[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33824-33826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16260]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Spruce Ecosystem Recovery Project, Dixie National Forest, Iron 
and Kane Counties, Utah

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Forest Service, USDA, will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Forest Service 
to implement several proposals within the Spruce Ecosystem Recovery 
Project area, on the Cedar City Ranger District, Dixie National Forest. 
These proposals include: (1) Commercial salvage, sanitation and density 
management timber harvest, and associated road construction/closures; 
(2) commercial and non-commercial regeneration treatments of aspen 
forests; (3) the establishment of defensible fire suppression zones; 
and, (4) management ignited prescribed fire. Multiple decisions may be 
issued upon completion of the analysis; however, the cumulative effects 
of all the proposed actions will be disclosed in the EIS. The purpose 
of these proposals is to initiate actions that would improve forest 
health and diversity, accelerate reforestation, and meet woody debris 
objectives within the project area. The project area is located 
approximately 15 miles east of Cedar City, Utah. The project would be 
implemented in accordance with direction in the Land and Resource 
Management Plan (LRMP, 1986) for the Dixie National Forest.
    In addition to the management activities proposed to be 
implemented, an amendment to the LRMP is being proposed. This amendment 
is necessary in order to make the LRMP conform to the Regional Guide. 
The amendment is described below under Supplementary Information.
    The agency gives notice that the environmental analysis process is 
underway. During the analysis process, an issue surfaced that warranted 
disclosure of effects under an EIS. This issue is the high degree of 
interest associated with the potential to alter the undeveloped 
character of a portion of the project area due to proposed road 
construction and vegetable management treatments.
    Interested and potentially affected persons, along with local, 
state, and other federal agencies, are invited to participate in, and 
contribute to, the environmental analysis. The Dixie National Forest 
invites written input regarding issues specific to the proposed action.

DATES: Written comments to be considered in the preparation of the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be submitted by 
July, 1997, which is at least 30 days following the publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register. The DEIS is expected to be available 
for review by August, 1997. The Record of Decision and Final 
Environmental Impact Statement are expected to be available by October, 
1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: District Ranger, Cedar City 
Ranger District, 82 North 100 East, P.O. Box 627, Cedar City, Utah 
84721-0627; FAX: (801) 865-3791; E-mail: Brunswick__Nancy/
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct questions about the proposed action and EIS to Phillip G. 
Eisenhauer, Project Environmental Coordinator, by mail at 82 North 100 
East, P.O. Box 627, Cedar City, Utah 84721-0627; or by phone at (801) 
865-3700; FAX: (801) 865-3791; E-mail: Brunswick__Nancy/
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed projects are located in an 
analysis area of about 48,274 acres of National Forest System (NFS) 
lands. Approximately 24,926 acres of the project area are forested and 
13,348 acres are non-forest. The proposed commercial conifer treatment 
areas were recently or are currently infested with spruce beetle 
(Dendroctonus rufipennis). Spruce beetle populations are at epidemic 
levels; they have killed thousands of spruce trees, on approximately 
7,400 acres on the Cedar City Ranger District. In some sites where 
spruce was the dominant overstory, few live trees remain. Because 
spruce beetle populations have been expanding since the early 1990's, 
an additional 15,000 acres of spruce forest are at risk of beetle 
infestation.
    The purpose of the project is to salvage the dead and dying 
Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir trees to recover wood products that 
would otherwise be lost, while still meeting desired resource 
objectives for standing dead and down tree material. Also, spruce 
dominated stands that are classified as moderate risk to spruce beetle 
infestation would be treated by commercial and non-commercial 
sanitation treatments to alter the forest conditions that contribute to 
this risk. These stands were previously thinned with an even aged 
silvicultural system to a residual basal area of about 130 square feet. 
Reducing the risk in these stands would provide the best opportunity to 
maintain a green, forested condition as well as maintain important 
resource values associated with maintaining spruce forests, such as old 
growth, wildlife habitat, and scenic quality near vistas and along 
scenic highway corridors.
    More specifically, sanitation treatments would involve the removal 
of uninfested conifer trees of varying sizes in order to alter forest 
densities, species composition, and size class. Currently, stands in 
the moderate risk class contain about 130 square feet of basal area per

[[Page 33825]]

acre. These treatments would involve reducing the overall stand basal 
area per acre (all species) to 100 square feet or less. This will 
reduce risk of future infestation by bark beetles.
    Rehabilitation of areas heavily impacted by bark beetle mortality 
through the completion of natural and artificial regeneration 
activities would occur as needed. An estimated 585 acres will be 
artificially regenerated. Reforestation is essential to providing for 
the most rapid progression toward the desired future condition for 
forest cover in the project area.
    In addition to commercial and non-commercial treatments, and 
related rehabilitation treatments, wildland fuel reduction treatments 
are proposed in areas where fuel loadings exceed levels necessary to 
meet desired fire suppression objectives. Treatments proposed include 
management ignited prescribed fire and the establishment of Defensible 
Fire Suppression (DFS) Zones. Both treatments are intended to reduce 
the risk of catastrophic fire, especially in wildland-urban interface 
areas.
    The use of prescribed fire would occur within two areas in the 
project area. One area is located in the Center Creek drainage and the 
other in the Hancock Peak Roadless Inventory Area. The purpose of the 
reintroduction of fire is to reduce loadings, to create diversity in 
the landscape vegetation, and reduce the risk of catastrophic fire.
    DFS Zones would be established along the perimeter of the Meadow 
Lake subdivision. Where fuel conditions in this location currently meet 
the desired conditions, no treatments would occur. DFS Zones are 
created by implementing fuel ladder (vertical continuity of fuels from 
ground level to the forest crowns) and fuel loading reduction 
treatments; that is, thinning all species of vegetation in order to 
reduce the probability of crown fires carrying through these Zones. The 
treatments would include the use of commercial and non-commercial tree 
removal, chipping, hand and machine piling and burning of piles; and 
broadcast burning of fuels. The DFS Zones would be between 100 to 300 
feet wide depending upon the vegetation, fire occurrence, and 
topography, and would be located entirely on NFS lands. It is estimated 
that the number of acres proposed for establishment of DFS Zones would 
not exceed 50 acres.
    Regeneration treatment of aspen forests is also included in this 
proposal. Treatments would include both commercial harvest and non-
commercial site preparation (i.e.; cut and burn, broadcast burn). About 
8,176 acres of forest are dominated by aspen in the project area. Most 
are being converted to conifers by natural succession and the lack of 
fire in the ecosystem. Most vegetation management treatments would lead 
to an increase in the abundance of aspen, which is the desired goal for 
resource values identified in the project area (i.e.; wildlife habitat 
improvement, vegetation diversity, and visual variety and color in the 
landscape). Up to 1,000 acres would be regenerated over the next five-
year period.
    Vegetation management treatments involving salvage/sanitation, 
density management, aspen regeneration, prescribed fire, and 
establishment of DFS Zones would occur on National Forest lands located 
within portions of Sections 28-33 of Township(T) 35 South(S), Range(R) 
8 West(W); Sections 3-17, 20-24, 26-35 of T.36 S., R8 W.; Sections 3-
10, 15-21, 30-32 of T.37 S., R.8. W.; Sections 1, 2, 11-14, 23-26, 35-
36 of T.37 S., R.8\1/2\ W.; Sections 1-6, 8-15, 24-25 and 36 of T.36 
S., R.9 W.; Sections 10-16, 22-27, 35-36 of T.37 S., R.9 W.; Salt Lake 
City (SLC) Meridian, Iron County, UT; Sections 1-2 of T.38 S., R.9 W.; 
and Sections 5-6 of T.38 S., R.8W., SLC Meridian, Kane County, UT.
    The transportation system required to access commercial harvest 
areas is largely in place. However, to access all identified moderate 
to high risk stands, about five miles of temporary and specified road 
construction would be required. The specified road construction is 
proposed to occur in an area having undeveloped character.
    All newly constructed temporary roads would be obliterated upon 
completion of the project, and any new permanent or systems road would 
be physically closed. In addition, approximately eight miles or 
existing roads that would be used or are located within treatment areas 
would be closed upon completion of project activities to meet the 
desired condition for other resources.
    In addition to the vegetation management treatments, and related 
activities, and amendment to the Dixie National Forest Land and 
Resource Management Plan is being proposed.

Size of Created Openings

    Proposed changes to DNF-LRMP Management Direction and Standards and 
Guidelines:
    a. The following changes are proposed to general direction E03, 06, 
and 07, section 6(a), (b) and (c) found on page IV-40 of the DNF-LRMP:
    ``6. The maximum size of openings created by the application of 
clearcut even-aged silvicultural treatments will be 40 acres regardless 
of forest cover type. A proposal for larger openings created by the 
application of clearcut even-aged silvicultural treatment are subject 
to a 60-day public review and require approval by the Regional Forester 
as specified in the Regional Guide of 1984. Exceptions to this are:
    (a) Larger openings which are the result of natural catastrophic 
events such as fire, insect or disease attach, and windstorm. These 
larger openings may be commercially salvaged in blocks larger than 60 
acres without requirement for 60-day public review and approval by the 
Regional Forester. This does not preclude public notification and 
participation requirements as outlined under the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA).
    (b) The area does not meet the definition of a created opening.
    b. In addition to this change under the general direction of the 
DNF-LRMP at page IV-40, the proposed E03, 06, and 07, section 6 (a) and 
(b) just defined is proposed to be added to each specific Management 
Area direction, where applicable.
    The proposed actions would implement management direction, 
contribute to meeting the goals and objectives identified in the DNF-
LRMP, and move the project area toward the desired condition. This 
project EIS would be tiered to the Dixie National Forest LRMP EIS 
(1986), which provides goals, objectives, standards and guidelines for 
the various activities and land allocations on the Forest.
    Based upon the responses to the public scoping effort conducted in 
April, 1997, the issues that have been identified include: the effects 
of activities on the undeveloped character of areas within the project 
area; the effects of the activities on the economic livelihood of local 
communities (Brian Head Town); the effects of an increase/decrease in 
access in the area; and, the effects on the Hancock Peak Roadless Area.
    Tentative alternatives to the proposed action include: (1) No 
action (the project would not take place, but current management would 
continue); (2) no harvest activities associated with road construction 
within the undeveloped areas and no prescribed fire treatment within 
the focus area in Center Creek; and, (3) no treatments within the 
Hancock Peak Roadless Area.
    As lead agency, the Forest Service would analyze and document 
direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects for a range of 
alternatives. Each alternative would include mitigation measures and 
monitoring requirements.

[[Page 33826]]

    Hugh C. Thompson, Forest Supervisor, Dixie National Forest, is the 
responsible official. He can be reached by mail at 82 North 100 East, 
P.O. Box 580, Cedar City, Utah, 84720-0580.
    The Forest Service is seeking comments from individuals, 
organizations, and local, state, and Federal agencies who may be 
interested in or affected by the proposed action. Scoping notices have 
been sent to potentially affected persons and those currently on the 
Dixie National Forest mailing list that have expressed interest in 
timber management proposals, proposals relating to wildlife habitat 
modifications and Forest Plan amendments. Other interested individuals, 
organizations, or agencies may have their names added to the mailing 
list for this project at any time by submitting a request to: Phillip 
G. Eisenhauer, Project Environmental Coordinator, 82 North 100 East, 
P.O. Box 627, Cedar City, UT 84720-0627.
    The analysis area includes both National Forest System lands and 
private lands. Proposed treatments would occur only on National Forest 
system lands. No federal or local permits, licenses or entitlements 
would be needed.
    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 
the DEIS must structure their participation in the environmental review 
of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the 
reviewers' position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. 
v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that 
could have been 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 Angoon v. Hodel, (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 the time 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 about 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 draft statement. Comments may also 
address the adequacy of the 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.

    Dated: June 13, 1997.
Hugh C. Thompson,
Forest Supervisor, Dixie National Forest.
[FR Doc. 97-16260 Filed 6-20-97; 8:45 am]
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