Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests; Idaho; End of the World Project, 32395-32397 [2024-08954]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32395-32397]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08954]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests; Idaho; End of the World 
Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service (``Forest Service''), United States 
Department of Agriculture, is giving notice of its intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for the End of the World Project 
on the Salmon River Ranger District of the Nez Perce-Clearwater 
National Forests in Idaho. The Forest received an unpublished order in 
Friends of the Clearwater v. Cheryl F. Probert. The court ordered the 
environmental assessment (EA), decision notice (DN), and finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) for the End of the World project to be 
remanded to the United States Forest Service for further evaluation 
under the National Forest Management Act (NFMA) and National 
Environmental Policy Act

[[Page 32396]]

(NEPA). The EIS will further analyze old growth in the project area and 
evaluate the cumulative impacts with the neighboring Hungry Ridge 
Project to ensure old growth was retained per the 1987 Nez Perce 
National Forest land management plan requirements.

DATES: The Forest Service is not conducting a scoping period because we 
are using the information we collected during the development of the 
previous EA. The draft EIS will be published for public comment as 
required by 40 CFR 1503.1. Notice of the draft EIS availability will be 
announced for public review and comment in the Federal Register and on 
the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests' project website, as well as 
other local media. The comment period for the draft EIS will be 45 days 
from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice 
of availability in the Federal Register. The Forest Service anticipates 
that the draft EIS will be available for public review in spring/summer 
2024.

ADDRESSES: Nez Perce Clearwater National Forests, 1008 Highway 64, 
Kamiah, Idaho 83536.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Shinn, Salmon District Ranger, 
[email protected] or 208-839-2103. Individuals who use 
telecommunications devices for the hearing impaired may call 711 to 
reach the Telecommunications Relay Service, 24 hours a day, every day 
of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The End of the World project area is located 
approximately six (6) miles south of Grangeville, Idaho. The name of 
this project is a tribute to local community members who often gather 
at the previous Fish Creek Lookout site (located prominently within the 
project area) which they affectionately call ``The End of the World'' 
because of the extensive viewscape. The EIS will expand the analysis 
from the End of the World Final EA (January 2021) by providing an 
updated analysis of the environmental effects related to old growth and 
analysis of cumulative effects of the Hungry Ridge and End of the World 
projects. The End of the World Final EA evaluated the potential effects 
of three alternatives, including No Action and two action alternatives. 
The final Decision Notice was signed January 25, 2021. The EIS will 
provide updated information about the project's ability to meet Forest 
Plan standards for old growth in the project area and the cumulative 
effects between the End of the World and Hungry Ridge projects. Other 
resources will be addressed by following 40 CFR 1502.2(b).
    The Forest Supervisor of the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests 
will issue a Record of Decision (ROD) after evaluating the EIS and 
public comments.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The End of the World Project area is designated as part of an 
insect and disease treatment program in accordance with Title VI, 
Section 602, Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA), as amended by 
Section 8204 of the Agriculture Act (Farm Bill) of 2014. Based on 
observed existing conditions, as well as other supporting information 
(e.g., annual insect and disease aerial detection surveys, national 
insect and disease risk maps, community wildfire protection plan 
(CWPP), and input from local community members), there is a need to:
     Change the nature and arrangement of fuels to reduce 
wildfire risk to the local communities and surrounding Federal lands;
     Reduce the risk or extent of, or increase resilience to, 
insect or disease infestation;
     Restore forest vegetation, dry meadows, and grasslands to 
a healthy condition; and
     Improve water quality and aquatic habitats.
    This project is in the heart of the Forests' Wildland Fire Crisis 
Emergency Landscape. The project lies entirely within the Wildland 
Urban Interface (WUI) for the Grangeville area as defined by the CWPP 
of Idaho County. It was originally authorized as part of an insect and 
disease treatment program in accordance with title VI, section 602, 
HFRA, as amended by section 8204 of the Agriculture Act (Farm Bill) of 
2014. This project meets Executive Order (E.O.) 14072 because it was 
created using science-based modelling that indicated that this area is 
in high need for treatment through sustainable forest and land 
management activities. The project conserves America's mature and old-
growth forests through authorization under title VI, section 602, HFRA 
as well as application of the 1987 Nez Perce Forest Plan Standards. 
Proposed activities will improve the resilience of our lands, waters, 
wildlife, and communities in the face of increasing disturbances and 
chronic stress arising from climate impacts.

Proposed Action

    The goal of this project is to treat at a landscape scale to 
increase the resilience of the forest to insects, disease, fire, and 
future climate impacts. The project is also designed to improve water 
quality, aquatic habitats, and resources important to the Nez Perce 
Tribe (project area is fully within the ceded territory). Finally, the 
project is adjacent to the community of Grangeville, Idaho, and actions 
are designed to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires to both 
private residences in and adjacent to the Forest and to the community 
of Grangeville.
    Pre-commercial thinning, intermediate harvest, regeneration 
harvest, and aquatic improvements are proposed to change the nature and 
arrangement of fuels and reduce wildfire risk. The project proposes to 
remove hazard trees in campgrounds and dispersed camping areas, create 
a fuel break on Forest Service Road 221, conduct prescribed landscape 
burning, treat invasive plant species, improve range conditions and 
restore dry meadows, conduct trail restoration or reconstruction, 
decommission roads, replace culverts, improve cross drains, and 
complete stream crossing hardening. There will be no regeneration 
harvest in old growth. Project activities will maintain or promote old 
growth characteristics consistent with the regional definition of old 
growth.
    The EIS will provide updated information about the project's 
ability to meet the 1987 Forest Plan standards for old growth in the 
project area and the cumulative effects on old growth between the End 
of the World and Hungry Ridge projects as directed by the court.

Preliminary Alternatives

    The alternatives from the EA will be incorporated into the EIS. The 
End of the World EA (January 2021) evaluated the potential effects of 
three alternatives, including No Action and two action alternatives. 
Both the Proposed Action and Alternative B meet the purpose and need of 
the project. Alternative B was created in direct response to 
collaboration and public comments that requested alternative treatments 
near private properties, less harvest, fewer temporary roads, and less 
potential sediment production. The No Action alternative provided the 
baseline for the comparison of the environmental effects of the action 
alternatives to the existing condition. The No Action Alternative would 
continue to elevate the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire and would not 
address fuel accumulations in the WUI, nor would it respond to the 
priority landscapes identified by the Governor of Idaho. It would not 
further implementation of the National Wildfire Crisis or National 
Cohesive Strategies.

[[Page 32397]]

Expected Impacts

    The Forest Service will evaluate potential impacts to old growth in 
the project area and cumulative effects on old growth by the End of the 
World and Hungry Ridge projects.

Responsible Official

    Cheryl F. Probert, Nez Perce--Clearwater Forest Supervisor, Nez 
Perce-Clearwater National Forests Supervisor's Office, 1008 Highway 64, 
Kamiah, Idaho 83536.

Comments and the Objection Process

    A legal notice was published in the Lewiston Tribune on February 
16, 2018. This notice started a 30-day scoping/comment period. In 
accordance with 40 CFR 1502.9(d)(3), there will be no scoping conducted 
for this EIS. The scope of the End of the World final EA established 
the scope for this EIS. The Forest Service will be seeking comments on 
the draft EIS. The Forest Supervisor will be requesting Emergency 
Action Determination authority under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, 
section 40807, since the project is within two of the 250 high-risk 
western firesheds. If the Emergency Action Determination authority is 
approved, the End of the World project would not be subject to the pre-
decisional objection review process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 subparts A 
and B.
    The Forest Service will be soliciting future participation via the 
GovDelivery email notification system, rather than postal mail. Details 
about the upcoming project will be sent through GovDelivery. To sign up 
for GovDelivery and take advantage of electronic notifications, visit 
the End of the World Project web page at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=52541. On the right side of the screen, under ``Get 
Connected,'' select ``Subscribe to Email Updates.'' When you click on 
that item, you will be prompted to provide your email address and 
select a password in the GovDelivery program. Once you have logged in, 
you will be able to manage your account by subscribing to projects by 
National Forest, Ranger District, project type, or project purpose. 
Select the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Salmon River Ranger 
District, and/or End of the World Project to receive any updates on the 
project. Once you are subscribed, you will continue to receive all 
project information and updates via email. Updates will not be sent via 
postal mail.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Responsible Official will review the information and analysis 
in the EIS to determine whether direct, indirect, and cumulative 
effects on old growth in the End of the World project area meet the 
requirements of appendix N of the 1987 Nez Perce National Forest Land 
and Resource Management Plan (Plan); if there are cumulative impacts to 
old growth by the End of the World Restoration Project and the Hungry 
Ridge Restoration Project; and which alternative best meets the purpose 
and need of the project and complies with the Plan.

    Dated: April 22, 2024.
Troy Heithecker,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2024-08954 Filed 4-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P