[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 193 (Thursday, October 5, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52147-52148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24751]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Jaybird EIS, Tahoe National Forest, Yuba and Sierra Counties, CA
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for proposed timber
harvest, plantation thinning, fuels reduction, and wildlife habitat
improvement projects for areas in the Brandy, Bridger, and Willow Creek
watersheds in accordance with the requirements of 36 CFR 219.19. The
projects areas are located within portions of T.18N, R.8 & 9E., and
T.19N., R.8 & 9E., MDB&M.
The agency invites comments and suggestions on the scope of the
analysis. In addition, the agency gives notice of the full
environmental analysis and decision-making process that will occur on
the proposal so that interested and affected people are aware of how
they may participate and contribute to the final decision.
DATES: Comments should be made in writing and received by November 20,
1995.
ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning the project should be directed
to Jean Masquelier, District Ranger, Downieville Ranger District, North
Yuba Ranger Station, 15924 Hwy 49, Camptonville, CA 95922.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bob Willour, Resource Officer, Downieville Ranger District,
Camptonville, CA 95922, telephone (916) 478-6253.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: There are about 2,000 acres being analyzed
for projects within the Jaybird analysis area. It incorporates the land
within the Brandy, Bridger, and Willow Creek watersheds, which all
drain into Bullards Bar Reservoir. It is located just north of
Camptonville, California. The area is dominated by mixed conifer and
hardwood forest.
This project was chosen to derive needed wood fiber and to reduce
fire risk. Watershed problems, fire hazards within a mixed land
ownership landscape, forest health concerns, and wildlife habitat
conditions represent some of the challenges and opportunities for
improvements that will be looked at during this analysis. An EIS will
be done because of the concern for water quality.
In preparing the environmental impact statement, the Forest Service
will identify and analyze a range of alternatives for treatment of the
dense stands of young trees that address the issues developed for these
sites. One of the alternatives will be no treatment. Other alternatives
will consider differing levels of plantation thinning, timber harvest,
new road construction and reconstruction, fuel hazard reduction, and
fish and wildlife habitat improvement projects. The needs of people and
environmental values will be blended in a such way that the Jaybird
analysis area would represent a diverse, healthy, productive, and
sustainable ecosystem.
Public participation will be important during the analysis,
especially during the review of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement. The Forest Service is seeking information, comments, and
assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies and other
individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected by
the proposed action. This input will be used in preparation of the
draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). The scoping process
includes:
1. Identifying potential issues.
2. Identifying issues to be analyzed in depth.
3. Eliminating insignificant issues or those which have been covered by
a relevant previous environmental analysis.
4. Exploring additional alternatives.
5. Identifying potential environmental effects of the proposed action
and alternatives (i.e., direct, indirect, and cumulative effects and
connected actions).
6. Determining potential cooperating agencies and task assignments.
Comments from other Federal, State, and local agencies,
organizations, and individuals who may be interested in, or affected by
the decision, are encouraged to identify other significant issues.
Public participation will be solicited through mailing letters to
mining claim owners, private land owners, and special use permittees
within the downieville Ranger District boundaries; posting information
in local towns; and mailing letters to local timber industries,
politicians, school boards, county supervisors, and environmental
groups. Written comments that have already been received will still be
considered when analyzing alternatives and impacts. Continued
participation will be emphasized through individual contacts. No public
meetings are scheduled.
The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for public review
approximately the middle of January, 1996. The comment period on the
draft EIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA publishes the notice of
availability in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviews of
draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft EIS stage but that are not raised until after completion of the
final EIS may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Agnoon v.
Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages Inc.
v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of the
court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this
proposed action participate by the close of the 45 day comment period
so that substantive comments and objections are made available to the
Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and
respond to them in the final EIS.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and
[[Page 52148]]
concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft EIS should be as
specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific
pages or chapters of the draft EIS or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
The final EIS is expected to be available by early May, 1996. The
responsible official, who is the District Ranger for the Downieville
Ranger District, will document the decision and reasons for the
decision in the Record of Decision.
Dated: September 19, 1995.
Jean M. Masquelier,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 95-24751 Filed 10-4-95; 8:45 am]
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