[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37243-37245]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18103]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service


Long Draw Salvage Timber Sale, Okanogan National Forest, Okanogan 
County, Washington

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) for a proposal to salvage dead and dying timber in the 
Long Draw analysis area. The Long Draw Salvage project includes: A 
salvage timber sale of dead, dying and live trees in stands at risk to 
insect caused mortality; closure of a road; construction and 
reconstruction of roads; and a prescribed burn of shrub and grass lands 
to decrease shrub cover and invigorate native species. The EIS will 
develop and evaluate a range of alternatives for management of the 
resources in the project area. the alternatives will include the No 
Action alternative, involving no timber harvest or road construction, 
and alternatives in response to issues identified during the scoping 
process. The proposed action in consistent with the direction in the 
1989 Okanogan National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest 
Plan), as amended, which provides the overall guidance for management 
of the area. The majority of the project area lies within the Long Draw 
and Long Swamp Roadless Areas. Implementation of the proposal is 
scheduled for Fiscal Year 1997. The agency invites written comments on 
this project. In addition,

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the agency gives notice of this environmental analysis so that 
interested and affected people are aware of how they may participate 
and contribute to the decision making process.

DATES: Comments concerning this proposal must be received by August 15, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to John Townsley, Project 
Coordinator, Okanogan National Forest Supervisors Office, 1240 S. 
Second Avenue, Okanogan, Washington 98840, telephone: 509-826-3568.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Direct questions about the proposed action and 
environmental analysis to John Townsley, Project Coordinator, Okanogan 
National Forest Supervisors Office, 1240 S. Second Avenue, Okanogan, 
Washington 98840, telephone: 509-826-3568.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Long Draw analysis area consists of 
approximately 13,300 acres of primarily forested lands. The area is 
located 25 miles west of Tonasket, Washington, in the Toats Coulee 
watershed. Forest types include: Lodgepole pine; Englemann spruce; 
subalpine fir; mixed aspen/conifer; and mixed Douglas-fir/western larch 
forest. Since the late 1980s, lodgepole pine stands have experienced 
increasing tree mortality from a mountain pine beetle epidemic. It is 
estimated that of the 13,300 acres within the Long Draw analysis area 
boundary, over 9,000 acres have been attacked by the mountain pine 
beetle, throughout the project area, and have differing amounts of 
mortality. Mountain pine beetle attacks and kills lodgepole pine trees 
generally six inches in diameter or larger. Trees of this size, growing 
in crowded, overstocked conditions, are most at risk. The epidemic is 
expected to continue until all or most of the suitable host trees are 
killed.
    The Analysis Area is allocated to the following Management Areas:

--Approximately 56 percent is in Management Area 5 which is designed to 
provide opportunities for recreation and viewing scenery in a roaded 
natural setting with a retention or partial retention scenic quality 
objective.
--Approximately 44 percent is in Management Area 12 which is designed 
to provide habitat to support a stable lynx population over the long 
term while accessing the area for the purpose of growing and producing 
merchantable wood fiber.
--Less than 1 percent is in Management Area 17 which is designed to 
provide a variety of developed recreation opportunities in a roaded 
setting.

    Scoping for this project began in November 1995, and continued 
throughout development of an environmental assessment (EA) which was 
issued on June 21, 1996. In November 1995, a proposed action was mailed 
to interested individuals. This proposed action was based on 
preliminary information, with no detailed analysis. As a result of 
scoping and detailed analysis, a revised proposed action was developed. 
An EA was sent to the public on June 21, 1996. The Forest also hosted 
an open house in Seattle and a field trip to the analysis area to 
discuss the proposed action.
    On July 2, 1996, Secretary of Agriculture Glickman issued direction 
that ``No salvage sale in inventoried roadless areas may go forward 
using authorities in section 2001(b) of Public Law 104-19, except * * * 
[where] trees `imminently susceptible to fire' are located in areas 
with high fuel loading or where there is a high fire risk rating for a 
specific habitat type, and near local communities or occupied 
structures.'' Since the Long Draw area does not meet all of these 
elements and the Long Draw Salvage Timber Sale project is expected to 
have significant effects on the roadless character in the Long Draw and 
Long Swamp Roadless Areas, this environmental analysis will be 
documented in an EIS.
    This EIS will tier to the Forest Plan as amended. The amended 
Forest Plan provides forest-wide standards and guidelines, management 
area standards and guidelines, and desired future conditions for the 
various lands on the Forest. This direction is provided for management 
practices that will be utilized during the implementation of the Forest 
Plan.
    The Long Draw Salvage Timber Sale would salvage 1,129 acres of 
dead, dying, and live trees at risk of insect caused mortality, while 
maintaining adequate connectivity for lynx. Salvage would be done with 
regeneration and commercial thinning harvest methods, and would use 
ground-based logging systems. Approximately 15.7 miles of new road 
would be constructed, approximately 10.6 miles of road would be 
reconstructed, and approximately 0.4 miles of road would be closed.
    The following issues have been identified in this proposed project: 
unroaded and undeveloped character of the area; salvage of dead and 
dying timber; economics; soils; inland fisheries, existing and future 
fire risk; wilderness; recreational opportunities; wildlife; forest 
health; and the cumulative effects of Federal and non-Federal actions.
    The analysis will develop a range of alternatives from the No 
Action alternative to alternatives with varying degrees of timber 
harvest and road construction.
    Public participation has been an important part of this analysis 
process, and will continue to be. The Forest Service has sought and 
will continue to seek information, comments, and assistance from other 
Federal, State and local agencies, and tribes, and other individuals or 
organizations who may be interested in or affected by the proposed 
project. This input has been and will be used in the preparation of the 
draft and final EISs.
    The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for public review in 
August, 1996. Your comments and suggestions are encouraged and should 
be in writing. The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from 
the date the EPA publishes the notice of availability in the Federal 
Register.
    The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers 
notice of their opportunity to participate, and of several court 
rulings related to public participation in the environmental review 
process. First, reviewers of draft EISs 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 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 F2d. 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 be meaningfully considered and 
responded to in the final EIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
about 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 EIS. Comments may also address the 
adequacy of the draft EIS or the merits of the alternatives formulated 
and discussed in the statement.

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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 for completion in January 1997. 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 a decision 
regarding the proposal. Sam Gehr, Forest Supervisor, Okanogan National 
Forest, is the responsible official. The responsible official will 
document the decision and rationale for the decision in the Record of 
Decision, which will be subject to Forest Service Appeal Regulations 
(36 CFR Part 215).

    Dated: July 10, 1996.
Maureen T. Hyzer,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 96-18103 Filed 7-16-96; 8:45 am]
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