[Federal Register: October 23, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 205)]
[Notices]
[Page 60637-60638]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23oc03-20]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Chloride Bush Project, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Bonner
County, Idaho
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) to document and disclose the potential environmental
effects of proposed activities within the Gold Creek watershed on the
Sandpoint Ranger District, Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The
watershed is located about 25 miles south of Sandpoint, Idaho, near the
town of Lakeview.
The proposal was designed using science from broad scale
assessments including the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management
Project. The proposal is intended to improve the health and
productivity of aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and provide for human
uses and values by: (1) Reducing road densities and sediment risks from
roads and trails, (2) restoring desired forest cover, structure,
pattern and species composition across the landscape where they are
outside natural or accepted ranges, (3) maintaining or improving stands
where desired species are being crowded out, or are declining from
competition, (4) promoting the long-term persistence and stability of
wildlife habitat diversity, (5) reducing the level of forest fuels and
the risk of catastrophic wildfire, (6) providing motorized recreation
opportunities while protecting resource values such as wildlife and
water, and (7) producing timber as a byproduct of ecosystem restoration
and maintenance.
Activities would include: (1) Selective cutting where opportunities
exist to maintain or improve stands where desired species are being
crowded out, or are declining from competition, (2) regenerating stands
where widespread mortality is being caused by insects and disease and
replanting them with longer lived seral species, (3) burning to reduce
fuels, improve growing conditions, and improve forage for wildlife, (4)
constructing several temporary spur roads to facilitate vegetation
management activities, (5) decommissioning unneeded road segments, (6)
placing a system road into storage, (7) converting two existing roads
to motorized trails, and (8) improving Trail 113 in the
Packsaddle Inventoried Roadless Area.
The Sandpoint Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National
Forests in Bonner County, Idaho will administer these activities. The
EIS will tier to the Idaho Panhandle National Forests Plan (September
1987).
DATES: Comments should be postmarked within 30 days after publication
of this notice. Please include your name and address and the name of
the project you are commenting on.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and suggestions on the proposed
management activities or request to be placed on the project mailing
list by writing to: Chloride Bush Project, Attn: A.J. Helgenberg,
Sandpoint Ranger District, 1500 Hwy 2, Suite 110, Sandpoint, ID 83864.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: A.J. Helgenberg, Project Team Leader,
Sandpoint Ranger District at 208-265-6643 or by e-mail at ajhelgenberg@fs.fed.us <mailto:ajhelgenberg@fs.fed.us>.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the
public record on this proposed action and will be available for public
inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have
standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR parts 215 or
217. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request
the agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing
how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality.
For persons requesting such confidentiality; it may be granted in only
very limited circumstances, such as to protect trade secrets. The
Forest Service will inform the requester of the agency's decision
regarding the request for confidentiality, and where the request is
denied, the agency will return the submission and notify the requester
that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address
within 10 days.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: More information about the Chloride Bush
Project can be found on the Internet at http://www.fs.fed.us/ipnf/eco/manage/nepa/index.html <http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.fs.fed.us/ipnf/eco/manage/nepa/index.html>.
The legal description for the project area includes
all or portions of sections 1-3, 10-16, 20-29, and 34-36 in Township 53
North; Range 1 West and section 18 in Township 53 North; Range 1 East.
The Forest Service will be preparing an environmental impact
statement for the following proposed activities and alternative courses
of action based on public comments. To improve the health of aquatic
habitats, 10.4 miles of existing classified roads would be
decommissioned, 7.1 miles of overgrown, undrivable roads would be taken
off transportation system maps, 5.0 miles of road would be placed into
storage and 4.8 miles of road would be upgraded. To achieve vegetation
management objectives, helicopter and road-based logging systems,
prescribed burning and reforestation would be used. Additionally,
several short logging spurs totaling 1.8 miles would be constructed to
access stands for treatment using road-based logging systems. Of the
9,413 acres in the project area, 860 acres would be selectively cut,
and 1,637 acres would be regenerated. Prescribed fire would be used on
regenerated areas, selectively cut dry sites (423 acres), and to
maintain old growth ponderosa pine stands and shrub fields (145 acres).
Regenerated areas would be reforested with larch, white pine and
ponderosa pine seedlings. Motorized recreation opportunities would be
managed by converting 3.3 miles of road to motorized trail, and
upgrading 5.0 miles of an existing motorized trail. Preliminary issues
identified relate to the effects of roads and road construction on
sediment, water yield, fish habitat, noxious weed spread, motorized
access, and wildlife security, the effects of logging and creating
openings on water yield, fish and wildlife habitat and wildlife
security, and the effects of road decommissioning on private land
access and ability to manage forest vegetation. Current alternatives
consist of the proposed action and no action.
[[Page 60638]]
Two periods are specifically designated for comments on this
analysis: (1) During the scoping period which is 30 days from the date
of this notice in the Federal Register and (2) during the draft EIS
comment period. In accordance with 36 CFR 215.5, as published in the
Federal Register, Volume 68 No. 107, June 4, 2003, the draft EIS
comment period will be the designated time in which ``substantive''
comments will be considered. The mailing list for this project will
include those individuals who have expressed interest in this project
as well as adjacent landowners and those responding to this NOI or to
the Idaho Panhandle National Forests Quarterly Schedule of Proposed
Actions. In addition, the public is encouraged to contact or visit with
Forest Service officials during the analysis and prior to the decision.
The Forest Service will continue to seek information, comments, and
assistance from Federal, Tribal, State, and local agencies and other
individuals or organizations that may be interested in or affected by
the proposed actions. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service will
be consulted concerning any effects to threatened and endangered
species. The agency invites written comments and suggestions on this
action, particularly in terms of identification of issues and
alternative development.
Comments from the public and other agencies will be used in
preparation of the Draft EIS to identify potential issues and concerns,
potential alternatives to the proposed action and to promote
communications with members of the public or other agencies. The draft
environmental impact statement (DEIS) will be filed with the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and made available for public
review in spring of 2004. The final environmental impact statement is
expected to be completed in fall of 2004. The comment period on the
draft environmental impact statement will be 45 days from the date the
Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in
the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environment review process. First, reviewers of
draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts and agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental statement stage but that are not raised until after
completion of the final environmental statement may be waived or
dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F 2d 1016, 1022
(9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp.
1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, it is very
important that those interested in this proposed action participate by
the close of the 45-day comment period so that substantive comments and
objections are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it
can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the final
environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
related to the proposed action, comments on the draft environmental
impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful
if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the draft statement.
Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft environmental
impact statement or the merits of the alternatives formulated and
discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council
on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in
addressing these points.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital
or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape,
etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and
TDD). To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340
(voice) or 202-720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity
employer.
The Idaho Panhandle National Forests Supervisor is the Deciding
Officer on this project. The decision will be made after considering
comments and responses, environmental consequences discussed in the
Final EIS, and applicable laws, regulations and policies. The decision
and supporting reasons will be documented in a Record of Decision upon
release of the Final EIS.
Dated: October 16, 2003.
Ranotta K. McNair,
Forest Supervisor, Idaho Panhandle National Forests.
[FR Doc. 03-26722 Filed 10-22-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
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