[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12150-12151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6036]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Proposed West Fork Weiser Watershed Projects, Payette National 
Forest, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) for the proposed West Fork Weiser Watershed Projects, 
New Meadows Ranger District, Payette National Forest, Idaho. The 
proposed action would harvest timber, obliterate roads to reduce 
sediment, close other roads to reduce wildlife vulnerability, control 
noxious weeds, and construct a developed campground near Lost Valley 
Reservoir. A range of alternatives, including the no action 
alternative, will be developed as appropriate to address issues.
    The agency invites comments and suggestions on the scope of the 
analysis to be included in the draft environmental impact statement 
(DEIS). In addition, the agency gives notice of the full environmental 
analysis and decision making process that is beginning on the proposal 
so that interested and affected people know how they may participate 
and contribute to the final decision.

DATE: Comments on the scope of the analysis must be received by April 
10, 1999.

ADDRESS: Submit written comments and suggestions concerning the scope 
of the analysis to Chris Hescook, West Fork Weiser Watershed Projects 
Team Leader, New Meadows Ranger District, Payette National Forest, 
Drawer J, New Meadows, Idaho 83654.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
should be directed to Chris Hescook, phone (208) 634-0608.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Payette National Forest Plan (1988) 
provides Forest-wide direction for management of the resources of the 
Payette National Forest, including timber. The environmental impact

[[Page 12151]]

statement for the Forest Plan (1988) analyzed a range of alternatives 
for management of the West Fork Weiser watershed. The Plan allocated 
this area to general forest, including timber management, and assigned 
it to Management Area #4. The area has had previous entries for timber 
harvest.
    As well as Forest-wide direction, the plan gives specific direction 
for this management area. It requires integrated protection of multiple 
resources including fish, wildlife, range, soil and water, timber, and 
fire/fuels.
    Public participation will be especially important at several points 
during the analysis, particularly during scoping of issues and review 
of the DEIS. The first opportunity in the process is scoping, which 
includes:

    1. Identifying potential issues.
    2. Identifying issues to be analyzed in detail.
    3. Eliminating insignificant issues or those covered by a 
relevant previous environmental analysis.

    4. Determining potential cooperating agencies and responsibilities.
    The Forest Service will consult with the National Marine Fisheries 
Service, Department of Commerce, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Department of Interior, or potential impacts to threatened and 
endangered species.
    Preliminary issues include effects on fisheries, wildlife, 
recreation, water quality, and economics.
    The second major opportunity for public input is with the DEIS. The 
DEIS will analyze a range of alternatives to the proposed action, 
including the no-action alternative. The DEIS is expected to be filed 
with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for 
public review in September, 1999. EPA will then publish a notice of 
availability of the DEIS in the Federal Register. Public comments are 
invited at that time.
    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 
DEISs must structure their participation in the environmental review of 
the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts the 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 be raised at the DEIS stage but that are not raised until after 
completion of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) 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 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 FEIS.
    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. Comments may also address the 
adequacy 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 at 40 CFR 1503.3 in 
addressing these points.
    In the FEIS the Forest Service is required to respond to comments 
received (40 CFR 1503.4). The responsible official will consider the 
comments, responses, environmental consequences discussed in the FEIS, 
and applicable laws, regulations, and policies in making the final 
decision regarding this proposal. The responsible official will 
document the decision and reasons for it in the Record of Decision. 
That decision will be subject to appeal under 36 CFR 215.
    David F. Alexander, Forest Supervisor of the Payette National 
Forest, McCall, Idaho, is the responsible official for this EIS.

    Dated: March 5, 1999.
David F. Alexander,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 99-6036 Filed 3-10-99; 8:45 am]
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