[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 146 (Friday, July 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46422-46423]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19075]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Sixshooter Project, Boise National Forest, Valley County, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Emmett Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for project in the Six 
Mile subswatershed, a tributary to the Middle Fork Payette River 
drainage. The project area is located about 70 road miles north of 
Boise, Idaho.
    The Forest Service is seeking information and comments from 
Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies, as well as individuals and 
organizations who may be interested and/or affected by the proposed 
action. The agency invites written comments and suggestions on the 
issues related to the proposal and the area being analyzed. The 
information received will be used in preparing the draft and final EIS.
    Proposed Action: Three objections have been identified for the 
project: (1) Reduce forest susceptibility to damaging insects and/or 
pests and to severe wildfire; (2) reduce management induced sediment in 
Six Mile and West Fork Creek by up to 9 percent over current levels; 
and (3) provide forest products (i.e., commercial timber) that support 
local sawmills, employment opportunities, and economies.
    The proposal action would treat, with timber harvest, about 9,000 
acres, through ground-based (2,300 acres), skyline/cable (4,500 acres), 
or helicopter (2,000 acres) yarding systems. The proposed action would 
employ a variety of silvicultural systems. Silvicultural prescriptions 
for the proposed action are clearcut with reserve (32 acres), 
commercial thinning (3,474 acres), and shelterwood (5,469 acres).
    The existing transportation system would be improved to facilitate 
the harvest operation and reduce sedimentation. Changing the existing 
transportation system would require 16 miles of road relocation, 15 
miles of new road construction, reconstruction of over 30 miles of 
existing road by adding drainage structures and additional hard 
surfacing, relocating Six Mile road (No. 670) and closing over 30 miles 
of existing roads. The proposed haul route would be up West Fork Creek 
(No. 600) road and Six Mile Creek (No. 670) road to the 662 road and 
then out the 417B road to Highway 55. Portions of the following roads 
would be closed: 600C (3.2 miles), portions of 621, (1.4 miles), and 
portions of 670A, (2.9 miles). Portions of the 670 road would be 
relocated (5.3 miles). This change in the road system targets those 
areas that contribute the greatest amount of sediment delivery to the 
watershed. The motorized access to the following roads would be 
maintained during the snow free season: West Fork Creek 600, Six Mile-
Round Valley 670, and Middle Fork Payette Ridge 662.
    Preliminary Issues: None have been identified at this time.
    Possible Alternatives to the Proposed Action: The following 
alternative to the proposed action has been discussed thus far and will 
be considered in the draft environmental impact statement: a no action 
alternative.
    Decisions to be made: The Boise National Forest Supervisor will 
decide the following: (1) Should roads be constructed and reconstructed 
and timber harvested within the Sixshooter project area at this time; 
and if so, where within the project area, and how many miles of road 
should be constructed and/or reconstructed; and (2) should other roads 
be relocated and/or closed to meet watershed restoration objectives.
    Public Involvement and Comments: Written comments concerning the 
proposed project should be postmarked within 30 days from the day after 
publication of this announcement in the Federal Register.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including the 
names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of 
the public record on this proposal and will be available to 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 (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. 
Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under 
FOIA, confidentiality might 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 the comments may be 
resubmitted with or without name and address within 10 days.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Morris Huffman, District 
Ranger, Emmett Ranger District, 1805 Highway 16, Emmett, ID 83617.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffery Clark, Project Team Leader, at 
the address above or by telephone at 208-365-7000.
    Schedule: The draft EIS is anticipated to be available for public 
review and comment in November 2000; the final EIS is anticipated to be 
available in the spring of 2001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The comment period on the draft EIS 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 giver reviewers 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 so it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the 
reviewer's position and contentions, (Vermont Yankee Nuclear Corp. v. 
NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 533 (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 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.

[[Page 46423]]

    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft EIS should 
be 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 EIS 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.
    Responsible Official: David D. Rittenhouse, Forest Supervisor, 
Boise National Forest is the responsible official, 1249 South Vinnell 
Way, Suite 200, Boise, Idaho 83709.

    Dated: July 21, 2000.
David D. Rittenhouse,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 00-19075 Filed 7-27-00; 8:45 am]
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