[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 79 (Monday, April 26, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21577-21579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9437]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Powers Ranger District, 
Coos County, OR; Eden Ridge Timber Sales

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) on proposed variable density thinning treatments 
designed to control stocking and maintain or improve overall forest 
vigor and resiliency within a 6,516-acre planning area known as Eden 
Ridge. Timber harvested from stand treatments will contribute 
commercial timber to the Forest's Probable Sale Quantity. The planning 
area is located approximately four (4) air miles southeast of the city 
of Powers, Oregon, on the Powers Ranger District. The district proposes 
timber harvest and other connected activities on approximately 3,650 
acres in stands regenerated from timber harvested around the 1920s and 
1930s. Candidate stands located on suitable forest land within the 
planning area are proposed for treatment that are designated as Matrix, 
with some minor amounts of Riparian Reserve under the Land and Resource 
Management Plan as amended by the Northwest Forest Plan. Approximately 
seventy-two (72) treatment units would be designed for

[[Page 21578]]

timber harvest with associated harvest systems that would use a 
combination of ground-based, skyline and helicopter operations 
depending on soil, slope and hydrological concerns. New system road 
construction, reconstruction of unclassified roads and/or construction 
of new temporary roads to facilitate treatments within the potential 
units are to be considered (approximately 8 miles). In addition, 
reconstruction and/or maintenance of existing system roads will be 
considered (approximately 22 miles). It is estimated the project could 
produce up to 55 million board feet from the 3,650 acres being 
considered, from multiple timber sales over a 5-year period. The 
alternatives will include the proposed action, no action, and 
additional alternatives that respond to issues generated through the 
scoping process. The agency will give notice of the full environmental 
analysis and decision making process so interested and affected people 
may participate and contribute to the final decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by 30 days from date of publication in the Federal Register. The draft 
environmental impact statement is expected September 2010 and the final 
environmental impact statement is expected January 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments concerning this proposal to District 
Ranger, Powers Ranger District, 42861 Highway 242, Powers, OR 97466-
9700. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to [email protected] or via facsimile to (541) 
439-7704. 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 scoping 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: For information about the proposal, 
contact Steve Boyer, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, phone (541) 247-
3686, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 6,516 acre Eden Ridge planning area is 
located approximately four (4) air miles southeast of the city of 
Powers, Oregon at the closest point, with a legal description of: 
Township 31 South, Range 10 West, Sections 9, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 
21, 29 and 30; and Township 31 South, Range 11 West, Sections 24, 25, 
26, and 27; Willamette Meridian; Coos County, Oregon. The planning area 
falls within the South Fork Coquille River and the Middle Fork Coquille 
River 5th-Field watersheds, and the Lower Rock Creek, Myrtle Creek, 
Headwaters South Fork Coquille River, Coal Creek, and Mill Creek 6th 
field watersheds. Watershed Analyses have been conducted within these 
drainages and contain a synthesis of scientific knowledge about 
watershed trends and conditions at 5th field watershed scales as well 
as by smaller 6th field sub-watersheds. Elevations range from 2,500 to 
3,500 feet. The planning area does not include any designated 
Wilderness, Research Natural Areas, Botanical Areas, or Inventoried 
Roadless Areas. Special wildlife areas (MA 9) do exist within the 
planning area but are excluded from proposed treatments.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The overall Purpose of this project is to implement direction from 
the 1989 Land and Resource Management Plan for the Siskiyou National 
Forest, as amended by the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan. The majority of 
the Eden Ridge Timber Sales proposal is located on lands allocated to 
Matrix which emphasizes obtaining a full yield of timber within the 
capability of the land. Most scheduled timber harvest and other 
silvicultural activities would be conducted in that portion of the 
Matrix with suitable forest lands (NW Forest Plan, page C-39). 
Specifically for the Eden Ridge Timber Sales project, Needs include: 
Improvement of Overall Forest Vigor and Resiliency--There is a need to 
reduce stand densities so that individual tree growth would improve and 
maintain vigor. Trees would be allowed to grow at a faster rate than if 
left to natural succession processes. The residual trees would have 
less competition for sunlight, water and soil nutrients. Maintain or 
improve forest diversity by retaining any larger open-grown and legacy 
trees, minor tree species (including all hardwoods), existing snags and 
coarse woody debris. Such vigor and diversity would create a more 
resilient forest that would be capable to survive or recover more 
quickly from natural disturbances such as drought, wind, insects, 
disease or fire. Contribution of Commercial Timber to the Probable Sale 
Quantity--The proposed project is primarily located on lands allocated 
to Matrix and therefore considered as part of the overall Rogue River-
Siskiyou National Forest Probable Sale Quantity (PSQ). PSQ is the 
estimated output of commercial timber and other commodities assigned to 
the Forest under the Northwest Forest Plan.
    Specific stand management objectives associated with the Purpose 
and Need for this proposal include:
     Maintenance or improvement of forest health and diversity 
within Matrix and Riparian Reserve land allocations. This typically 
means individual tree and overall stand diameter growth, crown 
development, vigor and overall stand health, improved root strength on 
residual trees;
     Improve habitat conditions for wildlife and fish. This 
means increasing vegetative and structural diversity and species; 
maintained or improved shading capability of streams; improved large 
wood retention and large wood recruitment, and providing suitable 
amounts of snags and/or replacement habitat for dependent species;
     Reduce the risk of effects from insect and disease 
infestations;
     Minimize or reduce the potential for high severity, stand 
replacement wildfires;
     Increase riparian vegetation quality, health and vigor 
including Port-Orford-cedar, where it occurs as a substantial portion 
of riparian vegetation; and
     Contribute to a predictable and sustainable level of 
timber commodities and human and economic dimensions.
    In enacting treatments in stands to attain these objectives, the 
project and/or its activities would be designed to:
     Minimize soil impacts (erosion, compaction and/or 
displacement);
     Minimize damage to residual trees during treatment;
     Maintain aquatic conditions in terms of attainment of the 
Aquatic Conservation Strategy Objectives;
     Minimize adverse effects, including cumulative effects, on 
all other resources;
     Provide wood products for local and regional markets 
(including firewood); and
     Be an operational and economically sustainable project.
    Responsible Official: W. Carl Linderman, Powers District Ranger, 
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, is the responsible official for 
this project.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Powers District Ranger will decide whether to implement the 
action as proposed, whether to take no action at this time, or whether 
to implement any alternatives that are proposed.

Scoping Process

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

[[Page 21579]]

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.

Comment Requested

    The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date 
the EPA publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. 
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 
a draft EIS 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, 553 (1978)]. Also, environmental 
objections that could be raised at the draft EIS stage but that are not 
raised until after completion of the final EIS may be waived or 
dismissed by the courts [City of Angoon v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 
1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980)]. Because of these court rulings, it is very 
important that those interested in this proposed action participate by 
the close of the 45-day comment period so that 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 EIS.
    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 statement. Comments may also 
address the adequacy of the draft EIS of 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.
    In the final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to 
substantive comments received during the comment period for the draft 
EIS.
    The Eden Ridge Timber Sales decision and the reasons for the 
decision will be documented in a record of decision. That decision will 
be subject to Forest Service Appeal Regulations (35 CFR Part 215).

    Dated: April 13, 2010.
W. Carl Linderman,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2010-9437 Filed 4-23-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M