[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 106 (Thursday, June 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31418-31419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-13174]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Intermountain Region, Payette National Forest, Council Ranger
District; Idaho; Mill Creek--Council Mountain Landscape Restoration
Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Council Ranger District of the Payette National Forest
will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Mill
Creek--Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project. The approximate
51,900 acre project area is located about two miles east of Council,
Idaho. The Mill Creek--Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project
proposes to improve wildlife habitat, reduce wildland fire hazard,
encourage woody biomass utilization, contribute to the economic
vitality of the communities adjacent to the Payette National Forest,
and improve watershed conditions 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 July 6, 2010. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
December 2010 and the final environmental impact statement is expected
May 2011.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to P.O. Box 567, Council, ID 83612.
Comments may also be sent via e-mail to [email protected], or via facsimile to 208-253-0109.
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: Steve Penny, Project Team Leader, 208-
253-0164. 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
The Purpose of the project is to: (1) Improve wildlife habitat for
white-headed woodpeckers, by restoring appropriate forested stands to
historical range of variability, and improve habitat for other wildlife
species as appropriate; (2) reduce wildland fire hazard in forested
stands with conditions that depart from the historical range of
variability; (3) encourage woody biomass utilization as a revenue
source to for restoration goals; and (4) contribute to the economic
vitality of the communities adjacent to the Payette NF.
Land management activities over the last century, such as fire
suppression, timber harvest (especially large diameter ponderosa pine)
and road construction have affected forest, grassland, shrubland plant
species composition and structure, and watershed conditions. The need
for this action is move landscape conditions toward the historical
range of variability, and to meet 2003 Payette National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) direction.
Proposed Action
The Proposed Action includes the following restoration treatments:
(1) Harvesting of sawtimber and biomass (woody material not meeting
sawtimber specifications) on 4,800 acres by thinning from below to
reduce tree density, crown spacing, and ladder fuels followed by
underburning to promote ponderosa pine and other fire-resistant tree
species reproduction, reduce non-fire resistant vegetation, and reduce
fuel accumulation; (2) harvesting sawtimber and biomass on 700 acres by
regeneration harvest treatments followed by prescribed burning to
promote fire resistant tree species reproduction, reduce non-fire
resistant vegetation, and reduce fuel accumulation; (3) underburn 2,800
acres of additional timber vegetated stands not proposed for harvest
and use planned wildland fire on 12,100 acres of grass, brush,
scattered timber or quaking aspen stands; and (4) thinning of 4,500
acres of tree plantations which would include some removal of biomass.
Harvesting activities would be accomplished using tractor, tractor/
jammer, and skyline methods. Skid trails would be designated to
concentrate use in a limited amount of areas and reclaimed following
harvest. There would be no harvest within 30' of intermittent streams
or within 120' of perennial streams. There would be no equipment entry
in riparian conservation areas (RCAs) except on existing roads or skid
trails approved of in advance by the District Hydrologist or Fisheries
Biologist.
To facilitate access, approximately 6 miles of temporary roads
would be constructed where needed to access harvest units and landings
and decommissioned after use. Approximately 5 miles of existing non-
National Forest System roads would be converted to National Forest
Service System roads. There would be no permanent road construction in
the project area with this proposal.
To improve watershed conditions and fisheries habitat, the proposed
action includes: (1) The upgrade of culverts that are undersized and
restrict passage of fish and other aquatic organisms, (2) road
improvement such as improving drainage and surfacing and (3) the
decommission of old roadbeds that are not needed for future management
or public access to reduce levels of soils impacts, and reduce drainage
and erosion problems.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
Adams County, Idaho has expressed interest becoming a cooperating
agency for this project and intends to submit such a request to the
Payette National Forest in late May, 2010.
[[Page 31419]]
Responsible Official
Payette National Forest Supervisor, Suzanne C. Rainville.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Based on the purpose and need for the proposed action, the
Responsible Official will determine whether to proceed with the action
as proposed, as modified by another alternative or not at all. If an
action alternative is selected, the Responsible Official will determine
what design features, mitigation measures and monitoring to require.
ADDRESSES: Project information is available on the Payette National
Forest Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/payette/publications/index.shtml (click on the Mill Creek--Council Mountain Landscape
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: May 26, 2010.
Jake Strohmeyer,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2010-13174 Filed 6-2-10; 8:45 am]
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