[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16756-16758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8863]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 65 / Monday, April 6, 1998 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


South Spruce Ecosystem Rehabilitation 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 South Spruce Ecosystem 
Recovery Project area, on the Cedar City Ranger District, Dixie 
National Forest. These proposals include: (1) commercial timber harvest 
by salvage, release, and improvement cuttings, and associated road 
construction; (2) burning and mechanical regeneration treatments of 
aspen forests; and, (3) travel management. 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, meet woody debris 
objectives, and reduce road densities 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) for the Dixie National 
Forest, 1986.
    In addition to the management activities proposed to be 
implemented, a site specific amendment to the LRMP is being proposed. 
This amendment is necessary in order to ensure that the commercial 
timber harvest proposed action complies with the LRMP. 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 vegetative 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 May 
11, 1998, 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 June, 1998. The Record of Decision and Final 
Environmental Impact Statement are expected to be available by 
November, 1998.

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 a 
52,991 acre analysis area in the upper drainages of the Parowan, 
Mammoth, Panguitch, Asay and Coal Creek watersheds. Approximately 
37,577 acres of the project area are forested and 15,414 acres are non-
forested. The proposed commercial conifer treatment areas currently are 
or will likely be infested with spruce beetle (Dendrocto-nus 
rufipennis). Spruce beetle populations are at epidemic levels and have 
killed millions of spruce trees, on approximately 19,000 acres within 
the project area. 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 it is likely the remaining 
9,000 acres of spruce forest will become infested.
    The purpose of the project is to harvest with salvage cuttings 
approximately 718 acres of dead, dying, and high risk Engelmann spruce 
trees to recover wood products that would otherwise be lost, while 
still meeting desired resource objectives for standing dead and down 
tree material. Minor amounts of subalpine fir trees (less than 15% of 
the total removed) would also be removed with improvement cuttings to 
release healthy aspen, spruce or subalpine fir regeneration, improve 
residual stand vigor, or that will likely be damaged or killed during 
the removal of the spruce trees.
    Approximately 2,412 acres of spruce forests that are at moderate to 
high risk to spruce beetle infestation that are located immediately 
adjacent to infested areas are proposed for harvest with the same 
commercial salvage and improvement cuttings. These currently uninfested 
areas will not be harvested until they become infested by epidemic 
levels of spruce beetles.
    On approximately 289 acres adjacent to sites previously harvested 
by strip clearcutting the purpose of commercial timber harvest is to 
release or stimulate aspen regeneration and create a more natural 
forest pattern.
    Rehabilitation of areas heavily impacted by bark beetle mortality 
through the completion of natural and artificial regeneration 
activities would occur as needed. An estimated 1,625 acres would be 
planted with spruce seedlings. Reforestation is essential to providing 
for the most rapid progression toward the desired future condition for 
forest cover in the project area.
    Regeneration treatment of aspen forests is also included in this 
proposal. Treatments would include both burning and mechanical 
(commercial and non-commercial harvest) with or without burning. About 
9,171 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 (ie: wildlife habitat 
improvement,

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vegetation diversity, and scenic variety and color in the landscape). 
Approximately 463 acres would be regenerated.
    Travel management is proposed for portions of the project area. The 
purpose of this activity is to restore and rehabilitate ecological 
values in areas where excessive numbers of open roads exist. Moving 
these portions of the project area toward or below the LRMP guideline 
of two miles of open road per square mile will reduce the adverse 
environmental impacts associated with excessive numbers of open roads. 
A reduction in open road density will reduce long-term maintenance 
costs while promoting safe, efficient public travel on the open road 
system.
    Vegetation management treatments involving commercial harvest, 
aspen regeneration, and travel management would occur on National 
Forest system 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., R.8 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 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; 
and, Sections 1-2 of T.38 S., R.9 W.; and Sections 5-6 of T.38 S., R.8 
W., SLC Meridian, Kane County, UT.
    The transportation system required to access commercial harvest 
areas is largely in place. However, to access all currently infested 
stands, approximately 2.6 miles of temporary and specified road 
construction would be required. An additional one half mile of 
temporary road is proposed to access aspen regeneration areas with 
commercial sawtimber and non-commercial fuelwood opportunities. No road 
construction is proposed to occur in areas classified categories one, 
two or three under Chief Dombeck's interim road policy (36 CFR part 
212). A haul route is proposed through Cedar Breaks National Monument 
along existing roads to facilitate removal of a portion of the trees 
removed under the commercial harvest proposal.
    All newly constructed temporary roads would be obliterated upon 
completion of the project, and any new permanent or systems road would 
be physically closed with earth and rock barriers or gates.
    In addition to the vegetation management treatments, and related 
activities, a site-specific amendment to the Dixie National Forest LRMP 
is being proposed for this project. This amendment is necessary in 
order to ensure that the commercial harvest proposed action is in 
compliance with the LRMP. Because of the level of spruce beetle caused 
mortality along state highways and areas designated semi-primitive 
recreation management in the LRMP (2A and 2B), commercial harvests in 
these areas may require that site specific amendments be made regarding 
scenic resource management.
    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. 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. No alternatives to the proposed action have been 
identified at this time, however, the following four preliminary issues 
have been identified: (1) The presence of log trucks and other heavy 
machinery on popular recreation traffic routes may increase hazards to 
personal safety (management indicator: frequency and timing of logging 
related traffic); (2) Prescribed burning associated with aspen 
regeneration may generate smoke concentrations that could pool in urban 
areas (management indicator: number of days expected to exceed 
guidelines); (3) The proposed activities may affect areas the 
undeveloped character of areas within the SERP area (measurement 
indicator: number of acres altered within those areas); and, (4) The 
proposed harvest levels may not optimize the recovery of the marketable 
value of the wood products (measurement indicator: percent of acres 
harvested of the total available spruce mortality on suitable and 
operable acres).
    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 land and 
private lands. Proposed treatments would occur only on National Forest 
system lands. A permit is required to use the proposed haul route 
through Cedar Breaks National Monument. No other federal or local 
permits, licenses or entitlements would be needed.
    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 
the DEIS must structure their participation in the environmental review 
of the proposal so that it 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

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Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.

    Dated: March 25, 1998.
Hugh C. Thompson,
Forest Supervisor, Dixie National Forest.
[FR Doc. 98-8863 Filed 4-3-98; 8:45 am]
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