Shasta-Trinity National Forest; California; Browns Project, 7077-7078 [05-2606]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 27 / Thursday, February 10, 2005 / Notices
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. Comments submitted
during the December 2004 scoping
period will be used in the
environmental analysis process. Those
who submitted comments at that time
do not need to comment again, unless
they have new comments they would
like to provide. The public is
encouraged to take part in the process
and is encouraged to visit with 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 vegetation management
activities.
Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
A draft environmental impact
statement will be prepared for comment.
The comment period on the draft
environmental impact statement will be
forty-five days from the date the
Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in
the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this
early stage, it is important 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 draft environmental impact
statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final
environmental impact statement may be
waived or dismissed by the courts. City
of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016,
1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and 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
forty-five 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 final environmental impact
statement.
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:20 Feb 09, 2005
Jkt 205001
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns on the proposed action,
comments on the draft environmental
impact statement should be as specific
as possible. It is also helpful if
comments refer to specific pages or
chapters of the draft statement.
Comments may also address the
adequacy of the draft environmental
impact statement or the merits of the
alternatives formulated and discussed in
the statement. 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.
Comments received, including the
names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the
public record on this proposal and will
be available for public inspection.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 21
Dated: February 3, 2005.
Terri Simon-Jackson,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 05–2607 Filed 2–9–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Shasta-Trinity National Forest;
California; Browns Project
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS).
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Browns Project is being
proposed by the Shasta-Trinity National
Forest to improve fuel condition
through commercial timber harvest and
closing of some unneeded roads. The
purpose for the project is to decrease
fire hazards in an area adjacent to the
community of Weaverville. The project
area located within T34N, R10W,
sections 27, 34, and 36; T33N, R10W,
section 1; T34N R9W, sections 16, 20–
22, and 27–34; T33N, R9W, section 6,
M.D.M. approximately 2 miles north of
the community of Weaverville,
California
SUMMARY:
Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received no later
than 30 days after the publication of this
notice in the Federal Register The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected in April, 2005, and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected in July, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Sam Frink, Planning Team Leader, c/o
DATES:
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
7077
USFS, P.O. Box 1190, Weaverville, CA
96093. For further information, mail
correspondence to Sam Frink, Planning
Team Leader, c/o USFS, PO Box 1190,
Weaverville, CA 96093.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill
Branham, Planning Officer, phone 530–
623–1750.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
Thinning will reduce overcrowded
conditions in forest areas where too
many trees currently exist. Reducing
density will improve the health of these
forest areas by making more water,
nutrients and sunlight available for use
by the remaining trees (conifers and
hardwoods). This will improve the
health of the forest and improve tree
resistence to insects, pathogens and
drought. Too many small trees in the
understory can act as a fuel ladder and
carry fire into the canopy layer of the
forest resulting in the death of a large
number of trees. Small trees act as a fuel
ladder because their crowns are closer
to the ground and allow flames to move
into the canopy. Removing small trees
raises the crown base height and
reduces the likelihood of flames
reaching the canopy layer.
The removal of groups of trees and replanting with tree seedlings is being
proposed to increase the amount of
younger forests to improve the diversity
of age classes. The harvest and sale of
wood products will provide wood
products to society and offset the cost of
treatment.
Proposed Action
The project will include the following
treatments:
—Timber harvest treatments will
include thinning harvest on about 760
acres, group selection harvest (2 acre
groups of trees) and re-planting with
tree seedlings on about 40 acres. The
volume of timber harvested will
amount to about 9.0 million board
feet. Within the thinning harvest areas
we intend to remove the poorer
growing, smaller trees. The healthiest,
better growing, generally larger trees
will be retained. Thinning areas will
have a crown closure of about 40%
after the harvest is completed, except
within riparian reserve areas, where
crown closure will be about 60%.
After the harvest treatments,
accumulations of excess down wood
and slash will be either underburned
or piled and burned.
—The project includes about 5 miles of
road construction and about 3 miles
of road reconstruction. About 4 miles
of temporary roads constructed to
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
7078
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 27 / Thursday, February 10, 2005 / Notices
access the harvest areas will
subsequently be closed.
Implementation of the proposed
project is planned during the calendar
years 2005–1010, and may involve
multiple timber sale and service
contracts. No permits or special
authorizations will be required.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service.
Responsible Official
J. Sharon Heywood, Forest
Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National
Forest, 3644 Avtech Parkway, Redding,
California 96002.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Forest Supervisor will decide
whether to implement the proposed
action, take an alternative action that
meets the purpose and need, or take no
action.
Scoping
Information on the proposed action
will be noticed in the Record
Searchlight and the Trinity Journal. The
proposed action will be listed in the
Shasta-Trinity National Forest’s
quarterly schedule of proposed actions
(SOPA). This notice of intent initiates
the scoping process, which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. Comments submitted
during this scoping process should be in
writing and specific to the proposed
action. Comments should clearly
describe any issues you have with the
proposed action. Issues are points of
debate, dispute, concern, or
disagreement about the environmental
effects of the proposal. Issues identified
as significant to the proposed action
will be used in the environmental
analysis.
The scoping process includes:
(a) Identifying potential issues.
(b) Identifying issues to be analyzed
in depth.
(c) Eliminating non-significant issues
or those previously covered by a
relevant previous environmental
analysis.
(d) Exploring additional alternatives.
(e) Identifying potential
environmental effects of the proposed
action and alternatives.
Preliminary Issues and Alternatives
Issues will be identified as a result of
scoping. One alternative has been
identified that builds fewer roads.
Early Notice of Importance of public
Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A draft
environmental impact statement will be
prepared for comment. The comment
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:20 Feb 09, 2005
Jkt 205001
period on the draft environmental
impact statement will be 45 days from
the date the Environmental Protection
Agency publishes the notice of
availability in the Federal Register. The
Forest Service believes, at this early
stage, it is important 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 draft environmental impact
statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final
environmental impact statement may be
waived or dismissed by the courts. City
of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016,
1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and 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 final
environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns on the proposed action,
comments on the draft environmental
impact statement should be as specific
as possible. It is also helpful if
comments refer to specific pages or
chapters of the draft statement.
Comments may also address the
adequacy of the draft environmental
impact statement or the merits of the
alternatives formulated and discussed in
the statement. 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.
Comments received, including the
names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the
public record on this proposal and will
be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21)
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Dated: February 3, 2005.
J. Sharon Heywood,
Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National
Forest.
[FR Doc. 05–2606 Filed 2–9–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Request for Proposals for Woody
Biomass Utilization Grant—Hazardous
Fuel Reduction on National Forest
System Lands
Forest Service, USDA.
Request for proposals.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: As part of implementing the
Administration’s Healthy Forest
Restoration Initiative, the USDA Forest
Service, Forest Products Laboratory,
requests proposals for forest products
projects that increase the use of woody
biomass from national forest lands. The
woody biomass utilization grant
program is intended to help improve
utilization of, and create markets for,
small-diameter material and low-valued
trees removed from hazardous fuel
reduction activities. These funds are
targeted to help communities,
entrepreneurs, and others turn residues
from hazardous fuel reduction projects
into marketable forest products and/or
energy products.
DATES: Pre-application Deadline: Close
of business March 15, 2005.
Full application Deadline: Close of
business May 16, 2005.
ADDRESSES: All pre- and full application
packages must be sent to the following
address: ATTN: Shawn Lacina, Grants
and Agreements Specialist, Forest
Products Laboratory, 507 Highland
Ave., Madison, WI 53705–2398. More
detailed information regarding what to
include in the pre- and full application
and definitions of terms are available
electronically at https://
www.fpl.fs.fed.us/tmu (under biomass
grants). Paper copies of the information
also are available by contacting the
USDA Forest Service, Forest Products
Laboratory.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
general questions, please contact Shawn
Lacina, Grants and Agreements
Specialist, via electronic mail at
slacina@fs.fed.us, or via telephone at
608–231–9282. For technical questions,
please contact Susan LeVan-Green,
Program Manager, via electronic mail at
slevan@fs.fed.us, or via telephone at
608–231–9504.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As
authorized by Public Law 108–148, the
E:\FR\FM\10FEN1.SGM
10FEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 27 (Thursday, February 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7077-7078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2606]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Shasta-Trinity National Forest; California; Browns Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
(EIS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Browns Project is being proposed by the Shasta-Trinity
National Forest to improve fuel condition through commercial timber
harvest and closing of some unneeded roads. The purpose for the project
is to decrease fire hazards in an area adjacent to the community of
Weaverville. The project area located within T34N, R10W, sections 27,
34, and 36; T33N, R10W, section 1; T34N R9W, sections 16, 20-22, and
27-34; T33N, R9W, section 6, M.D.M. approximately 2 miles north of the
community of Weaverville, California
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
no later than 30 days after the publication of this notice in the
Federal Register The draft environmental impact statement is expected
in April, 2005, and the final environmental impact statement is
expected in July, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Sam Frink, Planning Team Leader, c/
o USFS, P.O. Box 1190, Weaverville, CA 96093. For further information,
mail correspondence to Sam Frink, Planning Team Leader, c/o USFS, PO
Box 1190, Weaverville, CA 96093.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Branham, Planning Officer, phone
530-623-1750.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
Thinning will reduce overcrowded conditions in forest areas where
too many trees currently exist. Reducing density will improve the
health of these forest areas by making more water, nutrients and
sunlight available for use by the remaining trees (conifers and
hardwoods). This will improve the health of the forest and improve tree
resistence to insects, pathogens and drought. Too many small trees in
the understory can act as a fuel ladder and carry fire into the canopy
layer of the forest resulting in the death of a large number of trees.
Small trees act as a fuel ladder because their crowns are closer to the
ground and allow flames to move into the canopy. Removing small trees
raises the crown base height and reduces the likelihood of flames
reaching the canopy layer.
The removal of groups of trees and re-planting with tree seedlings
is being proposed to increase the amount of younger forests to improve
the diversity of age classes. The harvest and sale of wood products
will provide wood products to society and offset the cost of treatment.
Proposed Action
The project will include the following treatments:
--Timber harvest treatments will include thinning harvest on about 760
acres, group selection harvest (2 acre groups of trees) and re-planting
with tree seedlings on about 40 acres. The volume of timber harvested
will amount to about 9.0 million board feet. Within the thinning
harvest areas we intend to remove the poorer growing, smaller trees.
The healthiest, better growing, generally larger trees will be
retained. Thinning areas will have a crown closure of about 40% after
the harvest is completed, except within riparian reserve areas, where
crown closure will be about 60%. After the harvest treatments,
accumulations of excess down wood and slash will be either underburned
or piled and burned.
--The project includes about 5 miles of road construction and about 3
miles of road reconstruction. About 4 miles of temporary roads
constructed to
[[Page 7078]]
access the harvest areas will subsequently be closed.
Implementation of the proposed project is planned during the
calendar years 2005-1010, and may involve multiple timber sale and
service contracts. No permits or special authorizations will be
required.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service.
Responsible Official
J. Sharon Heywood, Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National
Forest, 3644 Avtech Parkway, Redding, California 96002.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Forest Supervisor will decide whether to implement the proposed
action, take an alternative action that meets the purpose and need, or
take no action.
Scoping
Information on the proposed action will be noticed in the Record
Searchlight and the Trinity Journal. The proposed action will be listed
in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest's quarterly schedule of proposed
actions (SOPA). This notice of intent initiates the scoping process,
which guides the development of the environmental impact statement.
Comments submitted during this scoping process should be in writing and
specific to the proposed action. Comments should clearly describe any
issues you have with the proposed action. Issues are points of debate,
dispute, concern, or disagreement about the environmental effects of
the proposal. Issues identified as significant to the proposed action
will be used in the environmental analysis.
The scoping process includes:
(a) Identifying potential issues.
(b) Identifying issues to be analyzed in depth.
(c) Eliminating non-significant issues or those previously covered
by a relevant previous environmental analysis.
(d) Exploring additional alternatives.
(e) Identifying potential environmental effects of the proposed
action and alternatives.
Preliminary Issues and Alternatives
Issues will be identified as a result of scoping. One alternative
has been identified that builds fewer roads.
Early Notice of Importance of public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A draft environmental impact statement will be
prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental
impact statement will be 45 days from the date the Environmental
Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in the Federal
Register. The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is
important 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
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and 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 final environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. 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.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal
and will be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Dated: February 3, 2005.
J. Sharon Heywood,
Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
[FR Doc. 05-2606 Filed 2-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M