[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 82 (Tuesday, April 29, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22672-22673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10428]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


East Fredericktown Project, Mark Twain National Forest, 
Bollinger, Madison St. Francis, Ste. Genevieve Counties, MO

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to analyze and disclose the environmental effects of 
proposed land management activities and corresponding alternatives 
within the East Fredericktown project area. The East Fredericktown 
project area is located on National Forest System lands administered by 
the Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District east of Fredericktown, 
Missouri. The legal description of the project area is: Township 32 
North, Range 7 East, Sections 11-13; Township 32 North, Range 8 East, 
Sections 3, 6-11, 15, 18, 19, 21-23, 25, 26, 34-36; Township 33 North, 
Range 8 East, Sections 3, 6-11, 15, 18, 19, 21-23, 25, 26, 34-36; 
Township 33 North, Range 8 East, Sections 29, 30, 35, 35; Township 34 
North, Range 7 East, Sections, 12, 36; Township 34 North Range 8 East, 
Sections, 2-4, 9, 17, 19-21, 28-33; Township 35 North, Range 8 East, 
Sections 9, 11-14, 16, 19-30, 34-36; Township 35 North, Range 7 East, 
Section 24, Fifth Principal Meridian.
    An EIS is being prepared for this project although years of 
experience have shown that the effects of implementing similar 
activities in the area are not significant. We do not feel that an EIS 
is required, however, due to the increase in appeals and litigation and 
for wise fiscal efficiency, an EIS will be prepared for the East 
Fredericktown Project.
    The purpose of this project is to implement land management 
activities that are consistent with the direction in the Mark Twain 
Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) and to respond to 
specific needs identified in the project area. The project-specific 
needs include: emphasizing the management of shortleaf pine in its 
natural range on sites where it is recognized as a dominant or 
characteristic member of the natural community and examining 
opportunities to minimize adverse impacts from insects and disease on 
forest vegetation. Other needs include wildlife habitat maintenance and 
improvement, recreation management, examining road system needs, 
cleanup of illegal dumps, and associated or connected actions.

DATES: Comments concerning the proposed land management activities 
should be received within 30 days following publication of this notice 
to receive timely consideration in the preparation of the draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions on the proposed action 
or request to be placed on the project mailing list to: Katherine W. 
Stuart, District Ranger, Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District, PO Box 
188, Potosi, Missouri, 63664. E-mail should have a subject line that 
reads ``nepa potosi fred'town'' and be sent to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom McGuire, Project Leader/Integrated 
Resource Analyst, Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District, PO Box 188, 
Potosi Missouri 63664, phone (573) 438-5427.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information presented in this notice is 
included to help the reviewer determine if they are interested in or 
potentially affected by the proposed land management activities. The 
information presented in this notice is summarized. Those who wish to 
provide comments, or are otherwise interested in or affected by the 
project, are encouraged to obtain additional information from the 
contact identified in the For Further Information Contact Section.
    The shortleaf pine community on the Mark Twain National Forest is 
unique to the southeastern United States and exists nowhere else in the 
world. Although shortleaf pine is at the northern edge of its range in 
the southern Missouri Ozarks, it actually achieves its optimum growth 
rate here. Although shortleaf pine occurs as a co-dominant in other 
areas of the country, it is the only native pine species in the 
Missouri Ozarks and the dominant member of the pine community. 
Historically, shortleaf pine covered almost 6.6 million acres in the 
Missouri Ozark Highlands but only 10% of that remains today.
    As pine was removed from many of the stands during harvest in the 
1920s, scarlet and black oaks replaced the more resilient shortleaf 
pine. Scarlet and black oaks are relatively short-lived species and 
have been under drought stress in recent years. These drought stresses, 
coupled with aging stands, and/or defoliation have led to a phenomenon 
known as oak decline. Oak decline effects range from partial crown 
dieback to tree mortality.

Proposed Actions

    Objectives of the proposed action are to increase the proportion of 
shortleaf pine in the project area, increase the growth rate of both 
young and mature pine trees, increase the spacing between trees to open 
the canopy and allow sunlight to reach the ground, increase the 
percentage and diversity of native herbaceous ground vegetation, and 
enhance people's enjoyment of the pine woodlands through various 
recreation opportunities.
    Objectives also include treating area of tree mortality and oak 
decline and to encourage development of more resilient and diverse 
mixtures that include shortleaf pine. Part of the analysis will focus 
on determining the appropriate road system for this project area to 
support various resource and recreation needs.
    The proposed land management activities (proposed actions) include 
the following, with approximate acreage and road miles estimations:

1. Seed tree harvests (850 acres).
2. Shelterwood harvest (1543 acres).
3. Uneven-aged management (UAM) (362 acres).
4. Overstory removal (65 acres).
5. Thinning and sanitation cuts (1230 acres).
6. Natural reforestation (2666 acres).
7. Timber stand improvement to include release (173 acres).
8. Crop tree release (1607 acres).
9. Prescribed fire for wildlife habitat improvement, wildlife habitat 
restoration, and hazardous fuels reduction (2327 acres).

[[Page 22673]]

10. Designation of old growth habitat (1608 acres).
11. Clean up of illegal garbage dumps where they are encountered.
12. Relocation of the portion of the Audubon Trail currently located in 
the floodplain of Bidwell Creek and construct two trailheads.
13. Reconstruction and maintenance of 37 miles of roads to accomplish 
items listed above. Some roads are also being evaluated for addition to 
the system, or for closure and obliteration.
    While the primary focus of the analysis is to identify activities 
to accomplish ecological restoration, other activities that enhance 
recreational opportunities, result in better water quality, or move the 
area toward the Forest Plan's desired future condition (Forest Plan 
pages IV 125-131) may also be considered in the draft and/or final EIS.
    The scope of this analysis is limited to those activities related 
to the purpose and need and measures necessary to mitigate the effects 
these activities may have on the environment. The decision will include 
if, when, how, and where to schedule restoration activities, recreation 
opportunity enhancement, interpretive activities, water quality 
improvement actions, resource protection measures, monitoring, and 
other follow-up activities.

Decision Space

    Decision making will be limited to activities relating to the 
proposed actions. The primary decision to be made will be whether or 
not to implement the proposed actions listed above, a no-action 
alternative, or another action alternative that responds to the 
project's purpose and needs.

Preliminary Issues

    Preliminary comments made by the interdisciplinary team were 
considered in the development of the tentative or preliminary issues. 
These are as follows: restoration of shortleaf pine on sites where it 
was historically dominant; reduction of vulnerability of forest stands 
to threats such as insects, disease, competition from non-native 
species, and catastrophic wildfire; protection of soils, water, and 
geological features from degradation caused by non-system roads, dump 
sites, especially near streams, and protecting riparian corridors and 
special areas such as the Artesian well, glades, springs, fens, caves, 
and cliffs; reduction of hazardous fuels build-up and the number of 
hazard trees that are threats to the public and adjoining landowners; 
provide lumber and firewood for the local community, enhancing wildlife 
habitat by creating openings, restoring open woodland habitats and 
designating old growth and retaining hollow and cull trees in treatment 
areas.

Public Participation

    The Forest Service will be seeking information, comments, and 
assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies, the Osage Tribe, 
and other individuals or organizations that may be interested in or 
affected by the proposed actions. Comments received in response to this 
notice will become a matter of public record. While public 
participation in this analysis is welcome at any time, comments on the 
proposed actions received within 30 days of the publication of this 
notice will be especially useful in the preparation of the draft EIS. 
Timely comments will be used in preparation of the draft EIS. The 
scoping process will be used to: Identify potential issues; identify 
additional alternatives to the proposed action; and, identify potential 
environmental effects of the proposed action and alternatives (i.e., 
direct, indirect, and cumulative effects). In addition, the public is 
encouraged to visit with Forest Service officials at any time during 
the analysis and prior to the decision.

Estimated Dates for Filing

    The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
protection Agency and available for public review in September 2003. A 
45-day comment period will follow publication of a Notice of 
Availability of the draft EIS in the Federal Register. Comments 
received on the draft EIS will be analyzed and considered in 
preparation of a final EIS, expected in December 2003. A record of 
Decision (ROD) will also be issued at that time along with the 
publication of a Notice of Availability of the final EIS and ROD in the 
Federal Register.

Reviewers Obligation To Comment

    The Forest Service believes it is important at this early stage to 
give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of 
the draft EIS must structure their participation in the environmental 
review of the proposal in such a way 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, 513 (1978). Also, 
environmental objections that could be raised at the draft EIS stage 
but that are not raised until after completion of the final EIS 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 of the draft EIS 
in order that substantive comments and objections are available to the 
Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and 
respond to them in the final EIS. To assist the Forest Service in 
identifying and considering issues and concerns on the proposed action, 
comments should be as specific as possible. 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.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for this environmental impact statement is 
Ronnie Raum, Forest Supervisor, Mark Twain National Forest.

    Dated: April 14, 2003.
Katherine W. Stuart,
District Ranger, Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District, Mark Twain 
National Forest.
[FR Doc. 03-10428 Filed 4-28-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M