98-23651. Middle Fork Weiser River Watershed Project, Payette National Forest, Adams County, Idaho

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46750-46751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23651]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Middle Fork Weiser River Watershed Project, Payette National 
Forest, Adams County, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Payette National Forest is proposing timber harvest, 
prescribed fire, and road removal to enhance forest and watershed 
conditions in the Middle Fork Weiser River Watershed on the Council 
Ranger District. The 50,000 acre watershed extends from No Business 
Mountain to the confluence of Fall Creek and the Middle Fork Weiser 
River about 6 miles southeast of Council, Idaho.

DATES: The Forest Service expects to release a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Middle Fork Weiser River Watershed Project in 
December 1998. A Final EIS and Record of Decision are expected in 
February 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or requests for the above documents can be 
sent to David Alexander, Forest Supervisor, Payette National Forest, 
P.O. Box 1026, McCall, Idaho 83638.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed project 
should be directed to Sue Douglas, Team Leader [phone]; or John 
Baglien, Acting Council District Ranger, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Proposed Action (Alternative B) would 
harvest timber on approximately 2,900 acres. On an estimated 1,190 
acres, understory trees would be selectively removed, favoring the 
retention of ponderosa pine, western larch, and Douglas-fir. Large 
overstory trees of these species would generally be retained. About 790 
acres of immature forests would be selectively thinned to accelerate 
the growth of the remaining trees, allowing these forests to reach a 
larger size sooner. Approximately 880 acres of lodgepole pine, 
subalpine fir, or grand fir would be converted to younger-aged forests 
through harvest and planting.
    Most of the area would be logged using ground-based systems. An 
estimated 200 acres would be logged using helicopters and 500 acres 
would be logged with skyline systems.
    Timber harvest would require 7 miles of new road construction. No 
road building or harvest activities would occur in the Council Mountain 
roadless area. Approximately 19 miles of roads would be decommissioned 
and 9 stream crossings removed or improved to benefit watershed 
conditions and fish and wildlife habitat as part of the timber sale 
contract. An additional 60 miles of road would be decommissioned with 
appropriated money or as part of the nonessential Knudsen-Vandenberg 
(KV) projects.
    Broadcast burning on 700 acres and piling and burning of logging 
slash on 500 acres would reduce existing and created fuels or prepare 
the site for planting. Planted or natural regeneration, primarily of 
ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, or western larch, would occur on an 
estimated 900 acres.
    In addition, prescribed fire activities would occur on 500 acres of 
open ponderosa pine forests, 300 acres of dry Douglas fir forests, 
1,400 acres of aspen communities, and 2,000 acres of grass/shrubland to 
enhance plant growth and diversity.
    Standard INFISH Riparian Habitat Conservation Area (RHCA) buffers 
would be established throughout the project area. Areas identified as 
RHCAs would be excluded from timber harvest. Key wildlife habitats, 
including northern goshawk post-fledgling areas, flammulated owl 
habitat, and elk travel corridors would be maintained.
    Members of the public, organizations, and government agencies were 
involved in the watershed analysis through meetings and field reviews. 
This scoping document provides another level of involvement. The Forest 
Service is conducting scoping for issues the environmental analysis 
should address.
    During the preliminary analysis the team identified two issues to 
explore further. (1) Will thinning old trees improve the resilience of 
the remaining old structure trees? Is the economic benefit of thinning 
old trees essential to pay for other desired improvements? (2) Is it 
possible to enhance near term economics and benefit the watershed as a 
whole through longer return intervals by treating additional acres at 
this time? These issues, in addition to others brought forward through 
the scoping process will be more fully developed in evaluating the 
proposed action. If appropriate, alternatives will be developed to 
address them in the analysis process.

Comments

    Comments on the Proposed Action and the analysis should be received 
in writing on or before October 5, 1998. Send comments to Forest 
Supervisor, Payette National Forest, P.O. Box 1026, McCall, ID 83638; 
telephone [phone]; FAX [phone].
    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 and 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 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement 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, 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 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 and respond to them 
in the final environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
raised by the Proposed Action, comments should be as specific as 
possible.
    Responsible Official: David F. Alexander, Forest Supervisor, 
Payette National Forest, P.O. Box 1026, 106 West Park, McCall, ID 
83638.


[[Page 46751]]


    Dated: August 29, 1998.
David F. Alexander,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 98-23651 Filed 9-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M