[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 187 (Thursday, September 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60639-60640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24413]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for Missionary Ridge Burned Area Timber Salvage and Public 
Scoping; San Juan National Forest, CO

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA/

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) and conduct public scoping; San Juan National Forest, Colorado.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, 
notice is hereby given that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), is 
initiating the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
with associated public scoping, on the proposed salvage of fire killed 
timber from the Missionary Ridge burn area. The EIS analysis area 
(70,000 acres) encompasses national forest land within the area 
generally described as the Missionary Ridge burn area. This area of 
national forest burned during June and July 2002. The burn area is 
located north of Durango, CO and is bounded on the west side by State 
Highway 550 and encompasses lands located on Missionary Ridge, and 
further to the east, lands surrounding Lemon and Vallicito Reservoirs. 
The proposed action is to salvage some of the timber burned by the 
Missionary Ridge Fire. The EIS will address environmental impacts and 
mitigation measures associated with harvesting and removal of dead 
timber from various units within the burn area.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted until October 25, 2002. Two 
public scoping meetings will be held, one beginning at 4 p.m. on 
October 8, 2002 at the BLM/USFS Public Lands Center, Durango, Colorado 
and the other beginning at 5 p.m. on October 9, 2002 at the Bayfield 
High School, in Bayfield, Colorado.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the San Juan National Forest, 
Attn: Dave Dallison, 15 Burnett Court, Durango, Colorado 81301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ave Dallison or Jim Powers, (970) 247-
4874.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objective of the EIS will be to assess 
timber salvage opportunities and impacts within the described 
Missionary Ridge burn area of southwestern Colorado. The proposed 
action potentially impacts various natural and human resources 
including, forested ecosystems, water resources, biological resources 
(e.g., threatened and endangered species), wildlife, cultural 
resources, visual quality, the socioeconomic environment and others 
that are identified through the scoping process.
    The proposed action involves recovering a portion of timber that 
will be lost through burn mortality, and removing insect infested trees 
to suppress post fire insect damage to live trees. An estimated 400 
million board feet of timber was killed within the 70,000-acre burn 
area. We anticipate analyzing alternatives that will involve salvaging 
timber from 6,000 to 15,000 acres. All areas considered for salvage 
harvest are roaded. The alternatives will examine harvesting using 
ground based skidding equipment and ground based equipment in 
combination with skyline and helicopter logging systems. One 
alternative will examine harvesting within the roaded portion to the 
50,000-acre Florida River Roadless Area. There are 3,700 acres that are 
roaded and previously harvested within the Florida River RARE II 
boundaries.
    It is anticipated that the EIS process will take eight months to 
complete and will include public information and meetings. We 
anticipate publishing the Record of Decision in May 2003. Public 
information, scoping meetings, and request for input on the EIS will 
begin with publication of this notice. Written comments must be 
submitted on or before October 25, 2002.
    The Deciding Official will be the Regional Forester, USDA Forest 
Service--Rocky Mountain Region, P.O. Box 25127, Lakewood CO 80225.
    We except to publish a draft environmental impact statement in 
early 2003, to ask for public comment on the draft material for a 
period of 45 days, and to complete a final environmental impact 
statement in May 2003.
    The 45 day public comment period on the draft environmental impact 
statement will commence on the day the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes a ``Notice of Availability'' in the Federal Register.
    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 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 impact statement stage but that are not raised 
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may 
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heitgages, 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 concerns 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

[[Page 60640]]

adequacy of the draft environmental impact statement 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 at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.) 
Please note that comments you make on the draft environmental impact 
statement will be regarded as public information.

    Dated: September 25, 2002.
Rick Brazell,
Acting Forest Supervisor, San Juan National Forest, USFS, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 02-24413 Filed 9-25-02; 8:45 am]
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