[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 215 (Monday, November 8, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 60764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29096]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement, South 
Fourth of July Timber Sale

SUMMARY: The Salmon-Challis National Forest will prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement to document the analysis and disclose 
the environmental impacts of a proposed timber sale in the South Fourth 
of July subwatershed in the Panther Creek drainage.
    The Salmon/Cobalt Ranger District is proposing to manage forested 
vegetation on approximately 1,855 acres through commercial timber 
harvest practices and associated pre-commercial thinning. The 
Interdisciplinary Team also reviewed the effectiveness of travel 
management closures in meeting the Forest Travel Plan; the Team 
recommended some road closure changes or modifications in order to 
better meet the Travel Plan objectives. It will take approximately 
three to five years to complete the harvest, firewood gathering, slash 
disposal and post sale pre-commercial thinning. No timber harvest would 
occur within PACFISH defined riparian habitat conservation areas. The 
analysis area is approximately 47,600 acres and is located Township 18 
North, Range 18 East; Township 19 North, Ranges 17 and 18 East; 
Township 20 North, Ranges 17 and 18 East; Township 21 North, Ranges 17 
and 18 East; Boise Meridian, Lemhi County, Idaho. The analysis area is 
completely within the Panther Creek drainage. None of the harvest units 
are within inventoried roadless areas identified in the Salmon National 
Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.

DATES: Written comments concerning the project described in this notice 
should be received by December 15, 1999, to ensure timely 
consideration. No scoping meetings are planned at this time.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to District Ranger Terry Hershey, 
Salmon/Cobalt Ranger District, RR2, Box 600, Salmon, ID 83467.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning the proposed 
action and Environmental Impact Statement should be directed to Wayne 
Hecker at 208-756-5100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service is seeking information 
and comments from the Federal, State and local agencies, as well as 
individuals and organizations who may be interested in, or affected by, 
the proposed action. The Forest Service invites written comments and 
suggestions on the issues related to the proposal and the area being 
analyzed.
    Information received will be used in preparation of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement and Final Environmental Impact 
Statement. For the most effective use, comments should be submitted to 
the Forest Service within 30 days from the date of publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register. The Responsible Official is George 
Matejko, Forest Supervisor, Salmon-Challis National Forest. The 
decision to be made to whether to harvest National Forest System timber 
and improve conditions for growth and regeneration of ponderosa pine 
and lodgepole pine stands. The draft is expected to be available in 
March of 2000, with a Final Environmental Impact Statement estimated to 
be completed in June of 2000. 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 Draft Environmental Impact Statement must structure 
their participation in the environmental review of the 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 Environmental Impact Statement stage but that are not raised 
until after completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement 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 Final Environmental Impact Statement. To assist the Forest 
Service 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 chapter of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement or the merits of the alternatives 
formulated and discussed in the Draft Environmental Impact 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. 
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and 
addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public 
record on this proposed action and will be available for public 
inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and 
considered, however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have 
standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR 215 or 217. 
Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request the 
agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing how 
the Freedom of Information Act permits such confidentiality. Persons 
requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under the Freedom 
of Information Act, confidentiality may be granted in only limited 
circumstances, such as to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service 
will inform the requester of the agency's decision regarding the 
request for confidentiality, and where the request is denied, the 
agency will return the submission and notify the requester that the 
comments may be submitted with or without name and address within 10 
days.

    Dated: October 8, 1999.
George Matejko,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 99-29096 Filed 11-5-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M