80 FR 8846 - Lewis and Clark National Forest, Montana, Castle Mountains Restoration Project

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 33 (February 19, 2015)

The Lewis and Clark National Forest (LCNF) is going to prepare an environmental impact statement for vegetation management actions in the Castle Mountains located in Central Montana. The project is designed to meet the desired condition of restoring forest and grasslands ecosystems to promote landscape resiliency over time for multiple resource values while minimizing the threat of high intensity wildfire within the Willow Creek municipal watershed and areas of other valued resources and infrastructure in the 69,610 acre Castle Mountains landscape.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8846-8847]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03466]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Lewis and Clark National Forest, Montana, Castle Mountains 
Restoration Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Lewis and Clark National Forest (LCNF) is going to prepare 
an environmental impact statement for vegetation management actions in 
the Castle Mountains located in Central Montana. The project is 
designed to meet the desired condition of restoring forest and 
grasslands ecosystems to promote landscape resiliency over time for 
multiple resource values while minimizing the threat of high intensity 
wildfire within the Willow Creek municipal watershed and areas of other 
valued resources and infrastructure in the 69,610 acre Castle Mountains 
landscape.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by March 23, 2015. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
September 2015 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
March 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Carol Hatfield White Sulphur 
Springs District Ranger, Lewis & Clark National Forest, 204 W. Folsom, 
P.O. Box A, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645. Comments may also be sent 
via email to [email protected], 
or via facsimile to 406-547-6023.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such a way 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Casselli Project Team Lead, at 
406-791-7723. 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 purpose of the project is to move toward a resilient forest and 
grassland ecosystem that will mimic a more historic natural fire regime 
to reduce the future threat of high intensity wildfire and the 
associated hazards to life, valued resources and infrastructure. In 
order to achieve this, there is a need to create a mosaic of vegetation 
and fuel structure more resilient to disturbance over time that 
includes improving the overall diversity in age classes, species, and 
meadow openings across the landscape. The action will provide for 
safer, more effective fire suppression actions when needed, reduce 
threats to forest users, to private residences, power corridors, agency 
infrastructure, water quality of Willow Creek and to valued wildlife 
habitat. These actions will reduce the probability of post-wildfire 
watershed impacts to the Willow Creek municipal watershed and 
associated costs.

Proposed Action

    Approximately 22,124 acres are proposed for treatment which 
includes a combination of fuels reduction thinning, commercial harvest 
of trees, non-commercial thinning, and prescribed fire. Mechanical and/
or hand treatment methods would be used to accomplish the treatment 
objectives. Proposed treatment activities include: roughly 1,911 acres 
of Improvement Thinning; 7,329 acres of Prescribed Fire; 313 acres of 
Aspen Restoration; 277 acres of Precommercial Thinning; 856 acres of 
White Bark Pine Restoration; 8,681 acres of meadow Restoration; 1,519 
acres of Douglas-fir Thinning; and 1,236 acres of Lodgepole Pine

[[Page 8847]]

regeneration harvest. There would be up to 57 miles of temporary road 
utilized for the project with approximately 20 miles of this occurring 
over existing road prisms. Road maintenance or reconstruction of 
existing system roads to meet forestry best management practices would 
be necessary to implement the proposed action. No new permanent roads 
will be constructed. Temporary roads not on the forest road system that 
are utilized will be obliterated (stabilized and or restored to natural 
contours) upon completion of treatment operations. Roads identified in 
the 2007 Travel Management Record of Decision that were removed from 
the road system (decommissioned) would be physically stabilized or re-
contoured as needed to meet the resource objectives of travel 
management. Site-specific amendments to the Lewis and Clark National 
Forest Plan standards pertaining to elk hiding cover, elk winter range, 
and elk thermal cover may be necessary in order to meet the project's 
purpose and need. To address potential impacts of proposed management 
activities on cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) in meeting the project 
objectives, the proposal includes an integrated management approach to 
control the establishment and spread of this invasive grass species. 
The use of applicable EPA approved selective herbicides and or 
biological controls would be utilized in units having prescribed 
burning as the treatment action. Approximately 42 percent (29,498 
acres) of the total project area is located within the Castles 
Mountains Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA). Proposed treatment 
activities on approximately 6,262 acres are planned within the IRA. A 
combination of non-commercial vegetation treatments and prescribed fire 
techniques are proposed. Under the proposal, road maintenance may occur 
but no road construction, reconstruction of system or temporary roads 
are planned within the IRA. The location of this project area is those 
sections of the Castle Mountains within the National Forest Boundary; 
Township 8 and 9 N, Range 8, 9 and 10 E. Principle Meridian, Meagher 
County, Montana.

Responsible Official

    Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests Forest Supervisor.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decisions to be made include: Whether to implement the proposed 
action or an alternative to the proposed action, what monitoring 
requirements would be appropriate to evaluate the implementation of 
this project, the timing of the project and whether a forest plan site 
specific amendment (exemption) would be necessary as a result of the 
decision for this project.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. In February 
2015, a scoping notice (flyer) will be mailed to interested and 
affected parties directing them to the project's information which will 
be posted to the Lewis and Clark National Forest's projects Web page 
(http://www.fs.usda.gov/lcnf/). The Web page will contain detailed 
project information, including when public meetings will be scheduled, 
project proposal maps, and other pertinent project information.
    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. The submission of 
timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to 
participate in the administrative objection process or any judicial 
review.

    Dated: February 11, 2015.
Robin Strathy,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2015-03466 Filed 2-18-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-15-P