[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 11677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05320]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest; Montana; Stonewall 
Vegetation Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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

SUMMARY: The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Lincoln Ranger 
District, Montana, intends to prepare a Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Stonewall Vegetation Project. The 
project area was impacted by wildfire in 2017 and a preliminary 
analysis of those effects has shown that supplemental analysis should 
be completed to assess the change in conditions resulting from the Park 
Creek Fire.

DATES: The Draft SEIS is expected May 2018, and the Final SEIS is 
expected August 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Conway, Team Leader, (406) 791-
7739; [email protected]. Additional information concerning this project 
may be obtained at https://www.fs.usda.gov/helena.
    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 Stonewall Vegetation Project Record of 
Decision (ROD) was signed by Helena-Lewis and Clark Forest Supervisor 
William Avey on August 25, 2016 and with it, the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (FEIS) was released to the public. The project was 
preliminarily enjoined by a court order and therefore implementation 
had not begun.
    In July 2017, two wildfires ignited in the project area, eventually 
burning 18,000 acres, 13,390 of which were in the Stonewall project 
area. The fire burned all or portions of 16 treatment units, totaling 
2,719 acres. Treatment units possessing viable harvest potential will 
be carried forward for analysis in this SEIS. The SEIS will supplement 
the Stonewall Vegetation Project FEIS by providing an updated analysis 
of environmental effects in light of the acres impacted by the Park 
Fire in July and August of 2017. Only those resources measurably 
affected by the changed baseline will be analyzed in the SEIS. These 
resources include soils, hydrology, fuels, vegetation, economics, 
fisheries and wildlife habitat.

Purpose and Need for Action

    Wildfire affected the project area one year after environmental 
analysis and before implementation. The original purpose, to improve 
the mix of vegetation and structure across the landscape to make it 
more resilient to wildfire, remains on those acres not impacted by the 
2017 Park Fire. Fuel reduction treatments can influence fire behavior 
to enhance community protection and allow fire to function in its 
natural role.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action consists of approximately 1890 acres of 
treatments included in the selected alternative in the ROD. These 
treatments include 550 acres of pre-commercial thinning, 19 acres of 
improvement cuts, 345 acres of shelterwood cuts, 65 acres of clearcut, 
25 acres of sanitation cuts, 300 acres of low intensity prescribed 
fire, and 555 acres of whitebark pine restoration. Less than one mile 
of temporary road is proposed, and this would be obliterated after 
implementation. Maintenance would occur on up to 31 miles of road. The 
proposed action includes the site-specific forest plan amendment for 
elk habitat as described in the 2016 ROD.

Responsible Official

    Helena-Lewis and Clark Forest Supervisor.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision will authorize vegetation treatments remaining under 
the Selected Alternative based on the updated analysis.

Preliminary Issues

    Preliminary issues identified include lynx habitat, elk security, 
hiding cover, and thermal cover.

Scoping Process

    A Notice of Intent (NOI) published on January 13, 2010 initiated 
the scoping process for the Stonewall Vegetation Project. The start of 
a 30-day scoping period began on January 16, 2010. In accordance with 
40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4), no scoping will be conducted for this SEIS.
    The Draft SEIS will be available for public comment as required by 
40 CFR 1503.1. The Draft SEIS will be announced for public review and 
comment in Federal Register, on the Forest's website https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/helena/landmanagement/projects and in the 
Helena Independent Record. The Helena-Lewis and Clark Forest Supervisor 
will issue a draft modified or new ROD after evalutating the SEIS and 
public comments. An objection period for the decision will be provided, 
consistent with 36 CFR part 218.

Authority

    This NOI is being published pursuant to regulation (40 CFR 1508.22) 
implementing the procedural provision of the National Environmental 
Policy Act fof 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

    Dated: February 22, 2018.
Glenn P. Casamassa,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-05320 Filed 3-15-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P