[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64016-64017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30532]



[[Page 64016]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Brush Boulder Project, Boise National Forest, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Cascade Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a resource 
management project in the North Fork Payette River. The entire project 
area is located within watersheds that drain directly into the North 
Fork Payette River or its tributaries, downstream of Lake Cascade. The 
project area is located 7 miles southwest of Cascade, Idaho, and about 
100 miles north of Boise, Idaho.
    The agency invites written comments and suggestions on the scope of 
the analysis. The agency also hereby gives notice of the environmental 
analysis and decision-making process that will occur on the proposal so 
interested and affected people are aware of how they may participate 
and contribute to the final decision. At this time, no public meetings 
to discuss the project are planned.
    Proposed Action: Two primary objectives have been identified for 
the project: (1) Reduce current and future stand susceptibility to 
forest insects, and (2) improve long-term stand growth to or near 
levels indicative of healthy, sustainable forests.
    The Proposed Action would treat a total of 2,350 acres in the 
15,287-acre project area. An estimated 10.0 MMBF of timber would be 
harvested using ground-based (1,209 acres), skyline (154 acres), and 
helicopter (159 acres) yarding systems. The Proposed Action would 
employ a variety of silvicultrual prescriptions including preparation 
cut of a shelterwood (619 acres), improvement cut (205 acres), 
improvement cut followed by precommercial thinning (479 acres), seed 
cut shelterwood (126 acres), final removal shelterwood (27 acres), 
final removal shelterwood followed by precommercial thinning (12 
acres), clearcut with reserve trees (54 acres), and precommercial 
thinning (828 acres). Precommercial thinning would occur within both 
plantations and previously managed stands with an overstory component 
(such as seed cut shelterwoods) where natural and/or artificial 
regeneration has been established.
    The existing transportation system would be improved to facilitate 
log haul and reduce sedimentation with individual sections of 3.5 miles 
of road being reconstructed. An estimated 1.4 miles of specified road 
and 0.7 mile of temporary road would be constructed to facilitate 
harvest. Roughly 4.4 miles of existing roads would be closed seasonally 
(September 15 to June 1) with gates to all motorized traffic with the 
exception of snowmobiles and administrative use. An additional 5.0 
miles would be closed seasonally (September 15 to June 1) with gates to 
vehicles with wheelbases exceeding 40 inches in width with the 
exception of administrative use. In addition, 0.1 mile of the existing 
404B road and the pioneered ford of Olson Creek adjacent to the 404B 
crossing would be decommissioned.
    Preliminary Issues: Preliminary concerns with the Proposed Action 
include potential impacts on: (1) The visual quality of the area; (2) 
terrestrial wildlife species; (3) sediment delivery to streams; and (4) 
the Snowbank Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA).
    Possible Alternatives to the Proposed Action: One alternative to 
the Proposed Action discussed thus far is a no action alternative. 
Other alternatives will likely be developed as issues are identified 
and information received.
    Decisions to be Made: The Boise National Forest Supervisor will 
decide the following. Should roads be built and vegetation managed 
within the Brush Boulder Project Area at this time, and if so; where 
within the project area, and how many miles of road should be built; 
and which stands should be treated and what silvicultural systems 
should be used? What design features and/or mitigation measures should 
be applied to the project? Should decommissioning of a portion of the 
404B road be implemented at this time?

DATES: Written comments concerning the proposed project and analysis 
are encouraged and should be postmarked within 30 days following 
publication of this announcement in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the Cascade Ranger District, 
ATTN: Keith Dimmett, P.O. Box 696, Cascade, ID 83611. Comments received 
in response to this request will be available for public inspection and 
will be released in their entirety if requested pursuant to the Freedom 
of Information Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information can be obtained 
from Keith Dimmett at the address mentioned above or by calling 208-
382-7430.
    Schedule: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), February 
2002. Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), April 2002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Roughly half of the project area occurs 
within the Snowbank IRA (02924). None of the activities associated with 
the Proposed Action would occur within this IRA or any 1,000-acre or 
larger contiguous unroaded area.
    Three different management areas occur within the Brush Boulder 
Project Area. Roughly 1,947 acres of the project area occur within 
management area (MA) 48 or 49. Management direction for these two MA's 
emphasizes recreation opportunities. The remaining 13,340 acres of the 
project area occur within MA 50 where management direction emphasizes 
protection of scenic qualities in visually sensitive areas, and 
intensified timber management in areas of low visual sensitivity. All 
of the activities associated with the Proposed Action would occur 
within MA 50.
    The comment period on the DEIS 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 
the DEIS 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 DEIS stage but are not raised until after 
completion of the FEIS may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City 
of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F. 2d 1016, 1002 (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 DEIS 
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 FEIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the DEIS should be as 
specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific 
pages or chapters of the draft statement.

[[Page 64017]]

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, 1249 South Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID 
83709.

    Dated: December 4, 2001.
David D. Rittenhouse,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 01-30532 Filed 12-10-01; 8:45 am]
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