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]

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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