[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2508-2510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-860]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Powers Ranger District, 
Coos County, OR; Eden Ridge Timber Sales

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Corrected Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement for the Eden Ridge Timber Sales. The original notice was 
published on April 26, 2010.

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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, is preparing an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) on proposed variable density thinning treatments 
designed to control stocking and maintain or improve overall forest 
vigor and resiliency within a 6,516-acre planning area known as Eden 
Ridge. Timber harvested from stand treatments would contribute 
commercial timber to the Forest's Probable Sale Quantity. The planning 
area is located approximately four (4) air miles southeast of the city 
of Powers, Oregon, on the Powers Ranger District. A Notice of Intent 
(NOI) was first published for this proposal on April 26, 2010, Volume 
75, No. 79, pages 21577-21579. Due to the length of time that has 
passed since the first NOI was published, refinement of the proposed 
action, and a change in the responsible official, the district is 
publishing this Corrected NOI. The district now proposes within the 
planning area, timber harvest and other connected activities on 
approximately 3,314 acres in stands regenerated from timber harvested 
around the 1930s and 1940s via historical railroad logging. Candidate 
stands located on suitable forest land within the planning area are 
proposed for treatment that are designated as Matrix, with some amount 
of Riparian Reserve under the Land and Resource Management Plan as 
amended by the Northwest Forest Plan. Approximately seventy-five (75) 
treatment units would be designed for timber harvest with associated 
harvest systems that would use a combination of ground-based and 
skyline operations depending on soil, slope and hydrological concerns. 
To facilitate treatments within the potential units being considered, 
approximately:
    <bullet> 10.5 miles new road construction
    <bullet> 0.03 miles of temporary roads

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    <bullet> 3.7 miles reconstruction of existing template non system 
roads
    <bullet> 7.7 miles maintenance of proposed existing cost share 
roads
    <bullet> 31 miles maintenance of existing system roads is proposed. 
It is estimated the project could produce approximately 50 million 
board feet from the 3,314 acres being considered, from multiple timber 
sales over a 5-year period. The alternatives include the proposed 
action, no action, and additional alternatives that responded to issues 
generated through the scoping process. The agency will give notice of 
the full environmental analysis and decisionmaking process so 
interested and affected people may participate and contribute to the 
final decision.

DATES: The draft environmental impact statement is expected March 2012 
and the final environmental impact statement is expected July 2012.

ADDRESSES: Powers Ranger District, 42861 Highway 242, Powers, OR 97466-
9700.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the proposal, 
contact Wesley H. Crum, Project Leader, at the above address, phone 
(541) 439-6241 or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bbccd3d8c9ced6fbddc895dddedf95cec8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="37405f5445425a77514419515253194244">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    The overall Purpose of this project is to implement direction from 
the 1989 Land and Resource Management Plan for the Siskiyou National 
Forest, as amended by the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan. The majority of 
the Eden Ridge Timber Sales proposal is located on lands allocated to 
Matrix which emphasizes obtaining a full yield of timber within the 
capability of the land. Most scheduled timber harvest and other 
silvicultural activities would be conducted in that portion of the 
Matrix with suitable forest lands (NW Forest Plan, page C-39). 
Specifically for the Eden Ridge Timber Sales project, Needs include: 
Improvement of Overall Forest Vigor and Resiliency--There is a need for 
tree stocking level control to reduce stand densities through 
intermediate harvest thinning treatments to sustain or increase tree 
growth and improve forest vigor and resiliency. Density management 
would release remaining trees from inter-tree competition for sunlight, 
and would also reduce competition for water and soil nutrients when 
compared to untreated areas. Minor portions of the Planning Area 
infected with root diseases would be managed to harvest trees 
predisposed to pathogen infection and retain or plant resistant tree 
species to improve forest health. Older legacy (remnant) trees, minor 
conifer tree species (in portions of stands uninfected with root 
disease), hardwoods, existing snags and coarse woody debris would be 
retained where feasible to maintain or improve forest diversity. Post-
treatment objectives are to develop a sustainable forest resilient to 
drought, wind, insects, disease, fire and other natural disturbances. 
Contribution of Commercial Timber to the Probable Sale Quantity--
Proposed candidate stands are primarily allocated to Matrix and 
contribute to the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Probable Sale 
Quantity (PSQ). PSQ is the estimated output of commercial timber and 
other commodities assigned to the Forest under the 1994 Northwest 
Forest Plan. The Purpose of this action is to respond to the stated 
Needs. Specific stand management objectives associated with the Purpose 
and Need for this proposal include:
    <bullet> Maintenance or improvement of forest health and diversity 
within Matrix and Riparian Reserve land allocations through density 
management treatments. This typically means individual tree and overall 
stand diameter growth, crown development, vigor and overall stand 
health, and improved root strength on residual trees;
    <bullet> Improve habitat conditions for wildlife and fish. This 
means increasing vegetative and structural species diversity; maintain 
or improve shading capability of streams; improve large wood retention 
and large wood recruitment, and provide suitable amounts of snags and/
or replacement habitat for dependent species;
    <bullet> Reduce the risk of effects from insect and disease 
infestations;
    <bullet> Minimize or reduce the potential for high severity, stand 
replacement wildfires;
    <bullet> Increase riparian vegetation quality, health and vigor; 
and
    <bullet> Contribute to a predictable and sustainable level of 
timber commodities with human and economic dimensions.

Proposed Action

    The action proposed by the Forest Service to meet the Purpose and 
Need is variable density thinning and other silvicultural treatments 
designed to control stocking and maintain or improve overall forest 
vigor and resiliency from within the 6,516-acre Eden Ridge Planning 
Area. Commercial timber harvested from stand treatments would 
contribute to the Forest's Probable Sale Quantity. The 6,516 acre Eden 
Ridge planning area is located approximately four (4) air miles 
southeast of the city of Powers, Oregon at the closest point, with a 
legal description of: Township 31 South, Range 10 West, Sections 9, 15, 
16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 29 and 30; and Township 31 South, Range 11 
West, Sections 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27; Willamette Meridian; 
Coos County, Oregon. The planning area falls within the South Fork 
Coquille River and the Middle Fork Coquille River 5th-Field watersheds, 
and the Lower Rock Creek, Myrtle Creek, Headwaters South Fork Coquille 
River, Coal Creek, and Mill Creek 6th field watersheds. The proposed 
action would occur from multiple timber sales over a 5-year period.

Possible Alternatives

    The Proposed Action and two action alternatives are proposed for 
achieving the stated Purpose and Need, as well as a No-Action 
Alternative. These alternatives were developed based on issues raised 
by the public and other agencies.

Responsible Official

    The Forest Supervisor, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, is the 
responsible official for this project.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Supervisor will decide whether to implement the action 
as proposed, whether to take no action at this time, whether to 
implement any alternatives that are proposed, or develop a preferred 
alternative from all of the alternatives.

Preliminary Issues

    The following are significant issues: Hydrologic Conditions, Water 
Quality, Cumulative Watershed Effects, Soils, Geology, and Site 
Productivity and Economics.
    Other issues include: Aquatic Conservation Strategy, Fire/Fuels, 
Air Quality, Botanical Resources, Invasive Plants, Port-Orford-cedar 
Root Disease, Threatened Terrestrial Wildlife Species and Critical 
Habitat, Forest Service Sensitive Terrestrial Wildlife Species and 
Habitats, Rare and Uncommon Terrestrial Wildlife Species, Neo-tropical 
Migratory Birds, Aquatic Species and Habitats, Thinning Shock and Wind 
throw Potential, Other Undeveloped Areas, Heritage Resources, 
Recreation/Human Safety and Climate Change.

Scoping Process

    The scoping process for this project occurred when the original NOI 
was published in 2010. Issues identified during the scoping period were 
used to determine the alternatives considered and breadth of analysis. 
Public field

[[Page 2510]]

trips were held on August 1st and 2nd, 2011. Additional public meetings 
may be planned in the future. This proposal has been listed on the 
Rogue River-Siskiyou NF Schedule of Proposed Actions since October, 
2010.

    Dated: January 4, 2012.
Jennifer Eberlien,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2012-860 Filed 1-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P


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