[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 99 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28002-28003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13476]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Pilgrim Project, Tahoe National Forest Sierra County, CA

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, will 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed timber 
harvest, plantation thinning, fuels reduction, and wildlife habitat 
improvement projects for areas in the Wolf/Kanaka/Indian Creek and 
Middle Yuba River watersheds, in accordance with the requirements of 36 
CFR 219.19. The project area is located within portions of T18N & T19N, 
R10E & R11E, MDB&M.
    The agency invites comments and suggestions on the scope of the 
analysis. In addition, the agency gives notice of the full 
environmental analysis and decision-making process that will occur on 
the proposal so that interested and affected people are aware of how 
they may participate and contribute to the final decision.

DATES: Comments should be made in writing and received by June 2, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning the project should be directed 
to U.S.F.S. Downieville Ranger District, ATTN: Laura Browning, 15924 
Highway 49, Camptonville, CA 95959.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura Browning, NEPA Coordinator, Downieville Ranger District, 
Camptonville, CA 95922, (916) 288-3231.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: About 11,436 acres of National Forest System 
lands are being analyzed for projects within the Pilgrim analysis area. 
The analysis area incorporates the land within the Wolf/Kanaka/Indian 
Creek and Middle Yuba River watersheds, which all drain into the Middle 
Yuba River. Located southwest of Camptonville, CA, the area is 
dominated by mixed conifer and hardwood forest.
    This project was selected to harvest needed wood fiber, improve 
forest health and wildlife habitat, and to reduce fire risk. Watershed 
problems, fire hazards within a mixed land ownership landscape, forest 
health concerns, and wildlife habitat conditions represent some of the 
challengers and opportunities for improvements that will be looked at 
during this analysis. An EIS will be done because of the concern for 
potential cumulative effects to water quality.
    In preparing the Environmental Impact Statement, the Forest Service 
will identify and analyze a range of alternatives for treatment of the 
dense timber stands and address the issues developed for these sites. 
One of the alternatives will be no treatment. Other alternatives will 
consider differing levels of plantation thinning; timber harvest; new 
road construction and reconstruction; fuel hazard reduction; and fish 
and wildlife habitat improvement projects. The needs of people and 
environmental values will

[[Page 28003]]

be blended in such a way that the Pilgrim analysis area would represent 
a diverse, healthy, productive, and sustainable ecosystem.
    Public participation will be important during the analysis, 
especially during the review of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement. The Forest Service is seeking information, comments, and 
assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies and other 
individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected by 
the proposed action. This input will be used in preparation of the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
    The scoping process includes:

1. Identifying potential issues.
2. Identifying issues to be analyzed in depth.
3. Eliminating insignificant issues or those which have been covered by 
a relevant previous environment analysis.
4. Exploring additional alternatives.
5. Identifying potential environmental effects of the proposed action 
and alternatives (i.e., direct, indirect, and cumulative effects and 
connected actions).
6. Determining potential cooperating agencies and task assignments.

    Comments from other Federal, State, and local agencies, 
organizations, and individuals who may be interested in, or affected 
by, the decision are encouraged to identify other significant issues. 
Public participation will be solicited through mailing letters to 
mining claim owners, private land owners, and special use permittees 
within the Downieville Ranger District boundaries; posting information 
in local towns; and mailing letters to local timber industries, 
politicians, school boards, county supervisors, and environmental 
groups. Continued participation will be emphasized through individual 
contacts. No public meetings are scheduled.
    The DEIS is expected to filed with the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) and to be available for public review in January, 1998. 
The comment period on the DEIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA 
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 
DEIS 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 state 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 2nd 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and 
Wisconsin Heritages Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 13338 (E.D. Wis. 
1980). Because of the 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.
    It assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the DEIS should be as 
specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific 
pages or chapters 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 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
    The final EIS is expected to be available by May, 1998. The 
responsible official, the Forest Supervisor of the Tahoe National 
Forest, will document the decision and reasons for the decision in the 
Record of Decision.

    Dated: April 28, 1997.
Judie Tartaglia,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 97-13476 Filed 5-21-97; 8:45 am]
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