Salmon-Challis National Forest, ID; Forestwide Invasive Plant Treatment Environmental Impact Statement, 36896-36898 [2011-15582]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 121 (Thursday, June 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36896-36898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15582]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Salmon-Challis National Forest, ID; Forestwide Invasive Plant 
Treatment Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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

SUMMARY: Invasive plants have been identified as a major threat to the 
biological diversity and ecological integrity within and outside the 
Salmon-Challis National Forest. Invasive plants create many adverse 
environmental effects, including, but not limited to: Displacement of 
native plants; reduction in functionality of habitat and forage for 
wildlife and livestock; threats to populations of threatened, 
endangered and sensitive species; alteration of physical and biological 
properties of soil, including productivity; changes to the intensity 
and frequency of fires; and loss of recreational opportunities.
    Within the 3,108,904 acres of the of the Salmon-Challis National 
Forest outside of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, 
approximately 65,000 acres are identified as being infested with 
invasive, non-native, and/or State-listed noxious weeds. These invasive 
plant infestations have a high potential to expand on lands within and 
adjacent to the Salmon-Challis National Forest, degrading desired plant 
communities and the values provided by those communities. Forest lands 
are also threatened by ``potential invaders,'' invasive plants that 
have not been found on the Salmon-Challis National Forest but are known 
to occur in adjacent lands, counties, or states. Infestations can be 
prevented, eliminated, or controlled through the use of specific 
management practices. A clear and comprehensive integrated invasive 
plant management strategy would allow for the implementation of timely 
and effective invasive plant management and prevention for projects and 
programs on the Salmon-Challis National Forest. In the absence of an 
aggressive invasive plant management program, the number, density, and 
distribution of invasive plants on the Forest will continue to 
increase.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by August 8, 2011. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
in August, 2012 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected in September, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Salmon-Challis National Forest, 
Attn: Invasive Plant Treatment EIS, H/C 63 Box 1669, Challis, ID 83226. 
Comments may also be sent via e-mail to comments-intermtn-salmon-challis@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to (208) 875-4199.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Purvine, Interdisciplinary 
Team Leader, c/o Challis-YankeeFork RD, H/C 63 Box 1669, Challis, ID 
83226 or by phone at (208) 879-4162.
    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 overall purpose of the proposed action is to reduce the 
negative effects of invasive plants on the structure and function of 
native plant communities and on other natural resource values that can 
otherwise be adversely impacted by invasive plants and to update 
analysis of the effects of Forestwide integrated invasive plant 
management. The proposal is in response to an underlying need to

[[Page 36897]]

implement policy and direction provided at the National, Regional, 
State, and Forest levels, which includes control and containment of 
invasive plants on the Salmon-Challis National Forest (Executive Order 
13112--Invasive Species, 2004 National Invasive Species Strategy and 
Implementation Plan, 2008-2012 National Invasive Species Management 
Plan, 2009 Intermountain Region Invasive Species Management Strategy, 
2005 Idaho Strategic Plan for Managing Noxious and Invasive Weeds, 1987 
Challis National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, 1988 Salmon 
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan).
    The need of the proposed action is multifaceted:
    Invasive plants are diminishing the natural resource values of the 
Forest.
    Forest resources are negatively impacted by existing and expanding 
invasive plant species populations. These species are known to out-
compete native plants, which can result in reduced productivity and 
biodiversity, habitat loss, and associated economic impacts.
    There must be a timely response to new infestations, new invasive 
plant species, and landscape scale disturbances.
    On the Salmon-Challis National Forest, landscape level tree 
mortality and disturbance from insects and wildfires have increased and 
are likely to continue to increase the potential for invasive plant 
infestations. The Forest needs the flexibility to treat expanded and/or 
newly identified infestations in a timely manner. Existing decisions 
for invasive plant management on the Forest do not address new species 
or provide priorities for managing new infestations. Updating these 
decisions would allow the Forest to satisfy the need to incorporate 
early detection and rapid response into the invasive plant management 
program.
    Existing invasive plant populations on the Salmon-Challis National 
Forest require active and adaptive management.
    Invasive plant infestations already exist throughout the Salmon-
Challis National Forest and without management will likely increase in 
density and distribution. Active and adaptive integrated pest 
management is necessary to contain invasive plants within existing 
boundaries, reduce infestation densities, and retard the establishment 
of new infestations. Control efforts should be focused on infestations 
that can realize the greatest resource benefits -- those with the 
highest risk of spread, those that have not become established, and 
those that have the best likelihood of success of control. New analysis 
and planning is needed to make available the most current tools and 
guide their best use. Rehabilitation of degraded landscapes can inhibit 
the spread and establishment of invasive plants.
    Appropriate rehabilitation efforts are a critical component of a 
fully functional invasive plant management program. The goals of 
rehabilitating degraded areas may include preventing new infestations, 
preventing the reoccurrence of eradicated infestations, and/or reducing 
the density and spread of existing infestations. Post-fire 
rehabilitation efforts may incorporate one or more of the established 
control techniques outlined in the Proposed Action.
    Federal, State, and Forest Service laws, regulation, policy and 
direction relating to invasive plant management must be implemented and 
followed.
    Implementing invasive species laws and policies requires aggressive 
invasive plant management. This analysis would identify the strategies 
that the Salmon-Challis National Forest would use to comply with laws 
and policies pertaining to invasive plant management.

Proposed Action

    The Salmon-Challis National Forest proposes to implement adaptive 
and integrated invasive plant management on current and potential 
infested areas outside of the Frank Church-River of No Return 
Wilderness Area. Management activities would include inventory and 
assessment designed to support Early Detection Rapid Response, control 
methods, implementation and effectiveness monitoring, and 
rehabilitation. Activities would be implemented with partners at the 
federal, state, and local level where opportunities exist.
    To provide for ``Early Detection Rapid Response'' (EDRR), the 
Forest would design a plan that allows treatment of invasive plant 
infestations located outside of currently identified infested areas. 
Infestations outside of currently identified areas may include new 
sites that arise in the future, or sites that currently exist, but have 
not been identified in Forest inventories to date. The intent of EDRR 
is to allow timely control, so that new infestations can be treated 
when they are small, preventing establishment and spread, while 
reducing the costs and potential side effects of treatment.
    Proposed control methods would be based on integrated pest 
management principles and methods known to be effective for each target 
species. They include, but are not limited to, mechanical techniques, 
such as mowing and pulling; cultural practices, such as the use of 
certified noxious weed-free hay; biological control agents, such as 
pathogens, insects, and controlled grazing; and herbicides that target 
specific invasive plant species. Control methods could be employed 
alone or in combination to achieve the most effective control. 
Treatment methods would be based on the extent, location, type, and 
character of an infestation and would be implemented using project 
design features. A maximum of 30,000 acres would be proposed for 
treatment annually. Management priority would be based on factors such 
number and size of known infestations, proximity to vectors or 
susceptible habitat, and ability to outcompete desirable plant species. 
The priority of species to be treated would vary based on these factors 
and could change over time. These priorities would be used to guide 
selection of specific management activities for particular 
infestations.
    Rehabilitation activities would be designed and implemented based 
on the conditions found in and around infested areas. Both active and 
passive (allowing plants on site to fill in a treated area) 
revegetation would be considered. Rehabilitation techniques would be 
assessed and implemented in order to promote native plant communities 
that are resistant to infestation by invasive plants.

Responsible Official

    Forest Supervisor, Salmon-Challis National Forest, 1206 S. Challis 
St., Salmon, Idaho 83467.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Supervisor will decide whether or not to treat invasive 
plants on the Salmon-Challis National Forest, outside the Frank Church 
River of No Return Wilderness, and if so, what methods, how much 
treatment and what strategies (including adaptive management and EDRR) 
will be used to contain, control, or eradicate invasive plants.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. Comments that 
would be most useful are those concerning developing or refining the 
proposed action, in particular are site specific concerns and those 
that can help us develop treatments that would be responsive to our 
goal to control, contain, or eradicate invasive plants. It

[[Page 36898]]

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. Public meetings are 
anticipated to be held following publication of the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement.
    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 Agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent 
environmental documents.

    Dated: June 15, 2011.
Lyle E. Powers,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2011-15582 Filed 6-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M