[Federal Register: May 21, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 99)]
[Notices]
[Page 29480-29481]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21my08-28]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Caribou-Targhee National Forest, ID; Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement for the Targhee Revised Forest Plan With Proposed
Forest Plan Amendment
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact
statement.
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SUMMARY: The Caribou-Targhee National Forest is proposing to prepare a
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to the Targhee
Revised Forest Plan (FEIS) to disclose effects of a proposed amendment
to the TRFP to address Plan direction for forested vegetation that
presently does not reflect the ecological capability of forest
ecosystems found on the Targhee National Forest and to also clarify
TRFP direction on snags.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
within 45 days from the date of this publication. The draft
supplemental environmental impact statement is expected July of 2008
and the final supplemental environmental impact statement is expected
November 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Robbin Redman, Forest Planner,
Caribou-Targhee National Forest, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls,
Idaho. Electronic comments can be sent to comments-intermtn-caribou-
targhee@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robbin Redman, Forest Planner,
Caribou-Targhee National Forest, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls,
Idaho 83401 or telephone (208) 557-5821.
Purpose and Need for Action
The Caribou-Targhee National Forest (C-T) has completed an
assessment of forest vegetation for the Targhee portion of the C-T and
in addition to this assessment the Forest has previously completed
identification of the properly functioning condition (PFC) for forested
landscapes in the Madison-Pitchstone Plateau Subsection. Scientific
research papers published after the TRFP and PFC were also completed
that help the Forest to identify desired conditions that better match
the ecological capabilities of forested vegetation including a range of
amounts and distribution of old growth and late seral structural stages
by forest type.
The results of the information discussed above indicate a need to
amend guidance in the TRFP for old growth and late seral structural
stages to better describe desired conditions in the TRFP for old growth
and late seral structural stages. Specifically, review of existing
information and TRFP direction indicates the following:
The TRFP established guidelines for old growth and late seral
forest stages that suggest minimum percentages of forested acres of old
growth and late seral forest be present in each principal watershed.
Presence and persistence of late seral stages and old growth are highly
dependent on natural disturbance cycles that vary with forest type. For
example, several principal watersheds are dominated by the lodgepole
pine forest type, which rarely develops old growth conditions on the
Targhee National Forest. Natural disturbance cycles in lodgepole pine
forest such as insects, disease, and fire recur frequently enough to
preclude development of old-growth conditions in most of this type.
Therefore, the old growth and late seral guidelines presently in the
TRFP do not reflect the ecological capability of these forest
ecosystems.
Similarly, several principal watersheds have a large component of
the aspen forest type. On the Targhee, aspen is primarily seral to
conifer. Stable aspen is rare and limited to harsh sites generally
along ecotones with poor growing conditions where conifer cannot
establish. Absent disturbances in seral types, these aspen stands will
eventually be replaced by conifer types and it is unlikely that late
seral or old growth aspen stands will develop or persist. Even though
the ecological capability of these forest types is different from
others such as spruce/fir the Forest is still proposing to manage for
old growth and replacement old growth in these forest types, this would
be for vegetation diversity.
Recent insect outbreaks have changed the number and distribution of
snags over much of the Targhee NF. Currently TRFP snag direction
requires several levels of analysis of snags: at the prescription area,
at the watershed level and at a 100 acre level. This direction will be
reviewed and adjusted to reflect current conditions and allow for
wildlife habitat needs.
Proposed Action
The Caribou-Targhee National Forest is proposing to amend the TRFP
with regard to Plan direction for old growth and late seral forested
vegetation. The Proposed old growth direction will be to manage for ten
percent of forested acres in a combination of old growth and
replacement old growth in ecological subsections. The old growth would
meet Region 4 Characteristics of Old Growth Forests definitions. The
Forest is also proposing to clarify snag direction in the Plan to allow
more ease in implementation while still providing for wildlife habitat
needs.
Possible Alternatives
The Forest has developed the Proposed Action and the no-action
alternative which is to continue with current TRFP direction.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Caribou-Targhee National Forest is the lead agency for this
project.
[[Page 29481]]
Responsible Official
The responsible official is: Larry Timchak, Forest Supervisor,
Caribou-Targhee National Forest, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls,
Idaho 83401.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Given the purpose and need, the deciding officer will decide
whether or not to amend the Targhee Revised Forest Plan with regard to
TRFP direction for old growth and late seral structural stages and to
clarify TRFP snag direction.
Scoping Process
The C-T Forest is now seeking comments on this proposal and will
seek comments on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
when it becomes available.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the supplemental environmental impact statement. The
Forest is seeking comments that may be used to develop alternatives to
the Proposed Action. We are seeking specific comments on snag
requirements for cavity nesters for the TRFP, specifically management
guidance for retention of snags and specific comments on a more
appropriate percentage of old growth and at what level it is
appropriate to be maintained for vegetation diversity. To be most
helpful comments should include rationale for any recommendations.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A draft supplemental environmental impact
statement will be prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft
supplemental environmental impact statement will be 45 days from the
date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of
availability in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
draft supplemental environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519.
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings,
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 45 day comment period so that
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to
them in the final environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal
and will be available for public inspection.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21.
Dated: May 14, 2008.
Lawrence Timchak,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E8-11248 Filed 5-20-08; 8:45 am]
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