[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 204 (Monday, October 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54608-54610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26852]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

West Fork Potlatch EIS, Vegetation Management Analysis, 
Clearwater National Forest, Latch County, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Clearwater 
National Forest, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) 
to disclose effects of alternative decisions it may make to manage 
vegetation, restore watersheds, and analyze access management in the 
vicinity of the West Fork of Potlatch Creek. The area is located 
approximately 2 miles north of the town of Bovill, Idaho. The purpose 
of the project is to implement the Clearwater Forest Plan within the 
context of ecosystem management principles; improve forest stand 
composition and health by reducing crown competition; reestablish 
western white pine as a major component in the ecosystem; and provide 
timber from suitable lands in response to human needs for wood 
products.
    This project will tier to the Clearwater National Forest 
Environmental Impact Statement Land and Resource Management Plan and 
Forest Plan (1987), which provides overall guidance of land management 
activities on the Clearwater National Forest. Analysis will also be 
conducted in compliance with the Stipulations of Dismissal agreed to in 
the settlement of the lawsuit between the Forest Service and the Sierra 
Club, et al. (Signed September 13, 1993).
    The agency invites written comments and suggestions on the issues 
and management opportunities for the area being analyzed.

DATE: Written comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be 
received on or before December 5, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Carmine Lockwood, District Ranger, 
Palouse Ranger District, 1700 Highway 6, Potlatch, Idaho 83855.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Suzanne Lay, Team Leader, at the same address, (208) 875-1131.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is designed to restore 
terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem health and to provide benefits to 
people within the capabilities of ecosystems. Vegetation treatments 
designed to reintroduce western white pine in the forest cover type 
will be analyzed. Regeneration and intermediate harvest treatments 
intended to improve the structure composition and function of the 
forest matrix will be analyzed, along with the use of prescribed fire 
and mechanical methods to treat fuel loadings. Intermediate treatments 
will be designed to improve forest health conditions by treating 
overstocked stressed sites while maintaining desirable serial species 
such as western white pine, ponderosa pine and western larch. These 
overstocked stands are highly susceptible to root rot pathogens, bark 
beetles, defoliators, and dwarf mistletoe. Restoration of the aquatic 
component will focus on eliminating sediment delivery sources to 
aquatic and riparian habitats, restoring stream channels, as well as 
improving the structural components in riparian areas by installing 
large woody debris where it is lacking. Other fish habitat improvement 
projects are also included in this analysis. This project area is in 
intermingled ownership. Much of the National Forest System land in the 
project area was acquired from Weyerhauser timber company in the 1930's 
after it had been logged.
    The Clearwater National Forest Plan provides guidance to management 
activities within the potentially affected area through its goals, 
objectives, standards and guidelines, and management direction. The 
areas of proposed timber harvest and reforestation would occur only on 
suitable timber land, Management Areas E1, A4, A5 and M2. Below is a 
brief description of applicable management direction.

Management Area E1

    Timber Management--Provide optimum sustained production of timber 
products in a cost effective manner while protecting soil and water 
quality (applies to approximately 15,900 acres on National Forest 
System land in the project area).

Management Area A4

    Visual Travel Corridor--Maintain or enhance an aesthetically 
pleasing, natural appearing Forest setting surrounding designated 
roads, trails, and other areas considered important for recreational 
travel use (applies to approximately 2,900 acres of National Forest 
System land in the project area).

Management Area M2

    Riparian Areas--Manage as areas of special consideration with 
distinctive values, and integrate with adjacent management areas to the 
extent that water and other riparian resources are protected (applies 
to approximately 2,500 acres of National Forest System land in the 
project area).
    PACFISH--The Interim Strategies for Managing Anadromous Fish-
Producing Watersheds in Eastern Oregon and Washington, Idaho, and 
Portions of California (PACFISH), an amendment to the Clearwater Forest 
Plan, provides additional guidance in anadromous drainages such as the 
Palouse River. This EIS will tier to the decisions and direction 
provided by the PACFISH EA and Decision Notice (2/95).
    The West Fork Potlatch project area lies south of the divide 
between the Potlatch River drainage and the St. Maries River drainage. 
It is a roaded area with intermingled ownership in the panhandle of 
Idaho. The planning area consists of approximately 34,000 acres in 
located in T.41N., R.1W., T.41N., R1E., and T.42N., R.1W., and T.42N., 
R.1E; Approximately 21,300 acres are on National Forest System land, 
and proposed actions are entirely on these lands. The decision to be 
made is what, if anything, should be done in the West Fork Potlatch 
project area to (1) maintain or enhance forest health and improve the 
structure and composition

[[Page 54609]]

in overstocked stressed stands, and (2) provide multiple benefits to 
people within the capabilities of ecosystems.
    Public participation will be fully incorporated into preparation of 
the EIS. The first step is the scoping process, during which the Forest 
Service will be seeking information, comments, and assistance from 
Federal, State, and local agencies, the Nez Perce and Coeur D'Alene 
Tribes, and other individuals or groups who may be interested or 
affected by the proposed action. This information will be used in 
preparing the EIS. Interested individuals and organizations should 
contact the Palouse Ranger District and request to be placed on the 
project mailing list. Those doing so will receive future information 
related to this project and notification of public meetings. Scoping 
will include: inviting participation, determining the project's scope 
and potential issues, eliminating from detailed study those issues 
which are not significant, and determining potential cooperating 
agencies and task assignments. The public will also be invited to 
participate in developing alternatives, and identifying and/or 
reviewing the potential environmental effects of the proposed action 
and its alternatives.
    Public meetings will continue to be held in the Potlatch, Idaho, 
area in the fall and winter of 1996 and 1997. Field trips are also to 
be held. The exact dates and locations of these meetings will be 
published in local newspapers at least two weeks in advance.
    Proposed Action: Timber Harvest: Approximately 4600 acres of 
National Forest System lands are proposed for harvest. At this time, we 
anticipate that the primary proposed treatments will be commercial 
thinnings (approximately 3500 acres), with some regeneration harvests 
and overstory removals (1100 acres).
    Purpose and Need: To conduct vegetation management activities that 
will maintain or enhance forest health. Active forest management is 
needed to ensure ecosystem diversity, integrity, and ability to provide 
goods and services for people on a sustainable basis. The intermediate 
treatments and regeneration harvests are proposed to improve the 
structure and composition in overstocked stressed stands. Active 
management is needed to reduce susceptibility to root pathogens, bark 
beetles, defoliators, and dwarf mistletoe.
    Timber harvest is needed to make progress toward reestablishing 
western white pine on this landscape. Intermediate treatments would be 
used to favor existing white pine that is relatively disease free, and 
planting of genetically improved disease resistant seedlings would be 
utilized within regeneration harvest units.
    Proposed Action: Road Construction and Access: Approximately 27 
miles of proposed road construction is an integral part of the proposed 
action. Key design features as minimizing road densities, and use of 
advanced technology in logging systems would help reduce the impacts of 
these roads over the 34,000 acre project area.
    The Forest Service is proposing to develop a comprehensive access 
management plan for the project area. We intend to seek public input on 
the development of that plan and give consideration to the needs of 
various forest users as part of the plan. While the details of the plan 
have yet to be worked out, it is anticipated that access restrictions 
would be necessary to achieve resource objectives such as wildlife 
habitat security and watershed protection.
    Purpose and Need: Although this area is thoroughly ``roaded'' with 
old railroad beds, these lines are in an unsuitable place for using 
again for timber haul. Management area direction from the Clearwater 
National Forest Plan for the majority of the project area (75% of the 
National Forest System Land) calls for optimum sustained production of 
wood products.
    In order to manage for a sustainable production of wood products in 
the West Fork Potlatch project area a substantial amount of road 
construction is necessary to provide access. Many of the proposed 
treatments are intermediate in type (meaning future entries into this 
area are probable). Therefore, a permanent system of roads is needed.
    Proposed Action: Aquatic Restoration--Relocating portions of the 
West Fork of the Potlatch River to it's original channel; planting 
riparian areas in Porcupine, Head, and Nat Brown Creeks, (totaling two 
miles of riparian habitat improvement in the Upper Potlatch, and 1.5 
miles in the Potlatch face drainages); dredging in the Potlatch River, 
Nat Brown and Head Creeks; and installing large woody debris in over 10 
miles of streams. Restoration of stream channel meandering is proposed 
for several tributaries of the West Fork of Potlatch River. The winter/
spring of 1996 resulted in four landslides in the Potlatch watershed. 
While restoration began in 1996 (seeding, mulching, adding debris 
storage, and falling trees); part of this proposal is to continue the 
rehabilitation work. Additional woody debris and some dredging would 
probably be required. Road reconstruction is also proposed, surfacing 
approximately 10 miles of existing road with the objective of 
correcting existing sediment sources.
    Purpose and Need: The proposed actions for aquatic ecosystems have 
the following purposes; (1) improve aquatic health by adding structural 
diversity, (2) improve aquatic health by providing cover for salmonids, 
(3) provide additional quality pools, (4) remove sediment from the 
system to accelerate natural recovery rates, (5) reduce sediment 
sources to restore a more ``natural'' sediment system, (6) provide a 
source of future woody debris to ensure long term stability, (7) 
provide a source of future shading to reduce summer stream 
temperatures, and (8) encourage streams to adjust their form to be more 
stable and efficient. This will reduce stream energy, channel erosion, 
and to some extent, the flashy nature of the basin.
    Proposed Action: Recreation--A nine mile loop trail is proposed for 
construction in Upper Feather Creek for non-motorized recreation use. 
Improvement of dispersed campsites along Feather, West Fork Potlatch, 
Cougar and Moose Creek roads is also proposed.
    Purpose and Need: Currently there are over 85 miles of trails on 
the Palouse District which are open to motorized vehicles and 
approximately 4 miles which are non-motorized trails. The proposal for 
a non-motorized trail will help meet some of the current demand for 
non-motorized recreation opportunities. The improvement of dispersed 
camping sites is proposed to help keep roadside camping spots available 
and prevent rutting and mud from accumulating in these areas.
    Proposed Action: Wildlife--Approximately 2200 acres are proposed 
for old growth/replacement old growth habitat with this project. Some 
areas adjacent to roads may need to be posted to prevent woodcutting.
    Purpose and Need: Old growth habitat is a vital component of the 
vegetative diversity of the Clearwater Forest. Old growth habitat is 
vital to the perpetuation of old growth dependent species of wildlife 
(Clearwater Forest Plan, Appendix H-1).
    Proposed Action: Grazing--In the Purdue Creek Allotment a reduction 
in animal numbers of ten percent is proposed. Reductions in cattle 
numbers are needed to promote the recovery of riparian areas and 
continue the current trend of watershed improvement. Riparian fencing 
and hardened cattle crossings have been shown to restore riparian 
vegetation and prevent streambank trampling.

[[Page 54610]]

    Purpose and Need: In order to promote the recovery of riparian 
areas and continue the current trend of watershed improvement the 
grazing reductions are proposed. The riparian fencing and hardened 
cattle crossings should help improve/restore riparian vegetation and 
prevent streambank trampling.

Preliminary Issues

White Pine Blister Rust

    Blister rust is a major cause in the decline of western white pine 
in the West Fork Potlatch project area. This is an exotic pathogen 
introduced in the early 1900's which has caused a 60 percent decline in 
western white pine since 1952 (O'laughlin et al. 1993). As a 
consequence, forest stands within the planning area are now dominated 
by tree species which are less resistant to insects, disease, and 
wildfire (primarily Douglas-fir and grand fir).

Insects and Disease

    Forest stands within the project area are generally composed of a 
diverse species mix of trees which are growing well; but, in many cases 
are becoming overcrowded. Many of the seral disease resistant larch, 
western white pine, and ponderosa pine, are being crowded by grand fir, 
Douglas-fir and other more shade tolerant less disease resistant 
species. The loss of white pine to blister rust, and the increased 
presence of susceptible species is inconsistent with historic (pre-
european) settlement patterns.

Forest Habitat

    Old growth and mature forest structure is an important component 
for many wildlife species. Timber harvest has the potential to change 
the amount and distribution of mature forest structure.

Watershed and Fish Habitat Conditions

    Management activities (especially those in the earlier part of the 
century), in the Potlatch River subbasin have delivered large 
quantities of sediment without allowing for recovery thus altering the 
natural function of the stream system. Additional activities without 
allowing for recovery could compound these effects and have adverse 
effects on channel stability and designated beneficial uses. Management 
practices that cause fine sediment production to exceed the processing 
and transporting capability of streams, or that alter the natural 
timing of sediment transport, would have the greatest potential to 
impair stream integrity and salmonid populations, and therefore 
beneficial uses.

Effects Analysis

    The direct, indirect, cumulative, short-term, and long-term, 
aspects of impacts on national forest lands and resources, and those of 
connected or related effects off-site, will be fully disclosed.
    Preliminary alternatives in addition to the proposed action have 
not been identified. The issues discussed previously, and those 
provided in public comment, will drive the formulation of alternatives. 
Minimizing the number of alternatives by incorporating key design 
features common to all alternatives will help address many concerns 
while streamlining the environmental analysis.
    The Forest Service predicts the Draft EIS will be filed in January 
of 1997 and the Final EIS in April of 1997. We will seek comments on 
the Draft EIS for a period of 45 days after its publication. Comments 
will then be summarized and responded to in the Final EIS.
    To assist us in identifying and considering issues and concerns on 
the proposed action or the effects disclosure, comments on the DEIS 
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 DEIS 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.)
    We believe 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 DEIS's 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 
DEIS stage but that are not raised until after completion of the final 
EIS may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Argoon v. Hodel, 
803 F2d 1016, 1022 (9th Circuit 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.
    As Forest Supervisor, I am the Responsible Official for this 
project. My address is Clearwater National Forest, 12730 U.S. Highway 
12, Orofino, ID 83544 (208-476-4541).

    Dated: October 9, 1996.
Douglas E. Gochnour,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 96-26852 Filed 10-18-96; 8:45 am]
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