[Federal Register: March 12, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 47)]
[Notices]
[Page 10709-10710]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12mr09-24]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Galena Project, Malheur National Forest, Grant County, OR
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) to disclose environmental effects on a proposed action
to improve forest health and reduce the fire hazard within the Vinegar
Creek and Little Boulder/Deerhorn Creek subwatersheds. The Galena
Project planning area, located approximately 2 miles west of Bates,
Oregon, encompasses approximately 38,200 acres of National Forest
System Lands administered by the Blue Mountain Ranger District, Malheur
National Forest.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by April 13, 2009. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
August, 2009 and the final environmental impact statement is expected
December, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Responsible Official, Doug
Gochnour, Forest Supervisor, Malheur National Forest, 431 Patterson
Bridge Road, P.O. Box 909, John Day, Oregon 97845. Comments may also be
sent via e-mail to comments-pacificnorthwest-malheur@fs.fed.us or via
facsimile to 541-575-3002.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's
concerns and contentions. The submission of timely and specific
comments can affect a reviewer's ability to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide
the respondent with standing to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Wunz, Project Manager, Malheur
National Forest, 431 Patterson Bridge Road, P.O. Box 909, John Day,
Oregon, telephone 541-575-3167, e-mail ewunz@fs.fed.us.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need of the Galena project is to improve the forest
health and reduce the fire hazard within the Vinegar Creek and Little
Boulder/Deerhorn Creek subwatersheds.
Proposed Action
This action includes precommercial thinning on approximately 2,800
acres, commercial harvest on approximately 6,900 acres, and
underburning on approximately 24,000 acres. Harvest methods would
include ground-based and skyline logging systems. Several roads are to
be relocated out of riparian areas, resulting in new road construction
in some locations. Other road activities include maintenance and
reconstruction of existing roads, opening and re-closing existing
closed roads, and building short temporary roads that are to be
decommisioned after use. No commercial harvest or road construction is
proposed within Appendix C Inventoried Dixie Butte and Vinegar Hill-
Indian Rock Roadless Areas. Two Forest Plan amendments would be
included that would allow reduction of satisfactory cover on 128 acres
in the warm dry forest type and to add additional designated and
replacement old growth stands to meet current Forest Plan standards.
Possible Alternatives
Alternatives will include the proposed action, no action, and
additional alternatives that respond to issues generated during the
scoping process. The agency will give notice of the full environmental
analysis and decision-making process to interested and affected people
may participate and contribute to the final decision.
Responsible Official and Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official is Doug Gochnour, Forest Supervisor of the
[[Page 10710]]
Malheur National Forest, 431 Patterson Bridge Road, P.O. Box 909, John
Day, OR 97845. The Responsible Official will decide if the proposed
project will be implemented and will document the decision and reasons
for the decision in a Record of Decision. That decision will be subject
to Forest Service Appeal Regulations. The responsibility for preparing
the DEIS and FEIS has been delegated to Brooks Smith, District Ranger,
Blue Mountain Ranger District.
Preliminary Issues
Preliminary issues identified include the potential effect of the
proposed action on: Soils, water quality and fish habitat, snags and
down wood, disturbance to cultural resources, potential for noxious
weed expansion, threatened, endangered and sensitive aquatic,
terrestrial and plant species, potential loss of economic value of
trees damaged by insects or wildfire, and the safety and use of the
area by public and land managers.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. Public
participation will be especially important at several points during the
analysis, beginning with the scoping process (40 CFR 1501.7). Initial
scoping began with the project listed in the 2009 Winter Edition of the
Malheur National Forest's Schedule of Proposed Actions. A Public
meeting has been planned for April 8, 2009 to discuss the project.
Also, correspondence with tribes, government agencies, organizations,
and individuals who have indicated their interest will be conducted.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. The submission of
timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to
participate in subsequent administrative appeal or judicial review.
Dated: March 6, 2009.
Doug Gochnour,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9-5364 Filed 3-11-09; 8:45 am]
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