80 FR 73162 - Shasta-Trinity National Forest; California; Trinity Post Fire Hazard Reduction and Salvage
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 226 (November 24, 2015)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 226 (November 24, 2015)
| Page Range | 73162-73164 | |
| FR Document | 2015-29878 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 73162-73164] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-29878] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Shasta-Trinity National Forest; California; Trinity Post Fire Hazard Reduction and Salvage AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The proposed action would treat approximately 8,100 acres to reduce hazardous conditions within a buffer along open roads that burned in the 2015 wildfires. Standing dead and downed trees would be utilized to the extent practicable. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by December 24, 2015. The draft environmental impact statement is expected April 2016 and the final environmental impact statement is expected August 2016. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Trinity Post Fire Hazard Reduction and Salvage Project, Attn: Brenda Olson, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, 3644 Avtech Parkway, Redding, CA 96002. Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to 530-226-2475. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brenda Olson by phone at 530-226-2422, or by email at [email protected]. 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: Purpose and Need for Action The Shasta-Trinity National Forest and Six Rivers National Forest have experienced wildfire on approximately 220,000 acres as a result of lighting in 2015. The majority of acres affected are the result of a July 30, 2015 lightning event. Much of the fire areas burned through National Forest System lands, but a number of private landowners were also affected. Approximately 161,000 acres of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest were burned. Wildfires affected most land allocations including designated Wilderness, Adaptive Management Areas, and Late- Successional Reserve, as well as Inventoried Roadless Areas. Fires burned in a mosaic of intensities; acres burned have been categorized into high, moderate and low severity based on Rapid Assessment of Vegetation Condition After Wildfire (RAVG) data. Five fire complexes and one separate [[Page 73163]] fire burned on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest:The Fork Complex near the communities of Hayfork, Post Mountain, and Wildwood (34,500 acres; 8,900 acres of high and moderate severity); The South Complex north and east of the community of Hyampom (29,400 acres; 5,900 acres high and moderate severity); The Mad River Complex near the communities of Mad River, Ruth, and Forest Glen (39,200 acres; 6,600 acres high and moderate severity); The Route Complex near the communities of Mad River and Hyampom (35,700 acres; 6,300 acres high and moderate severity); The River Complex near the Hoopa Reservation, the communities of Burnt Ranch and Denny, and within the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area (78,600 acres; 17,100 acres high and moderate severity); and The Saddle Fire northwest of the town of Hyampom (1,500 acres; 600 acres high and moderate severity). A portion of the areas that burned at moderate and high severity had conifer forest cover prior to the fires (other acres were brush, grasslands or oak woodlands). The acres of conifer and mixed conifer forest that burned at high severity generally have no remaining live trees, and the areas that burned at moderate severity also have a high likelihood of deforestation or large pockets of mortality due to fire- injury. Many trees showing signs of live branches or tops immediately following the fire will be lost due to cambium death or secondary mortality from insects compounded by years of drought. The areas affected by the 2015 wildfires on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest include vegetation along 387 miles of road (353 miles of National Forest System roads, 32 miles administered by state and county). Of these 387 miles, 248 miles are open to the public, including 233 miles through National Forest System lands. The vegetation along these roads experienced wildfire at varying degrees of intensity. Forested lands experiencing moderate and high intensity fire has resulted in a substantial number of dead and dying trees. Structural integrity of fire-killed trees has been compromised and it is expected many of them will fall during a wind or storm event. Current conditions within the burned area differ from the desired condition as identified in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan; 1995). Trees that were killed by the fire become less stable and increase the risk to all forest users. Once this material is on the ground and combined with the dead brush, fire behavior is likely to be more intense and more difficult to control. Because of the expected future fire behavior and the elevated risk of fire killed trees falling on firefighters, wildfire suppression strategies would be limited. Desired future conditions would be safe firefighter and public access; conditions that lead to a slower rate of wildfire spread and reduced intensity, with associated increased effectiveness of initial attack by firefighters; and roadside conditions that could be used as a line of defense for control of wildfires. Within areas experiencing large scale disturbance on the Shasta- Trinity National Forest in 2015 due to wildfire, the purpose of this project is to move towards the desired conditions in the following ways: 1. Reduce hazards (i.e. fire-killed trees and excessive fuels) that threaten public and firefighter safety along open National Forest System, County, and State roads; 2. Sustain and establish forest cover; and, 3. Within the treated areas, capture the economic value of felled trees and support the economies of local communities by providing forest products. Based on the Forest Plan and post fire assessment, we have identified a need to: Provide for public safety and protection of structures by managing fuel loading, distribution and arrangement within Wildland Urban Interface for low flame lengths and rate of spread (Forest Plan 4-18); Remove danger/hazard trees (Forest Plan 4-26); Reduce surplus activity fuels that remain after meeting wildlife, riparian, soil and other environmental needs (Forest Plan, pg. 4-17); Create conditions that will support the restoration of fire to its natural role in the ecosystem (Forest Plan 4-4). Establish forest stands at densities appropriate to contribute to forest harvest in the future and to maintain wildlife habitat (Forest Plan, pg. 4-154). Quickly recover the monetary value of wood through salvage and sale, where feasible and appropriate, to provide economic stimulus to local communities (Forest Plan 4-5). Proposed Action Dead vegetation will be treated on National Forest System lands along 233 miles of roads open to the public (i.e. National Forest System Roads (NFS), county roads, and state highways) that burned during the 2015 wildfire season. Treatments are proposed along 233 miles of public roads which cross National Forest System lands, including: 153 miles of NFS Maintenance Level 2 (accessible with high clearance vehicles) roads; 34 miles of NFS Maintenance Level 3 (accessible with passenger cars) roads; 19 miles of NFS Maintenance Level 4 (paved) roads; and 27 miles of state and county roads. Treatments along these roads could include: Remove or treat dead vegetation (using one of the ``treatment types'' listed below) within a 300 foot total width buffer. Width of the buffer on either side of the road would change but would always total 300 feet; i.e. if conditions lend to a wider treatment on the uphill side, the uphill side may be treated up to 275 feet from the road and the downhill side would be treated for 25 feet from the road. The area of treatment is approximately 8,100 acres. The minimum treatment area along either side of the road will be 25 feet. Treatment types for both initial entry and maintenance could include: [cir] Hand felling of dead trees and brush. Dead vegetation will be identified at the time of treatment. [cir] Mastication, which pulverizes or chops standing trees and logs into small particles. This treatment can include mowing, mulching, or chipping. [cir] Lopping woody debris (slash) and scattering around the treated area, which redistributes woody material. [cir] Hand piling slash, which reduces surface fuels. [cir] Machine piling slash, which reduces surface fuels. [cir] Pile burning, which reduces surface fuels. [cir] Jackpot burning, which is a burning method used to reduce heavy intermittent fuel concentrations, where fuels are not continuous enough to carry a broadcast fire. [cir] Broadcast burning, which is a burning method used where heavy continuous fuel concentrations exist. [cir] Chipping, which pulverizes or chops trees, brush, and logs into small particles. Maintain treated areas through understory burning, where feasible. Utilize wood products whenever possible. This can include salvage logs, commercial or personal firewood, biomass removal, etc. [cir] Large timber sales are expected to be feasible on up to 128 miles of the roads proposed for treatment. Provide for future forest cover through planting, utilizing a species [[Page 73164]] composition consistent with historic conditions, with spacing between seedlings of 18 to 30 feet. Create a control line on the outside edge of treatment areas where necessary to maintain fuel reductions with prescribed fire. Where appropriate, stumps of freshly cut conifers will be treated with an EPA-registered borate compound to prevent spread of Heterobasidion root disease. Trees or snags that are imminent hazards to the road and/ or operations would felled; trees that are felled outside the treatment buffer would be left onsite. No treatments are proposed within Wilderness. Additional Resource Protection Measures will be developed to address resource concerns for wildlife, watersheds, soils and other issues that are identified. Fuels reduction treatment goals are to: Reduce downed logs to 10-20 tons per acre. Downed logs includes woody material >3-inches in diameter including fuels created by salvage and suppression actions. Reduce dead brush by 50-100%. Responsible Official David R. Myers, Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National Forest. Nature of Decision To Be Made The Forest Supervisor will decide whether to implement the proposed action, take an alternative action that meets the purpose and need or take no action. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. This project is within Wildland Urban Interface and as such is consistent with the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA), which contains provisions to expedite hazardous fuels reduction and forest restoration projects on federal lands. Project authorized under HFRA are defined under Section 102(a) of the act and are designed to actively involve the public (Section 104(e) and (f) of the act). In an effort to provide for collaborative design of this project or alternatives, you are invited to participate in open public meetings at the following locations and times: Hyampom Community Center on November 30, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.; Weaverville Board of Supervisor's Chambers on December 1, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.; Trinity County Fairgrounds dining hall in Hayfork on December 2, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.; Ruth Lake Community Services District Hall in Mad River on December 3, 2015; and, Burnt Ranch School on December 4, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Additional project information is available on the project Web site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=48060. 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 alternative means of meeting the purpose and need. 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 respondent with standing to participate in subsequent administrative review or judicial review. An Emergency Situation Determination will be requested for this project consistent with regulations at 36 CFR 218.21. An Emergency Situation Determination would eliminate the 30-day Objection period prior to a decision. Dated: November 17, 2015. David R. Myers, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2015-29878 Filed 11-23-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
![73162
Notices Federal Register
Vol. 80, No. 226
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an
contains documents other than rules or Mary Morrison, RAC Coordinator, by environmental impact statement.
proposed rules that are applicable to the phone at 803–561–4000 or via email at
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, mwmorrison@fs.fed.us. SUMMARY: The proposed action would
committee meetings, agency decisions and
Individuals who use treat approximately 8,100 acres to
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of reduce hazardous conditions within a
petitions and applications and agency telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information buffer along open roads that burned in
statements of organization and functions are the 2015 wildfires. Standing dead and
examples of documents appearing in this Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
section. between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., downed trees would be utilized to the
Eastern Standard Time, Monday extent practicable.
through Friday. DATES: Comments concerning the scope
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE of the analysis must be received by
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
December 24, 2015. The draft
purpose of the meeting is:
Forest Service environmental impact statement is
1. Review project proposals; and
expected April 2016 and the final
Francis Marion-Sumter Resource 2. Recommend Title II projects.
environmental impact statement is
Advisory Committee The meeting is open to the public.
expected August 2016.
The agenda will include time for people
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
to make oral statements of three minutes
ACTION: Notice of meeting. or less. Individuals wishing to make an Trinity Post Fire Hazard Reduction and
oral statement should request in writing Salvage Project, Attn: Brenda Olson,
SUMMARY: The Francis Marion-Sumter Shasta-Trinity National Forest, 3644
by November 5, 2015, to be scheduled
Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) Avtech Parkway, Redding, CA 96002.
on the agenda. Anyone who would like
will meet in Columbia, South Carolina. Comments may also be sent via email to
to bring related matters to the attention
The committee is authorized under the comments-pacificsouthwest-shasta-
of the committee may file written
Secure Rural Schools and Community trinity@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 530–
Self-Determination Act (the Act) and statements with the committee staff
before or after the meeting. Written 226–2475.
operates in compliance with the Federal FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Advisory Committee Act. The purpose comments and requests for time to make
oral comments must be sent to Mary Brenda Olson by phone at 530–226–
of the committee is to improve 2422, or by email at
collaborative relationships and to Morrison, RAC Coordinator, 4931 Broad
River Road, Columbia, South Carolina brendaolson@fs.fed.us.
provide advice and recommendations to Individuals who use
the Forest Service concerning projects 29212; by email to mwmorrison@
fs.fed.us or via facsimile to 803–561– telecommunication devices for the deaf
and funding consistent with Title II of (TDD) may call the Federal Information
the Act. Additional RAC information, 4004.
Meeting Accommodations: If you are Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
including the meeting agenda and the between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
meeting summary/minutes can be found a person requiring reasonable
accommodation, please make requests Time, Monday through Friday.
at the following Web site: http://www.fs. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
usda.gov/main/scnfs/workingtogether/ in advance for sign language
advisorycommittees. interpreting, assistive listening devices Purpose and Need for Action
or other reasonable accommodation for
DATES: The meeting will be held The Shasta-Trinity National Forest
access to the facility or proceedings by
December 10, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. and Six Rivers National Forest have
All RAC meetings are subject to contacting the person listed in the
section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION experienced wildfire on approximately
cancellation. For status of meeting prior 220,000 acres as a result of lighting in
CONTACT. All reasonable
to attendance, please contact the person 2015. The majority of acres affected are
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION accommodation requests are managed
on a case by case basis. the result of a July 30, 2015 lightning
CONTACT. event. Much of the fire areas burned
Dated: November 17, 2015. through National Forest System lands,
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Harbision State Forest, John Richard Lint, but a number of private landowners
Environmental Education Center, 5600 Forest Supervisor, Francis Marion and Sumter were also affected. Approximately
Broad River Road, Columbia, South National Forest. 161,000 acres of the Shasta-Trinity
Carolina. [FR Doc. 2015–29877 Filed 11–23–15; 8:45 am] National Forest were burned. Wildfires
Written comments may be submitted BILLING CODE 3411–15–P affected most land allocations including
as described under SUPPLEMENTARY designated Wilderness, Adaptive
INFORMATION. All comments, including Management Areas, and Late-
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
names and addresses when provided, Successional Reserve, as well as
are placed in the record and are Inventoried Roadless Areas. Fires
available for public inspection and Forest Service burned in a mosaic of intensities; acres
copying. The public may inspect Shasta-Trinity National Forest; burned have been categorized into high,
comments received at Francis Marion California; Trinity Post Fire Hazard moderate and low severity based on
and Sumter National Forest Reduction and Salvage Rapid Assessment of Vegetation
Headquarters. Please call ahead to Condition After Wildfire (RAVG) data.
facilitate entry into the building. AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. Five fire complexes and one separate
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![73164 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 226 / Tuesday, November 24, 2015 / Notices
composition consistent with historic Lake Community Services District Hall buyers together with U.S. firms in
conditions, with spacing between in Mad River on December 3, 2015; and, industries with high export potential at
seedlings of 18 to 30 feet. Burnt Ranch School on December 4, leading U.S. trade shows. Specifically,
• Create a control line on the outside 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Additional project through the IBP, the ITA selects
edge of treatment areas where necessary information is available on the project domestic trade shows which will
to maintain fuel reductions with Web site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/ receive ITA assistance in the form of
prescribed fire. project/?project=48060. global promotion in foreign markets,
• Where appropriate, stumps of It is important that reviewers provide provision of export counseling to
freshly cut conifers will be treated with their comments at such times and in exhibitors, and provision of
an EPA-registered borate compound to such manner that they are useful to the matchmaking services at the trade show.
prevent spread of Heterobasidion root agency’s preparation of the This notice covers selection for IBP
disease. environmental impact statement. participation during calendar year 2017.
• Trees or snags that are imminent Therefore, comments should be DATES: Applications for the IBP must be
hazards to the road and/or operations provided prior to the close of the received by Friday, January 8, 2016.
would felled; trees that are felled comment period and should clearly
outside the treatment buffer would be ADDRESSES: The application form can be
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
left onsite. found at www.export.gov/ibp.
alternative means of meeting the
• No treatments are proposed within Applications may be submitted by any
purpose and need.
Wilderness. Comments received in response to of the following methods: (1) Mail/Hand
• Additional Resource Protection this solicitation, including names and Delivery Service: International Buyer
Measures will be developed to address addresses of those who comment, will Program, Trade Promotion Programs,
resource concerns for wildlife, be part of the public record for this International Trade Administration,
watersheds, soils and other issues that proposed action. Comments submitted U.S. Department of Commerce, Ronald
are identified. anonymously will be accepted and Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania
Fuels reduction treatment goals are to: considered; however, anonymous Ave. NW., Suite 800M—Mezzanine
• Reduce downed logs to 10–20 tons comments will not provide the Level—Atrium North, Washington, DC
per acre. Downed logs includes woody respondent with standing to participate 20004; (2) Facsimile: (202) 482–7800; or
material >3-inches in diameter in subsequent administrative review or (3) email: IBP2017@trade.gov. Facsimile
including fuels created by salvage and judicial review. An Emergency Situation and email applications will be accepted
suppression actions. Determination will be requested for this as interim applications, but must be
• Reduce dead brush by 50–100%. project consistent with regulations at 36 followed by a signed original
CFR 218.21. An Emergency Situation application that is received by the
Responsible Official program no later than five (5) business
Determination would eliminate the 30-
David R. Myers, Forest Supervisor, day Objection period prior to a decision. days after the application deadline. To
Shasta-Trinity National Forest. ensure that applications are received by
Dated: November 17, 2015. the deadline, applicants are strongly
Nature of Decision To Be Made David R. Myers, urged to send applications by express
The Forest Supervisor will decide Forest Supervisor. delivery service (e.g., U.S. Postal Service
whether to implement the proposed [FR Doc. 2015–29878 Filed 11–23–15; 8:45 am] Express Delivery, Federal Express, UPS,
action, take an alternative action that BILLING CODE 3410–11–P etc.).
meets the purpose and need or take no FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
action. Vidya Desai, Acting Director,
Scoping Process DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE International Buyer Program, Trade
Promotion Programs, International
This notice of intent initiates the International Trade Administration Trade Administration, U.S. Department
scoping process, which guides the
[Docket No.: 151106999–5999–01] of Commerce, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave.
development of the environmental
NW., Ronald Reagan Building, Suite
impact statement. This project is within
Call for Applications for the 800M—Mezzanine Level—Atrium
Wildland Urban Interface and as such is
International Buyer Program Calendar North, Washington, DC 20004;
consistent with the Healthy Forest
Year 2017 Telephone (202) 482–2311; Facsimile:
Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA), which
(202) 482–7800; Email: IBP2017@
contains provisions to expedite AGENCY: International Trade trade.gov.
hazardous fuels reduction and forest Administration, Department of
restoration projects on federal lands. Commerce. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The IBP
Project authorized under HFRA are ACTION: Notice and Call for was established in the Omnibus Trade
defined under Section 102(a) of the act Applications. and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (Pub.
and are designed to actively involve the L. 100–418, codified at 15 U.S.C. 4724)
public (Section 104(e) and (f) of the act). SUMMARY: In this notice, the U.S. to bring international buyers together
In an effort to provide for collaborative Department of Commerce (DOC) with U.S. firms by promoting leading
design of this project or alternatives, International Trade Administration U.S. trade shows in industries with high
you are invited to participate in open (ITA) announces that it will begin export potential. The IBP emphasizes
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
public meetings at the following accepting applications for the cooperation between the DOC and trade
locations and times: Hyampom International Buyer Program (IBP) for show organizers to benefit U.S. firms
Community Center on November 30, calendar year 2017 (January 1, 2017, exhibiting at selected events and
2015 at 5:00 p.m.; Weaverville Board of through December 31, 2017). The provides practical, hands-on assistance
Supervisor’s Chambers on December 1, announcement also sets out the such as export counseling and market
2015 at 5:00 p.m.; Trinity County objectives, procedures and application analysis to U.S. companies interested in
Fairgrounds dining hall in Hayfork on review criteria for the IBP. The purpose exporting. Shows selected for the IBP
December 2, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.; Ruth of the IBP is to bring international will provide a venue for U.S. companies
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Document Created: 2015-12-14 14:08:42
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 14:08:42
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. | |
| Dates | Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by December 24, 2015. The draft environmental impact statement is expected April 2016 and the final environmental impact statement is expected August 2016. | |
| Contact | Brenda Olson by phone at 530-226-2422, or by email at [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 73162 |
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