[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43711-43712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6632]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Black Hills National Forest, Northern Hills Ranger District, SD, 
Citadel Project Area Proposal and Analysis

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 implement multiple resource management 
actions within the Citadel Project Area as directed by the amended 
Black Hills National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. The 
Citadel Project Area covers approximately 28,000 acres of National 
Forest System land and approximately 5,500 acres of interspersed 
private land southwest of Spearfish, South Dakota. proposed actions 
include a combination of vegetation and fuels treatments to reduce 
crown fire risks, reduce

[[Page 43712]]

mountain pine beetle susceptibility, and improve wildlife habitat 
(particularly big game winter range). The proposed vegetative 
management actions include 11,000 acres of commercial thinning, 2,600 
acres of overstory removal, 2,100 acres of pre-commercial thinning, 860 
acres of commercial seed cuts, 200 acres of mechanical fuel treatments, 
and up to 14,000 acres of prescribed burning.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by September 1, 2006. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected to be available December 2006 and the final environmental 
impact statement is expected to be completed by March 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Jane Eide, Acting District Ranger, 
Black Hills National Forest, Northern Hills Ranger District, 2014 North 
Main Street, Spearfish, SD 57783. Telephone number: (605) 642-4622, e-
mail: [email protected] with 
``Citadel'' as the subject.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Stiller, District Planner, 
Black Hills National Forest, Northern Hills Ranger District, 2014 North 
Main Street, Spearfish, SD 57783. Telephone number: (605) 642-4622.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Purpose of and Need for Action: The purpose of and need for the 
actions proposed in the Citadel Project is to: Reduce the acres at high 
or medium risk for crown fire; Reduce acres of high or medium 
susceptibility to mountain pine beetle; and Improve wildlife habitat 
with an emphasis on big game winter range. All actions are intended to 
move toward or achieve related Forest Plan Goals and Objectives, 
consistent with Forest Plan Standards and Guidelines.
    Proposed Action: Proposed actions include the following:
    Reduce the acres at high or medium risk for crown fire by thinning 
stands to decrease crown proximity. Thinning may use commercial or non-
commercial methods. Fuel reduction treatments could include lopping, 
chipping, crushing, piling and burning, construction of fuel breaks, 
and broadcast prescribed burning.
    Reduce acres at high or medium susceptibility to mountain pine 
beetle by thinning stands and changing stand structure. Commercial and 
non-commercial (including burning) methods may be used.
    Improve wildlife habitat by understory thinning or removal to 
encourage increased and improved forage. Non-commercial methods of 
prescribed burning, cutting, and chopping may be used. Improve old 
growth characteristics by understory treatment which includes cutting, 
chopping, and burning.
    Responsible Official: District Ranger, Black Hills National Forest, 
Northern Hills Ranger District, 2014 North Main Street, Spearfish, SD 
57783.
    Nature of Decision To Be Made: The decision to be made is whether 
or not to implement the proposed action or alternatives at this time.
    Scoping Process: Comments and input regarding the proposal were 
requested from the public, other groups, and other agencies via direct 
mailing and a public meeting in May/June 2006. The comment period 
remains open through September 1, 2006. Also, response to the draft EIS 
will be sought from the interested public beginning approximately 
December 2006.
    Comment Requested: This notice of intent initiates the scoping 
process which guides the development of the environment impact 
statement. It is our desire to involve interested parties and 
especially adjacent landowners in identifying the issues related to 
proposed activities. Comments will assist in identification of key 
issues and opportunities to develop project alternatives and mitigation 
measures.
    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 (beginning approximately December 1, 
2006) 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 at 
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
    Comments received, including the names and addressed of those who 
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal 
and will be available for public inspection (40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; 
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 21).

    Dated: July 26, 2006.
Craig Bobzien,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 06-6632 Filed 8-1-06; 8:45am]
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