[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50288-50289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25473]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Silver Creek Integrated Resource Project, Boise National Forest, 
Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice, intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Emmett Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for an integrated 
resource management project in the Silver Creek subwatershed, a 
headwater tributary to the Middle Fork Payette River drainage. The 
project area is located about 80 road miles north of Boise, Idaho.
    The Forest Service is seeking information and comments from 
Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies, as well as individuals and 
organizations who may be interested and/or affected by the proposed 
action. The agency invites written comments and suggestions on the 
issues related to the proposal and the area being analyzed. The 
information received will be used in preparing the draft and final EIS. 
For most effective use, comments should be submitted within 30 days 
from the date of publication of this Notice in the Federal Register.

Proposed Action

    Six objectives have been identified for the project: (1) Restore 
and/or maintain the presence of the seral, shade intolerant tree 
species (i.e., ponderosa pine, aspen) as part of the area's vegetative 
mosaic; (2) improve forest resilience to damaging insects and disease; 
(3) improve timber stand vigor and growth; (4) reduce the risk of 
large, stand-destroying wildfire, especially in the vicinity of the 
Silver Creek Plunge Hot Springs Resort and rural subdivision; (5) 
restore streambanks, riparian areas, and other wet, upland sites 
damaged by unrestricted, cross-country motorized travel; and, (6) 
provide sawlogs and other wood products to help sustain local sawmills 
and communities.
    The proposed action would treat, either with timber harvest or 
prescribed fire, a total of 9,545 acres. An estimated 23 million board 
feet (MMBF) of timber would be harvested by ground-based (1,089 acres), 
skyline/cable (304 acres), or helicopter (4,722 acres) yarding systems. 
The proposed action would employ a variety of silvicultural systems, 
including improvement selection (38 percent), commercial thinning (31 
percent), sanitation/salvage (13 percent), irregular shelterwood (9 
percent) and group selection (6 percent). Prescribed fire would also 
occur on another 3,430 acres to rejuvenate old, decadent aspen stands 
and/or provide seedbeds for potential white-bark pine regeneration. The 
existing transportation system would be improved to facilitate the 
harvest operation and reduce sedimentation, 3 miles of road relocation 
and construction, 1.3 miles of temporary road construction, and spot 
graveling of intermittent sections of Roads No. 698 (Middle Fork 
Payette), No. 671 (Silver Creek), and No. 678 (Bridge-Bryan Creek). Two 
bridges would be constructed to provide log haul access. Six existing 
helicopter landings would be used, however, each would be first 
``stabilized'' to improve drainage and reduce potential sediment 
delivery. Two dry, upland meadows would also be used as possible log 
landing sites. An estimated 4 miles of existing, user-developed roads, 
the majority which either lies immediately adjacent to perennial 
streams or is deeply eroded, would be obliterated. Five existing, user-
developed stream crossings would be closed and rehabilitated. Upon 
completion of post-harvest activities, motorized travel east of Silver 
Creek would be restricted to designated routes (i.e., roads and 
trails), except for snowmobiles during the winter.
    To meet the project's objectives, several changes to the Boise Land 
and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) would be needed. The 
proposed Forest Plan changes include redefining the visual quality 
objectives (VQO's) for the Peace Rock, Silver Creek, and Lightning 
Creek management areas (MA's) as well as changing the prohibition 
concerning the use of ground-based yarding systems, mechanized 
equipment, and road construction in the Peace Rock MA.

Preliminary Issues

    Anticipated concerns related with the proposed action are: (1) 
Timber harvest and road relocation and/or construction could effect a 
portion of the Peace Rock inventoried roadless area's (IRA) wild 
character; (2) bridge construction and road relocation/reconstruction 
activities could result in short-term increases in the sediment 
entering area streams; (3) the project could alter the scenic quality 
of the Silver Creek area; (4) the proposed restrictions on cross-
country, motorized travel could displace some outdoor enthusiasts and/
or reduce recreational opportunities for some user groups; and (5) the 
activities resulting from the proposed Forest Plan changes could alter 
the semiprimitive, motorized character of the area. Other potential 
issues may be identified during the current scoping period.

Schedule

    The draft EIS is anticipated to be available for public review and 
comment in April 1998; the final EIS by July 1998.

Public Involvement

    The Forest Service is inviting the public to visit Silver Creek 
with Emmett District personnel. Two field tours are scheduled for the 
project area; one on October 3, 1997; the other on October 4, 1997. 
Both field tours will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., beginning at the Garden 
Valley Station, Garden Valley, Idaho, with a brief presentation and 
then proceeding to the project area. In addition, a public meeting will 
be held at the Garden Valley Senior Citizens' Center, Crouch, Idaho on 
October 6, 1997, from 7-9 p.m. to discuss the proposed activities. 
Comments received from those field tours, as well as the public meeting 
will be incorporated into the analysis and decision-making process.

Comments

    Written comments concerning the proposed project should be received 
on

[[Page 50289]]

or before 30 days following publication of this announcement in the 
Federal Register. Mail comments to, or for further information contact, 
Chris Worth, Project Team Leader, Emmett Ranger District, 1805 Highway 
16, Room 5, Emmett, ID 83617, or telephone 208-365-7000.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including the 
names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of 
the public record on this proposal and will be available to public 
inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and 
considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have 
standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR 215 or 217. 
Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request the 
agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing how 
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. 
Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under 
FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only limited circumstances, 
such as to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service will inform the 
requester of the agency's decision regarding the request for 
confidentiality, and where the request is denied, the agency will 
return the submission and notify the requester that the comments may be 
resubmitted with or without name and address within 10 days.

Responsible Official

    David D. Rittenhouse, Forest Supervisor, Boise National Forest is 
the responsible official.

    Dated: September 15, 1997.
Cathy Barbouletos,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 97-25473 Filed 9-24-97; 8:45 am]
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