[Federal Register: December 6, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 235)]
[Notices]
[Page 72637-72638]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de02-29]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Frenchtown Face Ecosystem Restoration Project; Ninemile Range
District, Lolo National Forest, Missoula County, MT
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) to disclose the effects of timber harvest, prescribed
burning, road management changes, weed spraying, and stream channel
restoration in a 44,000 acre project area approximately 25 miles
northwest of Missoula, Montana.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received
in writing no later than 30 days following publication of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Deborah L. R. Austin, Forest
Supervisor, Lolo National Forest, Building 24, Fort Missoula, Missoula,
MT 59804.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Riggers, EIS Team Leader,
Building 24, Fort Missoula, Montana 59804, (406) 329-3793, or e-mail
briggers@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Lolo National Forest proposes to harvest
trees on approximately 4,300 acres of low elevation benchlands within
the project area. Most of these acres would be underburned following
harvest, and an additional 6,500 acres of prescribed burning to reduce
fuel levels would occur in areas not harvested (a total of about 10,400
acres of burning overall). Approximately 79 miles of road management
changes are proposed. Most (48 miles) of these involve removing
drainage structures and restoring vegetation on previously closed
roads, but approximately 31 additional mile of low use or grown in
roads would also be formally closed. Finally, weeds would be treated
within about 6,000 acres where they currently occur. Approximately
1,200 acres would be aerially sprayed.
Lands affected are within the Mill, Roman, Houle, Sixmile, and
lower Ninemile Creek (including Butler, Kennedy, and McCormick Creeks)
watersheds. The project area is bounded by the Clark Fork River and
Ninemile Creek to the southwest, and the Ninemile/Flathead Reservation
divide to the northeast.
The purpose of the proposal is to carry out the goals and direction
stated in the Lolo National Forest Plan using ecosystem management
principles. The objectives are to:
(1) Reduce the potential for high severity fires within the low
elevation ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir forests, while also improving
fire protection on private property with all ownerships.
(2) Maintain/improve forest health and reduce the risk of damage
from insects and disease while maintaining a natural appearing
landscape.
(3) Reduce the expansion of new or less extensive weed species, and
control exsisting weeds, under a comprehensive block planning effort.
(4) Reduce roads while maintaining reasonable access for
recreation, but limiting further recreational development.
(5) Maintain/improve water quality and fish habitat throughout the
landscape.
(6) Maintain/improve wildlife security and habitat.
(7) Protect and interpret historic sites.
Public involvement was conducted in 2002 through public meetings,
letters,
[[Page 72638]]
and phone conversations. Values and desires that people have for the
management of this landscape were identified. these were used to
collaboratively develop purpose and need statements, which this
proposed action is based upon. Issues and comments identified during
this earlier scoping that were not specific components of the proposed
action will be carried forward and addressed through alternative
development. During this process the Forest Service is seeking written
comment, particularly addressing possible issues or alternatives. A
scoping document has been prepared and mailed to parties known to be
interested in the proposed action.
The effects of the proposed action on vegetation, fire, wildlife,
fisheries, recreation, historic interpretation, and the scenic
character of the landscape have been identified as preliminary key
issues. These issues will be used to develop a range of alternatives
(including a no action alternative where none of the activities in the
proposed action would be implemented) and assess environmental
consequences.
Public participation is an important part of the development and
analysis of this project. In addition to the initial collaboration, the
public may visit Forest Service officials at any time during the
analysis and prior to the decision. The Forest Service will be seeking
information, comments, and assistance from Federal, State, and local
agencies and other individuals or organizations that may be interested
in, or affected by, the proposed action. There will be additional
public meetings throughout this process. If you are interested in
obtaining dates or information on these, please contact Brian Riggers
at the location listed above.
The Federal Forest Service is the lead agency for preparing this
EIS. They will consult with the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service. The responsible official who will make the decision is Deborah
L. R. Austin, Forest Supervisor. She will make a decision between
alternatives after considering comments, responses, environmental
consequences, applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The decision
and rational will be documented in a Record of Decision.
The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and available for public review in April 2003.
At that time, the EPA will publish a Notice of Availability of the
Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The comment period on the Draft EIS
will be 45 days from the date of the EPA's notice of availability. It
is very important that those interested in management of the Frenchtown
Face project area participate at that time. Completion of the final EIS
is scheduled for July 2003.
The Forest Service believes it is important at this early stage to
give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
DEIS stage but that are not raised until after completion of the FEIS
(Final Environmental Impact Statement) may be waived or dismissed by
the courts. Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334,
1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, it is very
important that those interested in this proposed action participate by
the close of the 45-day comment period so that substantive comments and
objections are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it
can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the FEIS.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the DEIS should be as
specific as possible. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in
addressing these points.
Dated: November 15, 2002.
Deborah L.R. Austin,
Forest Supervisor, Lolo National Forest.
[FR Doc. 02-30879 Filed 12-5-02; 8:45 am]
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