Coconino and Kaibab National Forests, Arizona, Four Forest Restoration Initiative, 4279-4281 [2011-1444]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 25, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4279-4281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1444]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Coconino and Kaibab National Forests, Arizona, Four Forest 
Restoration Initiative

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Coconino and Kaibab National Forests are proposing to 
conduct restoration activities within a 750,000 acre ponderosa pine 
ecosystem over approximately 10 years. Treatment areas are located on 
the Williams and Tusayan districts of the Kaibab National Forest and on 
the Flagstaff, Mogollon Rim and Red Rock districts of the Coconino 
National Forest. Project treatments would occur in the vicinity of 
Flagstaff, Munds Park, Mormon Lakes, Tusayan, and Williams, Arizona. 
The objective of this project is to re-establish forest structure, 
pattern and composition, which will lead to increased forest resiliency 
and function. Resiliency increases the ability of the ponderosa pine 
forest to survive natural disturbances such as insect and disease, fire 
and climate change.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by March 11, 2011. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
in October, 2011 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected April, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Coconino National Forest, 
Attention: 4FRI, 1814 S. Thompson Street, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001. 
Comments may also be sent via e-mail to 4FRI_comments@fs.fed.us, or 
via facsimile to (928) 527-3620.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Henry Provencio, 4FRI Team Leader at 
(928) 226-4684 or via e-mail at hprovencio@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

[[Page 4280]]

between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    Reduced forest health and the lack of diversity have resulted in a 
forest that is less resilient to the damaging effects of drought, 
insect and disease, and intense wildfire. The desired condition is to 
move towards an uneven-aged forest structure with all size classes 
represented. There is a need to improve forest structure and maintain 
the forest mosaic with frequent, low intensity fire. There is a need to 
implement the forest plan which states, ``Manage for old age trees such 
that as much old forest structure as possible is sustained over time 
across the landscape'' (USDA Forest Service 1987, as amended). 
Vegetation diversity throughout the analysis area has declined. The 
desired condition is to have Gambel oak and aspen present and 
reproducing. There is a need to maintain and promote Gambel oak by 
removing ponderosa pine competition, stimulating new growth, and 
maintaining growth in large diameter trees. Where possible, there is a 
need to regenerate aspen by removing ponderosa pine competition, 
stimulating growth and increasing individual recruitment.
    Grasslands (which includes wet and dry meadows), which were once 
found throughout the analysis area, have shifted to woody vegetation as 
a result of tree encroachment (USDA Forest Service 2008) (USDA Forest 
Service 2009). The desired condition is to restore the historic 
patterns of trees within grasslands. There is a need to reduce/remove 
tree encroachment from historic grasslands. To maintain Gambel oak, 
aspen and grasslands, there is a need to reduce canopy density by 
thinning ponderosa pine encroachment.
    Fire regimes in the analysis area have shifted from frequent, low-
intensity surface fires (Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC I) to lower 
frequency, high-intensity crown fires (FRCC III). The desired condition 
is to have the majority of the analysis area in FRCC I. There is a need 
to reduce the potential for crown fire and high intensity surface fire. 
In order to maintain grassy openings and interspaces between trees (as 
well as promote Gambel oak and aspen), there is a need to move towards 
having frequent fires that burn with low to mixed severity in 0 to 35 
year intervals across most of the analysis area. There is a need to 
strategically place treatments to reduce the effects of high intensity 
and high severity wildfire on resources (such as sensitive wildlife 
habitat and the urban interface).
    Riparian systems on the Coconino portion of the analysis area have 
shifted from having large trees with open canopies to small and medium 
trees with closed canopies. Understory vegetation has been reduced 
(USDA Forest Service 2009). The desired condition is to promote large 
trees and understory vegetation. There is a need to reduce tree 
encroachment and increase/maintain grasses, forbs and woody vegetation. 
There is a lack of recharge in the aquifers associated with springs and 
seeps due to drought, lack of fire, and closed forest canopies which 
increase evapotranspiration. The desired condition is to maintain or 
restore functionality. In order to restore functionality, there is a 
need to reduce tree encroachment, maintain these features through 
natural processes, and limit future disturbance where possible and 
practical.
    Throughout the analysis area, dry ephemeral channels have been 
degraded by past actions. The desired condition is to have fully 
functioning ephemeral channels which may promote the establishment of 
native vegetation and reduced sediment flows. There is a need to 
restore channels to a functioning condition that more closely resembles 
their natural state.
    Throughout the analysis area, there are closed roads and 
unauthorized user-created routes present. Some road prisms, which were 
identified for closure in other environmental analyses, are eroding and 
contributing sediment. The desired condition is to return road prisms 
(as possible and practical) to their natural condition. There is a need 
to promote and maintain vegetation re-establishment and physically 
preclude future motorized use on select closed roads and user-created 
routes.

Proposed Action

    In response to the purpose and need, the Coconino and Kaibab 
National Forests propose to conduct restoration activities within a 
750,000 acre ponderosa pine ecosystem over approximately a 10-year 
period. The draft proposed action would:
    * Cut trees using a range of treatment methods including group 
selection, intermediate and pre-commercial thinning. Treatments would 
focus on the most abundant tree size classes in order to achieve and/or 
set the analysis area on the trajectory to attain greater diversity 
(heterogeneity) in spatial patterns and size class distribution. 
Treatments would be designed to manage for old age trees in order to 
have and sustain as much old forest structure as possible across the 
landscape. Strategically-placed treatments would be designed to create 
tree groups and clumps that stimulate grass, forbs and individual tree 
growth. The strategic placement of treatments would maximize the 
ability to reduce fire risk. Trees cut would be mechanically piled, 
burned, lopped and scattered or removed.
    * Cut trees using methods that promote and stimulate the growth of 
Gambel oak and aspen in order to improve vegetation diversity and 
wildlife habitat. Protective measures (such as fencing or tree felling) 
would be used to protect aspen from ungulate use during critical growth 
periods.
    * Cut trees that have encroached on grasslands (including wet and 
dry meadows) to restore historic tree patterns using evidence based 
science as a guide. After treatment and when appropriate, fire would be 
used to maintain the grasslands.
    * Cut trees within select Mexican spotted Owl Protected Activity 
Centers (PACs) to improve habitat.
    * Conduct prescribed burning over a period of 10 years. Burning 
methods would include jackpot, pile burning and broadcast. Maintenance 
burns would occur as needed to maintain openings and interspaces 
between trees, maintain tree groups and clumps, and move towards and/or 
maintain Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) I.
    * Utilize protective measures (such as fencing) to protect 
sensitive riparian resources including springs, seeps and restored 
channels.
    * Restore dry ephemeral channels to reduce sediment delivery, 
improve watershed function and increase the potential for future 
riparian vegetation establishment.
    * Utilize (and reconstruct as needed) existing closed roads. Use of 
the roads would be temporary. Once treatment has occurred, roads would 
be returned to a closed status.
    * Reconstruct roads to access treatment areas. Reconstruction may 
include road blading, culvert installation or replacement and 
gravelling.
    * Decommission select closed and unauthorized roads. Decommission 
methods would include installing signs, gates, rock barriers, ripping, 
or re-contouring of slopes to preclude future motorized use. Roads that 
have established vegetation may need minimal treatment while others may 
need to be entirely ripped, seeded and slopes re-contoured.
    * Obliterate select unauthorized, user-created routes on the Kaibab 
National Forest. Mechanical equipment would be used to install rock 
barriers and/or rip, seed and re-contour slopes.

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Possible Alternatives

    A full range of alternatives to the proposed action, including a 
no-action alternative, will be considered. The no-action alternative 
represents no change and serves as the baseline for the comparison 
among the action alternatives.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Officials are the Coconino Forest Supervisor and 
Kaibab Forest Supervisor.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Given the purpose and need of the project, the Forest Supervisors 
will review the proposed action, other alternatives and the 
environmental consequences in order to make the following decisions 
including determining: (1) Whether to select the proposed action or 
another alternative; (2) the location, design, and scheduling of 
proposed restoration activities; (3) the estimated products, if any, to 
be made available from the project; (4) mitigation measures, monitoring 
requirements and adaptive management actions; and, (5) whether forest 
plan amendments are needed.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. Several 
workshops are planned for the purposes of discussing and refining the 
proposed action. Workshops begin on January 20, 2011 and continue 
throughout February 2011. February workshop dates are: February 2, 9, 
16, and 24, 2011. All workshops begin at 1 p.m. and end at 5 p.m. With 
the exception of the February 9, 2011 meeting, all workshops will be 
held at the Coconino National Forest Supervisor's Office, 1824 S. 
Thompson Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86101. The February 9, 2011 workshop 
will be held at the Williams Ranger District, 742 South Clover Road, 
Williams, Arizona. Please contact Paula Cote' at (928) 226-4686 for 
additional information.
    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.
    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.

    Dated: January 19, 2011.
Kristin M. Bail,
Deputy Forest Supervisor, Coconino National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2011-1444 Filed 1-24-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M