[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17007-17009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7052]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Kootenai National Forest, Cabinet Ranger District, Montana 
Pilgrim Timber Sale Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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[[Page 17008]]

SUMMARY: This vegetation management project is designed to achieve 
goals of enhanced forest stand resilience and resistance to insect and 
disease agents by altering stand density, species composition, and age 
class structure, via use of timber harvesting and prescribed fire use. 
Big game forage would be enhanced through use of prescribed fire to 
rejuvenate and increase palatability of shrubs and grasses, including 
some sites within Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRA). No mechanical 
activities are proposed within IRA boundaries.
    This Project was originally initiated in 2010 with scoping of the 
proposed action. In addition, in 2011 public scoping was again 
initiated in reference to openings sizes exceeding 40 acres and the 
requirement for a project-specific Forest Plan amendment related to 
open road density in areas managed for big game summer range. 
Subsequent analyses of potential environmental effects were documented 
in an Environmental Assessment (EA). Based on the level of interest, 
and recognizing the scope and potential issues associated with the 
project, as the Forest Supervisor for the Kootenai National Forest I 
have made the decision to halt the EA process and commence with the 
process to document findings in an Environmental Impact Statement. The 
comments received during the scoping process for the Environmental 
Assessment will be used in preparation of the EIS; therefore scoping 
will not be reinitiated.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by April 23, 2012. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
May 2012 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
September 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Kootenai National Forest, Pilgrim 
Timber Sale Project, Cabinet Ranger District, 2693 Highway 200, Trout 
Creek, MT 59874. Comments may also be sent via email to: comments-
northern-kootenai-cabinet-fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 406/827-0718. 
Electronic comments must be submitted in Microsoft Word format. 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 specific to the Proposal.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including the 
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: Doug Grupenhoff, Team Leader, (406) 
827-3533 or to the Kootenai National Forest Web page: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=31645. 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.
    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.

Purpose and Need for Action

    There is a need to reduce stand densities, improve growing 
conditions, and increase the proportion of root disease-resistant tree 
species in the area; there is a need to increase age class diversity in 
lodgepole pine-dominated forest communities in the project area; there 
is a need to provide local employment related to forest management and 
restoration activities and to supply forest products to contribute to 
the support of that segment of the local and regional economy dependent 
on timber products; and, there is a need to improve forage production 
and quality through the use of such treatments as commercial timber 
harvest, slashing, and prescribed fire.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action includes timber harvest, prescribed burning, 
and road work necessary to provide safe access to the proposed 
treatment areas while minimizing resource impacts, as summarized below:
    Approximately 500 acres of regeneration harvest are proposed, most 
of which would be removed with cable logging systems. Approximately 55-
75 acres would be tractor yarded. These treatment areas are generally 
located where lodgepole pine is susceptible to mountain pine beetle 
attack or is currently infested, or in areas where Douglas-fir or true 
firs are infected with root disease at unacceptably high levels. In the 
latter case, we propose to increase the proportion of root disease 
resistant species (such as western larch, western white pine, or 
ponderosa pine) on the site to maintain viable forest communities over 
time. This can be done by favoring these species in the residual stand 
or by replanting these species after harvest if they are not well 
represented in the original stand. For most areas where regeneration 
harvest is proposed in lodgepole pine stands, we will generally propose 
to allow natural revegetation of the site back to lodgepole pine.
    Approximately 900 acres of intermediate harvest is proposed; 
approximately one third will be tractor yarded and two thirds will 
require the use of a cable system. These commercial thinning treatments 
would leave a fully stocked stand after harvest with the objective of 
improving growing conditions for the residual trees.
    To access proposed harvest areas, approximately 3.1 miles of new, 
permanent road would need to be constructed and approximately 1.8 miles 
of temporary road would be constructed and removed following completion 
of treatment activities. In addition, approximately 26 miles of road 
reconditioning to bring roads up to current standards of surface water 
management and provide for safe hauling. Approximately 6,950 acres have 
been identified as a perimeter for prescribed burning to enhance forage 
quality and quantity for big game species, notably elk, deer, and 
bears. Generally, these areas are on southerly aspects that have 
historically provided important forage which is declining due to 
conifer encroachment and forage senescence. Prescribed burns would 
occur during the cooler, moister spring period when the risk of large, 
high intensity fires is lower. On a yearly basis, depending on 
conditions, it is estimated that ignition would be unlikely to exceed 
1,000 acres per year.
    Portions of three Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs) are located 
within the Project Area and occupy a total of approximately 13,843 
acres, or about 46% of the area. There are no harvest activities 
proposed within these roadless areas. Prescribed burning is being 
proposed within portions of these IRAs. Burning will be conducted in a 
manner so as to maintain their natural character and improve wildlife 
habitat.
    Because of the extent of a current mountain pine beetle 
infestation, larger units are proposed to increase the amount of 
lodgepole treated and more closely approximate typical patch sizes of 
lodgepole pine in this area while still protecting important resources 
including stream integrity and fish habitat. Some of these units would 
create openings that would exceed 40 acres in size, for which approval 
by the Regional Forester is generally required.
    All action alternatives propose treatment in MA-12 to meet the 
purpose and need for this project, and this activity requires the use 
of roads within MA-12 which are currently closed.

[[Page 17009]]

Additionally, some alternatives propose new road construction within 
MA-12. This would result in exceeding the open road density standard 
during the life of the project and require a site-specific Forest Plan 
amendment. All roads opened for project activities and all newly 
constructed roads would be effectively closed after completion of 
project activities, so there would be no long term increase in open 
road densities.
    Specifically, the proposed action (Alternative 2) would increase 
ORDs in MA-12 to 2.3 miles per square mile during harvest activities if 
all roads were open concurrently. Alternative 3 would result in an ORD 
of 2.6 miles per square mile during operations, and Alternative 4 would 
not change the existing condition. Following completion of project 
activities, open road densities would return to pre-project levels.

Possible Alternatives

    Four alternatives have been identified; the No Action, the Proposed 
Action described in this Notice of Intent, an action alternative that 
more specifically addresses concerns and issues related to an on-going, 
aggressive expansion of mountain pine beetle activity into stands 
dominated by lodgepole pine, and an action alternative that would 
address concerns regarding new road construction which would accomplish 
stand treatments using the existing transportation system.

Responsible Official

    As the Kootenai National Forest Supervisor, I am the responsible 
official for this decision.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    My decision will be whether or not to implement the proposed action 
as described, including timber harvest, road work, prescribed burning 
to enhance big game forage, approval of a project-specific amendment to 
the Forest Plan for open road density in MA-12, changes in some 
Management Area designation for difficult regeneration sites, and to 
exceed the 40 acre opening size limit under the National Forest 
Management Act (1976), or to implement an alternative course of action, 
as expressed in alternatives to the proposed action.

Scoping Process

    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.
    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.

    Dated: March 8, 2012.
Paul Stantus,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2012-7052 Filed 3-22-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P