From: Subject: FR Doc 07-602 Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 18:02:03 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/07-602.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3028 FR Doc 07-602 
[Federal Register: February 16, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 32)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 7600-7601]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16fe07-33]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

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Becker Vegetation Management Project, Boise National Forest,=20
Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Boise Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will=20
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a resource=20
management project in the Crooked River Watershed. The 14,500 acre=20
project area is located approximately 18 miles northeast of Idaho City,=20
Idaho, and about 48 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho.
    The agency invites written comments and suggestions on the scope of=20
the analysis. The agency also hereby gives notice of the environmental=20
analysis and decision-making process that will occur on the proposal so=20
interested and affected people are aware of how they may participate=20
and contribute to the final decision. At this time no public meetings=20
to discuss the project are planned.
    Proposed Action: The primary purposes of the project are: (1)=20
Manage the stand density, structure, and species composition to provide=20
conditions that are more resistant to insect and disease infestations=20
and uncharacteristic wildfire. Move towards the Forest Plan vegetation=20
desired conditions, and maintain or increase the large tree component.=20
(2) Modify stand density, structure, and species composition, to=20
restore suitable habitat for white-headed woodpecker and flammulated=20
owls. (3) Provide commercial timber that will contribute to the annual=20
harvest of expected timber volume on the Boise National Forest while=20
moving towards attaining the Forest Plan desired vegetative conditions.=20
(4) Reduce tree stocking & brush within plantations in order to=20
maintain good tree growth and vigor, to reduce fire hazard by removal=20
of developing ladder fuels, and to reduce future susceptibility to=20
insects and disease infestations. (5) Improve water quality and aquatic=20
habitat by reducing long term sedimentation caused by existing roads.
    The Proposed Action would commercial harvest trees, and in some=20
areas use a combination of commercial harvest thinning and pre-
commercial thinning from approximately 1,970 acres in the 14,500 acre=20
project area. Regeneration harvest would occur on approximately 1,100=20
acres where insect and disease infestation is particularly severe. In=20
addition approximately 4,700 acres would have only pre-commercial=20
removal of small diameter trees (including 1,688 acres of plantations).=20
Within these areas of mechanical vegetation treatment, aspen clones=20
would be managed by removing and reducing conifer competition in the=20
immediate vicinity. Brush removal would occur within approximately 450=20
additional acres of conifer plantations. An estimated 14.0 MMBF of=20
timber would be harvested using ground-based yarding systems.
    Prescribed burning would occur within approximately 12,000 acres of=20
project area to breakup the horizontal and vertical fuel continuity to=20
reduce the chance of uncharacteristic stand replacement fires.=20
Approximately 1,550 acres would be a natural fuels burn area where no=20
mechanical treatment would occur, these acres would include target=20
areas and conditional or incidental burn areas. A burn block of=20
approximately 10,620 acres would target mechanically treated areas=20
(commercial and pre-commercial thinning) and also include conditional=20
or incidental burn areas.
    Approximately 15 acres would be targeted for native plant=20
restoration.
    Whitebark pine restoration and enhancement is proposed in a 40 acre=20
area around the summit of Pilot Peak.
    The proposed action would decommission and remove these from the=20
transportation system approximately 22 miles of currently authorized=20
roads. Approximately 3.7 miles of temporary road would be constructed,=20
and approximately 0.8 miles of new road would be constructed.=20
Approximately 6.5 miles of road currently not authorized would be=20
improved by construction and added to the transportation system.=20
Approximately 15.6 miles of road would be closed (these would remain as=20
authorized roads) that are currently open, and 10.9 miles of closed=20
road would be opened.
    Three culverts that are currently posing a fish migration barrier=20
will be replaced and one would be removed as part of road=20
decommissioning.
    Possible Alternatives to the Proposed Action: One alternative to=20
the Proposed Action that will be considered is a no action alternative.=20
Other alternatives will likely be developed as issues are identified=20
and information received.
    Decisions to be Made: The Boise National Forest Supervisor will=20
decide the following: What amount and distribution of commercial tree=20
harvest and pre-commercial tree thinning or removal should be=20
implemented to achieve the project objectives? What amount of=20
prescribed fire should be implemented to achieve the project=20
objectives? What amount of plantation thinning or brush removal should=20
be implemented to achieve the project objectives? Which roads should be=20
adopted as part of the forest-wide minimum transporation system? What=20
existing roads are needed for long term management of the area? What=20
additional roads, if any, are needed to implement the action? What=20
roads are not needed and should be decommissioned or obliterated? What=20
roads currently open should be closed? What culverts that are currently=20
functioning as fish migration barriers should be replaced? Should=20
opportunities for aspen enhancement and whitebark pine restoration be=20
implemented as part of the planned actions? Should opportunities for=20
native plant restoration be implemented?

DATES: Comments concerning the proposed project and analysis are=20
encouraged and should be postmarked or received within 30 days=20
following publication of this announcement in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the Boise National Forest,=20
ATTN: Daniel Schlender, 1249 South Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID=20
83709 or sent electronically to 
comments-intermtn-boise-idaho-city@fs.fed.us. Electronic comments =
must be submitted in plain text or=20

another format

[[Page 7601]]

compatible with Microsoft Word. Comments received in response to this=20
request will be available for public inspection and will be released in=20
their entirety if requested pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information can be obtained=20
from Daniel Schlender at the address mentioned above or by calling=20
(208) 373-4245.

    Schedule: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), July 2007.=20
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), October 2007.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The entire project area lies within=20
Management Area 7 (North Fork Boise River), discussed on pages III-166=20
through III-177 in the 2003 Boise National Land and Resource Management=20
Plan. The project area occurs within Management Prescription Category=20
5.2 (Commodity Production Emphasis within Forested Landscapes).
    The comment period on the DEIS will be 45 days from the date the=20
Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in=20
the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important=20
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public=20
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of=20
the DEIS must structure their participation in the environmental review=20
of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the=20
reviewer's position and contention. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp.=20
v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that=20
could be raised at the DEIS stage but are raised until after completion=20
of the FEIS may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v.=20
Hodel, 803 F. 2d 1016, 1002 (9th Cir., 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages,=20
Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of=20
these court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this=20
proposed action participate by the close of the DEIS 45-day comment=20
period so that substantive comments and objections are made available=20
to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them=20
and respond to them in the FEIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues=20
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the DEIS should be as=20
specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific=20
pages or chapters of the draft statement. Reviewers may wish to refer=20
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing=20
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at=20
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
    Responsible Official: Richard A. Smith, Forest Supervisor, Boise=20
National Forest, 1249 South Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID 83709.

    Dated: February 1, 2007.
Frank V. Guzman,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 07-602 Filed 2-15-07; 8:45 am]

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