[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10717-10718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4174]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 36 / Thursday, February 23, 2012 / 
Notices  

[[Page 10717]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Black Hills National Forest, Custer, South Dakota--Mountain Pine 
Beetle Response Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Corrected notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: This project proposes to treat areas newly infested by 
mountain pine beetles on approximately 250,000 acres of the Black Hills 
National Forest. Treatments would occur in both South Dakota and 
Wyoming, and on all four Ranger Districts. Treatments would be carried 
out within the scope of direction provided in the Revised Land and 
Resource Management Plan for the Black Hills National Forest, as 
amended (Forest Plan). The original notice of intent for this project 
was published in the Federal Register on Monday, August 8, 2011 (76 FR 
48120). This corrected notice of intent is being published now because 
the treatment area acreage has changed from 325,000 to 250,000, and 
because an additional alternative has been developed. Were it to be 
selected, a Forest Plan amendment would be needed to implement that 
alternative. The original NOI did not identify the need for a Forest 
Plan amendment as part of the Decision to be Made.

DATES: The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) is expected in 
March 2012, and the final environmental impact statement is expected in 
August 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Van-Alstyne, project team 
leader, Black Hills National Forest, Mystic Ranger District, Rapid 
City, SD 57701, phone (605) 343-1567. 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 purposes of the project are to reduce the threat to ecosystem 
components including forest resources on National Forest System (NFS) 
lands from the ongoing mountain pine beetle epidemic, and to help 
protect local communities and resources on adjacent lands of other 
ownerships from large-scale wildfire by reducing hazardous fuel levels.

Proposed Action

    Background The Black Hills National Forest (the Forest) lies in the 
Black Hills of western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. Of the roughly 
1.5 million acres in the Black Hills, about 1.2 million acres are 
National Forest System (NFS) lands, with lands of other ownership 
comprising another 300,000 acres. The predominant tree species on lands 
of all ownerships in the Black Hills is ponderosa pine (Pinus 
ponderosae). Since 1997 the Black Hills area has experienced a 
significant increase in pine tree mortality from an outbreak of 
mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae). In many parts of the 
Forest beetle populations are at or approaching epidemic levels. The 
outbreak in the Black Hills is part of a larger bark beetle epidemic 
which has recently affected more than 40 million acres of forest land 
in the western United States.
    In the Black Hills mountain pine beetles (MPB) typically prefer 
stands of dense, mature pine trees. Tree stands in this condition are 
frequent and continuous throughout the area. Once attacked by beetles, 
most trees typically die, and eventually fall to the ground, adding 
dead and dry fuels within an area already rated as having high wildfire 
hazard. Since 1980, due to several factors including drought the Forest 
has seen a dramatic increase in acreage burned by wildfires. In that 
period over 250,000 acres have burned, consuming forest resources and 
posing threats to lands of other ownership intermingled with NFS lands.
    Proposal The primary management tools for reducing beetle-caused 
tree mortality are removing infested trees, and reducing the density of 
remaining trees to lessen the susceptibility to attack. The Forest 
Service is working to manage persistent and increasing populations of 
the mountain pine beetle across the Forest. As part of that larger 
effort the Forest is proposing the Mountain Pine Beetle Response 
Project (MPBRP--the project). The project would be conducted as an 
authorized hazardous fuels reduction project under the authority of the 
Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA). The proposed action 
would treat newly detected infestations that may occur on about 250,000 
acres of NFS lands to reduce and slow the spread of MPB. Specifically, 
newly infested trees would be removed, or made unsuitable for occupancy 
by beetles, before beetles can mature and further disperse to other 
trees. Some surrounding mature trees at risk of infestation may also be 
removed. A variety of treatment options would be available for use 
depending on conditions encountered on infested sites. Actual 
treatments used at any specific location would be determined at the 
time of implementation. Treatment options would include commercial tree 
removal using ground-based or cable logging equipment, or helicopter; 
non-commercial methods such as chipping trees or cutting them into 
short sections; and spraying small areas of trees to prevent 
infestation. Some temporary road construction is proposed, although 
generally road access would use existing road templates where 
available. Roads would be closed after use.

Possible Alternatives

    The No Action alternative would not authorize any actions on the 
project area at this time. One other alternative was developed for 
detailed consideration based on scoping comments.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    No cooperating agencies have been identified.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official for this project is the Forest Supervisor, 
Black Hills National Forest, 1019 North 5th Avenue, Custer, South 
Dakota, 57730.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    After considering the proposed action and any alternatives, the 
environmental analysis, and public comment, the Forest Supervisor will 
decide whether to conduct treatments to reduce and

[[Page 10718]]

slow the progress of the beetle epidemic. If an action alternative is 
selected, the Supervisor will decide where treatments may occur, and 
what actions are appropriate and may be taken. The Supervisor will also 
decide whether to amend the Forest Plan as part of the decision, and if 
so, the nature of that amendment. Finally, the decision will include 
the scope of monitoring that should occur.

Scoping Process

    The original notice of intent initiated the scoping process, which 
guides the development of the environmental impact statement. The 
Forest Service sought to involve interested parties in identifying 
issues related to responding to and managing the ongoing insect 
outbreak. Public comment has helped the planning team identify key 
issues and opportunities to develop appropriate responses and 
alternatives, and monitoring strategies, and to evaluate the effects of 
the proposal.
    Three public meetings were held at the scoping stage of project 
analysis, on August 23, 2011, in Sundance, Wyoming, at the Crook County 
Courthouse; August 25 in Hill City, South Dakota, at the high school; 
and August 30 in Spearfish, SD, at the Holiday Inn. In addition, three 
public meetings will be held during the comment period on the DEIS.
    The Forest Service recognizes the broad public interest in the 
communities and counties lying in or adjacent to the Black Hills, as 
well as the States of South Dakota and Wyoming. The initial mailing 
list for this project includes counties and municipalities lying wholly 
or partially within the Forest boundary.
    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.
    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.

    Dated: February 15, 2012.
Dennis Jaeger,
Deputy Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2012-4174 Filed 2-22-12; 8:45 am]
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