Lincoln National Forest; New Mexico; Perk-Grindstone III Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project, 52849 [07-4582]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 179 (Monday, September 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 52849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4582]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Lincoln National Forest; New Mexico; Perk-Grindstone III 
Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement; 
Correction.

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SUMMARY: On September 22, 2006, the Federal Register published a Notice 
of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
the Perk-Grindstone III Hazardous Fuel Reduction Project on the Lincoln 
National Forest, Smokey Bear Ranger District (71 FR 55419-55421). That 
document estimated that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement would 
be available February 2007, and would require a single forest plan 
amendment, correction of both the estimated date and the number of 
forest plan amendments is necessary.
    Correction: In the Federal Register of September 22, 2006, in FR 
Doc. 71-184, on page 55419, in the first column, correct the DATES 
caption, second sentence to read:
    The draft EIS is expected to be available for public review in 
January 2008 and the final EIS is expected to be published in June 
2008.
    In the Federal Register of September 22, 2006, in FR Doc. 71-184, 
on page 55419, in the third column, additional information must be 
added to the Proposed Action caption, first and second paragraph to 
read:
    Proposed forest management work includes noncommercial thinning, 
commercial thinning involving removal of logs and slash by ground-based 
skidding or helicopter, ground-based machine work and hand work to pile 
thinning slash, and slash-pile burning or broadcast burning to dispose 
of or reduce woody fuels. On existing roads used to support these 
treatments, maintenance work including forestry best management 
practices would be performed. Up to 14 miles of road may be constructed 
or reconstructed, these road will be developed to facilitate proper 
ground-based skidding and access log-landing areas. Upon completion of 
logging and other mechanized treatments, temporary roads would be 
rehabilitated and closed. The remaining roads, needed for long term 
access would be closed by installing gates or other barriers at road 
entrances to eliminate motor vehicle use on the road (Forest Plan, p. 
47). Closed roads may be reopened when needed for subsequent fuel 
reduction or other management activities, and then closed following 
completion of that activity (Forest Plan, p. 37). Closed roads may be 
used as trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback-riding. The 
proposed forest management treatments and roadwork integrated various 
detail design-features to conserve cultural or historical sites, air 
quality, soil, water quality, wildlife, native plants and trees, 
scenery, and recreation.
    To achieve desired conditions for the area, the proposed action 
involves some removal of commercial-size trees from areas of protected 
habitat of the Mexican spotted owl, a threatened species. Under the 
current forest plan as amended, these treatments to reduce fuels near 
urban areas are anticipated; nonetheless, they are a departure from the 
forestwide standards and guidelines adopted to implement the recovery 
plan for this species. Additionally, the proposed action will remove 
canopy cover within Northern goshawk post-fledging areas. Northern 
goshawk is a Regional Forester sensitive species. These areas may not 
meet forest plan standards and guidelines for canopy cover. Forest plan 
standards and guidelines also restrict operation of wheeled of tracked 
logging equipment to slopes of less than 40%. Operation of logging 
equipment on slopes in excess of 40% is anticipated under one or more 
alternatives. Vegetative removal and road construction is likely to be 
clearly evident, for approximately 10 years, within the project area. 
The forest plan standards and guidelines for the Visual Quality 
Objective (VQO) within the project area specify that the area should be 
managed with a VQO of Retention. Under a Retention VQO, forest 
management activities may be visible but not clearly evident to the 
average viewer. Disturbances must appear to be from natural causes. 
Therefore, to ensure project consistency with the forest plan, the plan 
would be amended at the same time as and in conjunction with the 
approval of an action alternative, should one be selected, that involve 
similar departure form current standards and guidelines to conserve 
Mexican spotted owl, Northern goshawk, visual quality and limitations 
on activities on slopes over 40%. The plan amendments would be limited 
to apply only to the Perk-Grindstone III hazardous fuel reduction 
project area and its approved activities (36 CFR 219.8(e)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Buck Sanchez, District Ranger, Smokey 
Bear Ranger District, Lincoln National Forest, 901 Mechem, Ruidoso, NM 
88345, telephone (505) 257-4095.

    Dated: September 10, 2007.
S.E. ``Lou'' Woltering,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 07-4582 Filed 9-14-07; 8:45 am]
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