Black Hills National Forest, Hell Canyon Ranger District, South Dakota, Vestal Project, 22670-22671 [2011-9743]

Download as PDF 22670 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 78 / Friday, April 22, 2011 / Notices with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent environmental documents. Dated: April 18, 2011. Alan D. Olson, Acting Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2011–9871 Filed 4–21–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Black Hills National Forest, Hell Canyon Ranger District, South Dakota, Vestal Project Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). AGENCY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement on a proposal to use multiple vegetation treatments focused on reducing the threat to ecosystem components including forest resources from an existing insect epidemic (mountain pine beetle), creating a landscape condition that reduces the potential for high severity wildfire adjacent to the at-risk community of Custer, SD. The proposal is being planned for the 43,516 acre Vestal Project that includes about 25,726 acres of National Forest System land and about 17,790 acres of interspersed private land. The project area is located surrounding the city of Custer, SD. This project will be conducted as an authorized project under Section 102 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA). Actions proposed for the Vestal Project would occur on National Forest System lands only. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis would be most useful if received by 30 days following the date of this notice. The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be available for public review by November 2011 and the final environmental impact statement is expected to be completed by March 2012. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Lynn D. Kolund, District Ranger, Black Hills National Forest, Hell Canyon Ranger District, 330 Mount Rushmore Road, Custer, South Dakota 57730. Telephone Number: (605) 673–4853. Email: comments-rocky-mountain-blackhills-hell-canyon@fs.fed.us. Electronic comments must be readable in Word, Rich Text or PDF formats. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:01 Apr 21, 2011 Jkt 223001 Kelly Honors, Team Leader or Lynn D. Kolund, District Ranger, at the Hell Canyon Ranger District office in Custer, SD at (605) 673–4853. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The actions proposed are in direct response to management direction provided by the Black Hills National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). The site specific actions are designed, based on Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines, to move existing resource conditions in the Vestal Project toward meeting Forest Plan Goals and Objectives. The project area is located surrounding the at-risk community of Custer, SD. Purpose and Need for Action The primary purpose for action in the Vestal project is to reduce the threat to forest resources from the existing mountain pine beetle (MPB) epidemic. This action is needed because there is a rapidly increasing MPB outbreak occurring within the project area which is resulting in substantial levels of pine mortality. Existing stand conditions across the project area are largely at medium to high risk for MPB caused mortality. A secondary purpose of this project is to protect local communities and watersheds from large-scale wildfire. This action is needed because the project area is located within and surrounding the town of Custer, SD and overall fire hazard in the area is high due to dense stand conditions and dead, dry fuels resulting from MPB caused mortality. Approximately 40 percent of lands in the project area are privately owned, with an estimated 3,194 private structures. Proposed Action • Thin and harvest approximately 19,779 acres of pine stands using a variety of methods to treat mountain pine beetle (MPB) infested stands, reduce the overall density of pine trees and create a mosaic of structural stages across the landscape. Both commercial harvest and non-commercial thinning will be used to reduce the stand density, and associated fuel hazard conditions and susceptibility to mountain pine beetle infestations. • Reduce the amount of fuels that currently exist and that are modified by mountain pine beetle caused mortality by creation of fuelbreaks on 180 acres and deadfall treatment on 24,110 acres. Deadfall treatments could include lopping, chipping, crushing, piling and burning, and mastication of fuels. Prescribed broadcast burning on approximately 1,761 acres is also planned to disrupt the continuity of PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 surface and canopy fuels. The deadfall treatment and prescribed burning would occur on sites also proposed for other mechanical treatments. • Remove conifers from hardwood stands and meadows on approximately 1,889 acres and convert pine stands to aspen on 126 acres to provide additional wildfire protection by enhancing natural fuel breaks. • Removal of live pine trees which have mountain pine beetle larva in them across the entire project area and as a stand alone treatment on approximately 3,655 acres. This is a suppression method for mountain pine beetle infestations. • Conversion of 0.6 miles of unauthorized road to system road to facilitate treatments, and closure of approximately 0.9 miles of system road to protect resources. Responsible Official Lynn D. Kolund, District Ranger, Hell Canyon Ranger District, Black Hills National Forest, 330 Mount Rushmore Road, Custer, South Dakota 57730. Nature of Decision To Be Made The decision to be made is whether or not to implement the proposed action or possible alternative at this time. Scoping Process The Hell Canyon Ranger District has mailed letters with comprehensive scoping documents to local and tribal government representatives, permittees, organizations and others. A public notice will also be published in local newspapers. The scoping document with attached maps will also be posted on the Black Hills National Forest Web site. A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11, 2011 from 5–7 p.m. at the Custer High School, Custer, South Dakota. Scoping comments submitted based on this NOI will be most useful if received within 30 days from the date of this notice. Comment Requested This notice of intent is part of the scoping process which will guide the development of the EIS. Comments received will assist the planning team to identify key issues and opportunities used to refine the proposal or develop possible alternatives. Comments on the DEIS will be requested during the 45 day comment period following publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, expected in November, 2011. E:\FR\FM\22APN1.SGM 22APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 78 / Friday, April 22, 2011 / Notices 22671 Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent Environmental Review DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Forest Service The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must structure their participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer’s position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this proposed action participate by the close of the 45day comment period so that substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the final environmental impact statement. To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points. Custer County Resource Advisory Committee Lincoln County Resource Advisory Committee Meeting mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 21. Dated: April 18, 2011. Dennis Jaeger, Deputy Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest. [FR Doc. 2011–9743 Filed 4–21–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P AGENCY: ACTION: ACTION: Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. The Custer County Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Custer, South Dakota. The committee is meeting as authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (Pub. L. 110–343) and in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the meeting is review of project proposals to be implemented in 2012. DATES: The meeting will be held May 10, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 1019 N 5th Street at the Office of the Forest Supervisor. Written comments should be sent to 330 MT Rushmore Rd., Custer, South Dakota 57730. Comments may also be sent via email to lkolund@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 605–673–5461. All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received at 330 MT Rushmore Rd., Custer, SD. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 605–673– 4853 to facilitate entry into the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Kolund, District Ranger, Hell Canyon Ranger District, 605–673–4853, lkolund@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 Standard Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting is open to the public. The following business will be conducted: Review of Project Proposals for implementation in 2012. Persons who wish to bring related matters to the attention of the Committee may file written statements with the Committee staff before or after the meeting. Public input sessions will be provided and individuals who made written requests by May 5, 2011, will have the opportunity to address the Committee at those sessions. SUMMARY: Dated: April 15, 2011. Lynn Kolund, District Ranger. [FR Doc. 2011–9757 Filed 4–21–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:01 Apr 21, 2011 Jkt 223001 Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The Lincoln County Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Libby, MT. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110–343) (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with the title II of the Act. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to review 2011 project proposals. DATES: May 4, 2011, 6 p.m. ADDRESSES: Forest Supervisor’s Office, 31374 Hwy 2, Libby, Montana. Written comments may be submitted as described under Supplementary Information. All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received at the Forest Supervisor’s Office. Please call ahead to 406–283–7764 to facilitate entry into the building to view comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janette Turk, Committee Coordinator, Kootenai National Forest at (406) 283– 7764, or e-mail jturk@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 Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Requests for reasonable accommodation for access to the facility or proceedings may be made by contacting the person listed For Further Information. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following business will be conducted: A review of 2011 project proposals. If the meeting date or location is changed, notice will be posted in the local newspapers, including the Daily Interlake, based in Kalispell, Montana. Anyone who would like to bring related matters to the attention of the committee may file written statements with the committee staff before or after the meeting. The agenda will include time for people to make oral statements of three minutes or less. Individuals wishing to make an oral statement SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\22APN1.SGM 22APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 78 (Friday, April 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22670-22671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9743]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Black Hills National Forest, Hell Canyon Ranger District, South 
Dakota, Vestal Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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

SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement on a proposal to use multiple vegetation treatments focused 
on reducing the threat to ecosystem components including forest 
resources from an existing insect epidemic (mountain pine beetle), 
creating a landscape condition that reduces the potential for high 
severity wildfire adjacent to the at-risk community of Custer, SD. The 
proposal is being planned for the 43,516 acre Vestal Project that 
includes about 25,726 acres of National Forest System land and about 
17,790 acres of interspersed private land. The project area is located 
surrounding the city of Custer, SD. This project will be conducted as 
an authorized project under Section 102 of the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA). Actions proposed for the Vestal Project 
would occur on National Forest System lands only.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis would be most 
useful if received by 30 days following the date of this notice. The 
draft environmental impact statement is expected to be available for 
public review by November 2011 and the final environmental impact 
statement is expected to be completed by March 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Lynn D. Kolund, District Ranger, 
Black Hills National Forest, Hell Canyon Ranger District, 330 Mount 
Rushmore Road, Custer, South Dakota 57730. Telephone Number: (605) 673-
4853. E-mail: comments-rocky-mountain-black-hills-hell-canyon@fs.fed.us. Electronic comments must be readable in Word, Rich 
Text or PDF formats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have any questions or need 
additional information, please contact Kelly Honors, Team Leader or 
Lynn D. Kolund, District Ranger, at the Hell Canyon Ranger District 
office in Custer, SD at (605) 673-4853.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The actions proposed are in direct response 
to management direction provided by the Black Hills National Forest 
Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). The site specific 
actions are designed, based on Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines, to 
move existing resource conditions in the Vestal Project toward meeting 
Forest Plan Goals and Objectives. The project area is located 
surrounding the at-risk community of Custer, SD.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The primary purpose for action in the Vestal project is to reduce 
the threat to forest resources from the existing mountain pine beetle 
(MPB) epidemic. This action is needed because there is a rapidly 
increasing MPB outbreak occurring within the project area which is 
resulting in substantial levels of pine mortality. Existing stand 
conditions across the project area are largely at medium to high risk 
for MPB caused mortality.
    A secondary purpose of this project is to protect local communities 
and watersheds from large-scale wildfire. This action is needed because 
the project area is located within and surrounding the town of Custer, 
SD and overall fire hazard in the area is high due to dense stand 
conditions and dead, dry fuels resulting from MPB caused mortality. 
Approximately 40 percent of lands in the project area are privately 
owned, with an estimated 3,194 private structures.

Proposed Action

     Thin and harvest approximately 19,779 acres of pine stands 
using a variety of methods to treat mountain pine beetle (MPB) infested 
stands, reduce the overall density of pine trees and create a mosaic of 
structural stages across the landscape. Both commercial harvest and 
non-commercial thinning will be used to reduce the stand density, and 
associated fuel hazard conditions and susceptibility to mountain pine 
beetle infestations.
     Reduce the amount of fuels that currently exist and that 
are modified by mountain pine beetle caused mortality by creation of 
fuelbreaks on 180 acres and deadfall treatment on 24,110 acres. 
Deadfall treatments could include lopping, chipping, crushing, piling 
and burning, and mastication of fuels. Prescribed broadcast burning on 
approximately 1,761 acres is also planned to disrupt the continuity of 
surface and canopy fuels. The deadfall treatment and prescribed burning 
would occur on sites also proposed for other mechanical treatments.
     Remove conifers from hardwood stands and meadows on 
approximately 1,889 acres and convert pine stands to aspen on 126 acres 
to provide additional wildfire protection by enhancing natural fuel 
breaks.
     Removal of live pine trees which have mountain pine beetle 
larva in them across the entire project area and as a stand alone 
treatment on approximately 3,655 acres. This is a suppression method 
for mountain pine beetle infestations.
     Conversion of 0.6 miles of unauthorized road to system 
road to facilitate treatments, and closure of approximately 0.9 miles 
of system road to protect resources.

Responsible Official

    Lynn D. Kolund, District Ranger, Hell Canyon Ranger District, Black 
Hills National Forest, 330 Mount Rushmore Road, Custer, South Dakota 
57730.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made is whether or not to implement the proposed 
action or possible alternative at this time.

Scoping Process

    The Hell Canyon Ranger District has mailed letters with 
comprehensive scoping documents to local and tribal government 
representatives, permittees, organizations and others. A public notice 
will also be published in local newspapers. The scoping document with 
attached maps will also be posted on the Black Hills National Forest 
Web site. A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11, 2011 
from 5-7 p.m. at the Custer High School, Custer, South Dakota. Scoping 
comments submitted based on this NOI will be most useful if received 
within 30 days from the date of this notice.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent is part of the scoping process which will 
guide the development of the EIS. Comments received will assist the 
planning team to identify key issues and opportunities used to refine 
the proposal or develop possible alternatives. Comments on the DEIS 
will be requested during the 45 day comment period following 
publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, 
expected in November, 2011.

[[Page 22671]]

Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review

    The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important 
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of 
draft environmental impact statements must structure their 
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is 
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the 
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised 
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may 
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, 
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action 
participate by the close of the 45-day comment period so that 
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest 
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to 
them in the final environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft 
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is 
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the 
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft 
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives 
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer 
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing 
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21.

    Dated: April 18, 2011.
Dennis Jaeger,
Deputy Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2011-9743 Filed 4-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
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