[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 44 (Monday, March 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10457-10460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4689]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Andrew Pickens Ranger District; South Carolina; AP Loblolly Pine 
Removal and Restoration Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The AP Loblolly Pine Removal and Restoration Project is a 
district-wide project that includes 40 compartments located across the 
Andrew Pickens Ranger District, Sumter National Forest in Oconee 
County, South Carolina. Loblolly pine is a southern pine species that 
is not native to mountain regions in the upstate. This species was 
planted extensively in plantations across the district in the past, 
primarily in an effort to increase pine productivity for timber 
products. Most of the plantations have suffered from insect and disease 
related mortality such as southern pine beetle and need to be restored 
to native hardwoods and pines and understory plants more typical of the 
Chattooga River and Blue Ridge Mountains and Foothills (Management Area 
2 and 3, respectively). Also, habitat diversity would be improved by 
developing and maintaining early successional habitat capable of 
supporting existing native and other desired non-native plants 
(including the federally endangered smooth coneflower, Echinacea 
laevigata) and wildlife species. This habitat would be maintained with 
herbicide, prescribed fire and also manual and mechanical treatment. 
Woodlands are forests with relatively low tree densities of 25-60% 
forest cover with understories that are dominated by native grasses and 
forbs. Five stands within the project area would be developed and 
maintained as woodland habitat (202 acres).

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by April 7, 2010. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
by July 2010 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
by November 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to USDA Forest Service, 112 Andrew 
Pickens Circle, Mountain Rest, SC

[[Page 10458]]

29664. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to [email protected], or via facsimile to 864-
638-2659.
    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: Michael B. Crane ([email protected]) 
and/or Nelson Gonzalez-Sullow ([email protected]), 864-638-9568.
    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.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The district has approximately 5,600 acres of planted loblolly pine 
stands. All of this acreage consists of relatively pure pine stands 
with little to no native hardwood and pines growing in the upper 
canopy. A number of stands in the compartments were converted to pine 
plantations 30 to 40 years ago by clear cutting more diverse stands and 
planting them to loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) after intensive site 
preparation treatments. Few hardwood trees exist in the overstory of 
most of these stands and hardwood sprouts and saplings abound in the 
understory. Some of the stands proposed for treatment have been heavily 
impacted by southern pine beetle (SPB) with the most recent epidemics 
occurring in 2002 and 2003. Mortality was widespread across the 
district in pine plantations. Other stands are sparse due to poor 
planting success or to past logging that did not remove all of the 
loblolly pine. The density of trees in these stands range from sparse 
to a dense stocking basal area of 160 square feet per acre and greater. 
With a lack of disturbance, these plantations are dominated by shade 
tolerant tree species such as red maple, black gum, dogwood, and 
sourwood. The lack of early successional habitat is a limiting factor 
on the Andrew Pickens Ranger District. The endangered plant, smooth 
coneflower has been limited in its distribution as a result of lack of 
disturbance and growth of shade tolerant species. The species is known 
to occur adjacent to several loblolly stands. Plant surveys have 
identified current locations of the plant and potential habitat areas 
have been identified. There is an opportunity to promote the expansion 
and establishment of this species in some of the proposed treatment 
areas. The Sumter National Forest proposed endangered, threatened and 
sensitive species (PETS) list includes several other species that 
require open stand conditions to thrive. These species generally have 
been restricted to roadsides and utility rights-of-way (ROWs) because 
of the lack of disturbance on these sites.
    Woodlands provide habitat for a variety of disturbance-dependent, 
early successional game and nongame wildlife species in all stages of 
their lifecycles. Populations of early successional bird species, such 
as northern bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, field sparrow, and golden-
winged warbler, have been declining on the Sumter National Forest 
because of a lack of suitable habitat. Woodlands also provide open 
stand conditions with ample sunlight and disturbance conditions 
conducive to certain plants including the federally endangered smooth 
coneflower.
    The AP Loblolly Pine Removal and Restoration Project is located on 
four management prescription areas:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Management area                        Designation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4F.....................................  Scenic Areas.
7.E.2..................................  Dispersed Recreation Areas with
                                          Vegetation Management.
8.A.1..................................  Mix of Successional Forest
                                          Habitats.
11.....................................  Riparian Corridors.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The purpose and need for this project is to restore the current 
landscape condition within the area to more native forest vegetation. 
Native vegetation would improve ecosystem health, increase habitat 
diversity and viability of a variety of plant and animal species in the 
long term.
    The off-site loblolly pine stands would be replaced with native 
tree species appropriate for the habitat such as shortleaf pine, pitch 
pine, and table mountain pine. A blight resistant American chestnut 
(once native to this area) would also be planted depending on suitable 
habitats and site conditions as well as species availability for 
planting.
    Prescribed burning, manual, mechanical, and herbicide treatments 
would be used to reduce woody competition and help establish desired 
native plant communities including smooth coneflower. Woodlands would 
also be maintained to provide desirable habitat for native plants and 
animal species as well as add to habitat diversity.
    Woodlands are forests with relatively low tree densities of 25-60% 
forest cover with understories that are dominated by native grasses and 
forbs. Management that promotes this native forest vegetation would 
serve a multitude of resources, such as to enhance hard mast production 
favorable to wildlife or to improve forest and watershed health with a 
variety of resilient native species that would be typically found on 
these sites. Additionally, moving from a plantation-type stand to one 
of more natural composition would serve to increase both structural and 
spatial vegetative diversity, create early successional habitat, reduce 
the potential for further impacts from southern pine beetles and reduce 
fire risk and safety hazards from dead loblolly pine trees. By managing 
some of these stands as early successional habitat, smooth coneflower 
would expand into these areas.

Proposed Action

    The Andrew Pickens Ranger District proposes the following 
treatments:

Regeneration Harvest, With Reserves (Cut-and-Remove--3,679 Acres)

    Timber harvesting would occur in timber stands where operable 
volumes now exist. This would include establishing log landings and 
loading areas, skid trails, and would include road access in the form 
of temporary roads, reconstructed roads, or newly constructed forest 
system roads. Unmerchantable loblolly and other undesirable species 
would be cut down by manual (saws, hand tools) or mechanized felling 
equipment methods after commercial timber harvest concludes. In 
addition to cutting loblolly pine, harvest would also include Virginia 
pine, white pine, red maple, yellow poplar and other less desirable 
hardwoods. Desirable oaks, hickories, shortleaf pine, table mountain 
pine, and pitch pine would be retained where possible unless removal is 
necessary for safety or for equipment operability reasons.

Regeneration Harvest, With Reserves (Cut-and-Leave--1,926 Acres)

    Loblolly pine stands would be cut down and not removed where log

[[Page 10459]]

volumes are sparse or too small for a viable commercial sale, or occur 
in areas inaccessible to logging equipment. Cut and leave treatments 
would also be used in stands where loblolly pine saplings have come in 
after previous removal harvests. Cutting methods would include manual 
methods that use hand tools and chainsaws. Virginia pine and other less 
desirable species such as, but not limited to, white pine, red maple 
and yellow poplar may be cut for safety reasons, or to favor desirable 
residual oaks, hickories, shortleaf pine, table mountain pine and pitch 
pine.

Additional Treatments

Site Preparation and Release (3,264 Acres) for Reforestation

    Site preparation and release treatments for reforestation include 
stem injection and foliar spray using the herbicide imazapyr and 
triclopyr that would be used in identified regeneration units.
    Stem injections would be applied with hatchets and squirt bottles, 
or similar application devices, using a mixture of 64 oz water, 64 oz 
Garlon 3A or equivalent (triclopyr amine) and 6 oz Arsenal AC or 
equivalent (imazapyr). Stem injection would be applied to target 
vegetation too large to treat with a foliar spray. This application is 
made between the first of July and the end of September.
    Directed foliar spray would be applied using backpack sprayers. The 
application is a low volume direct spray where foliage is sprayed or 
speckled with herbicide. This application is made between the first of 
July and the end of September. Per gallon of mix water, the herbicide 
mixture for this application is: 0.5 ounce Arsenal AC or equivalent 
(imazapyr), 2 ounces of Garlon 4 or equivalent (triclopyr ester), \1/2\ 
ounce surfactant, and spray pattern indicator.
    Herbicide would be used for site preparation to prepare the site 
for planting trees. Shortleaf pine would be planted on a majority of 
the sites. Other native species would be planted including, table 
mountain pine, pitch pine, and a blight resistant strain of American 
chestnut. Plantings would take advantage of gaps created during timber 
harvest and from site preparation since desirable overstory trees would 
be left as reserves in most units. This would result in a two-aged 
structure to most treated stands. A herbicide crop tree release 
treatment would be done about 3 to 5 years after trees are planted. The 
treatment would reduce competition to the desired understory trees so 
that they could become dominant in the stands. Broadleaf vegetation 
would be treated to control competition with planted or naturally 
growing desirable native shortleaf pine, pitch pine, oak, American 
chestnut and hickory. Exceptions include protecting desirable soft mast 
and flowering trees.

Reforestation (3,264 Acres)

    Native shortleaf pine seedlings would be the major species planted 
(12 ft. by 12 ft. spacing) but would also include pitch pine, Table 
Mountain pine and American chestnut where suitable habitat exists and 
if seed and/or seedlings are available.

Woodland Treatments (202 Acres)

    The woodland treatment would remove all loblolly pine and less 
desirable tree species including but not limited to Virginia pine, 
white pine, maples, and yellow poplar. Three stands contain enough 
volume for a commercial timber harvest and two do not. The treatment 
would include thinning oaks, hickories, and shortleaf pine to a basal 
area (BA) of 30-40 ft\2\/acre. All oak, hickory, and shortleaf pine 
would be left where the BA is currently less than 30-40 ft\2\/acre.
    After initial treatments are completed, the areas would be 
prescribed burned on a periodic basis (estimated within 1-5 years). 
Prescribed burning is covered under an existing NEPA decision.
    Herbicide, manual, and mechanical methods would be applied to all 
less desirable tree species (sprouts and seedlings) within 1-2 years 
after the initial post-harvest prescribed burn. These methods may be 
applied up to two more times after the initial treatment. Manual and 
mechanical methods including but not limited to hand tools (chainsaws, 
brush saws), and/or heavy equipment (tractor with mower, gyro-track) 
would be used to control sprouts and seedlings of non-desirable tree 
species to maintain the woodland condition. Mechanical treatments would 
grind up or masticate undesirable understory vegetation. Three of these 
stands proposed as woodland treatment would also be managed to benefit 
smooth coneflower.
    Directed foliar spray would be applied using backpack sprayers. The 
application is a low volume direct spray where foliage is sprayed or 
speckled. This application is made between the first of July and the 
end of September. Per gallon of mix water, the herbicide mixture for 
this application is: 0.5 ounce Arsenal AC or equivalent (imazapyr), 2 
ounces of Garlon 4 or equivalent (triclopyr ester), \1/2\ ounce 
surfactant, and spray pattern indicator.

Connected Actions

    The following activities would be conducted in connection with 
vegetation management activities.
     System Road Construction: Twelve (12) system roads would 
be built providing access to 20 loblolly timber stands. These new roads 
are needed to provide access during timber harvest and to provide for 
long term resource management. These roads are designed by Forest 
Service engineers to specific standards that include designing drainage 
structures such as culvert installations, inside slope ditching, road 
crown specifications, widened turn-around, gates, and signage. Total 
specified system road construction is estimated at 8.2 miles but may 
vary once actual design is completed. Information on roads is contained 
in the road analysis.
     Road Reconstruction and Maintenance: System road 
reconstruction and maintenance would be needed on approximately 59.2 
miles of roads. Reconstruction work would consist of but not be limited 
to graveling road surfaces, replacing culverts--including replacements 
for aquatic organism passage, ditch cleaning, removing brush and trees 
along road rights-of-way, installing, repairing or replacing gates and 
correcting road safety hazards. Road maintenance would consist of spot 
gravel replacement, blading, cleaning culverts, light brushing and 
mowing.
     Temporary Roads: Log landings that have no access to 
designated roads would be accessed by a temporary road that connects to 
the forest transportation system. Temporary roads are generally under 
10 percent grade and road widths less than 14 feet. Approximately 4.9 
miles of temporary roads are needed for access. Most of these would be 
reopening of former temporary roads that are in suitable locations, but 
for the most part have stabilized cut and fill slopes that may not be 
disturbed. Temporary roads would be closed and adequate erosion and 
stormwater control measures completed and replanted with vegetation.
     Skid Roads: Designated skid roads, some with temporary 
bridges or other protective measures, may be used to provide access 
over stream and drainage channels. It is estimated that skid roads 
would total less than 1.5 miles. They would be closed after use with 
adequate stormwater and erosion control measures.
     Log Landings: It is estimated that approximately 122 log 
landings would be needed. Log landings are locations where logs are 
piled and then loaded

[[Page 10460]]

onto trucks. Former landings sites would be used whenever appropriate 
to limit effects. They would be closed after use with adequate 
stormwater and erosion control measures. To view a map of locations of 
proposed treatments go to http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/fms/sumter/resources/projects.current.php?p=1.1.7.3.

Responsible Official

    Andrew Pickens District Ranger

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Whether or not to implement the action as proposed or an 
alternative way to achieve the desired outcome.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.
     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.

    February 23, 2010.
Michael B. Crane,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2010-4689 Filed 3-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M