[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19470-19471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10270]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
East Beaver Creek Timber Sale and Prescribed Burning Project,
Targhee National Forest, Clark County, ID
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Forest Supervisor of the Targhee National Forest gives
notice of the agency's intent to prepare an environmental impact
statement for the East Beaver Creek Timber Sale and Prescribed Burning
Project. The proposed action would harvest 4.0 million feet of timber
from 1,231 acres and prescribe burn 2,220 acres with 518 acres of the
burning in the timber sale harvest units. The remaining 1,702 acres of
burning would be in nonforest types. Two miles of temporary roads would
be built and 2.6 miles of existing roads reconstructed. East Beaver
Creek is located approximately 15 miles northeast of Dubois, Idaho.
Alternatives will include the proposed action, no action, and any
alternatives that respond to significant issues generated during the
scoping process. A more detailed description is available from the
Dubois Ranger District; see ADDRESSES below.
DATES: Send written comments and suggestions on the issues concerning
the proposed action by May 15, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Clarence M. Murdock, District
Ranger, Dubois Ranger District, P.O. Box 46, Dubois, ID 83423.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Councilman, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, phone (208) 558-7301.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Targhee National Forest Revised Land
Management Plan was approved in 1997. One of the decisions in the
Revised Plan was to allow for the production and utilization of wood
fiber from certain areas of the Forest. The geographic area where the
proposed action would take place has primarily a prescription of timber
management with emphasis on big game security (5.1.4b). Prescriptions
for other lands in the area are described below.
Aquatic Influence Zones (2.8.3)--Management emphasis is directed at
the application of ecological knowledge to restore and maintain the
health of these areas in ways that also produce desired resource
values, products, protection, restoration, enhancement, interpretation,
and appreciation of these areas.
Visual Quality Maintenance (2.1.2)--This prescription emphasizes
maintaining the existing visual quality within major travel corridors
with quality natural vistas, while allowing livestock production, and
other compatible commodity outputs. There is no scheduled timber
harvesting. No scheduled harvests means timber removed from these areas
does not contribute toward the Forests annual allowable sale quantity.
Initial public involvement will include mailing maps and a project
description to interested parties to solicit comments on the proposal.
Preliminary issues include: water quality, fisheries, elk habitat, and
motorized access by the public.
Additional opportunity to comment on the project will occur on the
draft Environmental Impact Statement (draft EIS). The draft EIS is
expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency and
available for public review in August 1998.
The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date
the Environmental Protection Agency's notice of availability appears in
the Federal Register. At the same time, copies of the draft EIS will be
distributed to interested and affected
[[Page 19471]]
agencies, organizations, tribes, and members of the public for their
review and comment. It is very important that those interested in the
proposed action participate at that time.
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 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 reviewers' position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could have been raised
at the draft stage but that are not raised until after completion of
the final environmental impact statement may be waived or dismissed by
the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, (9th Circuit, 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 environmental impact
statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement 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
environmental impact 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 November 1998. In the
final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to comments
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 decisions on this
proposal.
Responsible Official
Jerry B. Reese, Forest Supervisor, is the responsible official. As
responsible official, he will document the selected alternative for the
East Beaver Creek Timber Sale and Prescribed Burning Project EIS and
his rationale in a Record of Decision.
The decision for the East Beaver Creek Timber Sale and Prescribed
Burning Project will be subject to Forest Service Appeal Regulations
(36 CFR part 215).
Dated: April 9, 1998.
Jerry B. Reese,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 98-10270 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
