[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 238 (Monday, December 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77341-77342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31369]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Maudlow-Toston Post-Fire Salvage, Sale, Townsend Ranger District, 
Helena National Forest, Broadwater County, Montana

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice, intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement on a proposal to harvest merchantable fire-damaged trees from 
the Maudlow--Toston wildfire area. The proposed action includes salvage 
timber harvest in roaded areas and stewardship project timber harvest 
activities in inventoried roadless areas. No new road construction or 
reconstruction would be conducted in inventoried roadless areas. In 
areas outside inventoried roadless areas, existing system roads and a 
few temporary roads would be used. Only dead or dying trees will be 
removed. The proposed action will also incorporate interim road 
management to

[[Page 77342]]

provide for big game security, silvicultural practices that can hasten 
post-fire recovery for wildlife and recreation and reduce future fuel 
loading, and other management practices to minimize accelerated 
erosion.

DATES: Comments concerning the proposal and scope of the analysis 
should be received in writing by January 15th, 2001.

ADDRESSES: All questions and/or comments should be addressed to: USDA 
Forest Service, Townsend Ranger District, 415 S. Front Street, Box 29, 
Townsend, MT 59644.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David McMorran, Team Leader or Rachel 
Feigley, Assistant Team Leader, at the address above or (406) 266-3425. 
An Open House is scheduled for December 14, 2000, 4pm to 8pm, at the 
library community room in Townsend, Montana.
    Additional Information: The analysis will include a no action 
alternative which will address the effects of not harvesting in the 
burned area. Other alternatives will consider a range of options, 
including varying the locations, timing and methods of timber removal. 
The analysis will consider the effects of the proposed action and 
alternatives within the entire affected watersheds (Blacktail and 
Sulphur Bar drainages), but actions will be limited to the burned 
areas- no green tree harvest is proposed.
    Anticipated issues and concerns include, but are not limited to: 
Longterm watershed stability and recovery; fuel loading/fuel reduction 
in the future; inventoried roadless character and values; longterm 
management goals; opportunities to integrate salvage operations with 
restoration activities; big game security and retention of remaining 
hiding cover; snag management for wildlife; scenery and recreation 
management, the potential for spreading noxious weeds, and 
opportunities to benefit local economies.
    The public will be notified, via mail and news release, of the 
implementation of this project and of the availability of the Draft and 
Final Analysis. The Forest Service is seeking information and comments 
from Federal, State and local agencies as well as individuals and 
organizations that may be interested in the proposal. The Forest 
Service invites written comments and suggestions related to the 
proposal. Information received will be used in preparation of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement. The Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement and Record of Decision in April 2001. The official close of 
the comment period for 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 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, 
533 (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. 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 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 on the National Environmental Policy Act at 
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
    The responsible official is Thomas J. Clifford, Forest Supervisor, 
Helena National Forest, 2880 Skyway Drive, Helena, MT 59601.

    Dated: December 1, 2000
Thomas J. Clifford,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 00-31369 Filed 12-8-00; 8:45 am]
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