[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19470-19471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10270]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


East Beaver Creek Timber Sale and Prescribed Burning Project, 
Targhee National Forest, Clark County, ID

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Supervisor of the Targhee National Forest gives 
notice of the agency's intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement for the East Beaver Creek Timber Sale and Prescribed Burning 
Project. The proposed action would harvest 4.0 million feet of timber 
from 1,231 acres and prescribe burn 2,220 acres with 518 acres of the 
burning in the timber sale harvest units. The remaining 1,702 acres of 
burning would be in nonforest types. Two miles of temporary roads would 
be built and 2.6 miles of existing roads reconstructed. East Beaver 
Creek is located approximately 15 miles northeast of Dubois, Idaho. 
Alternatives will include the proposed action, no action, and any 
alternatives that respond to significant issues generated during the 
scoping process. A more detailed description is available from the 
Dubois Ranger District; see ADDRESSES below.

DATES: Send written comments and suggestions on the issues concerning 
the proposed action by May 15, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Clarence M. Murdock, District 
Ranger, Dubois Ranger District, P.O. Box 46, Dubois, ID 83423.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Councilman, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, phone (208) 558-7301.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Targhee National Forest Revised Land 
Management Plan was approved in 1997. One of the decisions in the 
Revised Plan was to allow for the production and utilization of wood 
fiber from certain areas of the Forest. The geographic area where the 
proposed action would take place has primarily a prescription of timber 
management with emphasis on big game security (5.1.4b). Prescriptions 
for other lands in the area are described below.
    Aquatic Influence Zones (2.8.3)--Management emphasis is directed at 
the application of ecological knowledge to restore and maintain the 
health of these areas in ways that also produce desired resource 
values, products, protection, restoration, enhancement, interpretation, 
and appreciation of these areas.
    Visual Quality Maintenance (2.1.2)--This prescription emphasizes 
maintaining the existing visual quality within major travel corridors 
with quality natural vistas, while allowing livestock production, and 
other compatible commodity outputs. There is no scheduled timber 
harvesting. No scheduled harvests means timber removed from these areas 
does not contribute toward the Forests annual allowable sale quantity.
    Initial public involvement will include mailing maps and a project 
description to interested parties to solicit comments on the proposal. 
Preliminary issues include: water quality, fisheries, elk habitat, and 
motorized access by the public.
    Additional opportunity to comment on the project will occur on the 
draft Environmental Impact Statement (draft EIS). The draft EIS is 
expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency and 
available for public review in August 1998.
    The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date 
the Environmental Protection Agency's notice of availability appears in 
the Federal Register. At the same time, copies of the draft EIS will be 
distributed to interested and affected

[[Page 19471]]

agencies, organizations, tribes, and members of the public for their 
review and comment. It is very important that those interested in the 
proposed action participate at that time.
    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 reviewers' position and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could have been raised 
at the draft 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, (9th Circuit, 1986) and Wisconsin 
heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 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. 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.
    The final EIS is scheduled to be completed in November 1998. In the 
final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to comments 
received during the comment period that pertain to the environmental 
consequences discussed in the draft EIS and applicable laws, 
regulations, and policies considered in making the decisions on this 
proposal.

Responsible Official

    Jerry B. Reese, Forest Supervisor, is the responsible official. As 
responsible official, he will document the selected alternative for the 
East Beaver Creek Timber Sale and Prescribed Burning Project EIS and 
his rationale in a Record of Decision.
    The decision for the East Beaver Creek Timber Sale and Prescribed 
Burning Project will be subject to Forest Service Appeal Regulations 
(36 CFR part 215).

    Dated: April 9, 1998.
Jerry B. Reese,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 98-10270 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M