[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9165-9167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03868]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Caribou-Targhee National Forest; Ashton/Island Park Ranger 
Station; Idaho; Buffalo TSI

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: This project proposes to reduce or prolong the overall 
susceptibility to mountain pine beetle attacks and crown fires in a 
subset of previously harvested areas within the analysis area. 
Precommercial thinning is proposed so trees within these stands 
maintain diameter and height growth as well as increased crown 
development and to move this project area toward meeting specific 
goals, and objectives outlined in the Targhee National Forest Revised 
Forest Management Plan (RFP) and the Properly Functioning Condition 
Assessment (PFC).

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by March 25, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
July 2016 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
January 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Mike Alfieri, Island Park Ranger 
Station, 3726 Highway 20, Island Park, ID 83429. Comments may also be 
sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to 208-558-7812.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Alfieri, Forestry Technician 208-
558-4210 or [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 purpose of this project is to reduce or prolong the overall 
susceptibility to mountain pine beetle attacks and crown fires in a 
subset of previously harvested areas within the analysis area. The 
purpose is to also to provide for a variety of resource products now 
and in the future. All of the areas identified for treatment were 
harvested using the clearcut method over 20 years ago and are 
regenerated with hundreds and even thousands of trees per acre, 
primarily of lodgepole pine. Precommercial thinning is proposed so 
trees within these stands maintain diameter and height growth as well 
as increased crown development and to move this project area toward 
meeting specific goals, and objectives outlined in the Targhee National 
Forest Revised Forest Management Plan (RFP) and the PFC. These include:
    1. Use vegetation management to achieve a broad array of multiple-
use and ecosystem management objectives, including forest health, 
structure, composition, and distribution in larger landscapes. . . . 
Develop long term vegetation and density management strategies to 
reduce the risk of a future catastrophic bark beetle epidemic (RFP III-
12). For the Buffalo project area this goal has been further refined as 
leaving approximately 195 trees per acre or a 15 by 15 foot overall 
tree spacing to prolong the susceptibility to future mountain pine 
beetle attacks.
    2. Lodgepole pine stands in Watershed 10 would provide a variety of 
forest products now and in the future. More dense stands would provide 
smaller diameter products such as post and poles; less dense stands 
would provide larger diameter trees that could be harvested as 
sawtimber in the future. Stands that remain susceptible to crown fire 
or mountain pine beetle would eventually die providing firewood. For 
the Buffalo project, firewood, post and poles could be a byproduct of 
the proposed treatments. In the future, the areas thinned with this 
proposal would provide sawtimber available for future harvest (RFP III 
31-33).
    3. The likelihood of future landscape-level crown fire will be 
reduced in order to protect human life and safety, developments, 
structures, and sensitive resource values (RFP III-6). The roadside 
fuelbreak along a portion of Fish Creek Road would increase chances 
that firefighters will be able to safely engage either unwanted 
wildfires or fires for resource benefit. For the Buffalo project area, 
the various treatments would reduce spacing between tree canopies to 
reduce the potential of crown fire; and ground fuels will be minimized 
to decrease the potential for a surface fire and for a surface fire to 
reach the crowns.
    The desired condition for this project is outlined in the three 
goals stated above. The need for this project is to bring this 
landscape closer to meeting these desired conditions.
    With reference to susceptibility to mountain pine beetle, thinned 
lodgepole stands have more open grown conditions which leave tree 
stand's microclimate less desirable for mountain pine beetle. Wind 
speeds can increase within thinned stands, disrupting pheromone plumes 
that let other beetles know there is available food. Efforts to prevent 
undesirable levels of bark beetle-caused tree mortality must change 
susceptibility through reductions in tree competition, disruption of 
pheromone plumes thus negatively affecting host-finding, and reduction 
in the fecundity, fitness and survivorship of target bark beetle 
species. Less dense trees have thicker phloem which favors mountain 
pine beetle production but this strategy also increases resistance of 
individual trees through increased tree vigor allowing the trees the 
energy or turgor pressure to expel the beetle. Trees of low vigor 
related to a higher relative stand density caused by competition for 
water and nutrients are more susceptible to bark beetle attack. Areas 
that are not precommercially thinned and have very high densities of 
lodgepole pine are also less susceptible for mountain pine beetle 
because of reduced phloem thickness.
    Watershed 10 will have a variety of lodgepole pine stands that 
would

[[Page 9166]]

provide for various forest products now and in the future. Stands that 
have been previously precommercial thinned to leave approximately 360 
trees per acre would provide sawtimber when the lodgepole pine matures. 
If these stands are not harvested before they reach 80 to 100 years 
old, they may be susceptible to mountain pine beetle attack, die and 
become available for firewood. The lodgepole pine stands that would not 
be precommercially thinned could provide post and poles now and into 
the future. Areas that are proposed for precommercial thinning through 
this project could provide sawtimber when the lodgepole pine matures. 
Post, poles and firewood would be a byproduct of the thinning when the 
project is implemented.
    In lodgepole pine-dominated stands, fire can behave in two 
different extremes. Typically, fire creeps and smolders along the 
forest floor shaded by the dense tree canopy and hindered by the lack 
of ground fuels. However, under dry and windy conditions with heavy 
dead fuel accumulations, fires can spread through those surface fuels 
and quickly get up into the canopy. These fires are typically high-
intensity, stand-replacing fires that do not occur often, but burn many 
acres and are very difficult to extinguish when they do occur. If left 
untreated, the current lodgepole pine-dominated stands within this 
project would over time create the surface fuels necessary to allow 
fire to get into the canopy and potentially produce crown fire that is 
so difficult to suppress. The roadside fuels reduction project would 
enhance a fuel break along a key Forest Service Road, Fish Creek (082) 
to increase chances that firefighters will be able to safely engage 
either unwanted wildfires or fires for resource benefit. Roadside fuel 
breaks located in areas where fire can be safely restored to the 
landscape would contribute to maintaining fire as a disturbance on this 
landscape as well as allow safe effective wildfire response with 
minimal exposure to firefighters. This fuel break is located within the 
wildland urban interface (WUI) and would remove surface, ladder, and 
crown fuels.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action would precommercially thin approximately 3900 
acres located within the Buffalo River Watershed to achieve the desired 
conditions stated in the Purpose and Need. Areas identified to be 
thinned are past harvest units composed primarily of lodgepole pine 
presently stocked at greater than 500 trees per acre.

Precommercial Thinning Units

     Trees would be thinned to a 15 by 15 foot spacing with the 
exception of the Aquatic Influence Zone (AIZ).
     Within 25 feet of any stream or AIZ, Reduce leave tree 
spacing from 15 by 15 foot spacing to 12 by 12 foot spacing, unless 
approved by a hydrologist or fish biologist.
     Within riparian areas and Aquatic Influence Zones (AIZ) 
felled trees would be left where they fall and felled in a way that 
protects residual vegetation from damage.
    Roadside fuel break--Within the 600 feet (300 feet on either side 
of the road) of the Fish Creek Road (FS 082).
     Thin to a 20 by 20 foot spacing.
     Within 25 feet of any stream or aquatic influence zone 
(AIZ), reduce leave tree spacing to 12 by 12 feet, unless approved by a 
hydrologist or fish biologist.
     Masticate remaining slash. Masticated chips would not 
exceed a depth of three inches.
     Areas designated for tree removal will not impact current 
road closures.
     Pioneered roads will be rehabilitated once trees have been 
removed.
     Within AIZs, do not remove (for pile burning or 
mastication) dead and down material greater than 6 inches or less than 
2 inches in diameter.
     Within AIZ, lop and scatter material that is less than 2 
inches in diameter (i.e. do not remove for pile burning or 
mastication).
     Where feasible, do not pile burn or masticate within AIZ. 
If practicable, pull material completely outside of the AIZ to pile 
burn or masticate. If not feasible, pile material as far from stream 
channels as practical given the local terrain.
     No heavy equipment operation (e.g. masticator, skidder, 
etc.) shall occur in the AIZ off of existing routes unless approved by 
a soil scientist or hydrologist.
     Within AIZ, minimize the mechanized treatment of wood 
residue. All debris associated with treatments shall be left or placed 
in such a manner as to prevent their entry into streams.
     Do not burn material within the bankfull channel.
     Fell trees in a way that protects residual vegetation from 
damage. Minimize ground-disturbing activities.
     Avoid heavy equipment use on slopes greater than 40 
percent.
     Rutting in skid trails should not exceed six to eight 
inches in depth (wet condition) over more than ten percent of a 
designated skid trail system. No yarding operations should take place 
when ground conditions are wet enough that there is a risk of such 
rutting. Avoid operations if soil is saturated.
     No new roads, skid trails, or landings will be constructed 
within the AIZ until appropriate standards for construction, 
maintenance, and operations are in place. Use previously disturbed 
areas for landings. All newly constructed landings, skid trails, and 
temporary roads shall be obliterated. No temporary stream crossings are 
necessary.

Design Criteria Common to All Treatments

     Trees remaining following thinning would have straight 
stems, well-formed crowns, be free of insect or disease damage, 
vigorous annual terminal growth, and crown ratio of 40 percent or more.
     To promote species diversity, conifers other than 
lodgepole pine would remain within the treatment units except in aspen 
clumps.
     No aspen would be cut.
     No five needle pines would be cut.
     All conifers except five needle pines would be cut within 
two aspen tree heights of an aspen clump (3 or more aspen trees).
     Cutting of trees would be accomplished by crews using 
chain saws.
     Trees on the ground would provide opportunities to gather 
firewood, post and poles anywhere within the treatment units. Those 
removing products can only drive within 300 feet of either side of an 
open or gated forest service system road to retrieve their wood.
     Each treatment would be sequenced as follows: Cut trees, 
remove products removal such as firewood, post or poles would occur for 
not more than three years, treat slash.
     There would be no new road construction or reconstruction. 
No decommissioned roads would be opened for the project. Approximately 
13.82 miles of restricted (gated roads) would be used to access 
thinning units. The gated roads would only be used by people associated 
with the thinning project and the gates would remain locked at all 
times.
     Following precommercial thinning operations, gated roads 
(FS Roads 083, 105, 448, 447 and 116) would be opened as necessary to 
firewood, post and pole removal within the treatment units. Those 
removing firewood, post and poles can only drive within 300 feet of 
either side of an open or gated forest service system road to retrieve 
their wood.

[[Page 9167]]

     All open and restricted gated roads within or adjacent to 
the units shall be kept free of felled trees.
     No thinning activities would occur before July 1 to reduce 
the effects to nesting migratory birds.
     All contractors and people involved with the proposed 
project must comply with the applicable food storage special order in 
effect when the work is performed.
     There is one pond located within the project area. No 
precommercial thinning will occur within 300 feet of the pond to avoid 
adverse effects to amphibians.
     Generally strive to maintain fine organic matter over at 
least 50 percent of the area (RFP, pages III-6 & 7).
     Five to ten tons of woody debris would remain on the 
ground following treatments.
     Areas of pile burning will be evaluated and monitored to 
determine if seeding or additional rehabilitation is warranted to 
minimize weed spread and maintain soil productivity.
     Adjust chipping size and depth to provide a variation of 
chip depth (maximum depth of three inches including patches of 
unchipped) and chip size to allow differing decomposition rates and 
soil moisture retention lengths and to avoid negatively impacting 
available soil nitrogen.
     Locate public firewood as close to the existing roads as 
possible (material resulting from thinning).
     Plan for burning of piles to occur when soils are wet from 
snow or rain to limit impacts on soil organic matter, physical 
properties and soil organisms.
     Routes pioneered into the project area will need to be 
evaluated for the most appropriate rehabilitation and closure methods. 
Options may include: Leaving additional slash over the area, roughing 
up the segment where the route departs from a system road or 
mastication perpendicular to the segment.

Possible Alternatives

    At a minimum, the proposed action and a no action alternative would 
be analyzed.

Responsible Official

    The Ashton/Island Park District Ranger is the responsible official 
and will make the decision.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    In the decision, the responsible official will decide whether or 
not to precommercially thin the identified stands of trees.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.
    The purpose of this comment period is to provide an opportunity for 
the public to provide early and meaningful participation on a proposed 
action prior to a decision being made by the Responsible Official. 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.
    Public comment on this analysis is pursuant to the pre-decisional 
process described at 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B.
    Only those who comment and meet all the requirements contained in 
36 CFR 218.25(a)(3) will have standing to object to the project during 
the 45 day pre-decisional objection period. The objection period will 
occur following the distribution of the final EIS and draft Record of 
Decision. Comments submitted in response to this solicitation must meet 
the definition of ``specific written comments'' as defined at 36 CFR 
218.2, particularly ``. . . specific written comments should be 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.''

    Dated: February 18, 2016.
Elizibeth Davy,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2016-03868 Filed 2-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P