[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8431-8433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03032]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Nez Perce-Clearwater NF's, Salmon River Ranger District, Idaho;
Hungry Ridge Restoration Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The proposed action would use a combination of timber harvest,
precommercial thinning, prescribed fire and reforestation to achieve
the desired range of age-classes, size classes, vegetative species
distributions, habitat complexity and landscape patterns across the
forested portions of the project area. Road decommissioning, culvert
replacements, improvement of trail crossings and road improvements are
proposed to improve watershed health. The DEIS will include two Forest
Plan amendments. The first amendment would adopt the Regional soils
standards for the Hungry Ridge project, while the second amendment
would allow mechanical treatment within Forest Plan Old Growth
(Management Area 20) and reallocate some existing MA20 to stands better
suited to Old Forest attributes. The EIS will analyze the effects of
the proposed action and alternatives. The Nez Perce-Clearwater NF's,
invites comments and suggestions on the issues to be addressed. The
agency gives notice of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
analysis and decision making process on the proposal, so interested and
affected members of the public may participate and contribute to the
final decision.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by March 31, 2014. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
in July 2014 and the final environmental impact statement is expected
in December 2014.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Barry Ruklic, Interdisciplinary
Team
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Leader; Grangeville Office, 104 Airport Road; Grangeville, ID 83530.
Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to FAX 208-983-4099. Include
your name, address, organization represented (if any), and the name of
the project for which you are submitting comments. Electronic comments
will be accepted in MS Word, Word Perfect, PDF or Rich Text formats.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will be a part of the public record for
this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted
and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide the Agency
with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent
environmental documents.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Ruklic, Interdisciplinary Team
Leader, (208) 983-4026.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The objective of the Hungry Ridge
Restoration project is to manage forest vegetation to restore natural
disturbance patterns; improve long-term resilience at the stand and
landscape level(s); reduce the potential risk to private property and
structures; improve watershed conditions; and maintain/improve habitat
structure, function and diversity.
Purpose and Need for Action
Need: Historically, wildland fire was the dominant influence in
defining the project area landscape and the native species that adapted
and persisted within this dynamic environment. The advent of effective
fire suppression effectively removed wildland fire's effects from the
Hungry Ridge landscape and ecological system. This has had a profound
effect on the vegetation, wildlife and the ecological integrity of the
area including a vegetative shift to more fire intolerant species.
Suppression of wildland fire and increasing levels of insect and
disease mortality in the Hungry Ridge landscape are causing an increase
in fuel loadings, including higher quantities, greater continuity and
distribution. This situation has increased the risk of large, stand
replacing wildfire that could adversely impact vegetation, fisheries
resources, watershed function, wildlife habitat(s) and private land/
homes.
Complexity has increased due to the numerous private lands and
structures as well as major ingress/egress routes. The private lands
(two major parcels) are split between over 20 different landowners,
with the potential for more subdividing in the future. The private land
and structures (over 20 structures) are situated on the main ridgeline
running through the project area. Approximately 80% of the planning
area is recognized as Wildland-Urban interface (WUI).
Past management practices have also altered the vegetation and
ecosystem processes and provided an extensive transportation system
within the project area. Road construction has impacted wildlife
security, making elk, moose, fisher, pine marten, lynx and wolves more
vulnerable to hunting and trapping mortality. Additionally, the wide-
spread availability and use of off-road vehicles has resulted in a
reduction in wildlife security.
Some landscape elements, notably on drier sites, such as vegetative
patch size, stand structure, and species composition are currently
outside the desired range of variability for the area, including a
diminishing proportion of fire-climax stands comprised of species such
as ponderosa pine and western larch.
While forest succession in the area has favored some wildlife
species (ie pileated woodpecker), it has reduced habitat quality for
species favoring open understories (ie goshawk, pygmy nuthatch and
flammulated owl), decreased forage availability and quality for
ungulates and decreased habitats that support black-backed woodpeckers
(burned areas).
Native grassland communities have also been impacted by fire
exclusion and past management practices. Annual grasses and noxious
weeds have established on open, low-elevation, drier slopes, as well as
along roads and trails throughout the area. Winter range herbaceous
forage and browse plants have declined or become decadent and invasive
weeds and grasses have reduced the quality and quantity of available
forage.
Purpose: Restore a more diverse and resilient forest structure,
with a range of age classes, size classes, habitat complexity
(diversity) and disturbance patterns that more closely emulate the
results of natural disturbance. This would reduce the intensity of
subsequent wildland fire events and increase the opportunities for fire
management strategy and tactics to be successful, while providing for
firefighter and public safety.
Watershed and fisheries resources will be improved, including Deer
Creek prescription watershed, through specific actions and indirect
vegetation restoration opportunities. Wildlife habitat will be improved
for ungulates and increased for species favoring open understories (ie
goshawk, pygmy nuthatch and flammulated owl).
Timber harvest and prescribed burning is proposed to help achieve
some resource management objectives as well as provide a source of wood
products for local industry and a source of jobs for local residents.
Proposed Action
The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, Salmon River Ranger
District is proposing Commercial harvest on 10,600 acres throughout the
Hungry Ridge landscape. Intermediate harvest (6,352 acres proposed)
methods including variable density selection, commercial thinning,
understory removal, sanitation, or pre-commercial thinning may be
utilized to thin canopy fuels and create conditions unfavorable for
crown fire persistence and initiation. These treatments will favor fire
tolerant seral species, such as ponderosa pine and western larch.
Regeneration harvest methods (4,234 acres proposed) including
seedtree, shelterwood and clearcutting with reserves, will be utilized
to manipulate patch size, age-class distribution, and species
composition. These treatments will emphasize regeneration of seral
species and reduce the spread of insect and disease.
Both temporary and specified permanent road construction
(approximately 24 miles total) associated with harvest operations is
needed to economically treat target stands.
Prescribed fire is proposed on 12,372 acres throughout the Hungry
Ridge landscape.
Prescribed fire will be utilized to treat natural fuel and residual
fuel accumulations left from harvest operations. Prescribed fire would
create a favorable seed-bed for regeneration of fire climax species,
and create plantable sites in open patches. Fire will also encourage
grass, forbe and shrub growth.
Prescribed fire will be utilized to treat natural fuel
accumulations, including thinning of trees. This prescription will be
utilized, primarily where harvest cannot be used and/or is not
economically feasible. Maintenance burns would occur on regularly
scheduled intervals to maintain stand structure, minimize fuel
accumulations and encourage big-game browse.
Road decommissioning is proposed to minimize further impacts to
watershed, fisheries and soil resources. Road
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decommissioning will range from abandonment, removing culverts or total
recontouring of road prism. Twenty miles of decommissioning
opportunities have been identified and will be analyzed as part of the
proposal.
Watershed/Fisheries improvement projects vary from culvert
replacements, RHCA planting to constructing exclosures. Culvert
replacement (12 identified) is proposed to create aquatic organism
passage and/or help facilitate 100 year flows and reduce sedimentation
into the stream channel. The majority of culvert replacement
opportunities are in the tributaries of Mill Creek (southern portion of
analysis area).
Recreation/trail improvements are proposed to decrease impacts to
fisheries resources and improve usability. Trail conversion; stream
crossing treatments (Buck meadows area) and access improvements
(American Creek drainage) are a few of the opportunities identified.
Wildlife--Restoration of forest structure and reintroduction of
fire on the landscape will create winter range for Elk and Deer, as
well as, provide improved habitat for many wildlife species, including
Flammulated Owl and white-headed woodpeckers.
Weed Treatments are proposed to continue treatment of known
populations within the analysis area, as well as, minimizing the spread
of existing and potential weed populations.
Possible Alternatives
The Forest Service will consider a no-action alternative, which
will serve as a baseline for comparison of alternatives. The proposed
action will be considered along with additional alternatives that will
be developed to meet the purpose and need for action, and to address
significant issues identified during scoping.
Responsible Official
Rick Brazell, Nez Perce-Clearwater Forest Supervisor, Nez Perce-
Clearwater National Forests Supervisor's Office, 903 3rd St., Kamiah,
ID 83536.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The deciding official will adopt the proposed action, in whole or
in part, or another alternative; and what mitigation measures and
management requirements will be implemented.
Preliminary Issues
Reallocation of some MA20 (Forest Plan Old Growth) from existing
locations, to other stands within the project area. Field
reconnaissance has determined inconsistencies with MA20 allocations and
what is actually present within the stands. Alternative locations for
MA20, better suited to Old forest structure and definition have been
identified.
Mechanical treatment is proposed within existing MA20 (Forest Plan
Old Growth) stands. Treatments are designed to result in a less fire,
insect and disease-prone stand(s), that will persist into the future.
Large trees will be left on the landscape.
Road construction is proposed to economically achieve desired
conditions within the project area.
A Forest Plan amendment for soils is proposed to move some forested
stands to desired future condition and fulfill the purpose and need of
the project and improve soil conditions.
Restoration activities will occur in the Deer Creek prescription
watershed, to improve water quality values.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. The scoping
process identifies issues to be analyzed in detail and leads to the
development of alternatives to the proposal. The Forest Service is
seeking information and comments from other Federal, State and local
agencies; Tribal Governments; and organizations and individuals who may
be interested in or affected by the proposed action. Comments received
in response to this notice, including the names and addresses of those
who comment, will be a part of the project record and available for
public review.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
will be prepared for comment. The next major opportunity for public
input will be when the DEIS is published. The comment period for the
DEIS will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. The Draft
EIS is anticipated to be available for public review in July of 2014.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
Dated: February 4, 2014.
Rick Brazell,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-03032 Filed 2-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P