[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 126 (Thursday, June 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40076-40077]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16452]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Crossroads Project, Mark Twain National Forest, Phelps and 
Pulaski Counties, Missouri

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The project area is located on Forest Service Lands within the 
Spring Creek and Lower Big Piney Creek watersheds east of Fort Leonard 
Wood Military Reservation and Big Piney River, and south and west of 
Flat, Missouri, T34N, R9W, Sections 4-6; T35N, R9W, Sections 28-34; 
T35N, R10W, Sections 1-3, 8-17, 21-27, 35, 36; and, T36N, R10W, 
Sections 34-36, Fifth Principal Meridian.
    The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) to analyze and disclose the environmental effects of the project.
    The primary purpose of this project is to maintain the project 
area's forest ecosystems ecological structure and function within a 
natural condition utilizing vegetative management and other restoration 
activities. The existing condition does not meet the desired future 
conditions (DFC) described in the Mark Twain National Forest Plan 
(MTFP) and the projected successional stages are not anticipated to 
meet the DFC described in the Mark Twain National Forest Plan.

DATES: Initial comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be 
received on or before July 31, 2000 to receive timely consideration in 
the preparation of the draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions on the proposed action 
or requests to be placed on the project mailing list to: John C. 
Bisbee, District Ranger, Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek Ranger District, 108 
South Sam Houston Boulevard, Houston, Missouri 65483. E-mail should 
have a subject line that reads ``NEPA Houston'' and be sent to: 
mailroom_r9 [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Hamel, Project Leader/NEPA 
Coordinator, Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek Ranger District, 108 South Sam 
Houston Boulevard, Houston, Missouri 65483, phone (417) 967-4194.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following proposed projects would move 
the Crossroads area towards the desired future condition for the area 
(Mark Twain Forest Plan pg. IV-115 to IV-123). Note: several activities 
may occur on the same acre. The Forest Service's proposed action 
includes the following possible actions: (1) Designate approximately 
1,500 acres of old growth, (2) maintain early successional habitat on 
approximately 650 acres through mechanical means (haying, bush 
hogging,) and/or grazing, (3) maintain early successional habitat 
through burning on approximately 1,600 acres, (4) restore and develop 
savanna habitat on approximately 150 acres through firewood cutting and 
burning, (5) restore glade habitat on approximately 130 acres through 
mechanical treatment and burning, (6) restore bottomland riparian 
habitat by planting hardwoods on approximately 50 acres, (7) for forest 
health and fuels management, prescribe burn approximately 2,100 acres, 
(8) plant approximately 50 acres of gamma grass for wildlife habitat, 
(9) treat approximately 1,400 acres with unevenage management 
(including group selection and group shelterwood) to meet woodland 
habitat objectives that exhibit a condition of 20-30 percent forbs, 
grass and shrub age class requirements, (10) treat approximately 700 
acres with regeneration cuts (shelterwood and clearcut) to meet the

[[Page 40077]]

0-9 age class woodland habitat, (11) improve existing river access and 
parking facilities for canoeists, (12) relocate an existing river 
access site and access road for public safety and watershed concerns, 
(13) close a range allotment to future cattle grazing for soil and 
water resource protection, (14) connect several miles of existing 
unconnected non-motorized trails, (15) enhance habitat for upland game 
wildlife species on approximately 50 acres by planting food plots, (16) 
construct approximately 10 miles of temporary roads (which will be 
closed after use) to facilitate wildlife habitat improvement and the 
removal of wood products, (17) close approximately 1 mile of existing 
system road, and (18) rehab approximately 2 miles of old road corridor 
for watershed protection.
    The overall objective is to move Management Area 3.4-18 toward the 
desired future condition outlined in the Mark Twain Forest Plan.
    The scope of this analysis is limited to activities related to the 
purpose and need and measures necessary to mitigate the effects these 
activities may have on the environment. The decision will include if, 
when, how, and where to schedule: wildlife habitat improvement 
activities, watershed, glade, and savanna improvement activities, 
temporary road construction and closure, forest habitat treatments, 
prescribed burning, recreation site improvement and access management, 
resource protection measures, monitoring, and other follow-up 
activities.
    A project in the same vicinity was originally presented to the 
public for review and comment (scoping) in April of 1997 (Project Name: 
MA 3.4-18) prior to undertaking preparation of an Environmental 
Assessment (EA). In 1999 after modification to the MA 3.4-18 project 
boundary, the project was presented to the public again (Project Name: 
Crossroads Projects). Since September 1999, additional changes have 
been made to the proposal and today the decision has been made to 
prepare an EIS. Many years of experience implementing similar types of 
activities in the same vicinity have shown us that the effects are not 
significant. We therefore do not feel that an EIS is required. However, 
due to the increase in appeals and litigation over the last few years 
and for wise fiscal efficiency, we have decided to try a new public 
participation approach for this particular project and prepare an EIS. 
This Notice of Intent serves as notice of the intent to prepare an EIS 
for the Crossroads Project. The comments received as a result of the 
public participation for the analysis will be brought forward for the 
EIS.
    Preliminary comments made by the public and agencies were 
considered in the development of the tentative or preliminary issues. 
These are as follows: effects on Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive 
(TES) species and Management Indicator Species (MIS); concern over new 
road construction, and road closures; concern over motorized 
recreational access; direct, indirect and cumulative effects; current 
and designated old growth; forest health, in relation to the current 
vegetative patterns, structures, and species composition; and, effects 
of restoration activities to the overall watershed.
    Public participation will continue to be an important part of the 
project, commencing with the EIS initial scoping process (40 CFR 
1501.7), which starts with publication of this notice and continues for 
the next 30 days. In addition, the public is encouraged to visit with 
Forest Service officials at any time during the analysis and prior to 
the decision. The Forest Service will be seeking information, comments, 
and assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies, the Osage 
Tribe, and other individuals or organizations that may be interested in 
or affected by the proposed action.
    Comments from the public and other agencies will be used in 
preparation of the draft EIS. The scoping process will be used to: 
identify potential issues; identify additional alternatives to the 
proposed action; and, identify potential environmental effects of the 
proposed action and alternatives (i.e., direct, indirect, and 
cumulative effects).
    While public participation in this analysis is welcome at any time, 
comments received within 30 days of the publication of this notice will 
be especially useful in the preparation of the draft EIS, which is 
expected top be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency and 
available for public review in August 2000. A 45-day comment period 
will follow publication of a Notice of Availability of the draft EIS in 
the Federal Register. The comments received will be analyzed and 
considered in preparation of a final EIS, which we expect to file in 
October 2000. A Record of Decision will be issued not less than 30 days 
after publication of a Notice of Availability of the final EIS in the 
Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes it is important at this early stage to 
give reviews notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of 
the draft EIS must structure their participation in the environmental 
review of the proposal in such a way 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, 513 (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 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 of the draft EIS 
in order that substantive comments and objections and available to the 
Forest Service at a time when it can meaningful consider them and 
respond to them in the final EIS. To assist the Forest Service in 
identifying and considering issues and concerns on the proposed action, 
comments should be as specific as possible. 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 responsible official for this environmental impact statement is 
Randy Moore, Forest Supervisor, Mark Twain National Forest.

    Dated: June 15, 2000.
John C. Bisbee,
District Ranger, Houston/Rolla/Cedar Creek Ranger District, Mark Twain 
National Forest, 108 South Sam Houston Boulevard, Houston, Missouri 
65483.
[FR Doc. 00-16452 Filed 6-28-00; 8:45 am]
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