[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 156 (Monday, August 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47785-47787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16123]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Ochoco National Forest, Lookout Mountain Ranger District; Oregon; 
East Maurys Fuels and Vegetation Management Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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[[Page 47786]]

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is proposing to conduct timber 
harvest, noncommercial thinning, and fuels reduction activities in the 
eastern half of the Maury Mountains. The proposal includes the 
connected action of constructing 20.9 miles of road. The project area 
covers approximately 24,250 acres.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by October 1, 2005. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected by May 2006 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected in November 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Arthur J. Currier, District Ranger, 
Lookout Mountain Ranger District, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE Third 
Street, Prineville, Oregon 97754. Alternately, electronic comments can 
be sent to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Farrell, Project Leader, at the 
address listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of this proposal is to (1) maintain and increase late 
and old structure (LOS) stands especially in areas deficient of large 
trees; (2) reduce the amount of dense, overstocked stands and improve 
health and vigor, while maintaining a mosaic of tree species and ages; 
(3) maintain and increase diversity of native plant communities, such 
as aspen and broadleaf shrubs; (4) reduce juniper encroachment and 
restore grass, forb, and shrub communities on western juniper sites; 
and, (5) reduce fuel loads and the potential for high-intensity 
wildfires.

Proposed Action

    The Lookout Mountain Ranger District is proposing to manage 
vegetation through commercial timber harvest, noncommercial thinning, 
and fuel reduction activities. The proposed action includes 
approximately 6,850 acres of commercial harvest, 11,130 acres of 
noncommercial thinning, and 11,140 acres of fuel reduction treatments. 
Fuel reduction treatments include approximately 7,500 acres of 
prescribed fire, and 3,700 acres of grapple and hand piling. Commercial 
harvest includes tractor, skyline, and horse logging systems. Areas 
identified as tractor logging are areas where heavy equipment, such as 
logging tractors, will be used to remove a commercial product. Road 
construction activities include 20.9 miles of new road construction, 
21.8 miles of reconstructing roads on an existing road bed, and opening 
24.6 miles of roads that are currently closed. Newly constructed roads 
and roads that are reopened would be closed after harvest activities 
are complete.

Possible Alternatives

    A this time, the Forest Service is considering at least three 
alternatives. The no action alternative is the baseline for comparison 
and will analyze the effects of natural processes. Ongoing activities, 
such as road maintenance, noxious weeds treatments, and recreational 
use, would continue. Access for public and administrative purposes 
would continue on the existing transportation system. Alternative 2, 
the proposed action, will analyze the effects of timber harvest, 
noncommercial thinning, and prescribed fire activities, along with the 
connected road construction activities. The third alternative being 
considered at this time would analyze the effects of only conducting 
noncommercial thinning and prescribed fire activities. Other possible 
alternatives may reduce or restrict the amount of road construction 
activities. The action alternatives will examine combinations and 
degrees of activities in order to meet the purpose of and need for 
action and concerns stated during the public scoping process.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for this project is Larry Timchak, Forest 
Supervisor, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE Third Street, Prineville, 
Oregon 97754.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Supervisor will decide whether to conduct timber 
harvest, noncommercial thinning, and prescribe fire treatments within 
the East Maurys project area. The decision will be based on the 
information disclosed in the EIS, and the goals, objectives, and 
desired future conditions as stated in the Forest Plan. The responsible 
official will consider significant issues, public comments, 
environmental consequences, and compliance with applicable laws, 
regulations, and policies in making his decision. The rationale for the 
decision will be stated in the Record of Decision for the project.

Scoping Process

    The Lookout Mountain Ranger District intends to scope for 
information by mailing letters to persons and organizations interested 
or potentially affected by the proposed action. This project will also 
be included in the Ochoco National Forest Schedule of Projects for the 
duration of the environmental analysis.

Preliminary Issues

    The Lookout Mountain Ranger District in cooperation with the Crook 
County Natural Resources Planning Committee has identified one 
preliminary issue related to the amount of proposed road construction. 
The Lookout Mountain Ranger District will complete a roads analysis 
prior to issuing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Alternatives 
that reduce or restrict road construction may be considered.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent is part of the scoping process that will 
guide the development of the environmental impact statement. The 
primary purpose of scoping is to gather public comments, issues, and 
concerns regarding the proposed action. Comments, issues, and concerns 
may be used to formulate alternatives. Comments are most helpful if 
they are as specific as possible and relate to the proposed action. 
Comments should include the name, address, and, if possible, telephone 
number of the commenter. Electronic comments must be submitted as part 
of the actual e-mail message, or as an attachment in plain text (.txt), 
Microsoft Word (.doc), rich text format (.rtf), or portable document 
format (.pdf). Comments received in response to this solicitation, 
including the names and addresses of those who comment, will be 
considered part of the public record and will be available for public 
inspection.

Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review

    A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared and made 
available 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. Court. v. NRDC, 435 
U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections

[[Page 47787]]

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.

    Dated: August 3, 2005.
Arthur J. Currier,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 05-16123 Filed 8-12-05; 8:45 am]
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