[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 123 (Monday, June 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41517-41518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15104]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Four Forest Restoration Initiative, Rim Country Apache-
Sitgreaves, Coconino, and Tonto National Forests

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, and Tonto National Forests 
are proposing to conduct restoration activities within 1.24 million 
acres of ponderosa pine ecosystem over approximately 10 years. 
Treatment areas are located on the Black Mesa, and Lakeside Ranger 
Districts of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, the Mogollon and 
Red Rock Ranger Districts of the Coconino National Forest, and the 
Payson and Pleasant Valley Ranger Districts of the Tonto National 
Forest. Project treatments would occur in the vicinity of Happy Jack, 
Payson, Young, Heber-Overgaard, Show Low, and Pinetop-Lakeside, 
Arizona. The objective of this project is to re-establish forest 
structure, pattern, and composition, which will lead to increased 
forest resilience and function. Resiliency increases the ability of 
ponderosa pine forests to survive natural disturbances such as insects 
and disease, fire, and climate change.

DATES: Comments concerning the proposed action in this notice must be 
received by August 11, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement 
is expected in July 2017 and the final environmental impact statement 
is expected in September 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Coconino National Forest, 
Attention: 4FRI, 1824 S. Thompson Street, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001. 
Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via 
facsimile to (928) 527-3620.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Annette Fredette, 4FRI Planning 
Coordinator, at 928-226-4684, 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 of and Need for Action

    The purpose of the Rim Country Project is to reestablish and 
restore forest structure and pattern, forest health, and vegetation 
composition and diversity in ponderosa pine ecosystems to conditions 
within the natural range of variation, thus moving the project area 
toward the desired conditions. The outcome of improving structure and 
function is increased system resiliency. Resiliency increases the 
ability of an ecosystem to survive natural disturbances such as fire, 
insects and disease, and climate change without changing its inherent 
function.
    This project is needed to: Increase forest resiliency and 
sustainability, reduce risk of undesirable fire effects, improve 
terrestrial and aquatic species habitat, improve the condition and 
function of streams and springs, restore woody riparian vegetation, 
preserve cultural resources, and support sustainable forest products 
industries.

Proposed Action

    To meet the purpose and need for the Rim Country Project and move 
the project area toward desired conditions, the Apache-Sitgreaves, 
Coconino, and Tonto National Forests propose mechanical thinning, 
prescribed fire, and other restoration activities throughout the 
project area that would make the forest more resilient to natural 
disturbances such as fire, insects and disease, and climate change. 
Restoration activities are needed to maintain or restore forest 
structure and pattern, desired fire regimes, and watershed and 
ecosystem function in ponderosa pine, ponderosa pine-Gambel oak, 
ponderosa pine-evergreen oak, frequent fire mixed conifer (dry mixed 
conifer), aspen, and grassland cover types, moving them toward 
conditions within the natural range of variation. Facilitative 
operations may be needed in other cover types (such as pinyon juniper) 
to enable or complete treatments in target cover types, by reducing 
uncharacteristic fire risk, reducing ground disturbance from fireline 
construction, or improving operability. Restoration activities proposed 
for the Rim Country project area include:
     Mechanically thin trees and/or implement prescribed fire 
on approximately 952,330 acres.
    [cir] Mechanically thin trees and implement prescribed fire on 
approximately 1,260 acres in the Long Valley Experimental Forest (in 
coordination with the Rocky Mountain Research Station).
    [cir] Implement prescribed fire alone on approximately 45,290 
acres.
    [cir] Mechanically thin and/or implement prescribed fire on 
approximately 68,360 acres of Mexican spotted owl (MSO) protected 
activity centers (PACs), approximately 128,800 acres of MSO recovery 
habitat, and approximately 500,940 acres of northern goshawk habitat.
    [cir] Mechanically thin trees and/or implement prescribed fire to 
restore approximately 40,760 acres of grasslands and meadows (includes 
21,550 acres of grassland cover type).
    [cir] Conduct facilitative operations (thin and/or burn) on up to 
157,270 acres of non-target cover types to support treatments in target 
cover types.

[[Page 41518]]

    [cir] Planting, burning, and other activities to encourage 
reforestation on approximately 69,360 acres of understocked areas that 
were previously forested.
     Decommission approximately 230 miles of existing system 
and unauthorized roads on the Coconino and Apache-Sitgreaves NFs.
     Decommission approximately 20 miles of unauthorized roads 
on the Tonto NF.
     Improve approximately 150 miles of existing non-system 
roads and construct approximately 350 miles of temporary roads for haul 
access; decommission when treatments are completed.
     Relocate and reconstruct existing open roads adversely 
affecting water quality and natural resources, or of concern to human 
safety.
     Restore hydrologic function and vegetation on 
approximately 9,570 acres of meadows.
     Restore approximately 184 springs.
     Restore function in up to 470 miles of riparian streams 
and intermittent and ephemeral stream channels (non-riparian).
     Restore up to 360 miles of stream habitat for threatened, 
endangered, and sensitive aquatic species.
     Construct up to 200 miles of protective barriers around 
springs, aspen, Bebb's willows, and big-tooth maples, as needed for 
restoration.

Possible Alternatives

    A full range of alternatives to the proposed action, including a no 
action alternative, will be considered. The no action alternative 
represents no change and serves as the baseline for the comparison of 
the action alternatives.

Forest Plan Amendments

    To meet the project's purpose and need, the existing Coconino and 
Tonto Forest Plans would need to be amended to provide for areas of 
grass, forbs, and shrubs interspersed with tree groups and allow for 
treatments to move tree group patterns, interspaces, and stand density 
toward the natural range of variability. Amending these forest plans 
would allow for treatments that improve MSO nesting and roosting 
habitat as defined in the Mexican spotted owl recovery plan. The 
desired conditions related in the project's purpose and need are 
consistent with the revised Apache-Sitgreaves Forest Plan. Amendments 
to the Coconino and Tonto Forest Plans would provide consistency in 
meeting desired conditions for ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests 
across the Rim Country project area.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    Cooperating Agency status has been designated to the Arizona Game 
and Fish Department (Department) to assist the Apache-Sitgreaves, 
Tonto, and Coconino National Forests in the preparation of the 4FRI Rim 
Country EIS, pursuant to the terms the Master Memorandum of 
Understanding (10-MU-11031600-019) between the Department and the 
Forest Service.

Responsible Official

    The responsible officials are the Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, and 
Tonto National Forest Supervisors.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Given the purpose and need of the project, the forest supervisors 
will review the proposed action, other alternatives, and the 
environmental effects analysis in order to determine: (1) Which 
alternative, or combination of alternatives, should be implemented; (2) 
the location and treatment methods for all restoration activities; (3) 
the design features, mitigation measures and monitoring requirements; 
and, (4) consistency with the forest plans in place at the time of the 
decision and the need for amendments.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process for the 4FRI 
Rim Country Project, which guides the development of the environmental 
impact statement. Public meetings are planned during the scoping period 
for the purposes of discussing and gathering comments on the proposed 
action. Meetings are planned on Thursday, July 14 in Show Low, AZ, and 
on Thursday, July 21 in Payson, AZ. For times and locations and other 
scheduled meetings, please visit the 4FRI Web site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/4FRIRimCountry. Please contact Annette Fredette at 
(928) 226-4684 for additional information.
    The intent of this comment period is to provide those interested in 
or affected by this proposed action with an opportunity to make their 
concerns known. Written, hand-delivered, electronic, and facsimile 
comments concerning this proposed action will be accepted. We invite 
you to provide any substantive comments you might have regarding the 
proposed action for the 4FRI Rim Country Project, those that are within 
the scope of the project and the decision to be made, are specific to 
the proposed activities and the project area, and have a direct 
relationship to the project. Please provide supporting reasons for us 
to consider. If you cite or include references with your comments, you 
need to state specifically how those references relate to the proposed 
action. Please include hard copies or internet links to any references 
to which you refer. 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.
    This proposed project is an action implementing three land 
management plans and is subject to the objection process described in 
36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B. As such, individuals and organizations 
wishing to be eligible to file a predecisional objection must meet the 
information requirements in 36 CFR 218. Names and contact information 
submitted with comments will become part of the public record and may 
be released under the Freedom of Information Act. However, comments 
submitted anonymously will also be accepted and considered.

    Dated: June 20, 2016.
Scott Russell,
4FRI Chief Executive.
[FR Doc. 2016-15104 Filed 6-24-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-11-P