HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter from the US Forest Service regarding PG&E Herbicide VMP and the Environmental Assessment United States Forest Plumes 159 Lawrence Street
USDA Department of Service National P.0.Box 11500
Agriculture Forest Quincy,CA 95971-6025
(530)283-2050 Voice
(530)534-7984 Text(TDD)
BOARD OF SUg
n mos File Code: 1950
DEC Z Date: December 17, 2013
oRDVIIJ E,C
Dear Friend of the Plumas National Forest,
Thank you for your interest and participation in the development of the Pacific Gas and Electric
Company's(PG&E)Herbicide Vegetation Management Program on Transmission Line Right-
of-Ways (ROWS) (PG&E Herbicide VMP). The Environmental Assessment(EA) is available
electronically for your review by navigating to the project website via the Plurnas National
Forest(PNF) webpage(www.fs.fed.us/r5/plumas). Select the"Land and Resources
Management"tab, then select "Browse through the Forest Projects,"and then find the project
name"PG&E Herbicide VMP".
The EA is being circulated at this time for 30 days. The preferred alternative(Alternative A—the
proposed action) is designed to improve vegetation management in the Transmission Line ROWs
with the use of EPA-approved herbicides on the Feather River and Mt.Hough Ranger Districts,
PNF(Plurnas, Butte, and Yuba Counties).
The EA analyzes the proposed use of herbicides within 10 existing transmission line ROWs.
While the 10 ROW's are either owned and operated or maintained by PG&E,they are within the
jurisdiction of the PNF under Special Use Authorization.PG&E proposes to use herbicides on
National Forest System(NFS)lands to control unwanted vegetation within the ROWs.The work
area footprint for the transmission line ROWs is approximately 1,052 acres and incorporates
approximately 108.5 miles of transmission line. A maximum of 400 acres would be treated
annually. The objective for the use of herbicides is to establish compatible vegetation (and
eliminate incompatible vegetation)within the ROWs.Typically, the desired vegetation structure
would take 5-7 years to establish with the use of herbicides.The Caribou Road component of
PG&E's proposed Herbicide Vegetation Management Program EA requires further discussion
and planning to balance the needs for public safety and vegetation management with the
concerns of recreationists. Therefore PG&E removed Caribou Road from the proposed herbicide
program until a plan can be developed that addresses the challenges of vegetation management
and the need for unobstructed pedestrian walkways and designated pullouts along the road.
The proper maintenance of vegetation adjacent to electric lines and facilities within the ROWs is
essential for the safe, reliable and efficient operation of electric transmission line facilities. The
transmission line ROWs within the PNF require vegetation management and are currently in
critical condition. The proposed use of herbicides would improve safety and reliability of the
facilities while providing for the protection and maintenance of forest resources, would reduce
the risk of massive power outages, would prevent ignition starts under the lines (reducing the risk
of wildfires). The use of herbicides will help maintain the ROWs to the standards of the wire
zone-border zone method as described in the EA.
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The document can be accessed on the Forest Service Website at (www.fs.fed.us/r5/plumas).
Select the"Land and Resources Management" tab,then select"Browse through the Forest
Projects," and then find the project name"PG&E Herbicide VMP,"or a paper copy can be sent
by requesting it from Erika Brenzovich,Project Leader, Mt. Hough Ranger District, 39696
Highway 70, Quincy, CA, 95971 (telephone: (530)283-7620;e-mail: ebrenzovich@fs.fed,us).
This project is subject to comment pursuant to 36 CFR 218,Subparts A and B. Planning for this
project began under the appeal process (36 CFR 215). Only those who submit timely project-
specific written comments during a public comment period are eligible to file an objection.
Individuals or representatives of an entity submitting comments must sign the comments or
verify identity upon request.
The Forest Service will accept comments on this proposal for 30 days following publication of
the opportunity to comment legal notice which is the exclusive means for calculating the
comment period. Commenters should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by
any other source. It is the commenter's responsibility to ensure timely receipt of comments (36
CFR 218.25).
Comments may be: mailed to: Earl Ford, Forest Supervisor,cio Erika Brenzovich, Project.
Leader, Mt. Hough Ranger District, 39696 Highway 70, Quincy, California, 95971. The office
business hours for those submitting hand-delivered comments are: 8:00 A.M.—4:30 P.M.
Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Electronic comments must be submitted in a format
such as an email message, plain,text (.txt), rich text format(.ttf), portable document format
(.pdf),or Word(.doc or.docx)to: comments-pacificsouthwest-plumas-mthough@fs.fed.us.
Please indicate the name"PG&E Herbicide Vegetation Management Program"on the subject
line of your email. Names of commenters will be part of the public record subject to the Freedom
of Information Act.
Sincerely,
EARL W. FORD
Forest Supervisor