[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 130 (Friday, July 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35582-35583]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16921]


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 Notices
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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. 130 / Friday, July 6, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 35582]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Oak Decline and Forest Health Project, Crawford, Dent, Iron, 
Reynolds, Shannon, and Washington Counties, MO

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) to disclose the environmental consequences of the 
proposed Oak Decline and Forest Health Project. The main purpose for 
this project proposal is to examine opportunities to minimize adverse 
impacts from insects and disease on forest vegetation. Extensive growth 
loss and tree mortality are occurring as a result of extended drought 
(1998-2001) and extensive insect infestation (1999-2001). The large 
accumulation of dead or dying trees is contributing to the rapidly 
increasing population of the red oak borer on lands with oak forests. 
Excessive build-up of dead woody vegetation poses an increased risk of 
high-intensity wildlife fire that may result in a threat to public 
safety. In an effort to limit the potential adverse effects on forest 
health, the Forest Service is proposing a range of management 
activities on approximately 25,000 acres of National Forest land 
distributed over a 175,000-acre area located on the Salem and Potosi 
Ranger Districts of the Mark Twain National Forest. Implementation 
would occur within the next 5 years.
    Management activities would include reforestation treatments, 
commercial timber harvests, fuels reduction, and wildlife habitat 
enhancement. All treatment acreages listed are approximate.
     Proposed harvest treatments would consist of over-story 
removals or final harvest (500 acres); two-age shelter wood harvest 
(6,200 acres); seed tree harvests (5,400 acres); thinnings, sanitation, 
and improvement cuts (6,000 acres); as well as uneven-aged management 
(UAM) with group selections (4,000 acres).
     Reforestation activities would consist of mechanical 
treatment of vegetation (16,000 acres) or prescribed burning (700 
acres) for slash treatment and natural regeneration.
     The proposed action would include wildlife habitat 
improvement, wildlife habitat restoration, and hazardous fuel reduction 
activities on 4,000 acres. These activities include use of prescribed 
fire, mechanical treatment of vegetation, and designation of old growth 
habitat to accomplish the forest health objectives.

DATES: Initial comments and suggestions concerning the scope of the 
analysis should be submitted in writing and postmarked within 30 days 
of the publication of this notice to ensure timely consideration in the 
preparation of the draft environmental impact statement. On July 14th, 
2001 an open house will be held at the Salem District Office between 
the hours of 9:00 and 12:00 in the morning. There will be an optional 
field trip that afternoon on the Salem District. The District office is 
located on Highway 19 South at 1401 Main Street in Salem, Missouri.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this proposed action to Oak Decline 
and Forest Health Project, Salem Ranger District, PO Box 460, Salem, 
Missouri 65560. Comments will be accepted by electronic mail: 
[email protected] In the subject line please note: Oak 
Decline and Forest Health Project also includes a US Postal Service 
address, so that you can receive future information for this project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Mobley (573-729-6656) Team 
Leader or the Salem Ranger District.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Management of forest resources is provided 
for in the Mark Twain National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan 
(Forest Plan), approved in 1986. Specific management objectives and 
practices are defined for each Management Prescription in Chapter IV of 
the Forest Plan. This project proposal is located within Management 
Prescriptions 3.2, 4.1, 6.1 and 6.2.
    Areas of decline and mortality of scarlet and black oak have been 
occurring on the Mark Twain National Forest for several years. Scarlet 
and black oaks are relatively short-lived species, particularly on 
upper slopes and broad ridge tops, due in part to the drought 
susceptibility of the soils. Precipitation deficit exceeded 12 inches 
in each of the past two years, consequently, decline and mortality has 
accelerated in many areas. This stress, coupled with aging stands, 
renders scarlet and black oaks susceptible to insects and diseases.
    More than 16,000 acres of mortality were mapped on the Salem and 
Potosi Districts by aerial survey in September of 2000. Subsequent 
ground verification showed red oak borer was associated with the 
damage, along with secondary agents, including Armillari root disease, 
Hypoxylon canker, and two-lined chestnut borer.
    Increasing numbers of dead and dying trees invigorates populations 
of Armillari root rot, placing residual trees at increased risk of 
attack. Trees attacked by red oak borer serve as broad trees, 
increasing their numbers, and putting even more pressure on the 
remaining susceptible host trees.
    Mark Twain National Forest, Forest Health Protection (USDA FS, 
State and Private Forestry), North Central Forest Experiment Station, 
Missouri Department of Conservation, Ozark National Forest, and 
Arkansas Forestry Commission have been collecting information about the 
decline in forest health in the Ozark Highlands. These agencies are 
interested in quantifying the severity of the decline and mortality in 
affected stands, monitoring the progression of the red oak borer and 
implementing long-term strategies to limit the impacts of these insects 
and disease.
    Four environmental analyses are currently underway within the 
analysis area for this proposal. They are Johnson Mountain, Buick, 
Fletcher Salvage and 4.1-3 Management Area. The Forest has decided to 
incorporate these four analyses into this proposal due to the declining 
forest health in these ares.
    Several preliminary issues have been identified. They include: (1) 
Commercial harvests and the role of public forests in supplying goods 
and

[[Page 35583]]

services; (2) the application of even-aged and uneven-aged timber 
harvest; (3) improving forest health; (4) economic effects of the 
widespread oak decline and mortality in the oak ecosystems found across 
Missouri and Arkansas; (5) effects of alternatives considered in the 
ongoing analysis of the Area of Influence for the Indiana Bat; (6) 
visual impacts of proposed management activities; (7) fuel build-up and 
greater risks for catastrophic wildland fire; and (8) the environmental 
effects of management activities and decline to threatened and 
endangered species.
    A range of alternatives that address the decline in forest health 
will be considered. A No Action alternative will be analyzed. Other 
alternatives will be developed that may consider the use of various 
commercial vegetation management activities, non-commercial activities 
to achieve management objectives, or different combinations of 
activities. Issues generated through this public involvement process 
will be considered in the development of the alternatives.

Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made will be what combination of management 
activities, if any, should be selected to improve the health of the 
forest, reduce the adverse ecological, social, and economic impacts of 
the insect infestation, while providing for public health and safety.

Estimated Dates for Filing

    The Draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) and be available for public review by October 
1, 2001. At that time, the EPA will publish a notice of availability of 
the DEIS in the Federal Register. The comment period on the draft will 
be 45 days from the date the EPA notice appears in the Federal 
Register.

The Reviewers Obligation To Comment

    It is very important that those interested in the management of the 
Mark Twain National Forest participate during the DEIS comment period. 
To be useful, comments on the DEIS should be as specific as possible, 
and address the adequacy of the statement or the merits of the 
alternatives discussed (see the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations (CEQ) for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA at 
40 CFR 1503.0).
    The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers 
notice at this early stage 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 proposals so that it 
is meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and 
contentions.
    Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Cor. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 533 
(1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the 
draft EIS stage may be waived if not raised until after completion of 
the final EIS, City of Arnoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 
1988), 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 
objectives are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it 
can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the final EIS.
    Comments on the draft EIS 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 
EIS or the merits of the alternatives formulated and discussed in the 
statement (Reviewers may wish to refer to CEQ Regulations for 
implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points). After the 
comment period ends on the draft environmental impact statement, the 
comments received will be analyzed and considered by the Forest Service 
in preparing the final EIS.
    The final EIS is scheduled for completion in January of 2002. In 
the final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to the 
comments received (40 CFR 1503.4). The responsible official will 
consider the comments, responses, environmental consequences discussed 
in the EIS, and applicable laws, regulations and policies in making a 
decision regarding this proposal. The responsible official will 
document the decision and reasons for the decision in a Record of 
Decision.
    The decision will be subject to appeal under 36 CFR part 215.
    Responsible Official: The responsible official is Randy Moore, 
Forest Supervisor, Mark Twain National Forest, 401 Fairgrounds Road, 
Rolla, MO 65401.

    Dated: June 29, 2001.
Randy Moore,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 01-16921 Filed 7-5-01; 8:45 am]
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