Hoosier National Forest, IN; German Ridge Restoration Project, 65880 [05-21764]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 210 (Tuesday, November 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 65880]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21764]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Hoosier National Forest, IN; German Ridge Restoration Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of an environmental impact statement.

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

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, Hoosier National Forest has completed 
a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) to disclose the 
environmental consequences of a vegetation restoration project. The 
FEIS addresses the potential environmental impacts of replacing pine 
plantations in the German Ridge area of Perry County, Indiana with 
native hardwood communities.
    Copies: To receive a CD of the FEIS, request one from Ron Ellis, 
NEPA Coordinator; Hoosier National Forest; 811 Constitution Avenue; 
Bedford, IN 47421. To request a CD electronically, send a message with 
your request to r9_hoosier_website@fs.fed.us. If a hard copy is 
desired instead, use the same contact information.
    Appeal Period: The publication date of the legal notice in the 
newspaper of record (The Hoosier Times, published in Bloomington and 
Bedford, Indiana) is the exclusive means for calculating the period for 
filing an appeal. An appeal must be filed within 45 days of the date of 
publication of the legal notice.

ADDRESSES: Regional Forester Randy Moore is the Deciding Official with 
whom an appeal is to be filed. His address is: 626 East Wisconsin Ave.; 
Milwaukee, WI 53202; electronic submission of an appeal: appeals-
eastern-regional-office@fs.fed.us (dashes, not underscores); electronic 
file formats; txt, html, pdf, or any file format viewable in Microsoft 
Office applications; fax: 414-944-3963; office hours (for those hand 
delivering an appeal): 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Standard Time, 
Monday-Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Ellis, NEPA Coordinator, Hoosier 
National Forest, USDA Forest Service; telephone: 812-275-5987. Address 
under Copies. Another means of obtaining information is to visit the 
Forest Web page at www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier_click on ``Forest 
Projects'', then ``Scoping Package,'' and finally ``German Ridge 
Restoration.''

Preferred Alternative

    The preferred alternative is to implement the proposed action, 
which would fulfill the goals and objectives of the Forest Plan 
involving the restoration of native communities; replace pine 
plantations with native hardwood communities that include a strong 
component of oaks, hickories, and other fire-adapted plants; and 
restore natural vegetative conditions to the barrens within the project 
area.
    To accomplish those goals, the Hoosier National Forest would during 
the next six or seven years: (1) Use prescribed burning on 
approximately 2,170 acres, (2) thin approximately 215 acres, (3) 
implement pine removal on approximately 355 acres, and (4) complete 
shelterwood harvest on approximately 120 acres. Additional activities 
would also be pursued to improve wildlife habitat, maintain a 
recreational trail, and enhance vegetation conditions within the 
project area.

Responsible Official

    Kenneth G. Day, Forest Supervisor; Hoosier National Forest; 811 
Constitution Avenue; Bedford, Indiana 47421.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21)

    Dated: October 21, 2005.
Kenneth G. Day,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 05-21764 Filed 10-31-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M