[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8102-8104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02418]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Kootenai National Forest; Buckhorn Planning Subunit; Lincoln 
County, Montana; Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental effects of commercial and 
non-commercial vegetation management activities, prescribed burning, 
and watershed improvement activities. Access management changes and 
other design features are included to protect resources and facilitate 
management activities. The project is located in the Buckhorn Planning 
Subunit on the Three Rivers Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest, 
Lincoln County, Montana, and north of Troy, Montana.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
within 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Kirsten Kaiser; District Ranger, 
Three Rivers Ranger District, 12858 US Hwy 2, Troy, MT 59935. Comments 
may also be sent via email to [email protected]; or via facsimile to (406) 295-7410.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Pat Shira, Project Team 
Leader, Three Rivers Ranger District, 12858 US Hwy 2, Troy, MT 59935. 
Phone: (406) 295-4693. 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: The project area is approximately 56,000 
acres in size and is located about 27 miles north of Troy, Montana in 
the Yaak River Valley and includes the following drainages: Spread 
Creek, Hellroaring Creek, and Meadow Creek. The legal description 
includes Townships 35 and 36 North, Ranges 34 and 33 West, Lincoln 
County, Montana; and Township 64 North, Range 3 East, Boundary County, 
Idaho.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose and need for this project is: (1) Promote resilient 
vegetation conditions by managing towards charactertic landscape-level 
vegetation patterns, structure, patch size, fuel loading and species 
composition; (2) maintain or improve water quality and native aquatic 
species habitat; and, (3) provide wood products to contribute to local 
and regional economies.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action includes timber harvest and associated fuels 
treatments, prescribed burning and watershed work to address the 
purpose and need. The proposed action includes:
    (1) Approximately 1,300 acres of regeneration harvest that would 
initially produce foraging opportunities for

[[Page 8103]]

wildlife species including big game and grizzly bear, which would 
transition into seedling and pole sized stands that provide young 
forest habitat before the stands further develop mature forest 
characteristics. Grouping of some units would create large areas of 
openings within a matrix of leave areas to mimic a stand replacing 
fire. There are nine units proposed that would create openings larger 
than 40 acres and requires a 60-day public review and Regional Forester 
approval (FSM 2471.1). This notice serves as the beginning of the 60-
day public review. The largest of these treatment units would be 
approximately 280 acres. The openings are designed to provide no 
greater than 600 feet distance to cover for grizzly bear and big game 
species. All riparian areas will be identified by the Interdisciplinary 
Team and excluded from harvest units. Approximately 414 acres are 
proposed for treatments within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI).
    (2) About 94 acres of intermediate harvest is proposed to improve 
stand conditions and increase huckleberry growth in the understory.
    (3) In an effort to return fire to the landscape and promote 
increased huckleberry growth and foraging opportunities, approximately 
12,127 acres of prescribed burning is being proposed with up to 17,793 
acres considered as part of the maximum allowable burn area. 
Approximately 1,096 acres of burning will occur in the Wildland Urban 
Interface (WUI). Approximately 7,195 acres of this burning will occur 
within two Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) located in and adjacent to 
the project area. To achieve burn objectives of reducing canopy cover 
in portions of the proposed burn units, hand slashing would occur 
within the IRAs to create a fuel bed which helps carry fire through the 
burn area and meet objectives. In areas of suitable whitebark pine 
habitat, slashing of other encroaching conifers around existing live 
whitebark pine may occur before burning. Whitebark pine seedlings may 
be planted after the burns are completed. Whitebark pine is listed as a 
sensitive species in Region One and is a Candidate species for listing 
as threatened under the endangered species act (ESA). The US Fish and 
Wildlife Service found that whitebark pine is ``warranted but 
precluded'' from listing at this time.
    (4) It is estimated that two temporary roads, totaling 0.7 miles 
would be constructed to accomplish the timber harvest and associated 
fuel reduction work and would be obliterated following activities. 
Approximately 26 miles of haul routes would receive Best Management 
Practices (BMPs) and road maintenance work to meet State BMP 
requirements for water quality.
    (5) Approximately 28 miles of road have been identified for 
stabilization to reduce the potential for sediment delivery to streams. 
This work includes, but is not limited to the removal of culverts, 
removal of log stream crossing structures, water bars and removing 
unstable fill material. A Travel Analysis has been completed for the 
Project Area. Roads identified in the Travel Analysis, as needed for 
long-term management of the National Forest would be put into 
intermittent stored service. Roads identified in the Travel Analysis, 
as not needed for long-term management would be decommissioned. All 
road decommissioning and intermittent stored services work is proposed 
on roads currently closed to motor vehicle access. Coordination with 
recreational users (snowmobilers, mountain bikers, hikers and stock 
users) would be ongoing through analysis and implementation to maintain 
popular access routes.

Possible Alternatives

    The Forest Service will consider a range of alternatives. One of 
these will be the ``no action'' alternative in which none of the 
proposed action would be implemented. Additional alternatives may be 
included in response to issues raised by the public during the scoping 
process or due to additional concerns for resource values identified by 
the Interdisciplinary Team.

Responsible Official

    The Forest Supervisor of the Kootenai National Forest, 31374 US 
Highway 2, Libby, MT 59923-3022, is the Responsible Official. As the 
Responsible Official, I will decide if the proposed action will be 
implemented. I will document the decision and rationale for the 
decision in the Record of Decision. I have delegated the responsibility 
for preparing the DEIS and FEIS to the District Ranger, Three Rivers 
Ranger District.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Based on the purpose and need, the Responsible Official reviews the 
proposed action, the other alternatives, the environmental 
consequences, and public comments on the analysis in order to make the 
following decision:
    (1) Whether to implement timber harvest and associated fuels 
treatments, prescribed burning, and watershed work, including the 
design features and potential mitigation measures to protect resources; 
and if so, how much and at what specific locations;
    (2) What, if any, specific project monitoring requirements are 
needed to assure design features and potential mitigation measures are 
implemented and effective, and to evaluate the success of the project 
objectives. Preliminary project monitoring needs identified include 
pre- and post-treatment huckleberry production, effectiveness of BMP 
work, and retention of coarse woody debris. A project specific 
monitoring plan will be developed.

Preliminary Issues

    Initial analysis by the Interdisciplinary Team has brought forward 
two issues that may affect the design of the project.
    (1) There are nine units proposed that would create openings larger 
than 40 acres. This action requires a 60 day public review and Regional 
Forester approval (FSM 2471.1) This document serves as the beginning of 
the 60 day public review period.
    (2) Based on the nine units proposed that would create openings 
larger than 40 acres, a site-specific Forest Plan amendment for MA 12 
(big game summer range) may be required for Wildlife Standard 7, Forest 
Plan page III-49, which states that generally harvest unit size should 
not exceed 40 acres in elk and mule deer habitat or 20 acres in size 
for moose and whitetail deer habitat. Potentially, maintaining two 
sight distances between openings as movement corridors for wildlife may 
also be an issue. The larger openings are designed to mimic the effects 
of a stand replacing fire and to meet the purpose and need for the 
project.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. The 
Interdisciplinary Team will continue to seek information, comments, and 
assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribal governments, 
and other individuals or organizations that may be interested in, or 
affected by, the proposed action. There are several collaborative 
groups in the area that the Interdisciplinary Team will interact with 
during the analysis process.
    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

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articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will become part of the public 
record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered, however.

    Dated: January 24, 2013.
Paul Bradford,
Forest Supervisor, Kootenai National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2013-02418 Filed 2-4-13; 8:45 am]
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