[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 187 (Thursday, September 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60637-60639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24480]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto National Forests Rodeo/Chediski Fire 
Salvage and Rehabilitation Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto National Forests of the 
Southwestern Region of the Forest Service are planning to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to salvage fire-
killed timber on National Forest System lands within the Rodeo/Chediski 
Fire on June 2002. The EIS is intended to foster informed decision-
making and public participation of a site-specific proposal to improve 
or maintain post-fire ecological functions of the land.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by November 15, 2002. The draft environmental impact statement is

[[Page 60638]]

expected February 15, 2003 and the final environmental impact statement 
is expected July 1, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Rodeo/Chediski Salvage and 
Rehabilitation Project, Attn: Merle Glenn, Public Affairs Specialist, 
P.O. Box 569, Overgaard, AZ 85933. For further information, mail 
correspondence to the same address as listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jimmy E. Hibbetts, ID Team Leader, for 
the Rodeo/Chediski Salvage and Rehabilitation Project at (928) 535-
5979.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Rodeo/Chediski Fire burned over 460,000 
acres of forested lands, including over 176,000 acres of Apache-
Sitgreaves and Tonto National Forest System lands. Over 470 structures 
were destroyed in the fire, which threatened 30 communities and 
subdivisions. Over 225 miles of heavily traveled system roads and 107 
miles of trails received damage. This fire killed millions of trees 
with an estimated volume of over 300 million board feet of commercial 
timber, which represent serious short and long-term hazards to users of 
the two national forests, adjacent local communities and subdivisions, 
and remaining forest resources. Hazards from burned trees include 
falling dead trees and potential fuel loadings. Another hazard 
associated with burn areas relates to flash flooding, which has a great 
potential to affect public health and safety. Treatments are being 
considered to meet public health and safety concerns with 
considerations for other resources.
    Area watersheds with denuded slopes are susceptible to erosion and 
can lead to reduced soil productivity, loss of vegetation regeneration 
potential and increased downstream flooding and sedimentation. All 
watersheds are being analyzed within the burn area for potential 
damages to downstream resources. Both Black Canyon Lake and Canyon 
Creek have been heavily impacted by sedimentation and debris resulting 
from the fire. Utilizing dead trees and slash from treatment activities 
is being considered to improve watershed conditions by creating 
protective ground cover and providing ground shade to re-establish 
vegetation.
    Purpose and Need for Action: Due to the intensity, magnitude and 
size of the fire, there is a tremendous amount of standing dead and 
dying trees within the burn. Portions of the burned area now pose a 
potential risk to forest users, communities, private property and 
remaining resources. These risks include the hazards of falling trees, 
erosion and flooding, future wildfires occurring in the wildland/urban 
interface, impacts to wildlife and fish and their habitats, and insect 
infestation to remaining live trees. Urgent action is needed to recover 
fire-killed timber while it still has economic value. If completed 
within 18 months after the burn, the substantial cost of removing these 
trees can be offset by the commercial sale of wood products.
    Proposed Action: Salvage dead trees while maintaining or improving 
watershed conditions with considerations for wildlife and fisheries. 
Burn severity, slope and specific resource needs will determine actual 
treatments. Forest Plan standards will be adhered to for all resources 
and activities. Treatments will also consider lowering visual impacts 
along Highway 260 and to private lands. On existing system roads, 
repair, reconstruct, realign, resurface and construct additional 
turnouts where needed. There will be no new permanent road 
construction. Close and obliterate unneeded roads once salvage 
operations have been completed.
    Possible Alternatives: Preliminary alternatives may include 
continuation of present situation (no action alternative) and 
alternatives to meet the purpose and need of the proposed action.
    Responsible Officials: The Forest Supervisors for the Apache-
Sitgreaves and Tonto National Forests are jointly responsible for 
deciding whether or not to salvage dead trees resulting from the Rodeo/
Chediski Fire. They are: John C. Bedell, Forest Supervisor, Apache-
Sitgreaves National Forest, P.O. Box 640, Springerville, AZ 85938-0640 
and Karl P. Siderits, Forest Supervisor, Tonto National Forest, 2324 E. 
McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006.
    Nature of Decision To Be Made: The Forest Supervisors are jointly 
responsible for deciding whether or not to salvage dead trees and if 
so, where and to what extent it will occur; how to stabilize watersheds 
and what treatments will be used; what repairs or treatments of 
existing system roads would occur; and which roads will be closed and 
obliterated, if any. They will also determine what treatments, if any, 
will be implemented to mitigate further damages to threatened and 
sensitive species habitats and to fisheries. The Supervisors may decide 
to select the proposed action, take no action or select another 
alternative to the proposed action.
    Scoping Process: A detailed scoping and public involvement plan has 
been developed. An interdisciplinary team has been selected and began 
work August 5, 2002 to do the environmental analysis, prepare and 
accomplish scoping, and public involvement activities. Comments on the 
nature and timing of scoping and public participation activities would 
be beneficial to the team in updating the scoping plan. Additional 
public notice will be given of specific planned activities when the 
scoping and public involvement plan is completed.
    On August 26, 2002, scoping letters were sent to over 325 
organizations, Tribes, agencies and individuals. Responses ranged from 
total support to total opposition of the proposed action. It was 
determined that additional scoping was needed and an EIS be prepared.
    Comment Requested: This notice of intent initiates the scoping 
process which guides the development of the environmental impact 
statement. Comments are specifically requested for the proposed action 
and any alternatives to the proposed action that should be considered. 
Comments on the proposal are most useful if they pertain directly to 
the project area and are as site specific as possible. Comments citing 
scientific reports or literature should address how that research 
specifically applies to this project.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review: A draft environmental impact statement will be 
prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental 
impact statement 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 
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 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

[[Page 60639]]

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 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.
    Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who 
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal 
and will be available for public inspection.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21)

    Dated: September 19, 2002.
John C. Bedell,
Forest Supervisor, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.
    Dated: September 20, 2002.
Thomas J. Klabunde,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Tonto National Forest.
[FR Doc. 02-24480 Filed 9-25-02; 8:45 am]
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