[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 97 (Friday, May 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29271-29272]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-10078]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, WS; Fishbone Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 
Washburn, Ranger District intends to prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental consequences of the 
``Fishbone Project'' vegetation management proposal. In the EIS the 
Forest Service will address the potential environmental impacts 
associated with timber harvest (including clearcut harvest with reserve 
trees, shelterwood, and thinning), restoring small, open areas and 
``pocket barrens'' as a component of the overall landscape, and 
providing a safe road system that meets the long term transportation 
needs. The Fishbone Project Area is approximately 22,000 acres in size 
and is located approximately 6 miles east of Iron River, Wisconsin.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
by June 15, 2005 to receive timely consideration in the preparation of 
the draft EIS. The draft environmental impact statement is expected by 
Janaury, 2006, and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
by April, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the responsible official care of: 
Jennifer Maziasz, Project Leader; Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 
Washburn Ranger District; P.O. Box 578, Washburn, WI 54891. Send 
electronic comments to: [email protected]. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for 
information on how to send electronic comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Maziasz, Project Leader, 
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Washburn Ranger District, USDA 
Forest Service; telephone: 715-373-2667. See address above under 
ADDRESSES. Copies of the documents may also be requested at the same 
address. Another means of obtaining the information is to visit the 
Forest Web page at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/cnnf/ click on ``Natural 
Resources'', then ``Fishbone Project''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Purpose and Need for Action: The purpose and need for the project 
is to: (1) Restore forest health and improve the economic value in 
older, decadent, and/or diseased oak and aspen stands by promoting 
younger growth, reducing competition, improving crown condition, or 
increasing species diversity, (2) Improve the vigor, health, and future 
economic value of red pine plantations by reducing tree competition, 
(3) Restore small, open areas and ``pocket barrens'' as a component of 
the overall landscape, (4) Provide an efficient and safe road system 
that meets the long term transportation needs, and (5) Provide timber 
to meet local and/or regional demands for wood products.
    Proposed Action: The proposed project consists of approximately 
5,200 acres of forest management activities. Briefly, the objectives of 
the proposal are to maintain and enhance the forest health and vigor of 
trees within the project area while providing a variety of wood 
products; and, to restore and improve various aspects of the 
terrestrial ecosystem and transportation system. A brief summary of the 
proposed activities follows: (1) Clearcut (with reserve trees) 1,500 
acres, (2) thin 2,100 acres, (3) shelterwood harvest 1,600 acres, (4) 
maintain 50 acres of wildlife openings by brushing and/or prescribed 
burning, (5) restore 200 acres of ``pocket barrens'' by thinning and/or 
prescribed burning (pocket barrens are small areas of rare plant 
communities dominated by grass, low shrubs, small trees, and scatttered 
large trees), and (6) manage for an efficient road system. Road 
activities would construct 6 miles of new permanent roads and 4 miles 
of temporary roads to facilitate timber harvest. In addition, 35 miles 
of roads that the Forest Service has determined is not needed for the 
long term management would be decommissioned.
    Responsible Official: Anne Archie, Forest Supervisor; Chequamegon-
Nicolet National Forest, 1170 4th Avenue South, Park Falls, WI 54552.
    Nature of Decision To Be Made: The decision will be limited to 
answering the following three questions based on the environmental 
analysis: (1) What actions would be used to address the purpose and 
need, (2) where and when these actions would occur, and (3) what 
mitigation measures and monitoring requirements will be required.
    Scoping Process: The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest plans to 
scope

[[Page 29272]]

for information by contacting persons and organizations on the 
District's mailing list, by publishing a notice the local newspapers, 
and by posting flyers at key locations within and nearby the Fishbone 
project area. No public meetings are planned at this time.
    Electronic Access to Information: Information is available 
electronically on the Forest Web page: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/cnnf/--
click on ``Natural Resources'', then ``Fishbone Project''. Send 
electronic comments to: [email protected]. When sending electronic comments, please reference 
the Fishbone Project in the subject line. In addition, include your 
name and address.
    Comment Requested: This notice of intent initiates the scoping 
proces which guides the development of the environmental impact 
statement. Although comments are welcome throughout the analysis 
process, your comments would be most useful if received by June 15, 
2005. Everyone who provides comments will be periodically updated 
during the course of the Fishbone Project regarding its development, as 
well as receive a copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement in 
order to review the results of our analysis.
    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, 
553 (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 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)

    Dated: May 10, 2005.
Anne F. Archie,
Forest Supervisor, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
[FR Doc. 05-10078 Filed 5-19-05; 8:45 am]
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