[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 230 (Monday, December 1, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 63510-63513] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-31330] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Swamp Timber Sales and Associated Activities; Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, Montana 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 environmental effects of timber harvest (including salvage of beetle-killed lodgepole pine and windthrown trees), prescribed fire, watershed rehabilitation, year-round road restrictions, road obliteration, construction of temporary roads and reconstruction of specified roads in the Swamp Analysis Area on the Fortine Ranger District of the Kootenai National Forest. The Swamp Analysis Area is located approximately 30 air miles northeast of Libby, Montana, near the communities of Trego, Fortine and Eureka, Montana. The proposed actions to harvest and reforest timber stands, improve stream [[Page 63511]] and watershed conditions, reconstruct, rehabilitate or obliterate roads, restrict road access and underburn forest fuels and debris are being considered together because they represent either connected or cumulative actions as defined by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1508.25). The purposes of the project are: (1) To manage for a diversity of plant communities and age classes to meet the specific habitat requirements for a variety of plant and animal species; (2) to provide timber to support local, regional, and national needs; and (3) to manage for stable stream channels, viable and productive habitats for aquatic species, and water quality that meets or exceeds State of Montana water quality goals. The EIS will tier to the Kootenai National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan and Final EIS of September, 1987, which provides overall guidance for forest management of the area. All activities associated with the proposal will be designed to maintain high quality wildlife, fisheries, and watershed objectives. DATES: Written comments and suggestions should be postmarked or received by December 31, 1997. ADDRESSES: The Responsible Official is Edward C. Monnig, District Ranger, Fortine Ranger District, P.O. Box 116, Fortine, Montana, 59918. Written comments and suggestions concerning the scope of the analysis may be sent to him at that address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Liu, Project Leader, Fortine Ranger District. Phone: (406) 882- 4451. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Swamp Decision Area contains approximately 40,680 acres of land within the Kootenai National Forest in Lincoln County, Montana. All of the proposed projects would occur on National Forest lands in the Swamp, Beaver and Edna Creek drainages near Trego, Montana. The legal location of the Swamp Decision Area is as follows: All or portions of Sections 1-3 and 11-12 of Township 32 North, Range 28 West; Sections 2-11 and 14-16 of Township 32 North, Range 27 West; Section 36 of Township 33 North, Range 28 West; Sections 1-4, 8-17, and 19-36 of Township 33 North, Range 27 West; Sections 1-11, 14-22, and 29-32 of Township 33 North, Range 26 West; Sections 24-26 and 34-36 of Township 34 North, Range 27 West; and Sections 17-36 of Township 34 North, Range 26 West; Principal Montana Meridian, Lincoln County, Montana. All proposed activities are outside the boundaries of any roadless area or any areas considered for inclusion to the National Wilderness System as recommended by the Kootenai National Forest Plan or by any past or present legislative wilderness proposals. The Forest Service proposes to harvest approximately 36,600 hundred cubic feet (CCF), the equivalent of 15 million board feet (MMBF), of timber through application of a variety of harvest methods on approximately 4780 acres of forest land within the Swamp Decision Area. Use of existing and temporary roads would be needed to access timber harvest areas. An estimated 47 miles of existing roads would be reconstructed to access timber harvest areas or improve watershed conditions. An additional 13 miles of road would be rehabilitated to improve watershed conditions. All temporary roads would be obliterated following completion of sale activities. An additional 16 miles of road no longer in use, would be obliterated by various methods, such as removal of culverts, recontouring, ripping and seeding, and installing barriers. The method of obliteration would be based on site specific conditions. An estimated 24 miles of existing road would be restricted year-round to improve watershed conditions, minimize future road maintenance costs, and to regulate overall open road density to improve big game security. The proposal also includes prescribed burning on approximately 500 acres to enhance wildlife habitat, and promote vegetative diversity. Prescribed burning would also be used to reduce fuels and prepare sites for natural or artificial reforestation on regeneration harvest units after completion of harvest operation. More specifically management activities in this proposal include: Regeneration Harvest These activities emphasize development of a new stand of trees through harvest of existing live or dead trees. The following types of regeneration harvest are proposed: (1) Salvage of merchantable dead lodgepole pine and other species would be removed in one entry, leaving 6-10 live trees/acre. Approximately 126 acres would be harvested resulting in approximately 2,440 CCF (1 MMBF) of timber; (2) Seedtree/ shelterwood harvest of all merchantable trees except for 6-10 trees/ acre in seed tree or 20-40 trees/acre in shelterwood prescriptions. Some shelterwood trees could be removed in a second entry when the stand has been certified as regenerated. A total of approximately 299 acres would be harvested resulting in approximately 7296 CCF (3 MMBF) of timber; (3) Using a group shelterwood prescription some units would be harvested in 3-5 acre openings. Three entries would take place over a 20 year period, removing one-third of the stand with each entry. Leave trees would be left in the openings. Approximately 574 acres would be harvested and yield approximately 4636 CCF (1.9 MMBF) of timber; (4) Special shelterwood harvests would remove all merchantable trees except for 20-25 large diameter (>18''DBH) larch and Douglas fir trees/acre. The remaining shelterwood trees would be left in the unit to provide stand structure. Approximately 259 acres would be harvested yielding approximately 4,880 CCF (2 MMBF) of timber. Intermediate Harvest These activities emphasize active management of existing trees by thinning the stand. The following types of intermediate harvest prescriptions are planned: (1) Blowdown salvage and lodgepole pine salvage would remove merchantable dead trees while protecting desirable live trees in the stand. Approximately 1550 acres would be harvested yielding approximately 7857 CCF (3.2 MMBF) of timber; (2) Commercial thinning of merchantable and less dominant trees in the stand would occur to meet desired stand stocking levels. The largest and healthiest trees would be left in the stands. Approximately 1964 acres would be harvested resulting in approximately 9590 CCF (3.9 MMBF) of timber; (3) Harvest of post and pole sized lodgepole pine from approximately 170 acres is proposed. Larger healthy lodgepole pine and other species would be left on roughly a 12 by 12 spacing. No volume has been estimated at this time. Underburning Underburning is proposed on approximately 500 acres to reduce fuel loads, and improve stands for wildlife. The prescription would involve burning stands during spring and early summer for good smoke dispersion and safe burning conditions. Watershed Rehabilitation A number of watershed rehabilitation projects are proposed in the Swamp Decision Area. These include: two stream channel enhancement projects, two riparian enhancement projects and three projects to control cattle access to streams. [[Page 63512]] Road Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Approximately 47 miles of existing road would be reconstructed to access harvest areas or improve watershed conditions. Approximately 13 miles would be rehabilitated to improve watershed conditions and 16 miles would be obliterated because they are no longer in use. Obliteration would be accomplished through removal of culverts, recontouring, or ripping and seeding the road bed. Year-round Road Restrictions Approximately 24 miles of road would be temporarily restricted year-round. These restrictions would help to improve watershed conditions to minimize future road maintenance costs and to improve big game security by reducing overall open road densities. The Kootenai National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan provides overall management objectives in individual delineated management areas (MA's). The proposed projects encompass seven predominant MA's; 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 21 and 24. Briefly described, MA 11 (4% of the area) is managed to maintain or enhance the winter range habitat effectiveness for big-game species and produce a programmed yield of timber. MA 12 (17% of the area) is designated to maintain or enhance big game summer range and produce a programmed yield of timber. MA 13 (9% of the area) is designated to provide special habitat necessary for old growth dependent wildlife. MA 15 (43% of the area) focuses upon timber production using various silvicultural practices while providing for other resource values such as soil, air, water, wildlife, recreation, and forage for domestic livestock. MA 16 (2% of the area) is managed to produce timber while providing for a pleasing view. MA 21 (1% of the area) is the designated as a special interest area and serves to provide protection or special management of unique, unusual, or important attributes (flora, fauna, geologic, etc.). MA 24 (4% of the area) is usually not productive ground and is managed to provide site protection and for any inherent wildlife resources. Timber harvest is proposed in MA's 11, 12, 15, 16 and 24. This proposal includes openings greater than 40 acres to replicate historic disturbance patterns. If these large openings are included in the preferred alternative in the Draft EIS, a 60-day public review will be provided during the comment period on the Draft EIS. Approval of the Regional Forester for exceeding the 40-acre limitation for regeneration harvest would be required prior to the signing of the Record of Decision. The Forest Service will consider a range of alternatives. One of these will be the ``no action'' alternative in which none of the proposed activities would be implemented. Additional alternatives will examine varying levels and locations for the proposed activities to achieve the proposal's purposes, as well as to respond to the issues and other resource values. Preliminary Issues The following preliminary issues have been identified for this proposal: --Road Management: Specific roads would need to be restricted or obliterated to meet road densities for wildlife security and improve watershed conditions. Some individuals feel that these activities unfairly restrict public use and waste taxpayer dollars. Others feel restrictions are a benefit to wildlife and watershed conditions and should be implemented. --Timber Supply: A continued supply of timber is a concern of both internal and external publics. The methods used to provide that supply as well as amount of timber harvested are components of this issue --Water Quality: Road construction and reconstruction, cattle use, as well as timber harvest and prescribed burning are concerns of the public in relation to the issue of water quality. Public Involvement and Scoping On March 13, 1997 an advertisement was placed in the Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, Montana, requesting public comment and information concerning the Swamp Analysis Area. In addition, on March 14, 1997 a letter was mailed to the approximately 216 individuals comprising the mailing list for the Swamp Analysis Area. Taking into account the comments received and information gathered during preliminary analysis, it was decided to prepare an EIS for the Swamp Timber Sales and Associated Activities. Comments received prior to this notice will be included in the documentation for the EIS. This environmental analysis and decision making process will enable additional interested and affected people to participate and contribute to the final decision. The public is encouraged to take part in the process and is encouraged to visit with Forest Service officials at any time during the analysis and prior to the decision. The Forest Service will be seeking information, comments, and assistance from Federal, State, local agencies and other individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected by the proposed action. This input will be used in preparation of the Draft and Final EIS. Comments received on this proposal will be made part of the public record and may be included in the Draft and Final EIS. Names and addresses of commentors are subject to inquiries under the Freedom of Information Act and would be disclosed upon request. Comments on this proposal must be postmarked or received by December 31, 1997. Estimated Dates for Filing The Draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and available for public review by June, 1998. 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 a minimum of 45 days from the date the EPA publishes the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The Final EIS is scheduled to be completed by August, 1998. In the Final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to comments and responses received during the comment period that pertain to the environmental consequences discussed in the Draft EIS and applicable laws, regulations, and policies considered in making a decision regarding the proposal. Reviewers Obligations 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 EIS's 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.C. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the Draft EIS stage 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 Draft EIS 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 EIS. To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues and [[Page 63513]] 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 discussed. 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. Responsible Official Edward C. Monnig, District Ranger, Fortine Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest, P.O. Box 116, Fortine, Montana, 59918, is the Responsible Official. As the Responsible Official, I will decide which, if any, of the proposed projects will be implemented. I will document the decision and reasons for the decision in the Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to Forest Service Appeal Regulations. Dated: November 21, 1997. Edward C. Monnig, District Ranger, Fortine Ranger District. [FR Doc. 97-31330 Filed 11-28-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M