[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 214 (Friday, November 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68319-68320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27976]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Paulina Ranger District; Ochoco National Forest; Crook and 
Wheeler Counties, OR; Jackson Vegetation Management Project EIS

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is proposing to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposed action to improve 
forest health and fuel conditions within the approximate 55,430-acre 
Jackson project area. The project area is located approximately 60 
miles to the east of Prineville, Oregon and is bounded by Forest System 
Roads 2630, 12, and 42 to the north, east and south respectively, and 
by the western watershed divide between Crazy Creek (east) and Porter, 
Looney, and Stupid Creeks (west). The project area encompasses National 
Forest system lands and private lands within these watersheds.
    An analysis has been initiated that takes a landscape approach to 
managing the vegetation to meet objectives for fuels and fire behavior 
and to create a more resilient forest while addressing and considering 
other resources. Methods that would be used to reduce tree density and 
hazardous fuels are: non-commercial and commercial thinning, and 
prescribed burning. The alternatives will include the proposed action, 
no action, and, if necessary, additional alternatives that respond to 
issues generated through the scoping process. The agency will give 
notice of the full environmental analysis and decision-making process 
so that interested and affected public may participate and contribute 
to the final decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by 30 days following the date that this notice appears in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Sandra Henning, District Ranger, 
Paulina Ranger District, Ochoco National Forest 3160 NE. 3rd Street, 
Prineville, OR 97754.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Roche, Environmental 
Coordinator, Ochoco National Forest, Paulina Ranger District, 3160 N.E. 
3rd Street, Prineville, OR 97754, phone (541) 416-6436.
    Responsible Official: The responsible official is Jeff Walter, 
Forest Supervisor, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE 3rd Street, 
Prineville, OR 97754.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background. The Paulina Ranger District has 
demonstrated that there is a need for fuels and vegetation management 
activities in the project area by comparing the existing condition to 
the desired conditions described in the Ochoco National Forest Land and 
Resource Management Plan. The existing condition of the Deep watershed 
was evaluated in 2010 and documented in the Deep Watershed Analysis.
    Purpose and Need. This project is needed to maintain the project 
area in a healthy condition as described by the Ochoco National Forest 
Land and Resource Management Plan of 1989 as amended by the Revised 
Interim Management Direction Establishing Riparian, Ecosystem and 
Wildlife Standards for Timber Sales (Eastside Screens). The Watershed 
Analysis identified that there is a shortage of large trees, late and 
old structure forest; Stream temperatures are too high and there is a 
shortage of large woody debris and hardwood plant species within 
Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas; there is encroachment of western 
juniper into forest, grasslands and shrublands; there is an increasing 
presence of insects and diseases in forest stands; aspen clones are 
declining in vigor and contain decadent overstory trees and few to no 
seedlings, there are varying amounts of conifers present and the aspen 
sprout/seedling component is unable to grow above the browse line; 
about 42% of the watershed is in Fire Regime Condition Class of 2 or 3 
where fire has been absent for more than 15 years and there is an 
increasing amount of departure from the natural fire regime with areas 
where juniper and pine have encroached on shrub and grass communities 
from fire exclusion; stand density and forest fuels adjacent to 
arterial Forest roads do not provide conditions for safe ingress and 
egress for public and fire fighter access in the event of wildfire; the 
forest stands in the project area have the potential to provide wood 
products.
    This project is needed to maintain the vegetation within the 
project area in a condition as described by the Ochoco National Forest 
Land and Resource Management Plan of 1989 as amended by the Revised 
Interim Management Direction Establishing Riparian, Ecosystem and 
Wildlife Standards for Timber Sales (Eastside Screens). This project is 
needed to promote the development of large trees and old structure 
forest by reducing stand density; promote the development of large 
trees for eventual woody debris recruitment into streams by reducing 
conifer stand densities mechanically and by fire and promote the 
development of stream shading vegetation, such as willow by reducing 
conifers, mechanically and by fire, and increase willow and other 
hardwood vegetation by planting with Riparian Habitat Conservation 
Areas (RHCAs); reduce juniper encroachment into forest, shrub and grass 
communities by mechanical and fire treatments; restore and enhance 
aspen stands by reducing conifer competition and encroachment, fencing 
and planting; reduce the risk of bark beetles and impacts of mistletoe 
by reducing stand density and tree canopy layers through mechanical 
treatments; change stand structure and tree canopy

[[Page 68320]]

closure to create conditions that support low intensity, frequent fire 
regimes, reduce suppression costs, and provide for fire fighter safety 
through mechanical and fire treatments; reduce stand density and forest 
fuels adjacent to arterial Forest roads to increase safe ingress and 
egress for public and fire fighter access in the event of wildfire both 
mechanically and through fire treatments; reintroduce fire to reduce 
the departure from the natural fire regime and to reduce juniper and 
pine where they have encroached on shrub and grass communities and 
provide wood products for public needs and for the health of local and 
regional economies.
    Proposed Action. To meet the project need, the Paulina Ranger 
District is proposing to thin approximately 6,700 acres through 
commercial timber harvest methods and 3,200 acres through non-
commercial means. Commercial harvest methods would include the use of 
tractors on most units (approximately 5,300 acres). Areas identified as 
tractor logging are areas where equipment, such as tractors/skidders, 
would be used to remove a commercial product. Logging systems are still 
to be determined for approximately 1,500 acres. Providing wood products 
will include removing some standing dead wood (snags) as firewood. This 
will focus on stands of lodgepole pine with existing mortality from 
insect infestation.
    Excessive fuel from management activities in this project and past 
projects would be reduced on approximately 7,800 acres through the use 
of prescribed fire. Fire would also be used to maintain low intensity 
fuel levels and reduce juniper on approximately 7,900 acres. Other 
areas of juniper encroachment are proposed for mechanical removal. An 
area of reduced stand density and fuel would be created in forest 
stands and other areas along each side of Forest system roads 12, 30, 
42 and 2630 to provide for public and firefighter safety in the event 
of wildfire in this area.
    It is anticipated that some additional roads would be needed to 
complete management activities. Whether any of these roads will be 
system roads and whether any will remain open after the project is 
completed will be determined during the analysis of the proposed action 
and any alternatives that are developed. Similarly, whether any roads 
reopened during this project will remain open will be determined during 
the analysis. The project proposes to use and enlarge a rock pit near 
Younger Springs. The rock would be used in construction, reconstruction 
and maintenance for roads associated with implementation of proposed 
management actions and to increase attainment of riparian of management 
objectives for inland native fish. The need for other road 
construction, reconstruction and maintenance will be determined in the 
further development of proposed action and in any alternatives. Project 
design elements and site-specific mitigation measures will be developed 
during the analysis of individual activity areas for each alternative. 
The project design features and/or mitigation measures may include 
operating restrictions, mechanical reduction of soil density 
(subsoiling) on ground based logging units after harvest, weed control 
and monitoring. Within the Jackson project area, other projects are 
being implemented or are in the planning stage. The Deep Creek 
Watershed Restoration Environmental Assessment (2004) is presently 
being implemented. This project includes a variety of activities, 
including stream headcut repair, culvert replacement, and road closure 
and decommissioning. The Ochoco Summit PHV Trail Analysis Area is 
presently in the planning stage. As a part of that OHV project, 
designated motorized trails would be provided throughout the project 
area.
    Issues. Issues will be identified based on public comments.
    Comment. Public comments regarding this proposal are requested in 
order to assist in identifying issues, determine how to best manage the 
resources, and to focus the analysis. Comments received to this notice, 
including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered 
part of the public record on this proposed action and will be available 
for public inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted 
and considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not 
have standing to appeal the subsequent decision in accordance with 36 
CFR parts 215 and 217.
    A draft EIS will be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) and is scheduled to be available for public review by May 2011. 
The EPA will publish a Notice of Availability (NOA) of the draft EIS in 
the Federal Register. The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 
days from the date the EPA publishes the notice of availability in the 
Federal Register. The final EIS is scheduled to be available August 
2011.

    Dated: October 29, 2010.
Jeff Walter,
Forest Supervisor, Ochoco National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2010-27976 Filed 11-4-10; 8:45 am]
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