Department of Agriculture April 15, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), has prepared an Environmental Assessment consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. The Goshute Spring Range Improvement is a federally assisted action authorized for planning under Public Law 76-159 the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, and federal financial assistance through the Enviromental Quality Incentives Program. An Environmental Assessment was undertaken in conjunction with the development of the conservation plan. This assessment was undertaken in conjunction with local, state, and federal agencies as well as the Goshute Tribal Government, and other interested parties and individuals. Upon review of the information in the Goshute Spring Range Improvement, the State Conservationist, NRCS, Utah, made a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and the determination was made that no environmental impact statement is required to support the Goshute Spring Range Improvement. Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations (7 CFR part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice that an environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the Goshute Spring Range Improvement, Goshute Reservation, Ibapah, Utah. Written comments regarding this action may be submitted to: Sylvia Gillen, State Conservationist, USDA/NRCS, Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, 125 South State Street, Room 4402, Salt Lake City, UT 84138-1100. Comments must be received no later than 30 days after this notice is published.

We are amending the bovine tuberculosis regulations regarding State and zone classifications by raising the designation of California from modified accredited advanced to accredited-free. We have determined that California meets the criteria for designation as an accredited-free State.

The Cascade Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a resource management project in the Clear Creek drainage. The entire project area is located in watersheds that drain into Clear Creek, which in turn drains into the North Fork Payette River below Cascade Reservoir. The 11,056-acre project area is located 10 miles east of Cascade, Idaho, and about 120 miles north of Boise, Idaho. The agency invites written comments and suggestions on the scope of the analysis. The agency also hereby gives notice of the environmental analysis and decisionmaking process that will occur on the proposal so interested and affected people are aware of how they may participate and contribute to the final decision. At this time, no public meetings to discuss the project are planned. Proposed Action: Eight objectives have been identified for the project: (1) Relative to Douglas-fir beetle, mountain pine beetle, western pine beetle, western spruce budworm, and/or dwarf mistletoe, manipulate the structures, densities and compositions of stands to maintain a low or moderate susceptibility level, or to decrease susceptibility to a low or moderate level; (2) reduce fuel loads and ladder fuels through the use of prescribed fire where existing forest types indicate such an action could be accomplished without substantial mortality of the overstory trees, and where topographic features would make the use of prescribed fire a practical management action; (3) retain the existing size class of stands currently identified as large tree and manipulate the structure of small and medium tree size class stands to accelerate their movement toward the large tree size class; (4) reduce the densities of stands currently identified as large tree size class to maintain or restore canopy closures within desired conditions; (5) consistent with the particular habitat type, discriminate against shade-tolerant species such as grand fir and subalpine fir and encourage retention and recruitment of several species; (6) improve long-term stand growth to or near levels indicative of sustainable forests; (7) provide wood products to support local and regional economies; and (8) reduce management-induced sediment associated with roads 409, 405B, 405B2, 405C, 405D, and 417HX1. The Proposed Action would implement silvicultural activities, including thinning of submerchantable trees and prescribed fire, on 2,875 acres. An estimated 9.0 MMBF would be removed using tractor, off- road jammer, skyline, and helicopter yarding systems. The Proposed Action would employ a variety of silvicultrual prescriptions including commercial thin, commercial thin with prescribed fire, sanitation/ improvement, sanitation/improvement with prescribed fire, seed cut shelterwood, clearcut with reserve trees, thinning of submerchantable trees, thinning of submerchantable trees with prescribed fire, and prescribed fire. The Proposed Action would restore an estimated 0.8 mile of the 409 road through maintenance activities to reduce sedimentation. Specifically, gravel would be applied to the surface of the 409 road from near the 409/409D intersection to Clear Creek Summit. Roughly 1.6 miles of temporary road would be constructed to facilitate silvicultrual activities. An estimated 4.4 miles of existing road (405B, 405B2, 405C, 405D, and 417HX1) not needed for the long-term management of the area would be decommissioned to reduce future maintenance needs and to reduce sedimentation. These five roads would be removed from the transportation system. Preliminary Issues: Preliminary concerns with the Proposed Action include potential impacts on water quality and terrestrial wildlife species. Possible Alternatives to The Proposed Action: One alternative to the Proposed Action that has been discussed thus far is a no action alternative. Other alternatives will likely be developed as issues are identified and information received. Decisions To Be Made: The Boise National Forest Supervisor will decide the following: (1) Should vegetation be managed within the project area at this time, and if so, which stands should be treated and what silvicultural systems applied? (2) Should temporary roads be built at this time, and if so, how many miles should be built and where should they occur within the project area? (3) Should existing classified roads within the project area receive maintenance activities to reduce sedimentation, and if so, where within the project area? (4) Should portions of roads 405B, 405B2, 405C, 405D, and 417HX1 be decommissioned at this time? (5) Based on the completed Clear Prong Project Roads Analysis, which roads should be adopted as the minimum transportation system? (6) What design features and/or mitigation measures should be applied to the project?