[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 155 (Friday, August 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41563-41565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20324]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Deadwood Ecosystem Analysis `96, Boise National Forest, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Lowman Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will 
prepare an environmental impact statement on a proposal to treat 22,910 
acres within the 44,552 acre Deadwood Ecosystem Analysis `96 Project 
Area through timber harvest, precommercial thinning and/or prescribed 
fire. The proposal would reduce stand densities and alter tree species 
composition to favor densities and tree species which are resistant 
and/or resilient to wildfire, insect attack, and disease.
    It is believed that density reduction and reintroduction of fire 
will improve the resistance and resilience of stands. Through 
treatment, these stands would be maintained in the early seral state. 
Stands in early seral condition have a high proportion of shade 
intolerant tree species which are resistant to insect and disease 
attack and capable of withstanding catastrophic fire.
    The proposal includes construction of 11.2 miles of road within the 
Deadwood Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA).
    The Deadwood River drainage is located in the west-central 
mountains of Idaho, in Boise and Valley Counties, Townships 9-11 North 
and Ranges 6-8 East, Boise Meridian. Preliminary analysis has 
demonstrated that large numbers of stands are at risk from insect and 
disease epidemics and catastrophic wildfires. The Deadwood Ecosystem 
Analysis `96 timber sale proposes to treat timber stands in the 
southern portion of the Deadwood River drainage to reduce densities and 
increase stand diversity and, as a by-product of this vegetative 
manipulation, provide wood fiber to the local economy.
    Stands in the southern portion of the Deadwood River drainage were 
chosen for priority treatment because they are warmer and drier than 
stands in the northern portion. The southern portion has been 
identified by the Boise National Forest Hazard and Risk Assessment as 
at risk to catastrophic wildfire. Fire suppression and a limited amount 
of logging have been concentrated in this area. As a result, the stands 
(which previously had a fire return interval of approximately 20 years) 
have not burned as frequently as necessary to maintain resistance and 
resilience. In an effort to maintain ponderosa pine, an early seral 
species, within this ecosystem, stands capable of growing ponderosa 
pine have been selected for treatment. Additional stands which would 
not normally contain ponderosa pine will be treated to break up dense 
overstories and reduce stress, increasing growth rates and reducing the 
threat of insect attack and diseases and reducing the potential for 
catastrophic fires.

Proposed Action

    Prescribed Fire Only--3,690 acres--to reduce on the ground fuels 
and stand densities. Burning would be at low intensity designed to stay 
on the ground and kill smaller trees. Some openings would be created, 
and a few areas may burn at moderate intensity, killing some larger 
trees. This includes 1,840 acres of the eligible Wild and Scenic river 
corridor.
    Sanitation Salvage then Prescribed Fire--9,230 acres--to salvage 
dead, dying, insect infested and diseased trees. Dense pockets of trees 
in these stands would be thinned from below to remove the least fire 
resistant trees followed by prescribed fire.
    Sanitation/Salvage with Precommercial Thinning Favoring Ponderosa 
Pine then Douglas-fir--900 acres--Dwarf mistletoe or bark beetle 
infested Douglas-fir stands would have the overstory removed except for 
those trees necessary for wildlife or large woody debris. There may be 
\1/2\ to 3 acre openings created in heavily mistletoe infected and root 
rot affected areas. The understory will be precommercially thinned at a 
spacing which will range from 12 to 20 feet, depending on tree size. 
This precommercial thinning will retain ponderosa pine trees whenever 
available. If possible, fire will be used after the treatment.
    Approximately 7,530 acres will be treated by selecting leave trees 
to create an uneven-aged stand primarily occupied by relatively large 
ponderosa

[[Page 41564]]

pine trees which are capable of producing seed for reproduction. Basal 
areas in these stands will be reduced to increase the resistance and 
resilience of the stands. These stands have been determined to be at 
risk to insects and disease attacks. By reducing densities, insect and 
disease infested trees, and/or trees of a certain species which may 
cause a stand to be unhealthy, the growth of the stands will improve 
and stress will be reduced. This treatment, described as ``thinning 
from below'' will be accomplished in the following ways:
    1. Stands with several age/size classes of primarily ponderosa pine 
would be treated with density reduction. Young trees (8-14 inches 
d.b.h.) would be thinned to increase growth potential and reduce 
overcrowding. Trees in the 14- to 24-inch diameter class would also be 
thinned to encourage seed production. Some trees larger than 24 inches 
in diameter would be harvested if they show signs of disease, decay, or 
insect infestation. In areas where adequate ponderosa pine trees exist 
in all age/size classes, a small portion of large trees may be 
harvested to improve spacing and increase the economic viability of the 
timber sale.
    2. In stands that contain a mix of species, the action would remove 
primarily Douglas-fir, allowing the ponderosa pine sufficient room to 
grow and reducing competition and stress within the stands.
    3. Other stands are capable of growing ponderosa pine, but do not 
currently contain ponderosa pine due to successional changes. These 
stands currently contain primarily Douglas-fir. Where practical, stands 
would be treated to remove Douglas-fir and replanted with ponderosa 
pine. These activities would occur in small pockets where annosus root 
rot and dwarf mistletoe are occurring.
    Precommercial and Commercial Thinning Favoring Lodgepole Pine--500 
acres--thinned to 11-foot spacing. Slash will be jackpot burned.
    Two to Five Acre Clearcuts--300 Total Acres--Small clearcuts would 
be used to break up the stands that have a continuous crown, remove the 
subalpine fir, and make the stands more resistant to natural fire. 
Stands would regenerate themselves with lodgepole pine.
    Prescribed Fire in Subalpine Fir Habitats--700 acres--break up 
stands of dense subalpine fir which are highly susceptible to large 
stand destroying fires.
    All treated stands would be prescribed burned following timber 
harvest or precommercial thinning. The prescribed fire would reduce 
fuels and reduce the proportion of late seral tree species which are 
more susceptible to fire.

Issues and Alternatives

    Previous scoping and public meetings have identified several 
issues. These issues include:
    1. Road construction in the Deadwood IRA would develop the roadless 
area and reduce the acres that have a roadless character.
    2. Logging activities in the Deadwood IRA would develop the 
roadless area and reduce acres that have a roadless character.
    An alternative to eliminate the proposed road construction in the 
Deadwood IRA will be analyzed in detail.

Comments

    Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received in 
writing on or before September 9, 1996. Mail comments to, or for 
further information contact, Jackie Andrew, Lowman Ranger District, 
Boise National Forest, HC 77 Box 3020, Lowman, ID 83637, Telephone: 
208-259-3361.

Public Involvement

    The Deadwood Ecosystem Analysis '96 Project was proposed as a 
result of the Deadwood Landscape Analysis, completed in 1994. The 
Deadwood Landscape Analysis sought to analyze the current conditions 
within the Deadwood River drainage in contrast to the conditions 
believed to exist prior to logging, fire suppression, and drought which 
may have affected those conditions. This analysis was performed to 
comply with the National Forest Management Act. The analysis suggested 
that vegetative manipulation was warranted to restore the resistance 
and resilience of the ecosystem to catastrophic events such as fire, 
disease, and insect attack. Initial plans were to include all proposals 
for the Deadwood River drainage in a single Environmental Impact 
Statement. However, due to the complexity of the analysis, the area was 
divided into several project level environmental impact statements. In 
July 1995, P.L. 104-19 (Rescission Act) was signed into law. Since the 
Deadwood project contained an identifiable salvage component, the 
project was placed under the Rescission Act. The first project area to 
be analyzed was the southern portion, for which the Deadwood Salvage 
'96 Environmental Assessment was prepared. It was distributed for 
comment in April 1996. The Secretary of Agriculture issued 
clarification in July 1996. As a result, Forest Supervisor David D. 
Rittenhouse has removed the Deadwood Salvage '96 project area from 
consideration under the Rescission Act. The Deadwood Ecosystem Analysis 
'96 project includes the same area analyzed as the Deadwood Salvage '96 
Environmental Assessment.
    Numerous public mailings, meetings and site visits were conducted 
to collect public comment and concerns during the preparation of the 
Landscape Analysis and Environmental Assessment.

Public/Agency Contacts

    Contacts have been made with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
regarding threatened and endangered species listed for the project 
area, and landowners in or near the project area. The U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service has concurred with the Forest Service determination 
that the proposed action is not likely to affect threatened or 
endangered species.

Schedule

    A Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be 
distributed in September 1996. The Final Environmental Impact Statement 
and Record of Decision is expected to be complete in November 1996.
    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 stage but that are not raised until after 
the completion of the final environmental impact statement may be 
waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angood 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 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

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when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the final 
environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on 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 D. Rittenhouse, Forest Supervisor, Boise National Forest is 
the responsible official. He will decide if the area should be managed 
to reduce the risk of insect attack, disease, and wildfire and, if so, 
which proposal for treatment will be implemented.

    Dated: August 5, 1996.
David D. Rittenhouse,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 96-20324 Filed 8-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M