45798 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Notices 

Connected Actions 

Access: Access for this project would 

be mainly accomplished by use of roads 

on the National Forest Transportation 

System. About three miles of temporary 

roads would be needed to facilitate 

commercial thinning operations. Most 

of these temporary roads would occur 

on existing roadbeds. However, several 

short new temporary spur roads would 

also be constructed. Both new and 

existing temporary roads would be 

hydrologically stabilized at the end of 

the project. 

Landings: Existing landings would be 

used where possible. Landing size 

would be appropriately sized for 

operational safety. Cable landings 

would use roads where possible. Cable 

landings off the road system and 

ground-based landings would average 

one acre in size but would not exceed 

1.5 acres in size. Both new and existing 

landings would be hydrologically 

stabilized at the end of the project. 

Responsible Official 

Patricia A. Grantham, Klamath 

National Forest, Forest Supervisor. 

Nature of Decision To Be Made 

The Forest Service is the lead agency 

for the project. Based on the result of the 

NEPA analysis, the Klamath National 

Forest, Forest Supervisor’s Record of 

Decision regarding the Elk Creek 

Watershed Project will recommend 

implementation of one of the following: 

(1) The proposed action and 

mitigations necessary to minimize or 

avoid adverse impacts; 

(2) An alternative to the proposed 

action and mitigations necessary to 

minimize or avoid adverse impacts; or 

(3) The no-action alternative. 

The Record of Decision will also 

document the consistency of the 

proposed action or one of the 

alternatives with the Klamath National 

Forest Land and Resource Management 

Plan. 

Scoping Process 

This notice of intent initiates the 

scoping process, which guides the 

development of the Environmental 

Impact Statement. 

It is important that reviewers provide 

their comments at such times and in 

such manner that they are useful to the 

agency’s preparation of the 

Environmental Impact Statement. 

Therefore, comments should be 

provided prior to the close of the 

comment period and should clearly 

articulate the reviewer’s concerns and 

contentions. 

Comments received in response to 

this solicitation, including names and 

addresses of those who comment, will 

be part of the public record for this 

proposed action. Comments submitted 

anonymously will be accepted and 

considered, however. 

Dated: September 12, 2017. 

Jeanne M. Higgins, 

Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National 

Forest System. 

[FR Doc. 2017–21005 Filed 9–29–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3411–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests; 

Idaho; Lolo Insect & Disease Project 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Revised Notice of Intent to 

prepare an Environmental Impact 

Statement. 

SUMMARY: This is a corrected Notice of 

Intent (NOI). This notice updates the 

information about the purpose and 

need, proposed action, expected dates of 

the Draft Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) and Final EIS, 

addresses, contact information for the 

project, and the responsible official for 

the Lolo Insect & Disease project. This 

notice also provides clarification for 

individuals or organizations that 

provided comments in response to 

scoping previously conducted as it 

relates to having standing to object. 

Preliminary issues, alternatives, and 

permits are also available and presented 

in this notice. 

DATES: Comments concerning the scope 

of the analysis must be received by 

October 17, 2017. The Draft EIS is 

expected January of 2018 and the Final 

EIS is expected August of 2018. This 

project was originally scoped under the 

provisions of 36 CFR 215. For this 

project, individuals or organizations 

who submitted written comments in 

response to scoping conducted under 36 

CFR 215 will be considered to have 

standing to object under 36 CFR 218, 

Subparts A and B. Those who also wish 

to establish standing to object under 36 

CFR part 218 should submit scoping 

comments no later than 15 days after 

publication of this Notice of Intent or 

during the 45-day comment period 

following distribution of the Draft EIS. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 

Lochsa Ranger District, c/o Sara 

Daugherty, 502 Lowry Street, Kooskia, 

Idaho 83539. Comments may also be 

sent via email to comments-northernclearwater-lochsa@fs.fed.us, or via 

facsimile to 208–926–6450. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

more information please contact Sara 

Daugherty at 208–926–6404 or 

sddaugherty@fs.fed.us. 

Individuals who use 

telecommunication devices for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 

between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 

Time, Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest 

Service gives notice of its intent to 

prepare an EIS for the Lolo Insect & 

Disease project to analyze and disclose 

the effects of proposed forest 

management and watershed 

improvement activities within the Lolo 

Creek watershed, located approximately 

16 miles northeast of Kamiah, Idaho. 

The proposed action would use a 

combination of timber harvest and 

reforestation to achieve the desired 

range of age classes, size classes, 

vegetative species distributions, habitat 

complexity (diversity), and landscape 

patterns across the forested portions of 

the project area. Road decommissioning, 

culvert replacements, road and trail 

improvements, and soils rehabilitation 

are also proposed to improve watershed 

health. The EIS will analyze the effects 

of the proposed action and alternatives. 

The Nez Perce-Clearwater National 

Forests invites comments and 

suggestions on the issues to be 

addressed. The agency gives notice of 

the National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) analysis and decision making 

process on the proposal so interested 

and affected members of the public may 

participate and contribute to the final 

decision. The original notice was 

published in the Federal Register on 

April 25, 2013; 78 FR 24718. This 

process is being conducted pursuant to 

the National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA), the Council on Environmental 

Quality Regulations for Implementing 

the NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), 

and Forest Service NEPA guidelines. 

Additionally, pursuant to Section 106 of 

the National Historic Preservation Act, 

the public scoping process will allow 

members of the general public to 

provide comments on potential impacts 

to historic and cultural resources for the 

proposed action. An objection priod for 

the Draft Record of Decision will be 

provided, consistent with 36 CFR part 

218. 

Purpose and Need for Action 

Vegetation and Wildlife Habitat 

Improvement 

Existing Condition: Most of the 

project area is in Forest Plan 

management area (MA) E1. MA E1 is 

timber-producing land to be managed 


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for healthy timber stands to optimize 

potential timber growing. Timber 

production is to be cost-effective and 

provide maximum protection of soil and 

water quality. Big game, primarily elk, 

is to be managed through limited road 

closures. Dispersed recreation and 

livestock grazing will be provide if 

compatible with timber management 

goals. 

In the project area, fires that occurred 

in 1910 and 1934 and the introduction 

of white pine blister rust have created 

a homogeneous age class and species 

composition which has become highly 

susceptible to insect and disease change 

agents due to its current age. Mortality 

in grand fir and Douglas-fir dominated 

stands is increasing from root disease, 

Douglas-fir bark beetle, and grand fir 

engraver. In 2015, some of the proposed 

treatment areas were burned causing 

extensive tree mortality. Insects are 

invading stands within and outside of 

areas burned in 2015. Currently, a 

higher percentage of grand fir and 

Douglas-fir exist than natural long-term 

disturbances patterns would have 

created and that would have dominated 

these habitat types in the absence of 

historical disturbance events. Grand fir 

and Douglas-fir are more susceptible to 

insects and diseases, and grand fir is 

less likely to survive intense wildfires, 

than early seral species such as 

ponderosa pine, western larch, and 

western white pine. 

Young forest habitat is lacking on this 

landscape, while the quality of available 

habitat for sensitive and old growthassociated species has declined. Patches 

of young forest that do exist are smaller 

with edges that are straighter and more 

even than natural disturbances would 

have created. 

Desired Condition: The desired 

condition is a forest structure with a 

range of age and size classes with 

species diversity that is resistant and 

resilient to change agents such as 

insects, diseases, and wildfires. Early 

seral species (white pine, larch) should 

represent a greater percentage of the 

species mix. 

Need for Action: Vegetation in this 

area needs to be managed to create a 

more diverse and resilient forest 

structure by creating a range of age and 

size classes, species diversity, and 

disturbance patterns that more closely 

emulate the results of natural 

disturbance. A need exists to shift tree 

species composition away from shadetolerant species toward more resistant 

and resilient early seral species. 

Restoration of blister rust resistant white 

pine is a primary objective. 

Goods and Services 

Existing Condition: Much of the 

Project area consists of grand firdominated stands. Insect and disease 

infestations are contributing to 

increased tree mortality, while 

decreasing timber volume and value. 

Desired Condition: The desired 

condition is to provide a sustained yield 

of resource outputs as direct by the 

Clearwater Forest Plan. 

Need for Action: Stands that are 

infested with insects and diseases need 

to be treated so that the harvested 

timber that still has a merchantable 

product in the trees will help sustain 

community stability through supporting 

jobs in the timber industry and support 

businesses. 

Watershed Improvement 

The emphasis for watershed 

restoration in the Lolo Creek drainage is 

associated with roads and soil 

improvement. 

Existing Condition: Gravel and native 

surface roads could contribute sediment 

to stream channels, which can affect 

water quality and fish habitat. There are 

555 miles of system and 40 miles of 

non-system road in the Lolo Creek 

watershed. A total of 178 miles occurs 

within designated PACFISH buffers. 

Desired Condition: The desired 

condition is to maintain a road system 

in the Lolo Creek watershed that is 

adequate to provide for continued 

recreation, commodity production, and 

administrative use as described in the 

Clearwater Forest Plan while 

maintaining fish and water quality 

objectives. 

Need for Action: Improving watershed 

function and stream conditions by 

reducing road densities and repairing 

existing roads and culverts to reduce 

sediment and improve drainage is 

needed. New system roads would be 

constructed to provide a long term 

transportation system while reducing 

roads located within riparian habitat 

conservation areas. 

Roads Analysis 

Existing Condition: Transportation 

planning has been completed at the 

Clearwater National Forest level by 

analyzing the entire transportation 

system as a whole. A roads analysis of 

the project area provides the current 

transportation system. 

Desired Condition: A diversity of 

motorized access adequate to provide 

for continued recreation, commodity 

production, and administrative use as 

described in the Clearwater Forest Plan. 

Need for Action: A comprehensive 

roads analysis including all motorized 

access opportunities. Implementation of 

the results of the roads analysis would 

create a sustainable transportation 

system. 

Soil Improvement 

Existing Condition: Past management 

activities have resulted in areas of 

detrimental soil disturbance, mostly in 

the form of compacted or displaced soil 

or loss of organic matter. 

Desired Condition: Soils are 

productive (functioning soil biology, 

soil hydrology, and nutrient cycling) 

and stable. 

Need for Action: Watershed function 

can be improved by restoring compacted 

soils and adding organic material on old 

skid trails and landings. Restoration of 

meadow function with seeding and 

planting of native species. 

Proposed Action 

The Lochsa Ranger District proposes 

the following vegetation management 

actions to improve forest health, reforest 

areas burned in 2015, provide goods and 

services, and improve wildlife habitat: 

• Variable retention regeneration 

harvest and site preparation activities 

would be conducted on approximately 

3464 acres. Stands that are currently 

being affected by biotic change agents 

would be targeted for treatment. 

Regeneration harvest would create early 

successional plant communities and 

habitat. Project design criteria would be 

used in portions of units to address 

specific resource concerns, such as areas 

within the National Historic Landmark 

Corridor that require retention to meet 

visual objectives. Regeneration would 

focus on restoring white pine and other 

long-lived early seral species. Variable 

retention harvest would include areas of 

full retention (clumps), irregular edges, 

and retention of snags and legacy trees 

to provide structure and a future source 

of woody debris. Some openings may 

exceed 40 acres. Harvest would include 

utilizing ground based, skyline, and 

helicopter yarding systems; as well as 

approximately 2.6 miles of tractor swing 

trails. There is no harvest proposed in 

old growth. 

• Approximately 19 miles of 

temporary roads would be constructed 

to carry out the proposed harvest. 

Temporary roads would be 

decommissioned after use. 

The following road improvement 

actions area proposed to reduce 

sediment production and address 

transportation needs. 

• Road improvements would occur 

on up to 125 miles of roads within the 

project area. Road improvement 

activities include: Adding cross drains 

on either side of perennial streams 


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where fish-bearing would be the highest 

priority followed by non-fish bearing 

perennial streams (these would be 

determined and prioritized based on 

field review); replacing crossings on 

perennial streams with structures 

appropriately sized for a 100-year event 

(these would be prioritized by the 

district fisheries biologist); and stabilize 

eroding sections of road that may be 

accomplished by blading followed by 

spot rocking or the addition of drainage 

structures where needed. 

• Road maintenance and 

reconditioning would occur on 

approximately 157 miles of system 

roads. Maintenance consist of culvert 

cleaning, surface blading, and roadside 

brushing; and reconditioning includes 

minor road reshaping, waterbar 

removal, and road surface brush 

removal. 

• Road decommissioning is proposed 

on approximately 60 miles of system 

road and approximately 30 miles of 

non-system road. In most cases this 

includes fully re-contouring the road. 

• Approximately 4 miles of system 

roads would be converted to an offhighway vehicle (OHV) trail. 

• Approximately 0.74 miles of new 

system roads would be constructed to 

contribute to the long term 

transportation system while reducing 

roads located within riparian habitat 

conservation areas. 

The following actions are proposed to 

improve soil and vegetation conditions 

in the Musselshell Restoration Area 

portion (1,600 acres) of the project area: 

• Approximately 745 acres of white 

pine restoration would be accomplished 

through intermediate harvest by creating 

small openings to plant blister rust 

resistant seedlings, benefit other 

species, and contribute to ecosystem 

health. 

• Approximately 92 acres of riparian 

habitat conservation area (RHCA) 

restoration would occur where RHCAs 

of perennial streams are overstocked 

with trees. Trees would be 

commercially thinned to promote a 

healthy stand and promote long term 

RHCA function. 

• Soil rehabilitation would occur on 

approximately 55 acres of currently 

detrimentally disturbed areas associated 

with past harvest related activities. 

Activities could include decompaction, 

mastication, fertilization, seeding, and 

addition of woody/organic material. 

• Deferred maintenance would occur 

on mile of Trail #853. Work may 

include improvement and development 

of drainage structures within the 

existing tread. Rock and/or gravel 

material may be placed on the exiting 

tread surface to complement the 

drainage structures and provide 

adequate base to support motorized 

OHV use, reduce erosion, and loss of 

fine materials. 

The Lolo Insect & Disease project will 

also include a variety of project design 

criteria that have been developed from 

past projects, verified by field surveys, 

and will be used to limit possible 

adverse effects to soils, water quality, 

fish and wildlife habitat, recreation 

opportunities, and culturally significant 

areas. 

Possible Alternatives 

In addition to the No Action and the 

Proposed Action, alternatives that do 

not harvest in riparian habitat 

conservation areas, within the Eldorado 

Creek Roadless Area and special areas of 

historic or tribal significance (such as 

the National Historic Landmark 

corridor), as well as minimal temporary 

road construction with more helicopter 

logging are expected. These preliminary 

alternatives were developed based on 

prior scoping comments received. 

Alternatives will be developed based on 

previous and additional comments 

received during the scoping periods. 

Responsible Official 

Nez Perce-Clearwater Forest 

Supervisor. 

Nature of Decision To Be Made 

The Responsible Official will 

determine whether to adopt the 

proposed action or another alternative, 

in whole or in part, and what mitigation 

measurements and management 

requirements will be implemented. 

Preliminary Issues 

Issues received during the previous 

scoping period include harvesting in the 

Eldorado Creek Roadless Area, the 

National Historic Landmark corridor, 

and other special areas of historic or 

tribal significance; riparian habitat 

conservation area thinning, helicopter 

logging systems, winter logging, and 

minimal road construction. 

Permits or Licenses Required 

Any required permits for disturbance 

of water or wetlands would be obtained 

prior to initiating work (Army Corps of 

Engineers 404 permit, Idaho Department 

of Water Resources Stream Alteration 

Permit). Any additional mitigation 

measures identified in the permitting 

process would be incorporated into the 

project plans. 

Scoping Process 

This Notice of Intent initiates the 

scoping process, which guides the 

development of the EIS. The 

interdisciplinary team will continue to 

seek information and comments from 

Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribal 

governments, and other individuals or 

organizations that may interested in, or 

affected by, the proposed action. There 

is a collaborative group in the area that 

the interdisciplinary team will interact 

with during the analysis process. It is 

important that reviewers provide their 

comments at such times and in such 

manner that they are useful to the 

agency’s preparation of the EIS. 

Therefore, comments should be 

provided prior to the close of the 

comment period and should clearly 

articulate the reviewer’s concerns and 

contentions. 

Comments received in response to 

this solicitation, including names and 

addresses of those who comment, will 

be part of the public record for this 

proposed action. Comments submitted 

anonymously will be accepted and 

considered, however, anonymous 

comments will not provide the Agency 

with the ability to provide the 

respondent with subsequent 

environmental documents. 

Dated: September 13, 2017. 

Jeanne M. Higgins, 

Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National 

Forest System. 

[FR Doc. 2017–21008 Filed 9–29–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3411–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests; 

Apache, Coconino, Greenlee and 

Navajo Counties, Arizona; Revised 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement 

for Public Motorized Travel 

Management Plan 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Revised Notice of Intent (NOI). 

SUMMARY: The Forest Service is revising 

the Environmental Impact Statement for 

the Public Motorized Travel 

Management Plan on the ApacheSitgreaves National Forests. 

DATES: Comments concerning the 2010 

DEIS were received by December 13, 

2010, 45 days from the date of 

publication of the Notice of Availabiliy 

(NOA) of the draft EIS in the Federal 

Register (75 FR 66756). An additional 

45 day comment period will occur after 

the publication of the revised DEIS in 

the Federal Register. The revised DEIS 

is expected in the summer of 2018 and 

the final EIS is expected in the winter 

of 2019. 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES