This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

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Notices Federal Register

1748 

Vol. 75, No. 8 

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Helena National Forest, Montana, 

Stonewall Vegetation Project 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an 

environmental impact statement. 

SUMMARY: The Helena National Forest is 

going to prepare an environmental 

impact statement for vegetation 

management actions north and west of 

the community of Lincoln, MT. Fire 

suppression and moist growing 

conditions through much of this century 

resulted in a loss of open forest 

conditions and seral species (aspen, 

ponderosa pine and western larch). This 

has created a more uniform landscape 

comprised of dense forests susceptible 

to insect and wildfire mortality 

(Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine). In 

addition, a large-scale mountain pine 

beetle epidemic has killed most of the 

mature lodgepole pine and ponderosa 

pine. These conditions are elevating fuel 

levels which pose a wildfire threat to 

nearby homes and communities in the 

wildland urban interface (WUI). 

DATES: Comments concerning the scope 

of the analysis must be received by 

February 12, 2010. The draft 

environmental impact statement is 

expected August 2010 and the final 

environmental impact statement is 

expected January 2011. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 

Amber Kamps, Helena National Forest, 

1569 Hwy. 200, Lincoln, MT 59639. 

Comments may also be sent via e-mail 

to comments-northern-Helena@fs.fed.us, 

or via facsimile to 406–449–5436. 

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: 

Amber Kamps at 406–362–7000. 

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 landscape in this project area has 

become a more uniform dense forest 

susceptible to insect and wildfire 

mortality. The mountain pine beetle has 

caused widespread tree mortality. These 

conditions have elevated the fuel levels, 

which in turn pose a threat to nearby 

homes and communities in the wildland 

urban interface. The purpose and need 

for this project includes: improving the 

mix of vegetation and structure across 

the landscape so that it is diverse, 

resilient, and sustainable to wildfire and 

insects; modifying fire behavior to 

enhance community protection while 

creating conditions that allow the 

reestablishment of fire as a natural 

process on the landscape; enhancing 

and restoring aspen, western larch and 

ponderosa pine species and habitats; 

utilizing the economic value of trees 

through removal; and integrating 

restoration with socioeconomic 

considerations. 

Proposed Action 

Approximately 8,600 acres are 

proposed for treatment. The proposed 

action includes using both commercial 

and noncommercial treatments to 

achieve the desired condition. These 

actions would include: Regeneration 

harvests, intermediate harvests, 

precommercial thinnings, and 

prescribed burning. Implementing the 

proposed action could include the use 

of chainsaws, feller bunchers, and cable 

logging equipment. 

The proposed action also includes 

using prescribed fire and tree slashing 

in two roadless areas (Bear Marshall 

Scapegoat Swan and Lincoln Gulch). 

Approximately five miles of road 

would be built then obliterated 

immediately following timber removal. 

Commercial harvest and road 

construction would not occur in the two 

roadless areas. 

Post treatment activities would 

include underburning, site preparation 

burning, jackpot burning, hand piling/ 

burning, tree planting, and monitoring 

of natural regeneration. 

In all the areas proposed, the opening 

size may exceed 40 acres due to the 

amount of mortality created by the bark 

beetles and the resulting need for 

regeneration. 

Responsible Official 

Helena National 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, and 

whether a forest plan amendment 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 January 2010, a 

scoping package will be mailed, an open 

house will be scheduled, and Web site 

information will be posted. 

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 

subsequent administrative appeal or 

judicial review. 

Dated: January 6, 2010. 

Kevin T. Riordan, 

Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. 2010–452 Filed 1–12–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 


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