[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6339]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: March 18, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Santiam Forest Health Project, Willamette National Forest, Linn
County, OR
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) on a proposal to thin and/or regenerate forest stands,
construct roads, and use prescribed fire in Santiam Pass. The need for
the forest health project is threefold: (1) To change forest stand
structure and composition, in order to reduce forest health problems;
(2) create sustainable stand structure and wildlife habitat conditions;
(3) to salvage dead and dying trees and provide timber for local mills.
Project is proposed for fiscal year 1995. The Willamette National
Forest invites written comments on the scope of the analysis. The
agency will give full notice of the full environmental analysis and
decision making process for the proposal so interested and affected
people may participate and contribute to the final decision.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received
in writing by April 1, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Eugene Skrine, District
Silviculturist, McKenzie Ranger District, McKenzie Bridge, Oregon
97413.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eugene Skrine, District
Silviculturist, McKenzie Ranger District, McKenzie Bridge, Oregon
97413, Phone (503) 822-3381.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USDA, Forest Service proposal includes:
re-introduction of natural fire, through the prescribe burning of
understory layers in selected stands; harvest trees through thinning,
understory removal, selection harvest and/or regeneration harvest on
about 1,000 acres; construct permanent roads and temporary roads to
access treatment units; regenerate new stands after harvest; continue
to learn and interact with the public on forest health; develop
opportunities for post/pole/chip/firewood products from small sized
trees; develop habitat improvement projects for a variety of wildlife,
fish, and sensitive plant species; implement Scenic Byway strategy for
enhancement opportunities along the Santiam Pass highway.
Preliminary issues have been identified and include: Roadless
areas; forest health, long-term productivity, and biodiversity; spotted
owls; recreation experience; fire hazard and air quality; old growth
and fragmentation; socio-economic; threatened, endangered, and
sensitive species (plants land animals); and cultural resources. A
range of alternatives will be developed including a no action
alternative.
This draft EIS will tier to the 1990 Final EIS for the Willamette
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan and will not be
inconsistent with any of the Alternatives in the President's Forest
Plan. The Forest Service is the lead agency.
Initial scoping began in October 1993. Extensive scoping has
already been done on the project through field trips, newsletters, and
public meetings. The public is invited to offer suggestions and
comments in writing.
The draft EIS is expected to be completed in May 1994. The comment
period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date the Environmental
Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in the Federal
Register.
The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers
notice at this early stage of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
a draft EIS 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 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 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 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
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 scheduled to be completed in August 1994. 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 the decision
regarding the Santiam Forest Health Project. Darrel L. Kenops, Forest
Supervisor, is the Responsible Official. As the Responsible Official,
he will decide whether to implement the project. The Responsible
Official will document the decision and reasons for the decision in the
Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to Forest Service
Appeal Regulations (36 CFR part 215).
Dated: March 10, 1994.
Darrel L. Kenops,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 94-6339 Filed 3-17-94; 8:45 am]
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