Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests; Idaho; Crooked River Valley Rehabilitation Project, 73976-73978 [2012-29836]
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73976
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 239 / Wednesday, December 12, 2012 / Notices
collection, OMB 0596–0110, National
Visitor Use Monitoring.
DATES: Comments must be received in
writing on or before February 11, 2013
to be assured of consideration.
Comments received after that date will
be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this
notice should be addressed to Dr.
Donald B.K. English, Recreation,
Heritage, and Volunteer Resources,
Mailstop 1125, USDA Forest Service,
1400 Independence Ave. SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–1125.
Comments also may be submitted via
facsimile to 202–205–1145 or by email
to: denglish@fs.fed.us.
The public may inspect comments
received at Room 400, Rosslyn Plaza
Building C, 1601 North Kent Street,
Arlington, VA 22209 during normal
business hours. Visitors are encouraged
to call ahead to 202–205–9595 to
facilitate entry to the building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Donald B.K. English, Recreation,
Heritage, and Volunteer Resources staff,
202–205–9595.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339, 24
hours a day, every day of the year,
including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: National Visitor Use
Monitoring.
OMB Number: 0596–0110.
Expiration Date of Approval: 06/30/
2013.
Type of Request: Extension with
revision of a currently approved
information collection.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with
Abstract
The Government Performance and
Results Act of 1993 require Federal
agencies to establish measurable goals
and monitor their success at meeting
those goals. Two of the items the Forest
Service must measure are: (1) The
number of visits that occur on the
National Forest System lands for
recreation and other purposes, and (2)
the views and satisfaction levels of
recreational visitors to National Forest
System lands about the services,
facilities, and settings. The Agency
receives requests for this kind of
information from a variety of
organizations, including Congressional
staffs, newspapers, magazines, and
recreational trade organizations.
The data from this collection provides
vital information for strategic planning
efforts, decisions regarding allocation of
resources, and revisions of land and
resource management plans for national
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forests. It provides managers with
reliable estimates of the number of
recreational visitors to a national forest,
activities of those visitors (including
outdoor physical activities), customer
satisfaction, and visitor values. The
knowledge gained from this effort helps
identify recreational markets as well as
the economic impact visitors have on an
area. The information collected is also
used by the Office of Management and
Budget as part of the Program Analysis
Reporting Tool measures for the Forest
Service recreation program. For the
Forest Service, the collection is
designed for a five-year cycle of
coverage across all national forests.
Conducting the collection less
frequently puts information updates out
of cycle with forest planning and other
data preparation activities.
In addition, the U.S. Department of
Interior (USDOI) Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) anticipates
partnering with the Forest Service,
pending funding availability, to conduct
further field testing of the National
Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) survey
and estimation protocol as a means for
estimating the volume of visitation and
describing key visitor characteristics.
BLM lands are often adjacent to Forest
Service lands, and patterns of visitor
access are similar to those of the Forest
Service. As well, BLM’s information and
reporting needs closely mirror those of
the Forest Service.
At the recreation sites or access
points, agency personnel or contractors
will conduct onsite interviews of
visitors as they complete their visit.
Interviewers will ask about the purpose
and length of the visit, the trip origin,
activities, annual visitation rates, triprelated spending patterns, use of
recreation facilities, satisfaction with
agency services and facilities, and the
composition of the visiting party.
Primary analysis of the information for
the Forest Service and partnering
agencies will be performed by Forest
Service staff in the Washington Office
and by scientists in one or more of the
agency’s research stations.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 9 minutes
(average).
Type of Respondents: Visitors to lands
managed by the U.S. Forest Service and/
or Bureau of Land Management.
Estimated Annual Number of
Respondents: 60,900.
Estimated Annual Number of
Responses per Respondent: One.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 8,760 hours.
Comment is invited on: (1) Whether
this collection of information is
necessary for the stated purposes and
the proper performance of the functions
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of the Agency, including whether the
information will have practical or
scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the
Agency’s estimate of the burden of the
collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (4)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
All comments received in response to
this notice, including names and
addresses when provided, will be a
matter of public record. Comments will
be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and
Budget approval.
Dated: December 3, 2012.
˜
James M. Pena
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
System.
[FR Doc. 2012–29928 Filed 12–11–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests;
Idaho; Crooked River Valley
Rehabilitation Project
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The forest gives notice of its
intent to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for the Crooked River
Valley Rehabilitation Project. The Red
River Ranger District of the Nez PerceClearwater National Forests is
undergoing planning efforts to restore
the lower Crooked River valley near Elk
City, Idaho. The Environmental Impact
Statement will analyze the effects of the
proposed action and alternatives. The
Nez Perce-Clearwater Forests invites
comments and suggestions on the issues
to be addressed. The agency gives notice
of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) analysis and decision
making process on the proposal so
interested and affected members of the
public may participate and contribute to
the final decision.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by 45
days after the date of publication in the
Federal Register. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected October 2014 and the final
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 239 / Wednesday, December 12, 2012 / Notices
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environmental impact statement is
expected September 2015.
ADDRESSES: Send written or electronic
comments to Attn: Jennie Fischer,
Interdisciplinary Team Leader; Nez
Perce-Clearwater National Forest; 104
Airport Road, Grangeville, ID 83530.
Send electronic comments via email to:
comments-northernnezperce-redriver@fsled.us, or via facsimile to 208–
983–4099. Subject: Crooked River
Valley Project.
The Nez Perce National Forest has
scheduled public meetings, to be held in
two separate locations, to introduce this
project and discuss the most effective
ways the public can become involved.
Meetings will take place in Elk City and
Grangeville, Idaho in January, 2013.
Additional information will be provided
in the local newspaper prior to meeting
times.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jennie Fischer, Interdisciplinary Team
Leader, 104 Airport Road, Grangeville,
ID 83530; 208–983–4048. 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. Detailed information about this
project is also available by visiting our
project Web site: https://
www.fs.fed.usinepa/fs-usda-pop.php/
?project=40648.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Project
location is on the Red River Ranger
District, Nez Perce-Clearwater National
Forests, Idaho County, Idaho;
approximately 6 miles southwest of Elk
City, Idaho. The project boundary
extends from the Idaho Department of
Fish and Game, fish weir near the
mouth of Crooked River about 6 miles
south to the confluence of Crooked
River and Relief Creek. The project
boundary also includes the Road 1803
from the junction with Road 222 road
along Red River; and Road 522 to the
junction with Road 223 along Crooked
River.
Purpose and Need for Action
During the 1930s through the 1950s
the lower two miles of the Crooked
River Valley were heavily impacted by
dredge mining, leaving behind large
tailing piles and deep ponds throughout
the valley bottom. Gold and silver
mining affected most of the valley
bottom along the mainstem of Crooked
River. Physical changes to the valley
bottom have altered stream and riparian
process, and have affected aquatic and
terrestrial habitat conditions, resulting
in degraded ecosystem conditions
relative to historical conditions. There is
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15:48 Dec 11, 2012
Jkt 229001
a need to restore the Crooked River
valley bottom and stream channel to
provide habitat for Endangered Species
Act-listed fish. This would be achieved
by removing the majority of the tailing
piles and re-constructing the river and
its floodplain to create natural stream
sinuosity and morphology; to restore
floodplain and hydrologic process; to
construct instream channel structures to
provide spawning and rearing habitat
for steelhead, spring/summer Chinook
salmon, bull trout, and cutthroat trout;
and to restore riparian areas.
The county portion of the Crooked
River Road runs approximately 12 miles
from state Highway 14 to the town of
Orogrande, Idaho. The road is under the
jurisdiction of Idaho County and is also
designated as a National Forest System
Road (NFSR)—Road 233. The road
follows Crooked River for its entire
length and is within the floodplain of
Crooked River for approximately 3 miles
through the ‘‘narrows’’. Through the
narrows section the road constricts
Crooked River, delivers sediment from
the road surface, and often floods during
spring runoff. Crooked River Road 233
prism is within the bankfull floodplain
of Crooked River for much of its length
and floods and fails during spring
runoff. The road is narrow, providing
only one way traffic with soft shoulders
along the river. The proximity of the
road to the river channel facilitates
sediment delivery to the river and is
difficult to maintain throughout the
year. There is a need to improve the
floodplain functions of Crooked River,
reduce sediment delivery from the road,
improve forest visitor safety, and
provide easier maintenance of the road.
Proposed Action
The proposed action is to rehabilitate
the lower two miles of the Crooked
River valley bottom with meanders and
re-align 3 miles the Crooked River Road
233 through the narrow canyon on the
Red River Ranger District of the Nez
Perce-Clearwater National Forests.
There are two components of the
project: Crooked River Meanders and
Crooked River Narrows Road.
Crooked River Meanders
There is a need to restore the valley
bottom and stream channel to provide
habitat for Endangered Species Actlisted fish. This would be achieved by
removing the majority of the tailing
piles and re-constructing the river and
its floodplain to create natural stream
sinuosity and morphology; to restore
floodplain and hydrologic process; to
construct instream channel structures to
provide spawning and rearing habitat
for steelhead, spring/summer Chinook
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
73977
salmon, bull trout, and cutthroat trout;
and to restore riparian areas.
The proposed action would
rehabilitate approximately two valley
miles of Crooked River by reshaping
mine tailing piles and reconstruct over
two miles of stream channel.
• Provide instream habitat structures
and quality spawning, rearing and
migration habitat for steelhead, spring/
summer Chinook salmon, bull trout, and
cutthroat trout.
• Provide proper riparian and
wetland functions and complexity
throughout the project area.
• Maintain campsites in the project
area.
• Preserve heritage resource areas as
identified by the Forest Service
Archeologist and the State Historic
Preservation Office.
Crooked River Narrows Road
The current Road 233 prism is within
the bankfull floodplain of Crooked River
for much of its length. There is a need
to improve the floodplain functions of
Crooked River, reduce sediment
delivery from the road, improve forest
visitor safety, and provide easier
maintenance of the road.
The proposed action would re-align 3
miles of road within the bottom of the
valley to reduce failure potential, and
sediment inputs into Crooked River.
This would improve maintainability
and safety of the road by providing
turnouts, wider road base (approx. 16
feet), buffers between the road and the
river, graveled road surface, and stable
road base.
Implementation of the Crooked River
Valley Rehabilitation Project is
proposed to take place in 2015–2020.
Possible Alternatives the forest will
consider and include the no-action
alternative, which will serve as a
baseline for comparison of alternatives.
The proposed action will be considered
along with additional alternatives that
will be developed to meet the purpose
and need for action, and to address
significant issues identified during
scoping. The potential alternatives for
the Crooked River Meanders are to
restore approximately two miles of
valley bottom and rehabilitate over two
miles of Crooked River. The potential
alternatives for the Crooked River
Narrows Road are: (1) Reconstruct the
existing roadway, through vertical and
horizontal shifts, such that most of
roadway is above the 100-year floodflow elevation; (2) establish a new
location and alignment of the Road 233
road between mile posts 2 and 6, such
that the new road is entirely above the
100-year flood-flow elevation. The
Forest may consider converting the
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73978
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 239 / Wednesday, December 12, 2012 / Notices
existing Road 233 to a trail or
completely decommissioning the road;
or (3) Use/improve an existing
alternative road (Road 522 and 1803,
from State Highway 14 at the mouth of
Red River up to the intersection of Road
233 at the mouth of Relief Creek). The
Forest may consider converting the
existing Road 233 to a trail or
completely decommissioning the road.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Nez Perce-Clearwater National
Forests of the USDA-Forest Service is
the lead agency. Cooperating agencies
include: the Nez Perce Tribe and
Bonneville Power Agency.
Responsible Official
Rick Brazell, Forest Supervisor, Nez
Perce-Clearwater National Forests, 104
Airport Road, Grangeville, ID 83530 is
the responsible official for this proposal.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Nez Perce National Forest will
decide whether or not to complete the
Crooked River Meanders project and the
extent of location of stream
rehabilitation. The Forest will also
decide whether or not to re-align the
Crooked River Narrows Road and the
extent and location of road
reconstruction. The forest will decide
what design and mitigation measures
and monitoring would be included.
Preliminary Issues identified include
the effects to cultural resources, public
access, and future road maintenance
costs.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with
Permits or Licenses Required
Permits that may be needed for this
project are related to Clean Water Act
(CWA) and the Endangered Species Act.
If necessary, permits may include:
CWA—Section 404 permits from the
Corp or Engineers, Stream Alteration
Act Permit from Idaho Department of
Water Resources, CWA—Section 401
Certification from Idaho Department of
Environmental Quality, Incidental Take
Permits included as part of the
Biological Opinions from NOAA
Fisheries and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, or CWA—Section 402 NPDES
permits from the Environmental
Protection Agency.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. The U.S. Forest
Service uses the process required by the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). NEPA requires a systematic,
interdisciplinary approach to ensure
integrated application of the natural and
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17:37 Dec 11, 2012
Jkt 229001
social sciences and the environmental
design arts in any planning and decision
making that affects the human
environment (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(A)).
Comments are accepted for 45 days after
notification in the Federal Register.
These comments help identify
significant issues and/or eliminate nonsignificant issues from detailed study in
the environmental impact statement.
Comments are most useful if they are
specific. 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.
The Forest Service is seeking
information and comments from other
Federal, State, and local agencies; Tribal
Governments, and organizations and
individuals who may be interested in or
affected by the proposed action
presented in this notice of intent. A
draft envronmenal impact statement
will be prepared for comment in the
future. The second major opportunity
for public input will be when the Draft
EIS is published. The comment period
for the Draft EIS will be 45-days from
the date the Envirnmental Protectoin
Agency published the notice of
availability in the Federal Register. The
Draft EIS is anticipated to be available
for public review in October 2014.
Dated: November 30, 2012.
Rick Brazell,
Nez Perce-Clearwater Forests, Forest
Supervisor.
(TTA), located in Rockwood, Tennessee,
with authority to manufacture carbon
fiber for export and oxidized
polyacrylonitrile fiber (Board Order
1868, 77 FR 69435, 11/19/2012). Board
Order 1868 did not include authority to
manufacture carbon fiber for the U.S.
market; the request for such authority
will continue to be reviewed by the FTZ
Board’s staff before the staff makes any
recommendation to the FTZ Board for a
final decision.
On November 16, 2012, the Industrial
Development Board of Blount County,
grantee of FTZ 148, made a submission
to the FTZ Board (incorporating
information from TTA) that included
new evidence in response to the FTZ
staff’s preliminary recommendation not
to authorize TTA to manufacture carbon
fiber for the U.S. market at this time.
Public comment is invited on the
applicant’s new submission through
January 11, 2013. Rebuttal comments
may be submitted during the subsequent
15-day period, until January 28, 2013.
Submissions shall be addressed to the
Board’s Executive Secretary at: ForeignTrade Zones Board, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Room 21013, 1401
Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC
20230.
A copy of the applicant’s November
16, 2012, submission will be available
for public inspection at the address
above, and in the ‘‘Reading Room’’
section of the Board’s Web site, which
is accessible via www.trade.gov/ftz.
For further information, contact Diane
Finver at Diane.Finver@trade.gov or
(202) 482–1367.
Dated: December 6, 2012.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–29974 Filed 12–11–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[FR Doc. 2012–29836 Filed 12–11–12; 8:45 am]
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
[Order No. 1872]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 57–2010]
Foreign-Trade Zone 148—Knoxville,
TN, Toho Tenax America, Inc. (Carbon
Fiber Manufacturing Authority),
Opening of Comment Period on New
Evidence
On November 7, 2012, the ForeignTrade Zones (FTZ) Board approved
Subzone 148C at the manufacturing
facilities of Toho Tenax America, Inc.
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Reorganization of Foreign-Trade Zone
93 Under Alternative Site Framework,
Raleigh/Durham, NC
Pursuant to its authority under the ForeignTrade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 81a–81u), the ForeignTrade Zones Board (the Board) adopts the
following Order:
Whereas, the Board adopted the
alternative site framework (ASF) (74 FR
1170, 01/12/2009; correction 74 FR
3987, 01/22/2009; 75 FR 71069–71070,
11/22/2010) as an option for the
E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 239 (Wednesday, December 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73976-73978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-29836]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests; Idaho; Crooked River
Valley Rehabilitation Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The forest gives notice of its intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for the Crooked River Valley
Rehabilitation Project. The Red River Ranger District of the Nez Perce-
Clearwater National Forests is undergoing planning efforts to restore
the lower Crooked River valley near Elk City, Idaho. The Environmental
Impact Statement will analyze the effects of the proposed action and
alternatives. The Nez Perce-Clearwater Forests invites comments and
suggestions on the issues to be addressed. The agency gives notice of
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis and decision
making process on the proposal so interested and affected members of
the public may participate and contribute to the final decision.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by 45 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register. The
draft environmental impact statement is expected October 2014 and the
final
[[Page 73977]]
environmental impact statement is expected September 2015.
ADDRESSES: Send written or electronic comments to Attn: Jennie Fischer,
Interdisciplinary Team Leader; Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest;
104 Airport Road, Grangeville, ID 83530. Send electronic comments via
email to: comments-northernnezperce-red-river@fsled.us, or via
facsimile to 208-983-4099. Subject: Crooked River Valley Project.
The Nez Perce National Forest has scheduled public meetings, to be
held in two separate locations, to introduce this project and discuss
the most effective ways the public can become involved. Meetings will
take place in Elk City and Grangeville, Idaho in January, 2013.
Additional information will be provided in the local newspaper prior to
meeting times.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennie Fischer, Interdisciplinary Team
Leader, 104 Airport Road, Grangeville, ID 83530; 208-983-4048.
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.
Detailed information about this project is also available by visiting
our project Web site: https://www.fs.fed.usinepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=40648.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Project location is on the Red River Ranger
District, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Idaho County, Idaho;
approximately 6 miles southwest of Elk City, Idaho. The project
boundary extends from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, fish weir
near the mouth of Crooked River about 6 miles south to the confluence
of Crooked River and Relief Creek. The project boundary also includes
the Road 1803 from the junction with Road 222 road along Red River; and
Road 522 to the junction with Road 223 along Crooked River.
Purpose and Need for Action
During the 1930s through the 1950s the lower two miles of the
Crooked River Valley were heavily impacted by dredge mining, leaving
behind large tailing piles and deep ponds throughout the valley bottom.
Gold and silver mining affected most of the valley bottom along the
mainstem of Crooked River. Physical changes to the valley bottom have
altered stream and riparian process, and have affected aquatic and
terrestrial habitat conditions, resulting in degraded ecosystem
conditions relative to historical conditions. There is a need to
restore the Crooked River valley bottom and stream channel to provide
habitat for Endangered Species Act-listed fish. This would be achieved
by removing the majority of the tailing piles and re-constructing the
river and its floodplain to create natural stream sinuosity and
morphology; to restore floodplain and hydrologic process; to construct
instream channel structures to provide spawning and rearing habitat for
steelhead, spring/summer Chinook salmon, bull trout, and cutthroat
trout; and to restore riparian areas.
The county portion of the Crooked River Road runs approximately 12
miles from state Highway 14 to the town of Orogrande, Idaho. The road
is under the jurisdiction of Idaho County and is also designated as a
National Forest System Road (NFSR)--Road 233. The road follows Crooked
River for its entire length and is within the floodplain of Crooked
River for approximately 3 miles through the ``narrows''. Through the
narrows section the road constricts Crooked River, delivers sediment
from the road surface, and often floods during spring runoff. Crooked
River Road 233 prism is within the bankfull floodplain of Crooked River
for much of its length and floods and fails during spring runoff. The
road is narrow, providing only one way traffic with soft shoulders
along the river. The proximity of the road to the river channel
facilitates sediment delivery to the river and is difficult to maintain
throughout the year. There is a need to improve the floodplain
functions of Crooked River, reduce sediment delivery from the road,
improve forest visitor safety, and provide easier maintenance of the
road.
Proposed Action
The proposed action is to rehabilitate the lower two miles of the
Crooked River valley bottom with meanders and re-align 3 miles the
Crooked River Road 233 through the narrow canyon on the Red River
Ranger District of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests. There are
two components of the project: Crooked River Meanders and Crooked River
Narrows Road.
Crooked River Meanders
There is a need to restore the valley bottom and stream channel to
provide habitat for Endangered Species Act-listed fish. This would be
achieved by removing the majority of the tailing piles and re-
constructing the river and its floodplain to create natural stream
sinuosity and morphology; to restore floodplain and hydrologic process;
to construct instream channel structures to provide spawning and
rearing habitat for steelhead, spring/summer Chinook salmon, bull
trout, and cutthroat trout; and to restore riparian areas.
The proposed action would rehabilitate approximately two valley
miles of Crooked River by reshaping mine tailing piles and reconstruct
over two miles of stream channel.
Provide instream habitat structures and quality spawning,
rearing and migration habitat for steelhead, spring/summer Chinook
salmon, bull trout, and cutthroat trout.
Provide proper riparian and wetland functions and
complexity throughout the project area.
Maintain campsites in the project area.
Preserve heritage resource areas as identified by the
Forest Service Archeologist and the State Historic Preservation Office.
Crooked River Narrows Road
The current Road 233 prism is within the bankfull floodplain of
Crooked River for much of its length. There is a need to improve the
floodplain functions of Crooked River, reduce sediment delivery from
the road, improve forest visitor safety, and provide easier maintenance
of the road.
The proposed action would re-align 3 miles of road within the
bottom of the valley to reduce failure potential, and sediment inputs
into Crooked River. This would improve maintainability and safety of
the road by providing turnouts, wider road base (approx. 16 feet),
buffers between the road and the river, graveled road surface, and
stable road base.
Implementation of the Crooked River Valley Rehabilitation Project
is proposed to take place in 2015-2020.
Possible Alternatives the forest will consider and include the no-
action alternative, which will serve as a baseline for comparison of
alternatives. The proposed action will be considered along with
additional alternatives that will be developed to meet the purpose and
need for action, and to address significant issues identified during
scoping. The potential alternatives for the Crooked River Meanders are
to restore approximately two miles of valley bottom and rehabilitate
over two miles of Crooked River. The potential alternatives for the
Crooked River Narrows Road are: (1) Reconstruct the existing roadway,
through vertical and horizontal shifts, such that most of roadway is
above the 100-year flood-flow elevation; (2) establish a new location
and alignment of the Road 233 road between mile posts 2 and 6, such
that the new road is entirely above the 100-year flood-flow elevation.
The Forest may consider converting the
[[Page 73978]]
existing Road 233 to a trail or completely decommissioning the road; or
(3) Use/improve an existing alternative road (Road 522 and 1803, from
State Highway 14 at the mouth of Red River up to the intersection of
Road 233 at the mouth of Relief Creek). The Forest may consider
converting the existing Road 233 to a trail or completely
decommissioning the road.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests of the USDA-Forest
Service is the lead agency. Cooperating agencies include: the Nez Perce
Tribe and Bonneville Power Agency.
Responsible Official
Rick Brazell, Forest Supervisor, Nez Perce-Clearwater National
Forests, 104 Airport Road, Grangeville, ID 83530 is the responsible
official for this proposal.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Nez Perce National Forest will decide whether or not to
complete the Crooked River Meanders project and the extent of location
of stream rehabilitation. The Forest will also decide whether or not to
re-align the Crooked River Narrows Road and the extent and location of
road reconstruction. The forest will decide what design and mitigation
measures and monitoring would be included.
Preliminary Issues identified include the effects to cultural
resources, public access, and future road maintenance costs.
Permits or Licenses Required
Permits that may be needed for this project are related to Clean
Water Act (CWA) and the Endangered Species Act. If necessary, permits
may include: CWA--Section 404 permits from the Corp or Engineers,
Stream Alteration Act Permit from Idaho Department of Water Resources,
CWA--Section 401 Certification from Idaho Department of Environmental
Quality, Incidental Take Permits included as part of the Biological
Opinions from NOAA Fisheries and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or
CWA--Section 402 NPDES permits from the Environmental Protection
Agency.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. The U.S. Forest
Service uses the process required by the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA). NEPA requires a systematic, interdisciplinary approach to
ensure integrated application of the natural and social sciences and
the environmental design arts in any planning and decision making that
affects the human environment (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(A)). Comments are
accepted for 45 days after notification in the Federal Register.
These comments help identify significant issues and/or eliminate
non-significant issues from detailed study in the environmental impact
statement. Comments are most useful if they are specific. 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.
The Forest Service is seeking information and comments from other
Federal, State, and local agencies; Tribal Governments, and
organizations and individuals who may be interested in or affected by
the proposed action presented in this notice of intent. A draft
envronmenal impact statement will be prepared for comment in the
future. The second major opportunity for public input will be when the
Draft EIS is published. The comment period for the Draft EIS will be
45-days from the date the Envirnmental Protectoin Agency published the
notice of availability in the Federal Register. The Draft EIS is
anticipated to be available for public review in October 2014.
Dated: November 30, 2012.
Rick Brazell,
Nez Perce-Clearwater Forests, Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2012-29836 Filed 12-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
