DeBaugan Fuels Reduction EIS, Lolo National Forest, Mineral County, MT, 9084-9085 [06-1591]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9084-9085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1591]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


DeBaugan Fuels Reduction EIS, Lolo National Forest, Mineral 
County, MT

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION:  Notice; intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) on a proposal for a hazardous fuel reduction project to 
reduce the threat of wildfire to the communities of Saltese, Haugan, 
DeBorgia, and Cabin City in the St. Regis River drainage, Lolo National 
Forest, Superior Ranger District, Mineral County, Montana.
    This EIS will tier to the Lolo Forest Plan Final EIS (April, 1986).

DATES: Written comments should be received within 30 days following 
publication this notice.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments on the proposed management 
activities or a request to be placed on the project mailing list to: 
Rob Harper, District Ranger, Superior Ranger District, Lolo National 
Forest, P.O. Box 460, Superior, Montana 59872.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Svalberg, EIS Team Leader, (406) 
826-4310.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DeBaugan analysis area is located 
between St. Regis, Montana and Lookout Pass along the Interstate 90 
corridor, in Mineral County. The project is located in parts of 
Townships and Ranges: T19N, R29W; T19N, R30W; T19N, R31W; and T20N, 
R31W; P.M.M., Mineral County, Montana. Within this area, the Lolo 
National Forest proposes to reduce fuels and reduce the threat of 
wildlife of up to 5,732. The proposed treatments include: (1) 
Prescribed burning approximately 1,347 acres; (2) heavy thinning of 
approximately 504 acres; (3) light thinning approximately 3,402 acres; 
(4) precommercial thinning of burning piles on approximately 58 acres; 
(6) constructing approximately 3.2 miles of new permanent roads; (7) 
constructing and later decommissioning approximately 8 miles of 
temporary road; (8) reconstruction of approximately 46 miles of 
existing roads to meet Montana Best Management Practices; (9) 
decommissioning of approximately 8.4 miles of existing road; (10) 
approximately 30 miles of herbicide treatment of noxious weeds along 
roadsides; (11) application of herbicide on dry sites to minimize 
spread of noxious weeds approximately 2,000 acres.
    The Lolo National Forest Plan, 1986, provides overall guidance for 
land management activities in the project area. The purposes for these 
actions are to: (1) Reduce the intensity of wildlife near the 
communities of Cabin City, DeBorgia, Haugan, and Saltese to improve the 
chances of protecting these communities in the event of wildfires as 
defined in the Mineral County Community Protection Plan; (2) bring 
existing roads that will be utilized up to ``Best Management Practices 
Standards''; (3) improve water quality and fish passage on roads that 
will be used during the fuels reduction project; (4) reduce the 
potential for the spread of noxious weeds during project 
implementation.
    Issues currently identified for analysis in the EIS include 
potential effects on wildlife, sensitive plant species, water quality, 
fisheries, visual quality and forest access.
    Under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act, the Forest Service will 
consider only one action alternative (that was developed during an 
intensive collaborative effort) and the no action alternative.
    The Draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) and available for public review in May, 2007. 
Comments on the Draft EIS will be considered and responded to in the 
Final EIS, scheduled to be completed by January, 2008.
    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 reviews 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

[[Page 9085]]

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 scoping 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.
    Responsible Official: Deborah L.R. Austin, Forest Supervisor, Lolo 
National Forest, Building 24--Fort Missoula, Missoula, MT 59804, is the 
responsible official. In making the decision, the responsible official 
will consider comments, responses, disclosure of environmental 
consequences, and applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The 
responsible official will state the rationale for the chosen 
alternative in the Record of Decision.

    Dated: February 13, 2006.
Deborah L.R. Austin,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 06-1591 Filed 2-21-06; 8:45 am]
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