Umatilla National Forest, Supervisor's Office; Oregon; Kahler Dry Forest Restoration Project, 44738-44739 [2014-18142]

Download as PDF 44738 Notices Federal Register Vol. 79, No. 148 Friday, August 1, 2014 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service RIN 0596–AC51 Extension of Comment Period on the Proposed Directive on Groundwater Resource Management, Forest Service Manual 2560 Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of proposed directive; Extension of comment period. AGENCY: The Forest Service published a notice in the Federal Register on May 6, 2014, initiating a 90-day comment period on the Proposed Directive on Groundwater Resource Management, Forest Service Manual 2560. The closing date for that 90-day comment period is August 4, 2014. The Agency is extending the comment period; therefore, the comment period has been extended to September 3, 2014. DATES: Comments must be received by September 3, 2014. ADDRESSES: Send comments electronically by following the instructions at the Federal eRulemaking portal at https://www.regulation.gov. Comments may also be submitted by electronic mail to fsm2500@fs.fed.us or by mail to Groundwater Directive Comments, USDA Forest Service, Attn: Rob Harper—WFWARP, 201 14th Street SW., Washington, DC 20250. If comments are sent electronically, the public is requested not to send duplicate comments by mail. Please confine comments to issues pertinent to the proposed directive; explain the reasons for any recommended changes; and, where possible, refer to the specific wording being addressed. All comments, including names and addresses when provided, will be placed in the record and will be available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect the comments received on the proposed tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 22:09 Jul 31, 2014 Jkt 232001 directive at the USDA Forest Service Headquarters, located in the Yates Federal Building at 201 14th Street SW., Washington, DC, on regular business days between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Those wishing to inspect the comments are encouraged to call ahead at (202) 205–0967 to facilitate entry into the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Troy Thompson, Watershed, Fish, Wildlife, Air and Rare Plants Staff and Minerals and Geology Management Staff, (414) 297–3622. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service at (800) 877–8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service proposes to amend its internal Agency directives for Watershed and Air Management to establish direction for management of groundwater resources on National Forest System (NFS) lands as an integral component of watershed management. Specifically, the proposed amendment would provide direction on the consideration of groundwater resources in agency activities, approvals, and authorizations; encourage source water protection and water conservation; establish procedures for reviewing new proposals for groundwater withdrawals on NFS lands; require the evaluation of potential impacts from groundwater withdrawals on NFS resources; and provide for measurement and reporting for some larger groundwater withdrawals. This proposed amendment would supplement existing special uses and minerals and geology directives to address issues of groundwater resource management and would help ensure consistent and adequate analyses for evaluating potential uses of NFS lands that could affect groundwater resources. Public comment is invited and will be considered in development of the final directive. The Forest Service wants to ensure that there is sufficient time for potentially affected parties, including States, to comment. Thus the Agency is providing an extended comment period for the proposed directive. In addition, the Forest Service may host meetings and/or webinars as needed on the proposed directive to present information and answer questions on the proposed policy and PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the comment process during the comment period. Specific information regarding the dates and times of the webinar will be announced by news release and at the following Web site: https://www.fs.fed.us/geology/ groundwater. A recording of the webinar may also be posted on the Web site. Reviewers may obtain a copy of the proposed directive from the Forest Service Minerals and Geology Management Staff Web site, https:// www.fs.fed.us/geology/groundwater, or from the Regulations.gov Web site, https://www.regulations.gov. Dated: July 29, 2014. Thomas L. Tidwell, Chief, Forest Service. [FR Doc. 2014–18219 Filed 7–31–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Umatilla National Forest, Supervisor’s Office; Oregon; Kahler Dry Forest Restoration Project Forest Service, USDA. Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: ACTION: The USDA, Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze impacts for vegetative treatment in the Kahler Creek area of the Heppner Ranger District of the Umatilla National Forest. The district has started an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project, but has determined that an Environmental Impact Statement would be more appropriate for this project. Scoping for the EA was open for 30 days in March 2013 and numerous comments were received from the public. These comments were used to form the issues for the EA, and these issues will be carried over to the EIS. DATES: The draft environmental impact statement is expected September 2014 and the final environmental impact statement is expected February 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Niesen, District Ranger, Heppner Ranger District, P.O. Box 7, Heppner, OR 97836. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\01AUN1.SGM 01AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 148 / Friday, August 1, 2014 / Notices tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 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 Fire suppression and past harvest throughout the Kahler project area have caused a shift in stand density, structure, and species composition away from the range of variability historically associated with dry forests. In turn, this shift has altered the availability and distribution of habitat for terrestrial wildlife species, including Forest Plan Management Indicator Species and Region 6 Sensitive Wildlife Species. There is a shortage of old forest single stratum (OFSS) forest structure, which is characterized by a single overstory layer, with medium to large trees of early successional tree species such as ponderosa pine or western larch. Currently, only 6% of the forested land within the project area is classified as OFSS, whereas historically 40–60% of the forest would have been in this condition. • Restore, maintain, and promote single stratum old forest structure, moving the area toward its historical range of structure, density, and species composition. • Maintain and promote old trees (> 150 years old) throughout the project area. • Provide a supply of commercial forest products to support and maintain local infrastructure. • Reduce insect and disease risk, where currently outside the historical range, to dry upland forest stands and associated wildlife. • Reestablish the character of a frequent fire regime to the landscape to aid in maintaining open stand conditions and fire-tolerant species, improve big game forage, and reduce conifer encroachment. • Reduce encroachment of western juniper into areas where it did not historically occur to improve big game forage, the quality of grassland and steppe-shrubland habitat for wildlife, the diversity and productivity of riparian plant communities, and water availability for native vegetation. • Provide, develop, and enhance effective and well-distributed habitats throughout the Forest for all existing native and desired nonnative vertebrate wildlife species, particularly those associated with late and old structural stages in dry upland forest stands (e.g. white-headed and Lewis’ woodpecker). • Provide for a high level of potential habitat effectiveness at the landscape scale to meet the needs of big game in the winter range management area. VerDate Mar<15>2010 22:09 Jul 31, 2014 Jkt 232001 • Address habitat issues in big game winter range areas including the existing extent and distribution of cover, the quantity and quality of forage, and disturbance associated with roads and trails open to full-sized vehicles and OHVs. Proposed Action The Kahler project proposes to use variable density thinning with skips and gaps to reduce tree density, shift species composition, and promote old forest structure across approximately 11,000 acres within the project area. There will be an option to remove select young (<150 years old) grand fir and Douglasfir trees that are 21 inches or greater in diameter and interacting with the crown of a desirable leave tree. Tree species preference will be for ponderosa pine and western larch. Diseased trees and those with severe mistletoe infestations will be targeted for removal where they are outside historical ranges. Trees may be removed using ground-based, skyline, or helicopter methods. Minimum snag and downed wood standards will be maintained. Thinning of western juniper (7 inches to 21 inches in diameter) may occur within commercial harvest units in order to reduce and/or eliminate its encroachment into upland forest stands and Class 4 riparian areas where it did not historically occur in order to maintain or improve the quality of upland forest habitat, the diversity and productivity of riparian plant communities, and water availability for native vegetation. The Proposed Action includes five amendments to the Umatilla Land and Resource Management Plan. Possible Alternatives The Forest Service developed 3 alternatives in response to issues raised by the public: • No Action • Proposed Action • Alternative to the Propsed Action Responsible Official Kevin Martin, Forest Supervisor of the Umatilla National Forest will be the responsible official for making the decision and providing direction for the analysis. Nature of Decision To Be Made The responsible official will decide whether or not to authorize the proposal. Preliminary Issues The Forest Service has identified four issues from previous scoping: PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 44739 • Issue 1: Thinning, juniper removal, prescribe fire and use of the road system have the potential to impact the quality, quantity and distribution (across the landscape and adjacent to open roads) of big game habitat within the analysis area. As a result, population levels and herd distribution may be impacted. • Issue 2: Thinning would impact the quantity and distribution of dense multi-strata ponderosa pine and mixed conifer stands at the stand and larger landscape scale in the dry upland forest Potential Vegetation Group (Powell et al, 2007). Thinning may reduce the habitat for dense, multi-strata associated species of wildlife such as pileated woodpecker and other wildlife that utilize dense mixed conifer and ponderosa pine stands. • Issue 3: Use of temporary roads and re-opening of existing closed roads has potential to increase sedimentation. • Issue 4: Mechanical treatments in Class 4 RHCA’s could increase sedimentation. Addresses John Evans, Project Manager, 72510 Coyote Road, Pendleton, OR 97801. Ann Niesen, District Ranger, Heppner Ranger District, P.O. Box 7, Heppner, OR 97836. Dated: July 18, 2014. Kevin Martin, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2014–18142 Filed 7–31–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS Agenda and Notice of Public Meeting of the Nevada Advisory Committee Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) that a planning meeting the Nevada Advisory Committee (Committee) to the Commission will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2014, at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and adjourn at approximately 4:00 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is for the Committee to receive a briefing on the militarization of the police and to plan project activity. Members of the public are entitled to submit written comments. The comments must be received in the Western Regional Office of the Commission by September 22, 2014. The address is Western Regional Office, E:\FR\FM\01AUN1.SGM 01AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44738-44739]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18142]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Umatilla National Forest, Supervisor's Office; Oregon; Kahler Dry 
Forest Restoration Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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

SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to analyze impacts for vegetative treatment in the 
Kahler Creek area of the Heppner Ranger District of the Umatilla 
National Forest.
    The district has started an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the 
project, but has determined that an Environmental Impact Statement 
would be more appropriate for this project. Scoping for the EA was open 
for 30 days in March 2013 and numerous comments were received from the 
public. These comments were used to form the issues for the EA, and 
these issues will be carried over to the EIS.

DATES: The draft environmental impact statement is expected September 
2014 and the final environmental impact statement is expected February 
2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Niesen, District Ranger, Heppner 
Ranger District, P.O. Box 7, Heppner, OR 97836.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information

[[Page 44739]]

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

    Fire suppression and past harvest throughout the Kahler project 
area have caused a shift in stand density, structure, and species 
composition away from the range of variability historically associated 
with dry forests. In turn, this shift has altered the availability and 
distribution of habitat for terrestrial wildlife species, including 
Forest Plan Management Indicator Species and Region 6 Sensitive 
Wildlife Species. There is a shortage of old forest single stratum 
(OFSS) forest structure, which is characterized by a single overstory 
layer, with medium to large trees of early successional tree species 
such as ponderosa pine or western larch. Currently, only 6% of the 
forested land within the project area is classified as OFSS, whereas 
historically 40-60% of the forest would have been in this condition.
     Restore, maintain, and promote single stratum old forest 
structure, moving the area toward its historical range of structure, 
density, and species composition.
     Maintain and promote old trees (> 150 years old) 
throughout the project area.
     Provide a supply of commercial forest products to support 
and maintain local infrastructure.
     Reduce insect and disease risk, where currently outside 
the historical range, to dry upland forest stands and associated 
wildlife.
     Reestablish the character of a frequent fire regime to the 
landscape to aid in maintaining open stand conditions and fire-tolerant 
species, improve big game forage, and reduce conifer encroachment.
     Reduce encroachment of western juniper into areas where it 
did not historically occur to improve big game forage, the quality of 
grassland and steppe-shrubland habitat for wildlife, the diversity and 
productivity of riparian plant communities, and water availability for 
native vegetation.
     Provide, develop, and enhance effective and well-
distributed habitats throughout the Forest for all existing native and 
desired nonnative vertebrate wildlife species, particularly those 
associated with late and old structural stages in dry upland forest 
stands (e.g. white-headed and Lewis' woodpecker).
     Provide for a high level of potential habitat 
effectiveness at the landscape scale to meet the needs of big game in 
the winter range management area.
     Address habitat issues in big game winter range areas 
including the existing extent and distribution of cover, the quantity 
and quality of forage, and disturbance associated with roads and trails 
open to full-sized vehicles and OHVs.

Proposed Action

    The Kahler project proposes to use variable density thinning with 
skips and gaps to reduce tree density, shift species composition, and 
promote old forest structure across approximately 11,000 acres within 
the project area. There will be an option to remove select young (<150 
years old) grand fir and Douglas-fir trees that are 21 inches or 
greater in diameter and interacting with the crown of a desirable leave 
tree. Tree species preference will be for ponderosa pine and western 
larch. Diseased trees and those with severe mistletoe infestations will 
be targeted for removal where they are outside historical ranges. Trees 
may be removed using ground-based, skyline, or helicopter methods. 
Minimum snag and downed wood standards will be maintained. Thinning of 
western juniper (7 inches to 21 inches in diameter) may occur within 
commercial harvest units in order to reduce and/or eliminate its 
encroachment into upland forest stands and Class 4 riparian areas where 
it did not historically occur in order to maintain or improve the 
quality of upland forest habitat, the diversity and productivity of 
riparian plant communities, and water availability for native 
vegetation. The Proposed Action includes five amendments to the 
Umatilla Land and Resource Management Plan.

Possible Alternatives

    The Forest Service developed 3 alternatives in response to issues 
raised by the public:

 No Action
 Proposed Action
 Alternative to the Propsed Action

Responsible Official

    Kevin Martin, Forest Supervisor of the Umatilla National Forest 
will be the responsible official for making the decision and providing 
direction for the analysis.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The responsible official will decide whether or not to authorize 
the proposal.

Preliminary Issues

    The Forest Service has identified four issues from previous 
scoping:
     Issue 1: Thinning, juniper removal, prescribe fire and use 
of the road system have the potential to impact the quality, quantity 
and distribution (across the landscape and adjacent to open roads) of 
big game habitat within the analysis area. As a result, population 
levels and herd distribution may be impacted.
     Issue 2: Thinning would impact the quantity and 
distribution of dense multi-strata ponderosa pine and mixed conifer 
stands at the stand and larger landscape scale in the dry upland forest 
Potential Vegetation Group (Powell et al, 2007). Thinning may reduce 
the habitat for dense, multi-strata associated species of wildlife such 
as pileated woodpecker and other wildlife that utilize dense mixed 
conifer and ponderosa pine stands.
     Issue 3: Use of temporary roads and re-opening of existing 
closed roads has potential to increase sedimentation.
     Issue 4: Mechanical treatments in Class 4 RHCA's could 
increase sedimentation.

Addresses

    John Evans, Project Manager, 72510 Coyote Road, Pendleton, OR 
97801.
    Ann Niesen, District Ranger, Heppner Ranger District, P.O. Box 7, 
Heppner, OR 97836.

    Dated: July 18, 2014.
Kevin Martin,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-18142 Filed 7-31-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P

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