[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 149 (Thursday, August 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44883-44884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15400]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 149 / Thursday, August 4, 2005 / 
Notices  

[[Page 44883]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Kaibab National Forest; North Kaibab Ranger District; Jacob Ryan 
Vegetation Management

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Jacob Ryan Vegetation Management project would perform 
vegetation treatments on approximately 30,000 acres around Jacob Lake 
in Northern Arizona. The proposal would conduct ponderosa pine 
individual tree selection and group selection, commercial thinning, 
with ponderosa pine precommercial thinning of saplings, meadow 
restoration, fuels reduction, fuel break maintenance, hazard tree 
removal, and old growth and wildlife habitat management. This proposal 
would enhance habitat for the northern goshawk and its prey species by 
providing a mix of cover and more open foraging areas in accordance 
with the Kaibab National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan; 
reduce the fuel loading across the planning area; maintain fuelbreaks 
designed to slow the spread of wildfire; reduce the likelihood of ice 
on highway U.S. Highways 89A and 67 by removing trees that shade the 
highway; decrease the sources of dwarf mistletoe infection where they 
threaten the maintenance or attainment of desired forest structure; and 
remove young trees from selected areas that were formerly meadows.

DATES: The draft environmental impact statement is expected August 2005 
and the final environmental impact statement is expected January 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Jill Leonard, District Ranger, 
North Kaibab Ranger District, 430 South Main Fredonia, AZ 86022. For 
further information, mail correspondence to Jonathan M. Beck, 
Environmental Coordinator, North Kaibab Ranger District, 430 South Main 
Fredonia, AZ 86022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan M. Beck, Environmental 
Coordinator, North Kaibab Ranger District, Forest Service USDA (see 
ADDRESSES above).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Landscape Assessment for Jacob-Lake Planning Area identified 
the existing and desired conditions within the Jacob Ryan planning 
area. There is a need to modify the forest vegetation to put it on a 
trajectory toward the desired conditions for: (1) Reduced tree density 
(as defined by the Kaibab National Forest Land and Resource Management 
Plan (KNFLRMP)--e.g., because the existing vegetative structural stages 
(VSS) differ from the percentages recommended in the KNFLMP; (2) 
Sustained old growth forest, (3) Enhanced wildlife habitat (northern 
goshawk, goshawk prey species and other species), (4) Reduced wildfire 
risk; and (5) Improved scenic integrity and in turn recreation 
opportunities. This action responds to the goals and objectives 
outlined in the Kaibab National Forest, Forest Plan.

Proposed Action

    The Jacob Ryan Planning Area is located in the northern part of the 
North Kaibab Ranger District, Coconino County, Arizona; Townships 38, 
39 and 40 North; Ranges 1, 2, & 3 East and 1 West. Increases in tree 
density in the ponderosa pine (PP) and pinyon juniper (PJ) cover types 
has had a profound effect on the Jacob Ryan Planning Area. High tree 
densities have increased competition between trees. Intertree 
competition has: (1) Reduced tree growth; (2) increased tree insect and 
diseases susceptibility; and (3) increase the potential for intense 
stand replacing wildfire. Increased tree density also has an indirect 
effect on human safety in the planning area. Large numbers of trees 
beside the highway decrease site distance, and create a potentially 
dangerous situation for vehicles and their occupants. Hazards include 
winter ice retention and build-up, from tree shading along the highway, 
potential dead trees falling on vehicles, and vehicle-tree collisions 
in the highway right-of-way. Dense stands and areas with few openings 
in the overstory canopy inhibit the presence and growth of shrubs, 
forbs, and grasses and thus limit foraging opportunities for goshawks, 
goshawk prey species, and other wildlife species. The Forest Service 
proposes to use vegetation treatments to reduce tree density in the 
project area to meet the purpose and need. The proposed action would 
perform vegetation treatments on approximately 30,000 acres in the 
following manner:
     Approximately 22,000 acres of commercial thinning 
(9''+trees), precommercial thinning, and group selection (approximately 
330 acres) in ponderosa pine are proposed. Of the 22,000 acres, 2,000-
2,200 acres would receive only precommercial thinning. This proposal 
would allow thinning from below in all VSS groups.
     Perform sanitation treatments on 524 acres of dwarf 
mistletoe infected stands with group selection on 23 acres. These acres 
are reflected in the thinning and regeneration acres included in the 
first bullet, above..
     Restore watershed condition by thinning 1,143 acres of 
pinyon juniper woodland.
     Restore and maintain 263 acres of meadows by reducing 
encroaching blackjack pines, leave all trees >16 inches d.b.h. in the 
meadows.
     Amend the Kaibab National Forest Land and Resource 
Management Plan to restore approximately 187 acres (included in 
restoration acres above) of timber component 500 lands (Suited Forest 
Land--Timber Emphasis) to grassland/savannah--timber component 800 
lands (Incompatible).
     Maintain, enhance and restore 3,300-3,400 acres of aspen 
groups (included in the 22,000 thinning acres above) by removing all 
``blackjack'' ponderosa pine 12 inches d.b.h. and less from the 
understory or within 20 feet of the perimeter of existing aspen groups.
     Remove hazard trees and trees shading the highway where 
needed for daylighting hazardous portions of the highway or for 
increasing sight distance along 12 miles of highways 89A and 67.
     Reduce live and dead hazardous fuels on approximately 995 
acres in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Zone (Acres are included in 
the thinning acres above.) The acres within 300 feet of structures and 
campgrounds will be treated most intensively. If needed

[[Page 44884]]

additional treatments could be done to maintain satisfactory 
conditions.
     Reduce fuels to levels consistent with Forest Plan 
guidelines on acreage outside of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).
     Conduct prescribed burning to reduce hazardous fuels on 
24,141 treated acres and 9,149 non-treated acres.
     Maintain 56 miles of fuelbreaks (2,140 acres--included in 
thinning acres above) by removing all limbs lower than 5 feet and by 
removing most trees less than 9'' diameter (except in limited areas to 
be managed for trees less than 9'' in diameter).
     Close or re-close all roads within the project area 
except: Hwy 98A, Hwy 67, Forest Roads: 461, two short roads to J.L. 
Lookout Tower, roads in Jacob Lake Campground & Group Area, ADOT yard 
access road, 2098, 2284, 2333, 2366, 246, 246E, 246L, 246LA, 246T, 247, 
248, 248A to bottom of canyon, 249, 249E, 257, 257G, 260, 264, 264H, 
279, 279A, 280, 282, 282A, 282F, 3709, 3726, 3730, 3847, 3878, 3894, 
3911, 3917A, 3989, 461, 461B, 461G, 461I, 461N, 462, 482, 482G, 482M, 
487, 487A, 579, 579A, 603, 603E, 628, 628C, 634, 636, 639, 800, 800B, 
800K, 8116, 9603, 9303M, 9604, 9607N, D155, D202, D261, D282, D284, 
D627, D447, D475, D476, D674, D679, D684, D688, D689, and D738.

Possible Alternatives

    The District considered an alternative to the proposed action on 
November 14, 2001. This alternative limits vegetative manipulation to 
ponderosa pine trees, 12 inches d.b.h. and less with no hazard tree 
removal.

Responsible Official

    Michael R. Williams--800 6th Street, Williams, AZ 86046-2899.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Given the purpose and need, the Kaibab National Forest, Forest 
Supervisor will review the proposed action, the other alternatives, and 
their impacts to the resources in order to make the following 
decisions:
    (1) Whether or not the Jacob Ryan Vegetation Management project 
will proceed as proposed in the Proposed Action.
    (2) Whether or not the Jacob Ryan Vegetation Management project 
will proceed as described in one of the alternatives to the Proposed 
Action.
    (3) Which mitigation measures are necessary to reduce project 
effects.

Scoping Process

    The proposal was first listed in the October 2000 Schedule of 
Proposed Actions. In addition, as part of the public involvement 
process, the District initiated discussions with key stakeholders with 
the objective of collaboratively defining old growth characteristics 
and identifying potential treatment activities that could be ``tested'' 
within old growth vegetation as part of the Jacob Ryan Vegetation 
Management project in the summer of 1998. After receiving public 
comments, we clarified the proposal.

Preliminary Issues

    The Forest identified 3 significant issues during scoping. These 
issues are:
    (1) Managing only 20% of the Plateau for old growth will result in 
the lost opportunity to develop additional old growth.
    (2) The proposed WUI treatment area is too large, and will remove 
more trees than necessary for the protection needed.
    (3) Livestock grazing in the Jacob Ryan area may affect the ability 
to reach the ecosystem goal of meadow restoration.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the Environmental Impact Statement 
Process for the Jacob Ryan Vegetation Management project.
    Early Notice of Important 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: July 27, 2005.
Jill Leonard,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 05-15400 Filed 8-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M