This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

20622

Vol. 66, No. 79

Tuesday, April 24, 2001

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Hoffman-Sailor West Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA,

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest,

Medford/Park Falls Ranger District.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare an

environmental impact statement.

SUMMARY: The Forest Service will

prepare an environmental impact

statement (EIS) to document the

analysis and disclose the environmental

effects of proposed land management

activities, and corresponding

alternatives within the Hoffman-Sailor

West project area. The primary purpose

of this proposal is to implement these

activities consistent with direction in

the Chequamegon National Forest Land

and Resource Management Plan (Forest

Plan) and respond to specific needs

identified in the project area.

The project area is located on

National Forest System land in the

western portion of the Hoffman Creek

and Sailor Lake Opportunity Areas,

beginning about 4 miles east of Fifield,

Wisconsin. The legal description for the

area is: Township 39 North, Range 1

East, sections 10–15, 22–27, and 34–36;

Township 39 North, Range 2 East,

sections 7, 18–19, 29–32; Township 38

North, Range 1 East, sections 1–3, 10–

15, 22–24; and Township 38 North,

Range 2 East, sections 6–8 and 17–19;

Fourth Principal Meridian.

DATES: Initial comments concerning the

proposed action and scope of the

analysis should be received within 30

days following publication of this notice

to receive timely consideration in the

preparation of the draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to:

Bob Hennes, District Ranger, Medford/

Park Falls Ranger District, 850 N. 8th

St., Highway 13, Medford, Wisconsin

54451.

Send e-mail comments to:

jdarnell01@fs.fed.us with a subject line

that reads ‘‘NEPA Medford/Park Falls

RD’’.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane

Darnell, Project Leader/NEPA

Coordinator, Medford/Park Falls Ranger

District, 850 N. 8th St., Highway 13,

Medford, Wisconsin 54451; phone (715)

748–4875, voice and TDD; email:

jdarnell01@fs.fed.us.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

information presented in this notice is

included to help the reviewer determine

if they are interested in or potentially

affected by this proposed project. The

information presented in this notice is

summarized. Those who wish to

comment on this proposal or are

otherwise interested in or potentially

affected by it are encouraged to review

more detailed documents such as the

Proposed Action for the Hoffman-Sailor

West Project (currently available for

review) and the draft EIS. See the

preceding section of this notice for the

person to contact for more detailed

information about this project.

Purpose and Need for the Project: The

primary purpose of the proposed land

management activities is to implement

these activities consistent with direction

in the Chequamegon National Forest

Land and Resource Management Plan

(Forest Plan) and respond to specific

needs identified in the project area. The

primary project-specific needs include

addressing: decline of wildlife habitat

(young forest needed to sustain

associated wildlife populations);

reduction of wood economic value and

forest reproductive potential resulting

from an abundance of mature forest

vegetation types; potential for insect and

disease infestations resulting from an

abundance of mature forest vegetation

types; sustained yield of forest products

such as aspen pulpwood; reduced

growth of trees resulting from crowding,

suppression, and competition; limited

vertical vegetation structure and withinstand age structure resulting from past

even-aged management in hardwood

forests; limited amount of suitable perch

trees for bald eagles and osprey; limited

amount of quality, cold water, aquatic

habitat; limited waterfowl nesting and

foraging habitat; quality of forage for

wildlife species associated with upland

openings; and an excess of existing

roads that are not needed for access or

management of the area.

Proposed Action: The proposed land

management activities (proposed

actions), include the following, with

approximate acreage and mileage

values:

(1) The following projects address

needs arising from an abundance of

mature pioneer forest vegetation in the

project area and the need for

maintaining a sustained yield of

pulpwood products.

Clearcut regeneration harvest of about

1,770 acres of aspen and some paper

birch, balsam fir, and hardwoods: This

even-aged method of harvest removes

most trees in the area, which encourages

regeneration of primarily pioneer

vegetation.

Two stage shelterwood regeneration

harvest of about 280 acres of paper birch

and other mixed stands: This even-aged

method of harvest removes a portion of

the canopy and leaves a partial

overstory as a seed source and a source

of high shade. Once tree regeneration is

established and has advanced, the

overstory would be removed in a second

cut. Areas failing to regenerate naturally

would be planted.

(2) The following projects address

needs resulting from tree crowding,

suppression, and competition. The

selection harvest additionally addresses

the limited vertical vegetation structure

and within-stand age structure of

hardwood forests.

Thinning harvest of about 740 acres of

mixed hardwood stands and conifer

plantations: This even-aged method of

harvest removes selected trees to

maintain health and increase growth on

the residual trees.

Overstory removal harvest of about

150 acres of aspen and paper birch

stands: This even-aged method of

harvest removes the overstory to allow

the suppressed, understory trees

(planted 5–20 years ago) to become the

new stand.

Individual tree selection harvest of

about 350 acres of mixed hardwood:

This method of harvest removes

individual trees and/or small groups of

trees in order to move an even-aged

stand of trees to an un-even aged

condition.

(3) The following projects address the

need for bald eagle and osprey perch

trees and the need for quality, coldwater

communities.

Tree planting: Several of the selection

harvest areas will be underplanted with

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2001 / Notices 20623

long-lived conifer species. Several of the

clearcut harvest areas will be planted to

long lived tree species.

(4) The following projects address

maintenance and improvement needs

for waterfowl foraging and nesting

habitat.

Upper Squaw Creek Impoundment

drawdowns: In most years, water levels

in this constructed water impoundment

would be lowered partially during the

summer to mimic natural water

fluctuations, and stimulate vegetation

growth. An overwinter drawdown and a

year long drawdown are also being

proposed to control open water to

vegetation ratios in the impoundment.

Placement of about 20 wood duck

nesting boxes around the Upper Squaw

Creek Impoundment.

Wild rice planting of about 5 acres of

wild rice in Sailor Lake.

(5) The following project addresses

the quality of forage for wildlife species

associated with upland openings.

Prescribed burning of about 16 acres of

permanent wildlife openings: This

proposal includes using prescribed

burning and mechanical methods

(mowing or use of hand held brush

saws), in combination, to reduce the

amount of woody vegetation

regenerating in open grass or brush

areas in one wildlife opening location.

(6) The following projects address

transportation system needs.

Temporary road construction of about

2.8 miles: The proposed harvests would

require construction of about 2.8 miles

of temporary logging roads which would

be decommissioned and revegetated

following project completion.

Road relocation: One small segment of

existing road (about 0.1 miles) would be

relocated to an upland location to avoid

wetland crossings.

Road decommissioning: An additional

1.7 miles of existing roads would be

decommissioned. These roads are not

needed for access or long term

management of forest resources.

Project History: A project in the same

vicinity was presented to the public for

review and comment (scoping) in

September of 1998 (Project Name:

Hoffman Creek and Sailor Lake

Opportunity Areas) prior to undertaking

preparation of an Environmental

Assessment (EA). In July of 1999 an EA

was written for the Hoffman Creek and

Sailor Lake Opportunity Areas and sent

to the public for a 30 day review and

comment period. Since then, part of the

project area was identified as having

potential to be included in a Forest

inventory of roadless areas. At that time,

a decision was made to modify the

project area boundary to exclude the

potential roadless inventory areas.

When the Forest roadless area inventory

is complete, the Forest will be in a

better position to consider projects

within these areas and disclose the

potential effects (if any) on roadless

characteristics and potential Wilderness

values. Following publication of the EA,

a choice was made to develop

additional alternatives to address issues

related to forest fragmentation.

This Notice of Intent serves as notice

of the intent to prepare an EIS for the

Hoffman-Sailor West Project. The

comments received as a result of the

public participation for the previous

proposed action and EA for the Hoffman

Creek and Sailor Lake Opportunity

Areas will be brought forward for the

Hoffman-Sailor West analysis (as they

apply to the new project area).

Preliminary Issues and Alternatives:

Comments from Forest Service

specialists, American Indian tribes, the

public, and other agencies were

considered in the development of

preliminary issues related to the

proposed action.

Preliminary issues are as follows:

potential effects on some threatened,

endangered, and sensitive (TES) species

and management indicator species

(MIS); potential effects on heritage

resources; potential effects on forest

vegetation and landscape patterns

(particularly related to fragmentation

effects such as the potential for

increased edge habitat); potential effects

on forest age and structure as it relates

to forest health and wildlife species

dependent on pioneer vegetation;

potential effects on water, wetlands, and

soils; and some potential economic and

social impacts (such as visual quality).

Alternatives to the proposed action

that are currently being considered for

display in the draft EIS are as follows:

The required No Action alternative; an

alternative that harvests more of the

mature aspen and paper birch than the

proposal (to address forest health and

age distribution issues); and an

alternative that groups even-aged

harvests to reduce the amount of edge

habitat.

Estimated Dates for Filing: The draft

EIS is expected to be filed with the

Environmental Protection Agency and

be available for public review in August

2001. A 45-day comment period will

follow publication of a Notice of

Availability of the draft EIS in the

Federal Register. Comments received on

the draft EIS will be used in preparation

of a final EIS. We expect to file the

notice of the availability of the final EIS

and Record of Decision (ROD) in the

Federal Register in October 2001.

Relation to Forest Plan Revision: The

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is

in the process of revising and combining

the existing Land and Resource

Management Plans (Forest Plans) for the

Chequamegon National Forest and the

Nicolet National Forest, which were

administratively separate at the time the

Forest Plans were developed. A Notice

of Intent to revise and combine the

Forest Plans was issued in 1996. As part

of this process, various inventories and

evaluations are occurring. Additionally,

the Forest is in the process of

developing alternative land

management scenarios that could

change the desired future conditions

and management direction for the

Forest. A Draft Environmental Impact

Statement (DEIS) will be published in

the near future that will disclose the

consequences of the different land

management direction scenarios

considered in detail. As a result of the

Forest Plan revision effort, the Forest

has new and additional information

beyond that used to develop the existing

Forest Plans. This information will be

used where appropriate in the analysis

of this project to disclose the effects of

the proposed activities and any

alternatives developed in detail.

The decisions associated with the

analysis of this project will be

consistent with the existing Forest Plan,

unless amended, for the Chequamegon.

Under regulations of the National

Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR

1506.1), the Forest Service can take

actions while work on a Forest Plan

revision is in progress because a

programmatic Environmental Impact

Statement—the existing Forest Plan

Final EIS, already covers the actions.

The relationship of this project to the

proposed Forest Plan revision will be

considered as appropriate as part of this

planning effort.

The Reviewer’s Obligation to

Comment: The Forest Service believes it

is important at this early stage to give

reviewers notice of several court rulings

related to public participation in the

environmental review process. First,

reviewers of the draft EIS must structure

their participation in the environmental

review of the proposal in such a way

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, 513

(1978). Also, environmental objections

that could be raised at the draft EIS

stage but that are not raised until after

completion of the final EIS 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.

1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis., 1980). Because of

these court rulings, it is very important

20624 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2001 / Notices

that those interested in this proposed

action participate by the close of the 45-

day comment period of the draft EIS in

order that substantive comments and

objections are available to the Forest

Service at a time when it can

meaningfully consider them and

respond to them in the final EIS. To

assist the Forest Service in identifying

and considering issues and concerns on

the proposed action, comments should

be as specific as possible. 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.

Comments received, including names

and addresses of those who comment,

are part of the public record for this

project and are available for public

inspection.

Decision Space: The primary decision

will be whether or not to implement the

proposed projects or alternatives of the

projects within the project area that

respond to the purpose and need. The

decision may also include additional

resource protection measures,

monitoring, and whether Forest Plan

amendments are needed to implement

the decision.

Responsible Official: The responsible

official for this decision is Bob Hennes,

District Ranger, Medford/Park Falls

Ranger District, Chequamegon-Nicolet

National Forest.

(Authority: Forest Service Handbook

1909.15, 21.1; Forest Service Manual

1013.04e)

Dated: April 17, 2001.

Lynn Roberts,

Forest Supervisor, Chequamegon-Nicolet

National Forest.

[FR Doc. 01–10054 Filed 4–23–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Northwest Howell Project;

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest,

Forest and Florence Counties,

Wisconsin

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare

environmental impact statement.

SUMMARY: The Forest Service will

prepare an environmental impact

statement (EIS) to document the

analysis and disclose the environmental

impacts of proposed land management

activities, and corresponding

alternatives, within the Northwest

Howell project area.

The purpose of the Northwest Howell

project is to implement land

management activities that are

consistent with direction in the Nicolet

National Forest Land and Resource

Management Plan (Forest Plan) and

respond to specific needs identified in

the project area. The project-specific

needs include addressing: forest age,

structure and composition,

reforestation, providing wood fiber and

forest products, road closures, Pine

River Wild River Corridor

enhancements, and fish and wildlife

habitat maintenance and improvement.

The Northwest Howell project area is

located primarily on National Forest

System lands, administered by the Eagle

River-Florence Ranger District,

surrounding Alvin, Wisconsin. The

majority of the project area encompasses

several management areas that

emphasize maintaining a mix of forest

types including early successional

species, uneven-aged hardwoods and

upland pines. Additionally, the project

includes a management area that

emphasizes protecting and enhancing

the qualities of certain rivers that could

be eligible for consideration as Federally

designated Wild and Scenic Rivers. The

Northwest Howell project contains a

portion of the Pine River, which is

designated by the State of Wisconsin as

a State Wild River. The legal description

for the project area is: Township 39

North, Range 14 East, Sections 2–4;

Township 40 North, Range 12 East,

Sections 11–14, 23–24; Township 40

North, Range 13E Sections 1–26;

Township 40 North, Range 14 East,

Sections 1–35; Township 41 North,

Range 13 East, Sections 14, 15, 21–29,

32–36; and Township 41 North, Range

14 East, Sections 17–36, Township 40

North, Range 15 East, Section 6; and

Township 41 North, Range 15 East,

Sections 30–32 Fourth Principal

Meridian.

DATES: Comments concerning the

proposed land management activities

should be received by June 15, 2001, to

receive timely consideration in the

preparation of the draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments

concerning the proposed land

management activities or requests to be

placed on the project mailing list to:

E.B. Fitzpatrick III, District Ranger,

Eagle River-Florence Ranger District, HC

1 Box 83, Florence, Wisconsin 54121.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Shirley Frank, Northwest Howell Project

Leader, Eagle River-Florence Ranger

District, HC 1 Box 83, Florence,

Wisconsin 54121, phone (715) 528–4464

ext. 27.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

information presented in this notice is

included to help the reviewer determine

if they are interested in or potentially

affected by the proposed land

management activities. The information

presented in this notice is summarized.

Those who wish to provide comments,

or are otherwise interested in or affected

by the project, are encouraged to obtain

additional information from the contact

identified in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section.

Proposed Actions—The proposed

land management activities (proposed

actions) include the following, with

approximate acreage and mileage

values: Forest age, structure, and

composition—selection harvest 6,108

acres, thin 800 acres, clearcut harvest

513 acres, overstory removal harvest 367

acres, and shelterwood harvest 127

acres (other actions needed include 1.9

miles of road construction and 23.6

miles of road reconstruction;

Reforestation—prescribe burn 47 acres

for natural regeneration of jack pine,

hand-scalp and under-plant 200 acres of

white pine, eastern hemlock, cedar and

other species in the understories of

existing stands, mechanical site

preparation and planting of 68 acres of

jack pine, temporarily fence 20 acres of

under-planted areas, manual site

preparation of 416 acres within aspen

clearcuts and 147 acres of canopy gaps

within selection harvests; Road

Closures—close, allow to re-vegetate

and remove from the Forest’s

inventoried road system 19.3 miles of

roads; Fish and Wildlife Habitat

Maintenance and Improvement—place

approximately 75 whole tree structures

along the shoreline and place about 40

crib structures near the shoreline of

Steven’s Lake, place approximately 50

whole tree structures along the shore

line of Quartz Lake, place about 20 crib

structures and 30 half-log structures

within Quartz Lake, maintain 375 acres

in existing permanent upland openings

using by hand-cutting, mowing or

burning, and plant fruit-bearing shrubs

on approximately fifty percent of these

sites.

Responsible Official—The District

Ranger of the Eagle River-Florence

Ranger District, E.B. Fitzpatrick III, is

the Responsible Official for making

project-level decisions from the project.

Decision Space—Decision-making

will be limited to specific activities

relating to the proposed actions. The

primary decision to be made will be

whether or not to implement the

proposed actions or another action

alternative that responds to the project’s

purpose and needs.