[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 156 (Friday, August 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49456-49457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19904]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest; Wisconsin, Phelps Vegetation 
and Transportation Management Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Eagle River-Florence Ranger District intends to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental 
consequences of proposed land management activities. The Phelps 
Vegetation and Transportation Management Project area is approximately 
53,055 acres in size; about 24,500 acres of this is National Forest 
System land, 19,100 acres are other ownerships, and 9,020 acres are 
water. The project area is located in Vilas County, directly south of 
the Wisconsin-Michigan border, east of State Highway 45, and north of 
County Highway A, Wisconsin. The legal description is T41N, R11E; T41N, 
R12E; T42N, R11E; and T42N, R12E. See the

[[Page 49457]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for the purpose and need for the 
action.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by September 13, 2010. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected January 2011 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected May 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to District Ranger Joel Skjerven, 
Eagle River-Florence Ranger District, Chequamegon-Nicolet National 
Forest, 1247 East Wall Street, Eagle River, WI 54521. Comments may also 
be sent via e-mail to the district ranger through the project leader at 
[email protected], or via facsimile to 715-479-6407.
    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: Christine Brunner, NEPA Coordinator, 
Eagle River-River-Florence Ranger District, Chequamegon-Nicolet 
National Forest, 1247 East Wall Street, Eagle River, WI 54521. 
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

    Two major areas of focus were identified for this project--
vegetation and transportation. Based on the Forest Plan desired future 
conditions for the area, the following eight needs were identified by 
the Interdisciplinary Team: (1) Move northern hardwood stands in MA 2A 
toward an uneven-aged condition consistent with the Forest Plan; (2) 
promote healthy forests; (3) improve the aspen age class distribution; 
(4) improve upland forest type composition; (5) maintain adequate 
openings to provide habitat for wildlife species dependent on early 
successional forest; (6) reduce hazardous fuels and reintroduce fire as 
a disturbance regime in the Wildland Urban Interface west of Lac Vieux 
Desert; (7) contribute toward satisfying the demand for wood products; 
(8) provide a safe, efficient, and effective transportation system.

Proposed Action

    In order to address the vegetation needs identified above, 
approximately 8430 acres of various forest types would be harvested 
using selection, overstory removal, shelterwood, clearcut, and thin 
methods. As a result of clearcutting portions of four contiguous stands 
in order to convert them to less fire-prone species, a 44-acre 
temporary opening would be created. Other proposed actions include 240 
acres of mechanical site preparation for regeneration, 54 acres of 
burning for regeneration, 35 acres of planting, and 237 acres of 
wildlife opening improvement.
    The proposed action includes the following to address need 8 above: 
Decommission approximately 31 miles of unauthorized road, close 6 miles 
of system road closed, reconstruct 12 miles of road, and construct 0.8 
miles of new road.

Possible Alternatives

    One alternative to the Proposed Action that was developed in 
response to a public comment would result in the following changes: 
Approximately 6,455 fewer acres of harvest, 58 fewer acres of opening 
improvement, and 8.3 fewer miles of road reconstruction.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official is District Ranger Joel Skjerven.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision will be limited to answering the following questions 
based on the environmental analysis: (1) Will the proposed action 
proceed as proposed, as modified, or not at all; (2) what mitigation 
measures and monitoring requirements are needed, if any; (3) will the 
decision require a Forest Plan amendment?

Preliminary Issues

    The following issues will be analyzed in the EIS: Effects of the 
proposed action and alternatives on soil, water, Regional Forester 
Sensitive Species, and non-native invasive species.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. The District 
began the scoping process for this project as an environmental 
assessment during March 2010. Approximately 345 persons and 
organizations were sent information packages, and a notice was placed 
in the newspaper of record. The project is also listed in the 
Chequamegon-Nicolet Schedule of Proposed Actions, and is viewable on 
the Forest Web page at http://fs.usda.gov/goto/cnnf/nepa and click on 
``View a Listing of all Under Analysis,'' then select Phelps Vegetation 
and Transportation Management Project.''
    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: August 2, 2010.
Paul I.V. Strong,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2010-19904 Filed 8-12-10; 8:45 am]
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