[Federal Register: August 1, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 148)]
[Notices]
[Page 45272-45273]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01au03-95]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[OR-115-2824-DB; HAG 3-0167]
Notice of Availability of the Timbered Rock Fire Salvage and Elk
Creek Watershed Restoration Draft Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the Timbered Rock Fire Salvage and
Elk Creek Watershed Restoration Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS).
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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 202 of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, a DEIS has been prepared by the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), Medford District, to analyze possible salvage
opportunities resulting from the Timbered Rock Fire and proposed
restoration projects designed to move resource conditions closer to the
desired future conditions identified in the Northwest Forest Plan, Elk
Creek Watershed Analysis, and the South Cascades Late-Successional
Reserve Assessment. The subject lands were designated Late-Successional
Reserve in the Northwest Forest Plan. Restoration projects are designed
to accelerate establishment or protection of late-successional forest
conditions. The DEIS addresses whether to pursue salvage, levels of
snags and coarse wood debris to be retained, and restoration projects
on BLM-administered lands within and adjacent to the Late-Successional
Reserve and Elk Creek Watershed.
DATES: Written comments on the DEIS will be accepted for 60 days from
the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of
Availability of the DEIS in the Federal Register. Oral and/or written
comments may also be presented at public meetings/open houses. These
public meetings/open houses will be announced at least 15 days in
advance through public notices, media news releases, the Medford
District Web site, and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on the document should be addressed to
Timbered Rock EIS, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, Oregon, 97504; or e-mail
or110treis@or.blm.gov. Copies will be available at the Jackson and
Josephine County libraries, and on the Timbered Rock Fire Salvage and
Elk Creek Watershed Restoration Web site at http://www.or.blm.gov/Medford/TimbrockEIS/index.htm.
Copies of the DEIS will be mailed to
individuals, agencies, or companies who previously requested copies. A
limited number of copies of the document will be available at the
Medford District Office, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, Oregon, 97504. If
you wish to withhold your name or street address from public review or
from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state
this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such
requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions
from organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or
businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety.
Comment letters may be reprinted in the Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Williams at (541) 944-6620 or
John Bergin at (541) 840-9989.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS addresses alternatives for possible
salvage opportunities and proposed restoration projects designed to
move resource conditions closer to the desired future conditions
identified in the Northwest Forest Plan, Elk Creek Watershed Analysis,
and the South Cascades Late-Successional Reserve Assessment (LSRA). Two
types of salvage, area and roadside, are discussed in Alternatives C
through G. Alternatives A and B propose no salvage. Alternatives C
through G were designed using specific guidance relating to post-fire
salvage and/or Late-Successional Reserve guidelines. Research could be
incorporated within each of the salvage alternatives. Included in the
design of Alternative G is a study of the effects of various snag
retention levels on wildlife species. Roadside salvage is designed to
reduce existing or potential public safety concerns while recovering
economic value of these dead trees.
Four levels of restoration projects are proposed in the six action
alternatives: Focused, moderate, extensive, and focused within the fire
perimeter only. The restoration varies by the scope of the projects
(acres, miles of roads, etc.), intensity of the treatments, and
location of the treatments. Restoration projects are located both
within the Timbered Rock Fire perimeter and outside the fire area. Most
projects are located within the Elk Creek Watershed; however, a
proposed eagle nest project and some fuel management zone projects are
located on ridge tops within adjacent watersheds. Projects are based on
recommendations presented in the Late-Successional Reserve Assessment
and/or Elk Creek Watershed Analysis, or were developed to address
specific issues.
Projects proposed within the fire area focus on road projects to
reduce existing and potential sedimentation from the road network, fish
improvement projects, development of Fuel Management Zones, and
reducing future hazardous fuel conditions within existing Northern
Spotted Owl activity centers. Reforestation of the burned area was
assessed in the Emergency Stabilization/Rehabilitation Plan
Environmental Assessment. Alternatives A and E follow these
recommendations. Other approaches to reforestation are presented in
Alternatives B, C, D, F, and G. A reforestation study is included which
would evaluate a variety of planting densities, species, and follow-up
treatments in both salvage and unsalvaged areas. This reforestation
research could be incorporated into any alternative.
Alternative A (No Action, Continuation of current management)
follows the Emergency Stabilization/Rehabilitation Plan as planned for
the Timbered Rock Fire. No restoration projects are proposed, but
rehabilitation and stabilization projects proposed in the Timbered Rock
Fire Rehabilitation/Stabilization Project Environmental Assessment
would be implemented.
Emphasis of Alternative B (No Salvage and Focused Restoration
Emphasis) is placed on reducing non-commercial size vegetative
competition in over-stocked stands with density management treatments,
fuels reduction treatments, and pine habitat restoration. Areas
proposed for treatment are generally those in most need of reducing
competing vegetation. Within the fire perimeter, restoration would
focus on high priority road work. Restoration actions would focus on
non-commercial projects, designed to accelerate the growth of trees in
stands to promote late-successional conditions with a variety of size
classes. Species diversity would be maintained to promote connectivity
between owl activity sites and develop late-successional forest
characteristics.
[[Page 45273]]
In Alternative C (Salvage Following South Cascade Late-Successional
Reserve Assessment Guidelines and Moderate Restoration Emphasis), area
salvage emphasis is proposed in high and moderate burn severity areas
greater than 10 acres where the fire resulted in a stand-replacement
event. Alternative C salvage is based on guidelines from the Late-
Successional Reserve Assessment for snag and coarse woody debris
retention. Restoration projects include fish habitat improvement, Late-
Successional Reserve thinning, pine and oak woodlands restoration,
reforestation of stand-replacement areas greater than 5 acres, fuels
reduction along ridgelines, wildlife habitat enhancement projects, and
road improvement projects.
In Alternative D (Late-Successional Reserve Guidelines for Salvage
Using DecAID Wood Advisor Tool for Snags and Coarse Woody Debris (CWD)
and Moderate Restoration Emphasis), area salvage emphasis is proposed
in high and moderate burn severity areas greater than 10 acres where
the fire resulted in a stand-replacement event. Instead of following
LSRA salvage guidelines, snag and coarse woody debris retention levels
in this alternative are based on the DecAID Wood Advisor tool.
Restoration projects would be the same as Alternative C.
In Alternative E (High Level of Salvage and Extensive Restoration
Emphasis), area salvage emphasis is proposed in high, moderate, low and
very low burned severity areas. Snag retention levels within the high
and moderate burn severity areas would be 6-14 snags/acre. This is
based on study by Haggard and Gaines (2001) which found the highest
diversity in cavity nesting species and the highest number of nests
where snag densities ranged from 6-14 snags/acre. Snag retention within
the low and very low burn severity areas with canopy cover greater than
40 percent would be 4 snags/acre. The course woody debris level in this
alternative would be a minimum of 120 linear feet/acre. Extensive
restoration would increase the scope of the projects (acres, miles of
roads, etc.), intensity of the treatments, and location of the
treatments identified in Alternative C and D. Alternative E also
proposes seasonal closure of some roads.
In Alternative F (Salvage Logging and Post-fire rehabilitation
actions consistent with report on Recommendations for Ecologically
Sound Post-Fire Salvage Management and Other Post-Fire Treatments on
Federal Lands in the West (Beschta et al., 1995)), area salvage
emphasis is based on recommendations to avoid severely burned areas,
erosive sites, fragile soils, riparian areas, steep slopes, or sites
where accelerated erosion is possible. Existing snags and course woody
debris levels would be retained on all these areas. Salvage would occur
in 3-10 acre patches of fire-killed trees. Within each of these
patches, a minimum of 2 acres would be reserved from salvage. The
Beschta et al. report does not address actions outside of a burned
area. As a result, no Late-Successional Reserve restoration actions are
proposed. However, restoration projects within the fire perimeter,
consistent with Beschta et al. report are proposed.
In Alternative G (Preferred Alternative--Salvage Including Research
and Moderate Restoration Emphasis), area salvage emphasis is based on
research to study the effects of various snag levels on selected
wildlife species. Sixteen units were selected to be included in this
study. These units are generally 30 acres or greater and would be
salvaged at various levels. In addition, four control units would not
be salvaged. Stand replacement areas (high and moderate burn severity)
outside of research units greater than 10 acres would also be
considered for salvaging. Snag and course woody debris levels would
meet DecAid Wood Advisor recommendations, as well as, other local and
regional recommendations. A reforestation study is also included, which
would evaluate a variety of planting densities, species, and follow-up
treatments in both salvaged and unsalvaged areas. Restoration projects
would be the same as Alternatives C and D. Alternative G also proposes
seasonal closure of some roads.
It is not the intent of this project to change land use
allocations, nor Standard and Guidelines made through the Northwest
Forest Plan and later adopted through the Medford District Resource
Management Plan. The Preferred Alternative has been determined to be
consistent with the Northwest Forest Plan and Medford District Resource
Management Plan. However, if alternative E or F is selected as the
Preferred Alternative in the Final EIS, a plan amendment may be
required.
Mary Smelcer,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-19205 Filed 7-31-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P