Forest Service studies Sisters sewer site

The Forest Service recently began its environmental assessment on 240 acres of public land known as "Section 9," which may be conveyed to the City of Sisters for a wastewater treatment and disposal facility.

Forest officials are seeking community feedback for the EA which addresses the proposed sale of Section 9 under legislation known as the Townsite Act. The city is also trying to obtain the land through legislation proposed in the U.S. Senate by Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden.

Libby Bottero, who campaigned against the sewer, told The Nugget she called EA team leader Chris Mickle to confirm the timeline for the comment period.

She also said, she was "wondering if (the city) could do with a little less land" and whether they were "still looking at alternative wastewater systems.

"Alternatives could be less expensive and provide better environmental treatment of the sewage," Bottero said.

Mickle said that the Forest Service's role in a Townsite Act application focuses on whether the land sale meets specific land-use criteria.

"We look at the use of public lands as they are now, and how they are changing in use, such as where we (will) put a bike trail that goes through (Section 9)," he explained.

"There are also some concerns that the location of the wastewater facility is within the (Squaw Creek) flood plain," he noted. "We have a team of specialists that look at these questions."

Mickle said they will also evaluate impact to deer habitat, since Section 9 lies in deer winter range.

"We look (primarily) at the human environment," Mickle said. "The type of facility would not be part of this analysis."

He added, however, that a second EA will be conducted by the USDA Rural Development Department, which will address the type of facility chosen by the city.

According to Sisters District Ranger Bill Anthony, the city's Townsite Act application must meet a number of conditions before a land sale can occur.

"The Townsite Act authorizes the Forest Service to sell land ... if the benefit to community outweighs the benefits to the general public of retaining the land in National Forest ownership," he explained. "The community (also) needs to demonstrate they have no other choice but to use National Forest land.

"The Townsite Act requires that land be sold to the community at 'fair market value,' depending upon approved appraisals, and the money (from the sale) would go to the general treasury," Anthony said.

Sisters City Administrator Barbara Warren said that a preliminary appraisal by Dana Bratton "almost a year ago" valued 280 acres in Section 9 at $672,000.

Warren said the original appraisal was completed to approximate the land's value and that the city has not yet scheduled an appraisal of Section 9 that meets Forest Service requirements.

According to Mickle, Bend's Dana Bratton Appraisal Services is not one of the 12 appraisers currently held on retainer by the Forest Service.

Warren added that the City of Sisters will write a check to the Forest Service "not to exceed $30,000" to cover their costs of conducting the EA.

The Forest Service has promised to act quickly on the project.

"We've agreed in turn to make it our highest priority to release a decision no later than this fall," Anthony said. "We are shifting our priorities and bringing in some people from other districts."

As an environmental coordinator for the Deschutes National Forest, Mickle writes environmental documents and participates on teams for watershed analyses and other projects. He will work approximately half-time on the Sisters project.

"Right now we're in the public review process for our proposed action," Mickle explained. "The public has a chance to tell us what they think we need to look at."

A second public comment period will follow the completion of the EA this spring, giving the public "one more chance to comment" on proposed alternatives, according to Mickle.

The current public comment period officially ends April 7, but Mickle said the Forest Service will continue to accept comments after this deadline.

"We will take comments throughout the process," he said. "We're on a pretty tight timeline for finishing the analysis this spring, and there should be draft out by May."

Mickle can be reached by calling 383-4721 or e-mailing Chris.Mickle/[email protected]

Written comments should be addressed to Chris Mickle, c/o District Ranger Bill Anthony, P.O. Box 249, Sisters, OR 97759.