[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9156-9158]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4979]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service


Central Zone Noxious Weed Control Project; Idaho Panhandle 
National Forests, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to disclose the potential

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environmental effects of noxious weed treatment on the Fernan and 
Wallace Districts (Central Zone). Treatment sites would be at various 
locations across the zone and are within the Coeur d' Alene Basin 
Ecosystem, Wallace and Fernan Ranger Districts, Idaho Panhandle 
National Forests, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Idaho.
    The proposed action to control populations of noxious and 
undesirable weeds is designed to prevent the spread of these weeds and 
promote the retention and health of native and/or desirable plants 
within this ecosystem. The proposed action would use an integrated pest 
management approach to control weeds. This approach includes 
mechanical, biological, cultural, and chemical control. Most treatment 
sites are located near or along forest roads, trails, or recreation 
sites.
    The major species considered for control include spotted knapweed 
(Centaurea maculosa), orange hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum), meadow 
hawkweed (Hieracium pratense), dalmation toadflax (Linaria dalmatica), 
Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), common St. Johnswort (Hypercium 
perforatum), hound's tongue (Cynoglossum officinale), rush skeletonweed 
(Chondrilla juncea), leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) and purple 
loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Other species may include common tansy 
(Tanacetum vulgare), diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa), yellow 
toadflax (Linaria vulgaris), ox-eye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum), 
sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta), Viper's Bugloss (Echium 
vulgare), Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens), musk thistle (Carduus 
nutans), and bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare). New invader species which 
are unknown at this time to occur on the zone would be a high priority 
for control.
    This project-level EIS will tier to the Idaho Panhandle National 
Forests Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) (USDA Forest 
Service, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, September 1987), and 
references the Idaho Panhandle National Forests Weed Pest Management 
EIS, (USDA Forest Service, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, October 
1989); the Bonners Ferry Ranger District Noxious Weed Management 
Project Final EIS (USDA Forest Service, Idaho Panhandle National 
Forests, September 1995), the Priest Lake Noxious Weed Control Final 
EIS (USDA Forest Service, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, 1997) and 
the St. Joe Noxious Weed Draft EIS (USDA Forest Service, Idaho 
Panhandle National Forests, 1996).

DATES: Written comments and suggestions should be received no later 
than April 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and suggestions on the proposed 
management activities or requests to be placed on the project mailing 
list to Kristen Philbrook, Project Leader, Fernan Ranger District, 2502 
E. Sherman Ave., Coeur d' Alene, ID 83814.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristen Philbrook, EIS Team Leader, Fernan Ranger Station, (208) 769-
3000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary purposes for weed control are as 
follows:
    (1) Prevent or limit the spread of noxious weeds that displace 
native vegetation in the Coeur d' Alene ecosystem;
    (2) Eliminate new invaders before they become established;
    (3) Prevent or limit the spread of weeds into areas containing 
little or no infestation in order to promote the retention and health 
of native and/or desirable species;
    (4) Reduce weed seed sources along travel routes;
    (5) Comply with Federal and State laws regulating management of 
noxious weeds.
    Approximately 60 treatment sites have been identified across the 
Wallace and Fernan Ranger Districts. Infestations that are discovered 
would be treated within the scope of the Final EIS and Record of 
Decision. The Forest Plan provides guidance for management activities 
within the potentially affected areas through its goals, objectives, 
standards and guidelines, and management-area direction. The Forest 
Plan directs that forest pests be managed by an integrated pest 
management approach. The decisions to be made are what action, if any, 
should be taken to control weeds in the Coeur d' Alene Ecosystem, where 
treatment should be applied, and what types of treatment(s) should be 
used.
    The Forest Service will consider a range of alternatives. One of 
these will be the ``no action'' alternative in which none of the 
proposed treatment activities would be implemented. Additional 
alternatives will represent the range of control methods currently 
available for treatment of weeds.
    Public participation in an important part of the analysis and will 
play an important role in developing the alternatives. The mailing list 
for public scoping will be developed from responses to this NOI, and to 
a Scoping Notice sent out to interested individuals, organizations and 
agencies. In addition, the public is encouraged to visit with Forest 
Service officials during the analysis and prior to the decision. The 
Forest Service will also be seeking information, comments, and 
assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies and other 
individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected by 
the proposed actions. Comments from the public and other agencies will 
be used in preparation of the Draft EIS.
    The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be filed 
with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and available for public 
review in June, 1997, At that time, the EPA will publish a Notice of 
Availability of the draft environmental impact statement in the Federal 
Register. The comment period on the draft environmental impact 
statement 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 
draft environmental impact statements 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. 519, 
553 (1978)). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the 
draft environmental statement stage but that are not raised until after 
completion of the final environmental statement 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, 2338 (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 45-day scoping 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 final environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns regarding the proposed action, comments on the draft 
environmental impact statement should be 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 
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives 
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer 
to the

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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.
    I am the responsible official for this environmental impact 
statement. My address is Fernan Ranger District, 2502 E. Sherman Ave. 
Coeur d' Alene, ID 83814.

    Dated: February 18, 1997.
Susan Matthews,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 97-4979 Filed 2-27-97; 8:45 am]
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