[Federal Register: August 15, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 156)]
[Notices]
[Page 47785-47787]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15au05-27]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Ochoco National Forest, Lookout Mountain Ranger District; Oregon;
East Maurys Fuels and Vegetation Management Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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[[Page 47786]]
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is proposing to conduct timber
harvest, noncommercial thinning, and fuels reduction activities in the
eastern half of the Maury Mountains. The proposal includes the
connected action of constructing 20.9 miles of road. The project area
covers approximately 24,250 acres.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by October 1, 2005. The draft environmental impact statement is
expected by May 2006 and the final environmental impact statement is
expected in November 2006.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Arthur J. Currier, District Ranger,
Lookout Mountain Ranger District, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE Third
Street, Prineville, Oregon 97754. Alternately, electronic comments can
be sent to comments-pacificnorthwest-ochoco@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Farrell, Project Leader, at the
address listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this proposal is to (1) maintain and increase late
and old structure (LOS) stands especially in areas deficient of large
trees; (2) reduce the amount of dense, overstocked stands and improve
health and vigor, while maintaining a mosaic of tree species and ages;
(3) maintain and increase diversity of native plant communities, such
as aspen and broadleaf shrubs; (4) reduce juniper encroachment and
restore grass, forb, and shrub communities on western juniper sites;
and, (5) reduce fuel loads and the potential for high-intensity
wildfires.
Proposed Action
The Lookout Mountain Ranger District is proposing to manage
vegetation through commercial timber harvest, noncommercial thinning,
and fuel reduction activities. The proposed action includes
approximately 6,850 acres of commercial harvest, 11,130 acres of
noncommercial thinning, and 11,140 acres of fuel reduction treatments.
Fuel reduction treatments include approximately 7,500 acres of
prescribed fire, and 3,700 acres of grapple and hand piling. Commercial
harvest includes tractor, skyline, and horse logging systems. Areas
identified as tractor logging are areas where heavy equipment, such as
logging tractors, will be used to remove a commercial product. Road
construction activities include 20.9 miles of new road construction,
21.8 miles of reconstructing roads on an existing road bed, and opening
24.6 miles of roads that are currently closed. Newly constructed roads
and roads that are reopened would be closed after harvest activities
are complete.
Possible Alternatives
A this time, the Forest Service is considering at least three
alternatives. The no action alternative is the baseline for comparison
and will analyze the effects of natural processes. Ongoing activities,
such as road maintenance, noxious weeds treatments, and recreational
use, would continue. Access for public and administrative purposes
would continue on the existing transportation system. Alternative 2,
the proposed action, will analyze the effects of timber harvest,
noncommercial thinning, and prescribed fire activities, along with the
connected road construction activities. The third alternative being
considered at this time would analyze the effects of only conducting
noncommercial thinning and prescribed fire activities. Other possible
alternatives may reduce or restrict the amount of road construction
activities. The action alternatives will examine combinations and
degrees of activities in order to meet the purpose of and need for
action and concerns stated during the public scoping process.
Responsible Official
The responsible official for this project is Larry Timchak, Forest
Supervisor, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE Third Street, Prineville,
Oregon 97754.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Forest Supervisor will decide whether to conduct timber
harvest, noncommercial thinning, and prescribe fire treatments within
the East Maurys project area. The decision will be based on the
information disclosed in the EIS, and the goals, objectives, and
desired future conditions as stated in the Forest Plan. The responsible
official will consider significant issues, public comments,
environmental consequences, and compliance with applicable laws,
regulations, and policies in making his decision. The rationale for the
decision will be stated in the Record of Decision for the project.
Scoping Process
The Lookout Mountain Ranger District intends to scope for
information by mailing letters to persons and organizations interested
or potentially affected by the proposed action. This project will also
be included in the Ochoco National Forest Schedule of Projects for the
duration of the environmental analysis.
Preliminary Issues
The Lookout Mountain Ranger District in cooperation with the Crook
County Natural Resources Planning Committee has identified one
preliminary issue related to the amount of proposed road construction.
The Lookout Mountain Ranger District will complete a roads analysis
prior to issuing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Alternatives
that reduce or restrict road construction may be considered.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent is part of the scoping process that will
guide the development of the environmental impact statement. The
primary purpose of scoping is to gather public comments, issues, and
concerns regarding the proposed action. Comments, issues, and concerns
may be used to formulate alternatives. Comments are most helpful if
they are as specific as possible and relate to the proposed action.
Comments should include the name, address, and, if possible, telephone
number of the commenter. Electronic comments must be submitted as part
of the actual e-mail message, or as an attachment in plain text (.txt),
Microsoft Word (.doc), rich text format (.rtf), or portable document
format (.pdf). Comments received in response to this solicitation,
including the names and addresses of those who comment, will be
considered part of the public record and will be available for public
inspection.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared and made
available for comment. 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 environmental 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 an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. Court. v. NRDC, 435
U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections
[[Page 47787]]
that could be raised at the draft environmental impact statement stage
but that are not raised until after completion of the final
environmental impact 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
and concerns on 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.
Dated: August 3, 2005.
Arthur J. Currier,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 05-16123 Filed 8-12-05; 8:45 am]
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