Intermountain Region, Boise National Forest, Emmett Ranger District; Idaho Scriver Creek Integrated Restoration Project, 25198 [2010-10662]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 25198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10662]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Intermountain Region, Boise National Forest, Emmett Ranger 
District; Idaho Scriver Creek Integrated Restoration Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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

SUMMARY: The Emmett Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the integrated 
restoration project in the Scriver Creek subwatershed. The 11,500-acre 
project is located approximately 6 miles north of Crouch, Idaho. The 
Scriver Creek Integrated Restoration Project proposes to undertake 
vegetation condition restoration, improve watershed conditions, and 
utilize wood products resulting from restoration activities to support 
local and regional communities through a variety of activities 
including commercial and noncommercial vegetation management and road 
system modifications and maintenance.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by June 7, 2010. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
February 2011 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
June 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 1805 Highway 16, Room 5, Emmett, ID 
83617. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to comments-intermtn-boise-emmett@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 208-365-7307.
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Roseberry, Project Team Leader, 
208-365-7000. 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

    Three purposes have been identified for the project: (1) Move 
toward restoration of Forest Plan desired vegetation conditions by 
manipulating the forest structure, density, and species composition in 
order to accelerate development of larger tree size class stands and 
old forest habitat; (2) improve watershed conditions and reduce road-
related impacts to wildlife, fish, soil, and water resources; and (3) 
utilize wood products resulting from restoration treatments to support 
local and regional economies.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action would undertake commercial timber harvest on 
about 3,265 acres utilizing tractor/off-road jammer (1,124 acres), 
skyline (926 acres), and helicopter (1,215 acres) logging systems. In 
addition, all acres treated by commercial timber activities (about 
3,265 acres) would be followed by thinning of submerchantable trees. 
About 839 acres of existing plantations would be thinned from below of 
small diameter (typically less than 8 inches diameter at breast height 
(d.b.h.). Of these acres, approximately 163 acres of these thinning 
activities would occur within riparian conservation areas (RCAs). About 
18 helicopter landing would be used or developed to facility commercial 
timber harvest activities. Approximately 21.5 million board feet (MMBF) 
would be provided as sawlogs to local and/or regional processing 
facilities.
    The Proposed Action would construct about 2.4 miles of new 
specified National Forest System (NFS) roads and 1.0 mile of temporary 
road. About 4.3 miles of road realignment on NFS road 696 would occur 
to provide long-term accress and eliminate segements of the road within 
RCA corridors. Approximately 18.5 miles of NFS roads would be 
decommissioned. Roadway improvements, such as spot surface aggregate 
placement and drainage improvements, would be undertaken on NFS roads 
(in particular RCA roads) where needed. Aquatic organism passage (AOP), 
i.e., fish passage, would be restored by replacing the existing 
culverts on NFS roads 693, 693A and 695 with AOP passable structures. 
Application of up to 300 feet of surface gravel applied to both sides 
of road/stream crossings when located on perennial streams, for all NFS 
roads to be used for timber harvest activities (except for NFS roads 
proposed to be decommissioned).

Possible Alternatives

    The only other alternative identified at this time is the ``No 
Action'' alternative.

Responsible Official

    Boise National Forest Supervisor, Cecilia R. Seesholtz.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Boise National Forest Supervisor will decide the following: (1) 
Should vegetation restoration activities be carried out within the 
project area at this time, and if so, which stands should be treated 
and what silvicultural systems be applied?; (2) what, if any, changes 
to the NFS road system should be made?; and (3) what design features, 
mitigation measures, and/or monitoring should be applied to the 
project? This decision will be made within the scope of the 2003 Boise 
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), as 
anticipated to be amended later in 2010.

Addresses

    Project information is available on the Boise National Forest Web 
site, https://fs.usda.gov/boise (click on Scriver Integrated Restoration 
Project).

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.
    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.

    Dated: April 30, 2010.
Cecilia R. Seesholtz,
Forest Supervisor, Boise National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2010-10662 Filed 5-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M