[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5279-5281]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-1952]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 21 / Tuesday, February 2, 2010 / 
Notices  

[[Page 5279]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Sucker Creek Channel and Floodplain Restoration Project (Phase 
II), Rogue River--Siskiyou National Forest, Josephine County, OR

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 (EIS), to examine impacts connected with restoration of 
approximately a 0.5 mile section of Sucker Creek. The purpose for 
preparing this EIS is to analyze and disclose environmental 
consequences associated with a Proposed Action that includes a variety 
of restoration activities. Site-specific actions being proposed are 
designed to increase the quantity and improve the quality of fish 
habitat, reduce stream temperature, and reduce excessive fine sediment 
inputs from the project reach.
    The activities are proposed within a portion of the Sucker Creek 
watershed, located on private lands and lands administered by the Rogue 
River--Siskiyou National Forest, Wild Rivers Ranger District, Josephine 
County, Oregon.
    This proposal will tier to and be designed under the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Siskiyou National Forest Land 
and Resource Management Plan (LRMP, 1989), as amended by the Northwest 
Forest Plan (NWFP) (USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land 
Management 1994), which provides guidance for land management 
activities.
    Although this is an action having ``effects primarily of local 
concern (40 CFR 1506.6(3)),'' the Forest Service is nonetheless 
publishing this notice in the Federal Register to make diligent effort 
at involving the public, agencies, organizations, Native American 
tribes and other interested parties in preparation of this EIS.
    The Wild Rivers Ranger District invites written comments concerning 
the scope of the analysis in addition to those comments that will be 
solicited as a result of local public participation activities. The 
Forest Service will also give notice of the full environmental analysis 
and decision making process so that interested and affected people are 
made aware as to how they may participate and contribute to the final 
decision.

DATES: Issues and comments concerning the scope and analysis of this 
proposal must be received within 30 days following publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments regarding this proposal to Liz 
Berger, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, care of USDA Forest Service, 
Medford Interagency Office, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, Oregon 97504; 
FAX (541) 618-2149 or electronically to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information or questions 
about this proposal, contact Liz Berger, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, 
Rogue River--Siskiyou National Forest, phone: (541) 618-2051, FAX: 
(541) 618-2149, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The legal description of the area being 
considered is T. 39 S., R. 6 W, in section 31 and T. 39 S., R. 7 W., in 
section 36; W.M., Josephine County, Oregon.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of the Sucker Creek Channel and Floodplain 
Restoration--Phase II project is to improve fish habitat and water 
quality in the upper Sucker Creek Watershed. The specific restoration 
goals associated with the Purpose and Need for this project are to:
     Increase habitat quantity and improve habitat quality for 
coho salmon (listed as a threatened species under the Endangered 
Species Act), Chinook salmon, steelhead, and Pacific lamprey,
     Reduce stream temperature, and
     Reduce excessive fine sediment inputs from the project 
reach.
    Restoration actions are needed to address impacts to fish habitat 
and water quality associated with past land management activities. The 
Sucker Creek project reach (Sucker Creek) has changed over time due to 
the effects of hydraulic and placer mining activities, timber harvest, 
and roads. Sucker Creek has been straightened and realigned. Existing 
stream morphology measurements show the channel is a Rosgen F channel 
type which is characteristic of an entrenched and incised system. 
Historic aerial photos and topographic surveys examining past channel 
geometry show that the stream channel was more sinuous and contained a 
larger floodplain, characteristic of a Rosgen C channel type. Mine 
tailing piles confine the channel and channel instability has caused 
excessive erosion and steep cutbanks. Additional disturbance responses 
are present, including increased channel width and lack of channel 
depth, loss of pool habitat, loss of side channel habitat, increased 
channel migration, and loss of channel structure and habitat. There is 
a lack of large wood and the quantity is well below benchmark levels of 
80 pieces per mile.
    Stream temperatures are high and exceed Oregon Department of 
Environmental Quality (ODEQ) standards. Sucker Creek was listed for 
stream temperature (1994/1996 303(d) list) by ODEQ, the Total Maximum 
Daily Load (TMDL) was adopted, and the Water Quality Management Plan 
(WQMP) is being implemented. High stream temperatures are from multiple 
sources, including loss of stream shading and a widened channel that 
lacks depth.
    There is a need to improve fish habitat and water quality in Sucker 
Creek by reconstructing portions of the channel, placing large wood 
structures in the stream channel and floodplain, and riparian planting.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action for this project will implement restoration 
activities in a 0.5 mile section of Sucker Creek, including 
reconstruction of portions of the stream channel, placement of large 
wood structures in the stream channel and floodplain, and establishment 
of a riparian gallery forest. Further detail on the proposed 
restoration actions is as follows:
     Reconstruct portions of the mainstem channel--Portions of 
the mainstem channel will be reconstructed to create the pattern, 
dimension, and

[[Page 5280]]

profile appropriate for this stream type and valley type. This includes 
building bankfull benches or structures designed to restore floodplain 
connectivity and constructing new sections of stream channel. Stream 
meanders will be constructed, including pools, riffles, runs, and 
glides appropriate for this system. Banks will be stabilized, as 
needed. In addition, off-channel habitat features, such as alcoves, 
will be constructed. The existing channel will be plugged at 
reconstructed channel connection points using a combination of large 
wood, sediment comprised of fines, gravels, and cobbles, and slash 
material. The channel would be constructed using an excavator(s) and 
dozer.
     Placement of large wood structures--Structures will be 
used to: Reduce accelerated streambank erosion; provide grade control; 
enhance fish habitat (holding and rearing cover, spawning habitat, 
increase spatial habitat diversity); reintroduce and stabilize large 
wood for fisheries and stream channel stability; transport sediment; 
and provide energy dissipation. Approximately 160 large wood pieces 
will be placed using ground-based placement methods with excavators and 
other heavy equipment. Approximately 15 structures will be constructed 
on the mainstem portion of Sucker Creek. For these structures, key 
pieces will be buried into the banks and existing near-bank large 
riparian trees will used to buttress the instream wood and create 
stability. Depending on site conditions, boulders may also be used to 
anchor the logs in place and tree tips may be buried from 4 to 6'. Each 
tree will be approximately 50' in length with an approximate DBH 
ranging from 16 to 36''. About 50% or more of the trees used will have 
intact rootwads. All key wood pieces will be Port-Orford-cedar, incense 
cedar, or Douglas-fir. Large wood structures will be placed with an 
excavator.
     Establishment of a riparian gallery forest--Approximately 
four acres along the mainstem channel riparian area and floodplain will 
be planted with a mixture of native conifer, hardwood, and shrub 
species. Disease-resistant Port-Orford-cedar will be included in the 
mix of native conifers planted.
    Raw materials for the project, such as large wood, boulders, and 
gravels, will be obtained from Forest Service-managed land within or 
near the project area or from commercial sources. Trees are expected to 
come from Forest Service-managed lands within the Sucker Creek 
Watershed or from commercial sources. A team comprised of a forester, 
Port-Orford-cedar program manager, and a hydrologist and/or fisheries 
biologist will identify trees for the project. Depending on tree 
heights, one tree may produce up to two large wood pieces for the 
project. Identified trees and locations will be reviewed and analyzed 
by the interdisciplinary team to determine acceptable trees and sites 
for project materials.
    The project proposes to significantly increase coho salmon spawning 
and rearing habitat by restoring a self-maintaining stable meander 
pattern, creating pools, riffles, and glides, constructing large wood 
complexes, reconnecting floodplains, and planting a riparian gallery 
forest. The project will increase stream length and spawning and summer 
and winter rearing habitats. In addition, the project also proposes to 
decrease stream temperature by reducing stream width, increasing stream 
depth, and increasing stream shade through planting of conifers, 
hardwoods, and shrubs. These restoration activities will also 
contribute to reducing excessive fine sediment inputs. Project work 
will follow Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife instream work 
guidelines.

Alternatives

    Alternatives to the Proposed Action will include No-Action as 
required by NEPA. Additional alternatives may also be considered.
    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process under NEPA, 
which will guide the development of the draft EIS. The draft EIS is 
expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and 
to be available for public comment by May 2010. The comment period for 
the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date EPA publishes the Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register.
    At the end of this period, comments submitted to the Forest 
Service, including names and addresses of those who responded, will be 
considered part of the public record for this proposal, and as such 
will be available for public review. Comments submitted anonymously 
will be accepted and considered; however, those who submit anonymous 
comments will not have standing to the Objection Process the under 36 
CFR Part 218.
    Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request the 
agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing how 
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. 
Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under the 
FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only very limited 
circumstances, such as to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service 
will inform the requester of the agency's decision regarding the 
request for confidentiality, and where the request is denied, the 
agency will return the submission and notify the requester that the 
comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address within a 
specified number of days.
    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 EISs 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 EIS stage, but that are not raised 
until completion of the final EIS, may be waived or dismissed by the 
courts. City 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 important that those 
interested in this proposed action participate by the close of the 
comment period so 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 EIS should 
be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to 
specific pages or chapters of the draft EIS. Comments may also address 
the adequacy of the draft EIS 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 on the draft EIS will be analyzed, considered, and 
responded to by the Forest Service in preparing the final EIS. The 
final EIS is scheduled to be completed in summer of 2010.
    The Forest Service Responsible Official is Joel King, District 
Ranger of the Wild Rivers Ranger District, Rogue River--Siskiyou 
National Forest. The Responsible Official will consider the Final EIS, 
applicable laws, regulations, policies, and analysis files in making a 
decision. The Responsible Official will document the decision and 
rationale in the Record of Decision.


[[Page 5281]]


    January 21, 2010.
Joel King,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2010-1952 Filed 2-1-10; 8:45 am]
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