[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 157 (Thursday, August 14, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43501-43503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21543]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Sand Ecosystem Restoration, Wenatchee National Forest, Chelan 
County, Washington

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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[[Page 43502]]

SUMMARY: The Forest Service, USDA, will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to analyze and disclose the environmental impacts of a 
site specific proposal for the Sand Ecosystem Restoration. The proposed 
action is 7 miles south of the town of Cashmere, Washington on 
approximately 6,000 acres of National Forest System Land in the 
Slawson, Sherman, Sand, Little Camas, Poison, Mission, Bear Gulch, and 
Fairview Canyon drainages on the Leavenworth Ranger District of the 
Wenatchee National Forest. It is partially located within the Devil's 
Gulch Roadless Area. The purpose of the EIS will be to develop and 
evaluate a range of alternatives for ecosystem restoration activities 
within the Sand Planning Area. The objectives include: (1) Reducing the 
number of trees in dense stands and (2) reducing fuel loading. To 
achieve these objectives the alternatives may include the following 
actions: timber harvest; yarding tops; pruning; slash piling; 
prescribed burning; pre-commercial thinning; reforestation; seeding; 
road construction; and road decommissioning.
    The alternatives will include a no action alternative, and at least 
one alternative that proposes no action in the Devil's Gulch Roadless 
Area. The proposed project will be consistent with direction given in 
the Wenatchee National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, as 
amended by the April 13, 1994, Record of Decision for Amendments to 
Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Planning Documents Within 
the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl. This Forest Service proposal is 
scheduled for implementation in 1998-2003. The agency invites written 
comments on the scope of this project. In addition, the agency gives 
notice of this analysis so that interested and affected people are 
aware of how they may participate and contribute to the final decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope and analysis of this proposal must 
be received by October 1, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and suggestions concerning the scope 
of the analysis to Rebecca Heath, District Ranger, Leavenworth Ranger 
District, 600 Sherbourne, Leavenworth, Washington 98826.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions and comments about this EIS should be directed to Bob Stoehr, 
Interdisciplinary Team Leader, Leavenworth Ranger District, 600 
Sherbourne, Leavenworth, Washington 98826; phone 509-548-6977, 
extension 226.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This analysis was prompted by the Mission 
Creek Watershed Analysis. This study found that fire exclusion and 
other management over the last 90 years have changed many dry forests 
from open, parklike stands to very dense and stagnated stands which are 
now susceptible to large, intense wildfires as well as bark beetle 
infestations. The environmental analysis will look at different ways to 
move this part of the Mission Creek Watershed toward a more healthy, 
sustainable condition.
    The proposed action is to treat approximately 6,000 acres. 
Treatments would be made through a combination of activities including: 
(1) Thinning of dense stands, and (2) pruning and fuel reduction 
through the use of prescribed fire. This proposal will include 
helicopter yarding as the primary method of tree removal, and may 
require the construction of approximately 4 miles of access roads.
    To date, the following key issues have been identified: Remnant 
stands of old ponderosa pine; dry forest ecosystem sustainability; 
threatened and endangered wildlife species; fire risk; inventoried 
roadless area; and economic viability.
    The decision to be made through this analysis is where, how, and to 
what extent should the various vegetation management and fuels 
reduction treatments be implemented within the Sand Planning Area, and 
what roading, if any, should occur.
    A range of alternatives will be considered, including a no action 
alternative, and an alternative that proposes no actions in the Devil's 
Gulch Roadless Area. Other alternatives will be developed in response 
to relevant issues received during scoping. All alternatives will need 
to respond to specific conditions in the Sand Planning Area.
    Public participation will be especially important at several points 
during the analysis. The Forest Service will be seeking information, 
comments, and assistance from Federal, State, tribes, and local 
agencies, as well as individuals or organizations who may be interested 
in or affected by the proposed actions. This information will be used 
in preparation of the draft EIS. The scoping process includes:
    1. Identifying potential issues.
    2. Identifying issues to be analyzed in depth.
    3. Eliminating non-significant issues or those which have been 
covered by a relevant previous environmental process.
    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.
    The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for public review in June, 
1998. EPA will publish a notice of availability of the draft EIS in the 
Federal Register. The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days 
from the date the EPA notice appears in the Federal Register. Copies of 
the draft EIS will be distributed to interested and affected agencies, 
organizations, tribes, and members of the public for their review and 
comment. It is very important that those interested in the management 
of the Wenatchee National Forest participate at that time.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on 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. (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).
    At this early stage, the Forest Service believes it is important to 
give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of 
a draft EIS must structure their participation in the environmental 
review of their 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 EIS 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 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 proposed action 
participate by the close of the 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.

[[Page 43503]]

    The final EIS is scheduled to be completed in August 1998. 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 the decision 
regarding this proposal. Sonny O'Neal, Forest Supervisor, Wenatchee 
National Forest, is the responsible official. As the responsible 
official he will document the decision and reasons for the decision in 
the Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to Forest Service 
Appeal Regulations 36 CFR Part 215.

    Dated: July 28, 1997.
Elton Thomas,
Natural Resources Group Leaders.
[FR Doc. 97-21543 Filed 8-13-97; 8:45 am]
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