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Proposal for Modification of Burnett Oil Co., Inc's Existing Plan of Operations (9B Permit) for the Nobles Grade 3D Seismic Survey.
Big Cypress National Preserve » Proposal for Modification of Burnett Oil Co., Inc's Existing Plan of Operations (9B Permit) for the Nobles Grade 3D Seismic Survey. » Document List
The National Park Service (NPS) proposes to modify Burnett Oil Co., Inc's (Burnett) existing Plan of Operations (9B Permit) for the Nobles Grade 3D Seismic Survey conditionally approved on May 10, 2016. Burnett's 9B Permit is subject to requirements for wetlands compensation outlined in in a Wetland Statement of Findings (WSOF) attached to the Finding of No Significant Impact for the seismic survey signed May 6, 2016. The Nobles Grade 3D Seismic Survey was conducted by Burnett in 2017 and 2018.
The May 6, 2016, WSOF required Big Cypress National Preserve (Preserve) staff to quantify the amount of impact area from damage caused by vehicle use during the seismic survey as linear feet of impact. To compensate for the temporal loss of wetland functions, Burnett was required to restore an equivalent length of areas damaged by off road vehicles (ORVs) within the Preserve. Burnett was to restore soil contours and natural hydrologic sheet flow in areas previously impacted by ORVs.
NPS staff have estimated that Burnett's Nobles Grade 3D Seismic Survey operations in 2017 and 2018 resulted in 111 miles of impact caused by vehicle use, or 201.82 acres that require compensation.
NPS ecologists have recently determined that the ORV impact restoration areas identified in the 2016 WSOF have substantial vegetation recovery and restoration efforts and access to the sites would create impacts to mature, native, wetland vegetation such as cypress trees. To avoid these impacts and address higher priorities for restoration at the Preserve, the NPS proposes to modify Burnett's 9B Permit pursuant to 36 CFR § 9.150(b), and instead require that Burnett restore hydrology and native plant communities on approximately 272 acres of former agricultural lands by regrading dikes, ditches, and swales; removing invasive and nuisance plants; and planting native trees.
You will find documents on this website that provide information about this important project. We look forward to receiving your input.
Thank you for your interest in Big Cypress National Preserve.
The May 6, 2016, WSOF required Big Cypress National Preserve (Preserve) staff to quantify the amount of impact area from damage caused by vehicle use during the seismic survey as linear feet of impact. To compensate for the temporal loss of wetland functions, Burnett was required to restore an equivalent length of areas damaged by off road vehicles (ORVs) within the Preserve. Burnett was to restore soil contours and natural hydrologic sheet flow in areas previously impacted by ORVs.
NPS staff have estimated that Burnett's Nobles Grade 3D Seismic Survey operations in 2017 and 2018 resulted in 111 miles of impact caused by vehicle use, or 201.82 acres that require compensation.
NPS ecologists have recently determined that the ORV impact restoration areas identified in the 2016 WSOF have substantial vegetation recovery and restoration efforts and access to the sites would create impacts to mature, native, wetland vegetation such as cypress trees. To avoid these impacts and address higher priorities for restoration at the Preserve, the NPS proposes to modify Burnett's 9B Permit pursuant to 36 CFR § 9.150(b), and instead require that Burnett restore hydrology and native plant communities on approximately 272 acres of former agricultural lands by regrading dikes, ditches, and swales; removing invasive and nuisance plants; and planting native trees.
You will find documents on this website that provide information about this important project. We look forward to receiving your input.
Thank you for your interest in Big Cypress National Preserve.