Klamath National Forest, CA, Big Pony Project, 7853-7855 [E9-3612]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 33 / Friday, February 20, 2009 / Notices
alternative to the proposed action and
mitigation necessary to minimize or
avoid adverse impacts; or (3) The noaction alternative. The Record of
Decision will also document the
consistency of the proposed action or
one of the alternatives with the Klamath
National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan (1995, as amended).
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. To assist the Forest
Service in identifying and considering
issues and concerns on the proposed
action, comments should be as specific
as possible. A public open house will be
held at the Happy Camp Grange Hall
(64501 Second Avenue, Happy Camp,
CA) on March 4, 2009 from 5 p.m. to 7
p.m. Forest Service staff will be on hand
to meet with you, answer questions, and
discuss the project and process.
Comments may be submitted at the
meeting, by email, fax or letter within
the 30-day scoping period.
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
such a way that they are useful to the
agency’s preparation of the
environmental impact statement.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions. The submission of timely
and specific comments can affect a
reviewer’s ability to participate in
subsequent administrative appeal or
judicial review.
Dated: February 12, 2009.
Patricia A. Grantham,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9–3613 Filed 2–19–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Klamath National Forest, CA, Big Pony
Project
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Klamath National Forest
(KNF) will prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) to document and
publicly disclose the environmental
effects of implementing a vegetation and
fuels management project designed to
reduce fire hazard to research plots and
improve forest health.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
17:55 Feb 19, 2009
Jkt 217001
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received within
45 days from date of publication in the
Federal Register. The draft EIS is
expected in March, 2010 and the final
EIS is expected in August, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Jorge Enriquez, Goosenest Ranger
District, 37805 Highway 97, Macdoel,
CA 96058. Comments may also be sent
via e-mail to commentspacificsouthwest-klamathgoosenest@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to
(530) 398–398–5749 A public scoping
meeting to discuss project details and
identify any potential significant issues
will be held on March 18th, 2009 at the
Goosenest Ranger District, 37805
Highway 97, Macdoel, CA 96058.
Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
become part of the public record for this
proposed action. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, anonymous
comments will not provide the
respondent with standing to appeal the
subsequent decision.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jorge Enriquez, Goosenest Ranger
District at (530) 398–5784 or
jenriquez@fs.fed.us. Individuals who
use telecommunication devices for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8
p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through
Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose for the proposed project
is to reduce the potential fire impacts to
permanent research plots, and within
and adjacent to wildland urban interface
(WUI) near Tennant, California.
Intensive logging in the early 1900s and
subsequent fire suppression have
increased susceptibility to stand
replacing insect, disease, and fire
events. The Big Pony Project is designed
to reduce forest susceptibility to stand
replacing wildfire and increase stand
resiliency to insect, disease and fire
damage while promoting the
development of large-pine dominated
forests.
The proposed Big Pony Project is
located within the Goosenest Ranger
District southeast of Tennant, California.
The legal locations are Sections 24 and
25 in T43NR1W; and Sections 2, 3, 9–
11, 14–18, 19–22, 27–30, and 32 in
T43NR1E, Mt. Diablo Meridian,
Siskiyou County, California. The
proposed project area encompasses
approximately 6,673 acres between
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
7853
4,800 to 6,100 feet elevation. The Big
Pony Project is consistent with
management direction provided in the
Northwest Forest Plan, Land and
Resource Management Plan for the KNF,
National Fire Plan, and the Endangered
Species Act.
The Pacific Southwest Research
Station established long-term research
plots in 2000 to study accelerating the
development of late-successional forest
components. Forests surrounding the
research plots are overstocked with
white fir and ladder fuels that create
conditions conducive to stand replacing
wildfire. There is a need to enhance
protection from catastrophic wildfire to
minimize risk to research plots, private
property, and to avoid fire suppression
difficulties within and adjacent to the
WUI.
Proposed Action
The proposed project area
encompasses approximately 6,673 acres
between 4,800 to 6,100 feet elevation.
The proposed action is to perform
thinning and fuels treatment on 3,180
acres. The Proposed Action consists of
the five following treatments which will
be applied based on existing tree species
present, fuels conditions, forest health,
and wildlife concerns. In all treatments,
the retention of old-growth legacy
components (large diameter trees, large
snags, and downed logs) will be
emphasized.
Roads needed for the project will be
reassessed prior to and during activities
to determine if maintenance is needed
and may require light maintenance to
meet project requirements, generally
consisting of spot rocking, grading, and
re-establishing drainage structures.
There will be no new roads constructed
or added to the Forest road system.
Approximately 0.5 miles of temporary
road will be constructed for project
implementation and will be constructed
to design standards that minimize
ground disturbance and protect
resources. This temporary road will be
decommissioned following project
completion.
1. Fuel Management Zone (FMZ)
Treatments
Three hundred foot wide fuels
reduction treatments will be applied on
708 acres, in a linear fashion centered
along 13 miles of roads. The FMZs are
designed to reduce fire hazard, improve
fire suppression effectiveness, and
improve fire fighter safety in the event
of a wildfire. The FMZs will improve
fire fighting effectiveness and safety by
providing potential anchor points for
fire fighters during initial attack. Trees
less than 10 inches in diameter at breast
E:\FR\FM\20FEN1.SGM
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7854
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 33 / Friday, February 20, 2009 / Notices
height (dbh) will be felled to reduce
ladder fuels and stand density. Large
down woody material greater than 16
inches in diameter and standing snags
greater than 16 inches dbh will be left
intact in accordance with district
guidelines. Post-treatment FMZ
evaluations will determine whether
additional mowing is required to
achieve the proposed action. FMZ
treatments will be expanded beyond the
300 foot buffer in one 21-acre area at the
southeast end of the project area to
address heavy fuel accumulations.
4. Plantation Thinning
Thinning will be applied to 346 acres
of overly dense conifer plantations.
Small diameter trees will be thinned to
a spacing of 12 to 30 feet to create a
mosaic pattern typical in uneven-aged
stands. The variability in stand spacing
will account for site specific conditions
including species composition, slope
and aspect, and the size of existing
trees. The majority of slash (75%) will
be piled and burned and the remaining
25% will be left intact for wildlife
diversity objectives.
2. Fuels Reduction With Emphasis on
White Fir Removal
5. Underburn Only
Underburning will occur on 29 acres
to reduce density of shrubs and white fir
saplings.
Thinning will be applied to 2,021
acres of overly dense conifer stands
favoring ponderosa pine, sugar pine,
and incense cedar. White fir and juniper
will be removed to reduce stand basal
area (BA) to 60–120 square feet. Large
white fir (greater than 40 inches dbh)
will be left for snag recruitment for
wildlife. Retention of old-growth legacy
components (large diameter trees, large
snags and downed logs) will be
emphasized. Thinning would provide a
buffer zone around existing sugar pine
to favor their development. Treatment
areas will be evaluated post-thinning
and if appropriate, they will receive an
underburn or mow treatment. The
following conservation measures will be
implemented around known goshawk
activity centers. (1) Within one mile of
activity centers 15% of stands will not
be treated and, though generally
targeted for removal, a limited amount
of pole-sized and larger white fir will be
retained. (2) Within one-half mile of
activity centers only trees less than 10
inches dbh will be thinned and 16–25
foot spacing will be maintained; except
under the dripline of greater than 30inch dbh ponderosa or sugar pine,
where all trees will be thinned.
3. Fuels Reduction in Lodgepole Pine
Overly dense lodgepole pine stands
impacted by mountain pine beetles will
be thinned on 76 acres. Ponderosa pine
will be retained along with a small
component of white and red fir for
diversity and snag recruitment. All
mature lodgepole pine will be removed.
All trees will be removed within 30 feet
of dominant- and co-dominant
ponderosa pine with a retention BA of
80–100 square feet. Trees up to 10
inches dbh will be removed except
where there are not larger sized trees to
maintain 16 to 25-foot spacing.
Treatment areas will be evaluated postthinning and if appropriate, they will
receive an underburn treatment.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
17:55 Feb 19, 2009
Jkt 217001
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Forest Service is the lead agency.
Responsible Official
Klamath National Forest Supervisor,
Patricia A. Grantham, 1312 Fairlane
Road, Yreka, California 96097.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The responsible official for this
proposal is the forest supervisor. Based
on the analysis in the final EIS, the
responsible official will make the
following decisions and document them
in a record of decision: (1) Whether to
treat stands within the project area as
proposed, or in what manner; and (2)
What project design features should be
applied.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides the
development of the EIS. A public
scoping meeting to discuss project
details and identify any potential
significant issues will be held on March
18th, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the Goosenest
Ranger District, 37805 Hwy 97,
Macdoel, CA 96058. The KNF is
particularly interested in hearing about
any potentially significant issues, points
of discussion, dispute, or debate about
the effects of the proposed action. It is
important that reviewers provide their
comments at such times and in such
manner that they are useful to the
agency’s preparation of the EIS.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. Your participation at
this stage of the project is essential for
the Interdisciplinary (ID) Team to
develop effective, issue-driven
alternatives and mitigations, as needed,
to the proposed action.
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
such a way that they are useful to the
Agency’s preparation of the EIS.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions. The submission of timely
and specific comments can affect a
reviewer’s ability to participate in
subsequent administrative review or
judicial review.
Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
be part of the public record for this
proposed action. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, anonymous
comments will not provide the
respondent with standing to participate
in subsequent administrative review or
judicial review. Written comments can
be submitted via fax (530) 398–5749 or
surface mail to: Jorge Enriquez,
Goosenest Ranger District, 37805 Hwy
97, Macdoel, CA 96058. You can also
comment electronically in a format such
as an e-mail message, plain text (.txt),
rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc) to
comments-pacificsouthwest-klamathgoosenest@fs.fed.us . Please call Jorge
Enriquez at (530) 398–5784 or visit the
Klamath National Forest Web page at
https://www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/
projects/projects/index.shtml for
additional information regarding the
proposed action. Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday. A field
trip with interested participants will be
arranged.
A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an
environmental impact statement will be
published in the Federal Register. We
would appreciate receiving your
comments within 45 days of
publication. 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).
Thank you for your interest in the
proposed project and in the
management of our National Forests.
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 33 / Friday, February 20, 2009 / Notices
Dated: February 12, 2009.
Patricia A. Grantham,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9–3612 Filed 2–19–09; 8:45 am]
3. There are no known regulatory
alternatives which would accomplish
the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in
connection with the product proposed
for addition to the Procurement List.
Comments on this certification are
invited. Commenters should identify the
statement(s) underlying the certification
on which they are providing additional
information.
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List Proposed Addition
End of Certification
Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Proposed addition to the
Procurement List.
The following product is proposed for
addition to Procurement List for
production by the nonprofit agency
listed:
AGENCY:
The Committee is proposing
to add to the Procurement List a product
to be furnished by nonprofit agencies
employing persons who are blind or
have other severe disabilities.
Comments Must Be Received on or
Before: 3/22/2009.
ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800,
1421 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259.
For Further Information or to Submit
Comments Contact: Barry S. Lineback,
Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703)
603–0655, or e-mail
CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.
SUMMARY:
This
notice is published pursuant to 41
U.S.C. 47(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its
purpose is to provide interested persons
an opportunity to submit comments on
the proposed actions.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additions
If the Committee approves the
proposed addition, the entities of the
Federal Government identified in this
notice for this product will be required
to procure the product listed below from
nonprofit agencies employing persons
who are blind or have other severe
disabilities.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
I certify that the following action will
not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The major factors considered for this
certification were:
1. If approved, the action will not
result in any additional reporting,
recordkeeping or other compliance
requirements for small entities other
than the small organizations that will
furnish the product to the Government.
2. If approved, the action will result
in authorizing small entities to furnish
the product to the Government.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
17:55 Feb 19, 2009
Jkt 217001
Products
Tape, Pressure Sensitive, 2 inch Tan Package
Sealing.
NSN: 7510–00–079–7906—Tape, Pressure
Sensitive, 2 in Tan Package Sealing.
NPA: Cincinnati Association for the Blind,
Cincinnati, OH.
Contracting Activity: Federal Acquisition
Service, GSA/FSS OFC SUP CTR—Paper
Products.
Coverage: A-list for the total Government
requirement as specified by the General
Services Administration.
Barry S. Lineback,
Director, Program Operations.
[FR Doc. E9–3639 Filed 2–19–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6353–01–P
COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List Additions
AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Additions to the Procurement
List.
SUMMARY: This action adds to the
Procurement List products to be
furnished by nonprofit agencies
employing persons who are blind or
have other severe disabilities, and
deletes from the Procurement List
products previously furnished by such
agencies.
Effective Date: 3/23/2009.
Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800,
1421 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barry S. Lineback, Telephone: (703)
603–7740, Fax: (703) 603–0655, or email CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
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7855
Additions
On 12/19/2008, the Committee for
Purchase From People Who Are Blind
or Severely Disabled published notice
(73 FR 245, page 77607) of proposed
additions to the Procurement List.
After consideration of the material
presented to it concerning capability of
qualified nonprofit agencies to provide
the products and impact of the
additions on the current or most recent
contractors, the Committee has
determined that the products listed
below are suitable for procurement by
the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C.
46–48c and 41 CFR 51–2.4.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
I certify that the following action will
not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The major factors considered for this
certification were:
1. The action will not result in any
additional reporting, recordkeeping or
other compliance requirements for small
entities other than the small
organizations that will furnish the
products to the Government.
2. The action will result in
authorizing small entities to furnish the
products to the Government.
3. There are no known regulatory
alternatives which would accomplish
the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in
connection with the products proposed
for addition to the Procurement List.
End of Certification
Accordingly, the following products
are added to the Procurement List:
Products
United States Army Corps of Engineers
Uniforms
NSN: COE051—Windbreaker
NSN: COE050—3 Season Jacket
NSN: COE048—Mesh Base Ball Cap
NSN: COE047—Base Ball Cap
NSN: COE046—Jacket
NSN: COE045—Coveralls
NSN: COE044—Unisex Coveralls
NSN: COE043—Unisex Coveralls
NSN: COE042—Parka
NSN: COE041—Unisex Vest
NSN: COE040—Sweatshirt
NSN: COE039—Sweatshirt
NSN: COE036—Dress Belt
NSN: COE035—Black Web Belt
NSN: COE034B—Gloves
NSN: COE034A—Gloves
NSN: COE033—Jeans
NSN: COE032—Jeans
NSN: COE031—Pants
NSN: COE030—Pants
NSN: COE027—Unisex T-Shirt
NSN: COE025—Unisex Shirt
NSN: COE024—Work Shirt
E:\FR\FM\20FEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 33 (Friday, February 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7853-7855]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3612]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Klamath National Forest, CA, Big Pony Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Klamath National Forest (KNF) will prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to document and publicly disclose
the environmental effects of implementing a vegetation and fuels
management project designed to reduce fire hazard to research plots and
improve forest health.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
within 45 days from date of publication in the Federal Register. The
draft EIS is expected in March, 2010 and the final EIS is expected in
August, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Jorge Enriquez, Goosenest Ranger
District, 37805 Highway 97, Macdoel, CA 96058. Comments may also be
sent via e-mail to comments-pacificsouthwest-klamath-
goosenest@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to (530) 398-398-5749 A public
scoping meeting to discuss project details and identify any potential
significant issues will be held on March 18th, 2009 at the Goosenest
Ranger District, 37805 Highway 97, Macdoel, CA 96058.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will become part of the public
record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide
the respondent with standing to appeal the subsequent decision.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jorge Enriquez, Goosenest Ranger
District at (530) 398-5784 or jenriquez@fs.fed.us. Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8
p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose for the proposed project is to reduce the potential
fire impacts to permanent research plots, and within and adjacent to
wildland urban interface (WUI) near Tennant, California. Intensive
logging in the early 1900s and subsequent fire suppression have
increased susceptibility to stand replacing insect, disease, and fire
events. The Big Pony Project is designed to reduce forest
susceptibility to stand replacing wildfire and increase stand
resiliency to insect, disease and fire damage while promoting the
development of large-pine dominated forests.
The proposed Big Pony Project is located within the Goosenest
Ranger District southeast of Tennant, California. The legal locations
are Sections 24 and 25 in T43NR1W; and Sections 2, 3, 9-11, 14-18, 19-
22, 27-30, and 32 in T43NR1E, Mt. Diablo Meridian, Siskiyou County,
California. The proposed project area encompasses approximately 6,673
acres between 4,800 to 6,100 feet elevation. The Big Pony Project is
consistent with management direction provided in the Northwest Forest
Plan, Land and Resource Management Plan for the KNF, National Fire
Plan, and the Endangered Species Act.
The Pacific Southwest Research Station established long-term
research plots in 2000 to study accelerating the development of late-
successional forest components. Forests surrounding the research plots
are overstocked with white fir and ladder fuels that create conditions
conducive to stand replacing wildfire. There is a need to enhance
protection from catastrophic wildfire to minimize risk to research
plots, private property, and to avoid fire suppression difficulties
within and adjacent to the WUI.
Proposed Action
The proposed project area encompasses approximately 6,673 acres
between 4,800 to 6,100 feet elevation. The proposed action is to
perform thinning and fuels treatment on 3,180 acres. The Proposed
Action consists of the five following treatments which will be applied
based on existing tree species present, fuels conditions, forest
health, and wildlife concerns. In all treatments, the retention of old-
growth legacy components (large diameter trees, large snags, and downed
logs) will be emphasized.
Roads needed for the project will be reassessed prior to and during
activities to determine if maintenance is needed and may require light
maintenance to meet project requirements, generally consisting of spot
rocking, grading, and re-establishing drainage structures. There will
be no new roads constructed or added to the Forest road system.
Approximately 0.5 miles of temporary road will be constructed for
project implementation and will be constructed to design standards that
minimize ground disturbance and protect resources. This temporary road
will be decommissioned following project completion.
1. Fuel Management Zone (FMZ) Treatments
Three hundred foot wide fuels reduction treatments will be applied
on 708 acres, in a linear fashion centered along 13 miles of roads. The
FMZs are designed to reduce fire hazard, improve fire suppression
effectiveness, and improve fire fighter safety in the event of a
wildfire. The FMZs will improve fire fighting effectiveness and safety
by providing potential anchor points for fire fighters during initial
attack. Trees less than 10 inches in diameter at breast
[[Page 7854]]
height (dbh) will be felled to reduce ladder fuels and stand density.
Large down woody material greater than 16 inches in diameter and
standing snags greater than 16 inches dbh will be left intact in
accordance with district guidelines. Post-treatment FMZ evaluations
will determine whether additional mowing is required to achieve the
proposed action. FMZ treatments will be expanded beyond the 300 foot
buffer in one 21-acre area at the southeast end of the project area to
address heavy fuel accumulations.
2. Fuels Reduction With Emphasis on White Fir Removal
Thinning will be applied to 2,021 acres of overly dense conifer
stands favoring ponderosa pine, sugar pine, and incense cedar. White
fir and juniper will be removed to reduce stand basal area (BA) to 60-
120 square feet. Large white fir (greater than 40 inches dbh) will be
left for snag recruitment for wildlife. Retention of old-growth legacy
components (large diameter trees, large snags and downed logs) will be
emphasized. Thinning would provide a buffer zone around existing sugar
pine to favor their development. Treatment areas will be evaluated
post-thinning and if appropriate, they will receive an underburn or mow
treatment. The following conservation measures will be implemented
around known goshawk activity centers. (1) Within one mile of activity
centers 15% of stands will not be treated and, though generally
targeted for removal, a limited amount of pole-sized and larger white
fir will be retained. (2) Within one-half mile of activity centers only
trees less than 10 inches dbh will be thinned and 16-25 foot spacing
will be maintained; except under the dripline of greater than 30-inch
dbh ponderosa or sugar pine, where all trees will be thinned.
3. Fuels Reduction in Lodgepole Pine
Overly dense lodgepole pine stands impacted by mountain pine
beetles will be thinned on 76 acres. Ponderosa pine will be retained
along with a small component of white and red fir for diversity and
snag recruitment. All mature lodgepole pine will be removed. All trees
will be removed within 30 feet of dominant- and co-dominant ponderosa
pine with a retention BA of 80-100 square feet. Trees up to 10 inches
dbh will be removed except where there are not larger sized trees to
maintain 16 to 25-foot spacing. Treatment areas will be evaluated post-
thinning and if appropriate, they will receive an underburn treatment.
4. Plantation Thinning
Thinning will be applied to 346 acres of overly dense conifer
plantations. Small diameter trees will be thinned to a spacing of 12 to
30 feet to create a mosaic pattern typical in uneven-aged stands. The
variability in stand spacing will account for site specific conditions
including species composition, slope and aspect, and the size of
existing trees. The majority of slash (75%) will be piled and burned
and the remaining 25% will be left intact for wildlife diversity
objectives.
5. Underburn Only
Underburning will occur on 29 acres to reduce density of shrubs and
white fir saplings.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Forest Service is the lead agency.
Responsible Official
Klamath National Forest Supervisor, Patricia A. Grantham, 1312
Fairlane Road, Yreka, California 96097.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The responsible official for this proposal is the forest
supervisor. Based on the analysis in the final EIS, the responsible
official will make the following decisions and document them in a
record of decision: (1) Whether to treat stands within the project area
as proposed, or in what manner; and (2) What project design features
should be applied.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the EIS. A public scoping meeting to discuss project
details and identify any potential significant issues will be held on
March 18th, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the Goosenest Ranger District, 37805 Hwy
97, Macdoel, CA 96058. The KNF is particularly interested in hearing
about any potentially significant issues, points of discussion,
dispute, or debate about the effects of the proposed action. It is
important that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in
such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of the
EIS.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. Your
participation at this stage of the project is essential for the
Interdisciplinary (ID) Team to develop effective, issue-driven
alternatives and mitigations, as needed, to the proposed action.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's
concerns and contentions. The submission of timely and specific
comments can affect a reviewer's ability to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide
the respondent with standing to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review. Written comments can be
submitted via fax (530) 398-5749 or surface mail to: Jorge Enriquez,
Goosenest Ranger District, 37805 Hwy 97, Macdoel, CA 96058. You can
also comment electronically in a format such as an e-mail message,
plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc) to comments-
pacificsouthwest-klamath-goosenest@fs.fed.us . Please call Jorge
Enriquez at (530) 398-5784 or visit the Klamath National Forest Web
page at https://www.fs.fed.us/r5/klamath/projects/projects/index.shtml
for additional information regarding the proposed action. Individuals
who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8
a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. A field trip with
interested participants will be arranged.
A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact
statement will be published in the Federal Register. We would
appreciate receiving your comments within 45 days of publication.
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).
Thank you for your interest in the proposed project and in the
management of our National Forests.
[[Page 7855]]
Dated: February 12, 2009.
Patricia A. Grantham,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9-3612 Filed 2-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
