[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29546-29547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13615]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Lime Kiln Timber Sale, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, 
Silver Bow County, MT

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement to document the analysis and disclose the environmental 
impacts of proposed actions to manage vegetation

[[Page 29547]]

through timber harvest and prescribed burning in the Roosevelt Drive 
and Lime Kiln areas of the Highland Mountains. The project area is 
located approximately 10 miles south of Butte, MT.
    The Forest Service proposes to selectively treat approximately 366 
acres of sawtimber and post and poles, predominantly mature Douglas-fir 
and lodgepole pine. Approximately .5 mile of temporary road 
construction is proposed to access the harvest units. Additionally, .6 
mile of existing dead-end spur roads would be closed within 5 years of 
the vegetative treatments.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
in writing by July 5, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Bruce Schuelke, Butte Ranger 
District, 1820 Meadowlark, Butte, MT 59701.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Schuelke, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, (406) 494-0241.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary purpose of this proposal is to 
maintain a healthy Lodgepole Pine and Douglas-Fir overstory. The 
desired condition would be more resistant to catastrophic fires; to 
promote vegetation components that evolved ecological with disturbance; 
and to reduce the risk of insect infestations. The proposal would 
encourage aspen re-establishment through harvesting and underburning; 
and is designed to reduce the overall sedimentation in Backtail Creek. 
The proposal would harvest timber in two areas using commercial 
thinning, clearcutting and sanitation salvage. Approximately 3,000 CCF 
of sawtimber and approximately 36,000 posts and poles would be 
harvested.
    The project tiers to the National Fire Plan by reducing hazardous 
fuels along the wildland-urban interface. This project levels EIS will 
tier to the Deerlodge National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan 
(Forest Plan) and incorporate by reference the Forest Plan (September 
1987), which provides overall guidance of all land management 
activities on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, including 
timber. This project was previously analyzed as Lime Kiln Timber Sale 
E.A.
    Public participation is important to the analysis. Part of the goal 
of public involvement is to identify additional issues and to refine 
the general tentative issues. To date, over 200 letters were sent to 
interested people, adjacent landowners, organizations, business, as 
well as Federal, State, County, and Tribal organizations. Two field 
trips were held in the summers of 1996 and 1997. Comments from the 
public and other agencies are being used to prepare the Draft EIS. The 
scoping process to date has identified potential issues; identified 
major issues to be analyzed in depth, and eliminated minor issues or 
those that have been covered by a relevant previous environmental 
analysis. Public comments received during initial scooping identified 
the following issues: effects to wildlife habitats, visual quality, 
recreation, economic impacts, and adjacent private land. Potential 
alternatives may harvest less timber, or emphasize harvest in other 
areas.
    During the scoping process, the Forest Service is seeking 
additional information and comments from Federal, State, and local 
agencies and other individuals or organizations who may be interested 
in or affected by the proposed action. The United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service will be consulted concerning effects to threatened and 
endangered species. The agency invites written comments and suggestions 
on this action, particularly in terms of identification of issues and 
alternative development.
    The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is the lead agency for 
this proposal. The Forest Supervisor for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge 
National Forest, 420 Barrett Street, Dillon, MT 59725 will be making 
the decision on this action. The draft should be available for review 
in September 2001 and the final EIS is scheduled for completion in 
November 2001.
    The comment period on 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 it is important to give reviewers 
notice at this early stage 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, 
553 (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. 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 or the merits of the alternatives 
formulated and discussed in the statement. (Reviewers may wish to refer 
to the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing 
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.).

    Dated: May 23, 2001.
Janette S. Kaiser,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 01-13615 Filed 5-30-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M