For Immediate Release: March 25, 2003:
CO-SJPLC-03-018

Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Record 

DECISION:  It is my decision to authorize the proposed action. Candidate pinyon pine trees at the Anasazi Heritage Center, Lowry Pueblo and Sand Canyon Pueblo will be protected from the IPS pinyon beetle by spraying carbaryl directly onto the stems and large branches of the selected trees. The mitigation measures identified for the proposed action in the attached environmental assessment have been formulated into stipulations and are attached.   

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS: The environmental assessment, analyzing the environmental effects of the proposed action, has been reviewed. The approved mitigation measures result in a finding of no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an environmental impact statement is not necessary to further analyze the environmental effects of the proposed action. 

RATIONALE FOR DECISION:  The decision to allow the proposed action does not result in any undue or unnecessary environmental degradation and is in conformance with the San Juan Resource Area RMP, approved September 1985. All public comments were reviewed prior to making this decision.

COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING:  The candidate trees will be monitored throughout the season to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. 

/s/ LouAnn Jacobson

Manager, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument    

Date __03.25.03____

ATTACHMENTS:       1. EA# CO-SJPLC-03-018 (.pdf 231 kb)

                               2. Mitigation Measures

MITIGATION MEASURES:  

1. Protective Precautions for Workers: Avoid breathing dust or spray mist by wearing a respirator. Avoid contact with eyes, skin or clothing. Wear regular long sleeved work clothing and head covering. Change to clean clothing daily. Bath and wash hair after each workday. Do not eat, drink, or use tobacco while working with carbaryl. Wash hands and face before eating, drinking or using tobacco. Wash thoroughly after handling equipment or pesticide.  
2. Workers will be required to wear respirators to avoid any human exposure. 
3. Application of carbaryl spray will only be on a rain-free day. 
4. Trees identified for spraying will be marked with blue flagging and a metal numbered tag attached to each tree. 
5. Spraying when wind speeds are less than 5 MPH and using a coarse spray tip will reduce the potential for any drift.
6. The public will not be allowed in treated areas during the application and for 24 hours after the spraying has been completed and the spray has dried.  Signs will be placed in treated areas for several weeks to warn the public.  Application at all proposed treatment areas will be avoided during the weekends. 
7. Cultural Resources:  Potential effects from Carbaryl spray on sandstone rubble mounds, standing masonry walls, rock art panels, and other sensitive features will be mitigated by laying plastic underneath trees and/or on sandstone cliff faces located in sensitive areas. Specific trees to be treated will be identified in advance, and trees located in archaeologically sensitive areas (within or in close proximity to rubble mounds, standing walls, rock art panels, or other sensitive cultural features, will be identified and marked by the CANM archaeologist. Plastic will be laid down beneath the trees or placed on wall faces prior to spraying. Potential drift of the spray onto unprotected sensitive areas will be reduced by spraying when wind speeds are less than 5 MPH and through the use of a coarse spray tip.
8. If pinyon nuts develop in the fall then signs will be placed to warn visitors against eating nuts from treated trees.
9. Since Carbaryl is extremely toxic to bees, spraying will be conducted in the early morning before they become active. 
10. A news release will be completed and posted in the local newspaper at least two weeks prior to implementation of the project.