[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 15, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63604-63606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25950]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 199 / Tuesday, October 15, 2002 / 
Notices  

[[Page 63604]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Upper Blue Stewardship Project; White River National Forest, 
Summit County, Colorado.

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Environmental Impact Statement in 
conjunction with planning the Upper Blue Stewardship Project (hereafter 
referred to as the Stewardship Project).

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, White River National Forest, gives 
notice of the agency's intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental effects of timber 
harvest, prescribed fire, watershed rehabilitation, re-construction/
closure/obliteration of roads, trail reconstruction, non-system trail 
obliteration, and historic site interpretation, in conjunction with 
designing the Stewardship Project for the Dillon Ranger District of the 
White River National Forest. These proposed actions are being 
considered together because they represent either connected or 
cumulative actions as defined by the Council on Environmental Quality 
(40 CFR 1508.25). This notice describes the purpose and need for 
action, the proposed activities, environmental issues considered, 
information concerning public participation, estimated dates for filing 
the environmental impact statement, and the names and addresses of the 
agency officials who can provide additional information.
    Project Area: The Stewardship Project is using an interdisciplinary 
approach to manage 14,000 acres between the towns of Frisco, CO to the 
north and Breckenridge, CO to the south, Highway 9 to the east, and the 
top of the Tenmile Range to the west. The area is located in T5S, R77W, 
Sec. 31. T6S, R78W, Sec. 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 
22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, and 36 on the Dillon Ranger 
District of the White River National Forest, Summit County, CO. The 
elevation in the area is between 9,000-12,933 feet.
    Background: The Upper Blue Stewardship Project was originally 
proposed in 1999. It involved extensive scoping and public involvement 
on a local, regional and national level. The original NOI was published 
on April 5, 1999. The FEIS for the Stewardship Project was completed in 
December 2000 and the ROD was signed in March 2001. Because the White 
River Forest Plan revision was nearing completion and conditions had 
changed, the White River Forest Supervisor decided to withdraw the 
Decision in May 2001. After the issuance of the Revised White River 
Land and Resource Management Plan in July 2002, it was deemed timely to 
readdress the Upper Blue Stewardship Project. The decision was made to 
revise the EIS. This EIS will tier to the Final EIS for the White River 
Land and Resource Management Plan--2002 Revision and will be consistent 
with the Goals, Objectives, Standards and Guidelines of the 2002 Forest 
Plan. It will also consider the significant issues identified during 
the original scoping effort and the comments received on the original 
DEIS.
    Purpose & Need: The project area, as well as the remainder of 
Summit County, was heavily logged during the mining era (1870-1910). 
Many trees were removed, particularly Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine 
due to their superior lumber qualities. Other stands of trees were 
burned for a variety of reasons including carelessness, opening up 
foraging areas for livestock, or to expose mineral deposits. The result 
is a dense, relatively even-aged forest between 90-130 years old that 
is dominated by lodgepole pine, a relatively short-lived, disturbance-
dependent species. In addition, the landscape lacks diversity of tree 
species and forest structure (mixed-size forests, young stands, old 
growth). This lack of diversity affects both long-term forest health 
(homogenous forests are more susceptible to insects, disease and 
uncontrolled fire spread) and habitat for wildlife (the even-age forest 
has limited understory forage for species such as elk).
    These largely unbroken landscapes of single-species forests are 
nearing the stage in development where they are becoming increasingly 
at risk for insect, disease and fire disturbances due to their size, 
age and homogeneity. Add to this the continuous influx of urban growth 
at the forest interface, and the risk for catastrophic fire events and 
associated consequences will increase over time. Adding human life and 
property to the wildland mix requires forest management practices that 
take human values into consideration.
    Under the revised Forest Plan, a large portion of the project area 
has a management prescription that emphasizes elk, particularly calving 
habitat. There is a management need to establish levels of motorized 
travel and non-motorized recreation that are compatible with elk use in 
the area.
    The riparian area in the Miner's Creek drainage has deteriorated 
over time due to the close proximity of system and non-system roads and 
trails and the high density of dispersed campsites within the stream 
corridor. This has resulted in sedimentation of the creek from eroding 
streamsides and runoff from roads. In addition there are potential 
sanitation issues from camping in close proximity to the creek.
    This Stewardship Project aims to:
    [sbull] improve forest health and wildlife habitat effectiveness by 
increasing species and structural diversity;
    [sbull] reduce the fire hazards to nearby private lands and 
improvements in the long-term by increasing species and structural 
diversity within the project area, and in the short-term by reducing 
dead fuels in old clearcuts and reducing tree crown density in the 
wildland/urban interface;
    [sbull] protect elk calving habitat by assuring travelways open to 
motorized travel will not exceed an average travelway density of one-
half mile per square mile during calving season;
    [sbull] improve water quality and riparian areas by reducing runoff 
from roads and trails and promoting responsible recreation use;
    The Project proposes to use a variety of techniques to improve 
biodiversity and consequently the health of the forest, while 
protecting and enhancing the heritage, recreation, visual, watershed 
and wildlife resources. The Forest Service seeks to develop a strong 
partnership with local government, private landowners and forest users 
to help implement the necessary

[[Page 63605]]

treatments on the ground and monitor the results using adaptive 
management techniques.

Proposed Action

Purpose--Improve forest health and wildlife habitat effectiveness by 
improving biodiversity

    Objective--Increase species and structural diversity through 
vegetation treatments--Approximately 2,691 acres of vegetation 
management is proposed. This includes 502 acres of planting Douglas-
fir, or a mix of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fire, and limber pine. These 
species would be planted in existing clearcuts, in new clearcuts (up to 
58 acres proposed) or underplanted in lodgepole pine stands. The site 
preparation associated with this planting includes a combination of 
thinning and/or prescribed burning.
    The proposed action includes 1,654 acres of group selection/patch 
clearcuts to promote aspen regeneration, increase spruce/fir and/or 
increase age class diversity of lodgepole pine. All openings to 
regenerate aspen would be broadcast burned or ripped to promote 
sprouting.
    This proposed action also includes 445 acres of stand replacement 
prescribed burns, and 90 acres of special cuts/burns within the Nordic 
ski area permit boundary.
    This proposal would make available for personal use and to some 
extent commercial use, approximately 10,500 Christmas trees for 
approximately 340 acres.

Purpose--Reduce the fire hazards to nearby private lands

    Objective--Increase species/structural diversity and decrease stand 
density through vegetation treatments--The vegetation treatments 
described above to increase the aspen component would also help reduce 
the fire hazards since fire behavior typically becomes less extreme 
when pure aspen stands are encountered. The Christmas tree cutting 
would create an almost pure aspen stand adjacent to the Town of Frisco, 
greatly increasing fire resistance of this aspen stand. Openings 
created in the canopy by patch clearcuts or stand-replacement burns 
will also help to mitigate crown fire behavior. Due to an overall 
increase in tree species (especially aspen), structural diversity, 
canopy openings and fuel treatments, fire hazard within the project 
area would decrease.
    Reduce tree crown density in the urban interface zone--The 
vegetation along 12 miles of the national forest/private land boundary 
on the east and north side of the project area would receive thinnings 
and group selection cuts to reduce fuels. The only interior private 
land boundary included is the Whatley Ranch. This stand density 
management may occur on up to 450 acres of National Forest System (NFS) 
land within 100-300 feet of private lands (the Interface Zone), in 
areas where a similar amount is occurring on private lands. In 
conjunction with vegetation treatments on the private lands, fire 
hazard within the urban interface zone would decrease.

Purpose--Protect elk calving habitat

    Objective--Mitigate against disruption of calving by motorized 
vehicles--Provide seasonal motorized road and trail closures to assure 
travelways open to motorized travel will not exceed an average 
travelway density of one-half mile per square mile during calving 
season.

Purpose--Improve riparian areas and watershed conditions

    Objective--Reduce impacts from camping by promoting responsible 
recreation use--The Miners Creek riparian area would be improved by 
converting the Miners Creek drainage to a ``camping in designated sites 
only area''. Ninetten (19) campsites would be designated in that 
drainage and 12 dispersed sites within 100' of the creek would be 
closed and rehabilitated. To improve sanitation, campers would be 
required to carry and use a personal self-contained portable toilet 
similar to ones typically used when river rafting. In addition, 
material would be removed from the Iron Springs meadow. One 10 car 
parking area would be designated west of Rainbow Lake. The current 
parking area south of Rainbow Lake would remain a dispersed parking 
area.
    Interpretive Sites--Six sites (approximately 10 signs) would be 
developed: Two historical signs (Masontown, Breckenridge end of the 
Peaks Trail), five vegetation interpretive signs (the Gold Hill 
Trailhead, and both ends of the Peaks Trail, Miners Creek Road and 
Sapphire Point), and three wildlife signs (Masontown, Peaks Trailhead 
in Breckenridge, and Gold Hill Trailhead).
    Reduce impacts from roads and trails--Riparian areas and watershed 
condition would be improved through road and trail closures. Eleven 
miles of roads and 5.8 miles of trails would be decommissioned. Total 
road and non-motorized trail miles remaining in this proposal would be 
10.3 and 32.5 respectively (includes all USFS, county and private roads 
and trails). Summer motorized and non-motorized miles available would 
decrease. Winter use would remain unchanged. Roads would be managed at 
the minimum level necessary for erosion control.
    Project Design and Mitigation Measures: All proposed treatments and 
activities would follow the standards and guidelines found in the 
Revised White River Land and Resource Management Plan--2002.
    Roadless: No prescribed fire, road construction or vegetation 
treatments are proposed in the inventoried roadless areas designated by 
the Revised Forest Plan; furthermore no actions are proposed within the 
boundaries of the old Tenmile RARE II roadless area.
    Preliminary Issues: Issues identified to date include: impacts of 
timber harvesting and prescribed burning on visual quality in a 
recreation setting; changes in winter snow compaction in lynx habitat; 
quantity of system and non-system roads and trails and their impacts on 
water quality and wildlife habitat; the impacts of timber harvesting 
and prescribed burning on water quality, specifically sedimentation and 
phosphorus; potential impacts to heritage resources; potential spread 
of noxious weeds; air quality impacts from burning; recreation user 
conflicts; and effects on threatened, endangered, sensitive and 
management indicator species.
    Project Funds: K-V Funds, project funds or value would be generated 
under this alternative. Therefore, post-sale projects may be completed 
using K-V Funds, project funds or exchanging goods for services.
    Involving the Public: Pursuant to Part 36 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) 219.10(g), the Forest Supervisor for the White River 
National Forest gives notice of the agency's intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement for the Stewardship Project described 
above. The Forest Service is seeking information, comments, and 
assistance from individuals, organizations and federal, state, and 
local agencies who may be interested in or affected by the proposed 
action (36 CFR 219.6).
    Public participation will be solicited by notifying in person and/
or by mail known interested and affected publics. A legal notice and 
news releases will be used to give the public general notice. Public 
participation activities will include requests for written comments. 
The public is invited to help identify issues and define the range of 
alternatives to be considered in the environmental impact statement.
    A reasonable range of alternatives will be evaluated and reasons 
will be given for eliminating some alternatives from detailed study. A 
``no-action

[[Page 63606]]

alternative'' is required, meaning that management will not change the 
present condition. Alternatives will provide different ways to address 
and respond to public issues, management concerns, and resource 
opportunities identified during the scoping process. Scoping comments 
and existing condition reports will be used to develop alternatives.

DATES: Comments concerning the proposed action should be received in 
writing by November 9, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Upper Blue Stewardship Project, 
Dillon Ranger District P.O. Box 620, Silverthorne, CO 80498.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peech Keller or Sarah Pearson, at 
(970) 468-5400. For road and trail questions and concerns, contact 
Angela Glenn (970) 262-3446.

Release and Review of the EIS

    The DEIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) and to be available for public comment in March 2003. At 
that time, the EPA will publish a notice of availability for the DEIS 
in the Federal Register. The comment period on the DEIS will be 45 days 
from the date the EPA 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 proposed 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, 533 (1978). Also, environmental objections that 
could be raised at the DEIS stage but are not raised until after 
completion of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) may be 
waived or dismissed by the courts; City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F. 2d 
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritage, 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 FEIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed actions, 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. Comments may also address the 
adequacy of the DEIS or the merits of the alternatives formulated and 
discussed in the statements. 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.
    After the comment period ends on the DEIS, comments will be 
analyzed, considered, and responded to by the Forest Service in 
preparing the Final EIS. The FEIS is scheduled to be completed in June 
2003. The responsible official will consider the comments, responses, 
environmental consequences discussed in the FEIS, and applicable laws, 
regulations, and policies in making decisions regarding these 
revisions. The responsible official will document the decisions and 
reasons for the decisions in a Record of Decision for the revised Plan. 
The decision will be subject to appeal in accordance with 36 CFR part 
217.

Responsible Official

    Martha J. Ketelle, Forest Supervisor, White River National Forest. 
PO. Box 948, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602-0948 ``As the Responsible 
Official, I will decide which, if any, of the proposed projects will be 
implemented. I will document the decision and reasons for the decision 
in the Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to Forest 
Service appeal regulations.''

    Dated: October 7, 2002.
Stephen C. Sherwood,
Deputy Forest Supervisor, White River National Forest.
[FR Doc. 02-25950 Filed 10-11-02; 8:45 am]
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