[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 217 (Thursday, November 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58239-58240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27144]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Helena National Forest, MT, Telegraph Vegetation Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Helena National Forest is going to prepare an 
environmental impact statement for vegetation management actions in the 
Little Blackfoot drainage west of the Continental Divide. The purpose 
and need for action is to be responsive to the mountain pine beetle 
outbreak in this area, specifically to recover economic value of dead 
and dying trees. Additional purposes for the project include promoting 
desirable regeneration, reducing fuels and the risk of catastrophic 
fire, and maintaining diverse wildlife habitats.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by December 14, 2009. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected June 2010 and the final

[[Page 58240]]

environmental impact statement is expected November 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Liz Van Genderen, Helena National 
Forest, 2880 Skyway Dr., Helena, MT 59602. Comments may also be sent 
via e-mail to [email protected], or via facsimile to 
406-449-5436.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of 
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of 
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's 
concerns and contentions.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered, however.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Liz Van Genderen at 406-449-5201.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    Wide-scale tree mortality has occurred due to the mountain pine 
beetle. This mortality causes changes to fire behavior in the event of 
a wildfire. Treatment is needed to ensure diverse and sustainable 
forest stands and to lessen the probability of a catastrophic wildfire 
which could threaten wildland urban interface areas. The project 
focuses on reducing hazardous fuels, establishing healthy regeneration, 
and recovering the economic value of dead trees. In addition, aspen and 
whitebark pine can be promoted with treatment. The project also seeks 
to maintain or improve watershed values.

Proposed Action

    Approximately 6,335 acres are proposed for treatment. Roughly 2,000 
acres are young stands that established after past harvest and are in 
need of thinning to ensure they reach viable maturity. The remaining 
acres are primarily mature stands of lodgepole pine with some Douglas-
fir, Engelmann spruce, and subalpine fir with high mountain pine beetle 
mortality. These acres would be treated using a combination of 
improvement cuts, regeneration harvests, thinning, and prescribed fire. 
Post treatment activities would include approximately 3,800 acres of 
underburning, site prep, broadcast burning, jackpot burning, and hand 
piling/burning. In addition, trees that are hazardous to public and 
historic structures would be removed. Up to 7 miles of new road 
construction and approximately 5 miles of road reconstruction would be 
necessary to implement the proposed action.

Responsible Official

    Helena National Forest Supervisor.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decisions to be made include: whether to implement the proposed 
action or an alternative to the proposed action, what monitoring 
requirements would be appropriate to evaluate the implementation of 
this project, and whether a forest plan amendment would be necessary as 
a result of the decision for this project.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. In November 
2009, a scoping package will be mailed, an open house will be 
scheduled, and website information will be posted.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of 
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be 
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly 
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. The submission of 
timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to 
participate in subsequent administrative appeal or judicial review.

    Dated: November 5, 2009.
Kevin T. Riordan,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9-27144 Filed 11-10-09; 8:45 am]
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