[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 231 (Monday, December 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71531-71532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30379]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Payette National Forest, Idaho; Meadows Slope Wildland Fire 
Protection Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA

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

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare the Meadows Slope 
Wildland Fire Protection Project EIS. The proposed action in the EIS is 
to create and maintain a half-mile fuelbreak on National Forest System 
lands to reduce the risk of damage to rural homes, private property, 
and National Forest resources from wildland fires. The Payette National 
Forest invites written comments and suggestions on the scope of the 
analysis and the issues to address. The agency gives notice of the full 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis and decision-making 
process so that interested and affected people know how they may 
participate and contribute to the final decision.

DATES: Comments need to be received by January 6, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Kimberly A. Brandel, District 
Ranger, New Meadows Ranger District, Payette National Forest, P.O. Box 
J, New Meadows, Idaho 83654.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
should be directed to Suzanne Acton, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, at 
the above address, phone (208) 347-0300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Meadows Slope project area is located in 
the Sixmile-Threemile, Lower Goose, Little Creek, Little Goose Creek, 
Middle North Fork Payette River, and Payette Lake sub-watersheds on the 
New Meadows and McCall Ranger Districts. It is about four miles east of 
New Meadows and three miles northwest of McCall, and approximately 
6,480 acres in size. The purpose and need for this activity is to (1) 
reduce crown fire risk, (2) reduce forest fuel loading, and (3) reduce 
risk to life, property, natural resources, and suppression resources on 
National Forest System lands surrounding the Timber Ridge, Rock Flat, 
King's Pine, and Crescent Rim Subdivisions, and additional private 
developments adjacent to the project area.
    The proposed action includes a variety of activities to meet the 
purpose and need. (1) Harvest timber on approximately 4,736 acres, 
producing approximately 24.9 million board feet (MMBF), using tractor 
and skyline logging systems. The silvicultural method used would be 
free thinning with reserve shelterwood/seed tree. (2) Hand pile and 
burn approximately 852 acres within Riparian Habitat Conservation 
Areas. (3) Conduct no immediate treatment on approximately 892 acres. 
(4) Salvage dead and dying timber killed by fir engraver beetle and 
other pests or weakened due to light, water, or nutrient competition 
which may increase the fire potential within the project area. (5) 
Restore 164 acres of unproductive soil to improve soil productivity by 
obliterating roads, skid trails and/or landings in order to meet the 
1988 Forest Plan Standard for total soil resource commitment (TSRC). 
(6) Improve approximately 21.0 miles of road to provide access for 
fuelbreak activities. (7) Ensure desired species composition by 
planting and/or natural regeneration of fire-tolerant Douglas-fir, 
ponderosa pine, and western larch seedlings on 947 acres following 
fuelbreak activities. (8) Treat harvest-generated fuels on 
approximately 4,736 acres. Treatments would include machine piling and 
burning (excavator piling would be used where slopes exceed 35 
percent); broadcast burning; and/or yarding tops. (9) Monitor and treat 
noxious weeds, if created, within the fuelbreak area. A total of 6,480 
acres would be treated with this proposed action. This proposed action 
would require three one-time, site-specific, non-significant amendments 
to the Payette National Forest Plan for 5th-year planted tree stocking 
levels, elk habitat effectiveness, and retention of Visual Quality 
Objectives.
    Preliminary issues for this project include effects on water 
quality, soil productivity, wildlife habitat, recreation, access 
management, visual quality, and fish habitat.
    A range of reasonable alternatives will be considered. The no-
action alternative will serve as a baseline for comparison of 
alternatives. The proposed action will be considered along with 
additional alternatives developed that meet the purpose and need and 
address major issues identified during scoping. Alternatives may have 
different amounts, locations, and types of project activities.
    Comments received in response to this notice, including names and 
addresses of those who comment, will be part of the project record and 
available for public review.
    The Forest Service is seeking information and comments from other 
Federal, State, and local agencies; Tribal governments; organizations; 
and individuals who may be interested in or affected by the proposed 
action. This input will be used in preparation of the EIS.
    Comments will be appreciated throughout the analysis process. The 
draft EIS will be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
and is anticipated to be available for public review by fall 2003. The 
comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days. It is important that 
those interested in the management of the Payette National Forest 
participate at that time.

[[Page 71532]]

    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, 1002 (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 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 
raised by 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.
    After the 45-day comment period ends on the draft EIS, the Forest 
Service will analyze comments received and address them in the final 
EIS. The final EIS is scheduled to be completed in 2004. The 
Responsible Official is the Payette National Forest Supervisor. The 
decision will be documented, including the rationale for the decision, 
in a Record of Decision (ROD). The decision will be subject to review 
under the Forest Service Appeal Regulations at 36 CFR part 215.

    Dated: November 22, 2002.
Mark Madrid,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 02-30379 Filed 11-29-02; 8:45 am]
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