[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 174 (Friday, September 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22318]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: September 9, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Bosworth Forest Health Multi-Resource Project Pacific Ranger
District, Eldorado National Forest; Notice of Intent
agency: Forest Service, USDA.
action: Correction to notice of intent to prepare an environmental
impact statement.
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summary: On July 14, 1994, a Notice of Intent appeared in the Federal
Register for the Bosworth Forest Health Multi-Resource Project. This
document changes the date by which comments concerning the scope of the
analysis are due from August 1, 1994 to October 15, 1994.
The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement
(EIS) for resource management activities, including biomass removal,
timber harvest, fuelbreak construction, and wildlife habitat
improvement work on the Bosworth Forest Health Multi-resource Project,
involving a total planning area size of about 3,500 acres on the
Pacific Ranger District of the Eldorado National Forest. The agency
invites written comments and suggestions on the scope of the analysis.
The agency also 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 concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by October 15, 1994.
addresses: Submit written comments and suggestions concerning the scope
of the analysis to Don Errington, District Timber Officer, Pacific
Ranger Station, Pollock Pines, California, 95726.
for further information contact: Questions about the proposed action
and EIS should be directed to Don Errington, District Timber Officer,
Pacific Ranger Station, Pollock Pines, California 95726, phone 916-644-
2349.
supplementary information: The Eldorado National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan was completed in January 1989. The Bosworth
Forest Health Multi-resource Project EIS will tier to the Eldorado
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. Most of the land in
the analysis area is identified in the Plan as having a general
management direction of timber management.
There are no known permits or licenses required to implement the
proposed action.
In preparing the EIS, the Forest Service will identify and consider
a range of alternatives for this project. The following tentative
alternative themes have been identified thus far:
1. No Action
2. Forest Health--Timber product, including biomass, management
emphasis
3. Forest Health--Wildlife management emphasis
4. Forest Health--Fuels management emphasis
5. Forest Health--Multiple use management emphasis
These alternatives will include varying levels and distribution of
vegetation manipulation, timber harvest, and fuels management. Minor
new specified road construction is anticipated. Road reconstruction
needs will include drainage work, clearing, and minor realignment. The
amount of road reconstruction necessary for this project will vary
between alternatives. Harvest prescriptions will include understory
removal of both merchantable and sub-merchantable trees, commercial
thinning, and fuelbreak construction guidelines. All harvest
prescriptions will conform with the California Spotted Owl Sierran
Province Guidelines. Adaptive management strategies for the California
Spotted Owl may be included under certain alternatives where benefits
to the spotted owl will be realized, that is, wildlife habitat
activities or fuels management activities that are designed to better
maintain future management options for the spotted owl by improving or
retaining stand components most at risk.
Volume estimates of timber to be harvested range from 0 to 10 mmbf
of commercial sawtimber. Biomass estimates range from 0 to 30,000 tons.
These estimates vary, depending on the alternative.
Preliminary issues that have been identified during the internal
scoping process include:
1. The potential for cumulative watershed effects within the project
area
2. The selection and application of adaptive management strategies to
best achieve the habitat needs of the spotted owl
Public participation will be especially important at several points
during the analysis. The first point is during the scoping process (40
CFR 1501.7).
The Forest Service will be 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 project. This input will be used in preparation of the
draft EIS. The scoping process includes:
1. Defining the scope of the analysis and nature of the decision to
be made.
2. Identifying the issues and determining the significant issues
for consideration and analysis within the EIS.
3. Defining the proper interdisciplinary team make-up.
4. Determining the effective use of time and money in conducting
the analysis.
5. Identifying potential environmental, technical, and social
impacts of the proposed action and alternatives.
6. Determining potential cooperating agencies.
7. Identifying groups or individuals interested or affected by the
decision.
John Phipps, Forest Supervisor, Eldorado National Forest, is the
responsible official.
The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for public review by
January, 1995. At that time, EPA will publish a notice of availability
of the draft EIS in the Federal Register. The comment period on the
draft EIS will be 45 days from the date EPA's notice of availability
appears 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
draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewers' 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 EIS stage, 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.2d 1016, 1022 (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 EIS.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft EIS 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 draft EIS 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.
After the comment period ends on the draft EIS, the comments will
be analyzed and considered by the Forest Service in preparing the final
EIS. The final EIS is scheduled to be completed by April 1995. In the
final EIS the Forest Service is required to respond to the comments and
responses received (40 CFR 1503.4). The responsible official will
consider the comments, responses, and environmental consequences
discussed in the draft EIS, and applicable laws, regulations, and
policies in making a decision regarding this project. The responsible
official will document the decision and reasons for the decision in the
Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to appeal under 36
CFR 215.
Dated: August 23, 1994.
Peggy O'Connell,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Eldorado National Forest.
[FR Doc. 94-22318 Filed 9-8-94; 8:45 am]
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