[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 94 (Friday, May 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 27046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13036]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Box Canyon, Papoose, and Squaw Creek Timber Sales; Targhee 
National Forest, Bonneville County, ID

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Forest Supervisor of the Targhee National Forest gives 
notice of the agency's intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement for the Box Canyon, Papoose, and Squaw Creek Timber Sales. 
The proposed actions would harvest 1.8 million board feet of timber 
from 600 acres. Three miles of temporary roads would be built. Easement 
across private property would be required to access the Papoose and 
Squaw Creek Sales. The Box Canyon timber sale is located three miles 
south of Irwan, Idaho and the Papoose and Squaw Creek sales are located 
three miles southwest of Swan Valley, 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 Palisades Ranger District; 
see ADDRESSES below.

DATES: Send written comments and suggestions on the issues concerning 
the proposed action by June 12, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Richard D. Dickemore, District 
Ranger, Palisades Ranger District, 3659 East Ririe Highway, Idaho 
Falls, Idaho 83401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dee Sessions, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, phone (208) 624-3151.

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 areas where the 
proposed actions would take place have primarily a prescription of 
timber management with emphasis on no clear cutting, urban interface 
fire management (5.1.3b) and elk summer range (5.4c). A prescription 
for other lands in the area is described below.
    Elk and Deer Winter Range (2.7a)--Management emphasis is directed 
at providing quality elk and deer winter habitat. Habitats are managed 
for multiple land use benefits, to the extent these land uses are 
compatible with maintaining or improving elk and deer winter habitat.
    Initial public involvement will include mailing maps and project 
descriptions to interested parties to solicit comments on the proposal. 
Preliminary issues include: Roadless area, threatened, endangered, and 
sensitive plant and animal species, recreational traffic, easement 
across private lands, big game habitat, water quality and aquatic 
influence zones.
    Additional opportunity to comment on the projects 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 September 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 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 December 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 
Box Canyon, Papoose, and Squaw Creek Timber Sales EIS and his rationale 
in a Record of Decision.
    The decision for the Box Canyon, Papoose, and Squaw Creek Timber 
Sales project will be subject to Forest Service Appeal Regulations (36 
FR part 215).

    Dated: May 6, 1998.
Jerry B. Reese,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 98-13036 Filed 5-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4031-99-M