[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9156-9158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4979]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Central Zone Noxious Weed Control Project; Idaho Panhandle
National Forests, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Idaho
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) to disclose the potential
[[Page 9157]]
environmental effects of noxious weed treatment on the Fernan and
Wallace Districts (Central Zone). Treatment sites would be at various
locations across the zone and are within the Coeur d' Alene Basin
Ecosystem, Wallace and Fernan Ranger Districts, Idaho Panhandle
National Forests, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Idaho.
The proposed action to control populations of noxious and
undesirable weeds is designed to prevent the spread of these weeds and
promote the retention and health of native and/or desirable plants
within this ecosystem. The proposed action would use an integrated pest
management approach to control weeds. This approach includes
mechanical, biological, cultural, and chemical control. Most treatment
sites are located near or along forest roads, trails, or recreation
sites.
The major species considered for control include spotted knapweed
(Centaurea maculosa), orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum), meadow
hawkweed (Hieracium pratense), dalmation toadflax (Linaria dalmatica),
Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), common St. Johnswort (Hypercium
perforatum), hound's tongue (Cynoglossum officinale), rush skeletonweed
(Chondrilla juncea), leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) and purple
loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Other species may include common tansy
(Tanacetum vulgare), diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa), yellow
toadflax (Linaria vulgaris), ox-eye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum),
sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta), Viper's Bugloss (Echium
vulgare), Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens), musk thistle (Carduus
nutans), and bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare). New invader species which
are unknown at this time to occur on the zone would be a high priority
for control.
This project-level EIS will tier to the Idaho Panhandle National
Forests Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) (USDA Forest
Service, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, September 1987), and
references the Idaho Panhandle National Forests Weed Pest Management
EIS, (USDA Forest Service, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, October
1989); the Bonners Ferry Ranger District Noxious Weed Management
Project Final EIS (USDA Forest Service, Idaho Panhandle National
Forests, September 1995), the Priest Lake Noxious Weed Control Final
EIS (USDA Forest Service, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, 1997) and
the St. Joe Noxious Weed Draft EIS (USDA Forest Service, Idaho
Panhandle National Forests, 1996).
DATES: Written comments and suggestions should be received no later
than April 14, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and suggestions on the proposed
management activities or requests to be placed on the project mailing
list to Kristen Philbrook, Project Leader, Fernan Ranger District, 2502
E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d' Alene, ID 83814.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristen Philbrook, EIS Team Leader, Fernan Ranger Station, (208) 769-
3000.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary purposes for weed control are as
follows:
(1) Prevent or limit the spread of noxious weeds that displace
native vegetation in the Coeur d' Alene ecosystem;
(2) Eliminate new invaders before they become established;
(3) Prevent or limit the spread of weeds into areas containing
little or no infestation in order to promote the retention and health
of native and/or desirable species;
(4) Reduce weed seed sources along travel routes;
(5) Comply with Federal and State laws regulating management of
noxious weeds.
Approximately 60 treatment sites have been identified across the
Wallace and Fernan Ranger Districts. Infestations that are discovered
would be treated within the scope of the Final EIS and Record of
Decision. The Forest Plan provides guidance for management activities
within the potentially affected areas through its goals, objectives,
standards and guidelines, and management-area direction. The Forest
Plan directs that forest pests be managed by an integrated pest
management approach. The decisions to be made are what action, if any,
should be taken to control weeds in the Coeur d' Alene Ecosystem, where
treatment should be applied, and what types of treatment(s) should be
used.
The Forest Service will consider a range of alternatives. One of
these will be the ``no action'' alternative in which none of the
proposed treatment activities would be implemented. Additional
alternatives will represent the range of control methods currently
available for treatment of weeds.
Public participation in an important part of the analysis and will
play an important role in developing the alternatives. The mailing list
for public scoping will be developed from responses to this NOI, and to
a Scoping Notice sent out to interested individuals, organizations and
agencies. In addition, the public is encouraged to visit with Forest
Service officials during the analysis and prior to the decision. The
Forest Service will also 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 actions. Comments from the public and other agencies will
be used in preparation of the Draft EIS.
The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be filed
with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and available for public
review in June, 1997, At that time, the EPA will publish a Notice of
Availability of the draft environmental impact statement in the Federal
Register. The comment period on the draft environmental impact
statement 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
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 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 statement stage but that are not raised until after
completion of the final environmental statement 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, 2338 (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 scoping 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 regarding the proposed action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be 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
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer
to the
[[Page 9158]]
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.
I am the responsible official for this environmental impact
statement. My address is Fernan Ranger District, 2502 E. Sherman Ave.
Coeur d' Alene, ID 83814.
Dated: February 18, 1997.
Susan Matthews,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 97-4979 Filed 2-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M