[Federal Register: February 4, 2010 (Volume 75, Number = 23)] [Notices] =20 [Page 5758-5759] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr04fe10-25] =20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service =20 Bridger-Teton National Forest, Big Piney Ranger District, WY;=20 Piney Creeks Vegetation Treatment AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Big Piney Ranger District is proposing to implement=20 vegetation management in the Piney Creek drainages throughout the next=20 five-seven years. The need for vegetation management in this area has=20 previously been identified and studied in the Bridger-Teton Forest Plan=20 implemented in 1990, in public meetings held on the revision of the=20 Forest Plan in 2008 and comprehensive evaluation reports for aspen,=20 lodge pole pine, Douglas fir, spruce fir and white bark pine. The=20 analysis area is approximately 20,000 acres within this watershed and=20 includes the creeks of South, Middle and North on the Big Piney Ranger=20 District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The area also includes=20 Middle and North Piney Lakes, Wyoming Peak the Middle Piney Summer=20 homes, Sacajawea and Middle Piney Lake campgrounds. Management=20 opportunities, practices, standards and guidelines, and mitigation have=20 been developed to help achieve desired resource conditions. These are=20 the basis for this proposal and for further site specific analysis of=20 effects. It is approximately 25 miles west of Big Piney, Wyoming in the=20 Green River drainage, on the east slope of the Wyoming range. All lands=20 within the analysis area are National Forest System lands within=20 Sublette County, Wyoming. The legal description includes portions of=20 T28N through T31N and R112W through R114W. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received=20 by March 15, 2010. The draft environmental impact statement is expected=20 in November 2011 and the final environmental impact statement is=20 expected in April 2012. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to District Ranger, Big Piney Ranger=20 District, Box 218, Big Piney, Wyoming 83113. Comments may also be sent=20 via e-mail to mailroorn_r4_bridger= _teton@fs.fed.us and on the=20 subject line put only ``Piney Creeks Vegetation Treatment'', or via=20 facsimile to 307-276-5250. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times=20 and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of=20 the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of=20 the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's=20 concerns and contentions. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names=20 and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record=20 for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be=20 accepted and considered, however. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: District Ranger, Big Piney Ranger=20 District, Box 218, Big Piney, Wyoming 83113 or phone (307) 276-3710. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)=20 may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339=20 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose and Need for Action The purpose of this proposal is to improve Forest resource=20 conditions in the South, Middle and North Piney Creek drainages,=20 bringing them closer to desired conditions. Desired conditions for each=20 of the DFC's would help restore healthy ecosystem functioning and=20 support sustainable resource use. Proposed Action This proposal was developed in response to public issues from=20 changes since the approval of the Forest Plan in 1990, Forest Plan=20 Revision meetings, and recent resource issues. Treat up to 8,000 acres=20 of aspen stands and the surrounding sagebrush with mechanical=20 treatments and prescribed fire to regenerate healthy aspen and=20 sagebrush and remove conifers. Harvest trees on approximately 4,000=20 acres using various cutting practices. This is to provide for=20 regeneration of the declining lodge pole pine and mixed conifer forests=20 and for age class diversity across the landscape. Possible Alternatives This alternative is required under NEPA regulations and also serves=20 as a baseline of information for comparison of other alternatives.=20 Though this alternative does not respond to the purpose and need for=20 action, it does address some issues. Responsible Official District Forest Ranger, Big Piney Ranger District, P.O. Box 218,=20 Big Piney, Wyoming 83113. Nature of Decision To Be Made This decision will be whether or not to implement specific=20 vegetation [[Page 5759]] management projects as allowed in the Bridger-Teton National Forest=20 Plan. The decision would include any mitigation measures needed in=20 addition to those prescribed in the Forest Plan. Preliminary Issues The Forest Service has identified the following potential issues.=20 No determination has been made as to which issues will be examined in=20 detail in the environmental analysis. Your input will help determine=20 which of these issues merit detailed analysis and will also help=20 identify additional issues related to the proposed action that may not=20 be listed here. Issue 1--Amount and/or types of vegetation treatments in the=20 proposed action and the effects on old growth and mature vegetation for=20 lynx, security cover for elk and other habitat, as well as Colorado=20 cutthroat trout habitat. Issue 2--Forest health, specifically the high proportion of older=20 age class conifer stands and declining tree growth, dwarf mistletoe=20 infection levels in lodge pole pine and high fuel loadings from dead=20 and down material. Issue 3--Amount of aspen treatments. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides=20 the development of the environmental impact statement. The Forest=20 Service is seeking information, comments, and assistance from=20 individuals, organizations, tribal governments, and federal, state, and=20 local agencies interested in or affected by this project. Public=20 participation will be solicited by notifying in person and/or by mail=20 known interested and affected publics. News releases will be used to=20 give the public general notice. Public participation activities would=20 include requests for written comments. The first formal opportunity to=20 comment is to respond to this notice of intent, which initiates the=20 scoping process (40 CFR 1501.7). Scoping includes: (1) Identifying=20 potential issues, (2) narrowing the potential issues and identifying=20 significant issues of those that have been covered by prior=20 environmental review, (3) exploring alternatives in addition to No=20 Action, and (4) identifying potential environmental effects of the=20 proposed action and alternatives. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times=20 and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of=20 the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be=20 provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly=20 articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. Dated: December 31, 2009. Gregory Clark, District Forest Ranger. [FR Doc. 2010-2078 Filed 2-3-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M