Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests; Idaho; Lolo Insect & Disease Project, 24718-24721 [2013-09710]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 81 (Friday, April 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24718-24721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09710]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests; Idaho; Lolo Insect & 
Disease Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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

SUMMARY: The Forest Service gives notice of its intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Lolo Insect & Disease project to 
analyze

[[Page 24719]]

and disclose the effects of proposed forest management and watershed 
improvement activities within the Lolo Creek watershed, located 
approximately 16 miles northeast of Kamiah, Idaho. The proposed action 
would use a combination of timber harvest, pre-commercial thinning, and 
reforestation to achieve the desired range of age classes, size 
classes, vegetative species distributions, habitat complexity 
(diversity) and landscape patterns across the forested portions of the 
project area. Road decommissioning, culvert replacements, road 
improvements, and soils rehabilitation are also proposed to improve 
watershed health. The EIS will analyze the effects of the proposed 
action and alternatives. The Nez Perce-Clearwater Forest 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: The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected in February 
2014, and will be followed by a 45-day public comment period. The Final 
Environmental Impact Statement is expected in October 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send written or electronic comments to Lois Hill, 
Interdisciplinary Team Leader; Kamiah Ranger Station; 903 3rd Street; 
Kamiah, ID 83536; FAX 208-935-4257; Email comments-northern-clearwater-lochsa@fs.fed.us. Include your name, address, organization represented 
(if any), and the name of the project for which you are submitting 
comments. Electronic comments will be accepted in MS Word, Word 
Perfect, or Rich Text formats. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lois Hill, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, (208) 935-4258.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objective of the Lolo Insect & Disease 
Project is to manage forest vegetation to restore natural disturbance 
patterns; improve long term resistance and resilience at the landscape 
level; reduce fuels; improve watershed conditions; improve habitat for 
early seral species; and maintain habitat structure, function, and 
diversity. Timber outputs from the proposed action would be used to 
offset treatment costs and support the economic structure of local 
communities and provide for regional and national needs.

Purpose and Need for the Proposal

Vegetation and Wildlife Habitat Improvement

    Existing Condition: Most of the project area is in Forest Plan 
Management Area (MA) E1. MA E1 is timber-producing land to be managed 
for healthy timber stands to optimize potential timber growing. Timber 
production is to be cost-effective and provide maximum protection of 
soil and water quality. Big game, primarily elk, is to be managed 
through limited road closures. Dispersed recreation and livestock 
grazing will be provided if compatible with timber management goals.
    In the project area, fires that occurred in 1910 and 1934 and the 
introduction of white pine blister rust have created a homogeneous age 
class and species composition which has become highly susceptible to 
insect and disease change agents due to its current age. Mortality in 
grand fir and Douglas-fir dominated stands is increasing from root 
disease, Douglas-fir bark beetle and grand fir engraver. Currently, a 
higher percentage of grand fir and Douglas-fir exist than natural long-
term disturbances patterns would have created and that would have 
dominated these habitat types in the absence of historical disturbance 
events. Grand fir and Douglas-fir are more susceptible to insects and 
diseases, and grand fir is less likely to survive intense wildfires, 
than early seral species such as ponderosa pine, western larch, and 
western white pine.
    Young forest habitat is lacking on this landscape, while the 
quality of available habitat for sensitive and old growth-associated 
species has declined. Patches of young forest that do exist are smaller 
with edges that are straighter and more even than natural disturbances 
would have created.
    Desired Condition: The desired condition is a forest structure with 
a range of age and size classes with species diversity that is 
resistant and resilient to change agents such as insects, diseases, and 
wildfires. Early seral species (white pine, larch) should represent a 
greater percentage of the species mix.
    Need for Action: Vegetation in this area needs to be managed to 
create a more diverse and resilient forest structure by creating a 
range of age and size classes, species diversity, and disturbance 
patterns that more closely emulate the results of natural disturbance. 
A need exists to shift tree species composition away from shade-
tolerant species toward more resistant and resilient early seral 
species. Restoration of blister rust resistant white pine is a primary 
objective.

Goods and Services

    Existing Condition: Much of the Project area consists of grand fir-
dominated stands. Insect and disease infestations are contributing to 
increased tree mortality, while decreasing timber volume and value.
    Desired Condition: The desired condition is to provide a sustained 
yield of resource outputs as directed by the Clearwater Forest Plan.
    Need for Action: Stands that are infested with insects and diseases 
need to be treated so that the harvested timber can provide materials 
for local industries.

Watershed Improvement

    The emphasis for watershed restoration in the Lolo Creek drainage 
is associated with roads and soil improvement.
    Existing Condition: Gravel and native surface roads could 
contribute sediment to stream channels, which can affect water quality 
and fish habitat. There are 555 miles of system and 40 miles of non-
system road in the Lolo Creek watershed. A total of 500 miles occurs 
within designated PACFISH buffers.
    Desired Condition: The desired condition is to maintain a road 
system in the Lolo Creek watershed that is adequate to provide for 
continued recreation, commodity production, and administrative use as 
described in the Clearwater Forest Plan while maintaining fish and 
water quality objectives.
    Need for Action: Improving watershed function and stream conditions 
by reducing road densities and repairing existing roads and culverts to 
reduce sediment and improve drainage is needed. New system roads would 
be constructed to provide a long term transportation system while 
reducing roads located within riparian habitat conservation areas.

Transportation Planning

    Existing Condition: Transportation planning has been done on a 
project by project basis without analyzing the entire transportations 
system as a whole.
    Desired Condition: A diversity of motorized access adequate to 
provide for continued recreation, commodity

[[Page 24720]]

production, and administrative use as described in the Clearwater 
Forest Plan.
    Need for Action: A comprehensive transportation plan including all 
motorized access opportunities. Implementation of the resulting 
transportation plan would create a sustainable transportation system.

Soil Improvement

    Existing Condition: Past management activities have resulted in 
areas of soil detrimental disturbance, mostly in the form of compacted 
or displaced soil or loss of organic matter.
    Desired Condition: Soils are productive (functioning soil biology, 
soil hydrology, and nutrient cycling) and stable.
    Need for Action: Watershed function can be improved by restoring 
compacted soils and adding organic material on old skid trails and 
landings. Restoration of meadow function with seeding and planting of 
native species.

The Proposed Action

    The Lochsa District proposes the following vegetation management 
actions to improve forest health, provide goods and services, and 
improve wildlife habitat:

General Project Area

     Variable retention regeneration harvest and site 
preparation activities would be conducted on approximately 3,000 acres. 
Stands that are currently being affected by biotic change agents would 
be targeted for treatment. Regeneration harvest would create early 
successional plant communities and habitat. Other silvicultural 
prescriptions would be used in portions of units to address specific 
resource concerns, such as areas within the National Historic Landmark 
Corridor that require retention to meet visual objectives.
     Regeneration would focus on restoring white pine and other 
long-lived early seral species.
     Variable retention regeneration harvest would include 
areas of full retention (clumps), irregular edges, and retention of 
snags and legacy trees to provide structure and a future source of 
woody debris. Some openings may exceed 40 acres.
     Construct a minimum temporary road system to carry out the 
proposed action. Roads would be decommissioned after use.
     Harvest would include utilizing ground based, skyline, and 
helicopter yarding systems.
     Harvesting may occur within Pacfish buffers where they 
overlap on dry ridges or occur as a sliver above system roads.
     Soil rehabilitation would occur on approximately 50 acres 
of currently detrimentally disturbed areas associated with past harvest 
related activities. Activities could include decompaction, mastication, 
fertilization, seeding, and addition of woody material/organic 
material. These 50 acres of soil rehabilitation would be in addition to 
the soil rehabilitation associated with the transportation system and 
the Musselshell rehabilitation area.

Transportation System

    The following road improvement actions are proposed to reduce 
sediment production and address transportation needs. Road improvements 
would occur on up to 125 miles of roads within the project area:
     Add cross drains on either side of perennial streams, 
fish-bearing would be the highest priority followed by non-fish bearing 
perennials. These would be determined and prioritized based on field 
review.
     Replace crossings on perennial streams with structures 
appropriately sized for a 100-year event. These would be prioritized by 
the zone fish biologist.
     Stabilize eroding sections of road: this could include 
blading followed by spot rocking or the addition of drainage structures 
where needed.
     Road decommissioning is proposed on approximately 100-150 
miles of system road and approximately 40 miles of non-system road. In 
most cases this includes fully re-contouring the road.
     Off-highway vehicle opportunities would be considered 
during the roads analysis.
     Soil rehabilitation would occur on approximately 45 acres 
of currently detrimentally disturbed areas associated with past harvest 
related activities. Activities could include decompaction, mastication, 
fertilization, seeding, and addition of woody material/organic 
material. These 45 acres of soil rehabilitation would be in addition to 
the soil rehabilitation associated with the general project area and 
the Musselshell rehabilitation area.
     New system roads would be constructed to provide a long 
term transportation system while reducing roads located within riparian 
habitat conservation areas.
     Deferred maintenance opportunities (such as any needed 
reconstruction on trails in the National Historic Trail corridors) will 
be considered during alternative development and the environmental 
analysis.

Musselshell Restoration Area

    The following actions are proposed to improve soil and vegetation 
conditions in the Musselshell Restoration Area portion (1600 acres) of 
the Lolo Insect & Disease project area:
     Approximately 500 acres of white pine restoration would be 
accomplished through commercial thinning and creating small openings to 
plant blister rust resistant seedlings. Commercial thinning would also 
benefit other species and contribute to ecosystem health.
     Meadow restoration would occur in various places across 
the restoration area, and would be achieved through riparian shrub/
tree/grass/forbs planting along the meadow in the Musselshell 
restoration area. Temporary fencing or other protection, such as 
tubing, would be installed to keep livestock and wildlife out.
     Meadow restoration would be conducted in two phases. 
During the first phase, half of the area would be planted and then 
protected for 5 years to allow for establishment. After that, the 
second phase would be completed. This approach would minimize impacts 
to the grazing allotment permittee.
     Soil rehabilitation would occur on approximately 55 acres 
of currently detrimentally disturbed areas associated with past harvest 
related activities. Activities could include decompaction, mastication, 
fertilization, seeding, and addition of woody material/organic 
material. These 55 acres of soil rehabilitation would be in addition to 
the soil rehabilitation associated with the transportation system and 
the Musselshell rehabilitation area.
    Possible Alternatives: The Forest Service will consider include a 
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 Responsible Official: Rick Brazell, Nez Perce-Clearwater Forest 
Supervisor, Clearwater National Forest Supervisor's Office, 12730 
Highway 12, Orofino, ID 83544.
    The Decision To Be Made: Whether to adopt the proposed action, in 
whole or in part, or another alternative; and what mitigation measures 
and management requirements will be implemented.
    The Scoping Process: The scoping process identifies issues to be 
analyzed in detail and leads to the development of alternatives to the 
proposal. 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

[[Page 24721]]

proposed action. Comments received in response to this notice, 
including the names and addresses of those who comment, will be a part 
of the project record and available for public review.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review: A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
will be prepared for comment. The next major opportunity for public 
input will be when the DEIS is published. The comment period for the 
DEIS will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. The Draft 
EIS is anticipated to be available for public review in February 2014.

    Dated: April 15, 2013.
Rick Brazell,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2013-09710 Filed 4-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P