[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4752-4753]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2150]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Bonners Ferry Ranger District, 
Cancellation of Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Bonners Ferry Ranger District Salvage Sales Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA

ACTION: Cancellation notice.

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SUMMARY: On May 31, 2000 a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an 
environmental impact statement for the Bonners Ferry Ranger District 
Salvage Sales Project was published in the Federal Register (Volume 65, 
Number 105, pages 34654-34655). The proposal was to analyze the 
potential environmental effects of salvage harvesting up to 20,000 
acres of dead and damaged trees in scattered areas located on the 
Bonners Ferry Ranger District, Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Since 
the publication of the Notice of Intent, public scoping and 
interdisciplinary team involvement have resulted in a project design 
that utilizes mitigation measures and restrictive design criteria that 
either eliminated or minimized potential impacts to resources that 
could result from the small salvage sales. Due to the redefined design 
and criteria of the project, the Interdisciplinary Team determined 
there will be no significant effects resulting from implementing the 
proposed action, therefore preparation of an environmental impact 
statement is not warranted.

ADDRESSES: Bonners Ferry Ranger District, 6286 Main St, Bonners Ferry, 
Idaho 83805-9764

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Wynsma, Project Team Leader, 
(208) 267-5561.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public was first notified of this 
proposal and the intention to prepare an environmental impact statement 
in October 1999. The Bonners Ferry Ranger District of the Idaho 
Panhandle National Forests proposed salvage harvesting up to 20,000 
acres of dead and damaged trees in scattered areas across the district. 
The small-scale salvage sales were expected to contribute to hazardous 
fuels reduction and to help restore productive stand conditions and/or 
ecological functioning in areas affected by windstorms, insects, 
disease and other damaging events. Salvage of the trees was expected to 
help provide forest products for local post and pole mills, small 
sawmills, and other forest product manufacturers.
    Ensuring project design and development of action alternatives 
included incorporation of restrictive criteria such as avoiding 
resource areas of concern, old growth and riparian areas for instance, 
and mitigation measures such as timing salvage operations to take place 
during periods that minimized potential impacts to wildlife species of 
concern. The result of the project design for the proposed activities 
has led the project team to the conclusion that there will be no 
significant effects associated with the proposal, and therefore 
preparation of an environmental impact statement is not warranted. An 
environmental assessment will be prepared to document the proposed 
action, alternatives to the proposed action, and environmental 
consequences of implementing each of the alternatives.

[[Page 4753]]

    Since an environmental assessment will be prepared instead of an 
environmental impact statement, the NOI is hereby rescinded.

    Dated: January 24, 2003
Ranotta K. Mcnair,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 03-2150 Filed 1-29-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M