[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 117 (Friday, June 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 32840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15371]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 117 / Friday, June 18, 1999 /
Notices
[[Page 32840]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Cannon Gulch Project, Boise National Forest, ID
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Mountain Home Ranger District of the Boise National Forest
will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a timber
salvage project in the Cannon Gulch project area, located immediately
southwest of Pine, Idaho. Access is via Forest Highway 61. The project
area encompasses approximately 1,100 acres of National Forest System
land and is located 60 road miles northeast of Mountain Home and about
100 road miles east of Boise, Idaho.
The agency invites written comments and suggestions on the scope of
the analysis. The agency also hereby gives notice of the environmental
analysis and decisionmaking 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.
Proposed Action
The proposed action would commercial thin and salvage harvest
approximately 500 acres. Prescribed fire would be used on approximately
240 acres (40 acres of site preparation for tree planting, an
additional 100 acres to take advantage of natural fuel breaks, and 100
acres to rejuvenate aspen). Logs would be yarded with a helicopter
using one helicopter landing south of the Pine schoolhouse. Conifer
seedlings would be planted on 40 acres. The activities would occur from
2000 to 2001.
Preliminary Issues
One significant issue has been identified with the proposed action
which is that timber harvest would develop a portion of the Rainbow
Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA), changing the wilderness attributes on
that portion. The developed portion would not be given future
consideration for wilderness designation under current Forest Service
guidelines.
Possible Alternatives to the Proposed Action
One alternative to the proposed action identified is the no action
alternative. Other alternatives may be developed as issues are raised
and information is received.
Decisions To Be Made
The Boise National Forest Supervisor will decide whether to conduct
timber management and harvest activities now or to defer them until a
later time. If he chooses to conduct timber management and harvest
activities now, he will decide which acres to treat and which logging
systems to use; what, if any, acres to treat with prescribed fire; and
what mitigation and/or monitoring measures to implement to meet Forest
standards and minimize resource conflicts.
Schedule
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), August 1999. Final,
November 1999.
Public Involvement
Scoping was initiated in January 1998. A scoping letter was sent to
over 60 individuals, groups, organizations, and agencies. Comments
received from these public involvement efforts will be incorporated
into the analysis process.
Comments
Written comments concerning the proposed project and analysis are
encouraged and should be postmarked within 30 days following
publication of this announcement in the Federal Register. Mail comments
to Jane Beaulieu, Mountain Home Ranger District, 2180 American Legion
Boulevard, Mountain Home, ID 83647; telephone 208-587-7961. Further
information can be obtained at the same location.
The comment period on the DEIS will be 45 days from the date the
Environmental Protection Agency 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's 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 stage but not raised until after completion
of the final environmental impact statement, may be waived or dismissed
by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1002 (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
environmental impact statement.
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 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 at 40 CFR 1503.3 in
addressing these points.
Responsible Official
David D. Rittenhouse, Forest Supervisor, Boise National Forest,
1249 South Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID 83709.
Dated: June 10, 1999.
Jack E. Williams,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 99-15371 Filed 6-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
