Environmental Assessment Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
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- Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park
- TABLE OF CONTENTS PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY 3 1PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION 8
- 2Alternatives Considered 18
- 3Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences 35
- 4Consultation and Coordination 83 5References and Literature Cited 85 Appendix A.Agency Consultation 92
| Environmental Assessment
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Fire Management Plan June 9, 2016 Submitted to: Todd Roeder Chief Ranger and Project Technical Representative Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park 3370 Lafayette Road Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 Prepared by: SWCA Environmental Consultants 200 W. 22nd Street, Suite 220 Lombard, IL 60148 PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITYPublic, or external, scoping was conducted through the National Park Service (NPS) Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website where a scoping notice and brochure were posted on January 12, 2016, to inform the public of the proposed project. The scoping brochure was also posted on the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park’s (park’s) public website to solicit feedback for the environmental assessment (EA). The public scoping period ended on February 11, 2016. Public comments received during the scoping period related to 1) the need to restore the historic landscape to represent the Civil War time period, 2) recommend methods for fire management activities, and 3) potential impacts from the use of prescribed burns. The Fire Management Plan (FMP) EA will be available for public comments for 30 days, between June 9 and July 9, 2016. Comments are due by July 9, 2016. Copies of the EA will be provided to interested individuals upon request. Reviewers should provide comments on the EA during the review period. Comments on the EA should be specific and discuss the adequacy of the analysis and the merits of the alternatives discussed. Following closure of the review period, all public comments will be reviewed and analyzed prior to release of the decision document. The NPS will issue responses to any substantive comments received during the review period and will make appropriate changes to the EA as needed. If you wish to comment on this EA please go to the PEPC project website: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/CHCH. The open for comment link on the left hand side provides access to the EA. Comments can also be submitted by mail to the address below. Comments must be submitted by July 9, 2016. Comments cannot be received by email. Superintendent Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Fire Management Plan P.O. Box 2128 Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 Before including your address, telephone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comments, you should be aware that your entire comment (including personal identifying information) may be publically available at any time. While you may include in your comment direction to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY 3 1PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION 8 1.1Introduction 8 1.2Purpose and Need of the Action 9 1.2.1Fire History of the Park 12 1.2.2Federal Wildland Fire Policy 13 1.3Scoping 13 1.3.1Internal Scoping 13 1.3.2Public Scoping 14 1.4Issues 14 1.4.1Issues Retained for Analysis 15 1.4.2Issues Considered and Dismissed from Further Consideration 16 Wetlands 16 Museum Collections 17 Soundscapes 17 Socioeconomics 17 Environmental Justice 17 Public Health and Safety 18
2.1Alternative A: No Action Alternative 18 2.2Alternative B: Proposed Action (Preferred Alternative) 19 2.2.1Minimum Impact Strategy and Tactics 20 2.2.2Fire Management Strategies 20 Wildland Fire Suppression Strategies 20 Full Suppression 20 Confine and Contain 20 Point Protection 21 2.2.3Fuel Management Strategies 21 Prescribed Fire 22 Mechanical Fuel Treatment 22 Cooperation and Collaboration 23 2.2.4Fire Management Units 23 Chickamauga Battlefield Unit 24 Lookout Mountain Unit 24 Moccasin Bend Unit 24 Signal Point Unit 25 Missionary Ridge Unit 25 Orchard Knob Unit 25 2.3Mitigation Measures/Best Management Practices 31
3.1Climate Change 35 3.2Similar and Cumulative Actions 36 3.3Air Resources 37 3.3.1Affected Environment 37 3.3.2Environmental Consequences 38 Alternative A: No Action 38 Cumulative Impacts 39 Alternative B: FMP Revision (Preferred Alternative) 39 Cumulative Impacts 41 Conclusion 41 3.4Soil and Water Resources 41 3.4.1Affected Environment 41 Chickamauga Unit 42 Lookout Mountain Unit 42 Moccasin Bend Unit 42 Signal Point Unit 42 Missionary Ridge Unit 42 Orchard Knob Unit 43 3.4.2Environmental Consequences 43 Alternative A: No Action 43 Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Moccasin Bend, and Missionary Ridge Units 43 Signal Point and Orchard Knob Units 44 Cumulative Impacts 44 Alternative B: FMP Revision (Preferred Alternative) 44 Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Moccasin Bend, and Missionary Ridge Units 44 Signal Point and Orchard Knob Units 45 Cumulative Impacts 45 Conclusion 46 3.5Vegetation, Including Nonnative Species 46 3.5.1Affected Environment 46 Chickamauga Unit 48 Lookout Mountain 48 Moccasin Bend Unit 50 Signal Point Unit 50 Missionary Ridge Unit 51 Orchard Knob Unit 51 3.5.2Environmental Consequences 51 Alternative A: No Action 51 Chickamauga Unit 51 Lookout Mountain Unit 52 Moccasin Bend Unit 52 Signal Point, Missionary Ridge, and Orchard Knob Units 53 Cumulative Impacts 53 Alternative B: FMP Revision (Preferred Alternative) 54 Chickamauga Unit 54 Lookout Mountain Unit 55 Moccasin Bend and Missionary Ridge Units 56 Signal Point and Orchard Knob Units 56 Cumulative Impacts 56 Conclusion 56 3.6Wildlife, Including Threatened and Endangered Species 57 3.6.1Affected Environment 57 Mammals 57 Federally Listed Species 58 Invasive Species 59 Birds 59 Reptiles and Amphibians 59 Fish 59 3.6.2Environmental Consequences 60 Alternative A: No Action 60 Mammals 60 Federally Listed Species 60 Birds 61
Reptiles and Amphibians 62 Fish 62
Cumulative Impacts 63 Alternative B: FMP Revision (Preferred Alternative) 63 Mammals 63 Federally Listed Species 63 Birds 64 Reptiles and Amphibians 64 Fish 65 Cumulative Impacts 65 Conclusion 65 3.7Cultural Resources, including Cultural Landscapes 66 3.7.1Affected Environment 66 Chickamauga Battlefield Unit 67 Cultural Resources 67 Cultural Landscapes 67 Lookout Mountain Unit 67 Cultural Resources 67 Cultural Landscapes 68 Moccasin Bend Unit 68 Cultural Resources 68 Cultural Landscapes 68 Signal Point, Missionary Ridge, and Orchard Knob Units 69 Cultural Resources 69 Cultural Landscapes 69 3.7.2Environmental Consequences 69 Alternative A: No Action 69 Cultural Resources (all units) 69 Cultural Landscapes (all units) 70 Cumulative Impacts 70 Alternative B: FMP Revision (Preferred Alternative) 71 Cultural Resources (all units) 71 Cultural Landscapes (all units) 72 Cumulative Impacts 72 Conclusion 72 3.8Land Use and Transportation 73 3.8.1Affected Environment 73 3.8.2Environmental Consequences 74 Alternative A: No Action 74 Cumulative Impacts 74 Alternative B: FMP Revision (Preferred Alternative) 74 Cumulative Impacts 75 Conclusion 76 3.9Visitor Use and Experience 76 3.9.1Affected Environment 76 Chickamauga Unit 76 Lookout Mountain Unit 76 Moccasin Bend Unit 77 Signal Point Unit 77 Missionary Ridge Unit 77 Orchard Knob Unit 77 3.9.2Environmental Consequences 77 Alternative A: No Action 77 Chickamauga Unit 77 Lookout Mountain Unit 78 Moccasin Bend Unit 78 Signal Point, Missionary Ridge, and Orchard Knob Units 79 Cumulative Impacts 79 Alternative B: FMP Revision (Preferred Alternative) 79 Chickamauga Unit 79 Lookout Mountain Unit 80 Moccasin Bend Unit 80 Missionary Ridge Unit 81 Signal Point and Orchard Knob Units 81 Cumulative Impacts 81 Conclusion 82 4Consultation and Coordination 83 5References and Literature Cited 85 Appendix A.Agency Consultation 92 Appendix B.Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics 96 List of Tables
Acronyms and Abbreviations
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