[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 220 (Monday, November 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63664-63666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30509]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Aquarius Ecosystem Restoration Project, Dixie National Forest, 
Garfield County, UT

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 a Forest Service 
proposal to implement an ecosystem restoration and associated road 
construction project on the Escalante Ranger District, Dixie National 
Forest. The area is located approximately 18 miles northwest of 
Escalante, Utah. The project would be implemented in accordance with 
direction in the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Dixie 
National Forest (LRMP).
    The agency gives notice that the environmental analysis process is 
underway. Interested and potentially affected persons, along with 
local, state, and other federal agencies, are invited to participate 
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 on or 
before December 13, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: District Ranger Escalante Ranger 
District 755 West Main, P.O. Box 246, Escalante, Utah 84726.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct questions about the proposed action and EIS to Kevin R. 
Schulkoski, District Ranger, 435-826-5400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Aquarius Ecosystem Restoration Project

[[Page 63665]]

(AERP) is located within the Dixie National Forest, Escalante and 
Teasdale Ranger Districts. It is approximately 18 miles northwest of 
Escalante, Utah. The 81,104 acre project area is comprised of 4 major 
watersheds; Pleasant Creek, Boulder Creek, Antimony Creek, and 
Escalante River. The project is located in parts of Township 30 South, 
Range 2 East; Township 30 South, Range 3 East; Township 31 South, Range 
1 West; Township 31 South, Range 1 East; Township 31 South, Range 2 
East; Township 31 South, Range 3 East; Township 32 South, Range 1 West; 
Township 32 South, Range 1 East; Township 32 South, Range 2 East; 
Township 32 South, Range 3 East; Township 33 South, Range 1 West; 
Township 33 South, Range 1 East; Township 34 South, Range 1 West; 
Township 35 South, Range 1 West; and Township 36 South, Range 1 West.
    Elevations range from 9,000 to 11,000 feet. The forest type is 
primarily Englemann spruce/subalpine fir, with a strong component of 
aspen. Other vegetation types represented include sagebrush, blue 
spruce, mixed conifer and ponderosa pine.
    Dixie Forest LRMP management areas within the analysis area are: 1 
General Forest Direction, 10A Research Natural Area, 2A Semi-Primitive 
Recreation Opportunities, 2B Rural and Roaded Recreation Opportunities, 
4B Wildlife Habitat Management, 4D Aspen Management for Wildlife, 6A 
Livestock Grazing, 7A Timber Management, 9A Riparian Management.
    Several actions are proposed within the project area to move 
existing conditions toward desired future conditions. These activities 
include commercial timber harvest, aspen regeneration, management 
ignited prescribed fire and travel management.
    Activities proposed within the project area contribute to meeting 
the goals and objectives, management direction and standards and 
guidelines found in the Dixie LRMP.
    Proposed Actions within 16,215 total acres of aspen forest would 
include using prescribed fire only, on an estimated 50 acres to 
regenerate a young healthy stand.
    Use mechanical treatments with or without fire on approximately 
3,100 acres of aspen forest. This includes both commercial treatments. 
Patch cuts or clear cut harvest treatments may be used in blocks of 40 
acres or less where aspen areas are accessible (within \1/4\ mile of an 
existing road) and contain sufficient quality and volume to make it 
economical to harvest. Fire would be used after cutting treatments to 
remove residual conifer and stimulate additional aspen suckering. 
Approximately 50% of the harvest areas will be followed up by fire.
    These activities are needed because the desired condition of the 
area is to maintain a mosaic of aspen and conifer stands with a variety 
of age classes across the landscape. Currently, many aspen dominated 
stands have either a growing component of understory conifer trees or 
lack of an aspen seedling class capable of replacing the maturing 
aspen. Most of the aspen stands across the landscape are of similar 
size and age class. The proposed treatments are designed to convert 
deteriorating aspen stands to young healthy aspen seedlings on 
approximately 20% of the existing aspen stands. This will enhance the 
opportunity to sustain aspen forests over the long-term in properly 
functioning condition and provide forest projects to forest industry.
    The aspen acres proposed for prescribed fire are isolated and do 
not provide economic commercial opportunities.
    The objectives of the treatments in the aspen component include: 
increase species diversity across the landscape to reduce catastrophic 
losses associated with forest pests and fire; increase the amount of 
aspen clones in the early to young stage on up to 20% of the existing 
stands; maintain aspen component within spruce/fir dominated stands; 
reduce conifer invasion in the aspen type; improve or maintain the 
visual form, color and textural diversity in the landscape viewed by 
forest users; improve structural diversity associated with wildlife 
habitat; and provide opportunity for community based forestry 
businesses. Proposed Actions within the 31,827 total acres of Englemann 
spruce/subalpine fir forests would include:
    Approximately 200 acres of aspen within the spruce/fir type would 
be treated with prescribed stand replacement fire only to stimulate 
aspen regeneration and eliminate existing aspen and conifer trees.
    Approximately 12,000 acres would be treated with commercial 
mechanical harvest. Tree thinning or an intermediate treatment under an 
individual tree selection system (reducing stand densities while 
maintaining a variety of tree sizes), would be implemented. An uneven 
aged structure is desired.
    Approximately 1,600 acres of seral aspen within the spruce/fir 
would be regenerated with commercial harvest treatments with or without 
fire. Fire would be used after the cutting treatments to remove 
residual conifer and stimulate additional aspen suckering. 
Approximately 50% of the harvest areas will be followed up with fire. 
Treatments in blocks of 40 acres or less would be used.
    These activities are needed because the desired conditions for the 
spruce/fir stands are to maintain land densities at moderate levels 
with a variety of age classes and to provide for a mix of aspen clones 
within this type. Forest management can prevent large scale mortality 
and loss caused by the spruce beetle. Many spruce/fir stands are 
densely stocked with trees and are declining in tree growth and vigor 
and lack larger size classes due to past spruce beetle activity. Seral 
aspen clones are maturing and succeeding to conifer trees.
    The seral aspen component is being replaced by spruce/fir forest 
type. There is a lack of aspen clones in the early to young stage. More 
aspen is currently being lost than replaced by aspen regeneration. The 
invading conifer needs to be removed so that aspen regeneration may be 
initiated to sustain prue stand conditions for aspen.
    The purpose of the proposed action in the coniferous forest is to: 
improve species diversity and forest structure and pattern 
characteristics; increase the number of mature (old) stage spruce; 
manage risk of bark beetles infestations and other insects and diseases 
at endemic levels; increase seral aspen and representation of young 
aspen clones in the spruce/fir type; and provide opportunity for 
community based forestry business.
    Transportation Management would include the following road 
closures: 16.3 miles of existing roads would be utilized for harvest 
and regeneration activities and would be closed with physical barriers 
upon project completion; 39.6 miles of existing roads would be improved 
for project activities and would be obliterated and revegetated upon 
project completion; 13.25 miles of new road construction would be 
required for project implementation and then would be closed with 
physical barriers upon project completion; 7.6 miles of new road 
construction would be required for project implementation and then 
obliterated and revegetated upon project completion; approximately 15 
miles of roads that are not being utilized for harvest activities will 
be closed and obliterated.
    These activities are needed because many travel routes throughout 
the area were not properly located and constructed with proper drainage 
devices and have created erosion problems. Road densities are excessive

[[Page 63666]]

to the Forest Service ability to maintain roads to agency standards.
    The purpose of the proposed travel management plan is to restore 
watershed values in areas where unacceptable soil and water resource 
damage is occurring (closing and rehabilitating unneeded roads will 
reduce the occurring adverse impacts); reduce long-term maintenance 
costs; provide access to treatment areas, trailheads, dispersed 
recreation areas, and other areas of high recreation use; provide for 
safe travel on Forest roads; and reduce road densities to maintain or 
improve wildlife habitat effectiveness.
    Trailhead development is proposed as follows: Construction of a 
trailhead for the Powell Point trail (#6.0) at the junction of the 
Powell Point non-motorized trail and the end of FS road (#1516). 
Construction would include a parking area, signs and information kiosk. 
Construction of a trailhead for the Gap trail (#1.51) at the end of 
Forest road (#1370). Construction would include a parking area, signs 
and information kiosk. Construction of a trailhead at Clayton Guard 
Station to serve Grass Lakes (#1.61), Pacer Lake (#4.0), Poison Creek 
(#3.0) and Antimony Lake (#2.0) motorized trails. Construction would 
include a parking area, signs and an information kiosk. Construction of 
a trailhead for the North Creek lakes non-motorized trail (#1.5) 
Construction would include a parking area, signs and an information 
kiosk. Construct a parking area at the end of the road #0176 at Row 
Lakes.
    The activities are needed because: a comparison of the desired 
future condition and the existing forest condition indicated that 
motorized and non-motorized recreation use is increasing. There is a 
need to provide safe public access for this use. Existing trailheads 
are essentially rudimentary and undeveloped. There is a need to design 
and construct trailheads which include information kiosk, parking and 
signing. Due to the absence of designated trailheads, damage to the 
soil and water resources has occurred. There is a need to reduce and 
prevent resource damage.
    Preliminary issues that have been identified through scoping to 
date include road closures, management activities in areas which have 
unroaded characteristics, prescribed burning versus cutting in aspen 
stands and managing timber stands to favor aspen over spruce.
    Tentative alternatives to the proposed action include: No Action 
(the project will not take place, but current management will 
continue); elimination of timber harvest in areas which have unroaded 
characteristics; and an alternative which regenerates aspen by burning 
and does not include commercial aspen timber harvest.
    As lead agency, the Forest Service will analyze and document 
direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects for a range of 
alternatives. Each alternative will include mitigation measures and 
monitoring requirements. Hugh C. Thompson, Forest Supervisor, Dixie 
National Forest, is the responsible official.
    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 the Dixie National Forest NEPA 
mailing list. 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: Kevin R. Schulkoski, District Ranger, 
Escalante Ranger District, 755 West Main, PO Box 246, Escalante, Utah 
84726.
    A public field review of the proposed project was held on September 
29, 1998. Twenty one people representing different organizational, 
business, governmental and individual interests participated in the 
meeting.
    Approximately 120 acres of private land lie within the analysis 
area. No actions are proposed on private land. The remaining acres lie 
within National Forest System lands. No federal or local permits, 
licenses or entitlements would be needed. There are no known conflicts 
with the plans and policies of other jurisdictions. The comment period 
for the DEIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA's notice of 
availability appears 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's 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. Versus 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 Versus 
Hodel, (9th Circuit, 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc versus 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 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 draft 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.
    The DEIS is expected to be available for review by March 1999. The 
Record of Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement are 
expected to be available by May 1999.

    Dated: November 4, 1998.
Hugh C. Thompson,
Forester Supervisor, Dixie National Forest.
[FR Doc. 98-30509 Filed 11-13-98; 8:45 am]
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