[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 242 (Friday, December 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67164-67165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-30057]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, 
Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, WV

AGENCY: Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, 
Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, WV.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to document the analysis and disclose environmental 
impacts of proposed actions to continue long-term research on the 
Fernow Experimental Forest, and to manage the Fernow Experimental 
Forest for long-term ecological research. The purpose of the proposed 
research is to evaluate the effectiveness of silvicultural tools that 
include harvesting, herbicide control of vegetation, fertilization and 
prescribed burning on central Appalachian forests,

[[Page 67165]]

to better understand ecological dynamics within these forest 
ecosystems, and to develop management tools, practices and guidelines 
for central Appalachian hardwood forests.
    The 4,700-acre Fernow Experimental Forest is situated within the 
boundary of the Monongahela National Forest in Tucker County, West 
Virginia and is managed by the Northern Research Station of the USDA 
Forest Service. These proposed research activities are in compliance 
with the Monongahela 2006 Revised Forest Plan, which provides overall 
guidance for management of the area, including direction for management 
of the Fernow Experimental Forest, and with planning documents of the 
Northern Research Station and Fernow Experimental Forest.
    Public Involvement: The public is invited to comment on the 
Proposed Action during the analysis process. In order to best use your 
comments, please submit them in writing within 30 days of this 
announcement. Additional information is available on the Web at http://nrs.fs.fed.us/ef/locations/wv/fernow/EIS. Comments may also be 
submitted electronically at the above Web address.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
no later than January 19, 2010. The draft EIS is expected to be filed 
with the Environmental Protection Agency and available for public 
review in March 2010. The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 
days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the 
notice of availability of the draft EIS in the Federal Register. The 
final EIS is expected in June 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to USDA Forest Service, Timber and 
Watershed Laboratory, Attn: Fernow EIS, P.O. Box 404, Parsons, WV 
26287. Comments may also be submitted on-line at http://nrs.fs.fed.us/ef/locations/wv/fernow/EIS or via facsimile to 304-478-8692.
    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: Mary Beth Adams, Project Leader, USDA 
Forest Service, Northern Research Station, P.O. Box 404, Parsons, WV 
26287; (304) 478-2000; [email protected].
    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

    Sound management of Appalachian hardwood forests is important for 
maintaining the productivity and diversity of these woodlands, and to 
sustain their value for the many owners and users of forest land 
throughout the Appalachians. To achieve these goals, management 
guidelines based on sound scientific research are needed. Often it is 
necessary that this research be long-term in scope and duration to 
adequately describe long-lived forests. Accordingly, to meet these 
information needs, the purpose of the proposed actions is to (1) 
conduct research on the effects of various silvicultural practices on 
forest productivity, species composition and diversity, wildlife 
populations and ecosystems processes, and (2) manage the Fernow 
Experimental Forest for long-term ecosystem research.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action involves using the following silvicultural 
treatments in on-going research studies: Diameter-limiting cutting 
treatment on 94 acres, single-tree selection on 121 acres, financial 
maturity harvesting on 214 acres, 93 acres of small clearcuts, group 
selection on 31 acres, and prescribed fire on 562 acres. Other 
treatments include fertilization of about 101 acres using ammonium 
sulfate fertilizer, herbicide treatment of selected trees and invasive 
exotic plants, and maintenance of roads and other infrastructure.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official is the Project Leader of NRS-01, USDA 
Forest Service, Northern Research Station, P.O. Box 404, Parsons, WV 
26287.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made is whether or not to conduct research and 
management activities, including harvest, prescribed fire, 
fertilization, and herbicide treatments, on approximately 1,227 acres 
of the Fernow Experimental Forest during a 5-year period, to meet the 
purpose and need for action through some other combination of 
activities, or to take no action at this time.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. The Forest 
Service is soliciting comments from Federal, State and local agencies 
and other individuals or organizations that may be interested in or 
affected by the proposed research activities, by contacting persons and 
organizations on the Fernow's mailing list and publishing a notice in 
the local newspaper. No scoping meetings are planned at this time. The 
present solicitation is for comments on this Notice of Intent and 
scoping materials. Comments from the public and other agencies will be 
used in preparation of the draft EIS. The scoping process will be used 
to identify questions and issues regarding the proposed action. An 
issue is defined as a point of dispute, debate, or disagreement related 
to a specific proposed action based on its anticipated effects. 
Significant issues brought to our attention are used during an 
environmental analysis to develop alternatives to the proposed action.
    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.

    Dated: December 11, 2009.
Mary Beth Adams,
Project Leader, NRS-01.
[FR Doc. E9-30057 Filed 12-17-09; 8:45 am]
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