[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-4012]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 23, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Office of the Secretary

 

Duke, Highball, Noman, Ryeleven, Turlock, Sandpiper, Umpire, East 
Fork, Fisher, Lakeview, Roughneck, Southwind Salvage, Alien ET, Highway 
20 Hazard Tree, Madrone, South Monty, Bugsy, Mtn.-Var., and Russky 
Timber Sales in Oregon; Jack, Slide Cr. Heli, and Rusby Two Timber 
Sales in California, Deer Gulch and Typhoon Dixie in Washington

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of decisions.

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

SUMMARY: On February 3, 1994, James R. Lyons, Assistant Secretary for 
Natural Resources and the Environment, decided to offer for sale, 
pending modification of the injunction in SAS v. Lyons, No. C92-179 
(W.D. Washington), 30.861 million board feet of timber from 24 timber 
sales in Oregon, Washington and California. These decisions resulted 
from an agreement between Secretaries Espy and Babbit and the 
plaintiffs to review for possible release from the Court's injunction 
certain Forest Service timber sales in Pacific Southwest (Region 5) and 
Pacific Northwest (Region 6) Regions. All 24 sales have been modified 
to meet the stipulations of the agreement. The plaintiffs agreed not to 
oppose a motion to release 54 timber sales identified in the agreement. 
These 24 sales represent a portion of the 54 identified timber sales.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The United States Department of Agriculture will be 
requesting modification of the injunction against auction and award of 
timber sales in SAS v. Lyons. These 24 timber sales will be implemented 
as soon as practicable upon such modification by the Court.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, contact John 
E. Lowe, Regional Forester, Region 6, P.O. Box 3623, Portland, Oregon 
97208-3623, (503) 326-3625 (for timber sales in Oregon and Washington) 
or, Ronald E. Stewart, Regional Forester, Region 5, 630 Sansome Street, 
San Francisco, California 94111, (415) 705-2874 (for timber sales in 
California).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A final environmental impact statement 
(FEIS) on Management for the Northern Spotted Owl in the National 
Forests was filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on 
January 31, 1992 and the Record of Decision (ROD) for this FEIS was 
signed on March 3, 1992. A lawsuit was filed by Seattle Audubon Society 
on March 25, 1992, (Seattle Audubon Society, et al. v. James R. 
Moseley, et al.) which challenged the legality of the FEIS and ROD 
alleging violations of both National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
and National Forest Management Act. On May 28, 1992 Judge Dwyer found 
that the Forest Service had not fully complied with NEPA and that it 
must take further action under that statute. On May 29, 1992, Judge 
Dwyer enjoined the Forest Service from auctioning and awarding 
additional timber sales in suitable spotted owl habitat. On October 6, 
1993 an agreement was reached between plaintiffs and Secretaries Espy 
and Babbit to review for possible release from the Court's injunction 
certain Forest Service timber sales in Forest Service Regions 5 and 6. 
All or portions of 54 timber sales were identified in the agreement. 
The plaintiffs agreed not to oppose a motion to release the 54 timber 
sales. Environmental analysis and consultation with U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service have been completed for 24 of the 54 sales. In 
addition, each of the 24 sales has been adjusted to meet the 
stipulations found in the October 6 agreement with the plaintiffs.
    Following is a list of the 24 timber sales, national forests, 
states, and their approximate volumes:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                      Volume    
            Timber sale                       National forest                     State            (millions of 
                                                                                                    board feet) 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Duke..............................  Mt Hood...........................  Oregon..................            .050
Highball..........................  Rogue River.......................  Oregon..................           2.600
Noman.............................  Rogue River.......................  Oregon..................           1.000
Ryeleven..........................  Rogue River.......................  Oregon..................            .380
Sandpiper.........................  Rogue River.......................  Oregon..................            .500
Umpire............................  Rogue River.......................  Oregon..................           1.700
Turlock...........................  Rogue River.......................  Oregon..................           2.660
East Fork.........................  Umpqua............................  Oregon..................           2.100
Fisher............................  Umpqua............................  Oregon..................            .037
Roughneck.........................  Umpqua............................  Oregon..................           5.100
Lakeview..........................  Umpqua............................  Oregon..................           1.000
Southwind Salvage.................  Umpqua............................  Oregon..................            .250
Alien ET..........................  Willamette........................  Oregon..................           1.000
Highway 20 Hazard Tree............  Willamette........................  Oregon..................            .182
Madrone...........................  Willamette........................  Oregon..................           1.340
South Monty.......................  Willamette........................  Oregon..................           1.080
Bugsy.............................  Winema............................  Oregon..................           0.850
Mtn.-Var..........................  Winema............................  Oregon..................            .150
Russky............................  Winema............................  Oregon..................           3.200
Deer Gulch........................  Wenatchee.........................  Washington..............            .355
Typhoon Dixie.....................  Wenatchee.........................  Washington..............            .997
Jack..............................  Klamath...........................  California..............            .100
Rusby Two.........................  Klamath...........................  California..............           2.200
Slide Cr. Heli....................  Klamath...........................  California..............           2.030
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.........................  ..................................  ........................          30.861
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These decisions are final agency actions and are not subject to 
administrative appeal.

    Dated: February 3, 1994.
James R. Lyons,
Assistant Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment.
[FR Doc. 94-4012 Filed 2-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M