Common use of Geology and Soils Clause in Contracts

Geology and Soils. ‌ Under all three alternatives, timber harvest and management activities are expected to continue to occur throughout Applicant’s lands, resulting in potential erosion effects to geology and soils. Potential impacts on erodible soils are minimized through compliance with Forest Practices Rules for road construction and maintenance (WAC 222-24) and timber harvest (WAC 222-30), particularly those that relate to steep and unstable slopes and rule-identified landforms. Therefore, impacts to geology and soils would be the same under the No Action Alternative, as analyzed in Section 4.4 of the FPHCP FEIS (USFWS and NMFS 2006), and the Proposed Action Alternative, except that additional forest land (Presumed Habitat and Occupied Sites) will be designated as no- harvest under either of the Action Alternatives, which might result in incremental benefits related to geology and soils, particularly limiting erosion and potential earth movement on steep and unstable slopes that occur in tree retention areas. However, under the No Action Alternative, forested wetlands would still be subject to the all protections afforded to them under the Forest Practices Program. Under all Alternatives, impacts on geology and soils are expected to be minimal. The most important geology and soils issues in the regulated landscape relate to steep and unstable slopes, and in particular rule-identified landforms, road construction, landslide prevention, delivery of sediment to typed waters, and related issues. The Forest Practices Rules that are key to addressing these issues apply equally under all three Alternatives, including the No Action Alternative. Based on a slight increase in areas deferred from timber harvesting, the two Action Alternatives are expected to have slightly less or no measurable difference in impact to geology and soils as compared to the No Action Alternative.

Geology and Soils. ‌ Under all three alternatives, timber harvest and management activities are expected to continue to occur throughout the Applicant’s lands, resulting in potential erosion effects to geology and soils. Potential impacts on erodible soils are minimized through compliance with Forest Practices Rules for road construction and maintenance (WAC 222-24) and timber harvest (WAC 222-30), particularly those that relate to steep and unstable slopes and rule-identified landforms. Therefore, impacts to geology and soils would be the same under the No Action Alternative, as analyzed in Section 4.4 of the FPHCP FEIS (USFWS and NMFS 2006), and the Proposed Action Alternative, except that additional forest land (Presumed Habitat and Habitat, Occupied Sites, and Murrelet Habitat Development Areas) will be designated as no- no-harvest under either of the Action Alternatives, which might result in incremental benefits related to geology and soils, particularly limiting erosion and potential earth movement on steep and unstable slopes that occur in tree retention areas. However, under the No Action Alternative, forested wetlands would still be subject to the all protections afforded to them under the Forest Practices Program. Under all Alternatives, impacts on geology and soils are expected to be minimal. The most important geology and soils issues in the regulated landscape relate to steep and unstable slopes, and in particular rule-identified landforms, road construction, landslide prevention, delivery of sediment to typed waters, and related issues. The Forest Practices Rules that are key to addressing these issues apply equally under all three Alternatives, including the No Action Alternative. Based on a slight increase in areas deferred from timber harvesting, the two Action Alternatives are expected to have slightly less or no measurable difference in impact to geology and soils as compared to the No Action Alternative.