[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 108 (Monday, June 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30303-30304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-14296]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Little Boulder Harvest and Fire Restoration Project; Butte and 
Jefferson Ranger Districts; Little Boulder Harvest and Fire Restoration 
Project; Butte Field Office; Jefferson County, MT

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA and Bureau of Land Management, USDI.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to disclose the 
environmental impacts of a proposed action to manipulate forest and 
range vegetation on about 12,950 acres. The manipulation includes 
timber harvest and prescribed burning. The Forest Service will be lead 
agency for this EIS (40 CFR 1501.5). The purpose is to restore and 
maintain aspen, open Douglas-fir forests, and shrub/grass cover. The 
proposed action includes approximately 58 acres of regeneration 
harvest, 4,815 acres of commercial tree thinning (some followed by 
burning and some not), 7,303 acres of prescribed burning without timber 
harvest, and 775 acres of conifer removal around aspen clones.

DATES: Initial comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be 
received in writing no later than July 9, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Mike Paterni, Acting Forest 
Supervisor, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, 1820 Meadowlark, 
Butte, MT 59701.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lee Harry, Environmental Analysis Team Leader, Butte Ranger District, 
1820 Meadowlark, Butte, MT 59701, or phone: (406) 494-2147.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service and BLM goals are to 
restore aspen, open-grown Douglas-fir forests, and shrub/grass 
vegetation. Prescribed burning would be applied on a total of 10,173 
acres, both as a single treatment (7,303 acres), and following timber 
harvest (2,870 acres). Of the total of 4,870 acres of harvest, 2,000 
acres of harvest would not be followed by underburning. Commercial 
thinning in lodgepole, Douglas-fir and around aspen clones would be the 
primary harvest technique. A small part of the harvest would be for 
regeneration of lodgepole pine, and one proposed unit of

[[Page 30304]]

regeneration harvest would exceed 40 acres.
    The analysis area lies between Butte, Boulder, and Whitehall, 
Montana. It includes several tributaries to Boulder River. Some 
included tributaries are: Bison Creek; Kleinsmith Gulch; Galena Gulch; 
Little Galena Gulch; North Fork Little Boulder River; and Little 
Boulder Creek. (T4N,R5W; T5N,R4W; T5N,R5W; T5N,R6W; T6N,R4W; T6N,R5W; 
T6N,R6W). The project area encompasses approximately 69,000 acres.
    Potential issues identified are the effects of the proposal on 
watershed function, visual quality, fish and wildlife, noxious weeds, 
and roadless character.
    Public participation is important to the analysis. Part of the goal 
of public involvement is to identify additional issues and to refine 
the general, tentative issues identified above. People may visit with 
Forest Service and BLM officials at any time during the analysis and 
prior to the decision. Two periods are specifically designated for 
comments on the analysis: (1) During the scoping process and (2) during 
the draft EIS comment period.
    During the scoping process, the Forest Service and BLM are seeking 
information and comments from Federal, State, and local agencies and 
other individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected 
by the proposed action. The agencies invite written comments and 
suggestions on this action, particularly in terms of identification of 
issues and alternative development.
    Analysis of this proposed action began in an environmental 
assessment (EA). Public involvement for the EA started in October 1998 
with a scoping letter to interested parties and legal notice in the 
Montana Standard. Since then, the public has participated in 
formulating issues and developing alternatives through responding to 
large mailings and attending periodic public meetings and field trips.
    The Forest Service and BLM will continue to jointly involve the 
public and will inform interested and affected parties as to how they 
may participate and contribute to the final decision. Another formal 
opportunity for response will be provided following completion of a 
draft EIS.
    The draft EIS should be available for the review in December, 1999. 
The final EIS is scheduled for completion in March, 1999.
    The comment period on the draft EIS will be 60 days from the date 
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of 
availability in the Federal Register. It is very important that those 
interested in this proposed action participate by the close of the 60-
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 final environmental impact 
statement.
    To assist the Forest Service and BLM in identifying and considering 
issues and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft 
environmental impact statement 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 draft 
environmental impact 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.
    The Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest Supervisor and the Butte Field 
Manager are the responsible officials who will make the decision. They 
will decide on this proposal after considering comments and responses, 
environmental consequences discussed in the Final EIS, and applicable 
laws, regulations, and policies. The decision and reasons for the 
decision will be documented in a Record of Decision.

    Dated: June 1, 1999.
Mike Paterni,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
    Dated: June 1, 1999.
Merle Good,
Field Manager, BLM Butte Field Office.
[FR Doc. 99-14296 Filed 6-4-99; 8:45 am]
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