[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 116 (Monday, June 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36163-36164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14229]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Bitterroot National Forest, Darby Ranger District, Como Forest 
Health Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, Bitterroot National Forest will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to document and 
disclose the effects analysis of the proposed Como Forest Health 
Project (Como FHP). The Como FHP covers approximately 5,640 acres of 
national forest land between Lake Como and Lost Horse Roads, about XX 
miles northwest of Darby in Ravalli County, Montana. The purpose of the 
Como FHP is to (1) reduce potential mortality of large diameter 
ponderosa pine caused by increasing mountain pine beetle populations; 
(2) reduce fuel loads and maintain the historic fire return interval; 
(3) improve forest resilience to dwarf mistletoe, root rot, Douglas-fir 
beetle, and spruce budworm; (4) and maintain the visual integrity of 
the larger Lake Como Recreation Area. Commercial harvest is proposed on 
about 1,860 acres, pre-commercial thinning on about 330 acres, and 
prescribed fire on about 3,000 acres to achieve the purposes of the 
Como FHP. Three sections of road totaling about 0.8 of a mile are 
proposed for construction to support the timber harvest. The roads 
would be closed after timber operations. Site-specific Bitterroot 
National Forest Plan amendments may be proposed for coarse woody 
debris, snags, elk habitat effectiveness, thermal cover, old growth, 
and visual quality.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by July 17, 2013. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
December 2013 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
July 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Chuck Oliver, Darby District 
Ranger, P.O. Box 388, Darby, MT, 59829. Comments may also be sent via 
email to [email protected], or via facsimile 
to 406-821-4264.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Grove, South Zone 
Interdisciplinary Team Leader; West Fork Ranger Station; 6735 West Fork 
Road; Darby, Montana 59829; phone (406) 821-1251; email 
[email protected].
    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 Como Forest Health project (Como FHP) is proposed to manage the 
forest in the 5,640 acre project area to: (1) Reduce potential mountain 
pine beetle-caused tree mortality in large diameter ponderosa pine, (2) 
reduce fuel loads and maintain the historic fire return interval, (3) 
improve the forest resilience to native insects and diseases, and (4) 
maintain the visual integrity of the larger Lake Como Recreation Area. 
Mountain pine beetle populations are increasing across the Bitterroot 
National Forest and in this popular recreation area. Decreasing forest 
density and maintaining the historic fire return interval would 
preserve the large diameter ponderosa pine characteristic of this 
forest type, improve general forest resilience to natural disturbances 
(native insects, diseases, and fire), and maintain the aesthetics of 
the larger recreation area. Because the project area is in and adjacent 
to the popular Lake Como recreation area, visual integrity standards 
would be a focus of project design during and after treatments.

Proposed Action

    The Darby District Ranger on the Bitterroot National Forest 
proposes to treat 5,190 acres of forest in the 5,640-acre Lake Como 
Forest Health project area. The Como Forest Health project area lies 
between Lake Como Road and Lost Horse Road, about three miles northwest 
of Darby, Montana (R22W,T4N, Sec. 13, 24, 25, 36; R21W,T4N, Sec 17-21, 
28-31). Treatments include commercial timber harvest on 1,860 acres, 
small tree thinning on 330 acres, and low to moderate severity 
prescribed fires on about 3,000 acres.
    To support timber harvest, three sections of road totaling 0.8 mile 
would need to be constructed and added to the National Forest System of 
Roads. These road sections are needed now and in the future to access 
Unit 41 and units in a recent acquisition to the forest. In addition to 
the new system road segments, the use of 2.3 miles of temporary road 
and 3.5 miles of tracked line machine trail would be needed to yard 
timber from the cutting units. The new system road would be closed, and 
the temporary road and tracked line machine trail would be obliterated 
following harvest. Another 0.5 mile of forest road would be converted 
to a non-motorized trail. Approximately six miles of undetermined roads 
exist in the

[[Page 36164]]

project area. About three miles of these roads are needed to haul 
timber from the sale area and for future management of the national 
forest. These roads would be added to the Bitterroot National Forest 
System of Roads database and closed until needed for forest management. 
The remaining three miles of undetermined roads not needed for future 
national forest management would be obliterated by full or partial 
recontouring.

Possible Alternatives

    Two alternatives to the proposed action have been identified. One 
alternative would treat units that are accessible with the existing 
road system. No new system roads or temporary roads would be 
constructed and tracked line machine trail would not be developed. The 
second alternative to the proposed action would address potential 
conflicts by focusing on forest plan objectives for wildlife habitat 
and visual quality in management areas 2, 3a, 3b, and 3c.
    Another alternative that would not require any forest plan 
amendments was considered. It will not be carried through the analysis 
because existing conditions in the project area do not meet forest plan 
standards and there are no management actions that can create 
conditions to meet forest plan standards.

Responsible Official

    Julie K. King, Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor, 1801 N. 
First, Hamilton, Montana 59840-3114.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Responsible Official will select the proposed action, an 
alternative to the proposed action (including the no action 
alternative), or modify the proposed action or alternatives to the 
proposed action. The decision may include amendments to the Bitterroot 
National Forest Plan standards for coarse woody debris, visual quality 
objectives, old growth, and thermal and hiding cover.

Preliminary Issues

    Scoping was initiated in November 2010 and restarted in February 
2013. Issues identified through these scoping processes include: (1) 
Road management; (2) balancing forest management practices with 
recreation, visual quality, wildlife, fisheries, hydrology, and fire 
management; (3) economics of timber harvest; and (4) the effects and 
costs of obliterating roads.

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.
    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, anonymous comments will not provide 
the Agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent 
environmental documents.

     Dated: June 3, 2013.
Julie K. King,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2013-14229 Filed 6-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P