[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 219 (Monday, November 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 69619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28614]
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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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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 219 / Monday, November 15, 2010 /
Notices
[[Page 69619]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
East Reservoir Project; Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County,
MT
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental effects of vegetation
management through commercial timber harvest, commercial thinning,
precommercial thinning and prescribed fire, trail access management
changes, and treatment of fuel adjacent to private property. The
project is located in the Cripple Planning Subunit on the Libby Ranger
District, Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, Montana, and south
of Libby, Montana.
DATES: The scoping period will close and comments will be due 45 days
following publication of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and suggestions concerning the scope of the
analysis should be sent to Malcolm R. Edwards, District Ranger, Libby
Ranger District, 12557 Hwy 37, Libby, MT 59923. They can be mailed,
hand-delivered between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., or faxed to
(406) 283-7531. Electronic comments may also be sent to [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denise Beck, Team Leader, Libby Ranger
District, 12557 Hwy 37, Libby, MT 59923. Phone: (406) 293-7773.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The project area is approximately 30 air
miles northeast of Libby, Montana, within all or portions of T30N,
R28W, Sections 2 to 11, 13 to 30 and 32 to 36; T30N, R29W, Sections 1
to 4, 9 to 16 and 24; T31N, R327W, Sections 3 to 10, 15 to 18, 20 to
22, 28 and 29; T31N, R28W, Sections 1 thru 36; T31N, R29W, Sections 1,
2, 10 to 15, 22, 23, 26 to 36; T32N, R27W, Sections 7 to 9, 14 to 23
and 26 to 33; T32N, R28W, Sections 2 to 5 and 8 to 36; and T32N, R29W,
Sections 24 to 26, 35 and 36 PMM, Lincoln County, Montana. The East
Reservoir project area consists of five major drainages: Fivemile
Creek, Warland Creek, Cripple Horse Creek, Canyon Creek and Dunn Creek.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need for this project is to: (1) Re-establish,
restore and retain landscapes that are more resistant and resilient to
disturbance (insect and disease infestations, fire) and uncertain
environmental conditions (climate change) by enhancing species
diversity and managing density; (2) reduce hazardous fuels adjacent to
private property and across the landscape while re-introducing fire to
the ecosystem; (3) restore, maintain or improve wildlife habitat; (4)
improve recreation settings, opportunities and experiences; (5) provide
amenities, jobs and products to the communities and maintain an
adequate, balanced transportation system.
Proposed Action
To meet this purpose and need this project proposes:
(1) Vegetation treatments, including commercial timber harvest and
associated fuel treatments, commercial thinning, precommercial thinning
and prescribed burning without associated timber harvest. Vegetation
treatments total approximately 13,000 acres of treated area.
(2) Road management includes new road construction, road storage
and adding existing, undetermined roads to the National Forest Service
road system. Approximately 2.04 miles of new road construction is
proposed. Approximately 40 miles of road storage is proposed. There are
2.81 miles of roads in the project boundary that exist, but their
status is undetermined. Those roads will be added to the NFS road
system.
(3) Access change on approximately 35 miles of trail, from
motorized to non-motorized, to benefit wildlife security.
(4) Fuels reduction and wildlife habitat enhancement is proposed
for approximately 10,000 acres.
(5) Design features and mitigations to maintain and protect
resource values.
Possible Alternatives
The Forest Service will consider a range of alternatives. One of
these will be the ``no action'' alternative in which none of the
proposed activities will be implemented. Additional alternatives will
examine varying levels and locations for the proposed activities to
achieve the proposal's purposes, as well as to respond to the issues
and other resource values.
Responsible Official
Forest Supervisor of the Kootenai National Forest, 31374 U.S.
Highway 2 West, Libby, MT 59923. As the Responsible Official, I will
decide if the proposed project will be implemented. I will document the
decision and reasons for the decision in the Record of Decision. I have
delegated the responsibility for preparing the DEIS and FEIS to Malcolm
R. Edwards, District Ranger, Libby Ranger District.
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. The submission of
timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to
participate in subsequent administrative appeal or judicial review.
Dated: November 5, 2010.
Paul Bradford,
Forest Supervisor, Kootenai National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2010-28614 Filed 11-12-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P