82 FR 26772 - Superior National Forest, Kawishiwi Ranger District; Minnesota; Hi Lo Project

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 110 (June 9, 2017)

Page Range		26772-26773
FR Document		2017-11980

The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Hi Lo Project. Proposed activities would manage forest vegetation composition, structure, and spatial patterns, as well as the transportation system associated with these activities. Proposed vegetation activities include creating young forest, improving stand conditions through uneven age management, and restoring stand conditions through a variety of methods. Treatments are proposed throughout the project area, including within three Forest Plan Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRA) and two Roadless Area Conservation Rule Areas (RACR). The proposal would include a project-specific Forest Plan Amendment for prescribed burning within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (hereinafter Wilderness). The Amendment would accommodate only those acres identified in the Wilderness necessary to fulfill the purpose and need of the Hi Lo Project.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 110 (Friday, June 9, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 110 (Friday, June 9, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26772-26773]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11980]


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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.

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 110 / Friday, June 9, 2017 / 
Notices

[[Page 26772]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Superior National Forest, Kawishiwi Ranger District; Minnesota; 
Hi Lo Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Hi Lo Project. Proposed activities would manage 
forest vegetation composition, structure, and spatial patterns, as well 
as the transportation system associated with these activities.
    Proposed vegetation activities include creating young forest, 
improving stand conditions through uneven age management, and restoring 
stand conditions through a variety of methods. Treatments are proposed 
throughout the project area, including within three Forest Plan 
Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRA) and two Roadless Area Conservation 
Rule Areas (RACR). The proposal would include a project-specific Forest 
Plan Amendment for prescribed burning within the Boundary Waters Canoe 
Area Wilderness (hereinafter Wilderness). The Amendment would 
accommodate only those acres identified in the Wilderness necessary to 
fulfill the purpose and need of the Hi Lo Project.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by July 10, 2017. The draft EIS is expected September 2017 and the 
final EIS is expected January 2018.

ADDRESSES:  Send written comments to Douglas Smith, Kawishiwi District 
Ranger, Hi Lo Project EIS, 1393 Hwy. 169, Ely, MN 55731. Comments may 
also be sent via email to comments-eastern-superior-kawishiwi@fs.fed.us 
or via facsimile to (218) 365-7605.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Merriman, Hi Lo Project Leader, 
1393 Hwy. 169, Ely, MN 55731, telephone (218) 365-2095 or 
lmerriman@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. The initial and modified proposed action documents can also be 
found online: www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47208.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of the Hi Lo Project is to move the area towards 
vegetation and landscape ecosystem desired conditions described in the 
2004 Superior National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. 
Specifically the project would promote and maintain long-term diverse, 
productive, healthy plant communities and wildlife habitat; improve 
conditions that minimize undesirable effects of wildfire; provide 
sustainable forest products; increase recreation opportunities; and 
manage the transportation system.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action would move existing vegetation conditions 
towards long-term desired composition, structure, and spatial patterns. 
Healthy forested ecosystems are more resilient and able to recover more 
quickly in the event of a wildfire or an insect and disease outbreak. 
Proposed vegetation activities include creating young forest on 
approximately 2,024 acres, improving stand conditions with harvest 
(uneven age) on 3,613 acres, restoring stand conditions through release 
(non-harvest), browse shearing, timber stand improvement, and 
prescribed burning.
    To accomplish the purpose and need, a landscape approach was used 
to strategically determine where proposed actions should take place. 
Treatments are proposed throughout the project area, including 
harvesting 1,362 acres within Big Lake and Agassa Lake IRAs. There is 
172 acres of prescribed burning proposed within the Hegman Lakes RACR 
area and 2,589 acres of prescribed burning proposed within the three 
IRAs (Big Lake IRA, Agassa Lake IRA, and North Arm Burntside Lake IRA). 
To protect residences and summer camps outside the Wilderness, and to 
reduce risk to firefighters, prescribed burning is proposed on 1,314 
acres inside the Wilderness.
    The project also proposes to increase recreation opportunities by 
creating new trails, providing road access to other ownerships, and 
promoting moose and other wildlife habitat by improving lowland sedge 
areas and oak-blueberry sites.
    The proposed action was modified from that originally scoped in 
August 2016 to account for changed conditions caused by a blowdown 
event. Further information on the modified proposed action is available 
at the HiLo Project Web page: www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47208.

Possible Alternatives

    Possible alternatives include the no-action alternative, 
alternative 2 (modified from the proposed action which initially went 
out for scoping in August 2016), and alternative 3 (modifying, reducing 
or removing treatment acres within certain areas, such as Wilderness 
and roadless).

Administrative Objection

    The Hi Lo Project is an activity implementing a land management 
plan and is not authorized under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act; 
therefore, the Hi Lo Project decision is subject to objections 
following Forest Service regulations at 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. 
Since the Forest Plan Amendment applies only to the Hi Lo Project, it 
is subject to the same project objection review process. Only 
individuals or organizations who submit timely and specific written 
comments, as defined at 36 CFR 218.2, regarding the proposed project 
are eligible to file an objection to the Hi Lo Project.
    In addition to serving as a scoping opportunity, this time period 
will serve as a designated opportunity for public comment that may 
provide a commenter with eligibility to object to the proposed project 
under 36 CFR part 218. Comments are most useful when they are specific 
to the proposed actions and if received within 30 days from the date of 
publication in the Federal Register. An additional public comment 
period will be held once the Draft EIS is complete and comments 
submitted during that public comment period

[[Page 26773]]

would also provide the commenter with eligibility to object.

Responsible Official

    Forest Supervisor, Superior National Forest.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    An Environmental Impact Statement for the Hi Lo Project will 
evaluate site-specific issues, consider management alternatives, and 
analyze potential effects of the proposed action and alternatives. This 
analysis will include the project specific Forest Plan Amendment needed 
to conduct prescribed burning in the Wilderness. The scope of the 
project is limited to decisions concerning activities within the Hi Lo 
Project Area that meet the purpose and need. An Environmental Impact 
Statement will provide the responsible official with the information 
needed to decide which actions, if any, to approve.

Preliminary Issues

    Issues identified during the original scoping period (August 2016) 
included prescribed burning in the Wilderness, harvesting within Forest 
Plan IRAs, blowdown, site-specific vegetation management, and 
associated temporary road construction.

Permits or Licenses Required

    Easement or permission to cross nonfederal property may be needed 
to access some treatment units to implement Forest Service activities.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the Environmental Impact Statement. This will be the 
initial scoping to include a project-level Forest Plan Amendment in the 
EIS. The previously scoped proposed action (August 2016) guided us to 
initiate an EIS and Forest Plan Amendment.
    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, anonymous comments will not provide 
the Agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent 
environmental documents.

    Dated: May 26, 2017.
Glenn P. Casamassa,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2017-11980 Filed 6-8-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

26772

Notices Federal Register
Vol. 82, No. 110

Friday, June 9, 2017

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: protect residences and summer camps
contains documents other than rules or Linda Merriman, Hi Lo Project Leader, outside the Wilderness, and to reduce
proposed rules that are applicable to the 1393 Hwy. 169, Ely, MN 55731, risk to firefighters, prescribed burning is
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, telephone (218) 365–2095 or proposed on 1,314 acres inside the
committee meetings, agency decisions and lmerriman@fs.fed.us. Individuals who Wilderness.
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
use telecommunication devices for the The project also proposes to increase
statements of organization and functions are deaf (TDD) may call the Federal recreation opportunities by creating new
examples of documents appearing in this Information Relay Service (FIRS) at trails, providing road access to other
section. 1–800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 ownerships, and promoting moose and
p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through other wildlife habitat by improving
Friday. The initial and modified lowland sedge areas and oak-blueberry
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE proposed action documents can also be sites.
found online: www.fs.usda.gov/project/ The proposed action was modified
Forest Service ?project=47208. from that originally scoped in August
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 2016 to account for changed conditions
Superior National Forest, Kawishiwi
caused by a blowdown event. Further
Ranger District; Minnesota; Hi Lo Purpose and Need for Action information on the modified proposed
Project
The purpose of the Hi Lo Project is to action is available at the HiLo Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. move the area towards vegetation and Web page: www.fs.usda.gov/project/
landscape ecosystem desired conditions ?project=47208.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement. described in the 2004 Superior National Possible Alternatives
Forest Land and Resource Management
SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, Plan. Specifically the project would Possible alternatives include the no-
will prepare an Environmental Impact promote and maintain long-term action alternative, alternative 2
Statement (EIS) for the Hi Lo Project. diverse, productive, healthy plant (modified from the proposed action
Proposed activities would manage forest communities and wildlife habitat; which initially went out for scoping in
vegetation composition, structure, and improve conditions that minimize August 2016), and alternative 3
spatial patterns, as well as the undesirable effects of wildfire; provide (modifying, reducing or removing
transportation system associated with sustainable forest products; increase treatment acres within certain areas,
these activities. recreation opportunities; and manage such as Wilderness and roadless).
Proposed vegetation activities include the transportation system. Administrative Objection
creating young forest, improving stand Proposed Action The Hi Lo Project is an activity
conditions through uneven age
The proposed action would move implementing a land management plan
management, and restoring stand
existing vegetation conditions towards and is not authorized under the Healthy
conditions through a variety of methods.
long-term desired composition, Forest Restoration Act; therefore, the Hi
Treatments are proposed throughout the
structure, and spatial patterns. Healthy Lo Project decision is subject to
project area, including within three
forested ecosystems are more resilient objections following Forest Service
Forest Plan Inventoried Roadless Areas
and able to recover more quickly in the regulations at 36 CFR 218, Subparts A
(IRA) and two Roadless Area
event of a wildfire or an insect and and B. Since the Forest Plan
Conservation Rule Areas (RACR). The
disease outbreak. Proposed vegetation Amendment applies only to the Hi Lo
proposal would include a project-
activities include creating young forest Project, it is subject to the same project
specific Forest Plan Amendment for
on approximately 2,024 acres, objection review process. Only
prescribed burning within the Boundary
improving stand conditions with individuals or organizations who submit
Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
harvest (uneven age) on 3,613 acres, timely and specific written comments,
(hereinafter Wilderness). The
restoring stand conditions through as defined at 36 CFR 218.2, regarding
Amendment would accommodate only
release (non-harvest), browse shearing, the proposed project are eligible to file
those acres identified in the Wilderness
timber stand improvement, and an objection to the Hi Lo Project.
necessary to fulfill the purpose and
prescribed burning. In addition to serving as a scoping
need of the Hi Lo Project.
To accomplish the purpose and need, opportunity, this time period will serve
DATES: Comments concerning the scope a landscape approach was used to as a designated opportunity for public
of the analysis must be received by July strategically determine where proposed comment that may provide a commenter
10, 2017. The draft EIS is expected actions should take place. Treatments with eligibility to object to the proposed
September 2017 and the final EIS is are proposed throughout the project project under 36 CFR part 218.
expected January 2018. area, including harvesting 1,362 acres Comments are most useful when they
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to within Big Lake and Agassa Lake IRAs. are specific to the proposed actions and
Douglas Smith, Kawishiwi District There is 172 acres of prescribed burning if received within 30 days from the date
Ranger, Hi Lo Project EIS, 1393 Hwy. proposed within the Hegman Lakes of publication in the Federal Register.
169, Ely, MN 55731. Comments may RACR area and 2,589 acres of prescribed An additional public comment period
also be sent via email to comments- burning proposed within the three IRAs will be held once the Draft EIS is
eastern-superior-kawishiwi@fs.fed.us or (Big Lake IRA, Agassa Lake IRA, and complete and comments submitted
via facsimile to (218) 365–7605. North Arm Burntside Lake IRA). To during that public comment period

VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:25 Jun 08, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09JNN1.SGM 09JNN1

Document Created: 2017-06-09 01:11:46
Document Modified: 2017-06-09 01:11:46

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 July 10, 2017. The draft EIS is expected September 2017 and the final EIS is expected January 2018.
Contact		Linda Merriman, Hi Lo Project Leader, 1393 Hwy. 169, Ely, MN 55731, telephone (218) 365-2095 or [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. The initial and modified proposed action documents can also be found online: www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=47208.
FR Citation		82 FR 26772

82 FR 26772 - Superior National Forest, Kawishiwi Ranger District; Minnesota; Hi Lo Project

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREForest Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 110 (June 9, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service