[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 81 (Friday, April 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21046-21047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-8100]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID-420-2824-DD-FM04]


Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Eastside Township Fuels and Vegetation Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
hereby gives notice that the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for the proposed Eastside Township Fuels and Vegetation Project is 
available for public review. The BLM is the lead Federal agency for 
preparation of the EIS in compliance with the requirements of the NEPA 
and the Nez Perce National Forest is a Cooperating Agency.

DATES: The document will be available for 30 days following publication 
of a Notice of Availability (NOA) of this document, in the Federal 
Register, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ADDRESSES: The Final EIS is available online at the BLM Web site: 
http://www.id.blm.gov/offices/cottonwood/index.htm (available March 15, 
2007). Copies of the document can also be viewed at or obtained by 
contacting the BLM Cottonwood Field Office, 1 Butte Drive, Cottonwood, 
ID 83522; or e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robbin Boyce at (208) 962-3245 or e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Eastside Township Fuels and Vegetation 
Project (Eastside) is located in north central Idaho, near the southern 
portion of the Idaho Panhandle in Idaho County. The project area, which 
encompasses approximately 3,300 acres, borders the small, isolated town 
of Elk City and includes the surrounding wildland urban interface (WUI) 
areas. Actual BLM-administered lands to be treated total approximately 
1,300 acres.
    This landscape level project was developed to address increasing 
fuel loads resulting from combined effects of long-term fire 
suppression and an on-going mountain pine beetle epidemic in the Elk 
City area. The purpose of this project is to manage the fuels and 
vegetation conditions in the Elk City WUI area. The project objectives 
are to:
     Reduce the risk of high intensity wildland fire to life, 
property and natural resources and the likelihood of severe local fire 
effects by removing dead, dying, and downed trees that would otherwise 
result in high fuel loading;
     Manage forest stands to create conditions that will 
contribute to sustaining long-lived fire tolerant tree species by 
regenerating to western larch and Douglas-fir, and by retaining most 
Douglas-fir, western larch, and ponderosa pine;
     Create an upward trend in fish habitat condition; and
     Contribute to the economic and social well being of area 
users and local residents.
    Existing and potential fuel loads would be reduced through a 
combination of vegetation manipulation and fuels treatments while 
supporting a long term upward trend in fish habitat condition. 
Treatments include removing dead and dying trees and selectively 
harvesting other trees in both lodgepole pine and mixed conifer stands. 
Fuel treatments include thinning, piling and burning, prescribed 
burning, and biomass utilization.
    The Final EIS analyzes four alternatives based on issues identified 
during the scoping process. Alternatives include a no action 
alternative and the

[[Page 21047]]

agency Preferred Alternative, Alternative B. Issues include hazardous 
fuels, watershed, fisheries, and road/trail access-transportation 
system. The Preferred Alternative proposes to treat about 1,300 acres 
requiring about 15.1 miles of temporary road construction. Upon 
completion of the project, including road decommissioning, there would 
be no net change of road density per square mile in the American River 
watershed and a decrease of 2.12 miles of permanent road in the project 
area.
    The Preferred Alternative also proposes watershed improvements that 
would provide for an upward trend in aquatic habitat and water quality. 
These include riparian planting along 4.8 miles of the American River; 
decommissioning 1.9 miles of existing road; constructing 0.57 miles of 
new permanent road along the American River; improving stream crossings 
(two ford closures, one ford hardening, and two ATV bridge 
replacements); reconnecting Queen Creek with the American River; 
converting 1.6 miles of road to ATV trail; and recontouring 1.2 miles 
of streambank along the American River.
    The Final EIS responds to public comments that were received on the 
Draft EIS.
    The Nez Perce National Forest (NPNF) is a Cooperating Agency with 
specific expertise and interest in the project. The BLM proposes to use 
and construct roads on the NPNF to implement the Eastside project. The 
NPNF may authorize the use and construction of roads for the Eastside 
project based on the analysis in this Final EIS.

Stephanie Snook,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. E7-8100 Filed 4-26-07; 8:45 am]
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