81 FR 12446 - Willamette National Forest, Detroit Ranger District, Oregon; Hwy 46 Project
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 46 (March 9, 2016)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 46 (March 9, 2016)
| Page Range | 12446-12447 | |
| FR Document | 2016-05257 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 12446-12447] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-05257] ======================================================================== Notices Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2016 / Notices [[Page 12446]] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Willamette National Forest, Detroit Ranger District, Oregon; Hwy 46 Project AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Hwy 46 Project is proposed to improve stand growth, diversity and structure; move stand structure from an overabundance of mid seral stands to increase both early and late seral stand structure within the watershed; reduce hazardous fuels; restore sugar pine and encourage sugar pine regeneration; treat powerline visuals; restore riparian and meadow habitats; and restore hydrologic processes in the Short Lake area. This project would also provide a sustainable yield of timber for commercial products to local and regional economies. Treatments would occur on about 4054 acres. Commercial harvest activities on approximately 3576 acres include commercial thinning, sugar pine restoration, and early seral creation through gaps and variable retention regeneration harvest. Fuels reduction activities, understory habitat enhancement treatments and meadow restoration are proposed on approximately 480 acres. Road work would be part of the actions associated with the proposed activities and would include road maintenance/reconstruction on 119 miles, approximately 9.3 miles of temporary roads, and the rerouting of FS Rd 46-059. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by April 25, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected June 2017 and the final environmental impact statement is expected December 2017. ADDRESSES: Scoping comments can be submitted electronically through https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/Commentinput?project=47109. Send written comments to HC 73, Box 320, Mill City, OR 97360, or via facsimile to 503-854-4239. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lyn Medley (Project Team Leader) at the Detroit Ranger District, (503) 854-4228, [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 Hwy 46 project area is approximately 31,295 acres, located in the Breitenbush Watershed. Forest Road 46 (Hwy 46), the Breitenbush River and a powerline bisect the project area. Within the project area trees are competing for sunlight, water and nutrients causing reduced tree growth and vigor. There is an oversupply of mid-seral stands, moving the seral distribution away from historic levels and limiting stand structure and species diversity across the landscape. This is the northern most extent of Sugar pine, past management and the exclusion of fire on the landscape has threatened this population of Sugar pine. The Breitenbush community is located within the project area, and the watershed is popular with recreationists. The purpose of this project is to improve stand growth, diversity and structure and move stand structure from an overabundance of mid seral stands to increase early and late seral stand structure in the watershed, and to diversify wildlife habitat in the watershed; strategically reduce hazardous fuels; restore sugar pine stands to encourage sugar pine regeneration; treat powerline visuals; restore riparian habitats, meadows, and hydrologic processes in the project area; and provide forest products to the local economy. Proposed Action The Hwy 46 project proposes the following activities: 1. Commercially harvest about 3576 acres of second growth forests (managed and fire regenerated stands). This includes: 3328 acres of commercial thinning, approximately 132 acres of gaps (0.5-3 acres in size), approximately 65 acres of dominate tree release gaps (0.5 acres or less), and 51 acres of variable retention regeneration harvest. Included in these acres are approximately 430 acres of sugar pine restoration and 117 acres of visual treatments along the powerline. The 51 acres of variable retention regeneration harvest will be replanted with an appropriate mix of seedlings following harvest. Sugar pine seedlings will be planted in the sugar pine restoration units. The gaps will be replanted as needed with appropriate conifer seedlings. 2. Construction of approximately 5.1 miles of temporary spur roads, and reconstruction of approximately 4.2 miles of spur roads to access timber harvest units. The spur roads would be decommissioned by ripping, water-barring, and re-establishing drainage, and then seeded after harvest activities to minimize soil erosion and maintain water quality. 3. Road maintenance and reconstruction activities on about 119 miles of existing forest system roads within the planning area. Maintenance and reconstruction needs vary by road, but include brushing, reconditioning of roadways and ditches, replacing culverts, and cut slope repair. Road work will help provide for user and public safety and meet Forest Plan objectives. 4. Reroute FS Rd 46-059 road to restore hydrologic processes in the Short Lake area. The existing road would be decommissioned. 5. Hazardous fuel reduction treatments to reduce both existing fuel loadings and logging slash as a result of harvest will be planned to bring stands to levels within Forest Plan standards and guidelines. Proposed treatments include broadcast burning, machine piling, burning of landings, hand piling and chipping. This includes fuel reduction treatments on approximately 223 acres to reduce wildfire risks to the Breitenbush Community and roadside areas. 6. Understory habitat enhancements to increase species and structural diversity on approximately 222 acres. [[Page 12447]] These treatments include meadow restoration and enhancement; noncommercial thinning of trees and shrubs less than 7 inches diameter at breast height (DBH), pruning and planting. 7. Recreation related activities include visual treatment of the powerline corridor, enhancement of Short Lake area and around Fox Creek Campground. 8. Thinning and fuels treatments will occur on approximately 802 acres of Riparian Reserves outside of riparian buffers to accelerate and/or improve Aquatic Conservation Strategy Objectives (ACSOs). Additional Riparian Reserve treatments could occur on up to 50 acres within buffers, including diversity thinning in plantations, wood placement in creeks and cutting and leaving conifers in areas of hardwoods to encourage hardwood growth. All treatments will be designed to accelerate and/or improve ACSOs. Responsible Official Detroit District Ranger. Nature of Decision To Be Made Given the purpose and need, the scope of the decision to be made by the responsible official will be as follows:Do the proposed actions comply with all applicable laws governing Forest Service actions? Do the proposed actions comply with the applicable standards and guidelines found in the Willamette Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP)? Does the Environmental Impact Statement have sufficient site-specific environmental analysis to make an informed decision? Do the proposed actions meet the purpose and need for action? With these assurances the responsible official must decide: Whether or not to select the proposed action or one of any other potential alternatives that may be developed, and what, if any, additional actions should be required. 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 scoping comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. We are interested in your comments on the following questions: Are there alternative ways to meet the purpose of the project other than the proposed action we offer, which you would like the Forest Service to consider and analyze? Is there any information about the project area, which you believe is important in the context of the proposed activities that you would like the Forest Service to consider? What specifically are the potential effects of this proposal that you are particularly concerned about? For example, rather than simply stating that you would like a change in a proposed activity or that you would not like an activity to take place, it is most helpful to understand why you desire this. What are your underlying concerns with an activity or action; what are the effects from the activity that concern you? 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: February 29, 2016. Grady McMahan, District Ranger. [FR Doc. 2016-05257 Filed 3-8-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 9, 2016 / Notices 12447
These treatments include meadow We are interested in your comments government-to-government basis,
restoration and enhancement; on the following questions: describe the authorities for working
noncommercial thinning of trees and • Are there alternative ways to meet with tribes, delineate meaningful
shrubs less than 7 inches diameter at the purpose of the project other than the consultation procedures, and outline
breast height (DBH), pruning and proposed action we offer, which you dispute resolution options. The tribal
planting. would like the Forest Service to and public comment period closed
7. Recreation related activities include consider and analyze? concurrently on September 22, 2015.
visual treatment of the powerline • Is there any information about the The Agency considered all comments in
corridor, enhancement of Short Lake project area, which you believe is developing these final directives.
area and around Fox Creek important in the context of the proposed DATES: These directives are issued
Campground. activities that you would like the Forest March 9, 2016.
8. Thinning and fuels treatments will Service to consider? ADDRESSES: The Forest Service Manual
occur on approximately 802 acres of • What specifically are the potential and Handbook are available online at
Riparian Reserves outside of riparian effects of this proposal that you are http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/tribalrelations/.
buffers to accelerate and/or improve particularly concerned about? For Single paper copies are available by
Aquatic Conservation Strategy example, rather than simply stating that request to the Office of Tribal Relations,
Objectives (ACSOs). Additional you would like a change in a proposed U.S. Forest Service, at OTR@fs.fed.us.
Riparian Reserve treatments could occur activity or that you would not like an Additional information of how the
on up to 50 acres within buffers, activity to take place, it is most helpful Agency considered public comment can
including diversity thinning in to understand why you desire this. be requested in writing to Office of
plantations, wood placement in creeks What are your underlying concerns with Tribal Relations, U.S. Forest Service,
and cutting and leaving conifers in areas an activity or action; what are the effects Sidney R. Yates Building, 201 14th
of hardwoods to encourage hardwood from the activity that concern you? Street SW., Washington, DC 20250–
growth. All treatments will be designed Comments received in response to 0003.
to accelerate and/or improve ACSOs. this solicitation, including names and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred
Responsible Official addresses of those who comment, will Clark, Director, Office of Tribal
Detroit District Ranger. be part of the public record for this Relations, U.S. Forest Service, 202–205–
proposed action. Comments submitted 1514. Individuals who use
Nature of Decision To Be Made anonymously will be accepted and telecommunication devices for the deaf
Given the purpose and need, the considered; however, anonymous (TDD) may call the Federal Information
scope of the decision to be made by the comments will not provide the Agency Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
responsible official will be as follows: with the ability to provide the between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.,
• Do the proposed actions comply respondent with subsequent Eastern Standard Time, Monday
with all applicable laws governing environmental documents. through Friday.
Forest Service actions? Dated: February 29, 2016. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
• Do the proposed actions comply Grady McMahan,
with the applicable standards and 1. Background and Need for the Final
District Ranger.
guidelines found in the Willamette Land Directive
[FR Doc. 2016–05257 Filed 3–8–16; 8:45 am]
and Resource Management Plan On January 18, 2013, the U.S.
(LRMP)? BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Does the Environmental Impact adopted Departmental Regulation No.
Statement have sufficient site-specific 1350–002 on tribal consultation,
environmental analysis to make an DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
coordination, and collaboration.
informed decision? Departmental Regulations
Forest Service
• Do the proposed actions meet the
institutionalize the broad programmatic
purpose and need for action? RIN 0596–AD15
With these assurances the responsible direction for all USDA agencies to
official must decide: Final Directives on American Indian develop and implement processes for
• Whether or not to select the and Alaska Native Relations Forest tribal consultation, coordination, and
proposed action or one of any other Service Manual 1500, Chapter 1560, collaboration. This Departmental
potential alternatives that may be and Forest Service Handbook 1509.13, Regulation explicitly holds the head of
developed, and what, if any, additional Chapter 10 each USDA agency accountable for the
actions should be required. implementation of this policy. In March
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 2013, the Forest Service (Agency) Office
Scoping Process ACTION: Notice of final directives. of Tribal Relations (OTR) began to
This notice of intent initiates the review the Forest Service manual and
scoping process, which guides the SUMMARY: The Forest Service has handbook to ensure it was consistent
development of the environmental revised its internal Agency directives for with the Departmental Regulation as
impact statement. American Indian and Alaska Native well as the 2012 Report to the Secretary,
It is important that reviewers provide Relations to update existing direction USDA Policy and Procedures Review
their comments at such times and in for the Agency to work effectively with and Recommendations: Indian Sacred
such manner that they are useful to the Indian tribes. The directives were last Sites, and legislation (specifically the
Lhorne on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
agency’s preparation of the revised in 2004, with an Interim Culture and Heritage Cooperation
environmental impact statement. Directive issued in 2012. The final Authority provisions of the Food,
Therefore, comments should be issuance of these directives, effective Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008
provided prior to the close of the upon publication, will provide [Pub. L. 110–246; the Farm Bill]).
scoping comment period and should consistent overall internal Forest Upon reviewing these documents, it
clearly articulate the reviewer’s Service policy to: Explain the methods was necessary to amend the Agency
concerns and contentions. used to engage with tribes on a manual and handbook, and OTR began
VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:08 Mar 08, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_12492/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2016-03-09 00:13:26
Document Modified: 2016-03-09 00:13:26
| 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 April 25, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected June 2017 and the final environmental impact statement is expected December 2017. | |
| Contact | Lyn Medley (Project Team Leader) at the Detroit Ranger District, (503) 854-4228, [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 12446 |
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