[Federal Register: January 30, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 20)]
[Notices]
[Page 4752-4753]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30ja03-32]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Bonners Ferry Ranger District,
Cancellation of Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement for the Bonners Ferry Ranger District Salvage Sales Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA
ACTION: Cancellation notice.
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SUMMARY: On May 31, 2000 a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an
environmental impact statement for the Bonners Ferry Ranger District
Salvage Sales Project was published in the Federal Register (Volume 65,
Number 105, pages 34654-34655). The proposal was to analyze the
potential environmental effects of salvage harvesting up to 20,000
acres of dead and damaged trees in scattered areas located on the
Bonners Ferry Ranger District, Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Since
the publication of the Notice of Intent, public scoping and
interdisciplinary team involvement have resulted in a project design
that utilizes mitigation measures and restrictive design criteria that
either eliminated or minimized potential impacts to resources that
could result from the small salvage sales. Due to the redefined design
and criteria of the project, the Interdisciplinary Team determined
there will be no significant effects resulting from implementing the
proposed action, therefore preparation of an environmental impact
statement is not warranted.
ADDRESSES: Bonners Ferry Ranger District, 6286 Main St, Bonners Ferry,
Idaho 83805-9764
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Wynsma, Project Team Leader,
(208) 267-5561.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public was first notified of this
proposal and the intention to prepare an environmental impact statement
in October 1999. The Bonners Ferry Ranger District of the Idaho
Panhandle National Forests proposed salvage harvesting up to 20,000
acres of dead and damaged trees in scattered areas across the district.
The small-scale salvage sales were expected to contribute to hazardous
fuels reduction and to help restore productive stand conditions and/or
ecological functioning in areas affected by windstorms, insects,
disease and other damaging events. Salvage of the trees was expected to
help provide forest products for local post and pole mills, small
sawmills, and other forest product manufacturers.
Ensuring project design and development of action alternatives
included incorporation of restrictive criteria such as avoiding
resource areas of concern, old growth and riparian areas for instance,
and mitigation measures such as timing salvage operations to take place
during periods that minimized potential impacts to wildlife species of
concern. The result of the project design for the proposed activities
has led the project team to the conclusion that there will be no
significant effects associated with the proposal, and therefore
preparation of an environmental impact statement is not warranted. An
environmental assessment will be prepared to document the proposed
action, alternatives to the proposed action, and environmental
consequences of implementing each of the alternatives.
[[Page 4753]]
Since an environmental assessment will be prepared instead of an
environmental impact statement, the NOI is hereby rescinded.
Dated: January 24, 2003
Ranotta K. Mcnair,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 03-2150 Filed 1-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
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