[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7163-7165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2917]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Lower South Fork Salmon River Postfire Project, Payette National 
Forest, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: In the summer and fall of 1994, the Chicken Fire covered 
103,000 acres of Payette National Forest northeast of McCall, Idaho. 
The Forest Service intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for a 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, 
reforest the area, retain and enhance wildlife habitat, reduce soil 
erosion and decrease sedimentation, improve fish habitat, and provide 
recreation access.
    All actions include provisions for snags, dead and down woody 
debris, visual quality, cultural resources, TES species, and wild and 
scenic river study corridors, 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 4,850 acres, using helicopter logging (no road 
construction); planting of conifer seedlings; repairing and improving 
drainage conditions on seven existing roads; converting a road to a 
trail; and constructing nest platforms for great gray owls. The salvage 
sale proceeds would help finance the other activities.
    The project lies 25-40 miles northeast of McCall, in the lower 
South Fork Salmon River watershed, in the Smith Creek, Pony Creek, and 
Elk Creek drainages. It lies partly within the Secesh and Cottontail 
Point/Pilot Peak Roadless Areas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Fred Dauber, Krassel District Ranger (208 634-0600); or Dan Anderson, 
Interdisciplinary Team Leader (208 634-0631).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: From July to October 1994, wildfires covered 
a total of about 290,000 acres of Payette National Forest. The Chicken 
Fire was ignited in mid-August by several lightning strikes east of the 
town of Warren near the South Fork Salmon River, and eventually covered 
about 103,000 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 resources 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 Chicken landscape encompassed 
nearly 180,000 acres in the Lower South Fork and Elk Creek 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 fire area. The teams used an 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 respective 
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 the Lower South Fork Salmon River described 
herein is one product of the Chicken landscape assessment: it proposes 
the high-priority short term projects related to timber salvage and 
other postfire resources opportunities consistent with the target 
landscape design for the Chicken Landscape.
    Burn intensities, as defined by degree of tree mortality, in the 
Chicken landscape varied from intensely burned to unburned. Within the 
Chicken landscape, which includes a portion of the Chicken Fire, 
approximately 36,900 acres burned at high intensity (tree mortality 
greater than 90%), 23,700 acres at moderate intensity (tree mortality 
greater than 30% and less than 90%), and 28,200 acres at low intensity 
(tree mortality less than 30%). The remainder of the landscape did not 
burn.
    An estimated 83,300 acres of the Secesh Roadless Area and 30,900 
acres of the Cottontail Point/Pilot Peak Roadless Area lie within the 
Chicken landscape, of which about 34,500 acres and 21,000 acres were 
burned, respectively.
    The primary management emphasis in the South Fork Salmon River 
drainage is restoration of harvestable, robust, self-sustaining 
populations of naturally reproducing salmon and trout. The South Fork 
Salmon River was the single largest producer of summer chinook salmon 
in the Columbia River Basin by the 1950's. Since then this run has 
continued to decline significantly, partially due to habitat 
degradation caused by management-induced sediment. The Snake River 
spring/summer and fall chinook salmon are now listed as endangered 
species. The South Fork's steelhead, bull trout, and westslope 
cutthroat trout are listed by the Forest Service as sensitive. Some 
spawning areas and major winter habitats for both endangered and 
sensitive fishes are influenced by the project area. Numerous road-
related sediment sources continue to deliver sediment to the South Fork 
and tributaries, adversely affecting fish habitat.
    Simultaneous with this Notice of Intent, Payette National Forest is 
also publishing two Notices of Intent for other postfire proposals. The 
``Fall Creek Postfire Project'' EIS will cover part of the Blackwell 
landscape, and the ``Main Salmon River Postfire Project'' EIS will 
cover the Corral landscape. The Forest Service will analyze the two 
projects concurrently with this ``Lower South Fork Salmon River 
Postfire Project'' proposal.

Purpose and Need

    The need is to adapt to the changed conditions in the South Fork 
Salmon River drainage and move toward the desired future conditions, 
goals and objectives as described in the Payette Forest Plan and the 
target landscape design in the Chicken Landscape Assessment. The 
Chicken Landscape Assessment was tiered to the Forest Plan and 
identifies a strategy to implement the plan in an ecosystem 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 this project area, mostly ponderosa 
pine, Douglas-fir, grand fir, and lodgepole pine, are expected to lose 
[[Page 7164]] 30-40% of their economic value by the end of 1996. Part 
of the salvage sale proceeds will finance the regeneration, watershed 
improvement, recreation and wildlife habitat elements of the project.
    Regeneration: To promptly return to production those lands within 
the suited base that contribute to the allowable sale quantity.
    Watershed Projects: To improve watershed conditions to meet 
beneficial uses (fish habitat and domestic water supply).
    Recreation: To improve recreation user access.
    Wildlife: To enhance habitat components for sensitive species.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action has the following components:
    1. Salvage harvest fire-killed and imminently-dead trees on 
approximately 4,850 acres. Harvest by helicopter only. Construct seven 
helicopter landings. Reconstruct about 5.5 miles of road in four 
segments to facilitate log haul; no road construction is proposed. 
Specifically, on road #337, reconstruct \1/4\ mile of road by 
increasing the radius on 1 switchback; road #340, reconstruct 2\1/4\ 
miles of road by increasing the radius on two switchbacks and 
realigning multiple tight radius turns; road #355, reconstruct 1\1/2\ 
miles of road by increasing the radius on one switchback, and improve 
the running surface where degraded by large rocks; road #359, 
reconstruct 1\1/5\ miles of road by improving stream crossings, 
improving several tight radius turns, and improving the running surface 
by better drainage. The proposal would not harvest within the South 
Fork Salmon River wild and scenic study corridor. It would not harvest 
within PACFISH Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas, which include 
riparian corridors, wetlands, landslides, and landslide-prone areas, 
where riparian-dependent resources receive primary emphasis. The 
proposal would not harvest on land having a combination of high erosion 
hazard and high sediment delivery to streams. Harvesting would comply 
with the Draft Bull Trout Conservation Agreement. Site specific 
integrated prescriptions to provide for snags/large woody debris 
retention, 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. Regenerate productive forest suited acres within the project 
area by planting conifer seedlings or ensuring natural regeneration.
    3. Repair and improve drainage conditions on seven existing roads. 
Specifically, apply gravel, line inslope ditches, improve cross-
drainage, stabilize cuts and fills, improve stream crossings, and/or 
stabilize gullies on segments of the: Hays Station Road (#337), Warren-
Profile Gap Road (#340), China Glen Road (#357), Smith Knob Road 
(#355), Warren Wagon Road (Forest Highway 21), and Pony Meadows Road 
(#359).
    4. Convert the Bear Lake Road (#1211) to a non-motorized trail.
    5. Establish a trailhead at the end of Hays Station Road (#337).
    6. Construct nest platforms for great gray owls in the Pony Meadows 
area.
    7. Close to all vehicle traffic a non-system road from Warren 
Summit going west to just above Pony Meadows.
    Methodologies, rationale, and findings associated with the Chicken 
landscape assessment and site specific environmental analysis are to be 
reviewed by a proposed Federal interagency science panel with panel 
members selected from Forest Service research and system branches, and 
other Federal agencies. Recommendations made by this panel could be 
used by line officers in directing the environmental analysis, 
formulating alternatives, disclosing environmental consequences, 
developing a monitoring plan, and making the final decision. This may 
include the option of not moving ahead with any or part of the proposed 
action or action alternatives if conclusive information shows that the 
action would be damaging to anadromous fish.

Forest Plan Amendment

    The Payette National Forest Plan has specific management direction 
for the South Fork Salmon River management areas. The Proposed Action 
is designed to improve watershed conditions and fish habitat, and is 
consistent with the objectives and goals of the Forest Plan. However, 
amendment to standards and guidelines in the Plan may be needed to:
    1. Allow postfire activities including salvage logging of fire-
killed and imminently dead trees as proposed in the Lower South Fork 
Salmon River Postfire Project where the cumulative effect of all 
proposed projects results in a net improvement in potential sediment 
delivery to the South Fork Salmon River.
    2. Allow postfire activities as described in the Lower South Fork 
Salmon River Postfire Project to proceed without an Order 2 soil 
survey. Soil information of sufficient detail to address NEPA issues 
and required effects disclosure will be provided.
    3. Allow plantation stocking levels below Forest Plan standards and 
guidelines to reflect natural stand conditions.
    4. Allow helicopter logging one-way flying distances beyond the 
Forest Plan standard and guideline of 1.5 miles but within 2.5 miles of 
existing roads.
    5. In Management Area 16, allow postfire salvage logging by 
helicopter as proposed in the Lower South Fork Salmon River Postfire 
Project.

Preliminary Issues

    The Forest Service has identified seven preliminary issues raised 
by the Proposed Action:
    1. Effects on water quality in the South Fork Salmon River and its 
tributaries and their beneficial use for spring/summer chinook salmon, 
bull trout, and other fish species habitat. The lower South Fork is a 
Stream Segment of Concern and a Water Quality Limited Segment (State of 
Idaho, Division of Environmental Quality).
    2. Impacts of not implementing the Forest Plan recovery strategy 
for the South Fork Salmon River before implementing new timber entry.
    3. Effects on sensitive wildlife species including white-headed 
woodpecker and goshawk.
    4. Effects on wilderness characteristics within the Secesh and 
Cottontail Point/Pilot Peak Roadless Areas.
    5. Effects on human use and access due to closing roads to reduce 
sediment.
    6. Effects on the ability of the project areas to provide long term 
growth and yield of timber. Where the Chicken Fire burned hot, it left 
no live trees. Where fire burned at low or moderate intensities, it 
left a mixture of dead, live, and damaged trees. Trees with crowns and 
trunks scorched are at risk of dying from fire damage or insect 
infestation. Grasses and shrubs can invade disturbed sites faster than 
trees can naturally reforest.
    7. The economic efficiency of proposed projects, and effects on 
socio-economic and social systems around the Payette National Forest.

Possible Alternatives

    The Forest Service has identified three alternatives to the 
Proposed Action: a no action alternative, an alternative that would not 
salvage harvest in the roadless areas, and an alternative that salvage 
harvests by helicopter additional acres on more sensitive soil types. 
As the public raises additional issues and provides more information, 
the Forest may develop additional alternatives. [[Page 7165]] 

Decisions To Be Made

    The Payette National Forest Supervisor will decide:
    Whether to allow salvage logging.
    If so, where and how to harvest.
    Whether to plant after harvest.
    Whether to implement the sediment reducing, recreation, and 
wildlife improvement 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 pm, City Hall. McCall--February 16, 
4-9 pm, McCall Smokejumper Base. Council--February 21, 4-9 pm, Council 
Ranger District office. Boise--February 23, 4-9 pm, Red Lion 
Downtowner. Grangeville--February 26, 1-3 pm, 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. 95-2917 Filed 2-6-95; 8:45 am]
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