[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9506]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 20, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

 

Jacobs/Swale Vegetation Management Project, Dixie National 
Forest, Garfield County, UT

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Forest Service, USDA, will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a Forest Service 
proposal to implement a vegetation management and associated road 
construction project on the Escalante Ranger District, Dixie National 
Forest. The area is located approximately 25 miles north of Escalante, 
Utah. The project would be implemented in accordance with direction in 
the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Dixie National Forest 
(LRMP).
    The agency gives notice that the environmental analysis process is 
underway. Interested and potentially affected persons, along with 
local, state, and other federal agencies, are invited to participate 
and contribute to the environmental analysis. The Dixie National Forest 
invites written input regarding issues specific to the proposed action.

DATES: Written comments to be considered in the preparation of the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be submitted by May 
20, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: District Ranger, Escalante 
Ranger District, 755 West Main, P.O. Box 246, Escalante, Utah 84726.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct questions about the proposed action and EIS to Kevin R. 
Schulkoski, District Ranger, 801-826-5400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project covers an analysis area 
of 15,563 acres of National Forest System Lands. Approximately 1,012 
acres of the 6,251 acre McGath Lake-Auger Hole Roadless Area is within 
the project boundary. Treatments are proposed on 669 acres within the 
roadless area. Timber stands in the project area cover 11,739 acres. 
Vegetatative treatments are proposed on 6,668 of the timbered acres. 
Unevenaged stands of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir are the 
dominant timber type. A few stands of even-aged aspen are also present. 
Aspen remnants are scattered throughout the Engelmann spruce/subalpine 
fir stands. Vegetation management treatments would occur in stands 
located within sections 31 and 32, Township 31, Range 3 East; sections 
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, Township 32 
South, Range 3 East; sections 34, 35, and 36, Township 31 South 31, 
Range 2 East; and sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, and 24, 
Township 32 South, Range 2 East, Salt Lake Base Meridian.
    The proposed action would implement management direction and 
projects identified in the LRMP. This project EIS will be tiered to the 
LRMP EIS, provides goals, objectives, standards and guidelines for the 
various activities and land allocations on the Forest.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to improve forest health by 
harvesting diseased trees, to improve individual tree and stand vigor 
conditions through stocking control, to improve wildlife habitat for 
game and non-game species by creating a greater variety of size classes 
and habitats, to enhance visual quality by increasing species 
diversity, and to reduce damage in meadow areas by closing and 
rehabilitating primitive roads. These treatments would be designed to 
move the project area towards the desired future habitat conditions as 
described in the ``Management Recommendations for the Northern Goshawk 
in the Southwestern United States'' (Reynolds, 1992). The proposed 
action would be located in Management Areas 7A (Wood Products and 
Utilization), 6A (Livestock Grazing), and 2B (Rural and Roaded 
Recreation Opportunities).
    The proposed action consists of commercial timber harvest within 
Management Areas 7A, 6A, and 2B using uneven-aged and even-aged 
management and yielding approximately 21.1 MMBF of Engelmann spruce, 
subalpine fir, and aspen sawtimber. Post sale cultural activities would 
include brush disposal, precommercial thinning and reforestation.
    Approximately 1,530 acres (9.8% of the project area) would be 
managed to enhance its' old growth attributes.
    Prescribed fire would be used on approximately 55 acres to improve 
wildlife habitat and regenerate decadent aspen stands being replaced by 
the conifers. Snag recruitment by burning individual trees would occur 
on 256 acres.
    Road management would include development of a transportation 
system requiring approximately 33 miles of road construction and 4 
miles of road reconstruction. Two trailheads would be established 
providing access for both motorized and non-motorized users. Upon the 
completion of management activities the area would be closed to 
motorized vehicles except over the snow machines. Designated routes 
would remain open to provide access to recreation facilities.
    Six timber sales are proposed ranging in size from 118 MBF to 7,331 
MBF.
    Preliminary issues that have been identified through scoping to 
date include project effects on wildlife habitat particularly the 
critical elk calving and deer fawning areas and the effects of the 
proposal on the roadless area characteristics.
    Tentative alternatives to the proposed action include: No action 
(the project will not take place but current management will continue); 
elimination of management activities within the critical elk calving 
and deer fawning areas; and restriction of management activities in the 
roadless area to closing and rehabilitating the primitive roads.
    As lead agency, the Forest Service will analyze and document 
direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects of a range of 
alternatives. Each alternative will include mitigation measures and 
monitoring requirements.
    Hugh C. Thompson, Forest Supervisor, Dixie National Forest, is the 
responsible official.
    The Forest Service is seeking comments from individuals, 
organizations, and local, state, and Federal agencies who may be 
interested in or affected by the proposed action.
    Scoping notices have been sent to the Dixie National Forest NEPA 
mailing list. Other interested individuals, organizations, or agencies 
may have their names added to the mailing list for this project at any 
time by submitting a request to: Kevin R. Schulkoski, District Ranger, 
Escalante Ranger District, 755 West Main, P.O. Box 246, Escalante, Utah 
84726.
    A public field review of the proposed project was held on October 
21, 1993. Eight people representing different organizational, business, 
governmental and individual interests participated in the meeting.
    The entire analysis area lies within National Forest System lands. 
No federal or local permits, licenses or entitlements would be needed. 
There are no potential conflicts with the plans and policies of other 
jurisdictions.
    The comment on the DEIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA's 
notice of availability appears in the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important 
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of 
the DEIS's must structure their participation in the environmental 
review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to 
the reviewers' position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power 
Corp. versus NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental 
objections that could have been raised at the DEIS stage but that are 
not raised until after completion of the final EIS may be waived or 
dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon versus Hodel, (9th Circuit, 
1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. versus Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334. 
1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, it is very 
important that those interested in this proposed action participate by 
the close of the 45 day comment period so that substantive comments and 
objections are made available to the Forest Service at the time it can 
meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the final EIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the DEIS should be as 
specific as possible. it is also helpful if comments refer to specific 
pages or chapters of the draft statement. Comments may also address the 
adequacy of the statement or the merits of the alternatives formulated 
and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer to the 
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the 
procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 
CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
    The DEIS is expected to be available for review by June 30, 1994. 
The Record of Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement are 
expected to be available by September, 1994.

    Dated: April 14, 1994.
Daniel H. Deiss,
Timber/Planning Staff, Dixie National Forest.
[FR Doc. 94-9506 Filed 4-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M