From: Subject: FR Doc 08-800 Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:01:31 -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/2008/08-800.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 FR Doc 08-800 
[Federal Register: February 25, 2008 (Volume 73, Number =
37)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 9985-9987]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25fe08-22]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

=20
Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California; Algoma Vegetation and=20
Road Management Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Shasta-Trinity National Forest proposes to thin stands and=20
remove accumulations of down wood (fuels) on approximately 5,300 acres=20
of National Forest System lands. Trees in the project area would be=20
thinned by removing a portion of the trees from overcrowded forest=20
stands. Trees to be removed will generally be smaller in size than=20
trees that will be retained. In some stands, trees to be removed would=20
be those infected with disease or insects. Young tree seedings would be=20
planted in any openings created in these areas. A roads analysis will=20
be prepared to identify management opportunities (road closures and=20
improvements) for the road system within the proposed project area. The=20
project area is in T40N, R1W & R1E, MDM and T39N, R1W & R1E MDM, =
about=20
10 miles east of the town of McCloud, California. The project area is=20
zoned by the Forest Land and Resource Management Plan as Late-
Successional Reserve. About 15 percent of the area is zoned as Riparian=20
Reserve (wetlands, areas adjacent to streams and unstable areas).

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received=20
no later than 30 days after the publication of this notice in the=20
Federal Register. The draft environmental impact statement is expected=20
in May 2008 and the final environmental impact statement is expected in=20
September 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to District Ranger Michael Hupp,=20
Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, 204 W. Alma St., Mt. Shasta, California=20
96067. Electronic comments can be sent via e-mail to: comments-
pacificsouthwest-shasta-trinity-mtshasta-mccloud@fs.fed.us.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ricardo Velarde, McCloud Ranger=20
Station, P.O. Box 1620, McCloud, California 96057, telephone (530) 964-
3770 or via e-mail at rvelarde@fs.fed.us.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:=20

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of the proposed action is to protect and enhance=20
conditions of late-successional forest ecosystems, which serve as=20
habitat for late-successional and old-growth related species, including=20
the northern spotted owl.
    Fire exclusion over the last 100 years has led to dense forest=20
conditions and excessive ground fuels. The overcrowded conditions have=20
had a negative impact on tree vigor and forest health. Increased=20
competition for available resources, such as water, nutrients and=20
sunlight has made trees

[[Page 9986]]

more susceptible to drought, disease and insect infestation. A dense=20
understory of trees coupled with an accumulation of ground fuels=20
increases the chances of a wildfire reaching the forest canopy and=20
spreading. These conditions limit and delay the development of early-
successional and mid-successional stands towards late-successional=20
forest conditions and place existing late-successional forest habitat=20
at risk.
    There is a need to reduce tree density in older tree plantations=20
and natural forest stands where overcrowded conditions exist. Thinning=20
will reduce competition and make additional resources available to=20
remaining trees, resulting in improved tree vigor and greater=20
resistance to drought, disease and insects. Furthermore, the use of=20
variable thinning treatments to promote structural and age variability=20
within stands will accelerate their development towards late-
successional forest conditions and, consequently, enhance habitat in=20
the project area.
    There is a need to break the current cycle of re-infection in areas=20
heavily infected by black stain root disease. Sanitizing (removing)=20
dead and dying trees will remove the source of infection from affected=20
areas. Replanting with a mix of species will enhance diversity and aid=20
in breaking the disease cycle within the project area protecting both=20
developing and existing late-successional forest habitat.
    There is a need to reduce accumulations of ground fuels to levels=20
where flames are not likely to reach the canopy layer in case of=20
wildfire. Fuel treatments will reduce fuel loads and reduce the chances=20
of a wildfire destroying late-successional forest habitat in the=20
project area.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action is to thin on approximately 5,300 acres. In all=20
thinning treatments, trees will be thinned to a density that is=20
appropriate for the species, age and site. The smaller trees will=20
generally be removed from the stand leaving the healthier dominant and=20
co-dominant trees at an appropriate stocking level.
    (a) On approximately 1,050 acres of 25-40 year old ponderosa pine=20
plantations, trees will be thinned to a variable spacing, generally by=20
removing the smaller trees.
    (b) On approximately 2,900 acres of 50-85 year old mixed conifer=20
and ponderosa pine stands, trees will be thinned from below to a=20
density that is appropriate for the species, age and site. The smaller=20
trees will generally be removed from the stand leaving the healthier=20
dominant and co-dominant trees at an appropriate stocking level.=20
Interspersed among some of the treated areas will be unthinned patches=20
of trees and areas of black oak release, intended to provide structural=20
diversity and variability on the landscape. Up to 15% of the resultant=20
area would be left in unthinned patches.
    (c) On approximately 1,050 acres of 75 year old ponderosa pine and=20
mixed conifer stands with areas of heavy mortality from root disease,=20
trees will be thinned as described in ``b'' above. In addition, there=20
will be sanitation treatments in those stands that are heavily infected=20
with root disease, in which dead, dying and infected trees will be=20
removed from the site to break the cycle of re-infection. Resulting=20
understocked areas will be replanted with an appropriate mix of species=20
to increase diversity.
    (d) On approximately 300 acres of 50-75 year old ponderosa pine and=20
mixed conifer stands, trees will be thinned using an uneven-aged,=20
single-tree-selection method. The objective is to create stands=20
composed of trees in a wide range of diameter classes to promote=20
greater structural and age variability.
    On all proposed treatments, excess trees will be removed as=20
commercial wood products wherever possible. Small-diameter trees will=20
be removed as wood chips while larger trees will be removed as saw=20
logs. All fresh conifer stumps greater than 14 inches will be treated=20
with borax to prevent the spread of annosus root disease. Whole tree=20
removal will be used wherever possible to minimize the accumulation of=20
additional ground fuels. Excess ground fuels will be treated by=20
mastication, removal and utilization, or piling and burning. After=20
harvest prescribed fire may be used in units that are deemed suitable.=20
Treatment will be deferred on approximately 4,100 acres within the=20
project area. These areas are experiencing northern spotted owl=20
nesting/roosting activity or currently have suitable nesting stand=20
structure and composition characteristics.
    Hardwoods, particularly black oaks, will be enhanced in select=20
areas. Encroaching conifers will be thinned away from hardwoods that=20
are healthy, well established and likely to benefit from treatment.
    Riparian Reserves will be treated in limited areas to improve,=20
maintain or protect late-successional forest habitat conditions.=20
Project related actions within Riparian Reserves will meet the=20
objectives of the Aquatic Conservation Strategy in the Shasta-Trinity=20
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
    To meet management objectives, this project may include the=20
construction of approximately 2 miles of temporary short length roads,=20
the reconstruction of approximately 21 miles of road and the closure or=20
decommissioning of approximately 25 miles of road. Decisions involving=20
roads will be based on a roads analysis for the project area. An inter-
disciplinary team will evaluate current road conditions and weigh the=20
risks and benefits of any changes to the existing road system.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    Lead Agency: USDA, Forest Service.

Responsible Official

    J. Sharon Heywood, Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National=20
Forest.

Nature of Decision To be Made

    The Forest Supervisor will decide whether to implement the proposed=20
action, take an alternative action that meets the purpose and need or=20
take no action.

Scoping Process

    The project is included in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest's=20
quarterly schedule of proposed actions (SOPA). Information on the=20
proposed action will also be posted on the forest Web site, http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3Dlea=
vingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrin=
ity/projects and advertised in both the=20
Redding Record Searchlight and the Mount Shasta Herald. This notice of=20
intent initiates the scoping process, which guides the development of=20
the environmental impact statement. Comments submitted during this=20
scoping process should be in writing and should be specific to the=20
proposed action. The comments should describe as clearly and completely=20
as possible any issues the commenter has with the proposal. The scoping=20
process includes:
    (a) Identifying potential issues.
    (b) Identifying issues to be analyzed in depth.
    (c) Eliminating non-significant issues or those previously covered=20
by a relevant previous environmental analysis.
    (d) Exploring additional alternatives.
    (e) Identifying potential environmental effects of the proposed=20
actions and alternatives.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent=20
Environmental Review: A draft environmental impact statement will be=20
prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental=20
impact statement will be 45 days from

[[Page 9987]]

the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of=20
availability in the Federal Register. The Forest Service believes it is=20
important to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to=20
public participation in the environmental review process. First,=20
reviewers of 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
553 (1978)). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the=20
draft environmental impact statement stage but are not raised until=20
after completion of the final environmental impact statement may be=20
dismissed by the courts. (City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022=20
(9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Hereitages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp.=20
1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, it is very=20
important that those interested in this proposed action participate by=20
the close of the 45 day comment period. Timely submittal of comments=20
and objections to the Forest Service ensures they can be meaningfully=20
considered and responded to in the final environmental impact=20
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=20
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives=20
formulated and discussed in the statement.
    In addressing these points, reviewers may wish to refer to the=20
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the=20
procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40=20
CFR 1503.3.
    Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who=20
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal,=20
and will be available for public inspection.

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

    Dated: February 14, 2008.
J. Sharon Heywood,
Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
[FR Doc. 08-800 Filed 2-22-08; 8:45 am]

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