[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45272-45273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19205]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR-115-2824-DB; HAG 3-0167]


Notice of Availability of the Timbered Rock Fire Salvage and Elk 
Creek Watershed Restoration Draft Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Timbered Rock Fire Salvage and 
Elk Creek Watershed Restoration Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS).

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 202 of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, a DEIS has been prepared by the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM), Medford District, to analyze possible salvage 
opportunities resulting from the Timbered Rock Fire and proposed 
restoration projects designed to move resource conditions closer to the 
desired future conditions identified in the Northwest Forest Plan, Elk 
Creek Watershed Analysis, and the South Cascades Late-Successional 
Reserve Assessment. The subject lands were designated Late-Successional 
Reserve in the Northwest Forest Plan. Restoration projects are designed 
to accelerate establishment or protection of late-successional forest 
conditions. The DEIS addresses whether to pursue salvage, levels of 
snags and coarse wood debris to be retained, and restoration projects 
on BLM-administered lands within and adjacent to the Late-Successional 
Reserve and Elk Creek Watershed.

DATES: Written comments on the DEIS will be accepted for 60 days from 
the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of 
Availability of the DEIS in the Federal Register. Oral and/or written 
comments may also be presented at public meetings/open houses. These 
public meetings/open houses will be announced at least 15 days in 
advance through public notices, media news releases, the Medford 
District Web site, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the document should be addressed to 
Timbered Rock EIS, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, Oregon, 97504; or e-mail 
[email protected]. Copies will be available at the Jackson and 
Josephine County libraries, and on the Timbered Rock Fire Salvage and 
Elk Creek Watershed Restoration Web site at http://www.or.blm.gov/Medford/TimbrockEIS/index.htm. Copies of the DEIS will be mailed to 
individuals, agencies, or companies who previously requested copies. A 
limited number of copies of the document will be available at the 
Medford District Office, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, Oregon, 97504. If 
you wish to withhold your name or street address from public review or 
from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state 
this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such 
requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions 
from organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety. 
Comment letters may be reprinted in the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Williams at (541) 944-6620 or 
John Bergin at (541) 840-9989.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS addresses alternatives for possible 
salvage opportunities and proposed restoration projects designed to 
move resource conditions closer to the desired future conditions 
identified in the Northwest Forest Plan, Elk Creek Watershed Analysis, 
and the South Cascades Late-Successional Reserve Assessment (LSRA). Two 
types of salvage, area and roadside, are discussed in Alternatives C 
through G. Alternatives A and B propose no salvage. Alternatives C 
through G were designed using specific guidance relating to post-fire 
salvage and/or Late-Successional Reserve guidelines. Research could be 
incorporated within each of the salvage alternatives. Included in the 
design of Alternative G is a study of the effects of various snag 
retention levels on wildlife species. Roadside salvage is designed to 
reduce existing or potential public safety concerns while recovering 
economic value of these dead trees.
    Four levels of restoration projects are proposed in the six action 
alternatives: Focused, moderate, extensive, and focused within the fire 
perimeter only. The restoration varies by the scope of the projects 
(acres, miles of roads, etc.), intensity of the treatments, and 
location of the treatments. Restoration projects are located both 
within the Timbered Rock Fire perimeter and outside the fire area. Most 
projects are located within the Elk Creek Watershed; however, a 
proposed eagle nest project and some fuel management zone projects are 
located on ridge tops within adjacent watersheds. Projects are based on 
recommendations presented in the Late-Successional Reserve Assessment 
and/or Elk Creek Watershed Analysis, or were developed to address 
specific issues.
    Projects proposed within the fire area focus on road projects to 
reduce existing and potential sedimentation from the road network, fish 
improvement projects, development of Fuel Management Zones, and 
reducing future hazardous fuel conditions within existing Northern 
Spotted Owl activity centers. Reforestation of the burned area was 
assessed in the Emergency Stabilization/Rehabilitation Plan 
Environmental Assessment. Alternatives A and E follow these 
recommendations. Other approaches to reforestation are presented in 
Alternatives B, C, D, F, and G. A reforestation study is included which 
would evaluate a variety of planting densities, species, and follow-up 
treatments in both salvage and unsalvaged areas. This reforestation 
research could be incorporated into any alternative.
    Alternative A (No Action, Continuation of current management) 
follows the Emergency Stabilization/Rehabilitation Plan as planned for 
the Timbered Rock Fire. No restoration projects are proposed, but 
rehabilitation and stabilization projects proposed in the Timbered Rock 
Fire Rehabilitation/Stabilization Project Environmental Assessment 
would be implemented.
    Emphasis of Alternative B (No Salvage and Focused Restoration 
Emphasis) is placed on reducing non-commercial size vegetative 
competition in over-stocked stands with density management treatments, 
fuels reduction treatments, and pine habitat restoration. Areas 
proposed for treatment are generally those in most need of reducing 
competing vegetation. Within the fire perimeter, restoration would 
focus on high priority road work. Restoration actions would focus on 
non-commercial projects, designed to accelerate the growth of trees in 
stands to promote late-successional conditions with a variety of size 
classes. Species diversity would be maintained to promote connectivity 
between owl activity sites and develop late-successional forest 
characteristics.

[[Page 45273]]

    In Alternative C (Salvage Following South Cascade Late-Successional 
Reserve Assessment Guidelines and Moderate Restoration Emphasis), area 
salvage emphasis is proposed in high and moderate burn severity areas 
greater than 10 acres where the fire resulted in a stand-replacement 
event. Alternative C salvage is based on guidelines from the Late-
Successional Reserve Assessment for snag and coarse woody debris 
retention. Restoration projects include fish habitat improvement, Late-
Successional Reserve thinning, pine and oak woodlands restoration, 
reforestation of stand-replacement areas greater than 5 acres, fuels 
reduction along ridgelines, wildlife habitat enhancement projects, and 
road improvement projects.
    In Alternative D (Late-Successional Reserve Guidelines for Salvage 
Using DecAID Wood Advisor Tool for Snags and Coarse Woody Debris (CWD) 
and Moderate Restoration Emphasis), area salvage emphasis is proposed 
in high and moderate burn severity areas greater than 10 acres where 
the fire resulted in a stand-replacement event. Instead of following 
LSRA salvage guidelines, snag and coarse woody debris retention levels 
in this alternative are based on the DecAID Wood Advisor tool. 
Restoration projects would be the same as Alternative C.
    In Alternative E (High Level of Salvage and Extensive Restoration 
Emphasis), area salvage emphasis is proposed in high, moderate, low and 
very low burned severity areas. Snag retention levels within the high 
and moderate burn severity areas would be 6-14 snags/acre. This is 
based on study by Haggard and Gaines (2001) which found the highest 
diversity in cavity nesting species and the highest number of nests 
where snag densities ranged from 6-14 snags/acre. Snag retention within 
the low and very low burn severity areas with canopy cover greater than 
40 percent would be 4 snags/acre. The course woody debris level in this 
alternative would be a minimum of 120 linear feet/acre. Extensive 
restoration would increase the scope of the projects (acres, miles of 
roads, etc.), intensity of the treatments, and location of the 
treatments identified in Alternative C and D. Alternative E also 
proposes seasonal closure of some roads.
    In Alternative F (Salvage Logging and Post-fire rehabilitation 
actions consistent with report on Recommendations for Ecologically 
Sound Post-Fire Salvage Management and Other Post-Fire Treatments on 
Federal Lands in the West (Beschta et al., 1995)), area salvage 
emphasis is based on recommendations to avoid severely burned areas, 
erosive sites, fragile soils, riparian areas, steep slopes, or sites 
where accelerated erosion is possible. Existing snags and course woody 
debris levels would be retained on all these areas. Salvage would occur 
in 3-10 acre patches of fire-killed trees. Within each of these 
patches, a minimum of 2 acres would be reserved from salvage. The 
Beschta et al. report does not address actions outside of a burned 
area. As a result, no Late-Successional Reserve restoration actions are 
proposed. However, restoration projects within the fire perimeter, 
consistent with Beschta et al. report are proposed.
    In Alternative G (Preferred Alternative--Salvage Including Research 
and Moderate Restoration Emphasis), area salvage emphasis is based on 
research to study the effects of various snag levels on selected 
wildlife species. Sixteen units were selected to be included in this 
study. These units are generally 30 acres or greater and would be 
salvaged at various levels. In addition, four control units would not 
be salvaged. Stand replacement areas (high and moderate burn severity) 
outside of research units greater than 10 acres would also be 
considered for salvaging. Snag and course woody debris levels would 
meet DecAid Wood Advisor recommendations, as well as, other local and 
regional recommendations. A reforestation study is also included, which 
would evaluate a variety of planting densities, species, and follow-up 
treatments in both salvaged and unsalvaged areas. Restoration projects 
would be the same as Alternatives C and D. Alternative G also proposes 
seasonal closure of some roads.
    It is not the intent of this project to change land use 
allocations, nor Standard and Guidelines made through the Northwest 
Forest Plan and later adopted through the Medford District Resource 
Management Plan. The Preferred Alternative has been determined to be 
consistent with the Northwest Forest Plan and Medford District Resource 
Management Plan. However, if alternative E or F is selected as the 
Preferred Alternative in the Final EIS, a plan amendment may be 
required.

Mary Smelcer,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-19205 Filed 7-31-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P