[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8846-8847]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03466]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Lewis and Clark National Forest, Montana, Castle Mountains
Restoration Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Lewis and Clark National Forest (LCNF) is going to prepare
an environmental impact statement for vegetation management actions in
the Castle Mountains located in Central Montana. The project is
designed to meet the desired condition of restoring forest and
grasslands ecosystems to promote landscape resiliency over time for
multiple resource values while minimizing the threat of high intensity
wildfire within the Willow Creek municipal watershed and areas of other
valued resources and infrastructure in the 69,610 acre Castle Mountains
landscape.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by March 23, 2015. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
September 2015 and the final environmental impact statement is expected
March 2016.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Carol Hatfield White Sulphur
Springs District Ranger, Lewis & Clark National Forest, 204 W. Folsom,
P.O. Box A, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645. Comments may also be sent
via email to [email protected],
or via facsimile to 406-547-6023.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's
concerns and contentions.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered, however.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Casselli Project Team Lead, at
406-791-7723. 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:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of the project is to move toward a resilient forest and
grassland ecosystem that will mimic a more historic natural fire regime
to reduce the future threat of high intensity wildfire and the
associated hazards to life, valued resources and infrastructure. In
order to achieve this, there is a need to create a mosaic of vegetation
and fuel structure more resilient to disturbance over time that
includes improving the overall diversity in age classes, species, and
meadow openings across the landscape. The action will provide for
safer, more effective fire suppression actions when needed, reduce
threats to forest users, to private residences, power corridors, agency
infrastructure, water quality of Willow Creek and to valued wildlife
habitat. These actions will reduce the probability of post-wildfire
watershed impacts to the Willow Creek municipal watershed and
associated costs.
Proposed Action
Approximately 22,124 acres are proposed for treatment which
includes a combination of fuels reduction thinning, commercial harvest
of trees, non-commercial thinning, and prescribed fire. Mechanical and/
or hand treatment methods would be used to accomplish the treatment
objectives. Proposed treatment activities include: roughly 1,911 acres
of Improvement Thinning; 7,329 acres of Prescribed Fire; 313 acres of
Aspen Restoration; 277 acres of Precommercial Thinning; 856 acres of
White Bark Pine Restoration; 8,681 acres of meadow Restoration; 1,519
acres of Douglas-fir Thinning; and 1,236 acres of Lodgepole Pine
[[Page 8847]]
regeneration harvest. There would be up to 57 miles of temporary road
utilized for the project with approximately 20 miles of this occurring
over existing road prisms. Road maintenance or reconstruction of
existing system roads to meet forestry best management practices would
be necessary to implement the proposed action. No new permanent roads
will be constructed. Temporary roads not on the forest road system that
are utilized will be obliterated (stabilized and or restored to natural
contours) upon completion of treatment operations. Roads identified in
the 2007 Travel Management Record of Decision that were removed from
the road system (decommissioned) would be physically stabilized or re-
contoured as needed to meet the resource objectives of travel
management. Site-specific amendments to the Lewis and Clark National
Forest Plan standards pertaining to elk hiding cover, elk winter range,
and elk thermal cover may be necessary in order to meet the project's
purpose and need. To address potential impacts of proposed management
activities on cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) in meeting the project
objectives, the proposal includes an integrated management approach to
control the establishment and spread of this invasive grass species.
The use of applicable EPA approved selective herbicides and or
biological controls would be utilized in units having prescribed
burning as the treatment action. Approximately 42 percent (29,498
acres) of the total project area is located within the Castles
Mountains Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA). Proposed treatment
activities on approximately 6,262 acres are planned within the IRA. A
combination of non-commercial vegetation treatments and prescribed fire
techniques are proposed. Under the proposal, road maintenance may occur
but no road construction, reconstruction of system or temporary roads
are planned within the IRA. The location of this project area is those
sections of the Castle Mountains within the National Forest Boundary;
Township 8 and 9 N, Range 8, 9 and 10 E. Principle Meridian, Meagher
County, Montana.
Responsible Official
Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests Forest Supervisor.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The decisions to be made include: Whether to implement the proposed
action or an alternative to the proposed action, what monitoring
requirements would be appropriate to evaluate the implementation of
this project, the timing of the project and whether a forest plan site
specific amendment (exemption) would be necessary as a result of the
decision for this project.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. In February
2015, a scoping notice (flyer) will be mailed to interested and
affected parties directing them to the project's information which will
be posted to the Lewis and Clark National Forest's projects Web page
(http://www.fs.usda.gov/lcnf/). The Web page will contain detailed
project information, including when public meetings will be scheduled,
project proposal maps, and other pertinent project information.
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. The submission of
timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to
participate in the administrative objection process or any judicial
review.
Dated: February 11, 2015.
Robin Strathy,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2015-03466 Filed 2-18-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P