[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20622-20624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10054]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 20622]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Hoffman-Sailor West Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 
Medford/Park Falls Ranger District.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to document the analysis and disclose the environmental 
effects of proposed land management activities, and corresponding 
alternatives within the Hoffman-Sailor West project area. The primary 
purpose of this proposal is to implement these activities consistent 
with direction in the Chequamegon National Forest Land and Resource 
Management Plan (Forest Plan) and respond to specific needs identified 
in the project area.
    The project area is located on National Forest System land in the 
western portion of the Hoffman Creek and Sailor Lake Opportunity Areas, 
beginning about 4 miles east of Fifield, Wisconsin. The legal 
description for the area is: Township 39 North, Range 1 East, sections 
10-15, 22-27, and 34-36; Township 39 North, Range 2 East, sections 7, 
18-19, 29-32; Township 38 North, Range 1 East, sections 1-3, 10-15, 22-
24; and Township 38 North, Range 2 East, sections 6-8 and 17-19; Fourth 
Principal Meridian.

DATES: Initial comments concerning the proposed action and scope of the 
analysis should be received within 30 days following publication of 
this notice to receive timely consideration in the preparation of the 
draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Bob Hennes, District Ranger, 
Medford/Park Falls Ranger District, 850 N. 8th St., Highway 13, 
Medford, Wisconsin 54451.
    Send e-mail comments to: [email protected] with a subject line 
that reads ``NEPA Medford/Park Falls RD''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Darnell, Project Leader/NEPA 
Coordinator, Medford/Park Falls Ranger District, 850 N. 8th St., 
Highway 13, Medford, Wisconsin 54451; phone (715) 748-4875, voice and 
TDD; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information presented in this notice is 
included to help the reviewer determine if they are interested in or 
potentially affected by this proposed project. The information 
presented in this notice is summarized. Those who wish to comment on 
this proposal or are otherwise interested in or potentially affected by 
it are encouraged to review more detailed documents such as the 
Proposed Action for the Hoffman-Sailor West Project (currently 
available for review) and the draft EIS. See the preceding section of 
this notice for the person to contact for more detailed information 
about this project.
    Purpose and Need for the Project: The primary purpose of the 
proposed land management activities is to implement these activities 
consistent with direction in the Chequamegon National Forest Land and 
Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) and respond to specific needs 
identified in the project area. The primary project-specific needs 
include addressing: decline of wildlife habitat (young forest needed to 
sustain associated wildlife populations); reduction of wood economic 
value and forest reproductive potential resulting from an abundance of 
mature forest vegetation types; potential for insect and disease 
infestations resulting from an abundance of mature forest vegetation 
types; sustained yield of forest products such as aspen pulpwood; 
reduced growth of trees resulting from crowding, suppression, and 
competition; limited vertical vegetation structure and within-stand age 
structure resulting from past even-aged management in hardwood forests; 
limited amount of suitable perch trees for bald eagles and osprey; 
limited amount of quality, cold water, aquatic habitat; limited 
waterfowl nesting and foraging habitat; quality of forage for wildlife 
species associated with upland openings; and an excess of existing 
roads that are not needed for access or management of the area.
    Proposed Action: The proposed land management activities (proposed 
actions), include the following, with approximate acreage and mileage 
values:
    (1) The following projects address needs arising from an abundance 
of mature pioneer forest vegetation in the project area and the need 
for maintaining a sustained yield of pulpwood products.
    Clearcut regeneration harvest of about 1,770 acres of aspen and 
some paper birch, balsam fir, and hardwoods: This even-aged method of 
harvest removes most trees in the area, which encourages regeneration 
of primarily pioneer vegetation.
    Two stage shelterwood regeneration harvest of about 280 acres of 
paper birch and other mixed stands: This even-aged method of harvest 
removes a portion of the canopy and leaves a partial overstory as a 
seed source and a source of high shade. Once tree regeneration is 
established and has advanced, the overstory would be removed in a 
second cut. Areas failing to regenerate naturally would be planted.
    (2) The following projects address needs resulting from tree 
crowding, suppression, and competition. The selection harvest 
additionally addresses the limited vertical vegetation structure and 
within-stand age structure of hardwood forests.
    Thinning harvest of about 740 acres of mixed hardwood stands and 
conifer plantations: This even-aged method of harvest removes selected 
trees to maintain health and increase growth on the residual trees.
    Overstory removal harvest of about 150 acres of aspen and paper 
birch stands: This even-aged method of harvest removes the overstory to 
allow the suppressed, understory trees (planted 5-20 years ago) to 
become the new stand.
    Individual tree selection harvest of about 350 acres of mixed 
hardwood: This method of harvest removes individual trees and/or small 
groups of trees in order to move an even-aged stand of trees to an un-
even aged condition.
    (3) The following projects address the need for bald eagle and 
osprey perch trees and the need for quality, coldwater communities.
    Tree planting: Several of the selection harvest areas will be 
underplanted with

[[Page 20623]]

long-lived conifer species. Several of the clearcut harvest areas will 
be planted to long lived tree species.
    (4) The following projects address maintenance and improvement 
needs for waterfowl foraging and nesting habitat.
    Upper Squaw Creek Impoundment drawdowns: In most years, water 
levels in this constructed water impoundment would be lowered partially 
during the summer to mimic natural water fluctuations, and stimulate 
vegetation growth. An overwinter drawdown and a year long drawdown are 
also being proposed to control open water to vegetation ratios in the 
impoundment.
    Placement of about 20 wood duck nesting boxes around the Upper 
Squaw Creek Impoundment.
    Wild rice planting of about 5 acres of wild rice in Sailor Lake.
    (5) The following project addresses the quality of forage for 
wildlife species associated with upland openings. Prescribed burning of 
about 16 acres of permanent wildlife openings: This proposal includes 
using prescribed burning and mechanical methods (mowing or use of hand 
held brush saws), in combination, to reduce the amount of woody 
vegetation regenerating in open grass or brush areas in one wildlife 
opening location.
    (6) The following projects address transportation system needs.
    Temporary road construction of about 2.8 miles: The proposed 
harvests would require construction of about 2.8 miles of temporary 
logging roads which would be decommissioned and revegetated following 
project completion.
    Road relocation: One small segment of existing road (about 0.1 
miles) would be relocated to an upland location to avoid wetland 
crossings.
    Road decommissioning: An additional 1.7 miles of existing roads 
would be decommissioned. These roads are not needed for access or long 
term management of forest resources.
    Project History: A project in the same vicinity was presented to 
the public for review and comment (scoping) in September of 1998 
(Project Name: Hoffman Creek and Sailor Lake Opportunity Areas) prior 
to undertaking preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA). In July 
of 1999 an EA was written for the Hoffman Creek and Sailor Lake 
Opportunity Areas and sent to the public for a 30 day review and 
comment period. Since then, part of the project area was identified as 
having potential to be included in a Forest inventory of roadless 
areas. At that time, a decision was made to modify the project area 
boundary to exclude the potential roadless inventory areas. When the 
Forest roadless area inventory is complete, the Forest will be in a 
better position to consider projects within these areas and disclose 
the potential effects (if any) on roadless characteristics and 
potential Wilderness values. Following publication of the EA, a choice 
was made to develop additional alternatives to address issues related 
to forest fragmentation.
    This Notice of Intent serves as notice of the intent to prepare an 
EIS for the Hoffman-Sailor West Project. The comments received as a 
result of the public participation for the previous proposed action and 
EA for the Hoffman Creek and Sailor Lake Opportunity Areas will be 
brought forward for the Hoffman-Sailor West analysis (as they apply to 
the new project area).
    Preliminary Issues and Alternatives: Comments from Forest Service 
specialists, American Indian tribes, the public, and other agencies 
were considered in the development of preliminary issues related to the 
proposed action.
    Preliminary issues are as follows: potential effects on some 
threatened, endangered, and sensitive (TES) species and management 
indicator species (MIS); potential effects on heritage resources; 
potential effects on forest vegetation and landscape patterns 
(particularly related to fragmentation effects such as the potential 
for increased edge habitat); potential effects on forest age and 
structure as it relates to forest health and wildlife species dependent 
on pioneer vegetation; potential effects on water, wetlands, and soils; 
and some potential economic and social impacts (such as visual 
quality).
    Alternatives to the proposed action that are currently being 
considered for display in the draft EIS are as follows: The required No 
Action alternative; an alternative that harvests more of the mature 
aspen and paper birch than the proposal (to address forest health and 
age distribution issues); and an alternative that groups even-aged 
harvests to reduce the amount of edge habitat.
    Estimated Dates for Filing: The draft EIS is expected to be filed 
with the Environmental Protection Agency and be available for public 
review in August 2001. A 45-day comment period will follow publication 
of a Notice of Availability of the draft EIS in the Federal Register. 
Comments received on the draft EIS will be used in preparation of a 
final EIS. We expect to file the notice of the availability of the 
final EIS and Record of Decision (ROD) in the Federal Register in 
October 2001.
    Relation to Forest Plan Revision: The Chequamegon-Nicolet National 
Forest is in the process of revising and combining the existing Land 
and Resource Management Plans (Forest Plans) for the Chequamegon 
National Forest and the Nicolet National Forest, which were 
administratively separate at the time the Forest Plans were developed. 
A Notice of Intent to revise and combine the Forest Plans was issued in 
1996. As part of this process, various inventories and evaluations are 
occurring. Additionally, the Forest is in the process of developing 
alternative land management scenarios that could change the desired 
future conditions and management direction for the Forest. A Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will be published in the near 
future that will disclose the consequences of the different land 
management direction scenarios considered in detail. As a result of the 
Forest Plan revision effort, the Forest has new and additional 
information beyond that used to develop the existing Forest Plans. This 
information will be used where appropriate in the analysis of this 
project to disclose the effects of the proposed activities and any 
alternatives developed in detail.
    The decisions associated with the analysis of this project will be 
consistent with the existing Forest Plan, unless amended, for the 
Chequamegon. Under regulations of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(40 CFR 1506.1), the Forest Service can take actions while work on a 
Forest Plan revision is in progress because a programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement--the existing Forest Plan Final EIS, 
already covers the actions. The relationship of this project to the 
proposed Forest Plan revision will be considered as appropriate as part 
of this planning effort.
    The Reviewer's Obligation to Comment: The Forest Service believes 
it is important at this early stage to give 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 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

[[Page 20624]]

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 are available to the Forest Service at a time 
when it can meaningfully 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.
    Comments received, including names and addresses of those who 
comment, are part of the public record for this project and are 
available for public inspection.
    Decision Space: The primary decision will be whether or not to 
implement the proposed projects or alternatives of the projects within 
the project area that respond to the purpose and need. The decision may 
also include additional resource protection measures, monitoring, and 
whether Forest Plan amendments are needed to implement the decision.
    Responsible Official: The responsible official for this decision is 
Bob Hennes, District Ranger, Medford/Park Falls Ranger District, 
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

(Authority: Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, 21.1; Forest Service 
Manual 1013.04e)
    Dated: April 17, 2001.
Lynn Roberts,
Forest Supervisor, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
[FR Doc. 01-10054 Filed 4-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P