From: Subject: FR Doc E7-18341 Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:47:09 -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/E7-18341.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 FR Doc E7-18341 
[Federal Register: September 18, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 180)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 53223-53225]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18se07-30]                        =20

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
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,=20
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and =
agency=20
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents=20
appearing in this section.

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D



[[Page 53223]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

=20
Camp Four Vegetation Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest,=20
Medford-Park Falls Ranger District intends to prepare an environmental=20
impact statement (EIS) to document the analysis and disclose the=20
environmental effects of proposed land management activities, and=20
corresponding alternatives within the Camp Four project area. The=20
primary purpose of this proposal is to implement activities consistent=20
with direction in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests Land and=20
Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) and respond to specific needs=20
identified in the project area.
    The project area is located on National Forest System land in the=20
north central portion of the Park Falls landbase of the Medford-Park=20
Falls Ranger District, approximately 9 miles east of Park Falls,=20
Wisconsin. The legal description for the area is: Township 40 North,=20
Range 2 East, sections 1-3, 9-17, 19-28, 35; Township 40 North, Range 3=20
East, sections 4, 6, 8-10, 16-20, 29; 4th Principal Meridian.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received=20
within 30 days of publication of this notice to receive timely=20
consideration in the preparation of the draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Jeanne Higgins, c/o Ann Hoefferle,=20
Medford-Park Falls Ranger District, 850 N. 8th St., Medford, Wisconsin=20
54451. Send electronic comments to: ahoefferle@fs.fed.us with a =
subject=20
line that reads ``Camp Four Project.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Hoefferle, Camp Four=20
Interdisciplinary Team Leader, Medford-Park Falls Ranger District,=20
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, USDA Forest Service: Telephone=20
715-748-4875 (or TTY: 711, National Relay System), e-mail 
ahoefferle@fs.fed.us. To mail correspondence to Ann Hoefferle, see=20

information in ADDRESSES. Copies of documents may be obtained at the=20
same address. Another means of obtaining information is to visit the=20
Forest Web site at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3Dlea=
vingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.fs.fed.us/r9/cnnf/natre=
s/index.html.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information presented in this notice is=20
included to help the reviewer determine if they are interested in or=20
potentially affected by this proposed project. The information=20
presented in this notice is summarized. Those who wish to comment on=20
this proposal or are otherwise interested in or potentially affected by=20
it are encouraged to review more detailed documents such as the=20
Proposed Action for the Camp Four Project (currently available for=20
review) and the draft EIS. See the preceding section of this notice for=20
the person to contact for more detailed information about this project.

Project Background

    The Camp Four project falls within the area defined in the=20
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests 2004 Land and Resource Management=20
Plan (Forest Plan) as Management Area (MA) 4A and 8D. Vegetation=20
management in MA 4A is towards coniferous, mixed coniferous-hardwood=20
and aspen forests. Natural and plantation conifer stands are most=20
prevalent, but both hardwood and aspen are well represented in the=20
landscape. MA 8D is characterized by free-flowing rivers and associated=20
corridors in a natural condition identified for special management on=20
federal or state level. This management area provides habitat for=20
riparian-dependant fish and wildlife species, area for recreational=20
activities, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Two segments of the=20
South Fork of the Flambeau River that are included in the project area=20
are eligible national scenic and recreation river segments.
    Forest Plan guidance for MA 4A includes species distribution of the=20
aspen, balsam fir, paper birch, jack pine, red and white pine, northern=20
hardwoods, and oak to be within a certain percentage range in order to=20
maintain and develop a desired landscape dominated by coniferous, mixed=20
coniferous-hardwood and aspen forests. This landscape composition would=20
in turn benefit wildlife by providing a winter food source and thermal=20
cover for species such as northern saw-whet owl, brown creeper, black=20
pole warbler, chipping sparrow, pine warbler and red breasted nuthatch=20
that are often associated with coniferous and mixed conifer-hardwood=20
forests. Currently, the species distribution within MA 4A in the=20
project area has more aspen than desired to meet management area=20
objectives.
    Additionally, the Forest Plan recommends that certain percentages=20
of the aspen, paper birch and jack pine be within certain age=20
categories in order to maintain the type and provide a variety of=20
wildlife habitat. Currently, aspen and paper birch age classes are=20
overrepresented in the older age classes, while the younger age classes=20
are deficit, or moving towards a deficit condition.
    Forest Plan guidance for vegetation within MA 8D includes treatment=20
for the purposes of restoring or enhancing fish and wildlife habitat=20
and visual quality. Vegetation management will be designed to create a=20
large-tree character, and species composition that favors long-lived,=20
large diameter trees. There are opportunities along the South Fork of=20
the Flambeau River corridor (MA 8D) to convert mature aspen stands to=20
long-lived tree species and maintain the health and vigor of existing=20
red pine stands.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The primary purpose of the Camp Four proposal is to implement=20
activities consistent with direction in the Forest Plan and to respond=20
to specific needs identified in the project area. The primary project-
specific needs are to address maintenance of forest health and tree=20
vigor, develop a desired landscape species distribution and adjust the=20
age class distribution for aspen, paper birch and jack pine to the=20
desired range within MA 4A and 8D, as identified in the Forest Plan. An=20
associated need is to provide a safe and efficient transportation=20
system within the project area.

Proposed Action

    To meet the need of maintaining a healthy forest and tree vigor,=20
proposed land management activities (proposed

[[Page 53224]]

actions) include thinning red pine plantations on approximately 1,700=20
acres and treating approximately 800 acres of mixed northern hardwoods=20
through thinning and selection harvest.
    To meet the desired need of developing a landscape species=20
distribution that is dominated by conifer and coniferous hardwood and=20
aspen forests, the following activities are proposed: Convert mature=20
aspen through shelterwood harvest and underplanting white pine on=20
approximately 900 acres, remove jack pine and aspen overstory on=20
approximately 100 acres to promote the advanced regeneration of the=20
hardwood in the understory and reforest approximately 90 acres of mixed=20
pine species and oak within large openings in abandoned hayfields.
    To adjust age class distribution of aspen, paper birch and jack=20
pine within the project area to the appropriate and desired range, the=20
following activities are proposed: Clearcut regeneration harvest on=20
about 190 acres of mature aspen, paper birch, jack pine and white=20
spruce and shelterwood paper birch on approximately 65 acres.
    To provide a safe and efficient transportation system, the=20
following road projects within the area are proposed: Approximately one=20
mile of temporary road construction, one mile of permanent road=20
construction and two miles of road reconstruction are needed to=20
accomplish harvest activities. Temporary logging roads are roads that=20
would be decommissioned and re-vegetated following project completion.
    In addition, approximately 24 miles of existing road within the=20
project area, some of which would be utilized for the harvest activity,=20
will be decomissioned and revegetated. These roads were identified as=20
no longer needed for management activities and many are not Forest=20
System roads. Most were probably utilized for past harvest activity,=20
but since they would not be needed again for many years (20-40), they=20
will be dropped from our road inventory following decommissioning=20
activity.
    Approximately eight miles of existing road will be closed. These=20
roads are needed to meet future access needs but were identified for=20
closure to all motorized use, except for administrative purposes, due=20
to resource conflicts and public safety. Roads will be closed using=20
gates, rock or berm barriers.

Preliminary Issues

    Included with the proposal and any action alternatives to the=20
proposal will be the implementation of the Forest Plan standards and=20
guides as they apply to this project. Plan standards and guides are=20
detailed information on how the activities will be carried out or=20
implemented and address potential impacts to brook trout habitat,=20
heritage resources, forest age structure as it relates to forest=20
health, wildlife species (spruce grouse, wolf, bald eagle, etc.),=20
water, wetlands, and soils, and some potential economic and social=20
impacts (such as visual quality, recreation). These standards and=20
guidelines have been considered and incorporated into the proposed=20
action. The incorporation of the Plan standards and guides is intended=20
to reduce or eliminate potential adverse effects of the activities that=20
may result from the proposed action.
    Given the inclusion of the Plan standards and guides in the=20
development of the proposed action, the following preliminary issue was=20
identified: Potential effects on nesting habitat for the Northern=20
goshawk, a Regional Forester Sensitive Species (RFSS). There are=20
several probable Northern goshawk nests within the project area and=20
while the Forest Plan has standards and guides that minimize direct=20
disturbance to this species' known nesting habitat, disturbance to=20
potential nesting habitat at this time is unknown. At a minimum, this=20
species will be evaluated to determine impacts (if any) to habitat and=20
any subsequent impact to population viability.

Possible Alternatives

    Alternatives to the proposed action that are currently being=20
considered for display in the draft EIS are as follows: The required No=20
Action alternative and the proposed action alternative.

Nature of the Decision To Be Made

    The primary decision will be whether or not to implement the=20
proposed projects or alternatives of the projects within the project=20
area. The decision may also include additional resource protection=20
measures, monitoring, and whether Forest Plan amendments are needed to=20
implement the decision.

Responsible Official

    Jeanne Higgins, Forest Supervisor, Chequamegon-Nicolet National=20
Forest, 1170 4th Avenue South, Park Falls, WI 54552.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides=20
the development of the EIS. Comments in response to this solicitation=20
for information should focus on (1) The proposal; (2) issues or impacts=20
from the proposal; and (3) possible alternatives for addressing issues=20
associated with the proposal. We are especially interested in=20
information that might identify a specific undesired result of=20
implementing the proposed actions.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation and subsequent=20
solicitations, including names and addresses of those who comment, will=20
be considered part of the public record and will be available for=20
public inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and=20
considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have=20
standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR part 215. See=20
the section titled ADDRESSES in this notice for location of where to=20
send comments.

Estimated Dates for Filing

    The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental=20
Protection Agency and be available for public review in February 2008.=20
A 45-day comment period will follow publication of a Notice of=20
Availability of the draft EIS in the Federal Register. Comments=20
received on the draft EIS will be used in preparation of a final EIS.=20
We expect to file the notice of the availability of the final EIS and=20
Record of Decision (ROD) in the Federal Register in June 2008.
    Early Notice of the Importance of Public Participation in=20
Subsequent Environmental Review: The Forest Service believes, at this=20
early stage, it is important to give reviewers notice of several court=20
rulings related to public participation in the environmental review=20
process. First, reviewers of the draft EIS must structure their=20
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is=20
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and=20
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,=20
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the=20
draft EIS stage but that are not raised until after completion of the=20
final EIS may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v.=20
Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (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 45-day comment period=20
so that substantive comments and objections are made available to the=20
Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and=20
respond to them in the final EIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues=20
and concerns on the proposed action,

[[Page 53225]]

comments on the draft EIS should be as specific as possible. It is also=20
helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the draft=20
EIS. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft EIS or the=20
merits of the alternatives formulated and discussed in the draft EIS.=20
Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental Quality=20
Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National=20
Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.

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

    Dated: September 7, 2007.
Jeanne Higgins,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E7-18341 Filed 9-17-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-11-P