[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 21, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 71406-71407] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-32953] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Pendola Fire Restoration Project, Tahoe National Forest, Yuba County, CA AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed timber salvage, wildlife habitat improvement, and non- native and invasive plant control projects within the 2,600-acre National Forest System land portion of the Pendola Fire Restoration Project analysis area located just north of Bullards Bar Reservoir and west of the town of Camptonville, California, near the Pendola Ranch. The project area is located within all or portions of T18N, R07E; T18N; R08E; T19N, R07E; and T19N, R08E MDB&M. The agency invites comments and suggestions on the scope of the analysis. In addition, the agency gives notice of the full environmental analysis and decision-making process that will occur on the proposal so that interested and affected people are aware of how they may participate and contribute to the final decision. DATES: Comments should be made in writing and postmarked by January 7, 2000. ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning the project should be directed to U.S.F.S., Tahoe National Forest, Downieville Ranger District, ATTN: Dennis Stevens, 15924 Highway 49, Camptonville, CA 95922. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeane Masquelier, District Ranger, or Dennis Stevens, Project Manager, Downieville Ranger District, Camptonville, CA 95922 at (530) 288-3231. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 16, 1999, the Pendola wildfire started just north of Bullards Bar Reservoir. Before being controlled, the fire consumed over 4,565 acres of land on the northeast side of the reservoir, with approximately 2,600 of these acres being National Forest System lands. These 2,600 acres of National Forest System lands are being analyzed for projects within the Pendola Fire Restoration analysis area. The analysis area incorporates land within the Upper Mill Creek, Lower Mill Creek, Bridger Creek, North Yuba Arm of Bullards Bar Reservoir, and the Willow Creek Arm of Bullards Bar Reservoir watersheds, all of which drain into the North Yuba River, on which Bullards Bar Reservoir is situated. Located west of Camptonville, California, and north of and immediately adjacent to the reservoir at around 2,000 to 2,500 feet in elevation, the area is dominated by mixed conifer and hardwood forest, of which over 70 percent burned with moderate to high intensity, leaving scattered live tress, small patches of live trees, and many [[Page 71407]] areas that completely burned. The remaining 30 percent burned with a lower intensity, leaving partially burned or lightly underburned areas. This loss of vegetation has resulted in large areas of exposed soils, large amounts or new fuels, and the loss of standing timber. The fire also affected other important resources, such as wildlife habitat, visual quality, historic and prehistoric sites, fisheries, sensitive plant and animal species, and water quality. In preparing the Environmental Impact Statement, the Forest Service will identify and analyze a range of alternatives that address the issues developed for this area. One of the alternatives will be no treatment. An ecological approach will be used to achieve multiple-use management of the Pendola Fire area. It also means that the needs of people and environmental values will be blended in such a way that this area's desired condition would represent a diverse healthy, productive, and sustainable ecosystem. Public participation will be important during the analysis, especially during the review of the draft Environmental Impact Statement. The Forest Service is seeking information, comments, and assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies and other individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected by the proposed action. We have already initiated consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for the bald eagle and the California red-legged frog. This input will be used in preparation of the draft Environmental Impact Statement. The scoping process includes: 1. Identifying potential issues. 2. Identifying issues to be analyzed in depth. 3 Eliminating insignificant issues or those which have been covered by a relevant previous environmental analysis. 4. Exploring additional alternatives. 5. Identifying potential environmental effects of the proposed action and alternatives (i.e., direct, indirect, and cumulative effects and connected actions). 6. Determining potential cooperating agencies and task assignments. Comments from other Federal, State, and local agencies, organizations, and individuals who may be interested in, or affected by, the decision are encouraged to identify other significant issues. Public participation will be solicited through mailing letters to mining claim owners, private land owners, and special use permitees within the Downieville Ranger District boundaries; posting information in local towns; and mailing letters to local timber industries, politicians, school boards, county supervisors, and environmental groups. A public meeting is scheduled for January 6, 2000, at the Downieville District Ranger Station office, in Camptonville, CA, from 2 pm until 5 pm. The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency and be available for public review in February, 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 very important to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of draft Environmental Impact Statements 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 of 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 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 final Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be available by April, 2000. The responsible official, the Forest Supervisor of the Tahoe National Forest, 631 Coyote St., Nevada City, CA 95959, will document the decision and reasons for the decision in the Record of Decision. Dated: December 13, 1999. Steven T. Eubanks, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 99-32953 Filed 12-20-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M