[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 173 (Friday, September 6, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56979-56980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-22681]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Salmon Wild and Scenic River Management Plan

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Salmon-Challis National Forest, will prepare a Draft 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) in order to make a 
new decision on the Salmon Wild and Scenic River Management Plan. On 
September 21, 2001, a Record of Decision (ROD) was signed that selected 
Alternative 4, which provided for temporary outfitter and guide use at 
the Stub Creek, Arctic Creek and Smith Gulch camps. It also required 
removal of all permanent structures and facilities at those three camps 
by December 31, 2002. During the appeal of that decision, the 
permittees brought forward additional economic information showing 
economic impacts to them associated with the December 31, 2002 removal 
date. This DSEIS will reevaluate impacts to permittees and consider a 
possible change of camp removal to a later date.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before 45 days after the 
Notice of Availability is published in the Federal Register. The 
expected deadline for receipt of public comments will be approximately 
November 8, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments concerning this notice to Patricia 
Pearson, Project Coordinator, Salmon-Challis National Forest, 50 Hwy 93 
South, Salmon, Idaho, 83467.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Pearson at (208) 756-5148.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Central Idaho Wilderness Act (CIWA) designated 79 miles of the 
Salmon River stretching from Wheat Creek to Long Tom Bar as ``Wild'' 
and directed that the river corridor be managed under the provision of 
the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (WSRA). Three private camps are located 
within this Wild segment: Arctic Creek, Stub Creek and Smith Gulch. The 
owner and

[[Page 56980]]

permittee for Arctic Creek is Jack Smith; for Stub Creek it is Dale 
Stansberry and for Smith Gulch it's Whitewater Water West (owners Mr. 
and Mrs. Gail Watt and Mr. And Mrs. Stanford H. Watt). The camp names 
will be used when referring to the permittees.

1995 Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision

    In two previous court orders the Forest Service was directed to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Salmon Wild & 
Scenic River Management Plan Revision specifically focused on use of 
these three camps. The Forest completed the EIS and the first Salmon 
Wild and Scenic River Record of Decision (ROD) was approved on June 5, 
1995. That ROD authorized use and occupancy of the three private camps 
through the year 2010. The decision was both appealed and litigated.

2001 Supplemental Information Report and Record of Decision

    On September 19, 2000, the Court issued a decision that use of the 
three private camps was not consistent with the WSRA. The Court 
remanded the decision to the Forest Service to fashion a remedy 
consistent with the court opinion. In 2001 the Forest updated the 1995 
EIS with a Supplemental Information Report (SIR). The SIR reviewed the 
existing analysis in the 1995 EIS to determine if there was any new 
information and if the conclusions regarding environmental effects 
remained the same. A second ROD was approved on September 19, 2001 
selecting Alternative 4 of the 1995 FEIS. That decision authorized the 
use of temporary outfitter camps at three campsites and set the date of 
December 31, 2002 for removal of all permanent facilities at Arctic 
Creek, Stub Creek and Smith Gulch.
    The 2001-ROD was appealed by the permittees. The Appeal Reviewing 
Officer affirmed the decision, but directed the Forest Service to 
reconsider the timeline for removal with better consideration of the 
individual appellants' interests, to evaluate whatever economic and 
operational information the appellants provided regarding their 
interests, and to determine if it necessitated a change in the 
Decision.

Timelines

    The DSEIS is expected to be available for public review early in 
September 2002. The comment period on the DSEIS will be 45 days from 
the date of the Federal Register notice. It is very important that 
those interested in this proposal participate at that time. To be most 
helpful, comments on the DSEIS should be as specific as possible. The 
Final Supplemental EIS (FSEIS) is anticipated to be completed in 
November 2002, after comments are reviewed. At that time, we will 
release the FSEIS along with the Record of Decision (ROD). A 45-day 
appeal period will follow as required by the 215 regulations. 
Implementation will be 5 days following release of the ROD if not 
appealed or after a favorable appeal decision.

Submitting Comments

    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.

Authority

    The Salmon-Challis National Forest Supervisor has determined that 
preparation of a Supplemental EIS (Draft and Final) is required in 
order to make a new decision, under CEQ regulations implementing the 
National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR 1501-1508).

Responsible Official

    I am the responsible official for this Draft Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement. My address is Salmon-Challis National 
Forest, 50 Hwy 93 South, Salmon, Idaho 83467.

    Dated: August 26, 2002.
George Matejko,
Forest Supervisor, Salmon-Challis National Forest.
[FR Doc. 02-22681 Filed 9-5-02; 8:45 am]
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