[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 58 (Friday, March 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 15895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7303]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Mill Creek Timber Sales and Related Activities, Rogue River 
National Forest, Jackson County, OR

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revised notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: On December 14, 1999, a notice of intent for the Mill Creek 
Timber Sales and Related Activities was published in the Federal 
Register (64 FR 69691). Further project design, analysis, monitoring of 
previous actions and scoping have identified changes to the proposed 
action that will subsequently change the responsible official. Analysis 
has identified the need to adjust the standards and guidelines for soil 
in the 1990 Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) for the 
Rogue River National Forest. As part of the decision for the Mill Creek 
Timber Sales and Related Activities, an amendment to the Forest Plan 
will be made to make the Forest Plan consistent with regional policy, 
standards and guidelines related to soil quality. An amendment to the 
Forest Plan is a Forest Supervisor's decision. Therefore the 
responsible official for this EIS changes from the District Ranger to 
the Forest Supervisor. In addition, further analysis and scoping have 
allowed clarification of the preliminary issues and the development of 
alternatives to the proposed action. The following significant issues 
have emerged. Soil: activities associated with the proposed action 
(harvesting and activity fuels treatment) may cause direct or indirect 
impacts to soils by surface erosion, compaction, over-land flow, 
displacement, puddling, and a loss of site productivity (organic 
matter, nitrogen, water holding capacity, etc.). Activities in 
combination with past, other present and reasonably future actions may 
result in adverse cumulative effects to soils (especially considering 
existing skid trails per activity area and road density) and known 
detrimental soil areas. Water quality: activities may affect water 
quality via erosion, sediment production, and in combination with past, 
other present and reasonably foreseeable future actions may result in 
adverse cumulative effects. Vegetation condition and forest health: 
activities may affect the current mix of seral stages and the long-term 
health of forested stands; activities may also affect the current 
conditions associated with root disease, insect populations (pine and 
Douglas-fir beetles), blister rust, and Douglas-fir dwarf mistletoe, 
that is affecting the current and long-term health of forested stands. 
Wildlife: activities may affect big game (deer and elk) wildlife by 
affected hiding and thermal cover, and forage ratios (winter range); 
activities may affect big game (deer and elk) wildlife travel corridors 
and migration routes and road densities. Activities may affect 
terrestrial wildlife habitat associated with late-successional or old-
growth forests; this could affect the degree of forest fragmentation 
and connectivity. Human social and economic value: activities may 
affect portions of certain (non-inventoried) ``roadless'' areas that 
are currently unroaded; some people may value them for their late-
succesional (or spirtual) character. Activities may affect late seral 
or old-growth vegetation characteristics; some people believe such 
conditions should be preserved on public lands. Activities associated 
with the proposed action or its alternatives may generate various 
economic benefits/costs or overall present net values, depending on 
design.
    The range of alternatives being considered includes a ``no-action'' 
alternative; the proposed action; an alternative designed to lessen 
adverse impacts to current soil conditions; an alternative that lessens 
the adverse impacts to big game cover, migration routes and 
connectivity of late successional stand types; and an alternative that 
would defer action in areas currently exhibiting unentered character, 
would defer building additional roads for harvest access, and would not 
commercially harvest large trees.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the revised analysis should be 
received by April 14, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions should be directed to Joel 
King, District Ranger, Prospect Ranger District, at 47201 Highway 62, 
Prospect, Oregon, 97536, phone 541-560-3400, e-mail jking/
[email protected].

    Dated: March 10, 2000.
Gregory A. Clevenger,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 00-7303 Filed 3-23-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M