C) Construction and reconstruction of permanent roads is limited to 0.5 miles. Construction of temporary roads is limited to 2.5 miles, and all temporary roads shall be decommissioned no later than 3 years after the date the project is completed. Projects may include repair and maintenance of National Forest System (NFS) roads and trails to prevent or address resource impacts; repair and maintenance of NFS roads and trails is not subject to the above mileage limits.