97-31330. Swamp Timber Sales and Associated Activities; Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, Montana  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 230 (Monday, December 1, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 63510-63513]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-31330]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    
    Forest Service
    
    
    Swamp Timber Sales and Associated Activities; Kootenai National 
    Forest, Lincoln County, Montana
    
    AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
    
    ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
    
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    SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an Environmental Impact 
    Statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental effects of timber harvest 
    (including salvage of beetle-killed lodgepole pine and windthrown 
    trees), prescribed fire, watershed rehabilitation, year-round road 
    restrictions, road obliteration, construction of temporary roads and 
    reconstruction of specified roads in the Swamp Analysis Area on the 
    Fortine Ranger District of the Kootenai National Forest. The Swamp 
    Analysis Area is located approximately 30 air miles northeast of Libby, 
    Montana, near the communities of Trego, Fortine and Eureka, Montana.
    
        The proposed actions to harvest and reforest timber stands, improve 
    stream
    
    [[Page 63511]]
    
    and watershed conditions, reconstruct, rehabilitate or obliterate 
    roads, restrict road access and underburn forest fuels and debris are 
    being considered together because they represent either connected or 
    cumulative actions as defined by the Council on Environmental Quality 
    (40 CFR 1508.25). The purposes of the project are: (1) To manage for a 
    diversity of plant communities and age classes to meet the specific 
    habitat requirements for a variety of plant and animal species; (2) to 
    provide timber to support local, regional, and national needs; and (3) 
    to manage for stable stream channels, viable and productive habitats 
    for aquatic species, and water quality that meets or exceeds State of 
    Montana water quality goals.
        The EIS will tier to the Kootenai National Forest Land and Resource 
    Management Plan and Final EIS of September, 1987, which provides 
    overall guidance for forest management of the area. All activities 
    associated with the proposal will be designed to maintain high quality 
    wildlife, fisheries, and watershed objectives.
    
    DATES: Written comments and suggestions should be postmarked or 
    received by December 31, 1997.
    
    ADDRESSES: The Responsible Official is Edward C. Monnig, District 
    Ranger, Fortine Ranger District, P.O. Box 116, Fortine, Montana, 59918. 
    Written comments and suggestions concerning the scope of the analysis 
    may be sent to him at that address.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Michael Liu, Project Leader, Fortine Ranger District. Phone: (406) 882-
    4451.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Swamp Decision Area contains 
    approximately 40,680 acres of land within the Kootenai National Forest 
    in Lincoln County, Montana. All of the proposed projects would occur on 
    National Forest lands in the Swamp, Beaver and Edna Creek drainages 
    near Trego, Montana.
    
        The legal location of the Swamp Decision Area is as follows: All or 
    portions of Sections 1-3 and 11-12 of Township 32 North, Range 28 West; 
    Sections 2-11 and 14-16 of Township 32 North, Range 27 West; Section 36 
    of Township 33 North, Range 28 West; Sections 1-4, 8-17, and 19-36 of 
    Township 33 North, Range 27 West; Sections 1-11, 14-22, and 29-32 of 
    Township 33 North, Range 26 West; Sections 24-26 and 34-36 of Township 
    34 North, Range 27 West; and Sections 17-36 of Township 34 North, Range 
    26 West; Principal Montana Meridian, Lincoln County, Montana.
        All proposed activities are outside the boundaries of any roadless 
    area or any areas considered for inclusion to the National Wilderness 
    System as recommended by the Kootenai National Forest Plan or by any 
    past or present legislative wilderness proposals.
        The Forest Service proposes to harvest approximately 36,600 hundred 
    cubic feet (CCF), the equivalent of 15 million board feet (MMBF), of 
    timber through application of a variety of harvest methods on 
    approximately 4780 acres of forest land within the Swamp Decision Area. 
    Use of existing and temporary roads would be needed to access timber 
    harvest areas. An estimated 47 miles of existing roads would be 
    reconstructed to access timber harvest areas or improve watershed 
    conditions. An additional 13 miles of road would be rehabilitated to 
    improve watershed conditions. All temporary roads would be obliterated 
    following completion of sale activities. An additional 16 miles of road 
    no longer in use, would be obliterated by various methods, such as 
    removal of culverts, recontouring, ripping and seeding, and installing 
    barriers. The method of obliteration would be based on site specific 
    conditions. An estimated 24 miles of existing road would be restricted 
    year-round to improve watershed conditions, minimize future road 
    maintenance costs, and to regulate overall open road density to improve 
    big game security. The proposal also includes prescribed burning on 
    approximately 500 acres to enhance wildlife habitat, and promote 
    vegetative diversity. Prescribed burning would also be used to reduce 
    fuels and prepare sites for natural or artificial reforestation on 
    regeneration harvest units after completion of harvest operation.
        More specifically management activities in this proposal include:
    
    Regeneration Harvest
    
        These activities emphasize development of a new stand of trees 
    through harvest of existing live or dead trees. The following types of 
    regeneration harvest are proposed: (1) Salvage of merchantable dead 
    lodgepole pine and other species would be removed in one entry, leaving 
    6-10 live trees/acre. Approximately 126 acres would be harvested 
    resulting in approximately 2,440 CCF (1 MMBF) of timber; (2) Seedtree/
    shelterwood harvest of all merchantable trees except for 6-10 trees/
    acre in seed tree or 20-40 trees/acre in shelterwood prescriptions. 
    Some shelterwood trees could be removed in a second entry when the 
    stand has been certified as regenerated. A total of approximately 299 
    acres would be harvested resulting in approximately 7296 CCF (3 MMBF) 
    of timber; (3) Using a group shelterwood prescription some units would 
    be harvested in 3-5 acre openings. Three entries would take place over 
    a 20 year period, removing one-third of the stand with each entry. 
    Leave trees would be left in the openings. Approximately 574 acres 
    would be harvested and yield approximately 4636 CCF (1.9 MMBF) of 
    timber; (4) Special shelterwood harvests would remove all merchantable 
    trees except for 20-25 large diameter (>18''DBH) larch and Douglas fir 
    trees/acre. The remaining shelterwood trees would be left in the unit 
    to provide stand structure. Approximately 259 acres would be harvested 
    yielding approximately 4,880 CCF (2 MMBF) of timber.
    
    Intermediate Harvest
    
        These activities emphasize active management of existing trees by 
    thinning the stand. The following types of intermediate harvest 
    prescriptions are planned: (1) Blowdown salvage and lodgepole pine 
    salvage would remove merchantable dead trees while protecting desirable 
    live trees in the stand. Approximately 1550 acres would be harvested 
    yielding approximately 7857 CCF (3.2 MMBF) of timber; (2) Commercial 
    thinning of merchantable and less dominant trees in the stand would 
    occur to meet desired stand stocking levels. The largest and healthiest 
    trees would be left in the stands. Approximately 1964 acres would be 
    harvested resulting in approximately 9590 CCF (3.9 MMBF) of timber; (3) 
    Harvest of post and pole sized lodgepole pine from approximately 170 
    acres is proposed. Larger healthy lodgepole pine and other species 
    would be left on roughly a 12 by 12 spacing. No volume has been 
    estimated at this time.
    
    Underburning
    
        Underburning is proposed on approximately 500 acres to reduce fuel 
    loads, and improve stands for wildlife. The prescription would involve 
    burning stands during spring and early summer for good smoke dispersion 
    and safe burning conditions.
    
    Watershed Rehabilitation
    
        A number of watershed rehabilitation projects are proposed in the 
    Swamp Decision Area. These include: two stream channel enhancement 
    projects, two riparian enhancement projects and three projects to 
    control cattle access to streams.
    
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    Road Reconstruction and Rehabilitation
    
        Approximately 47 miles of existing road would be reconstructed to 
    access harvest areas or improve watershed conditions. Approximately 13 
    miles would be rehabilitated to improve watershed conditions and 16 
    miles would be obliterated because they are no longer in use. 
    Obliteration would be accomplished through removal of culverts, 
    recontouring, or ripping and seeding the road bed.
    
    Year-round Road Restrictions
    
        Approximately 24 miles of road would be temporarily restricted 
    year-round. These restrictions would help to improve watershed 
    conditions to minimize future road maintenance costs and to improve big 
    game security by reducing overall open road densities.
        The Kootenai National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan 
    provides overall management objectives in individual delineated 
    management areas (MA's). The proposed projects encompass seven 
    predominant MA's; 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 21 and 24. Briefly described, MA 
    11 (4% of the area) is managed to maintain or enhance the winter range 
    habitat effectiveness for big-game species and produce a programmed 
    yield of timber. MA 12 (17% of the area) is designated to maintain or 
    enhance big game summer range and produce a programmed yield of timber. 
    MA 13 (9% of the area) is designated to provide special habitat 
    necessary for old growth dependent wildlife. MA 15 (43% of the area) 
    focuses upon timber production using various silvicultural practices 
    while providing for other resource values such as soil, air, water, 
    wildlife, recreation, and forage for domestic livestock. MA 16 (2% of 
    the area) is managed to produce timber while providing for a pleasing 
    view. MA 21 (1% of the area) is the designated as a special interest 
    area and serves to provide protection or special management of unique, 
    unusual, or important attributes (flora, fauna, geologic, etc.). MA 24 
    (4% of the area) is usually not productive ground and is managed to 
    provide site protection and for any inherent wildlife resources. Timber 
    harvest is proposed in MA's 11, 12, 15, 16 and 24.
        This proposal includes openings greater than 40 acres to replicate 
    historic disturbance patterns. If these large openings are included in 
    the preferred alternative in the Draft EIS, a 60-day public review will 
    be provided during the comment period on the Draft EIS. Approval of the 
    Regional Forester for exceeding the 40-acre limitation for regeneration 
    harvest would be required prior to the signing of the Record of 
    Decision.
        The Forest Service will consider a range of alternatives. One of 
    these will be the ``no action'' alternative in which none of the 
    proposed activities would be implemented. Additional alternatives will 
    examine varying levels and locations for the proposed activities to 
    achieve the proposal's purposes, as well as to respond to the issues 
    and other resource values.
    
    Preliminary Issues
    
        The following preliminary issues have been identified for this 
    proposal:
    
    --Road Management: Specific roads would need to be restricted or 
    obliterated to meet road densities for wildlife security and improve 
    watershed conditions. Some individuals feel that these activities 
    unfairly restrict public use and waste taxpayer dollars. Others feel 
    restrictions are a benefit to wildlife and watershed conditions and 
    should be implemented.
    --Timber Supply: A continued supply of timber is a concern of both 
    internal and external publics. The methods used to provide that supply 
    as well as amount of timber harvested are components of this issue
    --Water Quality: Road construction and reconstruction, cattle use, as 
    well as timber harvest and prescribed burning are concerns of the 
    public in relation to the issue of water quality.
    
    Public Involvement and Scoping
    
        On March 13, 1997 an advertisement was placed in the Daily Inter 
    Lake, Kalispell, Montana, requesting public comment and information 
    concerning the Swamp Analysis Area. In addition, on March 14, 1997 a 
    letter was mailed to the approximately 216 individuals comprising the 
    mailing list for the Swamp Analysis Area. Taking into account the 
    comments received and information gathered during preliminary analysis, 
    it was decided to prepare an EIS for the Swamp Timber Sales and 
    Associated Activities. Comments received prior to this notice will be 
    included in the documentation for the EIS.
        This environmental analysis and decision making process will enable 
    additional interested and affected people to participate and contribute 
    to the final decision. The public is encouraged to take part in the 
    process and is encouraged to visit with Forest Service officials at any 
    time during the analysis and prior to the decision. The Forest Service 
    will be seeking information, comments, and assistance from Federal, 
    State, 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 and Final EIS. Comments received on 
    this proposal will be made part of the public record and may be 
    included in the Draft and Final EIS. Names and addresses of commentors 
    are subject to inquiries under the Freedom of Information Act and would 
    be disclosed upon request. Comments on this proposal must be postmarked 
    or received by December 31, 1997.
    
    Estimated Dates for Filing
    
        The Draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
    Protection Agency (EPA) and available for public review by June, 1998. 
    At that time, EPA will publish a Notice of Availability of the Draft 
    EIS in the Federal Register. The comment period on the Draft EIS will 
    be a minimum of 45 days from the date the EPA publishes the Notice of 
    Availability in the Federal Register.
        The Final EIS is scheduled to be completed by August, 1998. In the 
    Final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to comments and 
    responses received during the comment period that pertain to the 
    environmental consequences discussed in the Draft EIS and applicable 
    laws, regulations, and policies considered in making a decision 
    regarding the proposal.
    
    Reviewers Obligations
    
        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, reviewers of 
    Draft EIS's 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.C. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental 
    objections that could be raised at the Draft EIS stage may be waived or 
    dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon 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 these court rulings, it is very 
    important that those interested in this proposed action participate by 
    the close of the Draft EIS 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 and respond to them in the Final 
    EIS.
        To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
    and
    
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    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 statement. Comments may also address the 
    adequacy of the Draft EIS or the merits of the alternatives discussed. 
    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.
    
    Responsible Official
    
        Edward C. Monnig, District Ranger, Fortine Ranger District, 
    Kootenai National Forest, P.O. Box 116, Fortine, Montana, 59918, is the 
    Responsible Official. As the Responsible Official, I will decide which, 
    if any, of the proposed projects will be implemented. I will document 
    the decision and reasons for the decision in the Record of Decision. 
    That decision will be subject to Forest Service Appeal Regulations.
    
        Dated: November 21, 1997.
    Edward C. Monnig,
    District Ranger, Fortine Ranger District.
    [FR Doc. 97-31330 Filed 11-28-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/01/1997
Department:
Forest Service
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
Document Number:
97-31330
Dates:
Written comments and suggestions should be postmarked or received by December 31, 1997.
Pages:
63510-63513 (4 pages)
PDF File:
97-31330.pdf