[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21308-21309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10537]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Stimson Access Project, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Pend 
Oreille County, WA

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) to disclose the potential environmental effects 
of authorizing an easement across National Forest System lands to 
private property owned by Stimson Lumber Company. The project is 
located on the Priest Lake Ranger District, Idaho Panhandle National 
Forests, Pend Oreille County, Washington.
    The proposed action includes issuing an easement for the purpose of 
road building to access the private inholding. Specific activities 
would include removal of road right-of-way timber, surfacing of the 
road, installation of drainage structures, seeding, noxious weed 
treatment and installation of a barrier to limit access. These 
management activities will be administered by the Priest Lake Ranger

[[Page 21309]]

District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests in Bonner County, 
Idaho. This EIS will tier to the Idaho Panhandle National Forests 
Forest Plan (September 1987).

DATES: On February 28, 2001, the Forest Service produced an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and provided a 30-day comment period. 
Instead of providing another comment period following the publication 
of this notice, we will incorporate the comments we received on the EA 
into the Draft EIS. There will be a 45-day review and comment period on 
the Draft EIS prior to the completion of a Final EIS.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and suggestions on the 
proposed management activities or request to be placed on the project 
mailing list to Stimson Access Project, c/o David Asleson, Priest Lake 
Ranger District, 32203 Highway 57, Priest River, Idaho 83856.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debbie Butler, Project Team 
Leader, Priest Lake Ranger District, 32203 Highway 57, Priest River, ID 
83856; send e-mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Based on policy established in the 
Final Rule for the Forest Transportation System (36 CFR part 212), it 
was determined that an EIS should be prepared.
    The project includes approximately 4 acres on National Forest 
System land. The area is situated totally within Pend Oreille County, 
Washington, approximately 12 miles northwest of the Priest Lake Ranger 
District. The legal description for the project is as follows: Sections 
8; Township 36 North; Range 45 East and Sections 4; Township 36 North, 
Range 45 East.
    As Deciding Officer, I will decide what action will occur on 
National Forest lands. I also will decide specific project mitigation 
measures, as necessary, to achieve Forest Plan objectives and standards 
for affected resources.
    Public participation plays an important role in the environmental 
analysis process. The initial public participation process for this 
analysis began April 7, 1998. An environmental assessment was produced 
in February 2001. The decision to prepare an EIS occurred on April 12, 
2001. The mailing list for public scoping will include those 
individuals who have previously expressed interest in this project as 
well as those responding to the Idaho Pandhandle National Forests 
Quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions. In addition, the public is 
encouraged to visit with Forest Service officials during the analysis 
and prior to the decision. The Forest Service will also be seeking 
information, comments, and assistance from Federal, State, and local 
agencies and other individuals or organizations that may be interested 
in or affected by the proposed actions.
    Comments from the public and other agencies will be used in 
preparation of the Draft EIS. Some public concerns have already been 
expressed through earlier scoping and the following significant issues 
have been identified: threatened and endangered wildlife habitat, 
inventoried roadless area values, watershed concerns, and fisheries 
concerns. This list will be verified, expanded, or modified based on 
public scoping and interdisciplinary review for this proposal.
    The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be filed 
with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and available for public 
review June 1, 2001. The final environmental impact statement is 
expected to be completed in July 2001. The comment period on the draft 
environmental impact 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 state, 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, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could 
be raised at the draft environmental statement stage but that are not 
raised until after completion of the final environmental 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. 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 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 concern 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. Reviews 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 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits 
discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national 
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital 
or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of 
communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, 
etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center ad (202) 720-2600 (voice and 
TDD).
    To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 
(voice) or 202-720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity 
employer.

    Dated: April 16, 2001.
Dale N. Bosworth,
Regional Forester, Northern Region.
[FR Doc. 01-10537 Filed 4-27-01; 8:45 am]
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