Intermountain Region, Payette National Forest, New Meadows Ranger District, Idaho; Lost Creek-Boulder Creek Landscape Restoration Project, 12714-12715 [2013-04182]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 37 (Monday, February 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12714-12715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04182]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 37 / Monday, February 25, 2013 / 
Notices

[[Page 12714]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Intermountain Region, Payette National Forest, New Meadows Ranger 
District, Idaho; Lost Creek-Boulder Creek Landscape Restoration Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The New Meadows Ranger District of the Payette National Forest 
will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Lost 
Creek-Boulder Creek Landscape Restoration Project. The Lost Creek-
Boulder Creek Landscape Restoration Project area is located 
approximately 10 miles north and west of New Meadows, Idaho in in 
Boulder Creek, a tributary to the Little Salmon, and in the headwaters 
of the Weiser River and the West Fork of the Weiser River. It comprises 
approximately 80,000 acres and is within the boundaries of the New 
Meadows District of the Payette National Forest, in Adams County Idaho. 
The project is designed to improve wildlife habitat, reduce forest 
fuels, and improve watershed conditions through a variety of activities 
including commercial and noncommercial vegetation management and road 
system modifications and maintenance.

DATES: Comments concerning the project must be received by March 27, 
2013. The draft environmental statement is expected in July 2013 and 
the final Environmental Impact Statement is expected in November 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Keith Lannom, Forest Supervisor, 
800 W. Lakeside Avenue, McCall, Idaho 83638. Comments may also be sent 
via email to comments-intermtn-payette-newmeadows@fs.fed.us, or via 
facsimile to 208-634-0744.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Meyers, Project Team Leader, 208-
347-0344. 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 of the project is to: (1) Improve habitat for specific 
wildlife species of concern such as the ESA-listed northern Idaho 
ground squirrel and white-headed woodpecker; (2) maintain and promote 
large tree forest structure, early seral species composition and forest 
resiliency; (3) reduce the risk of uncharacteristic and undesirable 
wildland fire; (4) restore habitat connectivity, especially in streams 
occupied by ESA-listed fishes and in designated critical habitat; (5) 
reduce road-related accelerated sediment and other road related 
impacts; (6) restore riparian vegetation and floodplain function; (7) 
better manage recreation use in the vicinity of Lost Valley Reservoir 
and Boulder Creek, and (8) contribute to the economic vitality of 
communities adjacent to the Payette National Forest.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action includes vegetative treatments to improve 
wildlife habitat for the Northern Idaho Ground Squirrel and species 
that rely on habitat similar to the white-headed woodpecker, and to 
move vegetation toward the desired conditions specified in the Payette 
National Forest Plan. The project would harvest an estimated 20 million 
board feet (MMBF) of timber (all figures are approximations and may 
change as the project is refined). Commercial vegetative treatments 
would include commercial thin-free thin (13,700 acres); free thin-patch 
cut (1,700 acres); and commercial thin-mature plantations (8,400 
acres). Non-commercial vegetative treatments include: Non-commercial 
thinning (16,000 acres); and prescribed burning (45,000 acres).
    The proposal includes changes to the Forest System Road network to 
reduce road-related impacts to water quality and fish habitat, as well 
as reduce overall road density. Specific road actions include: 70 miles 
of system road decommissioning; 60 miles of roads moved to long term 
closure status (all currently closed to the public); 12 miles of 
seasonally open road converted to ATV trails; restoration of 90 miles 
of unauthorized roads; and relocation of 1\ 1/2\ half miles of road 
scheduled for decommissioning. The project includes 40 opportunities 
for replacement of culverts and other aquatic organism passages. No new 
roads will be built under this proposal.
    Recreation actions will occur in the Lost Valley reservoir area and 
in the Boulder Creek subwatershed. Work includes rerouting trails, 
installing trail signs, installing toilets, improving and constructing 
trailhead parking, installing information kiosks, and graveling 
campsites and campground access roads. In addition to the open roads 
converted to ATV trails, twenty new miles of ATV routes will be 
designated and signed.
    A range of reasonable alternatives will be considered. The no-
action alternative will serve as a baseline for comparison of 
alternatives. The proposed action will be considered along with 
additional alternatives developed that meet the purpose and need and 
address major issues identified during scoping. Alternatives may have 
different amounts, locations, and types of project activities.

Responsible Official

    The Forest Supervisor of the Payette National Forest is the 
Responsible Official.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Based on the purpose and need for the proposed action, the 
Responsible Official will determine whether to proceed with the action, 
as proposed, as modified by another alternative or not at all. If an 
action alternative is selected, the Responsible Official will determine 
what design features, mitigation measures and monitoring to require.

Preliminary Issues

    Preliminary issues for this project include effects on water 
quality, soil productivity, wildlife habitat, recreation, access 
management, and fish habitat.

[[Page 12715]]

Addresses

    Additional project information is available on the Payette National 
Forest Web site at https://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=33830.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the Environmental Impact Statement. 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.

    Dated: February 13, 2013.
Keith Lannom,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2013-04182 Filed 2-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P