[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 232 (Monday, December 4, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 62065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29441]



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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 232 / Monday, December 4, 1995 / 
Notices  

[[Page 62065]]


DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Robinson/Scott Landscape Management Project, Willamette National 
Forest, Lane and Linn Counties, OR

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) on a proposal to thin and/or regenerate forest stands, 
construct roads, and use prescribed fire in the Upper McKenzie 
Watershed. The landscape management project is needed to: (1) Provide 
landscape-level health and vegetation diversity within the project area 
to meet issues identified during watershed analysis and public scoping; 
and (2) provide timber products as directed by the Willamette Forest 
Plan, as amended. Project is proposed for fiscal years 1997-2002. The 
Willamette National forest invites written comments on the scope of the 
analysis. The agency will give full notice of the full environmental 
analysis and decision making process for the proposal so interested and 
affected people may participate and contribute to the final decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
in writing by March 1, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Eugene Skrine, District 
Silviculturist, McKenzie Ranger District, McKenzie Bridge, Oregon 
97413.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Eugene Skrine, District Silviculturist, McKenzie Ranger District, 
McKenzie Bridge, Oregon 97413, Phone (541) 822-3381.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USDA, Forest Service proposal includes: 
treatment of approximately 900-1500 acres with various regeneration 
harvest methods approximating the pattern and scale of relatively 
frequent stand-replacement fires; treatment of approximately 500-2000 
acres with commercial thinning treatments that approximate the pattern 
of frequent low to moderate intensity fires; provide long term 
sustainable habitat for big game and other wildlife species; develop a 
long term vegetation management plan for high quality riparian habitat 
to benefit bull trout; maintain major components of the landscape-level 
ecosystem within the range of historic variability; reset some meadows 
to historic conditions with use of fire; produce ``no net increase'' in 
permanent roads.
    Preliminary issues have been identified and include: historical 
disturbance patterns; biological diversity at the stand and landscape 
levels; recreation experience and scenic byway; threatened, endangered, 
and sensitive plant and animal species; High Emphasis Elk Area 
management. A range of alternatives will be developed including a no 
action alternative.
    This draft EIS will tier to the 1990 Final EIS for the Willamette 
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan as amended by the 
Northwest Forest Plan (ROD) (1994). The Forest Service is the lead 
agency.
    Initial scoping will begin in November 1995. A public participation 
plan is being developed with public meeting and public tour dates to be 
announced. The public is invited to offer suggestions and comments in 
writing.
    The draft EIS is expected to be completed in September 1996. The 
comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in 
the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers 
notice at this early stage of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of 
a draft EIS 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 EIS stage but that are not raised 
until after completion of the final EIS may be waived or dismissed by 
the courts, City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 f. 2d 1016, 1022 (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 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 a time when 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 draft EIS 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 EIS 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 final EIS is scheduled to be completed in December 1996. In the 
final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to comments and 
responses received during the comment period that pertain to the 
environmental consequences discussed in the draft EIS and applicable 
laws, regulations, and policies considered in making the decision 
regarding the Santiam Forest Health Project. Darrel L. Kenops, Forest 
Supervisor, is the Responsible Official. As the Responsible Official, 
he will decide whether to implement the project. The Responsible 
Official will document the decision and reasons for the decision in the 
Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to the Forest Service 
Appeal Regulations (36 CFR Part 215).

    Dated: November 21, 1995.
Darrel L. Kenops,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 95-29441 Filed 12-1-95; 8:45 am]
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