[Federal Register: January 12, 2010 (Volume 75, Number = 7)] [Notices] =20 [Page 1587-1588] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr12ja10-33] =20 [[Page 1587]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service =20 Medford-Park Falls Ranger District, Chequamegon-Nicolet National=20 Forest, Park Falls Hardwoods Project AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest,=20 Medford-Park Falls Ranger District intends to prepare an Environmental=20 Impact Statement (EIS) to document the analysis and disclose the=20 environmental effects of proposed land management activities, and=20 corresponding alternatives within the Park Falls Hardwoods project=20 area. The primary purpose of this proposal is to implement activities=20 consistent with direction in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests=20 Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) and respond to specific=20 needs identified in the project area. The project area is located on=20 the Park Falls unit of the Medford-Park Falls Ranger District,=20 Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, approximately 13-15 miles=20 northeast of Phillips, Wisconsin. The legal description for the area=20 is: Portions of the eastern Sections of Township 37 North, Range 3=20 East; Township 38 North, Range 3 East; and Township 39 North, Range 3=20 East; Fourth Principal Meridian. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received=20 within 30 days of publication of this notice to receive timely=20 consideration in preparation of the draft Environmental Impact=20 Statement (EIS). The draft EIS is expected May 2010 and the final EIS=20 is expected November 2010. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to District Ranger Bob Heimes, c/o=20 Jane Darnell, Medford-Park Falls Ranger District, 850 N. 8th St.,=20 Medford, Wisconsin 54451. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to=20 jdarnell01@fs.fed.us with a = subject line that reads ``Park Falls=20 Hardwoods Project'', or via facsimile to 715-748-5675. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Darnell, NEPA Coordinator,=20 Medford-Park Falls Ranger District, Chequamegon-Nicolet National=20 Forest, USDA Forest Service; telephone: 715-748-4875 (individuals who=20 use telecommunication devices for the deaf, TDD, may call the Federal=20 Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8=20 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday). For a mailing address, see=20 above under ADDRESSES. Copies of documents may be requested at the same=20 address. Another means of obtaining information is to visit the Forest=20 Web page at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3Dlea= vingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.fs.fed.us/r9/cnnf/natre= s/index.html. Click on=20 ``Park Falls Hardwoods Project'' under the ``Current Proposed Actions''=20 heading. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information presented in this notice is=20 included to help the reviewer determine if they are interested in or=20 potentially affected by this proposed project. The information=20 presented in this notice is summarized. Those who wish to comment on=20 this proposal or are otherwise interested in or potentially affected by=20 it are encouraged to review more detailed documents such as the=20 Proposed Action for the Park Falls Hardwoods project and the draft EIS=20 as these documents become available. See the preceding section of this=20 notice for contact information. Purpose and Need for Action The Park Falls Hardwoods project primarily falls within the area=20 defined in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests 2004 Land and=20 Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) as Management Area (MA) 2B. MA=20 2B is described in the Forest Plan as having a desired condition as an=20 uneven-aged, northern hardwood, interior forest. Guidance in the Forest=20 Plan identifies this area to be managed for relatively continuous mid=20 to late successional northern hardwood and northern hardwood-hemlock=20 forest communities where large patch conditions and a relatively=20 continuous canopy is maintained or recreated. The primary purpose of=20 the Park Falls Hardwoods proposal is to implement activities consistent=20 with direction in the Forest Plan and to respond to specific needs=20 identified in the project area. Through an analysis of the existing=20 conditions within the project area compared to the desired conditions=20 as documented in the Forest Plan, six needs for action have been=20 identified (A-F): A. Need to Maintain and Improve Forest Health (Forest Plan Goal=20 1.4): Nine needs have been identified related to forest health. There is a need to understand the processes controlling forest- atmosphere exchange of carbon dioxide and the response of these=20 processes to climate change. Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an introduced insect that has the=20 potential to devastate all native ash species similar to what occurred=20 to the American chestnut and American elm. There is a need to identify=20 site-specific strategies to control or minimize impacts to ash and the=20 forest ecosystem from EAB. There is a need to re-establish healthy, vigorous forest in areas=20 impacted by disease and wind damage. There is a need to restore and expand Canada yew populations within=20 the project area. Most of the mid to late successional upland forest within the=20 project area is well over the stocking levels prescribed in the Forest=20 Plan to maintain forest health and productivity. There is a need to=20 treat these areas to promote forest health and vigor. There is a need to reduce the amount of early successional species=20 (primarily aspen) within the project area. For MA 2B, Chapter 3 of the=20 Forest Plan has a desired condition for aspen of a maximum of 10% of=20 the upland forest. The existing condition is that aspen comprises about=20 25% of the upland forest type. The majority of the hardwood forest within the project area was=20 established 70 to 80 years ago and is comprised of trees that are all=20 about the same age. In MA 2B, the Forest Plan describes the desired=20 condition for the area as mid to late successional uneven-aged northern=20 hardwood forests. There is a need to increase the amount of uneven-aged=20 hardwood forest within the project area. Much of the hardwood forest within the project area is connected in=20 large blocks. There are some instances, particularly in the southern=20 portion of the project area, where treatment of early successional=20 forest to convert it to later successional species, will increase the=20 potential and meet the need for larger patches of the desired forest=20 type (hardwoods, spruce, pine, hemlock, oak). As described earlier, the 2B management prescription calls for=20 upland forest of primarily mid to late successional species. While=20 there is an overabundance of early successional species in the project=20 area, the early successional species that are present are also=20 overabundant in the older age groups, with limited representation in=20 the youngest age groups (0-10 years of age). B. Need to Maintain and Improve Threatened, Endangered, and=20 Sensitive Species Habitats (Forest Plan Goal 1.1): Based on monitoring,=20 the habitat for spruce grouse (a sensitive species) as identified by=20 the Forest Plan is near the minimum threshold identified for this=20 species forest-wide. There is a need to increase the amount of habitat=20 for this species where feasible. The project area contains some habitat=20 for spruce grouse which could be improved and expanded. [[Page 1588]] C. Need to Maintain and Improve Coldwater Fisheries (Forest Plan=20 Goal 1.5): There is a need to reduce the amount of aspen adjacent to=20 streams within the project area, particularly cold water streams.=20 Beaver activity (primarily feeding or utilization of aspen close to=20 these streams) results in lack of shade trees adjacent to the stream=20 and potentially leads to increases in water temperature, making it=20 unsuitable for cold water species. D. Need to Maintain or Enhance the Quality of the Recreation=20 Experience (Forest Plan Goal 2.1): The Fould's Creek spring ponds have=20 long been utilized as a recreational fishery. Also, there are currently=20 no designated non-motorized trails within the project area. Some of the=20 project area is designated for non-motorized public access, so public=20 access is limited to foot travel. There is a need to provide adequate=20 foot travel access within the project area which would improve the=20 quality of the recreational experience. E. Need for Supplying Wood Products (Forest Plan Goal 2.5): The=20 harvest activities being proposed to meet the needs for action would=20 result in the availability of wood products, including pulpwood,=20 sawtimber, and biomass products. Environmentally sound harvest through=20 commercial timber sales would meet this need. F. Need to Develop and Maintain Capital Infrastructure (Forest Plan=20 Goal 3.1 Transportation Systems): Based on a roads analysis, there is a=20 need to provide an adequate, safe, and efficient transportation system=20 in the project area. More specifically, total road densities are=20 slightly above the desired road density in portions of the project=20 area, some roads are in areas susceptible to resource damage, other=20 roads are located in areas where there are no foreseeable access needs,=20 and some areas lack access. Proposed Action The proposed land management activities (proposed actions) to meet=20 the needs of the area include the following: A. The following tree harvest activities address the needs to=20 maintain or improve forest health in the project area: (1) Selection=20 harvest on about 14,500 acres; (2) Improvement harvest on about 1,400=20 acres; (3) Thinning harvest on about 150 acres; (4) Shelterwood harvest=20 on about 380 acres; (5) Overstory removal harvest on about 160 acres;=20 and (6) Clearcut harvest on about 450 acres. Selection, thinning, and=20 improvement harvest are types of harvest activities that remove only a=20 portion of the existing trees to encourage regeneration of an=20 understory, to encourage age-class development, or to encourage growth,=20 health and vigor in the remaining trees. Other proposed projects=20 related to forest health include restoration of about 2 acres of Canada=20 yew by supplemental planting and fencing and restoration of desired=20 tree species (conifer and oak for example) through supplemental=20 planting within a portion of the proposed harvest areas. B. The following project addresses the need to maintain or improve=20 Regional Forester Sensitive Species habitat (spruce grouse habitat):=20 Supplemental planting and retention of spruce on about 50 acres. C. The following project addresses the need to maintain or improve=20 coldwater fisheries: Retention of shade trees and discouragement of=20 aspen adjacent to 12 miles of coldwater streams. D. The following project addresses the need to provide and enhance=20 recreation opportunities: Designation of about 6 miles of walking=20 trails. E. The following project addresses the need for supplying wood=20 products: Proposed harvest activities will be conducted through=20 commercial timber sales with an estimated 91 million board feet of=20 pulpwood and sawtimber products, and potentially 14,000 dry tons of=20 tree top material which could be utilized for biomass. F. The following projects address transportation needs for timber=20 harvest and for providing a safe and efficient transportation system to=20 meet administrative and public access needs: (1) New permanent road=20 construction of about 12 miles; (2) New temporary road construction of=20 about 1 mile; (3) Road reconstruction of about 43 miles; and (4) Road=20 decommissioning of about 29 miles. In addition, the proposal includes=20 designation of about 16 miles of road that would be open to public=20 highway vehicle use and another 14 miles that would also be open to OHV=20 (off highway vehicle) use. Possible Alternatives Alternatives to the proposed action that are currently being=20 considered for display in the draft EIS are as follows: The required No=20 Action alternative. Other alternatives will be developed as the=20 analysis progresses. Responsible Official Bob Heimes, Medford-Park Falls District Ranger, Chequamegon-Nicolet=20 National Forest. Nature of Decision To Be Made The primary decision will be whether or not to implement the=20 proposed projects or alternatives of the projects within the project=20 area that respond to the purpose and need. The decision will also=20 include resource protection measures as identified in the applicable=20 Forest Plan standards and guidelines. The decision may also include=20 monitoring requirements and whether Forest Plan amendments are needed=20 to implement the decision. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides=20 the development of the environmental impact statement. Comments in=20 response to this solicitation for information should focus on (1) the=20 proposal; (2) issues or impacts from the proposal; and (3) possible=20 alternatives for addressing issues associated with the proposal. We are=20 especially interested in information that might identify a specific=20 undesired result of implementing the proposed actions. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times=20 and in such maimer 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. 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. Dated: January 4, 2010. Jeanne M. Higgins, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2010-214 Filed 1-11-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M