[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 189 (Monday, October 2, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45797-45798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21005]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger District; California; Elk Creek 
Watershed Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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

SUMMARY: The purpose of the Elk Creek Watershed Project is to address 
the need to manage forest stands to be more resilient to future 
disturbances, improve water quality to maintain and restore riparian 
and aquatic habitat, improve terrestrial habitat for northern spotted 
owl and Roosevelt elk, reduce fuel accumulations, and improve the vigor 
and prevalence of Karuk cultural resources.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by November 16, 2017. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is 
expected June 2018 and the Final Environmental Impact Statement is 
expected February 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to P.O. Box 377, Happy Camp, CA 96039. 
Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via 
facsimile to (530) 493-1796. Submit electronic comments at the Klamath 
National Forest's project Web page: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=46553.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dock Chastain, (530) 493-1742, 
[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 and need for this project is to:
     Reduce fuel accumulations and create ridgetop fuel breaks 
to increase options for managing planned and unplanned ignitions;
     Improve water quality to maintain and restore riparian and 
aquatic habitat;
     Maximize efficiency of system roads and trails that 
provide public access to the Forest while minimizing resource impacts;
     Manage forest stands to be more resilient to future 
disturbances and improve terrestrial habitat for northern spotted owl 
and Roosevelt elk;
     Contribute to local and regional economies by providing 
forest products and enhancing recreational opportunities; and
     Improve the vigor and prevalence of Karuk cultural 
resources that were historically present in the planning area.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action was designed to meet the purpose and need of 
the project. The proposed action would treat about 10,550 acres within 
the 45,992-acre project boundary. Acres by treatment type are described 
below and do not account for overlap in treatment types (acres 
receiving multiple treatments may be double counted). Treatment 
acreages are approximate at this point and may be adjusted and refined 
following scoping. The proposed action also addresses the existing 
condition of the National Forest Transportation System (Forest System) 
by treating legacy sites, changing road maintenance levels, and 
decommissioning roads. All treatments would manage for improving the 
health and vigor of hardwood species according to the Klamath National 
Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). Riparian 
Reserves within and adjacent to treatment units would be evaluated on a 
site-by-site basis for treatment, and would include equipment and 
treatment exclusion zones.
    This project would include the following eight types of vegetation 
treatments: (1) Commercial thinning; (2) noncommercial thinning; (3) 
hardwood enhancement; (4) meadow enhancement; (5) fuels reduction 
adjacent to private property; (6) defensible fuel profile zones; (7) 
roadside fuels reduction; and (8) underburning. This project would use 
a travel analysis for recommending management levels of existing Forest 
System roads and would develop new opportunities for recreation through 
the addition of new trails.
    (1) Commercial Thinning (1,782 acres): Commercial thinning is an 
intermediate harvest with the objective of reducing stand density 
primarily to improve growth, enhance forest health, and other resources 
objectives. Treatment can recover potential mortality while producing 
merchantable material.
    (2) Noncommercial Thinning (1,256 acres): Noncommercial thinning is 
an intermediate harvest which removes the less desirable trees of any 
species in a stand of poles or larger trees primarily to improve the 
composition and quality of the stand.
    (3) Hardwood Enhancement (76 acres): Hardwood enhancement would 
focus on stimulating the growth and available resources for preferred 
hardwood species according to the Forest Plan.
    (4) Meadow Enhancement (18 acres): Meadow enhancement treatments 
would focus on reducing conifer encroachment by removing conifer 
seedlings and saplings growing within the meadow footprint.
    (5) Fuels reduction Adjacent to Private Property (153 acres): Fuel 
breaks created to protect private property would extend up to 500 feet 
adjacent to private property. The fuel treatments would involve cutting 
and pile burning of ladder fuels: Brush, hardwoods, and conifer trees 
up to ten inches diameter at breast height.
    (6) Defensible Fuel Profile Zone (823 acres): The width of the 
defensible fuel profile zone would be up to 250 feet on either side of 
proposed ridge lines. The fuel treatments would involve cutting and 
pile burning of ladder fuels: Brush, hardwoods, and conifer trees up to 
ten inches diameter at breast height.
    (7) Roadside Fuels Reduction (1,896 acres): The roadside fuel 
breaks would extend up to 300 feet above and 50 feet below either side 
of identified Forest System and county roads adjacent to Forest Service 
lands. The fuel treatments would involve cutting and pile burning of 
ladder fuels: Brush, hardwoods, and conifer trees up to ten inches 
diameter at breast height.
    (8) Underburning (4,552 acres): Underburn units are intended to be 
burned at low to moderate intensities to reduce fuel loadings and 
reduce the risk of catastrophic fire. Travel Analysis--A risk and 
benefit analysis was conducted for Forest System roads within the East 
Fork Elk Creek and Lower Elk Creek 6th field watersheds. Road 
treatments include 22 miles of decommissioning, 15 miles of downgrading 
maintenance levels, 10 miles of upgrading maintenance levels, and 
treating associated legacy sites. In addition to Forest System road 
actions, four miles of non-system roads would be rehabilitated.
    This project would also include recreation improvements, including 
the construction of 4.3 miles of new multi-use trails and up to 13 
miles of mountain bike trail.

[[Page 45798]]

Connected Actions

    Access: Access for this project would be mainly accomplished by use 
of roads on the National Forest Transportation System. About three 
miles of temporary roads would be needed to facilitate commercial 
thinning operations. Most of these temporary roads would occur on 
existing roadbeds. However, several short new temporary spur roads 
would also be constructed. Both new and existing temporary roads would 
be hydrologically stabilized at the end of the project.
    Landings: Existing landings would be used where possible. Landing 
size would be appropriately sized for operational safety. Cable 
landings would use roads where possible. Cable landings off the road 
system and ground-based landings would average one acre in size but 
would not exceed 1.5 acres in size. Both new and existing landings 
would be hydrologically stabilized at the end of the project.

Responsible Official

    Patricia A. Grantham, Klamath National Forest, Forest Supervisor.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Service is the lead agency for the project. Based on the 
result of the NEPA analysis, the Klamath National Forest, Forest 
Supervisor's Record of Decision regarding the Elk Creek Watershed 
Project will recommend implementation of one of the following:
    (1) The proposed action and mitigations necessary to minimize or 
avoid adverse impacts;
    (2) An alternative to the proposed action and mitigations necessary 
to minimize or avoid adverse impacts; or
    (3) The no-action alternative.
    The Record of Decision will also document the consistency of the 
proposed action or one of the alternatives with the Klamath National 
Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.

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.

    Dated: September 12, 2017.
Jeanne M. Higgins,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2017-21005 Filed 9-29-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P