[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7158-7160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2915]



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



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Fall Creek Postfire Project, Payette National Forest, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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

SUMMARY: In the summer and fall of 1994, the Blackwell Fire covered 
56,000 acres of Payette National Forest northeast of McCall, Idaho. The 
Forest Service intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Fall Creek portion of the wildfire area to assess and disclose the 
environmental effects of a proposal. The purpose of the Proposed Action 
is to remove fire-killed and imminently dead timber, recover its 
economic value and meet socio-economic demands of local communities, 
reduce fuel loading, reforest the area, and retain and enhance wildlife 
habitat. [[Page 7159]] 
    All actions include provisions for snags, dead and down woody 
debris, visual quality, cultural resources and TES species, and would 
comply with the Bull Trout Conservation Agreement and PACFISH 
guidelines for water quality and fisheries.
    This project would be accomplished through a salvage sale of burned 
timber on about 1,000 acres and commercial thinning of about 100 acres 
of western larch stands, using helicopter logging (no road construction 
or reconstruction); planting of conifer seedlings; and establishing owl 
and goshawk nest structures. The salvage sale proceeds would finance 
the other activities.
    The project is approximately three miles northeast of McCall, in 
the Fall Creek drainage, a tributary to Payette Lake. It lies within 
the Secesh Roadless Area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Linda Fitch, McCall District Ranger (208 634-0400); or Chris Brunner, 
Interdisciplinary Team Leader (208 634-0421).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: From July to October 1994, wildfires covered 
a total of about 290,000 acres of Payette National Forest. The 
Blackwell Fire was ignited in early August by lightning strikes three 
miles northeast of the city of McCall, and eventually covered about 
56,000 acres until stopped by winter weather in mid-October. Within 
this perimeter, it burned in a mosaic pattern of fire intensities 
including some unburned areas.
    In October, Payette National Forest convened three 
interdisciplinary groups of Forest resource specialists to assess the 
landscapes affected by the fires: one each for the Blackwell landscape, 
the Corral landscape, and the Chicken landscape. Each landscape was 
composed of two or more watersheds. The Blackwell landscape encompassed 
over 93,000 acres in the Upper North Fork Payette River and Payette 
Lake watersheds. The Forest also convened a team to assess the broad-
scale area, which encompasses the three landscapes plus the Thunderbolt 
landscape to the south.
    In January 1995, each landscape team produced a landscape 
assessment encompassing their analysis area. The teams used a 
ecosystem-based approach to assess the fires' effects and to propose 
target landscape conditions, based on the Forest Plan and the historic 
range of variation. Each team identified management opportunities that 
could be implemented this year and in the future to move their postfire 
landscape toward the target landscape design. The Forest leadership 
team selected a package of proposed actions for each landscape to bring 
forward into the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis 
process.
    The Proposed Action for Fall Creek described herein is one product 
of the Blackwell landscape assessment: it proposes the high-priority 
short term projects related to timber salvage and other postfire 
resource opportunities consistent with the target landscape design for 
the Blackwell landscape.
    Burn intensities, as defined by degree of three mortality, in the 
Blackwell landscape varied from intensely burned to unburned. Within 
the Blackwell landscape, which includes portions of both the Blackwell 
and Corral fires, approximately 29,000 acres burned at high intensity 
(tree mortality greater than 90%), 12,800 acres at moderate intensity 
(tree mortality greater than 30% and less than 90%), and 6,400 acres at 
low intensity (tree mortality less than 30%). The remainder of the 
landscape did not burn.
    An estimated 28,100 acres of the Secesh Roadless Area lie within 
the Blackwell landscape.
    Simultaneous with this Notice of Intent, Payette National Forest is 
also publishing two Notices of Intent for other postfire proposals. The 
``Lower South Fork Salmon River Postfire Project'' EIS will cover the 
Chicken landscape, and the ``Main Salmon River Postfire Projects'' EIS 
will cover the Corral landscape. The Forest Service will analyze the 
two projects concurrently with this ``Fall Creek Postfire Project'' 
proposal. It will also analyze in an environmental assessment (EA) the 
``North Fork Payette River Postfire Project'' proposal covering another 
portion of the Blackwell landscape.

Purpose and Need

    The need is to move toward the desired future conditions, goals and 
objectives as described in the Payette Forest Plan and the target 
landscape design in the Blackwell Landscape Assessment. The Blackwell 
Landscape Assessment was tiered to the Forest Plan and identifies a 
strategy to implement the plan in an exosystem management context. The 
proposed action is derived from management opportunities in the 
landscape assessment. The purpose of each element of the proposed 
action is:
    Salvage: To recover economic value of burned timber for counties 
and timber-related industries and provide wood fiber for society. Past 
experience with wildfire timber recovery in south-central Idaho 
indicates that prompt harvest is needed to recover the economic value 
of fire-killed trees. The trees in the project area, mostly Douglas-
fir, grand fir, and lodgepole pine, are expected to lose an estimated 
50% of their economic value by the end of 1996. Part of the salvage 
sale proceeds will finance the regeneration and wildlife habitat 
elements of the project.
    Thinning: To perpetuate a larch stand for wildlife habitat and 
reduce fuel loading adjacent to State and private land. This harvest 
needs to take place concurrently with the salvage due to economic 
efficiency.
    Regeneration: To promptly return to production those lands within 
the suited base that contribute to the allowable sale quantity.
    Wildlife: To replace habitat components lost in the fire.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action has the following components:
    1. Salvage harvest fire-killed and imminently dead trees on 
approximately 1,000 acres. Harvest by helicopter to protect domestic 
watershed conditions and fish habitat. Construct two helicopter 
landings: no road construction or reconstruction is proposed. 
Harvesting would comply with the Draft Bull Trout Conservation 
Agreement. The proposal would not harvest within PACFISH Riparian 
Habitat Conservation Areas, which include riparian corridors along 
perennial and intermittent streams, wetlands, landslides, and landslide 
prone areas, where riparian-dependent resources receive primary 
emphasis. Site specific integrated prescriptions to provide for snags/
large wood debris, visual quality, cultural resource protection, and 
TES plant and animal needs would be developed consistent with the 
Forest Plan, landscape assessment, and current policy/research.
    2. Commercially thin unburned western larch stands on 100 acres. 
Harvest by helicopter only; no road construction or reconstruction is 
proposed.
    3. Regenerate productive forest suited acres within the project 
area by planting conifer seedlings or ensuring natural regeneration.
    4. Construct great gray owl and goshawk nest platforms adjacent to 
burned areas.

Forest Plan Amendment

    Amendment to the Forest Plan may be needed to:
    1. Allow plantation stocking levels below Forest Plan standards and 
guidelines to reflect natural stand conditions. [[Page 7160]] 
    2. Allow postfire activities as described in the Fall Creek 
Postfire Project to proceed without on Order 2 soil survey. Soil 
information of sufficient detail to address NEPA issues and required 
effects disclosure will be provided.

Preliminary Issues

    The Forest Service has identified six preliminary issues raised by 
the Proposed Action:
    1. Effects on water quality in the North Fork Payette River and 
Payette Lake, which supplies domestic water to McCall. The river is 
designated a Stream Segment of Concern by the State of Idaho.
    2. Effects on fish habitat in the North Fork Payette River and its 
tributaries, habitat for westslope cutthroat trout and former habitat 
for bull trout (sensitive species). The North Fork Payette River is a 
key watershed in the draft Bull Trout Conservation Agreement between 
Idaho Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest 
Service.
    3. Effects on sensitive wildlife species including the boreal owl 
and three-toed woodpecker.
    4. Effects on visual quality as seen from the city of McCall.
    5. Effects on wilderness characteristics within the Secesh Roadless 
Area.
    6. The economic efficiency of proposed projects, and effects on 
soci-economic and social systems around the Payette National Forest.

Possible Alternatives

    The Forest Service has identified two alternatives to the Proposed 
Act: a no action alternative, and an alternative that uses tractor, 
skyline, and helicopter logging with road construction. As the public 
raises additional logging with road construction. As the public raises 
additional issues and provides more information, the Forest may develop 
additional alternatives.

Decisions To Be Made

    The Payette National Forest Supervisor will decide:
    Whether to allow salvage logging and/or thinning.
    If so, where and how to harvest.
    Whether to plant after harvest.
    Whether to implement the wildlife projects.
    What management requirements and mitigation measures are required 
as part of the project.
    What monitoring requirements are appropriate to evaluate project 
implementation. And,
    What Forest Plan amendment(s) are required.

Public Involvement Meetings

    The Forest will hold five public scoping meetings to introduce the 
Proposed Actions for the three burned landscapes and to invite public 
comment: Riggins--February 15, 4-9 p.m., City Hall. McCall--February 
16, 4-9 p.m., McCall Smokejumper Base. Council--February 21, 4-9 p.m., 
Council Ranger District office. Boise--February 23, 4-9 p.m., Red Lion 
Downtowner. Grangeville--February 27, 1-3 p.m., Nez Perce National 
Forest Supervisor's office. In addition, Forest Service personnel will 
make added public presentations on request.

Agency/Public Contacts

    The Forest is mailing a summary of the Proposed Action, preliminary 
issues, and background information on the analysis to key individuals, 
groups, and agencies for comment. The mailing list includes those on 
the Payette postfire mailing list and those generally interested in 
Payette National Forest NEPA projects.

Schedule

    Draft Environmental Impact Statement, May 1995. Final EIS, August 
1995. Implementation, September 1995.

Comments

    Comments on the Proposed Action and analysis should be received in 
writing on or before March 10, 1995. Send comments to: Forest 
Supervisor, Payette National Forest, P.O. Box 1026, 106 W. Park Street, 
McCall, ID 83638; telephone (208) 634-0700; FAX (208) 634-0281.
    The comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement will 
be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes 
the notice of availability 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 
draft environmental impact statements must structure their 
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is 
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and 
contentions [Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
553 (1978)]. Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement stage but that are not raised 
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may 
be waived or dismissed by the courts [City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 
1016, 1002 (9th Cir., 1986): and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 
490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980)]. Because of these court 
rulings, it is 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 a time when it can meaningfully consider and respond to them 
in the final environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
raised by the Proposed Action, comments on the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement 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 Draft Environmental 
Impact 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.

Responsible Official

    David F. Alexander, Forest Supervisor, Payette National Forest, 
P.O. Box 1026, 106 West Park, McCall, ID 83638.

    Dated: January 31, 1995.
David F. Alexander,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 95-2915 Filed 2-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M