Superior National Forest, Kawishiwi Ranger District; Minnesota; Hi Lo Project, 26772-26773 [2017-11980]
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26772
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 82, No. 110
Friday, June 9, 2017
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
The USDA, Forest Service,
will prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Hi Lo Project.
Proposed activities would manage forest
vegetation composition, structure, and
spatial patterns, as well as the
transportation system associated with
these activities.
Proposed vegetation activities include
creating young forest, improving stand
conditions through uneven age
management, and restoring stand
conditions through a variety of methods.
Treatments are proposed throughout the
project area, including within three
Forest Plan Inventoried Roadless Areas
(IRA) and two Roadless Area
Conservation Rule Areas (RACR). The
proposal would include a projectspecific Forest Plan Amendment for
prescribed burning within the Boundary
Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
(hereinafter Wilderness). The
Amendment would accommodate only
those acres identified in the Wilderness
necessary to fulfill the purpose and
need of the Hi Lo Project.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by July
10, 2017. The draft EIS is expected
September 2017 and the final EIS is
expected January 2018.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Douglas Smith, Kawishiwi District
Ranger, Hi Lo Project EIS, 1393 Hwy.
169, Ely, MN 55731. Comments may
also be sent via email to commentseastern-superior-kawishiwi@fs.fed.us or
via facsimile to (218) 365–7605.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:25 Jun 08, 2017
Jkt 241001
Linda Merriman, Hi Lo Project Leader,
1393 Hwy. 169, Ely, MN 55731,
telephone (218) 365–2095 or
lmerriman@fs.fed.us. Individuals who
use telecommunication devices for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
1–800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8
p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through
Friday. The initial and modified
proposed action documents can also be
found online: www.fs.usda.gov/project/
?project=47208.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Superior National Forest, Kawishiwi
Ranger District; Minnesota; Hi Lo
Project
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of the Hi Lo Project is to
move the area towards vegetation and
landscape ecosystem desired conditions
described in the 2004 Superior National
Forest Land and Resource Management
Plan. Specifically the project would
promote and maintain long-term
diverse, productive, healthy plant
communities and wildlife habitat;
improve conditions that minimize
undesirable effects of wildfire; provide
sustainable forest products; increase
recreation opportunities; and manage
the transportation system.
Proposed Action
The proposed action would move
existing vegetation conditions towards
long-term desired composition,
structure, and spatial patterns. Healthy
forested ecosystems are more resilient
and able to recover more quickly in the
event of a wildfire or an insect and
disease outbreak. Proposed vegetation
activities include creating young forest
on approximately 2,024 acres,
improving stand conditions with
harvest (uneven age) on 3,613 acres,
restoring stand conditions through
release (non-harvest), browse shearing,
timber stand improvement, and
prescribed burning.
To accomplish the purpose and need,
a landscape approach was used to
strategically determine where proposed
actions should take place. Treatments
are proposed throughout the project
area, including harvesting 1,362 acres
within Big Lake and Agassa Lake IRAs.
There is 172 acres of prescribed burning
proposed within the Hegman Lakes
RACR area and 2,589 acres of prescribed
burning proposed within the three IRAs
(Big Lake IRA, Agassa Lake IRA, and
North Arm Burntside Lake IRA). To
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Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
protect residences and summer camps
outside the Wilderness, and to reduce
risk to firefighters, prescribed burning is
proposed on 1,314 acres inside the
Wilderness.
The project also proposes to increase
recreation opportunities by creating new
trails, providing road access to other
ownerships, and promoting moose and
other wildlife habitat by improving
lowland sedge areas and oak-blueberry
sites.
The proposed action was modified
from that originally scoped in August
2016 to account for changed conditions
caused by a blowdown event. Further
information on the modified proposed
action is available at the HiLo Project
Web page: www.fs.usda.gov/project/
?project=47208.
Possible Alternatives
Possible alternatives include the noaction alternative, alternative 2
(modified from the proposed action
which initially went out for scoping in
August 2016), and alternative 3
(modifying, reducing or removing
treatment acres within certain areas,
such as Wilderness and roadless).
Administrative Objection
The Hi Lo Project is an activity
implementing a land management plan
and is not authorized under the Healthy
Forest Restoration Act; therefore, the Hi
Lo Project decision is subject to
objections following Forest Service
regulations at 36 CFR 218, Subparts A
and B. Since the Forest Plan
Amendment applies only to the Hi Lo
Project, it is subject to the same project
objection review process. Only
individuals or organizations who submit
timely and specific written comments,
as defined at 36 CFR 218.2, regarding
the proposed project are eligible to file
an objection to the Hi Lo Project.
In addition to serving as a scoping
opportunity, this time period will serve
as a designated opportunity for public
comment that may provide a commenter
with eligibility to object to the proposed
project under 36 CFR part 218.
Comments are most useful when they
are specific to the proposed actions and
if received within 30 days from the date
of publication in the Federal Register.
An additional public comment period
will be held once the Draft EIS is
complete and comments submitted
during that public comment period
E:\FR\FM\09JNN1.SGM
09JNN1
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 110 / Friday, June 9, 2017 / Notices
would also provide the commenter with
eligibility to object.
Responsible Official
Forest Supervisor, Superior National
Forest.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
An Environmental Impact Statement
for the Hi Lo Project will evaluate sitespecific issues, consider management
alternatives, and analyze potential
effects of the proposed action and
alternatives. This analysis will include
the project specific Forest Plan
Amendment needed to conduct
prescribed burning in the Wilderness.
The scope of the project is limited to
decisions concerning activities within
the Hi Lo Project Area that meet the
purpose and need. An Environmental
Impact Statement will provide the
responsible official with the information
needed to decide which actions, if any,
to approve.
Preliminary Issues
Issues identified during the original
scoping period (August 2016) included
prescribed burning in the Wilderness,
harvesting within Forest Plan IRAs,
blowdown, site-specific vegetation
management, and associated temporary
road construction.
Permits or Licenses Required
Easement or permission to cross
nonfederal property may be needed to
access some treatment units to
implement Forest Service activities.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides the
development of the Environmental
Impact Statement. This will be the
initial scoping to include a project-level
Forest Plan Amendment in the EIS. The
previously scoped proposed action
(August 2016) guided us to initiate an
EIS and Forest Plan Amendment.
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
such manner that they are useful to the
agency’s preparation of the
Environmental Impact Statement.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions.
Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
be part of the public record for this
proposed action. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, anonymous
comments will not provide the Agency
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:25 Jun 08, 2017
Jkt 241001
with the ability to provide the
respondent with subsequent
environmental documents.
Dated: May 26, 2017.
Glenn P. Casamassa,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
System.
[FR Doc. 2017–11980 Filed 6–8–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Bitterroot National Forest, Stevensville
Ranger District, Montana; Gold
Butterfly Project
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The USDA Forest Service,
Bitterroot National Forest will prepare
an environmental impact statement
(EIS) for the proposed Gold Butterfly
project under the authorities in the
Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA)
as amended by the Agricultural Act of
2014. The Gold Butterfly EIS will
analyze and disclose the effects of
treatments proposed on about 10,495
acres of national forest land in the
Sapphire Mountains between the
confluence of Gold Creek and Burnt
Fork of the Bitterroot River to the north
and Saint Clair Creek to the south. The
Gold Butterfly project area is bounded
on the west by the National Forest
boundary with private land and on the
east by the Stoney Mountain
Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA). The
Gold Butterfly project area is located
about 10 miles southeast of Stevensville
and seven miles east of Corvallis,
Montana, in Ravalli County.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by July
10, 2017. The draft environmental
impact statement is expected March
2018 and the final environmental
impact statement is expected July 2018.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Tami Sabol, Stevensville District
Ranger, 88 Main St., Stevensville, MT
59870. Comments may also be sent via
email to comments-northern-bitterrootstevensville@fs.fed.us or via facsimile to
406–777–7423.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara
Grove, South Zone Interdisciplinary
Team Leader, phone number 406–375–
2608 or email: sgrove@fs.fed.us or
Marilyn Wildey, Hydrology Technician,
phone number 406–363–7101 or email:
mwildey@fs.fed.us. Their mailing
address is: 1801 North 1st Street,
Hamilton, MT 59840–3114.
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4703
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26773
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Stevensville District Ranger proposes
forest management on approximately
10,495 acres in the Gold Butterfly
project area. The project is in the
Sapphire Mountains on the Bitterroot
National Forest (T.6N.R.18W. sec. 1–12,
16–20, 29, 30; T.6N.R.19W. sec. 1, 2,
10–15, 22–27; T.7N.R18W. sec. 2–
36,T.7; N.R.19W. sec. 1, 2, 11–14, 22–
27, 34–36; T.8N.R.18W. sec. 20, 21, 28–
34) about seven miles east of Corvallis,
Montana in Ravalli County.
Purpose and Need for Action
Most of the project area considered for
treatment is designated as part of the
insect and disease treatment program
(HFRA Title VI sec. 602). Forests in the
project area are at moderate to high
hazard for insects and diseases, such as
western spruce budworm, Douglas-fir
bark beetle, mountain pine beetle, and
dwarf mistletoe. Current forest
conditions provide opportunities to
regenerate forest stands, modify forest
structures to reduce insect and disease
hazard, and research management
strategies that perpetuate whitebark
pine. In addition to improving forest
resilience to disturbances, these
treatments would provide a sustainable
supply of timber and provide related
employment opportunities.
Terrain and road development in
parts of the project area have created
areas that contribute sediment to
adjacent streams. These road sections
typically end at a trailhead. Moving the
trailhead to locations further from the
streams and converting the roads to
walking trails would reduce sediment in
the streams and improve bull trout
habitat.
The purpose and need for the Gold
Butterfly project is to: (1) Improve
landscape resilience to disturbances
(such as insects, diseases, and fire) by
modifying forest structure and
composition, and fuels; (2) provide
timber products and related jobs; (3)
reduce erosion sources in Willow Creek
and Burnt Fork of the Bitterroot River
watersheds to improve water quality
and bull trout habitat; (4) restore or
improve key habitat areas such as,
meadows, aspen, and whitebark pine.
Proposed Action
Commercial timber harvest is
proposed on about 7,711 acres, and noncommercial thinning on about 2,784
acres. In addition, most treatment units
E:\FR\FM\09JNN1.SGM
09JNN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 110 (Friday, June 9, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26772-26773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11980]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 110 / Friday, June 9, 2017 /
Notices
[[Page 26772]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Superior National Forest, Kawishiwi Ranger District; Minnesota;
Hi Lo Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Hi Lo Project. Proposed activities would manage
forest vegetation composition, structure, and spatial patterns, as well
as the transportation system associated with these activities.
Proposed vegetation activities include creating young forest,
improving stand conditions through uneven age management, and restoring
stand conditions through a variety of methods. Treatments are proposed
throughout the project area, including within three Forest Plan
Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRA) and two Roadless Area Conservation
Rule Areas (RACR). The proposal would include a project-specific Forest
Plan Amendment for prescribed burning within the Boundary Waters Canoe
Area Wilderness (hereinafter Wilderness). The Amendment would
accommodate only those acres identified in the Wilderness necessary to
fulfill the purpose and need of the Hi Lo Project.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by July 10, 2017. The draft EIS is expected September 2017 and the
final EIS is expected January 2018.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Douglas Smith, Kawishiwi District
Ranger, Hi Lo Project EIS, 1393 Hwy. 169, Ely, MN 55731. Comments may
also be sent via email to comments-eastern-superior-kawishiwi@fs.fed.us
or via facsimile to (218) 365-7605.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Merriman, Hi Lo Project Leader,
1393 Hwy. 169, Ely, MN 55731, telephone (218) 365-2095 or
lmerriman@fs.fed.us. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through
Friday. The initial and modified proposed action documents can also be
found online: www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47208.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of the Hi Lo Project is to move the area towards
vegetation and landscape ecosystem desired conditions described in the
2004 Superior National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
Specifically the project would promote and maintain long-term diverse,
productive, healthy plant communities and wildlife habitat; improve
conditions that minimize undesirable effects of wildfire; provide
sustainable forest products; increase recreation opportunities; and
manage the transportation system.
Proposed Action
The proposed action would move existing vegetation conditions
towards long-term desired composition, structure, and spatial patterns.
Healthy forested ecosystems are more resilient and able to recover more
quickly in the event of a wildfire or an insect and disease outbreak.
Proposed vegetation activities include creating young forest on
approximately 2,024 acres, improving stand conditions with harvest
(uneven age) on 3,613 acres, restoring stand conditions through release
(non-harvest), browse shearing, timber stand improvement, and
prescribed burning.
To accomplish the purpose and need, a landscape approach was used
to strategically determine where proposed actions should take place.
Treatments are proposed throughout the project area, including
harvesting 1,362 acres within Big Lake and Agassa Lake IRAs. There is
172 acres of prescribed burning proposed within the Hegman Lakes RACR
area and 2,589 acres of prescribed burning proposed within the three
IRAs (Big Lake IRA, Agassa Lake IRA, and North Arm Burntside Lake IRA).
To protect residences and summer camps outside the Wilderness, and to
reduce risk to firefighters, prescribed burning is proposed on 1,314
acres inside the Wilderness.
The project also proposes to increase recreation opportunities by
creating new trails, providing road access to other ownerships, and
promoting moose and other wildlife habitat by improving lowland sedge
areas and oak-blueberry sites.
The proposed action was modified from that originally scoped in
August 2016 to account for changed conditions caused by a blowdown
event. Further information on the modified proposed action is available
at the HiLo Project Web page: www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47208.
Possible Alternatives
Possible alternatives include the no-action alternative,
alternative 2 (modified from the proposed action which initially went
out for scoping in August 2016), and alternative 3 (modifying, reducing
or removing treatment acres within certain areas, such as Wilderness
and roadless).
Administrative Objection
The Hi Lo Project is an activity implementing a land management
plan and is not authorized under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act;
therefore, the Hi Lo Project decision is subject to objections
following Forest Service regulations at 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B.
Since the Forest Plan Amendment applies only to the Hi Lo Project, it
is subject to the same project objection review process. Only
individuals or organizations who submit timely and specific written
comments, as defined at 36 CFR 218.2, regarding the proposed project
are eligible to file an objection to the Hi Lo Project.
In addition to serving as a scoping opportunity, this time period
will serve as a designated opportunity for public comment that may
provide a commenter with eligibility to object to the proposed project
under 36 CFR part 218. Comments are most useful when they are specific
to the proposed actions and if received within 30 days from the date of
publication in the Federal Register. An additional public comment
period will be held once the Draft EIS is complete and comments
submitted during that public comment period
[[Page 26773]]
would also provide the commenter with eligibility to object.
Responsible Official
Forest Supervisor, Superior National Forest.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
An Environmental Impact Statement for the Hi Lo Project will
evaluate site-specific issues, consider management alternatives, and
analyze potential effects of the proposed action and alternatives. This
analysis will include the project specific Forest Plan Amendment needed
to conduct prescribed burning in the Wilderness. The scope of the
project is limited to decisions concerning activities within the Hi Lo
Project Area that meet the purpose and need. An Environmental Impact
Statement will provide the responsible official with the information
needed to decide which actions, if any, to approve.
Preliminary Issues
Issues identified during the original scoping period (August 2016)
included prescribed burning in the Wilderness, harvesting within Forest
Plan IRAs, blowdown, site-specific vegetation management, and
associated temporary road construction.
Permits or Licenses Required
Easement or permission to cross nonfederal property may be needed
to access some treatment units to implement Forest Service activities.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the Environmental Impact Statement. This will be the
initial scoping to include a project-level Forest Plan Amendment in the
EIS. The previously scoped proposed action (August 2016) guided us to
initiate an EIS and Forest Plan Amendment.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of
the Environmental Impact Statement. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide
the Agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent
environmental documents.
Dated: May 26, 2017.
Glenn P. Casamassa,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2017-11980 Filed 6-8-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P