[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6353-6354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2748]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement; Fernow 
Experimental Forest, Tucker County, WV

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Forest Service intends to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) for proposed research activities on the Fernow 
Experimental Forest. The purpose of the proposed research is to 
evaluate the effectiveness of silvicultural tools that include cutting 
and prescribed burning on central Appalachian forests. The goal of the 
proposed research is to improve understanding about and management of 
central Appalachian hardwood forests.
    The 4700-acre Fernow Experimental Forest is situated inside the 
parameters of the Monongahela National Forest in Tucker County, West 
Virginia. These proposed research activities are in compliance with the 
Monongahela National Forest Management Plan, which provides overall 
guidance for management of the area, including direction for management 
of the Fernow Experimental Forest. Public comment is invited on the 
scope of the analysis that should be conducted and on the 
identification of alternatives.

DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing and received by March 27, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning the scope of the proposed 
research activities should be directed to Dr. Mary Beth Adams, Project 
Leader and Responsible Official, Timber and Watershed Laboratory, P.O. 
Box 404, Parsons, WV 26287.
    Comments also may be submitted via facsimile to (304) 478-8692 or 
by e-mail to madams/[email protected]. Comments received in response 
to this notice, including name and address when provided, will be 
considered part of the public record and will be available for public 
inspection.
    The public may inspect comments received at the Office of the 
Project Leader, Timber and Watershed Laboratory, Nursery Bottom, 
Parsons, West Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Mary Beth Adams, Project Leader, 
Timber and Watershed Laboratory, at (304) 478-2000, ext. 130.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The charter of the Fernow Experimental Forest is to facilitate 
ecological research on the central Appalachian forests. The 4700-acre 
Fernow Experimental Forest (the Forest) is situated inside the 
parameters of the Monongahela National Forest and is located south of 
Parsons, West Virginia. The Forest is administered by the Forest 
Service Northeastern Research Station, Research Work Unit NE-4353, 
``Sustainable Forest Ecosystems in the Central Appalachians.'' The 
Research Work Unit is located at the Timber and Watershed Laboratory in 
Parsons, West Virginia. The mission of this research unit is: (1) To 
explain the role of natural and human-induced factors in sustaining 
central Appalachian forest ecosystems and (2) to provide guidelines for 
managing central Appalachian forests for a range of

[[Page 6354]]

products and benefits while maintaining the productivity and diversity 
of the soil, water, and forest resources. The goal of the proposed 
research activities is to improve understanding about and management of 
central Appalachian hardwood forests.
    The Forest Service proposes to continue some research activities 
begun in the 1950s and to initiate some new research activities in the 
year 2000. These actions are consistent with the Research Work Unit 
Description; individual Study Plans; the Monongahela National Forest 
Land and Resource Management Plan, Management Prescription 8, page 202, 
Vegetation; and the General Plan for the Fernow Experimental Forest.
    The purpose of the research initiated in the 1950s was to study the 
effects of various silvicultural practices on forest productivity, 
species composition and diversity, wildlife populations, and ecosystem 
processes. This research continues and involves the application of 
experimental treatments, including diameter-limiting cutting on 186 
acres, single-tree selection on 229.6 acres, a financial maturity 
harvesting method based on projected rates of return on investment on 
343.4 acres, and small clearcuts on 26 acres.
    The proposed new research activities would involve application of 
silvicultural treatments to stands of trees as part of an ongoing 
research experiment. The silvicultural treatments involve cutting 
individual trees, according to the silvicultural prescription, and 
removing the stems from the stand. Branches and tree tops remain in the 
stand. Rubber-tired skidders and cable logging systems will be used to 
remove the trees. Existing skid trails and roads will be utilized. No 
new permanent roads will be constructed. After completion of 
silvicultural treatments, roads and decks used in the logging process 
will be closed.
    One of the purposes of the proposed new research activities is to 
evaluate the effectiveness of prescribed burning as a silvicultural and 
ecological tool on the central Appalachian forests. An area of 119 
acres will be treated with prescribed fire. Research activities that 
include prescribed fires will be conducted according to State 
regulations administered by the West Virginia Division of Forestry. A 
slow-moving fire (1-5 ft/min) that produces high amounts of heat (2-4 
ft flame lengths) conducted in the spring is deemed to have the most 
beneficial effect in improving oak competitiveness and will be used in 
these research activities. All personnel supervising and working on the 
fire will have received training in the use of prescribed fire and in 
fire suppression.

Comments Are Requested

    The Forest Service is soliciting comments from Federal, State, and 
local agencies and other individuals or organizations that may be 
interested in or affected by the proposed research activities in:
     Identifying potential issues;
     Identifying issues to be analyzed in depth;
     Eliminating insignificant issues or those which have been 
covered by a relevant previous environmental analysis;
     Identifying potential environmental effects of the 
proposed activities;
     Identifying and exploring alternatives to the proposed 
research activities; and
     Determining potential cooperating agencies and task 
assignments.
    The following issues already have been identified:
     Potential impacts to Threatened, Endangered or Sensitive 
Species;
     Potential impacts on Biodiversity, including concerns 
about fragmentation of interior habitat, and loss of old growth 
habitat;
     Sediment impacts on streams from roads, skid trails, and 
log landings.
    Comments received will be considered in preparation of the draft 
EIS. The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for public review in March 
2000. EPA will publish a notice of availability of the Draft EIS in the 
Federal Register. The comment period on the draft will be 45 days from 
the date the EPA notice appears in the Federal Register. Copies of the 
draft EIS will be distributed to interested and affected agencies, 
organizations, tribes, and members of the public for their review and 
comment. It is very important that those interested in the management 
of the Fernow Experimental Forest comment at that time.
    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 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.
    At this early stage, the Forest Service believes it is important to 
give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of 
a draft EIS 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 EIS stage but that are not 
raised until after completion of the final EIS may be waived or 
dismissed by the courts. (City of Angoon v. Hodel 803 f. 2d 1016, 1022 
(9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritage, Inc. v. Harris, 490F. Suppl. 
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 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 EIS.
    The final EIS will be completed in June 2000. In the final EIS, the 
Forest Service will respond to comments received in response to the 
environmental consequences discussed in the draft EIS and applicable 
laws, regulations, and policies considered in making the decision 
regarding this proposal. The responsible official will document the 
decision and the rationale for that decision in the Record of Decision. 
That decision will be subject to Forest Service Administrative Appeal 
Regulations at 36 CFR part 215.

    Dated: January 28, 2000.
Randle G. Phillips,
Deputy Chief, Programs and Legislation.
[FR Doc. 00-2748 Filed 2-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P