[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 106 (Thursday, June 3, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31418-31419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-13174]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Intermountain Region, Payette National Forest, Council Ranger 
District; Idaho; Mill Creek--Council Mountain Landscape Restoration 
Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Council Ranger District of the Payette National Forest 
will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Mill 
Creek--Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project. The approximate 
51,900 acre project area is located about two miles east of Council, 
Idaho. The Mill Creek--Council Mountain Landscape Restoration Project 
proposes to improve wildlife habitat, reduce wildland fire hazard, 
encourage woody biomass utilization, contribute to the economic 
vitality of the communities adjacent to the Payette National Forest, 
and improve watershed conditions through a variety of activities 
including commercial and noncommercial vegetation management and road 
system modifications and maintenance.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by July 6, 2010. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
December 2010 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
May 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to P.O. Box 567, Council, ID 83612. 
Comments may also be sent via e-mail to [email protected], or via facsimile to 208-253-0109.
    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: Steve Penny, Project Team Leader, 208-
253-0164. 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

    The Purpose of the project is to: (1) Improve wildlife habitat for 
white-headed woodpeckers, by restoring appropriate forested stands to 
historical range of variability, and improve habitat for other wildlife 
species as appropriate; (2) reduce wildland fire hazard in forested 
stands with conditions that depart from the historical range of 
variability; (3) encourage woody biomass utilization as a revenue 
source to for restoration goals; and (4) contribute to the economic 
vitality of the communities adjacent to the Payette NF.
    Land management activities over the last century, such as fire 
suppression, timber harvest (especially large diameter ponderosa pine) 
and road construction have affected forest, grassland, shrubland plant 
species composition and structure, and watershed conditions. The need 
for this action is move landscape conditions toward the historical 
range of variability, and to meet 2003 Payette National Forest Land and 
Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) direction.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action includes the following restoration treatments: 
(1) Harvesting of sawtimber and biomass (woody material not meeting 
sawtimber specifications) on 4,800 acres by thinning from below to 
reduce tree density, crown spacing, and ladder fuels followed by 
underburning to promote ponderosa pine and other fire-resistant tree 
species reproduction, reduce non-fire resistant vegetation, and reduce 
fuel accumulation; (2) harvesting sawtimber and biomass on 700 acres by 
regeneration harvest treatments followed by prescribed burning to 
promote fire resistant tree species reproduction, reduce non-fire 
resistant vegetation, and reduce fuel accumulation; (3) underburn 2,800 
acres of additional timber vegetated stands not proposed for harvest 
and use planned wildland fire on 12,100 acres of grass, brush, 
scattered timber or quaking aspen stands; and (4) thinning of 4,500 
acres of tree plantations which would include some removal of biomass. 
Harvesting activities would be accomplished using tractor, tractor/
jammer, and skyline methods. Skid trails would be designated to 
concentrate use in a limited amount of areas and reclaimed following 
harvest. There would be no harvest within 30' of intermittent streams 
or within 120' of perennial streams. There would be no equipment entry 
in riparian conservation areas (RCAs) except on existing roads or skid 
trails approved of in advance by the District Hydrologist or Fisheries 
Biologist.
    To facilitate access, approximately 6 miles of temporary roads 
would be constructed where needed to access harvest units and landings 
and decommissioned after use. Approximately 5 miles of existing non-
National Forest System roads would be converted to National Forest 
Service System roads. There would be no permanent road construction in 
the project area with this proposal.
    To improve watershed conditions and fisheries habitat, the proposed 
action includes: (1) The upgrade of culverts that are undersized and 
restrict passage of fish and other aquatic organisms, (2) road 
improvement such as improving drainage and surfacing and (3) the 
decommission of old roadbeds that are not needed for future management 
or public access to reduce levels of soils impacts, and reduce drainage 
and erosion problems.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    Adams County, Idaho has expressed interest becoming a cooperating 
agency for this project and intends to submit such a request to the 
Payette National Forest in late May, 2010.

[[Page 31419]]

Responsible Official

    Payette National Forest Supervisor, Suzanne C. Rainville.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Based on the purpose and need for the proposed action, the 
Responsible Official will determine whether to proceed with the action 
as proposed, as modified by another alternative or not at all. If an 
action alternative is selected, the Responsible Official will determine 
what design features, mitigation measures and monitoring to require.

ADDRESSES: Project information is available on the Payette National 
Forest Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/payette/publications/index.shtml (click on the Mill Creek--Council Mountain Landscape 
Restoration Project).

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.

    Dated: May 26, 2010.
Jake Strohmeyer,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2010-13174 Filed 6-2-10; 8:45 am]
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