Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 238 / Monday, December 11, 2000 / Notices 77341

31, T.9N., R.3W., Montana Principle

Meridian.

The proposed treatments are not

within a roadless area, but are within

the Elkhorns Wildlife management Unit

(within Management Area (E–4) of the

Helena Forest Plan). This management

area features an emphasis on habitat

management for moose, elk and mule

deer. The management standards

include the implementation of wildlife

habitat improvement practices,

including prescribed fire and timber

manipulation to maintain and enhance

aspen and willow regeneration and

other forested areas for wildlife habitat.

(Helena Forest Plan, page III–90). The

decisions to be made, based on this

environmental analysis, are whether or

not to treat the vegetation at this time,

and if so, how would the treatments be

accomplished.

This EIS will tier to the Helena Forest

Plan Final EIS of April 1986, that

provides program goals, objectives, and

standards and guidelines for conducting

management activities in this area. All

activities associated with the proposal

will be designed to implement the

resource goals and standards identified

in the Forest Plan.

The Forest Service is seeking

information and comments from

Federal, State, and local agencies

together with organizations or

individuals who may be interested in or

affected by the proposed action. The

Forest Service invites written comments

and suggestions on the issues for the

proposal and the area being analyzed.

Information received will be used in

preparation of the Draft EIS.

Preparation of the EIS will include the

following steps:

1. Identification of issues to be analyzed

in depth.

2. Identification of additional reasonable

alternatives.

3. Identification of potential

environmental effects of the

alternatives.

Commercial timber harvest will be

used to restore important habitat that is

currently nonexistant in the Wildlife

Management Unit by thinning of

individual trees while leaving the

largest and healthiest trees on site, and

by opening the stand such that fire can

be reintroduced with minimal risk of

killing the overstory trees. Following

harvest, forests will be underburned to

stimulate the regeneration of grasses,

forbs, aspen and willow.

Alternatives to this proposal will

include the ‘‘no action’’ alternative, in

which none of the proposed treatments

would be implemented. Other

alternatives will examine variations in

the location, amount and method of

vegetative management.

The preliminary issues identified are:

1. What wildlife species are

benefited? Are there any wildlife

species at risk that would be affected?

2. What is the effect of the project on

recreation?

3. What effect will be project have on

reducing the risk of catastrophic

wildfire in the urban interface?

4. What are the risks to nearby

landowners relative to logging and

burning operations?

The Forest Service will analyze and

disclose in the DEIS and FEIS the

environmental effects of the proposed

action and a reasonable range of

alternatives. The DEIS and FEIS will

disclose the direct, indirect and

cumulative environmental effects of

each alternative and its associated site

specific mitigation measures.

Public participation is especially

important at several points of the

analysis. Interested parties may visit

with Forest Service officials at any time

during the analysis. However, two

periods of time are specifically

identified for the receipt of comments.

The first comment period is during the

scoping process when the public is

invited to give written comments to the

Forest Service within 45 days of the

publication of the Notice of Intent. The

second review period is during the 45

day review of the DEIS when the public

is invited to comment on the DEIS.

The DEIS is expected to be filed with

the Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) and available for public review in

February 2001. At that time, the EPA

will publish a notice of availability of

the DEIS in the Federal Register.

The comment period on the DEIS will

be 45 days from the date the notice of

availability is published in the Federal

Register.

At this early stage in the scoping

process, the Forest Service believes it is

important to give reviewers notice of

several court rulings related to public

participation in the environmental

review process. First, reviews of DEIS

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). Secondly, environmental

objections that could be raised at the

draft environmental impact statement

stage, but that 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, 1022

(9th cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages,

Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 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 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.

Comments may also address the

adequacy of the DEIS or the merits of

the alternatives formulated and

discussed in the 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.)

After the comment period ends on the

DEIS, the comments will be analyzed

and considered by the Forest Service in

preparing the FEIS. The FEIS is

expected to be filed in July 2001.

Dated: November 22, 2000.

Thomas J. Clifford,

Forest Supervisor, Helena National Forest.

[FR Doc. 00–31368 Filed 12–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Maudlow-Toston Post-Fire Salvage,

Sale, Townsend Ranger District,

Helena National Forest, Broadwater

County, Montana

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice, intent to prepare

environmental impact statement.

SUMMARY: The Forest Service will

prepare an Environmental Impact

Statement on a proposal to harvest

merchantable fire-damaged trees from

the Maudlow—Toston wildfire area.

The proposed action includes salvage

timber harvest in roaded areas and

stewardship project timber harvest

activities in inventoried roadless areas.

No new road construction or

reconstruction would be conducted in

inventoried roadless areas. In areas

outside inventoried roadless areas,

existing system roads and a few

temporary roads would be used. Only

dead or dying trees will be removed.

The proposed action will also

incorporate interim road management to

77342 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 238 / Monday, December 11, 2000 / Notices

provide for big game security,

silvicultural practices that can hasten

post-fire recovery for wildlife and

recreation and reduce future fuel

loading, and other management

practices to minimize accelerated

erosion.

DATES: Comments concerning the

proposal and scope of the analysis

should be received in writing by January

15th, 2001.

ADDRESSES: All questions and/or

comments should be addressed to:

USDA Forest Service, Townsend Ranger

District, 415 S. Front Street, Box 29,

Townsend, MT 59644.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David McMorran, Team Leader or

Rachel Feigley, Assistant Team Leader,

at the address above or (406) 266–3425.

An Open House is scheduled for

December 14, 2000, 4pm to 8pm, at the

library community room in Townsend,

Montana.

Additional Information: The analysis

will include a no action alternative

which will address the effects of not

harvesting in the burned area. Other

alternatives will consider a range of

options, including varying the locations,

timing and methods of timber removal.

The analysis will consider the effects of

the proposed action and alternatives

within the entire affected watersheds

(Blacktail and Sulphur Bar drainages),

but actions will be limited to the burned

areas- no green tree harvest is proposed.

Anticipated issues and concerns

include, but are not limited to:

Longterm watershed stability and

recovery; fuel loading/fuel reduction in

the future; inventoried roadless

character and values; longterm

management goals; opportunities to

integrate salvage operations with

restoration activities; big game security

and retention of remaining hiding cover;

snag management for wildlife; scenery

and recreation management, the

potential for spreading noxious weeds,

and opportunities to benefit local

economies.

The public will be notified, via mail

and news release, of the implementation

of this project and of the availability of

the Draft and Final Analysis. The Forest

Service is seeking information and

comments from Federal, State and local

agencies as well as individuals and

organizations that may be interested in

the proposal. The Forest Service invites

written comments and suggestions

related to the proposal. Information

received will be used in preparation of

the Draft Environmental Impact

Statement. The Draft Environmental

Impact Statement and Record of

Decision in April 2001. The official

close of the comment period for 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, 533 (1978). Also,

environmental objections that could be

raised at the draft environmental impact

statement stage, but that are not raised

until after completion of the final

environmental impact 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. 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 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 final

environmental impact statement.

To assist the Forest Service in

identifying and considering issues and

concerns on the proposed action,

comments on the draft environmental

impact statement should be as 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 Council on Environmental

Quality Regulations for implementing

the procedural provisions on the

National Environmental Policy Act at 40

CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.

The responsible official is Thomas J.

Clifford, Forest Supervisor, Helena

National Forest, 2880 Skyway Drive,

Helena, MT 59601.

Dated: December 1, 2000

Thomas J. Clifford,

Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 00–31369 Filed 12–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area

(SRA) Advisory Council

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

SUMMARY: An Opal Creek Scenic

Recreation Area Advisory Council

meeting will convene in Salem, Oregon

on Saturday, January 6, 2001. The

meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:00

a.m., and will conclude at

approximately 2:00 p.m. The meeting

will be held at the Salem City Library,

Louch Hall, located on 585 Liberty

Street SE in Salem, Oregon.

The Opal Creek Wilderness and Opal

Creek Scenic Recreation Area Act of

1996 (Opal Creek Act) (Pub. L. 104–208)

directed the Secretary of Agriculture to

establish the Opal Creek Scenic

Recreation Area Advisory Council. The

Advisory Council is comprised of

thirteen members representing state,

county and city governments, and

representatives of various organizations,

which include mining industry,

environmental organizations, inholders

in Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area,

economic development, Indian tribes,

adjacent landowners and recreation

interests. The council provides advice to

the Secretary of Agriculture on

preparation of a comprehensive Opal

Creek Management Plan for the SRA,

and consults on a periodic and regular

basis on the management of the area.

The tentative agenda will include

refining issue statements and describing

the desired future condition of the SRA.

The public comment period is

tentatively scheduled to begin at 1:00

p.m. Time allotted for individual

presentations will be limited to 3

minutes. Written comments are

encouraged, particularly if the material

cannot be presented within the time

limits of the comment period. Written

comments may be submitted prior to the

January 6 meeting by sending them to

Designated Federal Official Stephanie

Phillips at the address given below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

more information regarding this

meeting, contact Designated Federal

Official Stephanie Phillips; Willamette

National Forest, Detroit Ranger District,

HC 73 Box 320, Mill City, OR 97360;

(503) 854–3366.

Dated: December 4, 2000.

Darrel Kenops,

Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 00–31393 Filed 12–8–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M