[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 127 (Friday, July 2, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40348-40349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15095]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 127 / Friday, July 2, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 40348]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests, Wisconsin, Lakewood/Laona 
Plantation Thinning EIS

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement on a proposal to thin approximately 10,557 acres (294 stands) 
of plantations across the Lakewood/Laona Ranger District of the 
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests. Most plantations consist mainly 
of red pine with some white spruce and lesser amounts of white pine. 
Limited amounts of other species may also be found in some stands. The 
purpose of this proposal is to maintain and enhance the growth and 
vigor of trees within treatment areas while providing commercial timber 
products. No road reconstruction or new road construction is proposed. 
All activities would likely occur within six years of the decision 
date.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
within 14 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register. The draft environmental impact statement is expected by 
October 2004 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
by March 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Joel H. Skjerven, District Ranger, 
Lakewood/Laona Ranger District, 15085 State Rd 32, Lakewood, Wisconsin 
54138, or e-mail your comments to: [email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Sweeney, Project Manager, at the 
above address, or call (715) 276-6333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose and Need for Action: The purpose of 
the proposed action is to maintain stand health and vigor by applying 
treatments to achieve desired stocking levels while providing a 
sustained yield of wood products.
    This project is designed to promote tree growth and vigor over time 
by developing a wide range of stands over a large portion of the 
Forests and to allow for flexibility in applying treatments as needed 
between 2005 and 2011. Thinning these stands would:
     Provide terrestrial ecosystems in healthy, diverse, and 
productive conditions (Forest Plan, Goal 1.4, p. 1-3) by preventing 
insect and disease problems associated with overstocked stands and 
enhancing diameter growth for strength and protection against wind and 
snow damage.
     Contribute toward satisfying demand for wood products and 
special forest products through environmentally responsible harvest on 
National Forest System lands (Forest Plan, Goal 2.5, p. 1-6).
     Contribute toward the species and product output specified 
in the Forest Plan (Forest Plan, Appendix GG)
    The need for treatment was identified when existing conditions were 
compared with Forest Plan desired future conditions. Based on data 
collected (field exam in 2003, project file), the identified red pine 
and white spruce plantations will either exceed or will be close to 
exceeding desired stocking levels within the next 10 years.

Proposed Action

    The project is designed to thin approximately 10,557 acres (294 
stands) of plantations across the Lakewood/Laona Ranger District of the 
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests. Most plantations consist mainly 
of red pine with some white spruce and lesser amounts of white pine. 
Limited amounts of other species may be found in some stands. The 
purpose of this proposal is to maintain and enhance the growth and 
vigor of trees within treatment areas while providing commercial timber 
products. All stands in the proposed action will be accessed from 
existing Forest roads; there will be no construction or reconstruction 
of roads.

Responsible Official

    Anne F. Archie, Forest Supervisor, 68 S. Stevens St., Rhinelander, 
Wisconsin 54501 is the Responsible Official.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Service must decide whether it will implement this 
proposal, an alternative design that moves the area towards the desired 
condition, or not implement any project at this time.

Scoping Process

    In April 2003, this vegetation management project was included in 
the Chequanegon-Nicolet National Forests' Schedule of Proposed Actions, 
which was posted on the Chequanegon-Nicolet National Forests' internet 
website and mailed to interested parties. In June of 2004, a scoping 
letter for the proposed vegetation management project was mailed to 677 
individuals, groups, organizations, tribes, and Federal, State, and 
local agencies. The scoping letter was sent to those who expressed 
interest in the proposal, those who owned property adjacent to the 
project area, and to agencies with responsibilities for local resource 
management. This notice of intent invites additional public comment on 
this proposal and initiates the preparation of the environmental impact 
statement. Due to the extensive scoping effects already conducted, no 
scoping meeting is planned. The public is encouraged to take part in 
the planning process and to visit with Forest Service officials at any 
time during the analysis and prior to the decision. While public 
participation is this analysis is welcome at any time, comments 
received within 14 days of the publication of this notice will be 
especially useful in the preparation of the draft environmental impact 
statement. The scoping process will include identification of potential 
issues, in depth analysis of significant issues, development of 
alternatives to the proposed action, and determination of potential 
environmental effects of the proposal and alternatives.

Preliminary Issues

    Two preliminary issues have been identified for this proposal as 
follows: (1) Thinning and associated activities in stands along 
segments of the National Eligible Wild, Scenic, and Recreational (WSR) 
Peshtigo River and North Branch Peshtigo River could adversely affect

[[Page 40349]]

WSR values for those segments. (2) Thinning and associated activities 
could have temporary adverse impacts on bird habitats.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. The public is 
encouraged to take part in the process and is encouraged to visit with 
Forest Service officials at any time during the analysis and prior to 
the decision. The Forest Service will be seeking information, comments 
and assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies and other 
individuals or organizations that may be interested in, or affected by, 
the proposed vegetation management activities.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review: A draft environmental impact statement will be 
prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental 
impact statement 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, 
533 (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, 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 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 
and concerns on 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 15 
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.)


    Dated: June 18, 2004.
Anne F. Archie,
Forest Supervisor, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests.
[FR Doc. 04-15095 Filed 7-1-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M