[Federal Register: April 1, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 62)] [Notices] =20 [Page 16422-16423] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr01ap10-32] =20 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service =20 Plumas National Forest, California, Keddie Ridge Hazardous Fuels=20 Reduction Project AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, Plumas National Forest, Mt. Hough=20 Ranger District will prepare and environmental impact statement (EIS)=20 on the Keddie Ridge Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project proposal to=20 modify fire behavior, improve forest and watershed health, protect and=20 enhance habitat for Region 5 Forest Service sensitive plant and=20 wildlife species (clustered lady's slipper, Constance's rock cress, and=20 bald eagle), and reduce the spread and introduction of noxious weeds=20 through: fuels treatments, group selections, road improvements, and=20 herbicide and mechanical applications in the Indian Valley area. DATES: Scoping comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be=20 received within 14 days from date of publication in the Federal=20 Register. The draft environmental impact statement is expected=20 September 2010 and the final environmental impact statement is expected=20 February 2011. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Katherine Carpenter,=20 Interdisciplinary Team Leader, Mt. Hough Ranger District, 39696 Highway=20 70, Quincy, CA 95971. Comments may be: (1) Mailed; (2) hand delivered=20 between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays Pacific Time; (3)=20 faxed to (530) 283-1821; or (4) electronically mailed to: comments- pacificsouthwest-plumas-rnthough(dfs.fed.us. Please indicate the name=20 ``Keddie Ridge Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project'' on the subject line=20 of your email. Comments submitted electronically must be in Rich Text=20 Format (.rtf), plain text format (.txt.) or Word (.doc). It is=20 important that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in=20 such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of the ETS.=20 Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of the=20 comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's concerns=20 and contentions. Comments received in response to this solicitation,=20 including names and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the=20 public record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously=20 will be accepted and considered, however. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Carpenter, Interdisciplinary=20 Team Leader, Mt. Hough Ranger District, 39696 Highway 70, Quincy, CA=20 95971. Telephone: (530) 283-7619 or electronic address:=20 kacarpenter@fs.fed.us. 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: The proposed action is designed to meet the=20 standards and guidelines for land management activities described in=20 the Plumas National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (PNF LRMP)=20 (USDA 1988) as amended by Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group (HFQLG)=20 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) and Record of=20 Decision (ROD) (USDA 1 999a, 1 999b, 2003b, 2003c), and the Sierra=20 Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (SNFPA) FSEIS and ROD (USDA 2004a, 2004b).=20 This project is being planned under authorization of the Healthy Forest=20 Restoration Act (H.R. 1904; Pub. L. 108-148; 36 CFR 218--Predecisional=20 Administrative Review Process). The proposed project is located in Plumas County, California,=20 within the Mt. Hough Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest. The=20 proposed project is located west of Canyon Dam, east of Eisenheimer=20 Peak, south of Keddie Peak, and north of the Greenville Wye. The Keddie=20 Ridge Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project boundary encompasses all or=20 portions of T. 25 N., R. 9 E., sec. 1-4, 8-11; T. 25 N., R. 10 F., sec.=20 1-6, 8-16, 22-24; T. 25 N., R. [[Page 16423]] 11 E., sec. 5-9, 17-19; T. 26 N., R. 8 E., sec. 1, 2, 12; T.26 N., R. 9=20 F., sec. 1-17, 2029, 32-36, T. 26 N., R. 10 E., sec. 1-36; T. 26 N., R.=20 11 E., sec. 2-10, 15-21, 29-32; T. 27 N., R. 8 E., sec. 1, 12-15, 22- 27, 34-36; T. 27N., R 9 E., sec. 9-11, 13-36; T. 27N., R. 10 E., sec.=20 2-5, 8-11, 14-36; T. 27 N., R. 11 F., sec. 27, 28, 31-34; T. 28 N., R.=20 10 F., 33-35, MDBM. Purpose and Need for Action This project is proposed to modify fire behavior, improve forest=20 and watershed health, protect and enhance habitat for Region 5 Forest=20 Service sensitive plant and wildlife species, and reduce noxious weed=20 infestations in the project area. Fire behavior needs to be modified in=20 specific stands in order to reduce high fuel loading and resulting=20 increased risks to people, structures, and resources. Forest health=20 needs to be improved because current high stand densities in the Keddie=20 area are leading to mortality from drought, insects and fire. Region 5=20 Forest Service sensitive plant and wildlife species (clustered lady's- slipper orchid, Constance's rock cress, and bald eagle) habitat needs=20 enhancement and protection from the risk of high severity, stand- replacing wildfire due to dense stands and high fuel loads. The=20 location and number of poorly maintained roads in the project area are=20 currently contributing to poor watershed health, and should be reduced.=20 Noxious weeds, including Canada thistle, Scotch broom, medusa head,=20 yellow star thistle, and hoary cress need to be controlled in order to=20 lessen risk of weed introduction, establishment, and spread to adjacent=20 areas. Proposed Action The USDA Forest Service, Plumas National Forest, Mt. Hough Ranger=20 District will prepare and environmental impact statement (EIS) for the=20 Keddie Ridge Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project. The proposed action=20 would construct 5,456 acres of fuelbreaks known as Defensible Fuel=20 Profile Zones (DFPZs). DFPZs would be constructed using a combination=20 of mechanical harvest, mastication, hand thin, pile, and burn, and=20 prescribed underburn. The proposed action would also include 741 acres=20 of mechanized thinning (area thinning) outside of DFPZs. Group=20 selection is proposed in mechanical thinning units within DFPZs and=20 area thinning units (330 acres) using mechanical equipment. Group=20 selection involves harvest of trees less than 30 inches in diameter in=20 small (0.5 to 2 acres) patches. Hand thinning, piling, chipping and/or=20 burning of conifers (3-10 inches dbh) is proposed within approximately=20 45 acres of the primary nesting zone of the Round Valley bald eagle=20 territory. Hand thinning to a spacing of 20 feet, piling, and burning=20 of saplings and small diameter trees (8 inches or less dbh), is=20 proposed within the fourteen clustered lady's slipper sites and=20 approximately 72 acres of Constance's rock cress. Manipulation of surface fuels within clustered lady's slipper=20 occurrences would also occur. If consistent with the Plumas National=20 Forest Travel Management decision, improperly constructed or=20 unmaintained roads that are causing resource damage would be=20 decommissioned or closed by various methods, such as ripping and=20 seeding, recontouring, or installing barriers. For more information=20 about the travel management process, visit the Plumas National Forest=20 Web site at: http://frwebgat= e.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlink= log&to=3Dhttp://bit.ly/bTJZER. Treatments proposed to contain = and=20 control the known weed infestations within the project area include the=20 following or a combination thereof: herbicide applications of=20 chlorsulfuron, aminopyralid, or glyphosate; hand-pulling; late spring=20 underburning and direct flaming with a back-pack propane torch; and=20 revegetation in selected areas using native seed. A decision is expected in April 2011 and implementation may begin=20 as early as summer of 2011. Possible Alternatives In addition to the proposed action, a no action alternative will be=20 analyzed. Additional alternatives may be developed and analyzed during=20 the environmental analysis process. Responsible Official The Plumas National Forest Supervisor is the Responsible Official. Nature of Decision To Be Made The decision to be made is whether to: (1) Implement the proposed=20 action; (2) meet the purpose and need for action through some other=20 combination of activities; or, (3) take no action at this time. Permits or Licenses Required An Air Pollution Permit, Smoke Management Plan, and California=20 Water Quality Board timber harvest waiver for waste discharge are=20 required by local agencies. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides=20 the development of the environmental impact statement, The Keddie Ridge=20 Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project will initiate and request comments=20 at: An open house in Greenville, CA in June 2010, an official 45 day=20 comment period once a Notice of Availability is published in the=20 Federal Register, a 30 day objection period, and an objection=20 resolution period. 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: March 25, 2010. Maria T. Garcia, Deputy Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2010-7162 Filed 3-31-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M