[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 29, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17341-17343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7247]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

36 CFR Part 294


Idaho Roadless Rule

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final administrative correction.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is 
issuing administrative corrections affecting Big Creek Fringe, French 
Creek, Placer Creek, Secesh, and Smith Creek Idaho Roadless Areas on 
the Payette National Forest. These corrections remedy clerical errors 
relating to regulatory classifications involving two Forest Plan 
Special Areas (Big Creek and French Creek) and a mapping error. These 
corrections are made pursuant to 36 CFR 294.27(a).

DATES: This correction is effective March 29, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Idaho Roadless Coordinator Joan 
Dickerson at 406-329-3314. Additional information concerning these 
administrative corrections, including the corrected maps, may be 
obtained on the Internet at http://roadless.fs.fed.us. 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 Standard Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Idaho Roadless Rule authorizes 
administrative corrections to the maps of lands identified in 36 CFR 
294.22(c), including but not limited to, adjustment that remedy 
clerical errors, typographical errors, mapping errors, or improvements 
in mapping technology. The Chief may issue administrative corrections 
after a 30-day public notice and opportunity to comment.
    The Agency presented the corrections to the State of Idaho's 
Roadless Rule Advisory Commission on September 28, 2010. The Commission 
recommended to the Governor of Idaho that the corrections be made and 
that the Agency contact the Valley County Commissioners. The Valley 
County Commissioners supported the corrections.
    The Agency requested comment and/or met with the Shoshone-Paiute 
Tribes of Duck Valley, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Fort Hall, and 
the Nez Perce Tribe. No comments or concerns from the Tribes were 
received.

Consideration of Comments

    The Chief provided a 30-day public notice and opportunity to 
comment (75 FR 54542). A total of 13 comments were received from 9 
individuals.
    Two respondents were concerned about the original classification of 
lands in the Big Creek Fringe, Placer Creek, Secesh and French Creek 
Roadless Areas. In addition these respondents were concerned about the 
original mapping of these roadless areas and felt the boundaries of the 
roadless areas should be modified to exclude existing

[[Page 17342]]

disturbances (past harvesting and roads). These corrections only 
address the technical regulatory classification and mapping errors. The 
decisions on how to classify the management themes and the boundaries 
were made during the original rulemaking and are not being reassessed.
    Two respondents were concerned about travel planning, and other 
projects and activities on the Payette National Forest. These 
activities are outside the scope of the technical corrections assessed 
in this rulemaking. The comments have been forwarded to the Payette 
National Forest for their consideration.
    Two respondents were concerned about the maps provided for the 
corrections. They felt the maps were inadequate and lacked the 
necessary detail to understand the corrections. The maps posted on the 
Internet on September 8, 2010, were adequate to identify the proposed 
changes to each roadless area. However, in response to comments 
received, additional maps showing greater detail were posted on 
September 14, 2010. These maps show the roadless area corrections in 
relation to key points of interest (mountains, towns, main roads, etc).
    One respondent felt an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was 
warranted for the change, and another felt some level of effects 
analysis should be done. An EIS is not warranted for these errata 
corrections. The corrections have no effect on the analysis presented 
in the Roadless Area Conservation, National Forest System Lands in 
Idaho Final EIS and are simply technical corrections of labeling and 
mapping errors made in promulgation of the Idaho Roadless Rule. The 
corrections result in a net increase of 577 acres (600 acres rounded) 
in the Backcountry Restoration theme for a total of 5,313,500 acres of 
Backcountry/Restoration over all Idaho Roadless Areas. This is less 
than 0.01 percent change in the management classification. Site-
specific analysis, including public involvement will be conducted for 
any future projects proposed in areas reclassified to Backcountry/
Restoration.
    Questions were received concerning the correction for private land. 
The correction aligns the roadless boundary with the private land 
boundary. This was a mapping error which did not align (edge match) the 
roadless boundary with private land; this reduced the roadless area by 
3 acres. Only National Forest System lands are included in the Roadless 
Area.
    One respondent identified two of typographical errors made in the 
Federal Register Notice. (1) Correction regarding French Creek. On page 
54543, the Federal Register said ``moving 1,000 acres of Forest Plan 
Special Area to Backcountry Restoration''. The respondent noted that 
the proposed correction should have stated ``1,000 acres of Backcountry 
Restoration would be moved to a Forest Plan Special Area''. (2) On page 
54543 for French Creek the township should be changed from Township 22N 
to Township 23N. These edits have been made.
    Four respondents, the Governor's Commission, and Valley County 
Commissioners supported the corrections or did not have significant 
concerns with the proposed changes. These comments are noted.

Corrections Regarding Big Creek

    The Idaho Roadless Rule and associated maps mistakenly identify Big 
Creek as a Forest Plan Special Area (Wild and Scenic River). During the 
Idaho rulemaking, Forest Plan Special Areas were identified where the 
management is governed by specific Agency directives and forest plan 
direction. The 2003 Southwest Idaho Ecogroup Land and Resource 
Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) included an 
eligibility study for Big Creek. The Agency's Record of Decision found 
Big Creek in-eligible for Wild and Scenic River designation. As the 
Payette Forest Plan did not establish a special management area, the 
Idaho rulemaking and associated maps are now conformed to remove this 
erroneous classification. These corrections occur in T20N, R8E, 
sections 13-14 and 22-24; T20N, R9E, sections 2-3, 10, 15, and 17-18; 
T21N, R9E, sections 13, 23-24, 26, and 34-36, Boise Meridian.
    The four corrections concerning Big Creek are as follows:
    <bullet> Big Creek Fringe Idaho Roadless Area: 365 acres of Forest 
Plan Special Area are changed to Backcountry/Restoration; and the 
boundary of the roadless area is aligned with the private land boundary 
decreasing the roadless area by 3 acres. The Forest Plan Special Area 
classification is removed in the rule.
    <bullet> Placer Creek Idaho Roadless Area: 98 acres of Forest Plan 
Special Area are changed to Backcountry/Restoration; and 14 acres of 
Forest Plan Special Area are changed to Primitive. The Forest Plan 
Special Area classification is removed in the rule.
    <bullet> Secesh Idaho Roadless Area: 1,086 acres of the 11,630 acre 
Forest Plan Special Area is changed to Backcountry/Restoration.
    <bullet> Smith Creek Roadless Area: 14 acres of Forest Plan Special 
Area is changed to Primitive.

Correction Regarding French Creek

    The Idaho Roadless Rule erroneously did not identify an existing 
Forest Plan Special Area for the Lake Creek Wild and Scenic River 
Corridor in the French Creek Idaho Roadless Area. The 2003 Southwest 
Idaho Ecogroup Land and Resource Management Plan Final Environmental 
Impact Statement included a suitability study for the Secesh River, 
including Lake Creek. The Record of Decision found the Secesh River, 
including Lake Creek, eligible for Wild and Scenic River designation 
and the Payette National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan 
established a Special Management Area.
    The associated maps have been corrected for this area. The 
correction moves 1,000 acres of Backcountry/Restoration to Forest Plan 
Special Area and occurs in T23N, R4E, sections 10, 15, 22, 26-27, and 
35, Boise Meridian.

List of Subjects in 36 CFR Part 294

    National Forests, Navigation (air), Recreation areas, State 
petitions for inventoried roadless area management.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, part 294 of Title 36 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 294--SPECIAL AREAS

Subpart C--Idaho Roadless Area Management

0
1. The authority citation for subpart C continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 472, 529, 551, 1608, 1613; 23 U.S.C. 201, 
205.


0
2. Amend the table in Sec.  294.29 by revising the entries for Big 
Creek Fringe and Placer Creek in Payette National Forest to read as 
follows:


Sec.  294.29  [Amended]

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[[Page 17343]]



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              Forest               Idaho roadless area     Number          WLR        Primitive        BCR          GFRG          SAHTS         FPSA
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                                                                      * * * * * * *
Payette..........................  Big Creek Fringe...          009   ............  ............            X   ............  ............  ............
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
Payette..........................  Placer Creek.......          008   ............            X             X   ............  ............  ............
 
                                                                      * * * * * * *
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    Dated: March 22, 2011.
Thomas L. Tidwell,
Chief, U.S. Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-7247 Filed 3-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P