[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8431-8433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03032]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Nez Perce-Clearwater NF's, Salmon River Ranger District, Idaho; 
Hungry Ridge Restoration Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The proposed action would use a combination of timber harvest, 
precommercial thinning, prescribed fire and reforestation to achieve 
the desired range of age-classes, size classes, vegetative species 
distributions, habitat complexity and landscape patterns across the 
forested portions of the project area. Road decommissioning, culvert 
replacements, improvement of trail crossings and road improvements are 
proposed to improve watershed health. The DEIS will include two Forest 
Plan amendments. The first amendment would adopt the Regional soils 
standards for the Hungry Ridge project, while the second amendment 
would allow mechanical treatment within Forest Plan Old Growth 
(Management Area 20) and reallocate some existing MA20 to stands better 
suited to Old Forest attributes. The EIS will analyze the effects of 
the proposed action and alternatives. The Nez Perce-Clearwater NF's, 
invites comments and suggestions on the issues to be addressed. The 
agency gives notice of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
analysis and decision making process on the proposal, so interested and 
affected members of the public may participate and contribute to the 
final decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by March 31, 2014. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
in July 2014 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
in December 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Barry Ruklic, Interdisciplinary 
Team

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Leader; Grangeville Office, 104 Airport Road; Grangeville, ID 83530. 
Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to FAX 208-983-4099. Include 
your name, address, organization represented (if any), and the name of 
the project for which you are submitting comments. Electronic comments 
will be accepted in MS Word, Word Perfect, PDF or Rich Text formats. 
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and 
addresses of those who comment, will be a 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Ruklic, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, (208) 983-4026.
    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 objective of the Hungry Ridge 
Restoration project is to manage forest vegetation to restore natural 
disturbance patterns; improve long-term resilience at the stand and 
landscape level(s); reduce the potential risk to private property and 
structures; improve watershed conditions; and maintain/improve habitat 
structure, function and diversity.

Purpose and Need for Action

    Need: Historically, wildland fire was the dominant influence in 
defining the project area landscape and the native species that adapted 
and persisted within this dynamic environment. The advent of effective 
fire suppression effectively removed wildland fire's effects from the 
Hungry Ridge landscape and ecological system. This has had a profound 
effect on the vegetation, wildlife and the ecological integrity of the 
area including a vegetative shift to more fire intolerant species.
    Suppression of wildland fire and increasing levels of insect and 
disease mortality in the Hungry Ridge landscape are causing an increase 
in fuel loadings, including higher quantities, greater continuity and 
distribution. This situation has increased the risk of large, stand 
replacing wildfire that could adversely impact vegetation, fisheries 
resources, watershed function, wildlife habitat(s) and private land/
homes.
    Complexity has increased due to the numerous private lands and 
structures as well as major ingress/egress routes. The private lands 
(two major parcels) are split between over 20 different landowners, 
with the potential for more subdividing in the future. The private land 
and structures (over 20 structures) are situated on the main ridgeline 
running through the project area. Approximately 80% of the planning 
area is recognized as Wildland-Urban interface (WUI).
    Past management practices have also altered the vegetation and 
ecosystem processes and provided an extensive transportation system 
within the project area. Road construction has impacted wildlife 
security, making elk, moose, fisher, pine marten, lynx and wolves more 
vulnerable to hunting and trapping mortality. Additionally, the wide-
spread availability and use of off-road vehicles has resulted in a 
reduction in wildlife security.
    Some landscape elements, notably on drier sites, such as vegetative 
patch size, stand structure, and species composition are currently 
outside the desired range of variability for the area, including a 
diminishing proportion of fire-climax stands comprised of species such 
as ponderosa pine and western larch.
    While forest succession in the area has favored some wildlife 
species (ie pileated woodpecker), it has reduced habitat quality for 
species favoring open understories (ie goshawk, pygmy nuthatch and 
flammulated owl), decreased forage availability and quality for 
ungulates and decreased habitats that support black-backed woodpeckers 
(burned areas).
    Native grassland communities have also been impacted by fire 
exclusion and past management practices. Annual grasses and noxious 
weeds have established on open, low-elevation, drier slopes, as well as 
along roads and trails throughout the area. Winter range herbaceous 
forage and browse plants have declined or become decadent and invasive 
weeds and grasses have reduced the quality and quantity of available 
forage.
    Purpose: Restore a more diverse and resilient forest structure, 
with a range of age classes, size classes, habitat complexity 
(diversity) and disturbance patterns that more closely emulate the 
results of natural disturbance. This would reduce the intensity of 
subsequent wildland fire events and increase the opportunities for fire 
management strategy and tactics to be successful, while providing for 
firefighter and public safety.
    Watershed and fisheries resources will be improved, including Deer 
Creek prescription watershed, through specific actions and indirect 
vegetation restoration opportunities. Wildlife habitat will be improved 
for ungulates and increased for species favoring open understories (ie 
goshawk, pygmy nuthatch and flammulated owl).
    Timber harvest and prescribed burning is proposed to help achieve 
some resource management objectives as well as provide a source of wood 
products for local industry and a source of jobs for local residents.

Proposed Action

    The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Salmon River Ranger 
District is proposing Commercial harvest on 10,600 acres throughout the 
Hungry Ridge landscape. Intermediate harvest (6,352 acres proposed) 
methods including variable density selection, commercial thinning, 
understory removal, sanitation, or pre-commercial thinning may be 
utilized to thin canopy fuels and create conditions unfavorable for 
crown fire persistence and initiation. These treatments will favor fire 
tolerant seral species, such as ponderosa pine and western larch.
    Regeneration harvest methods (4,234 acres proposed) including 
seedtree, shelterwood and clearcutting with reserves, will be utilized 
to manipulate patch size, age-class distribution, and species 
composition. These treatments will emphasize regeneration of seral 
species and reduce the spread of insect and disease.
    Both temporary and specified permanent road construction 
(approximately 24 miles total) associated with harvest operations is 
needed to economically treat target stands.
    Prescribed fire is proposed on 12,372 acres throughout the Hungry 
Ridge landscape.
    Prescribed fire will be utilized to treat natural fuel and residual 
fuel accumulations left from harvest operations. Prescribed fire would 
create a favorable seed-bed for regeneration of fire climax species, 
and create plantable sites in open patches. Fire will also encourage 
grass, forbe and shrub growth.
    Prescribed fire will be utilized to treat natural fuel 
accumulations, including thinning of trees. This prescription will be 
utilized, primarily where harvest cannot be used and/or is not 
economically feasible. Maintenance burns would occur on regularly 
scheduled intervals to maintain stand structure, minimize fuel 
accumulations and encourage big-game browse.
    Road decommissioning is proposed to minimize further impacts to 
watershed, fisheries and soil resources. Road

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decommissioning will range from abandonment, removing culverts or total 
recontouring of road prism. Twenty miles of decommissioning 
opportunities have been identified and will be analyzed as part of the 
proposal.
    Watershed/Fisheries improvement projects vary from culvert 
replacements, RHCA planting to constructing exclosures. Culvert 
replacement (12 identified) is proposed to create aquatic organism 
passage and/or help facilitate 100 year flows and reduce sedimentation 
into the stream channel. The majority of culvert replacement 
opportunities are in the tributaries of Mill Creek (southern portion of 
analysis area).
    Recreation/trail improvements are proposed to decrease impacts to 
fisheries resources and improve usability. Trail conversion; stream 
crossing treatments (Buck meadows area) and access improvements 
(American Creek drainage) are a few of the opportunities identified.
    Wildlife--Restoration of forest structure and reintroduction of 
fire on the landscape will create winter range for Elk and Deer, as 
well as, provide improved habitat for many wildlife species, including 
Flammulated Owl and white-headed woodpeckers.
    Weed Treatments are proposed to continue treatment of known 
populations within the analysis area, as well as, minimizing the spread 
of existing and potential weed populations.

Possible Alternatives

    The Forest Service will consider a no-action alternative, which 
will serve as a baseline for comparison of alternatives. The proposed 
action will be considered along with additional alternatives that will 
be developed to meet the purpose and need for action, and to address 
significant issues identified during scoping.

Responsible Official

    Rick Brazell, Nez Perce-Clearwater Forest Supervisor, Nez Perce-
Clearwater National Forests Supervisor's Office, 903 3rd St., Kamiah, 
ID 83536.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The deciding official will adopt the proposed action, in whole or 
in part, or another alternative; and what mitigation measures and 
management requirements will be implemented.

Preliminary Issues

    Reallocation of some MA20 (Forest Plan Old Growth) from existing 
locations, to other stands within the project area. Field 
reconnaissance has determined inconsistencies with MA20 allocations and 
what is actually present within the stands. Alternative locations for 
MA20, better suited to Old forest structure and definition have been 
identified.
    Mechanical treatment is proposed within existing MA20 (Forest Plan 
Old Growth) stands. Treatments are designed to result in a less fire, 
insect and disease-prone stand(s), that will persist into the future. 
Large trees will be left on the landscape.
    Road construction is proposed to economically achieve desired 
conditions within the project area.
    A Forest Plan amendment for soils is proposed to move some forested 
stands to desired future condition and fulfill the purpose and need of 
the project and improve soil conditions.
    Restoration activities will occur in the Deer Creek prescription 
watershed, to improve water quality values.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. The scoping 
process identifies issues to be analyzed in detail and leads to the 
development of alternatives to the proposal. The Forest Service is 
seeking information and comments from other Federal, State and local 
agencies; Tribal Governments; and organizations and individuals who may 
be interested in or affected by the proposed action. Comments received 
in response to this notice, including the names and addresses of those 
who comment, will be a part of the project record and available for 
public review.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review: A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
will be prepared for comment. The next major opportunity for public 
input will be when the DEIS is published. The comment period for the 
DEIS will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. The Draft 
EIS is anticipated to be available for public review in July of 2014.
    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: February 4, 2014.
Rick Brazell,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-03032 Filed 2-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P