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Draft Decision Notice (DN) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) 

Bloomington Cattle Association Corral Project

USDA Forest Service 

Montpelier Ranger District 

Caribou-Targhee National Forest 

Bear Lake County, Idaho 

Introduction 

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Montpelier Ranger District (Forest Service) has 

prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) and this draft DN-FONSI for the 

Bloomington Cattle Association Corral Project in the Cache National Forest, as 

administered by the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and located in Bear Lake County, 

Idaho, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 

U.S.C.A. §4321 to 4370(h)), Council on Environmental Quality implementing regulations 

(40 C.F.R. Parts 1500 to 1508 (1978)), Forest Service supplemental regulations and 

guidance (36 C.F.R. Part 220, National Environmental Policy Act Compliance (2008), 

and Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 1901.15, National Environmental Policy Act 

Handbook (2010)). The EA is incorporated by reference into this DN-FONSI. 

The Forest Service proposes to allow its permittees to construct a small corral and 

associated fencing on forest land (along Paris Springs Campground access road; 

Forest Road #427) to facilitate post-roundup cattle management activities in response 

to their loss of access/use of a private corral. The EA analyzed the potential effects of 

the no action and one action alternative (proposed action) in response to the purpose 

and need of the proposal. (EA, Sections 1.2, 1.3, and 2.0). 

Decision and Reasons for the Decision 

Based upon my review of the EA, I have decided to implement Alternative 2 (proposed 

action), which includes constructing a small corral and associated fence along Paris 

Springs Campground access road. No mitigation measures or monitoring is required to 

implement the proposed action. The Forest Service will install the recommended culvert 

during regular road maintenance activities, not as part of the proposed action. (EA, 

Sections 2.2.2, 3.1, and 4.0). 

Overall, I have selected the proposed action because it meets the purpose and need of 

the project proposal, does not result in significant environmental effects or present 

unresolved conflicts concerning alternative uses of available resources, is consistent 

with the Caribou Revised Forest Plan (Caribou RFP) and travel plan (no amendment 

required), and would be implemented in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, 

and policies. (EA, Sections 1.3, 1.6, 2.1, 3.1, and 3.3). 

Other Action Alternatives Considered 

In addition to the selected alternative, I considered the following action alternatives 

(includes those raised during scoping) that were ultimately not carried forward for 

analysis for not meeting the purpose and need, as summarized in parentheses (EA, 

Section 2.2): 
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 Requiring permittees to use private land (Forest Service does not have 

authority);

 Using alternative locations in Paris Canyon and on Bureau of Land Management 

land (more construction and logistical issues due to topography and new 

disturbance);

 Using a portable corral (environmental consequences same as permanent, but 

may lead to undesirable effects outside of the project area); and

 Using enforceable permit terms/condition in lieu of a corral (permittees currently 

operate under permits with enforceable terms/conditions).

Public Involvement and Scoping 

The Forest Service listed the project proposal in the Schedule of Proposed Actions on 

December 6, 2016, notified the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes on January 6, 2017, and 

provided for a 30-day public scoping period (January 25, 2017 to February 23, 2017) 

(initiated by publishing a legal notice in the Idaho State Journal on January 24, 2017), 

and provided individual notice to requesting parties. The Forest Service received 

several comments on the project proposal. Where comments raised specific and 

relevant concerns, they are addressed in this EA. No comments were received by the 

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Considering public scoping comments, the scope of the EA 

analysis was determined by the Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team, and focused on 

the resources holding the most potential for significant effects, namely: water quality. 

(EA, Sections 1.7 to 1.9). 

Finding of No Significant Impact 

Based on my review of the effects analysis presented in the EA, I have determined that 

the proposed action will not have significant effects on the quality of the human 

environment considering the context and intensity of potential environmental effects (40 

C.F.R. §1508.27, and FSH 1909.15_05). In addition, the proposed action was design 

and sited to avoiding significant effects to resources. 

In terms of context, the potential effects of the proposed action would be local, confined 

to the project area near the Paris Springs Campground on forest land (EA, Sections 1.4 

and 2.0), although effects would be largely non-existent as discussed below. 

In terms of intensity, the proposed action may result in none to negligible adverse 

environmental effects across all resources, including water resources (both short-term 

and long-term). The action would not affect public health and safety, unique 

characteristics of the geographic area, or result in the potential for significant cumulative 

effects. The action is of a routine type/nature and does not present any uncertain, 

unique or unknown risks and neither establishes precedent nor represents a decision in 

principle about a future action/consideration with significant effects. Finally, the action is 

consistent with the Caribou RFP and travel plan and would be implemented in 

compliance with applicable laws, regulations and policies, namely: the Clean Water Act. 

(EA, Sections 1.6, 1.8.2, 1.8.3, 3.1, and 3.3). 

Therefore, I have determined that further analysis is not warranted and an 

environmental impact statement will not be prepared. 
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Findings Required by Other Laws and Regulations 

As explained in the EA, the proposed action is consistent with the Caribou RFP, travel 

plan, and past grazing analyses/decisions and would be implemented in compliance 

with applicable laws, regulations and policies. (EA, Sections 1.6, 1.8, 3.1, and 3.3). No 

additional findings are required in this DN-FONSI. 

Administrative Review and Objection Rights 

This decision is subject to objection pursuant to 36 CFR Part 218, Subparts A and B. 

The objection must be filed by way of regular mail, fax, e-mail, hand-delivery, or express 

delivery with the Objection Review Officer: Garth Smelser, USDA Forest Service, 

Intermountain Region –mail - 324 25th Street, Ogden, Utah 84401; fax - (801) 625-

5277; or email - objections-intermtn-regional-office@fs.fed.us with Subject: Bloomington 

Cattle Association Corral Project. The office business hours for those submitting handdelivered objections are: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding 

holidays. Electronic objections must be submitted in a format such as an e-mail 

message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc). In cases where no 

identifiable name is attached to an electronic message, a verification of identity will be 

required. A scanned signature is one way to provide verification. 

Objections, including attachments, must be filed within 45 days from the publication 

date of the objection period legal notice in the Idaho State Journal, the newspaper of 

record. Objections received after the 45-day objection period will not be considered. 

The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating 

the time to file an objection. Those wishing to object this project should not rely upon 

dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. 

Individuals and entities as defined in 36 CFR 218.2 who have submitted timely, specific 

written comments regarding a proposed project or activity that is subject to these 

regulations during any designated opportunity for public comment may file an objection 

(36 CFR 218.5) unless the issue raised in the objection is based on new information 

that arose after the opportunity for comment (36 CFR 218.8(c)). The notice of objection 

must meet the content requirements at 36 CFR 218.8. 

Implementation 

If no objections are filed within the 45-day time period, implementation of the decision 

may occur on, but not before the fifth business day following the end of the objection 

filing period. When objections are filed, implementation may occur following the date of 

the objection disposition. For more information concerning the Bloomington Cattle 

Association Corral Project, contact Dennis Duehren at (208) 847-0375, during normal 

business hours, or via email (dduehren@fs.fed.us). 

Approved by: 

 

Dennis Duehren Date 

District Ranger 

Montpelier Ranger District 

Caribou-Targhee National Forest 
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