[Federal Register: March 29, 2010 (Volume 75, Number =
59)]
[Notices] =20
[Page 15403-15406]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29mr10-29] =20
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
=20
Plan Revision for Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National=20
Forests, Oregon and Washington (Collectively Called the Blue Mountains=20
Forest Plan Revision)
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement=20
and revised land management plan using the provisions of the National=20
Forest System land and resource management planning rule in effect=20
prior to November 9, 2000 for the Malheur (including that portion of=20
the Ochoco National Forest administered by the Malheur National=20
Forest), Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests, Adams, Idaho,=20
and Nez Perce Counties
[[Page 15404]]
in Idaho; Baker, Grant, Harney, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, and=20
Wheeler Counties in Oregon; Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, and Walla Walla=20
Counties in Washington.
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SUMMARY: As directed by the National Forest Management Act, the USDA=20
Forest Service is preparing the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman=20
National Forests revised land management plans and will also prepare an=20
environmental impact statement for these revised plans. This notice=20
briefly describes the purpose and need, the proposed action, the=20
scoping process for the plan revisions (including any scoping=20
meetings), information concerning public participation, estimated dates=20
for filing the EIS and provides the names and addresses of the=20
responsible agency official and the individuals who can provide=20
additional information. This notice also briefly describes the=20
applicable planning rule.
The revised land management plans will supersede the land=20
management plans previously approved by the Regional Forester. The=20
Malheur National Forest land management plan was signed on May 25, 1990=20
and has been amended 67 times. The Umatilla National Forest land=20
management plan was signed on June 11, 1990 and has been amended 34=20
times. The Wallowa-Whitman National Forest land management plan was=20
signed on April 23, 1990, and has been amended 43 times. Most forest=20
plan amendments are project-specific amendments and apply to that=20
project only. Some amendments incorporated new management direction for=20
specific management areas, such as wild and scenic rivers. Five=20
amendments were incorporated into all three forest plans by the=20
Regional Forester. These amendments included direction for managing=20
streams and riparian areas, old growth forests, and treatment of=20
invasive species. These amended plans will remain in effect until the=20
revision takes effect.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of this analysis must be received=20
by May 25, 2010. The agency expects to complete a proposed plan and=20
draft environmental impact statement by April 2011 and a final plan and=20
final environmental impact statement by March 2012.
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for meeting dates.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Wallowa-Whitman National Forest,=20
Attn: Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision Team, P.O. Box 907, Baker=20
City, Oregon 97814, or e-mail: blue_mtn_planrevision@fs.=
fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Countryman, Forest Plan Revision=20
Team leader, phone 541-523-1264 or Tim Gliddon, Planning Assistant,=20
phone 541-523-1269. Information on this revision is also available at=20
the Blue Mountain Forest Plan Revision Web site http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3D=
leavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.fs.fed.us/r6/uma/blu=
e_mtn_planrevision.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)=20
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339=20
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need
The existing forest plans are 20 years old. Economic, social, and=20
ecological conditions changed during that time; new laws, regulations=20
and policies are in place; and new information based on monitoring and=20
scientific research is available. The Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-
Whitman National Forests are revising their 1990 forest plans to meet=20
the legal requirements of the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of=20
1976; to address changed conditions and provide consistent management=20
direction (as appropriate) across the three national forests; to=20
incorporate changes in law, regulation, and policy; and to utilize new=20
scientific information. In particular, the interdisciplinary planning=20
team intends to address the following areas in the revised forest=20
plans:
1. To more adequately protect and restore terrestrial plant and=20
animal species and their habitats. Two objectives in the Strategic Plan=20
for the Forest Service are to ``provide ecological conditions to=20
sustain viable populations of native and desired nonnative species and=20
to achieve objectives for management indicator and focal species.'' The=20
Columbia Basin Strategy (2000) identifies key elements to be addressed=20
in planning efforts, such as source habitats, that are not addressed in=20
the 1990 forest plans. The structural arrangement of vegetation, both=20
vertical and horizontal, and the size and arrangement of trees,=20
grasses, and shrubs are important components of wildlife habitat. Many=20
changes to forest stand structure have occurred due to disturbances=20
such as fire, timber harvest, and insects and disease. There has been a=20
loss of large (20 inches DBH and greater) and medium (15 to 20 inches=20
DBH) trees across the landscape. Dry old single story forest has been=20
greatly reduced from pre-1900 levels. Some of the most significant=20
changes in forested structural stages have occurred in the dry forest=20
environment. All of these changes have led to reductions in habitat for=20
some species and increases for others. The 1990 forest plans need to be=20
updated to reflect current science relating to plant and animal species=20
and their habitats.
2. To address management of fuels and fire risk. Changing=20
vegetative conditions have made forests more susceptible to=20
disturbances, such uncharacteristically severe fires, insects and=20
disease. Several factors have contributed to the changes, including the=20
cumulative effects of a periodic and sometimes extended drought,=20
climate change, increasing vegetative density, shifts in forest species=20
composition, and modified landscape patterns. Forested areas on the=20
three national forests are dominated by dense, multi-layered conifer=20
stands with tree species that are not well suited for the area. The=20
1990 forest plan standards and guidelines do not adequately address the=20
multiple factors that have created the existing uncharacteristic=20
conditions nor do they adequately address the varied nature of the=20
landscape. Neither do they address the need for management strategies=20
that recognize the unique qualities of various landscapes. An=20
integrated strategy that recognizes multiple risk factors and addresses=20
variability in conditions and site potentials is needed.
3. To more adequately protect and restore watersheds and aquatic=20
habitats. The Columbia Basin Strategy (2000) emphasizes restoring the=20
processes responsible for creating and maintaining aquatic and riparian=20
habitats and restoring naturally functioning riparian ecosystems. It=20
also outlines specific components to be included in revised forest=20
plans. The 1990 forest plans include, by amendment, interim direction=20
(i.e., PACFISH, INFISH, and the Eastside Screens) for management of=20
threatened or endangered fish species. However, the 1990 plan language=20
was never changed to integrate this interim direction or resolve=20
conflicts between the existing plan language and the interim direction=20
language. The 1990 forest plans do not adequately provide integrated=20
management strategies for maintenance and restoration of properly=20
functioning watersheds that provide a range of benefits on and off the=20
national forests. These include, but are not limited to, providing=20
habitat for terrestrial, aquatic, and riparian-dependent species;=20
maintaining water quality; providing channel stability; reducing=20
erosion; moderating floods; and maintaining reliable stream flows for=20
downstream users.
4. To address climate change. The 1990 forest plans do not address=20
climate change. Climate change is expected to
[[Page 15405]]
affect plant species range and composition and alter competitive=20
relationships between plant species. Changes in the composition and=20
structure of plant communities will, in turn, alter the character and=20
distribution of wildlife habitats. Future conditions may be more=20
favorable to some undesired non-native plant and animal species. The=20
full extent of changes in response to climate change on natural=20
resources in the Blue Mountains is uncertain, but integrated management=20
direction is needed to maintain or increase the resilience of the=20
national forests in the face of these changes.
5. To recognize the interdependency of social and economic=20
components with national forest management. The relationship between=20
the national forests and the people who live, work, and play in them is=20
not adequately recognized in the 1990 forest plans. National forests=20
provide a variety of recreation opportunities, work opportunities, and=20
opportunities to exercise cultural and spiritual traditions. Local=20
communities provide infrastructure that contributes to the ability of=20
the national forests to restore and maintain ecological systems. In=20
eastern Oregon in particular, the tie between national forest=20
management and the social and economic well-being of local communities=20
is particularly important. With historically high unemployment rates=20
and many small communities poorly positioned to attract new industries=20
providing family-wage jobs, logging and wood processing jobs are=20
essential to maintaining and improving social and economic conditions.=20
In addition, many of the actions needed to improve forest structure,=20
reduce fuel loadings and conduct other restoration activities in=20
eastern Oregon are dependent on the workforce and infrastructure=20
associated with logging and wood processing.
Proposed Action
The Proposed Action is a revision of the land management plans for=20
the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests designed to=20
meet the purpose and need. It includes revised goals/desired=20
conditions, objectives, standards, guidelines, suitable uses and=20
activities, management area designations including special areas, and=20
monitoring items. The Proposed Action can be found at the Blue=20
Mountains Forest Plan Revision Web site: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3D=
leavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.fs.fed.us/r6/uma/blu=
e_mtn_planrevision/.
Public Participation
The Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests began=20
this forest plan revision process in 2003. Public participation began=20
in 2004 with community workshops. Workshops were held in Baker City,=20
Burns, Enterprise, Heppner, John Day, La Grande and Portland, Oregon,=20
and in Dayton and Pasco, Washington. Workshops were also held in 2005=20
and 2006. Three field trips, one on each forest, were conducted in=20
2005. Meetings with representatives of the counties where the forests=20
are located began in 2004 and are continuing. Government-to-government=20
consultation with Tribal nations and staff-to-staff consultation with=20
their resource specialists began early in the process and will=20
continue.
Public meetings are scheduled at the following dates and locations:
April 6, 2010--5 p.m. Federal Building, 431 Patterson, John Day,=20
Oregon.
April 7, 2010--5 p.m. Harney County Senior Center, 17 S. Alder,=20
Burns, Oregon.
April 13, 2010--5 p.m. Pendleton Convention Center, Rooms 3 & 4, =
1601 Westgate, Pendleton, Oregon.
April 14, 2010--5 p.m. St. Patrick Senior Center, 182 N. Main,=20
Heppner, Oregon.
April 15, 2010--5 p.m. Public Use Building, 1 N. Pine, Dayton,=20
Washington.
April 20, 2010--5 p.m. Sunridge Inn, One Sunridge Lane, Baker City,=20
Oregon.
April 21, 2010--5 p.m. Eastern Oregon University, One University=20
Blvd, Hoke Hall, Room 309, La Grande, Oregon.
April 22, 2010--5 p.m. Civic Center, 102 E. 1st St., Joseph,=20
Oregon.
April 28, 2010--5 p.m. Red Lion Hotel Portland Convention Center,=20
1021 NE. Grand Avenue, Portland, Oregon.
April 29, 2010--5 p.m. Franklin County Public Utility District=20
Auditorium, 1411 West Clark, Pasco, Washington.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Forest Service, USDA, is the lead agency. Cooperating agencies=20
are: The State of Oregon; Baker County, Grant County, Harney County,=20
Morrow County, Umatilla County, Wallowa County, and Wheeler County in=20
Oregon; and Asotin County, Columbia County, and Garfield County in=20
Washington. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation=20
is also a cooperating agency.
Name and Address of the Responsible Official
Mary Wagner, Regional Forester, Pacific Northwest Region, 333 SW.=20
1st Street, P.O. Box 3623, Portland, Oregon 97208.
Nature of the Decision To Be Made
The Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests are=20
preparing an EIS to revise the current forest plans. The EIS process is=20
meant to inform the Regional Forester so that she can decide which=20
alternative best meets the need to achieve quality land management to=20
meet the diverse needs of people while protecting the forests'=20
resources, as required by the National Forest Management Act and the=20
Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act.
The revised forest plans provide guidance for all resource=20
management activities on the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman=20
National Forests. Approval of the revised forest plans will result in=20
the following plan components to guide management for the next 10 to 15=20
years:
Goals/desired conditions;
Objectives;
Forest-wide standards and guidelines;
Management area desired conditions, standards, and=20
guidelines;
Suitability of lands for uses and activities;
Monitoring and evaluation requirements; and
Recommendations may be made for special areas, such as=20
Research Natural Areas, or areas that can only be designated by=20
statute, such as wilderness.
Goals/desired conditions provide a description of desired outcomes=20
of forest management. Objectives provide projections of measurable=20
outcomes intended to promote achievement of forest plan goals/desired=20
conditions. Forest-wide standards and guidelines provide management=20
direction and guidance that is applicable across each national forest.=20
Management Area desired conditions, standards, and guidelines provide=20
direction that applies to specific geographic areas within the three=20
national forests. Identification of characteristics of lands for=20
specific uses and activities provides integration between particular=20
uses and desired conditions and objectives for areas on the national=20
forest. Monitoring and evaluation indicates whether areas are trending=20
toward goals/desired conditions so that needed adjustments can be made=20
in the future. Special areas are places or areas within the National=20
Forest System designated because of their unique or special=20
characteristics. Some can be designated by the responsible official,=20
such as a botanical area. Others, such as wilderness or wild and scenic=20
river designations, are recommended for designation by the responsible=20
official, and are designated by Congressional action.
[[Page 15406]]
As important as the decisions to be made is the identification of=20
the types of decisions that will not be made within the revised forest=20
plan. The authorization of project-level activities on the forests is=20
not a decision made in the forest plan but occurs through subsequent=20
project specific decision-making. The designation of routes, trails,=20
and areas for motorized vehicle travel are not considered during plan=20
revision. Some issues (e.g., hunting regulations), although important,=20
are beyond the authority or control of the national forests and will=20
not be considered. In addition, some issues, such as wild and scenic=20
river suitability determinations, may not be undertaken at this time,=20
but addressed later as a future forest plan amendment. The Hells Canyon=20
National Recreation Area (HCNRA), administered by the Wallowa-Whitman=20
National Forest, is managed under the HCNRA Comprehensive Management=20
Plan, a part of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest land management=20
plan. The HCNRA Comprehensive Management Plan was revised in 2003 and=20
is not being considered for modification in this revision process.
Applicable Planning Rule
On December 18, 2009 the Department reinstated the previous=20
planning rule, commonly known as the 2000 planning rule in the Federal=20
Register (Federal Register, Volume 74, No. 242, Friday, December 18,=20
2009, pages 67059 through 67075). The transition provisions of the=20
reinstated rule (36 CFR 219.35 and appendices A and B) allow use of the=20
provisions of the National Forest System land and resource management=20
planning rule in effect prior to the effective date of the 2000 rule=20
(November 9, 2000), commonly called the 1982 planning rule, to amend or=20
revise plans. The Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National=20
Forests have elected to use the provisions of the 1982 planning rule=20
including the requirement to prepare an EIS, to complete plan=20
revisions. Although the 2008 planning rule is no longer in effect,=20
information gathered prior to the court's injunction is useful for=20
completing the plan revisions using the provisions of the 1982 planning=20
rule. The Blue Mountains Plan Revision Team has concluded that the=20
analyses begun or developed during the revision process to date are=20
appropriate for continued use in the revision process.
Roadless Area Management Direction
The proposed action includes management direction for all National=20
Forest System lands within the planning area, including lands=20
identified as inventoried roadless areas (IRAs) in the Final=20
Environmental Impact Statement for the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation=20
Rule (RACR). There is currently a legal dispute regarding the status of=20
the RACR, with one Federal Court (Wyoming District Federal Court, Judge=20
Brimmer) finding the rule to be in conflict with law and enjoining its=20
implementation and a different Federal Court (Northern California=20
District Federal Court, Judge Laporte) reinstating that rule and=20
prohibiting the Forest Service from taking any action that would have=20
been prohibited under the RACR. The Forest Service is hopeful that=20
current legal proceedings will resolve these conflicting court rulings.
The Proposed Action includes plan direction that retains the=20
undeveloped character of all three national forests by including=20
Management Areas that restrict road construction and timber harvest.=20
This is based on analysis of the resources and management situation=20
that the Forest Service has done in developing the Proposed Action and=20
on extensive public involvement.
Comments received in the scoping process will help the agency=20
determine the scope of issues related to roadless area management and=20
guide the development of alternatives and analysis of environmental=20
effects. The decision for the final plan will be consistent with the=20
legal status of the RACR at the time the plan is signed.
Description of the Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides=20
the development of the environmental impact statement. In scoping, the=20
agency, with the assistance of the public, determines the scope of the=20
issues to be addressed and identifies the significant issues related to=20
the proposed action (see 40 CFR 1501.7).
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 revised plan and the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided=20
prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate=20
the reviewers' concerns and contentions. The submission of timely and=20
specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to participate in=20
subsequent objection, administrative appeal or judicial review.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including the=20
names and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public=20
record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be=20
accepted and considered.
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1600-1614; 36 CFR 219.35 (74 FR 67073-
67074).
Dated: March 22, 2010.
Mary Wagner,
Regional Forester, Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2010-6748 Filed 3-26-10; 8:45 am]
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