Ochoco National Forest, Lookout Mountain Ranger District; Oregon; Spears Vegetation Management Project, 32028-32029 [06-5049]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 106 (Friday, June 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32028-32029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5049]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 106 / Friday, June 2, 2006 / 
Notices

[[Page 32028]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Ochoco National Forest, Lookout Mountain Ranger District; Oregon; 
Spears Vegetation Management Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is proposing to conduct timber 
harvest, noncommercial thinning, and fuels reduction activities in the 
Marks Creek Wateshed. The proposal includes the connected action of 
constructing 19.5 miles of road. The project area covers approximately 
39,200 acres.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by June 26, 2006. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
by September 2006 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected in March 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Arthur J. Currier, District Ranger, 
Lookout Mountain Ranger District, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE., 
Third Street, Prineville, Oregon 97754. Alternately, electronic 
comments can be sent to comments-pacificnorthwest-ochoco@fs.fed.us.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Farrell, Project Leader, at the 
address listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose and need for this p proposal is to (1) maintain and 
increase the abundance of late and old structure (LOS) stands; (2) 
reduce fuels and the potential for high-intensity wildfires; (3) 
maintain conditions that would currently support low-intensity fires; 
(4) reduce the susceptibility of the landscape to large-scale 
infestation by insects and disease; (5) enhance hardwood communities, 
such as aspen and cottonwood; (6) increase riparian vegetation and 
large tree structure in RHCAs; and (7) increase early-seral species 
composition.

Proposed Action

    The Lookout Mountain Ranger District is proposing to manage 
vegetation through commercial timber harvest, noncommercial thinning, 
and fuel reduction activities. The proposed action includes 
approximately 6,250 acres of commercial harvest and 11,000 acres of 
noncommercial thinning. Fuel reduction activities include approximately 
15,250 acres of prescribed fire, and 3,150 acres of grapple and 700 
acres of hand piling. Commercial harvest includes tractor, skyline, and 
helicopter logging systems. Areas identified as tractor logging are 
areas where heavy equipment, such as logging tractors/skidders, will be 
used to remove a commercial product. Road construction activities 
include 19.5 miles of new road construction, and 15.5 miles of 
reconstructing roads on an existing road bed. Newly constructed roads 
and roads that are reopened would be closed after harvest activities 
are complete.

Possible Alternatives

    At this time, the Forest Service is considering at least three 
alternatives. The no action alternative is the baseline for comparison 
and will analyze the effects of natural processes along with ongoing 
activities such as road maintenance and recreation use. Ongoing 
activities, such as road maintenance, noxious weeds treatments, and 
recreational use, would continue. Access for public and administrative 
purposes would continue on the existing transportation system. 
Alternative 2, the proposed action, will analyze the effects of timber 
harvest, noncommercial thinning, and prescribed fire activities, along 
with the connected road construction activities. The third alternative 
being considered at this time would analyze the effects of only 
conducting noncommercial thinning and prescribed fire activities. Other 
possible alternatives may reduce or restrict the amount of road 
construction activities. The action alternatives will examine 
combinations and degrees of activities in order to meet the purpose of 
and need for action and concerns stated during the public scoping 
process.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for this project is Jeff Walter, Forest 
Supervisor, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE., Third Street, Prineville, 
Oregon 97754.

Nature of Decision to be Made

    The Forest Supervisor will decide whether to conduct timber 
harvest, noncommercial thinning, and prescribe fire treatments within 
the Spears project area. The decision will be based on the information 
disclosed in the EIS, and the goals, objectives, and desired future 
conditions as stated in the Forest Plan as amended. The responsible 
official will consider significant issues, public comments, 
environmental consequences, and compliance with applicable laws, 
regulations, and policies in making his decision. The rationale for the 
decision will be stated in the Record of Decision for the project.

Scoping Process

    The Lookout Mountain Ranger District intends to scope for 
information by mailing letters to adjacent landowners, persons, and 
organizations interested or potentially affected by the proposed 
action. The Lookout Mountain Ranger District will hold a public meeting 
during the summer of 2006. The Lookout Mountain Ranger District will 
also meet with the Crook County Natural Resources Planning Committee 
during the analysis process. This project will also be included in the 
Ochoco National Forest Quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions for the 
duration of the environmental analysis.

Preliminary Issues

    The Lookout Mountain Ranger District has identified three 
preliminary issues related to the proposed action. They are: (1) The 
amounts and kinds of activities in the Bandit Springs Recreational Area 
could alter the character of the area and cause recreational use of the 
area and cause recreational use of the area to decline. (2) Road 
construction and reconstruction activities could increase disturbance 
to wildlife species such as deer, elk, and birds. (3) Commercial timber 
harvest, underburning, and road construction and reconstruction 
activities can increase sediment and

[[Page 32029]]

cause a decline in water quality. Commercial harvest and noncommercial 
thinning can also cause a reduction in shade on streams and cause an 
increase in stream temperatures.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent is part of the scoping process that will 
guide the development of the environmental impact statement. The 
primary purpose of scoping is to gather public comments, issues, and 
concerns regarding the proposed action. Comments, issues, and concerns 
may be used to formulate alternatives. Comments are most helpful if 
they are as specific as possible and relate to the proposed action. 
Comments should include the name, address, and, if possible, telephone 
number of the commenter. Electronic comments must be submitted as part 
of the actual e-mail message, or as an attachment in plain text (.txt), 
Microsoft Word (.doc), rich text format (.rtf), or portable document 
format (.pdf). Comments received in response to this solicitation, 
including the names and addresses of those who comment, will be 
considered part of the public record and will be available for public 
inspection.

Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review

    A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared and made 
available 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 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 joints.

    Dated: May 19, 2006.
Arthur J. Currier,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 06-5049 Filed 6-1-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M