81 FR 71039 - Fremont-Winema National Forest; Bly and Chiloquin Ranger Districts; Oregon; East Hills Project Environmental Impact Statement
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 199 (October 14, 2016)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 199 (October 14, 2016)
| Page Range | 71039-71040 | |
| FR Document | 2016-24854 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 199 (Friday, October 14, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 71039-71040] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-24854] ======================================================================== 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. 199 / Friday, October 14, 2016 / Notices [[Page 71039]] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Fremont-Winema National Forest; Bly and Chiloquin Ranger Districts; Oregon; East Hills Project Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental effects of commercial and non-commercial vegetation management activities, prescribed burning, road activities, stream and aquatic habitat improvements, and other restoration activities. The project is located on the Bly and Chiloquin Ranger Districts, Fremont-Winema National Forest, Klamath County, Oregon. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by November 14, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected May 2017 and the final environmental impact statement is expected August 2017. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Eric Watrud, Acting Forest Supervisor, Fremont-Winema National Forest, c/o Jody Perozzi, PO Box 25, Bly, OR 97622. Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to 541-353- 2750. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jody Perozzi, Environmental Coordinator Bly Ranger District; PO Box 25, Bly, OR 97622. Phone: 541- 353-2723. Email: [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: The East Hills Project area encompasses approximately 169,000 acres, including 138,733 acres of National Forest System lands managed by the Forest Service, and approximately 30,500 acres of the Sycan Marsh Preserve owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy. The majority of the project is within the Klamath Tribes' former 1954 reservation. The project area is located approximately 10 miles northwest of the town of Bly, OR. The project area crosses two Ranger District boundaries: Bly (38%) and Chiloquin (62%), and is managed under two National Forest Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMP) as amended: the 1990 Winema LRMP and the 1989 Fremont LRMP. The Sycan Wild and Scenic River flows through the middle of the project area forming the boundary between lands managed under the Fremont LRMP and those managed under the Winema LRMP. The legal description of the project area includes Townships 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 South, and Ranges 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 East, Willamette Meridian, Klamath County, Oregon. Purpose and Need for Action The purpose of the project is to conduct restoration management activities to improve forest resiliency and sustainability, maintain and enhance habitat diversity, manage the road system, and restore hydrologic functioning, thereby moving the landscape towards the goals, objectives, and desired future conditions directed by the Fremont and Winema LRMPs, as amended by the Eastside Screens and INFISH. The underlying needs for the East Hills Project derive from the differences between the current landscape condition, and the goals, objectives, and desired future conditions directed by the Fremont and Winema LRMPs, as amended by the Eastside Screens and INFISH. To promote an ecologically resilient landscape consistent with the desired conditions outlined in the Forest Plans there is a need to: (1) Reduce stand densities to improve vigor and increase resilience to insects, disease, drought, and wildfire; (2) Maintain and promote development of late/old seral (LOS) habitat consistent with the historic range of variability (HRV); (3) Maintain LOS components, by protecting and releasing large and old trees from competition; (4) Restore dominance of ponderosa pine and other fire- and drought-tolerant species; (5) Create spatial heterogeneity within stands and across the landscape; (6) Create age class diversity in climax lodgepole pine stands; (7) Reduce fuel loads and reintroduce fire on the landscape; (8) Enhance and restore non- forested habitat diversity; (9) Conserve, improve, and restore habitat for wildlife and botanical species; (10) Improve mule deer habitat; (11) Conserve and restore cultural plants; (12) Maintain and restore aspen and other hardwoods; (13) Restore and enhance natural stream function and associated habitats; (14) Reduce road densities; (15) Maintain opportunities for sustainable recreation activities; and (16) Provide forest products as a by-product of meeting the above objectives. Proposed Action The Forest proposed action includes restoration activities for the following resources: vegetation management, stream and aquatic habitat, and road systems to address the purpose and need. These activities would occur over approximately the next 10 years. Vegetation management will include a combination of commercial thinning, small tree thinning, prescribed burning, and other fuels treatments. The use of different methods would be determined by site conditions, accesibility and specific resource protection needs. The proposal includes four different vegetation restoration treatment emphasis areas: (1) Mixed conifer; (2) lodgepole pine; (3) meadow/ riparian; (4) ponderosa pine. The proposed action contains stream restoration and fish passage activities including repair of headcuts and incised stream channels, large wood addition, streambank stabilization, and culvert replacements. Approximately 19 miles of roads are proposed to be closed and approximately 243 miles of roads are proposed for decommissioning post- implementation. Maintenance level increases are proposed for approximately 8 miles of roads to provide through routes of open roads. The East Hill Project will also include a variety of project design and resource protection measures that serve to mitigate the impact of activities to resources, including air quality, cultural and heritage, wildlife, aquatic species, [[Page 71040]] soils, water, scenic, botanical species and invasive plant species prevention. The proposed action may also include project-specific amendments to the Fremont and Winema National Forest LRMPs. Possible Alternatives The Forest Service will consider a range of alternatives. One of these will be the ``no action'' alternative in which none of the proposed actions would be implemented. Additional alternatives may be considered in response to issues raised by the public during the scoping process or due to additional concerns for resource values identified by the interdisciplinary team. Responsible Official The Forest Supervisor of the Fremont-Winema National Forest, 1301 South G Street, Lakeview, OR 97630, is the Responsible Official. As the Responsible Official, I will decide if the proposed action will be implemented. I will document the decision and rationale for the decision in the Record of Decision. I have delegated the responsibility for preparing the draft EIS and final EIS to the District Ranger, Bly Ranger District. Nature of Decision To Be Made Based on the purpose and need, the Responsible Official reviews the proposed action, the other alternatives, the environmental consequences, and public comments on the analysis in order to make the following decision: (1) Whether to implement timber harvest and associated fuels treatments, prescribed burning, road management activities, and stream improvements, including design features and potential mitigation measures to protect resources; and if so, how much and at what specific locations; (2) What, if any, project-specific Forest Plan Amendments will be necessary to implement the project; (3) What, if any, specific project monitoring requirements are needed to assure design features and potential mitigation measures are implemented and effective, and to evaluate the success of the project objectives. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. The interdisciplinary team will continue to seek information, comments, and assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribal governments, and other individuals or organizations that may be interested in, or affected by, the proposed action. 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. Dated: October 7, 2016. Eric Watrud, Acting Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2016-24854 Filed 10-13-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
![71040 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 199 / Friday, October 14, 2016 / Notices
soils, water, scenic, botanical species It is important that reviewers provide inspection and copying. The public may
and invasive plant species prevention. their comments at such times and in inspect comments received at the Santa
The proposed action may also include such manner that they are useful to the Fe National Forest Office. Please call
project–specific amendments to the agency’s preparation of the ahead to facilitate entry into the
Fremont and Winema National Forest environmental impact statement. building.
LRMPs. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Possible Alternatives comment period and should clearly Reuben Montes, RAC Coordinator, by
The Forest Service will consider a articulate the reviewer’s concerns and phone at 505–438–5356 or via email at
range of alternatives. One of these will contentions. rmontes@fs.fed.us. Individuals who use
be the ‘‘no action’’ alternative in which Comments received in response to telecommunication devices for the deaf
none of the proposed actions would be this solicitation, including names and (TDD) may call the Federal Information
implemented. Additional alternatives addresses of those who comment, will Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
may be considered in response to issues be part of the public record for this between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.,
raised by the public during the scoping proposed action. Comments submitted Eastern Standard Time, Monday
process or due to additional concerns anonymously will be accepted and
through Friday.
for resource values identified by the considered.
interdisciplinary team. Dated: October 7, 2016. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Eric Watrud, purpose of the meeting is to review and
Responsible Official recommend funding of project
Acting Forest Supervisor.
The Forest Supervisor of the Fremont- [FR Doc. 2016–24854 Filed 10–13–16; 8:45 am]
proposals. The meeting is open to the
Winema National Forest, 1301 South G public. The agenda will include time for
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
Street, Lakeview, OR 97630, is the people to make oral statements of three
Responsible Official. As the Responsible minutes or less. Individuals wishing to
Official, I will decide if the proposed DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE make an oral statement should request
action will be implemented. I will in writing by November 10, 2016 to be
document the decision and rationale for Forest Service scheduled on the agenda. Anyone who
the decision in the Record of Decision. would like to bring related matters to
I have delegated the responsibility for New Mexico Resource Advisory the attention of the committee may file
preparing the draft EIS and final EIS to Committee; Notice of Meeting
written statements with the committee
the District Ranger, Bly Ranger District. AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. staff before or after the meeting. Written
Nature of Decision To Be Made ACTION: Notice of Meeting. comments and requests for time to make
oral comments must be sent to Reuben
Based on the purpose and need, the SUMMARY: The Northern New Mexico Montes, RAC Coordinator, 11 Forest
Responsible Official reviews the Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) Lane, Santa Fe, NM 87508; by email to
proposed action, the other alternatives, will meet in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The
rmontes@fs.ed.us or via facsimile to 505
the environmental consequences, and committee is authorized under the
438 5391. Meeting Accommodations: If
public comments on the analysis in Secure Rural Schools and Community
Self-Determination Act (the Act) and you are a person requiring reasonable
order to make the following decision: (1)
operates in compliance with the Federal accommodation, please make requests
Whether to implement timber harvest
Advisory Committee Act. The purpose in advance for sign language
and associated fuels treatments,
of the committee is to improve interpreting, assistive listening devices,
prescribed burning, road management
activities, and stream improvements, collaborative relationships and to or other reasonable accommodation. For
including design features and potential provide advice and recommendations to access to the facility or proceedings,
mitigation measures to protect the Forest Service concerning projects please contact the person listed in the
resources; and if so, how much and at and funding consistent with Title II of section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
what specific locations; (2) What, if any, the Act. RAC information can be found CONTACT. All reasonable
project-specific Forest Plan at the following Web site: http:// accommodation requests are managed
Amendments will be necessary to www.fs.usda.gov/main/santafe/ on a case by case basis.
implement the project; (3) What, if any, workingtogether/advisorycommittees. Dated: October 5, 2016.
specific project monitoring DATES: The meeting will be held
Joseph Norrell,
requirements are needed to assure November 17–18, 2016 starting at 10:00
a.m. on November 17 and 8:00 a.m. on Deputy Forest Supervisor, Santa Fe National
design features and potential mitigation
Forest.
measures are implemented and November 18. All RAC meetings are
subject to cancellation. For status of [FR Doc. 2016–24868 Filed 10–13–16; 8:45 am]
effective, and to evaluate the success of
the project objectives. meeting prior to attendance, please BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
contact the person listed under FOR
Scoping Process FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
This notice of intent initiates the ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
scoping process, which guides the the Santa Fe National Forest
development of the environmental Supervisor’s Conference Room, 11
rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
impact statement. The interdisciplinary Forest Lane, Santa Fe, New Mexico
team will continue to seek information, 87508. Written comments may be
comments, and assistance from Federal, submitted as described under
State, and local agencies, Tribal SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. All
governments, and other individuals or comments, including names and
organizations that may be interested in, addresses when provided, are placed in
or affected by, the proposed action. the record and are available for public
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Document Created: 2016-10-14 00:01:20
Document Modified: 2016-10-14 00:01:20
| 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 November 14, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected May 2017 and the final environmental impact statement is expected August 2017. | |
| Contact | Jody Perozzi, Environmental Coordinator Bly Ranger District; PO Box 25, Bly, OR 97622. Phone: 541- 353-2723. Email: [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 71039 |
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