[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 25198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10662]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Intermountain Region, Boise National Forest, Emmett Ranger
District; Idaho Scriver Creek Integrated Restoration Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Emmett Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the integrated
restoration project in the Scriver Creek subwatershed. The 11,500-acre
project is located approximately 6 miles north of Crouch, Idaho. The
Scriver Creek Integrated Restoration Project proposes to undertake
vegetation condition restoration, improve watershed conditions, and
utilize wood products resulting from restoration activities to support
local and regional communities through a variety of activities
including commercial and noncommercial vegetation management and road
system modifications and maintenance.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by June 7, 2010. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
February 2011 and the final environmental impact statement is expected
June 2011.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 1805 Highway 16, Room 5, Emmett, ID
83617. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to [email protected], or via facsimile to 208-365-7307.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's
concerns and contentions.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered, however.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Roseberry, Project Team Leader,
208-365-7000. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through
Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
Three purposes have been identified for the project: (1) Move
toward restoration of Forest Plan desired vegetation conditions by
manipulating the forest structure, density, and species composition in
order to accelerate development of larger tree size class stands and
old forest habitat; (2) improve watershed conditions and reduce road-
related impacts to wildlife, fish, soil, and water resources; and (3)
utilize wood products resulting from restoration treatments to support
local and regional economies.
Proposed Action
The Proposed Action would undertake commercial timber harvest on
about 3,265 acres utilizing tractor/off-road jammer (1,124 acres),
skyline (926 acres), and helicopter (1,215 acres) logging systems. In
addition, all acres treated by commercial timber activities (about
3,265 acres) would be followed by thinning of submerchantable trees.
About 839 acres of existing plantations would be thinned from below of
small diameter (typically less than 8 inches diameter at breast height
(d.b.h.). Of these acres, approximately 163 acres of these thinning
activities would occur within riparian conservation areas (RCAs). About
18 helicopter landing would be used or developed to facility commercial
timber harvest activities. Approximately 21.5 million board feet (MMBF)
would be provided as sawlogs to local and/or regional processing
facilities.
The Proposed Action would construct about 2.4 miles of new
specified National Forest System (NFS) roads and 1.0 mile of temporary
road. About 4.3 miles of road realignment on NFS road 696 would occur
to provide long-term accress and eliminate segements of the road within
RCA corridors. Approximately 18.5 miles of NFS roads would be
decommissioned. Roadway improvements, such as spot surface aggregate
placement and drainage improvements, would be undertaken on NFS roads
(in particular RCA roads) where needed. Aquatic organism passage (AOP),
i.e., fish passage, would be restored by replacing the existing
culverts on NFS roads 693, 693A and 695 with AOP passable structures.
Application of up to 300 feet of surface gravel applied to both sides
of road/stream crossings when located on perennial streams, for all NFS
roads to be used for timber harvest activities (except for NFS roads
proposed to be decommissioned).
Possible Alternatives
The only other alternative identified at this time is the ``No
Action'' alternative.
Responsible Official
Boise National Forest Supervisor, Cecilia R. Seesholtz.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Boise National Forest Supervisor will decide the following: (1)
Should vegetation restoration activities be carried out within the
project area at this time, and if so, which stands should be treated
and what silvicultural systems be applied?; (2) what, if any, changes
to the NFS road system should be made?; and (3) what design features,
mitigation measures, and/or monitoring should be applied to the
project? This decision will be made within the scope of the 2003 Boise
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), as
anticipated to be amended later in 2010.
Addresses
Project information is available on the Boise National Forest Web
site, http://fs.usda.gov/boise (click on Scriver Integrated Restoration
Project).
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
Dated: April 30, 2010.
Cecilia R. Seesholtz,
Forest Supervisor, Boise National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2010-10662 Filed 5-6-10; 8:45 am]
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