Helena National Forest, Montana, Telegraph Vegetation Project, 42694 [2012-17759]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 42694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17759]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Helena National Forest, Montana, Telegraph Vegetation Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Corrected NOI.

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SUMMARY: On November 12, 2009, a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an 
environmental impact statement called the Telegraph Vegetation Project 
was published in the 74 FR 58239. This NOI is hereby corrected due to a 
change in the proposed action (FSH 1909.15 Chapter 20, 22.2).
    New to the proposed action is the addition of approximately 449 
acres of slashing generally small diameter trees followed by prescribed 
burning within the Jericho Mountain Inventoried Roadless Area.
    The Helena National Forest will still prepare an environmental 
impact statement for the Telegraph Vegetation Project to manage 
vegetation actions in the Little Blackfoot drainage west of the 
Continental Divide. The purpose and need for action remains the same as 
in the original NOI, which is to be responsive to the mountain pine 
beetle outbreak in this area by recovering economic value of dead and 
dying trees, promoting desirable regeneration, reducing fuels and the 
risk of wildfire, and maintaining diverse wildlife habitats.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by August 20, 2012. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected Feb 2013 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected July 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Scott Johnson, Helena National 
Forest, 2880 Skyway Dr., Helena, MT 59602. Comments may also be sent 
via email to comments-northern-helena@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 
406-449-5436. Please indicate ``Telegraph Scoping'' on the subject 
line.
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Johnson at 406-495-3795.
    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

    Wide-scale tree mortality has occurred throughout the project area 
due to the mountain pine beetle. Treatment is needed to ensure diverse 
and sustainable forest stands and to lessen the risks of wildfire which 
could threaten wildland urban interface areas. The project focuses on 
reducing hazardous fuels, establishing healthy regeneration, and 
recovering the economic value of dead trees. In addition, aspen and 
whitebark pine can be promoted with treatment. The project also seeks 
to maintain or improve watershed values.

Proposed Action

    Approximately 6,666 acres are proposed for treatment. Roughly 1,750 
acres are young stands that established after past harvest and are in 
need of thinning to ensure they reach viable maturity. The remaining 
acres are primarily mature stands of lodgepole pine with some Douglas-
fir, Engelmann spruce, and subalpine fir with high mountain pine beetle 
mortality. These acres would be treated using a combination of 
improvement cuts, regeneration harvests, thinning, and prescribed fire. 
Post treatment activities would include approximately 4,064 acres of 
underburning, site prep, broadcast burning, jackpot burning, and hand 
piling/burning. Approximately 449 acres of slashing generally small 
diameter trees followed by prescribed burning would occur within the 
Jericho Mountain Inventoried Roadless Area. Up to 8 miles of temporary 
road construction and approximately 78 miles of road reconstruction/
maintenance would be necessary to implement the proposed action.
    A site specific forest plan amendment may be needed related to 
forest plan standards for hiding cover, open road densities during 
hunting season, and thermal cover.

Responsible Official

    Helena National Forest Supervisor.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decisions to be made include: Whether to implement the proposed 
action or an alternative to the proposed action, what monitoring 
requirements would be appropriate to evaluate the implementation of 
this project, and whether a forest plan amendment would be necessary as 
a result of the decision for this project.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. In July 2012, a 
scoping package will be mailed, an open house will be scheduled, and 
Web site information will be posted. The comments received from the 
initial scoping period in November 2009 will still be considered when 
analyzing issues and developing alternatives. They will be retained in 
the project record.
    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. The submission of 
timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to 
participate in subsequent administrative appeal or judicial review.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including 
names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers of those who 
comment, will be part of the public record and will be available for 
inspection. 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: July 13, 2012.
Kevin T. Riordan,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2012-17759 Filed 7-19-12; 8:45 am]
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