From: Subject: FR Doc 07-3621 Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 21:43:40 -0700 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/2007/07-3621.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 FR Doc 07-3621 
[Federal Register: July 25, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 142)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 40831-40832]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25jy07-35]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

=20
South Project; Hell Canyon Ranger District, Black Hills National=20
Forest Custer, SD

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement=20
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Hell Canyon Ranger District of the Black Hills National=20
Forest intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a=20
proposal to implement multiple resource management actions within the=20
South project area as directed by the Black Hills National Forest Land=20
and Resource Management Plan. The South project area is approximately=20
52,082 acres in size, with 43,045 acres of National Forest lands, 1,197=20
acres of state land and 7,840 acres of private land. The project=20
proposes to reduce the risk of large-scale wildfire effects on the At-
Risks Communities (ARC) of Custer, Pringle and Argyle, South Dakota,=20
provide for wildlife habitat needs, reduce risks of mountain pine=20
beetle infestation, provide a sustainable supply of commercial timber,=20
and provide management and public access.

DATES: Comments related to this project will be most useful to the=20
planning team if received within 30 days after publication of this=20
notice in the Federal Register. The draft environmental impact=20
statement is expected to be available January 2008 and the final=20
environmental impact statement is expected to be completed by June=20
2008.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Michael D. Lloyd, District Ranger,=20
Black Hills National Forest, Hell Canyon Ranger District, 330 Mount=20
Rushmore Road, Custer, South Dakota 57730. Telephone number: (605) 673-
4853. Fax number: (605) 673-5461. Electronic comments must be readable=20
in Word, RichText or pdf format and must contain ``South'' in the=20
subject line. Electronic comments may be e-mailed to: 
comments-rocky-mountain-black-hills-hell-canyon@fs.fed.us.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Betsy Koncerak, Project Leader, at the=20
address listed above or by phone at (605) 673-4853.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The actions proposed are in direct response=20
to management direction provided by the Black Hills National Forest=20
Land and Resource Management Plan, as amended (Forest Plan). The=20
Project Area is located approximately four miles west of Custer, South=20
Dakota and is within Custer County. The northernmost point of the=20
project area lies approximately four miles north of US Highway 16 along=20
Lightning Creek road. The southernmost point of the project area is=20
approximately 12 miles south of US Highway 16 along Pleasant Valley=20
Road.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose and need for action in the South project area is to=20
reduce the risk of large-scale wildfire on the At-Risk Communities=20
(ARCs) of Custer, Pringle and Argyle, South Dakota (66 FR 43384),=20
provide for wildlife habitat needs, enhance vegetative diversity,=20
reduce the risk of mountain pine beetle infestation, and provide a=20
sustainable supply of commercial timber consistent with direction in=20
the Revised Forest Plan for the Black Hills National Forest, as amended=20
(Forest Plan), while providing for management and public access needs.=20
This project is focused on implementing management actions that move=20
toward achieving desired conditions and objectives embodied in Goals 10=20
(establish and maintain a mosaic of vegetation conditions to reduce=20
occurrences of large-scale fire, insect, and disease events), 2=20
(provide for biologically diverse ecosystems), and 3 (provide for=20
sustained commodity uses) of the Forest Plan.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action includes the following management actions:
     Commercial thinning to 40 basal area on approximately=20
9,621 acres to reduce fuels around private lands to reduce the risk of=20
large-scale wildfire. In addition, approximately 9,400 acres of=20
prescribed burning is proposed to reduce fuels in other portions of the=20
project area to create fuel breaks for community protection.
     Commercial thinning to 60 basal area on approximately=20
2,628 acres to increase tree growth and vigor, reduce the potential for=20
mountain pine beetle infestation and reduce the potential for spreading=20
crown fires.
     Releasing approximately 11,428 acres of regenerated pine=20
stands through overstory removal prescriptions.
     Restoration and maintenance of meadows by removing=20
conifers from approximately 2,847 acres of these habitats.
     Reducing the density of the managed road system, which is=20
currently 5.4 miles per square mile, by closing unneeded roads and by=20
converting needed, unauthorized roads to system roads.

[[Page 40832]]

Responsible Official

    Michael D. Lloyd, District Ranger, Black Hills National Forest,=20
Hell Canyon Ranger District, 330 Mount Rushmore Road, Custer, South=20
Dakota 57730.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made is whether or not to implement the proposed=20
action or an alternative to the proposed action at this time.

Scoping Process

    The Hell Canyon Ranger District has mailed letters with=20
comprehensive scoping documents to landowners, local and tribal=20
government representatives, permittees, and other interested or=20
potentially affected parties and organizations. The scoping document=20
with attached maps will be posted on the Black Hills National Forest=20
Web site in July 2007. Comments submitted in response to this NOI will=20
be most useful to the project planning team if received within 30 days=20
from the date of this notice.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent is part of the scoping process which will=20
guide the development of the EIS. Comments received will assist the=20
planing team with identification of key issues to refine the proposal,=20
create alternative proposals, and identify necessary project design=20
features. Comments on the Draft EIS will be requested during the 45 day=20
comment period following publication of the Notice of Availability in=20
the Federal Register which is expected in January 2008.

Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent=20
Environmental Review

    A Draft EIS will be prepared for comment. The comment period on the=20
draft environmental impact statement 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 planning team would like to take this=20
opportunity to give reviewers advanced notice of several court rulings=20
related to public participation in the environmental review process:=20
(1) Reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must structure=20
their participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that=20
it is meaningful and alters an agency to the reviewer's position and=20
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,=20
553 (1978); (2) Environmental objections that could be raised at the=20
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised=20
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may=20
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d=20
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490=20
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings,=20
parties interested in this proposed action must submit comments by the=20
close of the 45 day comment period to assure that the Forest Service=20
planning team can meaningfully consider and respond to them in the=20
final environmental impact statement. To assist the Forest Service in=20
identifying and considering issues and concerns on the proposed action,=20
comments on the draft environmental impact statement should be as=20
specific as possible. Please refer to specific pages or chapters of the=20
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft=20
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives=20
formulated and discussed within the statement. In addressing these=20
points, reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental=20
Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the=20
National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3.
    Comments received on this proposal, including names and addresses=20
of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record and=20
will be available for public inspection.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook=20
1909.15, Section 21)

    Dated: July 18, 2007.
Craig Bobzien
Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest.
[FR Doc. 07-3621 Filed 7-24-07; 8:45 am]

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