[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 99 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28002-28003]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13476]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Pilgrim Project, Tahoe National Forest Sierra County, CA
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, will
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed timber
harvest, plantation thinning, fuels reduction, and wildlife habitat
improvement projects for areas in the Wolf/Kanaka/Indian Creek and
Middle Yuba River watersheds, in accordance with the requirements of 36
CFR 219.19. The project area is located within portions of T18N & T19N,
R10E & R11E, MDB&M.
The agency invites comments and suggestions on the scope of the
analysis. In addition, the agency gives notice of the full
environmental analysis and decision-making process that will occur on
the proposal so that interested and affected people are aware of how
they may participate and contribute to the final decision.
DATES: Comments should be made in writing and received by June 2, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning the project should be directed
to U.S.F.S. Downieville Ranger District, ATTN: Laura Browning, 15924
Highway 49, Camptonville, CA 95959.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura Browning, NEPA Coordinator, Downieville Ranger District,
Camptonville, CA 95922, (916) 288-3231.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: About 11,436 acres of National Forest System
lands are being analyzed for projects within the Pilgrim analysis area.
The analysis area incorporates the land within the Wolf/Kanaka/Indian
Creek and Middle Yuba River watersheds, which all drain into the Middle
Yuba River. Located southwest of Camptonville, CA, the area is
dominated by mixed conifer and hardwood forest.
This project was selected to harvest needed wood fiber, improve
forest health and wildlife habitat, and to reduce fire risk. Watershed
problems, fire hazards within a mixed land ownership landscape, forest
health concerns, and wildlife habitat conditions represent some of the
challengers and opportunities for improvements that will be looked at
during this analysis. An EIS will be done because of the concern for
potential cumulative effects to water quality.
In preparing the Environmental Impact Statement, the Forest Service
will identify and analyze a range of alternatives for treatment of the
dense timber stands and address the issues developed for these sites.
One of the alternatives will be no treatment. Other alternatives will
consider differing levels of plantation thinning; timber harvest; new
road construction and reconstruction; fuel hazard reduction; and fish
and wildlife habitat improvement projects. The needs of people and
environmental values will
[[Page 28003]]
be blended in such a way that the Pilgrim analysis area would represent
a diverse, healthy, productive, and sustainable ecosystem.
Public participation will be important during the analysis,
especially during the review of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement. The Forest Service is seeking information, comments, and
assistance from Federal, State, and 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 Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).
The scoping process includes:
1. Identifying potential issues.
2. Identifying issues to be analyzed in depth.
3. Eliminating insignificant issues or those which have been covered by
a relevant previous environment analysis.
4. Exploring additional alternatives.
5. Identifying potential environmental effects of the proposed action
and alternatives (i.e., direct, indirect, and cumulative effects and
connected actions).
6. Determining potential cooperating agencies and task assignments.
Comments from other Federal, State, and local agencies,
organizations, and individuals who may be interested in, or affected
by, the decision are encouraged to identify other significant issues.
Public participation will be solicited through mailing letters to
mining claim owners, private land owners, and special use permittees
within the Downieville Ranger District boundaries; posting information
in local towns; and mailing letters to local timber industries,
politicians, school boards, county supervisors, and environmental
groups. Continued participation will be emphasized through individual
contacts. No public meetings are scheduled.
The DEIS is expected to filed with the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and to be available for public review in January, 1998.
The comment period on the DEIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA
publishes the notice of availability 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
DEIS 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 DEIS state 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 2nd 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and
Wisconsin Heritages Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 13338 (E.D. Wis.
1980). Because of the 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.
It 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 DEIS 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 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
The final EIS is expected to be available by May, 1998. The
responsible official, the Forest Supervisor of the Tahoe National
Forest, will document the decision and reasons for the decision in the
Record of Decision.
Dated: April 28, 1997.
Judie Tartaglia,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 97-13476 Filed 5-21-97; 8:45 am]
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