II, 



IMPACTS ON THE PHSYICAL ENVIRONMENT 



GEOLOGY AND SOIL QUALITY, 

 STABILITY AND MOISTURE 

 (continued) : 



CUMULATIVE IMPACTS 



JWo-Jlction JlUemaHve 



No soil would be disturbed and no harvest 

 units of past harvesting would be reentered; 

 no cumulative impacts to soils would occur. 



taction Mtemative 



The salvage harvest would enter both old 

 harvest units and stands that have had no 

 harvesting. Some of the stands have had 

 small salvage operations within 200 feet of 

 existing roads. Skid trails from past 

 harvesting would be used if they are properly 

 located and spaced. Use of these trails 

 would minimize the risk of cumulative impacts 

 to soil productivity. The proposed project 

 area has been evaluated and most of the 

 existing skid trails are well located and 

 properly spaced; therefore, additional skid 

 trails and subsequent cumulative effects to 

 soil productivity would be minimal. Areas 

 not previously harvested would have 

 cumulative impacts to soil productivity 

 similar to those described under DIRECT AND 

 INDIRECT IMPACTS. 



WATER QUALITY, QUANTITY 

 AND DISTRIBUTION: Are 

 important surface or 

 groundwater resources 

 present? Is there 

 potential for violation 

 of ambient water quality 

 standards, drinking 

 water maximum 

 contaminant levels, or 

 degradation of water 

 quality? Are cumulative 

 impacts likely to occur 

 as a result of this 

 proposed action? 



[Y] The project area lies within the lower 

 reaches of Soup Creek and other small 

 tributaries. See APPENDIX D - WATERSHED AND 

 HYDROLOGY ANALYSIS for pertinent information. 



6. AIR QUALITY: Will 

 pollutants or 

 particulate be produced? 

 Is the project 

 influenced by air 

 quality regulations or 

 zones (Class I airshed)? 

 Are cumulative impacts 

 likely to occur as a 

 result of this proposed 

 action? 



[Y] 



EXISTING ENVIRONMENT 



The project is within Montana Airshed 2 and is 

 not within a Class I Airshed. Air quality 

 within this airshed is considered good. 

 Temporary reductions in air quality currently 

 occur from wildfires, prescribed broadcast 

 burns, and road dust. 



Big Blowdown Salvage 



Page CEA-7 



