[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11318]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 11, 1994]
VOL. 59, NO. 90
Wednesday, May 11, 1994
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Prichard Project Area, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Shoshone
County, ID
action: Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement and Record of Decision for proposed activities in the
Prichard Project Area.
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dates: The appeal period on this decision ends June 20, 1994.
addresses: Appeals should be addressed to Appeals Deciding Officer,
Regional Forester, David F. Jolly, USDA Forest Service, Northern
Region, 200 East Broadway, P.O. Box 7669, Missoula, MT 59867.
for further information contact: Questions about the proposed action,
environmental impact statement and the Record of Decision should be
directed to Don Garringer, Planning Staff Officer, Wallace Ranger
District, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, P.O. Box 14, Silverton, ID
83867. Phone: (208) 752-1221.
summary: Notice is hereby given that the Forest Service has prepared a
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and signed a Record of
Decision documenting a landscape-level approach to ecosystem management
in the Prichard Project Area. The area is located approximately 12 air
miles northeast of Wallace, Idaho, and is approximately 29,700 acres in
size.
Public participation has been on going throughout the project.
Comments received during the comment period have been addressed by
appropriate specialists in an appendix located in the FEIS. During the
45 day appeal period comments and concerns should still be addressed to
the planning officer for clarification.
The District Ranger is the responsible official for this EIS, and
has made the decision to implement alternative 7, a modification of the
preferred alternative in the DEIS. Rationale for this decision can be
found in the Record of Decision. His decision was based upon several
factors: Comments and responses from the public, environmental
consequences discussed in the FEIS, and applicable laws, regulations,
and policies.
supplementary information: A very specific proposed action was
developed for the area, and included timber harvest, reforestation
activities and watershed/fisheries rehabilitation as well as wildlife
improvements, through implementation of timber sales. The scope of the
proposed action is limited to timber harvesting, reforestation,
precommercial thinning, related road construction, road removal,
reconstruction activities and stream channel restoration and
stabilization. During development of the proposed action and
alternatives to the proposed action, emphasis has been placed on the
water resource needs and visual concerns of local residents.
Eight alternatives were developed, including a No-Action
Alternative. Alternative 7 is the alternative preferred by the Forest
Service. Under Alternative 7, the harvest of green, dead and dying
timber is scheduled for implementation in three separate but related
projects. The projects would produce an estimated 10.5 million board
feet of timber and treat 25 timber harvest units. Harvest methods
include, commercial thin, salvage, group selection and group
shelterwood using helicopter and cable yarding. In this proposal 1 mile
of road will be constructed, 2.39 miles will be reconstructed and 13.08
will be reconditioned. Road removal projects will involve the treatment
of new road construction and existing roads identified in the road
management plan as not being needed for future management needs. With
the removal of roads various miles of stream course will also undergo
restoration.
Management activities would be administered by the Wallace Ranger
District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests in Shoshone County,
Idaho. This FEIS will tie to the Forest Plan (September 1987) which
provides the overall guidance (Goals, Objectives, Standards and
Guidelines, and Management Area direction) in achieving the desired
future condition for this area.
Dated: April 29, 1994.
Steve Williams,
District Ranger, Wallace Ranger District, Idaho Panhandle National
Forests.
[FR Doc. 94-11318 Filed 5-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
