Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Jefferson Ranger District, Montana, Boulder River Salvage and Vegetation Management Project, 19177 [2012-7685]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 19177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7685]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 62 / Friday, March 30, 2012 / 
Notices

[[Page 19177]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Jefferson Ranger District, 
Montana, Boulder River Salvage and Vegetation Management Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The project proposes to salvage by clearcut harvest dead and 
lodgepole pine infested or at risk of infestation with mountain pine 
beetle; use biomass removal, commercial thinning, and prescribed fire 
to reduce stand density on lodgepole pine and Douglas-fir stands; and 
remove Douglas-fir that is encroaching upon quaking aspen clones and 
shrublands/grasslands. Treatments would occur on about 24,940 total 
acres (346 total units) of National Forest System Lands north of 
Whitehall, MT.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by April 30, 2012. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
in May 2013 and the final environmental impact statement is expected in 
May 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to District Ranger, Beaverhead-
Deerlodge National Forest, Butte-Jefferson Ranger District, 1820 
Meadowlark Lane, Butte, MT 59701. Comments may also be sent via email 
to comments-northern-beaverhead-deerlodge-butte@fs.fed.us, please 
indicate Boulder River Project in the subject line or via facsimile to 
(406) 494-0269; again please indicate Boulder River Project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Gallogly, Project Coordinator, 
at kgallogly@fs.fed.us (406-683-3853); or Peri Suenram, Acting District 
Ranger at psuenram@fs.fed.us (406-494-2147).
    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 purpose and need for this project is to harvest merchantable 
wood products from larger diameter lodgepole pine forested stands 
infested, or at risk for infestation, with bark beetles, before the 
value of the wood deteriorates; reduce stand density in lodgepole pine 
and Douglas-fir stands to maintain or improve resilient forest 
conditions; remove encroaching Douglas-fir from shrublands and 
grasslands that historically lacked conifir species; create early seral 
conditions in mid to higher-elevation lodgepole pine stands to improve 
resiliency to natural disturbances; and improve riparian-associated 
aspen and upland aspen clones by removing encroaching conifers to 
improve growing conditions.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action would (1) salvage dead and dying lodgepole pine 
using clearcut harvest methods on 6,174 acres over 106 units; (2) use 
biomass removal to treat 2,626 acres within 36 units of younger, 
predominantly lodgepole pine stands, many of which have been previously 
harvested; (3) use a combination of commercial thinning and lodgepole 
pine salvage (clearcut harvest) on 439 acres in three units; (4) remove 
conifers for aspen restoration on 2,892 acres within 86 units; (5) use 
prescribed fire on 4,596 acres across 13 units in Restoration and Fish 
Key Watersheds that are are inoperable and unfeasible for conventional 
mechanized harvest; (6) non-commercially thin Douglas-fir and burn 
slash on 8,212 acres within 102 units.
    Approximately 210 miles of existing roads would be used as haul 
routes within the project area and approximately 8 to16 miles of 
temporary roads would be constructed for access to some commercial 
units. No temporary roads would cross streams and all temporary roads 
would be obliterated after use.

Responsible Official

    Forest Supervisor for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, 
Dave Myers, 420 Barrett St., Dillon, MT 59725-3572.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Given the purpose and need for the proposal the Responsible 
Official will decide whether or not to implement salvage harvest of 
dead and dying lodgepole pine infested with mountain pine beetle and 
which units to harvest; whether or not to reduce stand density in 
lodgepole pine and Douglas-fir stands, which methods to use and what 
units to treat; whether or not to remove encroaching conifers from 
grasslands and shrublands, and which units to treat; and whether or not 
to restore aspen clones and which units to treat.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. A scoping 
package, including a detailed description and map of the project will 
be sent to individuals, groups and organization already expressing 
interest in the project and anyone requesting further 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 become 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: March 23, 2012.
Charles A Mark,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2012-7685 Filed 3-29-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P