[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 20 (Friday, January 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5080-5081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01775]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 20 / Friday, January 30, 2015 / 
Notices  

[[Page 5080]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Sequoia National Forest, California; Tobias Forest Ecosystem 
Restoration Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service proposes ecological restoration in the 
Tobias Forest Ecosystem Restoration Project (Tobias Project) by 
encouraging a healthy and diverse forest ecosystem that is resilient to 
the effects of wildfire, drought, disease, and other disturbances. The 
Tobias Project is located in the Greenhorn Mountains on the Western 
Divide Ranger District, between Alta Sierra and Johnsondale in Tulare 
County, California. This project would commercially thin stands of 
mature trees, smaller than 30 inches in diameter at breast height 
(dbh), to increase heterogeneity and resilience on 1,290 acres. Hand 
thinning or mastication of immature trees and prescribed burning are 
proposed on 4,130. To restore the historic species composition, areas 
selected for thinning would favor Jeffrey and sugar pines, oak, and 
other shade intolerant species.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by March 2, 2015. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
March 2015 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
August 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to George Powell, Acting District 
Ranger, Western Divide Ranger District, 32588 Hwy. 190, Springville, CA 
93265. Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to (559) 539-2067.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: O'Dell Tucker, Planner, Western Divide 
Ranger District, 32588 Hwy. 190, Springville, CA 93265.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Rely Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 12, 2014, a Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental 
impact statement for the Tobias Forest Ecosystem Restoration Project 
was published in the Federal Register, Vol. 79, No. 133, on pages 47082 
to 47083. The Forest Service after reviewing comments and initial 
analysis of the proposed action and additional alternatives has decided 
to amend the proposed action and issue a new Notice of Intent to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), for the Tobias Forest 
Ecosystem Restoration Project. This Notice of Intent gives the public 
an opportunity to review and comment on changes made to the proposed 
action. The publication of this Notice of Intent begins another scoping 
period for the environmental impact statement for the Tobias Project.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The changes to the initial proposed action would help the Tobias 
project better meet the purpose and need for the project. The purpose 
of the project is to restore and maintain the forests throughout the 
project area to promote a healthy, diverse forest ecosystem that is 
resilient to the effects of wildfire, drought, disease, and other 
disturbances. There is a need to increase diversity in age, density, 
and stand structure; modify tree species composition to favor oaks and 
pines (Jeffrey and sugar) over incense-cedar and white fir; modify fuel 
conditions to reduce the risk of uncharacteristically large, stand-
replacing fires; improve wildlife habitat structure for resting, 
roosting, denning, and nesting purposes for forest-dependent wildlife 
species; support local economies with sustainable and cost-effective 
use of any byproducts of project implementation; improve watershed 
conditions by decommissioning some roads when the project concludes, in 
addition to routine maintenance of existing roads.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action would use ground skidding and skyline yarding 
to commercially thin in stands of mature trees smaller than 30 inches 
in diameter at breast height (dbh) to increase heterogeneity and 
resilience on 1,290 acres. Hand thinning of immature trees less than 10 
inches dbh is proposed for 1,280 acres. Mastication is proposed on 
2,400 acres of small, immature trees. The proposed mastication 
treatments would be implemented on slopes up to 35 percent. Prescibed 
fire would be introduced on the landscape after thinning and 
mastication are completed to reduce surface fuels and promote natural 
regeneration of species indigenous to the project area. Underburning is 
proposed for 450 acres in the home range core areas (HRCA) for the 
California spotted owl. Large snags and large woody debris would be 
protected. Riparian areas and meadows would be protected and improved. 
Approximately eight (8) miles of road decommissioning is proposed to 
improve the watershed condition, stream habitat, and water quality. The 
proposal also includes 450 acres of fuelbreak treatment along 
ridgelines.

Possible Alternatives

    In addition to the proposed action, the EIS will evaluate the 
required No Action Alternative, an alternative that uses non-commercial 
treatments, and an alternative that is consistent with the interim 
guidelines for California spotted owl (CSO) or subsequent CSO 
Conservation Strategy.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official is Kevin B. Elliott, Forest Supervisor, 
Sequoia National Forest, 1839 South Newcomb Street, Porterville, CA 
93257.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The responsible official will decide whether to adopt and implement 
the proposed action, an alternative to the proposed action, or take no 
action with respect to the Tobias Forest Ecosystem Restoration project.

Scoping Process

    The Forest Service has decided to analyze this project under an 
EIS; therefore any scoping has to be published in the Federal Register 
as a Notice of Intent (NOI). This NOI will

[[Page 5081]]

initiate another 30-day scoping process, which guides the development 
of the EIS. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at 
such times and in such a 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. If 
reviewers commented during one or both of the previous scoping and NOI 
periods, and your comments are the same, you do not need to comment 
again; your previous comments will be considered during the preparation 
of the environmental impact statement and you will be eligible to file 
an objection under the 36 CFR part 218 regulations.
    Specific written comments are defined as comments ``. . . within 
the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the 
proposed action, and must include supporting reasons for the 
responsible official to consider.'' (36 CFR 218.2). Submission of 
timely, specific written comments is a prerequisite for eligibility to 
file an objection under the 36 CFR part 218 regulations.

Comment Requested

    This project will follow the new objection procedures as directed 
by 36 CFR part 218. The objection process provides an opportunity for 
members of the public who have participated in opportunities for public 
participation provided throughout the planning process to have any 
unresolved concerns receive an independent review by the Forest Service 
prior to a final decision being made by the responsible official. Only 
those who provided specific written comments during opportunities for 
public comment are eligible to file an objection.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including the 
names and addresses of those who comment, are part of the public record 
on 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.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21.

    Dated: January 26, 2015.
Kevin B. Elliott,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2015-01775 Filed 1-29-15; 8:45 am]
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