[Federal Register: December 6, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 233)]
[Notices]
[Page 72605-72606]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de05-7]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 72605]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Helena National Forest, Broadwater County, MT, Cabin Gulch
Vegetation Treatment Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: The Helena National Forest is going to prepare an
environmental impact statement for vegetation management actions in the
Cabin Gulch and North Fork of Deep Creek drainages. The purpose and
need for action is to restore and maintain the health of these fire
dependent ecosystems, including increasing the resistance and
resilience of these areas to catastrophic disturbance from fire events
and/or disease and insect outbreaks. In addition to the vegetation
actions, some roadwork is proposed to reduce sedimentation sources to
the West Fork of Cabin Gulch; one road is proposed for closure; and one
new road is being proposed for construction.
DATES: Comments concerning the proposed action must be received by
January 9, 2006. The draft EIS is expected to be available to the
public in March of 2006 and the final EIS is expected to be available
to the public in June of 2006.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments or for further information, mail
correspondence to or call Sharon Scott--Team Leader, Helena Ranger
District, 2001 Poplar Street, Helena, MT 59601 (Phone 406.449.5490), or
Dave Carroll, NEPA Coordinator, 2880 Skyway Drive, Helena, MT 59601
(Phone 406.449.5201).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
Most of Montana has been under drought conditions for the past 7
years. Insect and disease problems are impacting this area. The Helena
National Forest has identified a need to improve the forest health of
this area. Since fires have been suppressed and controlled in this
area, the number of small trees in the dry forest types (lower
elevation, south and west facing slopes) has greatly increased. This
has created a need to reduce current and future fuel buildup throughout
the area. Douglas-fir are being killed by the Douglas-fir bark beetle,
and Lodgepole pine and whitebark pine are being killed by the mountain
pine beetle. The whitebark pine is also being killed by white pine
blister rust. Aspen stands and grassland/sagebrush areas are declining
on the landscape. There is also an opportunity for a research study
involving Douglas-fir and prescribed fire. The purpose and need for
action is to restore and maintain the health of these fire dependent
ecosystems, including increasing the resistance and resilience of these
areas to catastrophic disturbance from fire events and/or disease and
insect outbreaks. Also, the West Fork of Cabin Gulch road is directly
contributing sediment to the creek, and needs corrective action.
Proposed Action
The types of treatments being proposed are thinnings; patch cuts;
reduction of encroaching species on the whitebark pine and aspen
stands; reclamation of sagebrush and grassland meadows; prescribed
fire; and road decommisioning and construction. The harvest of green
trees and salvage of dead and dying trees are part of this proposal.
These actions are consistent with the Forest Plan Management Area
direction for the area. A project in conjunction with research
scientists from the Rocky Mountain Research Station and entomologists
from the Forest Health Protection office of the Regional Office is
another important part of our proposal. The research project will
evaluate the effects of silvicultural thinnings and prescribed fire and
the resultant impact of the residual stand/trees susceptibility to
Douglas-fir beetle activity.
To accomplish these actions we envision the use of the following
activities: Commercial timber harvest (removing wood as a forest
product), slashing (cutting trees that aren't valuable as a product and
leaving them on site), burning (burning encompasses underburning, and
mixed severity burning), and using equipment to ``chew up'' small trees
and juniper (the piece of equipment is called a masticator). The
logging systems being considered include cable or skyline logging,
tractor logging and helicopter logging. This proposal includes 9 miles
of temporary road. Those roads would be fully recontoured following
this project.
Specifics of the Proposed Action Are: Thinning 2,100 acres; Patch
cutting 325 acres; Douglas-fir thinning and prescribed fire research
550 acres; Whitebark Pine Restoration 100 acres; Aspen Restoration 100
acres; Grassland/Shrubland Reclaimation 375 acres.
Underburning: This will be primarily on the acres listed in the
above components of the proposed action.
Mixed severity burn: 475 acres.
We are also proposing to close the West Fork of Cabin Gulch road by
recontouring the road (approximately 3 miles). We are proposing to
build a permanent road, 0.6 miles in length, that would allow people to
access the upper portion of the West Fork of Cabin Gulch from the North
Fork of Deep Creek.
Responsible Official: Kevin Riordan--Forest Supervisor, 2880 Skyway
Drive, Helena, MT 59601.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The nature of the decision is: Whether or not to implement the
proposed action or an alternative to the proposed action that addresses
the purpose and need for action. The following components define the
nature of the decision at this point: Which treatment areas have the
greatest benefit in increasing the areas' resistance and resilience to
catastrophic disurbances such as wildfire or insect and disease
outbreaks; Which areas may be of interest from a research perspective
relative to fire and Douglas-fir bark beetle activity; and Whether or
not Forest Plan amendment(s) are required? At this point in time it
appears there may need to be a site specific, Forest Plan amendment
relative to big game hiding cover.
Scoping Process
Scoping Package (mailing)--November 2005.
Scoping Meeting--December 2005 in Townsend, MT.
NOI--December 9, 2005.
Post on Web site--December 2005.
DEIS Public Meetings--April 2006.
[[Page 72606]]
DEIS Comment Period--March-April, 2006.
FEIS and ROD--June 2006.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. Comments are due
by January 9, 2006.
A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for
comment. The comment period on the draft EIS is expected to be from
mid-March through April of 2006. This date will be established when 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. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections 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 [enter correct time period] 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. 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. Comments received, including
the names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part
of the public record on this proposal and will be available for public
inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Dated: November 29, 2005.
Kevin Riordan,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 05-23605 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
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