Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California; Pilgrim Vegetation Management Project, 7468-7469 [05-2767]

Download as PDF 7468 Notices Federal Register Vol. 70, No. 29 Monday, February 14, 2005 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 Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California; Pilgrim Vegetation Management Project Forest Service, USDA. Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Shasta-Trinity National Forest proposes to harvest timber and clean up the resulting down wood (fuels) on approximately 3,770 acres of National Forest System lands. About 90% of the area would be harvested through thinning by removing a portion of the trees from overcrowded forest stands. Trees removed would be those infected with disease or insects and generally smaller in size than those left behind. Most of the trees on the remaining 10% are infected by disease and insects and would be removed. Young tree seedlings would be planted in the openings created in these areas. The project area is in T40 and 41N, R1W, MDM., about 10 miles northeast of the town of McCloud, California. Most of the project area is zoned by the Forest Land and Resource Management Plan as Matrix land. About one percent of the area is zoned as Riparian Reserve (areas adjacent to streams or other wetlands). DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should 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 June 2005 and the final environmental impact statement is expected in September 2005. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to District Ranger Michael Hupp, ShastaMcCloud Management Unit, 204 W. Alma St., Mt. Shasta, California 96067. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Funk, McCloud Ranger Station, P.O. Box 1620, McCloud, California VerDate jul<14>2003 15:28 Feb 11, 2005 Jkt 205001 96057, telephone (530) 964–3770 or via e-mail at sfunk@fs.fed.us. 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 resistance 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 re-establish live trees in areas where most are dead or dying from insects, pathogens and drought. 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: 1. Thinning harvests on approximately 3,380 acres. a. On 780 acres of 25–45 year old pine stands, thin from below to a spacing of approximately 20 feet. About 90% of these stands are older plantations. The resulting product will be primarily wood chips. b. On approximately 1,480 acres of 75–95 year old stands, thin to a density appropriate for ponderosa pine stands (approximately 120–150 square feet of basal area). c. On approximately 1,080 acres of 75–95 year old pine stands, thin to a slightly more open condition than ‘‘b’’ (approximately 100–120 square feet of basal area) by removing additional dead, dying and diseased trees in pockets infected with root diseases and maintain pine savanna stands in historic openings. d. On approximately 40 acres, thin two-storied mature stands to reduce PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 understory ladder fuels and maintain older trees, especially pines. On all of the thinning harvests, smalldiameter trees not needed for optimum stocking will be removed as wood chips. After the harvest treatments the project area would be treated to reduce accumulations of down wood and deep needle slash by underburning 200 acres and tractor piling and burning 1,000 acres. e. Release aspen from conifer competition on approximately 16 acres by removing conifers within 150 feet of aspen. 2. Harvest 10 acres of knobcone pine for sale as wood chips. Tractor pile residual slash and re-plant with ponderosa pine. 3. Harvest and re-plant approximately 370 acres of 95–110 year old pine suffering from root disease and bark beetle mortality. Leave healthy white fir, incense-cedar, sugar pine, Douglas-fir and black oak. Remove wood products. Tractor pile residual slash. Re-plant with mixed species in shaded areas, ponderosa pine in open areas. The timber harvest outputs from the entire project are anticipated to be approximately 40–50 thousand CCF (25–30 MMBF) of sawlog products plus approximately 3,000 tons of chipped wood products. The proposed action includes borax application on stumps to prevent the spread of annosus root disease, but does not include the use of herbicides or pesticides. The project may include the construction of short lengths of temporary road and the closure or decommissioning of other roads. Lead and Cooperating Agencies Lead Agency: USDA, Forest Service. Responsible Official J. Sharon Heywood, Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, 3644 Avtech Parkway, Redding, CA 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 Process The project is included in the ShastaTrinity National Forest’s quarterly schedule of proposed actions (SOPA). E:\FR\FM\14FEN1.SGM 14FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 29 / Monday, February 14, 2005 / Notices Information on the proposed action will also be posted on the forest Web site, https://www.fs.fed.us/r5.shastatrinity/ projects, and advertised in the Mt. Shasta Herald. A field trip will be held for interested parties in May of 2005. This notice of intent intimates the scoping process, which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. Comments submitted during this scoping process should be in writing and should be specific to the proposed action. The comments should describe as clearly and completely as possible any issue the commenter has with the proposal. 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. 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 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 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 thus ensuring substantive comments and objections are available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and VerDate jul<14>2003 15:28 Feb 11, 2005 Jkt 205001 7469 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Bell Lunsford, Public Affairs Officer, USDA, Homochitto National Forest, 1200 Hwy. 184 East, Meadville, MS 39653 (601–384–5876) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting is open to the public. Committee discussion is limited to Forest Service staff, Committee members and elected officials. However, persons who wish to bring matters to the attention of the Committee may file written statements with the Committee staff before or after the meeting. A public input session will be provided and individuals who made written requests by March 11, 2005, will have the opportunity to address the committee at that session. Individuals wishing to speak or propose agenda items must send their names and proposals to Tim Reed, District Ranger, DFO, 1200 Hwy. 184 East, Meadville, MS 39653. (Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 21) Dated: January 24, 2005. J. Sharon Heywood, Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National Forest. [FR Doc. 05–2767 Filed 2–11–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–52–M BILLING CODE 3410–11–M Forest Service Southwest Mississippi Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Meeting notice for the Southwest Mississippi Resource Advisory Committee under Section 205 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106–393). AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice is published in accordance with section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Meeting notice is hereby given for the Southwest Mississippi Resource Advisory Committee pursuant to Section 205 of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000, Public Law 106–393. Topics to be discussed include: general information, possible Title II projects, and the next meeting dates and agendas. DATES: The meeting will be held on March 22, 2005, from 6 p.m. and end at approximately 9 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Franklin County Public Library, 381 First Street, Meadville, Mississippi. Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Trade Administration DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PO 00000 Dated: February 4, 2005. Tim Reed, Designated Federal Officer. [FR Doc. 05–2748 Filed 2–11–05; 8:45 am] Sfmt 4703 [A–549–812] Furfuryl Alcohol from Thailand: Notice of Extension of Time Limit for Preliminary Results of 2003–2004 Antidumping Administrative Review Import Administration, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce. EFFECTIVE DATE: February 14, 2005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Smith at (202) 482–1276, AD/ CVD Operations, Office 1, Import Administration, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230. AGENCY: Background On August 30, 2004, the Department of Commerce (‘‘the Department’’) published a notice of initiation of administrative review of the antidumping duty order on furfuryl alcohol from Thailand covering the period July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004. See Notice of Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews, 69 FR 52857 (August 30, 2004). The preliminary results for this review are currently due no later than April 4, 2005. E:\FR\FM\14FEN1.SGM 14FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 29 (Monday, February 14, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7468-7469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2767]


========================================================================
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. 70, No. 29 / Monday, February 14, 2005 / 
Notices

[[Page 7468]]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California; Pilgrim Vegetation 
Management Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Shasta-Trinity National Forest proposes to harvest timber 
and clean up the resulting down wood (fuels) on approximately 3,770 
acres of National Forest System lands. About 90% of the area would be 
harvested through thinning by removing a portion of the trees from 
overcrowded forest stands. Trees removed would be those infected with 
disease or insects and generally smaller in size than those left 
behind. Most of the trees on the remaining 10% are infected by disease 
and insects and would be removed. Young tree seedlings would be planted 
in the openings created in these areas. The project area is in T40 and 
41N, R1W, MDM., about 10 miles northeast of the town of McCloud, 
California. Most of the project area is zoned by the Forest Land and 
Resource Management Plan as Matrix land. About one percent of the area 
is zoned as Riparian Reserve (areas adjacent to streams or other 
wetlands).

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should 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 June 2005 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
in September 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to District Ranger Michael Hupp, 
Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, 204 W. Alma St., Mt. Shasta, California 
96067.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Funk, McCloud Ranger Station, 
P.O. Box 1620, McCloud, California 96057, telephone (530) 964-3770 or 
via e-mail at sfunk@fs.fed.us.

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 
resistance 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 re-establish live trees in areas where most are 
dead or dying from insects, pathogens and drought. 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:
    1. Thinning harvests on approximately 3,380 acres.
    a. On 780 acres of 25-45 year old pine stands, thin from below to a 
spacing of approximately 20 feet. About 90% of these stands are older 
plantations. The resulting product will be primarily wood chips.
    b. On approximately 1,480 acres of 75-95 year old stands, thin to a 
density appropriate for ponderosa pine stands (approximately 120-150 
square feet of basal area).
    c. On approximately 1,080 acres of 75-95 year old pine stands, thin 
to a slightly more open condition than ``b'' (approximately 100-120 
square feet of basal area) by removing additional dead, dying and 
diseased trees in pockets infected with root diseases and maintain pine 
savanna stands in historic openings.
    d. On approximately 40 acres, thin two-storied mature stands to 
reduce understory ladder fuels and maintain older trees, especially 
pines.
    On all of the thinning harvests, small-diameter trees not needed 
for optimum stocking will be removed as wood chips. After the harvest 
treatments the project area would be treated to reduce accumulations of 
down wood and deep needle slash by underburning 200 acres and tractor 
piling and burning 1,000 acres.
    e. Release aspen from conifer competition on approximately 16 acres 
by removing conifers within 150 feet of aspen.
    2. Harvest 10 acres of knobcone pine for sale as wood chips. 
Tractor pile residual slash and re-plant with ponderosa pine.
    3. Harvest and re-plant approximately 370 acres of 95-110 year old 
pine suffering from root disease and bark beetle mortality. Leave 
healthy white fir, incense-cedar, sugar pine, Douglas-fir and black 
oak. Remove wood products. Tractor pile residual slash. Re-plant with 
mixed species in shaded areas, ponderosa pine in open areas. The timber 
harvest outputs from the entire project are anticipated to be 
approximately 40-50 thousand CCF (25-30 MMBF) of sawlog products plus 
approximately 3,000 tons of chipped wood products.
    The proposed action includes borax application on stumps to prevent 
the spread of annosus root disease, but does not include the use of 
herbicides or pesticides. The project may include the construction of 
short lengths of temporary road and the closure or decommissioning of 
other roads.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    Lead Agency: USDA, Forest Service.

Responsible Official

    J. Sharon Heywood, Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National 
Forest, 3644 Avtech Parkway, Redding, CA 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 Process

    The project is included in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest's 
quarterly schedule of proposed actions (SOPA).

[[Page 7469]]

Information on the proposed action will also be posted on the forest 
Web site, https://www.fs.fed.us/r5.shastatrinity/projects, and 
advertised in the Mt. Shasta Herald. A field trip will be held for 
interested parties in May of 2005. This notice of intent intimates the 
scoping process, which guides the development of the environmental 
impact statement. Comments submitted during this scoping process should 
be in writing and should be specific to the proposed action. The 
comments should describe as clearly and completely as possible any 
issue the commenter has with the proposal. 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.
    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 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 
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 thus ensuring substantive 
comments and objections are 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: January 24, 2005.
J. Sharon Heywood,
Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
[FR Doc. 05-2767 Filed 2-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M

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