[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9506]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: April 20, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Jacobs/Swale Vegetation Management Project, Dixie National
Forest, Garfield County, UT
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Forest Service, USDA, will
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a Forest Service
proposal to implement a vegetation management and associated road
construction project on the Escalante Ranger District, Dixie National
Forest. The area is located approximately 25 miles north of Escalante,
Utah. The project would be implemented in accordance with direction in
the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Dixie National Forest
(LRMP).
The agency gives notice that the environmental analysis process is
underway. Interested and potentially affected persons, along with
local, state, and other federal agencies, are invited to participate
and contribute to the environmental analysis. The Dixie National Forest
invites written input regarding issues specific to the proposed action.
DATES: Written comments to be considered in the preparation of the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be submitted by May
20, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: District Ranger, Escalante
Ranger District, 755 West Main, P.O. Box 246, Escalante, Utah 84726.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct questions about the proposed action and EIS to Kevin R.
Schulkoski, District Ranger, 801-826-5400.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project covers an analysis area
of 15,563 acres of National Forest System Lands. Approximately 1,012
acres of the 6,251 acre McGath Lake-Auger Hole Roadless Area is within
the project boundary. Treatments are proposed on 669 acres within the
roadless area. Timber stands in the project area cover 11,739 acres.
Vegetatative treatments are proposed on 6,668 of the timbered acres.
Unevenaged stands of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir are the
dominant timber type. A few stands of even-aged aspen are also present.
Aspen remnants are scattered throughout the Engelmann spruce/subalpine
fir stands. Vegetation management treatments would occur in stands
located within sections 31 and 32, Township 31, Range 3 East; sections
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, Township 32
South, Range 3 East; sections 34, 35, and 36, Township 31 South 31,
Range 2 East; and sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, and 24,
Township 32 South, Range 2 East, Salt Lake Base Meridian.
The proposed action would implement management direction and
projects identified in the LRMP. This project EIS will be tiered to the
LRMP EIS, provides goals, objectives, standards and guidelines for the
various activities and land allocations on the Forest.
The purpose of the proposed action is to improve forest health by
harvesting diseased trees, to improve individual tree and stand vigor
conditions through stocking control, to improve wildlife habitat for
game and non-game species by creating a greater variety of size classes
and habitats, to enhance visual quality by increasing species
diversity, and to reduce damage in meadow areas by closing and
rehabilitating primitive roads. These treatments would be designed to
move the project area towards the desired future habitat conditions as
described in the ``Management Recommendations for the Northern Goshawk
in the Southwestern United States'' (Reynolds, 1992). The proposed
action would be located in Management Areas 7A (Wood Products and
Utilization), 6A (Livestock Grazing), and 2B (Rural and Roaded
Recreation Opportunities).
The proposed action consists of commercial timber harvest within
Management Areas 7A, 6A, and 2B using uneven-aged and even-aged
management and yielding approximately 21.1 MMBF of Engelmann spruce,
subalpine fir, and aspen sawtimber. Post sale cultural activities would
include brush disposal, precommercial thinning and reforestation.
Approximately 1,530 acres (9.8% of the project area) would be
managed to enhance its' old growth attributes.
Prescribed fire would be used on approximately 55 acres to improve
wildlife habitat and regenerate decadent aspen stands being replaced by
the conifers. Snag recruitment by burning individual trees would occur
on 256 acres.
Road management would include development of a transportation
system requiring approximately 33 miles of road construction and 4
miles of road reconstruction. Two trailheads would be established
providing access for both motorized and non-motorized users. Upon the
completion of management activities the area would be closed to
motorized vehicles except over the snow machines. Designated routes
would remain open to provide access to recreation facilities.
Six timber sales are proposed ranging in size from 118 MBF to 7,331
MBF.
Preliminary issues that have been identified through scoping to
date include project effects on wildlife habitat particularly the
critical elk calving and deer fawning areas and the effects of the
proposal on the roadless area characteristics.
Tentative alternatives to the proposed action include: No action
(the project will not take place but current management will continue);
elimination of management activities within the critical elk calving
and deer fawning areas; and restriction of management activities in the
roadless area to closing and rehabilitating the primitive roads.
As lead agency, the Forest Service will analyze and document
direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects of a range of
alternatives. Each alternative will include mitigation measures and
monitoring requirements.
Hugh C. Thompson, Forest Supervisor, Dixie National Forest, is the
responsible official.
The Forest Service is seeking comments from individuals,
organizations, and local, state, and Federal agencies who may be
interested in or affected by the proposed action.
Scoping notices have been sent to the Dixie National Forest NEPA
mailing list. Other interested individuals, organizations, or agencies
may have their names added to the mailing list for this project at any
time by submitting a request to: Kevin R. Schulkoski, District Ranger,
Escalante Ranger District, 755 West Main, P.O. Box 246, Escalante, Utah
84726.
A public field review of the proposed project was held on October
21, 1993. Eight people representing different organizational, business,
governmental and individual interests participated in the meeting.
The entire analysis area lies within National Forest System lands.
No federal or local permits, licenses or entitlements would be needed.
There are no potential conflicts with the plans and policies of other
jurisdictions.
The comment on the DEIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA's
notice of availability appears 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, reviewers of
the DEIS's must structure their participation in the environmental
review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to
the reviewers' position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power
Corp. versus NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental
objections that could have been raised at the DEIS stage but that are
not raised until after completion of the final EIS may be waived or
dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon versus Hodel, (9th Circuit,
1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. versus 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 the time 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 DEIS 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 statement 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 DEIS is expected to be available for review by June 30, 1994.
The Record of Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement are
expected to be available by September, 1994.
Dated: April 14, 1994.
Daniel H. Deiss,
Timber/Planning Staff, Dixie National Forest.
[FR Doc. 94-9506 Filed 4-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
