[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 35788]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12646]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Supplement to the Draft Environment Impact Statement, Lemolo 
Watershed Projects, Diamond Lake Ranger District, Umpqua National 
Forest, Douglas County, Oregon

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Supplement to a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare a Supplement to the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a variety of connected 
resource projects within the Lemolo Watershed Projects planning area of 
the Diamond Lake Ranger District. The Draft Supplemental EIS will 
describe additional alternatives developed in response to public 
comments. The additional alternatives address issues related to old-
growth forests, and recreation. The projects proposed within the range 
of alternatives include several timber sales, the construction of 
temporary and system roads, site preparation, planting, the burning of 
natural fuels, road decommissioning, and soil restoration. These 
projects are proposed for implementation in 2003 and 2004. The planning 
area is located approximately 80 miles east of Roseburg, Oregon. The 
agency gives notice of the full environmental analysis and decision-
making process that will occur on the proposal so that interested and 
affected people may become aware of how they can participate in the 
process and contribute to the final decision.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this 
proposal to John Ouimet, District Ranger, Diamond Lake Ranger District, 
2020 Toketee Ranger Station RD, Roseburg, Oregon 97447-9704.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct questions about the proposed 
action, or EIS to Pat Williams, ID Team Leader/Project Planner, Diamond 
Lake Ranger District, 2020 Toketee Ranger Station RD, Idleyld Park, 
Oregon 97447-9704, or (541) 498-2531.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: Forest Supervisor James Caplan is the responsible 
official for this EIS. Mr. Caplan may be contacted at Umpqua National 
Forest, PO Box 1008, Roseburg, OR 97470.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Lemolo Watershed Project proposed action 
was first published in the federal register on April 14, 1999. A public 
meeting was held at the Douglas County Library on April 21, 1999 along 
with a subsequent field trip to the planning area in August of 1999. 
The draft EIS was published in October, 2001. The Forest Service 
received many comments on the project during the 45 day comment period. 
Public comments identified issues related to harvest of old-growth 
timber, and protection of recreation values. Based on public comment, 2 
additional alternatives to the proposed action have been developed to 
address these issues and will be described in the Supplement to the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement. A total of 5 alternatives 
including the No Action and the Proposed Action alternative have been 
developed.
    Public comments are appreciated throughout the analysis process. 
The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) and be available for public review by July 2002. The 
comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA 
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. The final 
EIS is scheduled to be available in October 2002.
    The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers 
notice of this early stage of public participation and of several court 
rulings related to public participation in the environment review 
process. First, reviewers of a draft EIS 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 have been raised 
at the draft stage may be waived or dismissed by the court if not 
raised until after completion of the final EIS. 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 substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest 
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider 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 on the Supplement to 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 the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.)
    In the final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to 
substantive comments and responses received during the comment period 
that pertain to the environmental consequences discussed in the draft 
EIS and applicable laws, regulations, and policies considered in making 
a decision regarding the proposal. The Responsible Official will 
document the decision and rationale for the decision in a Record of 
Decision. That decision will be subject to appeal under, 36 CFR Part 
215.

    Dated: May 7, 2002.
James Caplan,
Forest Supervisor, Umpqua National Forest.
[FR Doc. 02-12646 Filed 5-20-02; 8:45 am]
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