[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 214 (Friday, November 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68319-68320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27976]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Paulina Ranger District; Ochoco National Forest; Crook and
Wheeler Counties, OR; Jackson Vegetation Management Project EIS
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is proposing to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposed action to improve
forest health and fuel conditions within the approximate 55,430-acre
Jackson project area. The project area is located approximately 60
miles to the east of Prineville, Oregon and is bounded by Forest System
Roads 2630, 12, and 42 to the north, east and south respectively, and
by the western watershed divide between Crazy Creek (east) and Porter,
Looney, and Stupid Creeks (west). The project area encompasses National
Forest system lands and private lands within these watersheds.
An analysis has been initiated that takes a landscape approach to
managing the vegetation to meet objectives for fuels and fire behavior
and to create a more resilient forest while addressing and considering
other resources. Methods that would be used to reduce tree density and
hazardous fuels are: non-commercial and commercial thinning, and
prescribed burning. The alternatives will include the proposed action,
no action, and, if necessary, additional alternatives that respond to
issues generated through the scoping process. The agency will give
notice of the full environmental analysis and decision-making process
so that interested and affected public may participate and contribute
to the final decision.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by 30 days following the date that this notice appears in the Federal
Register.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Sandra Henning, District Ranger,
Paulina Ranger District, Ochoco National Forest 3160 NE. 3rd Street,
Prineville, OR 97754.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Roche, Environmental
Coordinator, Ochoco National Forest, Paulina Ranger District, 3160 N.E.
3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754, phone (541) 416-6436.
Responsible Official: The responsible official is Jeff Walter,
Forest Supervisor, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE 3rd Street,
Prineville, OR 97754.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background. The Paulina Ranger District has
demonstrated that there is a need for fuels and vegetation management
activities in the project area by comparing the existing condition to
the desired conditions described in the Ochoco National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan. The existing condition of the Deep watershed
was evaluated in 2010 and documented in the Deep Watershed Analysis.
Purpose and Need. This project is needed to maintain the project
area in a healthy condition as described by the Ochoco National Forest
Land and Resource Management Plan of 1989 as amended by the Revised
Interim Management Direction Establishing Riparian, Ecosystem and
Wildlife Standards for Timber Sales (Eastside Screens). The Watershed
Analysis identified that there is a shortage of large trees, late and
old structure forest; Stream temperatures are too high and there is a
shortage of large woody debris and hardwood plant species within
Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas; there is encroachment of western
juniper into forest, grasslands and shrublands; there is an increasing
presence of insects and diseases in forest stands; aspen clones are
declining in vigor and contain decadent overstory trees and few to no
seedlings, there are varying amounts of conifers present and the aspen
sprout/seedling component is unable to grow above the browse line;
about 42% of the watershed is in Fire Regime Condition Class of 2 or 3
where fire has been absent for more than 15 years and there is an
increasing amount of departure from the natural fire regime with areas
where juniper and pine have encroached on shrub and grass communities
from fire exclusion; stand density and forest fuels adjacent to
arterial Forest roads do not provide conditions for safe ingress and
egress for public and fire fighter access in the event of wildfire; the
forest stands in the project area have the potential to provide wood
products.
This project is needed to maintain the vegetation within the
project area in a condition as described by the Ochoco National Forest
Land and Resource Management Plan of 1989 as amended by the Revised
Interim Management Direction Establishing Riparian, Ecosystem and
Wildlife Standards for Timber Sales (Eastside Screens). This project is
needed to promote the development of large trees and old structure
forest by reducing stand density; promote the development of large
trees for eventual woody debris recruitment into streams by reducing
conifer stand densities mechanically and by fire and promote the
development of stream shading vegetation, such as willow by reducing
conifers, mechanically and by fire, and increase willow and other
hardwood vegetation by planting with Riparian Habitat Conservation
Areas (RHCAs); reduce juniper encroachment into forest, shrub and grass
communities by mechanical and fire treatments; restore and enhance
aspen stands by reducing conifer competition and encroachment, fencing
and planting; reduce the risk of bark beetles and impacts of mistletoe
by reducing stand density and tree canopy layers through mechanical
treatments; change stand structure and tree canopy
[[Page 68320]]
closure to create conditions that support low intensity, frequent fire
regimes, reduce suppression costs, and provide for fire fighter safety
through mechanical and fire treatments; reduce stand density and forest
fuels adjacent to arterial Forest roads to increase safe ingress and
egress for public and fire fighter access in the event of wildfire both
mechanically and through fire treatments; reintroduce fire to reduce
the departure from the natural fire regime and to reduce juniper and
pine where they have encroached on shrub and grass communities and
provide wood products for public needs and for the health of local and
regional economies.
Proposed Action. To meet the project need, the Paulina Ranger
District is proposing to thin approximately 6,700 acres through
commercial timber harvest methods and 3,200 acres through non-
commercial means. Commercial harvest methods would include the use of
tractors on most units (approximately 5,300 acres). Areas identified as
tractor logging are areas where equipment, such as tractors/skidders,
would be used to remove a commercial product. Logging systems are still
to be determined for approximately 1,500 acres. Providing wood products
will include removing some standing dead wood (snags) as firewood. This
will focus on stands of lodgepole pine with existing mortality from
insect infestation.
Excessive fuel from management activities in this project and past
projects would be reduced on approximately 7,800 acres through the use
of prescribed fire. Fire would also be used to maintain low intensity
fuel levels and reduce juniper on approximately 7,900 acres. Other
areas of juniper encroachment are proposed for mechanical removal. An
area of reduced stand density and fuel would be created in forest
stands and other areas along each side of Forest system roads 12, 30,
42 and 2630 to provide for public and firefighter safety in the event
of wildfire in this area.
It is anticipated that some additional roads would be needed to
complete management activities. Whether any of these roads will be
system roads and whether any will remain open after the project is
completed will be determined during the analysis of the proposed action
and any alternatives that are developed. Similarly, whether any roads
reopened during this project will remain open will be determined during
the analysis. The project proposes to use and enlarge a rock pit near
Younger Springs. The rock would be used in construction, reconstruction
and maintenance for roads associated with implementation of proposed
management actions and to increase attainment of riparian of management
objectives for inland native fish. The need for other road
construction, reconstruction and maintenance will be determined in the
further development of proposed action and in any alternatives. Project
design elements and site-specific mitigation measures will be developed
during the analysis of individual activity areas for each alternative.
The project design features and/or mitigation measures may include
operating restrictions, mechanical reduction of soil density
(subsoiling) on ground based logging units after harvest, weed control
and monitoring. Within the Jackson project area, other projects are
being implemented or are in the planning stage. The Deep Creek
Watershed Restoration Environmental Assessment (2004) is presently
being implemented. This project includes a variety of activities,
including stream headcut repair, culvert replacement, and road closure
and decommissioning. The Ochoco Summit PHV Trail Analysis Area is
presently in the planning stage. As a part of that OHV project,
designated motorized trails would be provided throughout the project
area.
Issues. Issues will be identified based on public comments.
Comment. Public comments regarding this proposal are requested in
order to assist in identifying issues, determine how to best manage the
resources, and to focus the analysis. Comments received to this notice,
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 in accordance with 36
CFR parts 215 and 217.
A draft EIS will be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and is scheduled to be available for public review by May 2011.
The EPA will publish a Notice of Availability (NOA) of the draft EIS in
the Federal Register. The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45
days from the date the EPA publishes the notice of availability in the
Federal Register. The final EIS is scheduled to be available August
2011.
Dated: October 29, 2010.
Jeff Walter,
Forest Supervisor, Ochoco National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2010-27976 Filed 11-4-10; 8:45 am]
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