[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
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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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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