[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11318]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 11, 1994]


                                                    VOL. 59, NO. 90

                                            Wednesday, May 11, 1994

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

 

Prichard Project Area, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Shoshone 
County, ID

action: Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement and Record of Decision for proposed activities in the 
Prichard Project Area.

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dates: The appeal period on this decision ends June 20, 1994.

addresses: Appeals should be addressed to Appeals Deciding Officer, 
Regional Forester, David F. Jolly, USDA Forest Service, Northern 
Region, 200 East Broadway, P.O. Box 7669, Missoula, MT 59867.

for further information contact: Questions about the proposed action, 
environmental impact statement and the Record of Decision should be 
directed to Don Garringer, Planning Staff Officer, Wallace Ranger 
District, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, P.O. Box 14, Silverton, ID 
83867. Phone: (208) 752-1221.

summary: Notice is hereby given that the Forest Service has prepared a 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and signed a Record of 
Decision documenting a landscape-level approach to ecosystem management 
in the Prichard Project Area. The area is located approximately 12 air 
miles northeast of Wallace, Idaho, and is approximately 29,700 acres in 
size.
    Public participation has been on going throughout the project. 
Comments received during the comment period have been addressed by 
appropriate specialists in an appendix located in the FEIS. During the 
45 day appeal period comments and concerns should still be addressed to 
the planning officer for clarification.
    The District Ranger is the responsible official for this EIS, and 
has made the decision to implement alternative 7, a modification of the 
preferred alternative in the DEIS. Rationale for this decision can be 
found in the Record of Decision. His decision was based upon several 
factors: Comments and responses from the public, environmental 
consequences discussed in the FEIS, and applicable laws, regulations, 
and policies.

supplementary information: A very specific proposed action was 
developed for the area, and included timber harvest, reforestation 
activities and watershed/fisheries rehabilitation as well as wildlife 
improvements, through implementation of timber sales. The scope of the 
proposed action is limited to timber harvesting, reforestation, 
precommercial thinning, related road construction, road removal, 
reconstruction activities and stream channel restoration and 
stabilization. During development of the proposed action and 
alternatives to the proposed action, emphasis has been placed on the 
water resource needs and visual concerns of local residents.
    Eight alternatives were developed, including a No-Action 
Alternative. Alternative 7 is the alternative preferred by the Forest 
Service. Under Alternative 7, the harvest of green, dead and dying 
timber is scheduled for implementation in three separate but related 
projects. The projects would produce an estimated 10.5 million board 
feet of timber and treat 25 timber harvest units. Harvest methods 
include, commercial thin, salvage, group selection and group 
shelterwood using helicopter and cable yarding. In this proposal 1 mile 
of road will be constructed, 2.39 miles will be reconstructed and 13.08 
will be reconditioned. Road removal projects will involve the treatment 
of new road construction and existing roads identified in the road 
management plan as not being needed for future management needs. With 
the removal of roads various miles of stream course will also undergo 
restoration.
    Management activities would be administered by the Wallace Ranger 
District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests in Shoshone County, 
Idaho. This FEIS will tie to the Forest Plan (September 1987) which 
provides the overall guidance (Goals, Objectives, Standards and 
Guidelines, and Management Area direction) in achieving the desired 
future condition for this area.

    Dated: April 29, 1994.
Steve Williams,
District Ranger, Wallace Ranger District, Idaho Panhandle National 
Forests.
[FR Doc. 94-11318 Filed 5-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M