Six Rivers National Forest, Mad River Ranger District, Ruth, CA; Kelsey Peak Timber Sale and Fuelbreak Project, 46738-46739 [E9-21808]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 175 (Friday, September 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46738-46739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21808]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Six Rivers National Forest, Mad River Ranger District, Ruth, CA; 
Kelsey Peak Timber Sale and Fuelbreak Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Forest Service is proposing the Kelsey Peak Timber Sale 
and Fuelbreak Project to provide timber products to local economies, 
reduce tree densities, improve watershed conditions and provide 
defensible space to improve fire protection and human safety. The 
Kelsey Peak planning area encompasses approximately 19,245 acres; 
18,858 acres are National Forest System (NFS) lands and 398 acres are 
in private ownership. The project would treat approximately 4,789 acres 
of NFS lands by harvesting timber through thinning on approximately 
2,249 acres and create 2,540 acres of fuel corridors.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by October 13, 2009. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is 
expected March 2010 and the Final Environmental Impact Statement is 
expected June 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Thomas Hudson, Mad River Ranger 
District, 741 State Highway 36, Bridgeville, CA 95526. Comments may 
also be sent via e-mail to comments-pacificsouthwest-six-rivers-mad-river@fs.fed.us, attention to the Kelsey Peak Project, or via facsimile 
to (707) 574-6273.
    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.
    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 or judicial reviews.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Hudson; Mad River Ranger 
District, 741 State Highway 36, Bridgeville, CA 95526 or by telephone 
at (707) 574-6233.
    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: The proposed project would take place within 
the Upper Mad River watershed on NFS lands administered by the Mad 
River Ranger District in Trinity County, California. The legal location 
includes portions of the following areas: T. 20 S., R. 8 E.; T. 30 S., 
R. 8 E.; and T. 28 N., R. 12 W.; and T. 27 N., R. 12 W.
    The Kelsey Peak Project is designed to contribute timber commodity 
outputs in support of the Six Rivers Forest National Forest Land and 
Resource Management Plan (LRMP). One of the goals of the LRMP is to 
provide a stable supply of outputs and services that contribute to 
local, regional, and national social and economic needs. The Six Rivers 
National Forest seeks to provide a sustainable, predictable, long-term 
timber supply for local economies.
    Tree densities within many stands greatly exceed desired stocking 
levels. Overstocked stands can be unhealthy with low resistance to 
insect and disease outbreaks. Overstocked small young stands will take 
much longer to grow into larger mature trees, increasing the amount of 
time needed to balance size classes across the landscape.
    The project area lies within the Mad River Watershed, which has 
been listed as water quality impaired. The primary sources of sediment 
are thought to be the current road conditions.
    The project planning area occurs within portions of the wildland-
urban interface for the communities of Ruth and Three Forks, CA. 
Numerous homes and several businesses contribute to the high economic 
value ranking in the area. Fuel hazards here are moderate, but fire 
risk is high due to the number of people in the area.
    Sensitive wildlife and plant species and survey and manage 
botanical species are known to occur within the planning area.

Purpose and Need for Action

    Given Forest goals, and environmental conditions within the 
planning area, the purpose and need for the proposed action is:
     Provide timber commodities that contribute towards the 
Forest's Allowable Sale Quantity as part of the Forest's obligation to 
sustain the local rural economy.
     Where stands are overstocked, reduce tree densities to 
increase stand vigor and resilience to fire and disease and increase 
growth rates that would lead to a more balanced age/size class 
distribution.
     Improve water quality within the watershed.
     Provide defensible space along strategic road corridors to 
improve fire protection and human safety for both the Forest and 
adjacent communities.
    Within the context of meeting the purpose and need, there would be 
opportunities for fuelwood or biomass utilization associated with 
proposed activities.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action is designed to meet the project's purpose and 
need while meeting the standards and guidelines of the LRMP. The Kelsey 
Peak Timber Sale and Fuelbreak Project would treat vegetation to meet 
the purpose and need.
    1. Approximately 20 million board feet (MMBF) of timber would be 
harvested from approximately 2,249

[[Page 46739]]

acres within 98 treatment units. Harvesting would be accomplished by 
utilizing ground-based, skyline, and helicopter logging systems. 
Actions connected with commercial timber harvest include:
    a. Treating harvest activity generated fuel;
    b. Constructing approximately 1.9 miles of new temporary road, and 
re-opening/re-utilizing approximately 5.1 miles of existing non-system 
roads;
    c. Constructing new landings and reutilization of existing 
landings;
    d. Hauling of commercial timber products on County Road 501 and 
Forest Service System roads within the planning area;
    e. Felling and removal, where appropriate, of hazard trees along 
haul routes; and
    f. Decommissioning, maintaining, and reconstructing roads as 
needed.
    2. Fuelbreaks or corridors would be strategically placed along 39 
miles of road.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official is the Forest Supervisor, Six Rivers 
National Forest.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The responsible official will decide whether to implement the 
proposed action, no action or other alternatives considered under 
analysis. He will consider the comments, responses, disclosure of 
environmental consequences, and applicable laws, regulations, and 
policies in making the decision and stating the rationale in the Record 
of Decision.

Scoping Process

    This Notice of Intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the Environmental Impact Statement. Public scoping 
will include notices in the newspaper of record and mailings of the 
scoping package to interested and affected parties and posting of the 
project on the Six Rivers National Forest project planning web page and 
notice in the Quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions.
    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 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: September 2, 2009.
 Nancy J. Gibson,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Six Rivers National Forest.
[FR Doc. E9-21808 Filed 9-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P