[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52442-52444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24523]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Clear Prong Project, Boise National Forest, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Cascade Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Clear Prong 
Project. The entire project area is located in watersheds that drain 
into Clear Creek, which in turn drains into the North Fork of the 
Payette River downstream of Cascade Reservoir. The 11,056 acre project 
area is located 10 miles east of Cascade, Idaho, and about 120 miles

[[Page 52443]]

north of Boise, Idaho. The agency invites written comments and 
suggestions on the scope of the analysis. The agency also hereby gives 
notice of the environmental analysis and decision-making process that 
will occur on the proposal so interested and affected people are aware 
of how they may participate and contribute to the final decision. At 
this time no public meetings to discuss the project are planned.
    Proposed Action: Seven objectives have been identified for the 
project: (1) Move toward restoration of historic vegetative conditions 
by manipulating the forest structure, density, and species composition 
in order to accelerate development of larger tree size class stands and 
old forest habitat; (2) Consistent with Objective <greek-i>1, reduce 
the level of heavy dwarf mistletoe infection in Douglas-fir trees where 
deemed necessary to accelerate development of larger tree size class 
stands and old forest habitat; (3) Move stands toward their historic 
conditions by reducing fuel loads and ladder fuels through the use of 
prescribed fire where such an action could be accomplished without 
substantial mortality of the overstory trees and where topographic 
features would make the use of prescribed fire a practical management 
action; (4) Improve the health, vigor, and sustainability of aspen 
clones by eliminating competing conifer and brush species; (5) Utilize 
wood products created by restoration treatments to support local and 
regional economies as an outcome of pursuing Objectives <greek-i>1 and 
<greek-i>2 above; (6) Reduce management-induced sediment and recurring 
maintenance needs, and address the intent of the TMDL, by graveling 
road surfaces and replacing under-sized culverts; and (7) Reduce the 
potential for sedimentation and future maintenance needs, and address 
the intent of the TMDL, by decommissioning roads not needed for the 
long-term management of the Forest.
    The Proposed Action would implement silvicultural activities, 
including thinning of sub-merchantable trees, prescribed fire, and 
aspen enhancement on 2,204 acres. An estimated 8.4 MMbf would be 
removed using tractor/off-road jammer, skyline, and helicopter yarding 
systems. The Proposed Action would employ a variety of silvicultural 
prescriptions including commercial thin, commercial thin with 
prescribed fire, sanitation/improvement, sanitation/improvement with 
prescribed fire, individual tree selection, thinning of sub-
merchantable trees, prescribed fire to abate natural fuels, and aspen 
enhancement activities.
    The Proposed Action would restore an estimated 0.8 miles of the 
<greek-i>409 road through maintenance activities to reduce 
sedimentation. Specifically, gravel would be applied to the surface of 
the <greek-i>409 road from near the <greek-i>409/<greek-i>409D 
intersection to Clear Creek Summit. In addition, 12 under-sized 
culverts along the <greek-i>409 road would be replaced with culverts 
sufficient in size to accommodate a 100-year flow event, and designed 
to allow fish passage where habitat exists upstream. Roughly 1.1 miles 
of temporary road would be constructed to facilitate harvest 
activities.
    An estimated 4.4 miles of existing road (<greek-i>405B, 
<greek-i>405B2, <greek-i>405C, <greek-i>405D, and <greek-i>417HX1) not 
needed for the long term management of the area would be decommissioned 
to reduce future maintenance needs and to reduce sedimentation. 
Decommissioned sections of these five roads would be removed from the 
transportation system.
    Preliminary Issues: Preliminary concerns with the Proposed Action 
include potential impacts on water quality and terrestrial wildlife 
species.
    Possible Alternatives to the Proposed Action: One alternative to 
the Proposed Action that has been discussed thus far is a no action 
alternative. Other alternatives will likely be developed as issues are 
identified and information received.
    Decisions To Be Made: The Boise National Forest Supervisor will 
decide the following: (1) Should vegetation be managed within the 
project area at this time, and if so, which stands should be treated 
and what silvicultural systems applied? (2) Should temporary roads be 
built at this time, and if so, how many miles should be built and where 
should they occur within the project area? (3) Should existing 
classified roads within the project area receive maintenance activities 
to reduce sedimentation, and if so, where within the project area? (4) 
Should portions of roads <greek-i>405B, <greek-i>405B2, <greek-i>405C, 
<greek-i>405D, and <greek-i>417HX1 be decommissioned at this time? (5) 
Based on the completed Clear Prong Project Roads Analysis, which roads 
should be adopted as the minimum transportation system? (6) What design 
features, mitigation measures, and/or monitoring should be applied to 
the project?

DATES: Comments concerning the proposed project and analysis are 
encouraged and should be postmarked or received within 30 days 
following publication of this announcement in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the Cascade Ranger District, 
ATTN: Keith Dimmett, P.O. Box 696, Cascade, ID 83611 or sent 
electronically to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d3b0bcbebeb6bda7a0febabda7b6a1bea7bdfeb1bcb9a0b6feb0b2a0b0b2b7b693b5a0fdb5b6b7fda6a0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="11727e7c7c747f65623c787f6574637c657f3c737e7b62743c727062727075745177623f7774753f6462">[email protected]</span></a>. Electronic 
comments must be submitted in plain text or another format compatible 
with Microsoft Word. Comments may also be delivered to the above 
address during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-
Friday. Comments can also be submitted by phone at 208-382-7400 or FAX 
to 208-382-7480. Comments received in response to this request will be 
available for public inspection and will be released in their entirety 
if requested pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information can be obtained 
from Keith Dimmett at the address mentioned above or by calling 208-382 
7400.
    Schedule: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), January 
2010. Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), April 2010.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An estimated 2,194 acres of the Peace Rock 
Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA) and an additional 252 acres of the 
Stony Meadows IRA lie within the Clear Prong Project Area. With the 
exception of a small portion of the prescribed fire, none of the 
activities associated with the Proposed Action would occur within 
either IRA.
    The entire project area drains into Clear Creek which appears on 
the State of Idaho's 303(d) and 305(b) Integrated Report. The North 
Fork Payette River Subbasin Assessment and Total Maximum Daily Load 
(TMDL) was completed in July 2005 by the Idaho Department of 
Environmental Quality (IDEQ) and approved by the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency in August 2005. That document states that the 
beneficial uses of ``Upper Clear Creek'' (i.e. that portion that occurs 
within the project area) do not appear impacted, but may be threatened 
by increasing sediment levels.
    The entire project area lies within Management Area 17 (North Fork 
Payette River), discussed on pages 111-290 through 111-301 in the 
Forest Plan.
    The comment period on the DEIS 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 
the DEIS must structure their participation in the environmental

[[Page 52444]]

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 DEIS stage but are not raised until after 
completion of the FEIS may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City 
of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F. 2d 1016, 1002 (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 DEIS 
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 FEIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the DEIS should be as 
specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific 
pages or chapters of the draft 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.
    Responsible Official: Cecilia R. Seesholtz, Forest Supervisor, 
Boise National Forest, 1249 South Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID 
83709.

    Dated: October 6, 2009.
Cecilia R. Seesholtz,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9-24523 Filed 10-9-09; 8:45 am]
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