Helena National Forest, Broadwater County, MT, Cabin Gulch Vegetation Treatment Project, 72605-72606 [05-23605]
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72605
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 70, No. 233
Tuesday, December 6, 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
Helena National Forest, Broadwater
County, MT, Cabin Gulch Vegetation
Treatment Project
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Helena National Forest is
going to prepare an environmental
impact statement for vegetation
management actions in the Cabin Gulch
and North Fork of Deep Creek drainages.
The purpose and need for action is to
restore and maintain the health of these
fire dependent ecosystems, including
increasing the resistance and resilience
of these areas to catastrophic
disturbance from fire events and/or
disease and insect outbreaks. In
addition to the vegetation actions, some
roadwork is proposed to reduce
sedimentation sources to the West Fork
of Cabin Gulch; one road is proposed for
closure; and one new road is being
proposed for construction.
DATES: Comments concerning the
proposed action must be received by
January 9, 2006. The draft EIS is
expected to be available to the public in
March of 2006 and the final EIS is
expected to be available to the public in
June of 2006.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments or
for further information, mail
correspondence to or call Sharon
Scott—Team Leader, Helena Ranger
District, 2001 Poplar Street, Helena, MT
59601 (Phone 406.449.5490), or Dave
Carroll, NEPA Coordinator, 2880
Skyway Drive, Helena, MT 59601
(Phone 406.449.5201).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
Most of Montana has been under
drought conditions for the past 7 years.
Insect and disease problems are
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:44 Dec 05, 2005
Jkt 205001
impacting this area. The Helena
National Forest has identified a need to
improve the forest health of this area.
Since fires have been suppressed and
controlled in this area, the number of
small trees in the dry forest types (lower
elevation, south and west facing slopes)
has greatly increased. This has created
a need to reduce current and future fuel
buildup throughout the area. Douglas-fir
are being killed by the Douglas-fir bark
beetle, and Lodgepole pine and
whitebark pine are being killed by the
mountain pine beetle. The whitebark
pine is also being killed by white pine
blister rust. Aspen stands and grassland/
sagebrush areas are declining on the
landscape. There is also an opportunity
for a research study involving Douglasfir and prescribed fire. The purpose and
need for action is to restore and
maintain the health of these fire
dependent ecosystems, including
increasing the resistance and resilience
of these areas to catastrophic
disturbance from fire events and/or
disease and insect outbreaks. Also, the
West Fork of Cabin Gulch road is
directly contributing sediment to the
creek, and needs corrective action.
Proposed Action
The types of treatments being
proposed are thinnings; patch cuts;
reduction of encroaching species on the
whitebark pine and aspen stands;
reclamation of sagebrush and grassland
meadows; prescribed fire; and road
decommisioning and construction. The
harvest of green trees and salvage of
dead and dying trees are part of this
proposal. These actions are consistent
with the Forest Plan Management Area
direction for the area. A project in
conjunction with research scientists
from the Rocky Mountain Research
Station and entomologists from the
Forest Health Protection office of the
Regional Office is another important
part of our proposal. The research
project will evaluate the effects of
silvicultural thinnings and prescribed
fire and the resultant impact of the
residual stand/trees susceptibility to
Douglas-fir beetle activity.
To accomplish these actions we
envision the use of the following
activities: Commercial timber harvest
(removing wood as a forest product),
slashing (cutting trees that aren’t
valuable as a product and leaving them
on site), burning (burning encompasses
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
underburning, and mixed severity
burning), and using equipment to ‘‘chew
up’’ small trees and juniper (the piece
of equipment is called a masticator).
The logging systems being considered
include cable or skyline logging, tractor
logging and helicopter logging. This
proposal includes 9 miles of temporary
road. Those roads would be fully
recontoured following this project.
Specifics of the Proposed Action Are:
Thinning 2,100 acres; Patch cutting 325
acres; Douglas-fir thinning and
prescribed fire research 550 acres;
Whitebark Pine Restoration 100 acres;
Aspen Restoration 100 acres; Grassland/
Shrubland Reclaimation 375 acres.
Underburning: This will be primarily
on the acres listed in the above
components of the proposed action.
Mixed severity burn: 475 acres.
We are also proposing to close the
West Fork of Cabin Gulch road by
recontouring the road (approximately 3
miles). We are proposing to build a
permanent road, 0.6 miles in length,
that would allow people to access the
upper portion of the West Fork of Cabin
Gulch from the North Fork of Deep
Creek.
Responsible Official: Kevin Riordan—
Forest Supervisor, 2880 Skyway Drive,
Helena, MT 59601.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The nature of the decision is: Whether
or not to implement the proposed action
or an alternative to the proposed action
that addresses the purpose and need for
action. The following components
define the nature of the decision at this
point: Which treatment areas have the
greatest benefit in increasing the areas’
resistance and resilience to catastrophic
disurbances such as wildfire or insect
and disease outbreaks; Which areas may
be of interest from a research
perspective relative to fire and Douglasfir bark beetle activity; and Whether or
not Forest Plan amendment(s) are
required? At this point in time it
appears there may need to be a site
specific, Forest Plan amendment
relative to big game hiding cover.
Scoping Process
• Scoping Package (mailing)—
November 2005.
• Scoping Meeting—December 2005
in Townsend, MT.
• NOI—December 9, 2005.
• Post on Web site—December 2005.
• DEIS Public Meetings—April 2006.
E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM
06DEN1
72606
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 233 / Tuesday, December 6, 2005 / Notices
• DEIS Comment Period—March–
April, 2006.
• FEIS and ROD—June 2006.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. Comments are due by
January 9, 2006.
A draft environmental impact
statement will be prepared for comment.
The comment period on the draft EIS is
expected to be from mid-March through
April of 2006. This date will be
established when 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
[enter correct time period] 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.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:44 Dec 05, 2005
Jkt 205001
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: November 29, 2005.
Kevin Riordan,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 05–23605 Filed 12–5–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Notice of Request for Extension of a
Currently Approved Information
Collection
Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Proposed collection; comments
requested.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Rural BusinessCooperative Service’s intention to
request an extension for a currently
approved information collection in
support of the program for the 1890
Land Grant Institutions Rural
Entrepreneurial Program Outreach
Initiative.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by February 6, 2006 to be
considered.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Edgar L. Lewis, Program Manager, Rural
Development, USDA, STOP 3252, Room
4221, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–3252.
Telephone: (202) 690–3407, E-mail:
edgar.lewis@wdc.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: 1890 Land Grant Institutions
Rural Entrepreneurial Program Outreach
Initiative.
OMB Number: 0570–0041.
Expiration Date of Approval: March
31, 2006.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved information
collection.
Abstract: The purpose of the 1890
Land Grant Institutions Rural
Entrepreneurial Program Outreach
Initiative is to provide technical
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
assistance for business creation in
economically challenged rural
communities, for educational programs
to develop and improve upon the
professional skills of rural
entrepreneurs, and for outreach and
promotion of USDA Rural
Development’s programs in small rural
communities with the greatest economic
need. This initiative seeks to create a
working partnership between USDA
Rural Development and the 1890
Institutions through cooperative
agreements.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection is estimated to
average 15 minutes to 15 hours per
response.
Respondents: Only 1890 Land Grant
Institutions of Higher Education and
Tuskegee University.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
18.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 17.
Estimated Number of Responses: 297.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 762 hours.
Copies of this information collection
can be obtained from Cheryl Thompson,
Regulations and Paperwork
Management Branch (202) 692–0043.
Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of Rural Development,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of
Rural Development’s estimate of the
burden to collect the required
information, including the validity of
the strategy used; (c) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (d)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments on the paperwork burden
may be sent to Cheryl Thompson,
Regulations and Paperwork
Management Branch, Rural
Development, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, STOP 0742, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–0742. All
responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
become a matter of public record.
E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM
06DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72605-72606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23605]
========================================================================
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. 233 / Tuesday, December 6, 2005 /
Notices
[[Page 72605]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Helena National Forest, Broadwater County, MT, Cabin Gulch
Vegetation Treatment Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Helena National Forest is going to prepare an
environmental impact statement for vegetation management actions in the
Cabin Gulch and North Fork of Deep Creek drainages. The purpose and
need for action is to restore and maintain the health of these fire
dependent ecosystems, including increasing the resistance and
resilience of these areas to catastrophic disturbance from fire events
and/or disease and insect outbreaks. In addition to the vegetation
actions, some roadwork is proposed to reduce sedimentation sources to
the West Fork of Cabin Gulch; one road is proposed for closure; and one
new road is being proposed for construction.
DATES: Comments concerning the proposed action must be received by
January 9, 2006. The draft EIS is expected to be available to the
public in March of 2006 and the final EIS is expected to be available
to the public in June of 2006.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments or for further information, mail
correspondence to or call Sharon Scott--Team Leader, Helena Ranger
District, 2001 Poplar Street, Helena, MT 59601 (Phone 406.449.5490), or
Dave Carroll, NEPA Coordinator, 2880 Skyway Drive, Helena, MT 59601
(Phone 406.449.5201).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
Most of Montana has been under drought conditions for the past 7
years. Insect and disease problems are impacting this area. The Helena
National Forest has identified a need to improve the forest health of
this area. Since fires have been suppressed and controlled in this
area, the number of small trees in the dry forest types (lower
elevation, south and west facing slopes) has greatly increased. This
has created a need to reduce current and future fuel buildup throughout
the area. Douglas-fir are being killed by the Douglas-fir bark beetle,
and Lodgepole pine and whitebark pine are being killed by the mountain
pine beetle. The whitebark pine is also being killed by white pine
blister rust. Aspen stands and grassland/sagebrush areas are declining
on the landscape. There is also an opportunity for a research study
involving Douglas-fir and prescribed fire. The purpose and need for
action is to restore and maintain the health of these fire dependent
ecosystems, including increasing the resistance and resilience of these
areas to catastrophic disturbance from fire events and/or disease and
insect outbreaks. Also, the West Fork of Cabin Gulch road is directly
contributing sediment to the creek, and needs corrective action.
Proposed Action
The types of treatments being proposed are thinnings; patch cuts;
reduction of encroaching species on the whitebark pine and aspen
stands; reclamation of sagebrush and grassland meadows; prescribed
fire; and road decommisioning and construction. The harvest of green
trees and salvage of dead and dying trees are part of this proposal.
These actions are consistent with the Forest Plan Management Area
direction for the area. A project in conjunction with research
scientists from the Rocky Mountain Research Station and entomologists
from the Forest Health Protection office of the Regional Office is
another important part of our proposal. The research project will
evaluate the effects of silvicultural thinnings and prescribed fire and
the resultant impact of the residual stand/trees susceptibility to
Douglas-fir beetle activity.
To accomplish these actions we envision the use of the following
activities: Commercial timber harvest (removing wood as a forest
product), slashing (cutting trees that aren't valuable as a product and
leaving them on site), burning (burning encompasses underburning, and
mixed severity burning), and using equipment to ``chew up'' small trees
and juniper (the piece of equipment is called a masticator). The
logging systems being considered include cable or skyline logging,
tractor logging and helicopter logging. This proposal includes 9 miles
of temporary road. Those roads would be fully recontoured following
this project.
Specifics of the Proposed Action Are: Thinning 2,100 acres; Patch
cutting 325 acres; Douglas-fir thinning and prescribed fire research
550 acres; Whitebark Pine Restoration 100 acres; Aspen Restoration 100
acres; Grassland/Shrubland Reclaimation 375 acres.
Underburning: This will be primarily on the acres listed in the
above components of the proposed action.
Mixed severity burn: 475 acres.
We are also proposing to close the West Fork of Cabin Gulch road by
recontouring the road (approximately 3 miles). We are proposing to
build a permanent road, 0.6 miles in length, that would allow people to
access the upper portion of the West Fork of Cabin Gulch from the North
Fork of Deep Creek.
Responsible Official: Kevin Riordan--Forest Supervisor, 2880 Skyway
Drive, Helena, MT 59601.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The nature of the decision is: Whether or not to implement the
proposed action or an alternative to the proposed action that addresses
the purpose and need for action. The following components define the
nature of the decision at this point: Which treatment areas have the
greatest benefit in increasing the areas' resistance and resilience to
catastrophic disurbances such as wildfire or insect and disease
outbreaks; Which areas may be of interest from a research perspective
relative to fire and Douglas-fir bark beetle activity; and Whether or
not Forest Plan amendment(s) are required? At this point in time it
appears there may need to be a site specific, Forest Plan amendment
relative to big game hiding cover.
Scoping Process
Scoping Package (mailing)--November 2005.
Scoping Meeting--December 2005 in Townsend, MT.
NOI--December 9, 2005.
Post on Web site--December 2005.
DEIS Public Meetings--April 2006.
[[Page 72606]]
DEIS Comment Period--March-April, 2006.
FEIS and ROD--June 2006.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. Comments are due
by January 9, 2006.
A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for
comment. The comment period on the draft EIS is expected to be from
mid-March through April of 2006. This date will be established when 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 [enter correct time period] 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. 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: November 29, 2005.
Kevin Riordan,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 05-23605 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
