[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39402-39403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14841]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Rock Creek Integrated Management Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA, and Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

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

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SUMMARY: Between 2002 and 2003, Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) activity in 
the drought-stressed Gore Pass Geographic Area increased 20-fold. A 
multidisciplinary, focused assessment was completed that identified the 
probability of a large-scale, high intensity beetle epidemic and fires 
that will threaten hydrologic flows, timber, wildlife habitats, 
developed recreation sites, administrative sites, the transportation 
system, heritage sites, off-site urban development, and other values. 
The interdisciplinary team identified potential management actions 
using prevention, suppression, and salvage strategies to reduce the 
beetle infestations and minimize adverse effects to resources.
    This project is an ``authorized project'' under Title I of the 
Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA). We will be using expedited 
procedures authorized by this act to complete project planning and 
decision-making. Use of this new authority requires an emphasis on 
collaboration with local communities and a determination that an 
epidemic exists by consulting with forest health specialists.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by August 16, 2004. The draft EIS is expected December 2004 and the 
final EIS is expected April 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/projects under 
Environmental Analysis and Forest Health. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments on the Web site.
     E-mail: r2--mbr--vis@FSNOTES. Include ``Rock Creek'' in 
the subject line of the message.
     Fax: (970) 870-2284.
     Mail of Hand Delivery: Joanne Sanfilippo, Environmental 
Coordinator, Medicine Bow--Routt National Forests, 925 Weiss Drive, 
Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80487.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanne Sanfilippo (970-870-2210) or 
Andy Cadenhead (970-870-2220), Medicine Bow--Routt National Forests, 
925 Weiss Drive, Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80487.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    Insect epidemics are one of the natural processes in forested 
landscapes. Some uses of the forest are compromised by tree mortality 
resulting from insect attacks. Recreation, wood product production, 
scenery, wildlife habitats and water resources are all adversely 
affected by large scale insect epidemics and the subsequent increased 
risk of these areas to large high intensity wildlife.
    The purpose of the Proposed Action is to reduce the size and 
intensity of an existing and imminent MPB epidemic, and to reduce the 
future risk of large-scale high intensity wildfires within the Rock 
Creek Analysis Area.
    There is a need to:
    1. Reduce the susceptibility of the lodgepole stands within the 
analysis area to MPB mortality,
    2. Actively suppress the ongoing MPB epidemic to limit mature tree 
mortality,
    3. Salvage and reforest areas quickly after the MPB mortality,
    4. Relocate and/or decommission segments of the road system that 
are likely to cause adverse impacts to stream networks,
    5. Reduce fuel loading associated with beetle killed trees,
    6. Create defensible fire zones around the Lynx and Gore Pass 
areas,
    7. Reduce anticipated mature tree mortality in Threatened, 
Endangered, and Sensitive wildlife species habitats.

Proposed Action

    Prevention methods identified involve spraying, forest thinning, 
and creating changes to existing stand tree species and age 
distributions. Suppression techniques involve removing, burning, or 
peeling beetle-infested trees; along with the use of pheromones to 
redirect beetles into or out of specific areas. Salvage actions are 
intended to capture the value of dead and dying trees, to remove 
mistletoe-infested trees to protect stand regeneration, and to reduce 
concentrations of dead and dying trees that increase the potential for 
large-scale high intensity fires. Road construction is needed to 
provide access to treatment areas outside of roadless areas. Road 
repair and decommissioning will correct existing or anticipated erosion 
and water flow problems likely exacerbated by increased water flows 
resulting from beetle-induced tree mortality.

[[Page 39403]]

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Medicine Bow--Routt National Forests is the lead agency. The 
Glenwood Springs Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management is the 
cooperating agency for the Rock Creek Integrated Management Project.

Responsible Official

    The responsible officials are Mary Peterson, Forest Supervisor, 
Medicine Bow--Routt National Forests, 2468 Jackson Street, Laramie, 
Wyoming 82070-6535 and Jamie Connell, Area Manager, Glenwood Springs 
Field Office, 50629 Hwys 6 & 24, P.O. Box 1009, Glenwood Springs, CO 
81602.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision will be whether to treat timberstands affected by or 
likely to be affected by the MPB epidemic. If the decision is to treat 
timberstands, the type, distribution, and priority of treatments is 
decided with consideration for resource protection for watersheds, 
recreation and administrative sites, scenery, and wildlife habitat.

Scoping Process

    The Forest Service has listed the project in the Schedule of 
Proposed Actions that is posted on the Web and mailed to parties 
interested in Medicine Bow--Routt National Forests projects. A scoping 
letter describing the project has been mailed to interested parties. 
The Forest Service will also respond to information requests about the 
project and hold open house public meetings and field trips.

Electronic Access and Filing

    All future documents and information on the Rock Creek Integrated 
Management Project will be posted at www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/projects 
under ``Forest Health.'' You may submit comments and data by sending 
electronic mail (E-mail) to r2--mbr--mvis@FSNOTES and including ``Rock 
Creek'' in the subject line of the message.
    When submitting comments please include your full name and address. 
Submit comments in Microsoft Word 2000 file format or as an ASCII file 
avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent is part of the scoping process which guides 
the development of the EIS.

Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review

    A draft EIS will be prepared for comment. The comment period on the 
draft EIS will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection 
Agency 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 
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)]. 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 final EIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft EIS 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 EIS 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. Comments received, including 
the names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part 
of the public record on this proposal and will be available for public 
inspection. (Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service 
Handbook 1909.15, Section 21).

Healthy Forests Restoration Act Predecisional Review (Objection) 
Process

    HFRA [Section 105(a)] replaces the USDA Forest Service's 
administrative appeals process with an objection process that occurs 
before the decision approving authorized fuel-reduction projects under 
the act. Participation in the predecisional review process is limited 
to individuals and organizations who have submitted specific written 
comments related to the proposed authorized hazardous-fuel-reduction 
project during the opportunity for public comment provided when an 
environmental (EA) or EIS is being prepared for the project [Section 
105(a)(3), 36 CFR 218.6].
    Written objections, including any attachments, must be filed with 
the reviewing officer within 30 days after the publication date of the 
legal notice of the EA or final EIS in the newspaper of record [Section 
218.4(b)]. It is the responsibility of the objectors to ensure that 
their objection is received in a timely manner.

    Dated: June 3, 2004.
Mary H. Peterson,
Forest Supervisor, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, USDA Forest 
Service.
    Dated: June 14, 2004.
Jamie Connell,
Area Manager, Glenwood Springs Field Office, USDI Bureau of Land 
Management.
[FR Doc. 04-14841 Filed 6-29-04; 8:45 am]
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