From: Subject: FR Doc E8-1726 Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:42:15 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-1726.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 FR Doc E8-1726 
[Federal Register: February 1, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 22)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 6109-6111]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01fe08-31]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

=20
Klamath National Forest, CA; Thom-Seider Vegetation Management=20
and Fuel Reduction Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: Land managers propose the Thom-Seider Vegetation Management=20
and Fuel Reduction Project to reduce fuel hazard and restore forest=20
health on Klamath National Forest System lands. The project area is=20
situated on both sides of the Klamath River between Hamburg and Happy=20
Camp, California. Thinning and understory burning (underburning) is=20
proposed for approximately 30,000 acres of strategic areas selected for=20
their location, topography, stand structure, density, age and=20
condition. The project is intended to reduce the potential for high-
severity wildland fires to harm people, private and public land, and=20
older forest habitats.

DATES: Comments postmarked or received by March 7, 2008 are assured of=20
being considered in the environmental analysis. The Draft Environmental=20
Impact Statement is expected to be published Summer 2008 and the Final=20
Environmental Impact Statement is scheduled for Winter 2009.

ADDRESSES: Address Comments to: Happy Camp and Oak Knoll Districts=20
Ranger, Attn: Thom-Seider Project, Klamath National Forest, 63822=20
Highway 96, PO Box 377, Happy Camp, California 96039. You may also send=20
electronic comments to the project e-mail box: 
comments-pacificsouthwest-klamath-happy-camp@fs.fed.us.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact District Ranger Donald=20
M Hall or Interdisciplinary Team Leader Rochelle Desser if you have=20
questions, concerns or suggestions relating to this

[[Page 6110]]

proposal. You may contact Don at Happy Camp Ranger District Office at=20
530-493-1723 or at donaldhall@fs.fed.us. Rochelle =
is available by phone=20
at 531-596-2453 or at rdesser@fs.fed.us.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:=20

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Thom-Seider project area contains an overabundance of early-=20
and mid-successional stands that provide limited habitat for species=20
dependent on older forests. Many of these stands are not structurally=20
diverse and are overdense. In some cases, remnant large older trees in=20
the stands have lost vitality due to competition for light and water=20
from the dense understory. In the event of a wildland fire, these dense=20
early- and mid-successional forests are more susceptible to stand=20
replacement fire because of their continuous crowns and the presence of=20
ladder fuels.
    Actions to help early to mid successional stands develop old growth=20
characteristics and be less vulnerable to damaging wildland fire=20
include reducing stand density and ground and ladder fuels, and=20
prescribed fire. These actions would also help maintain the older trees=20
currently living in the stand.
    The project area is on both sides of the Klamath River and includes=20
river communities such as Hamburg, Seiad Valley, and Happy Camp. The=20
areas that interface between private land and National Forest System=20
lands are a high priority for fuels reduction. Fuels reduction is also=20
important along roads that provide evacuation routes or can be used as=20
fuel breaks in the event of a fire.
    Action is needed to reduce tree density and forest competition;=20
reduce ladder fuels that lead to canopy fires; reduce crown fire=20
potential, improve wildlife habitat; and improve probability that early=20
to mid-successional stands will develop into old growth. These actions=20
are particularly important in Late-Successional Reserves established=20
for development of older forest habitats, and in the Wildland Urban=20
Interface (WUI) where the National Forest abuts private property and=20
communities.

Management Direction

    The project area includes late-successional reserves, riparian=20
reserves, a wild and scenic river, and roadless areas. Plans, policies=20
and regulations that provide management direction for this project=20
include (not limited to): the Klamath National Forest Land and Resource=20
Management Plan of 1995; the Section 7(a)(1) of the Endangered Species=20
Act; the Healthy Forest Restoration Act; the National Fire Plan; the=20
Roadless Rule of 2001; the Clean Water Act; and the Clean Air Act.
    This project is authorized under section 102 of the Healthy Forest=20
Restoration Act of 2003 because it would provide ``enhanced protection=20
from catastrophic wildland fire'' for the habitat of a threatened=20
species, the northern spotted owl; and a candidate species, the Pacific=20
fisher. Commercial thinning is an allowable exception under Section=20
294.13(b) of the 2001 Roadless Rule because it involves removal of=20
timber to improve threatened species habitat, it would maintain and=20
restore ecosystem composition and structure, and it would reduce the=20
hazard of uncharacteristic wildland fire effects.
    The project is designed to be consistent with all applicable=20
policies and plans. The type of thinning proposed follows Late-
Successional Reserve Assessment and Watershed Analysis recommendations.=20
Riparian reserves would be treated where needed to meet Aquatic=20
Conservation Strategy objectives.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action includes about 22,000 acres of underburning;=20
2,450 acres of variable density thinning (includes commercial and non-
commercial), 2,700 acres of roadside fuels treatment, and 6,150 acres=20
of understory thinning around private properties.
    Underburning refers to a range of prescribed burning activities=20
including hand piling, burning small concentrations of debris and slash=20
(jackpot) and low intensity burning under a forest canopy.=20
Approximately 22,000 acres of underburning is proposed. Non-commercial=20
thinning small trees and brush would occur within the underburns as=20
needed to promote effective fuel consumption. Underburning reduces both=20
natural and activity fuel loading, consumes the build up of forest=20
debris and litter, promotes the growth of browse species, encourages=20
grass and forbs, and thins out smaller shade tolerant trees (ladder=20
fuels), thus reducing fire behavior and negative effects from wildland=20
fire. In some cases, small jackpots of trees are consumed to provide a=20
break in the canopy. Burning operations would be accomplished to follow=20
a prescribed burn plan that meets land management objectives and public=20
concerns. A burn and smoke management plan would be implemented to=20
minimize the effects of smoke on adjacent communities and the public.
    Variable Density Thinning includes commercial and non-commercial=20
thinning that reduces forest competition and increases diversity in=20
early- to mid-successional forests. It also is intended to increase the=20
longevity of larger, older trees in the stands. Thinning is proposed=20
for the smallest trees in the stand, around individual large trees and=20
in unevenly spaced clumps. Snags would be retained except where there=20
are safety hazards. Approximately 2,450 acres of variable density=20
thinning is proposed.
    Commercial thinning is proposed in stands that are accessible from=20
the existing road system and are of a size, age, terrain and structure=20
suitable for logging. Within commercial thinning units, trees greater=20
than 8 inches in diameter would be cut, along with the smaller trees=20
and brush. A total of about 1,950 acres of commercial thinning is=20
currently proposed, including about 1,000 acres within Late-
Successional Reserves and about 130 acres within the outer portions of=20
Riparian Reserves. Commercial thinning would be accessed by a=20
combination of the existing road network and helicopters. Approximately=20
2.6 miles of temporary road in 12 segments located throughout the=20
project area are proposed to more efficiently remove thinned logs.
    The land used for temporary roads would be rehabilitated after the=20
project was completed. Logging systems include helicopter and ground=20
based systems. Non-commercial thinning is proposed on about 500 acres,=20
mainly within Late-Successional Reserves. These stands are high=20
priority for thinning because they have overdense understories or=20
excessive ladder fuels; however, the trees are smaller than commercial=20
size (8 inches or less in diameter). These areas may be treated as=20
funds become available.
    Roadside Fuel Treatments are proposed along strategic roads that=20
may provide anchors for fire suppression in the event of a wildland=20
fire or access in the event of an evacuation. Approximately 2,700 acres=20
(about 77 miles of roads) are proposed for roadside fuels treatments.=20
Roadside treatments include thinning and pruning of small understory=20
trees (generally <  10'' diameter at breast height, or DBH) and brush =

with chainsaws along forest roads. The treatment would be on both sides=20
of the roads, generally within 250 feet above roads and 150 feet below=20
roads. Treatment areas along the roads include plantations and natural=20
stands of varying ages and structures. Trees less than 6 inches DBH=20
would generally be left at a spacing of 15 to 20 feet apart, and larger=20
diameter conifers (7'' to 12'' DBH) and most hardwoods would be

[[Page 6111]]

left 20 to 25 feet apart. The slash created will be hand piled and=20
burned, converted to chips, processed with a masticator if accessible=20
from an existing road, or removed from the site as firewood or other=20
forest products. In areas where fuels objectives cannot be met because=20
there is an excess amount of dead material on the ground, some of this=20
material may also be burned or removed from the site. In addition,=20
incidental larger hazard trees would be felled, if deemed hazards to=20
the crews working on the project. The hazard trees would be felled and=20
left in place, or removed to disposal sites on or adjacent to roads.
    The proposed treatments will reduce ladder and ground fuels,=20
providing for reduced fire intensity, rate of spread, and flame lengths=20
in the event of a wildland fire. After the project is completed, the=20
roads will be passable for emergency vehicles during a wildland fire.=20
Treatments are also designed so that the roads could be used as=20
effective fire lines under moderate wildland fire conditions. Fire=20
suppression activities will be safer and more successful in areas that=20
receive this treatment.
    The project areas that are adjacent to roads are in a particularly=20
hazardous condition because the road openings allow growing space and=20
additional sunlight to the vegetation, and the bare mineral soil on the=20
road banks makes an excellent bed for thick regeneration. These=20
conditions stimulate the growth of a tree and brush thicket along=20
roads, and larger vegetation often can maintain limbs near ground level=20
with out being shaded out.
    Understory Thinning Around Private Land Boundaries is proposed=20
where landowners are willing to perform non-commercial fuels reduction=20
(thinning, brushing and hand piling) on a strip of Forest land 500 feet=20
wide adjacent to their property. Approximately 6,000 acres of private=20
land boundary understory treatments are proposed. The proposed=20
treatment is intended to reduce existing ladder and ground fuels to=20
provide for low intensity fire behavior. These zones create corridors=20
in which the fire hazard is reduced to allow firefighters relatively=20
safe access for wildland fire suppression activities and to allow for=20
increased options during wildland fire suppression activities to reduce=20
fire severity.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Forest Services is the lead agency. Representatives from the=20
Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries are core members of the=20
Interdisciplinary Team.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official for this project is the Forest Supervisor=20
for the Klamath National Forest, 1312 Fairlane Road, Yreka, California=20
96097.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides=20
the development of the environmental impact statement. The public is=20
encouraged to take part in the process and visit with Forest Service=20
and Fish and Wildlife officials at any time during the analysis and=20
prior to the decision. The Forest Service will be seeking information,=20
comments and assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies and=20
other individuals or organizations that may be interested in, or=20
affected by, the proposed thinning and underburning project. Three=20
public scoping meetings have been scheduled for February 11, 12 and 13,=20
2008 in Happy Camp, Seiad Valley and Hamburg respectively. Please=20
contact District Ranger Donald Hall (see previous contact info) for=20
details about the meeting.

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

    A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for=20
comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement=20
will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency=20
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. The=20
Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important to give=20
reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public=20
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of=20
draft environmental impact statements 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
533 (1978). Also, 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, it=20
is very important that those interested in this proposed action=20
participate by the close of the 45-day comment period so that=20
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest=20
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to=20
them in the final environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues=20
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft=20
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is=20
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the=20
draft statement.
    Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft environmental=20
impact or the merits of the alternatives formulated and discussed in=20
the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on=20
Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural=20
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in=20
addressing these points. Comments received, including the names and=20
addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public=20
record on this proposal and will be available for public inspection.

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

    Dated: January 24, 2008.
Patricia A. Grantham,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Klamath National Forest.
 [FR Doc. E8-1726 Filed 1-31-08; 8:45 am]

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