[Federal Register: March 2, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 40)] [Notices] =20 [Page 9388] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr02mr10-16] =20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service =20 Prescott National Forest, Bradshaw Ranger District; Arizona;=20 Bradshaw Vegetation Management Project AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This project is a proposal to improve the health of fire=20 adapted ecosystems while simultaneously reducing hazardous fuels on the=20 Bradshaw Ranger District. The project area encompasses about 55,554=20 acres. Within the project area, the proposal is to commercially thin=20 approximately 16,312 acres in ponderosa pine, pine-oak, and mixed=20 conifer forest types. Fuels treatments include mechanized fuel=20 reduction on 34,445 acres of chaparral, pinyon-juniper, and oak sites=20 and non-mechanized fuel reduction treatments on 6,242 acres of=20 chaparral, juniper, pinyon, oak, pine, and mixed conifer sites.=20 Prescribed fire is proposed on 44,641 acres and fuelbreak construction=20 is proposed on 791 acres. It is expected that this project will require=20 a site specific forest plan amendment to the Prescott National Forest=20 Land and Resource Management Plan (1986), as amended, in order to=20 implement treatments within Mexican Spotted Owl habitat. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received=20 within 30 days after publication of this notice in the Federal=20 Register. The draft environmental impact statement is expected in=20 December, 2010 and the final environmental impact statement is expected=20 in March, 2011. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Jodi Stevens, Bradshaw Ranger=20 District, 344 South Cortez Street, Prescott, Arizona 86303. Comments=20 may also be submitted by e-mail to: comments-southwe= stern- prescott@fs.fed.us. Include ``Bradshaw Vegetation Management'' in = the=20 subject line of e-mail comments. Electronic comments must be submitted=20 in Word (.doc), RichText (.rtf), or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jodi Stevens, 928-443-8041 or=20 jodistevens@fs.fed.us. = Individuals who use telecommunication devices=20 for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service=20 (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time,=20 Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose and Need for Action: The purpose of the proposed action is=20 to improve the health of fire adapted ecosystems while simultaneously=20 reducing hazardous fuels. The EIS will describe existing conditions and=20 desired conditions, analyze environmental consequences of shifting=20 existing conditions towards desired conditions, and assist the decision=20 maker in selecting management strategies that will achieve desired=20 conditons. The proposed action is needed due to prominent changes in=20 the structure and function of vegetation and fire behavior within the=20 analysis area, and the proximity of homes and private property to these=20 changed conditions. The changes in vegetation and fire behavior are a=20 result of aggressive fire suppression over the past several decades.=20 One of the most effective ways to protect communities is to create=20 defensible fuel profile zones both adjacent to homes and private=20 property and on adjacent public lands. Proposed Action: The Prescott National Forest proposes to=20 commercially thin approximately 16,312 acres in ponderosa pine, pine- oak, and mixed conifer forest types. Proposed fuels treatments include mechanized fuel reduction on=20 34,445 acres of chaparral, pinyon-juniper, and oak sites, and non- mechanized fuel reduction treatments on 6,242 acres of chaparral,=20 juniper, pinyon, oak, pine, and mixed conifer sites. Prescribed fire is=20 proposed on 44,641 acres and fuelbreak construction is proposed on 791=20 acres. The project area is located to the southeast, south, southwest,=20 west and northwest of the city of Prescott. Implementation of this=20 proposed project could begin as early as June 1, 2011. Responsible Official The Responsible Official for this project is the Forest Supervisor,=20 Prescott National Forest, Prescott, Arizona. Nature of Decision To Be Made The Forest Service will evaluate the proposed action and=20 alternatives to the proposed action. After reviewing the proposed=20 action, the alternatives, the environmental analysis, and considering=20 public comment, the Forest Supervisor will reach a decision that is in=20 accordance with the purpose and need for this project. The decision=20 will include a description of activities that will be implemented.=20 Issues identified as being outside the scope of this proposal (such as=20 grazing cattle on the Forest or the need for additional recreation=20 opportunities) will not be addressed in this planning effort. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides=20 the development of the environmental impact statement. It is important=20 that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in such manner=20 that they are useful to the agency's preparation of the environmental=20 impact statement. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the=20 close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the=20 reviewer's concerns and be as specific as possible. There will be a=20 public scoping meeting on Thursday, February 25, 2010 from 6 p.m. to 8=20 p.m. Arizona Time. This meeting will be held at the Mackin Building at=20 the Prescott Rodeo Grounds, 840 Rodeo Drive, Prescott, AZ, 86305.=20 Scoping letters will be mailed to individuals and entities who have=20 identified themselves as interested publics regarding proposed actions=20 on the Prescott National Forest. Additionally, scoping input will be=20 requested through a publication in the Prescott Courier, the newspaper=20 of local circulation in the proposed project area. Dated: February 18, 2010. Reta Laford, Acting Forest Supervisor, Prescott National Forest. [FR Doc. 2010-3965 Filed 3-1-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M