82 FR 35745 - Umpqua and Diamond Lake Districts, Umpqua National Forest, Oregon, Calf Copeland Restoration Project
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 146 (August 1, 2017)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 146 (August 1, 2017)
| Page Range | 35745-35746 | |
| FR Document | 2017-16129 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 146 (Tuesday, August 1, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 35745-35746] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-16129] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Umpqua and Diamond Lake Districts, Umpqua National Forest, Oregon, Calf Copeland Restoration Project AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Calf and Copeland Creek are major tributaries to the North Umpqua River and lie in the very center of the Umpqua National Forest. The 51,650 acre planning area is within a mixed-severity fire regime landscape in which the steep slopes and canyons historically tended to burn hot while the benches and ridges tended towards high-frequency, low-severity fire. As a consequence, the benches and ridges developed open stands of mixed-age Douglas-fir, sugar pine, ponderosa pine and incense-cedar. Fire suppression and past timber harvest have converted these areas to overstocked stands of predominately young Douglas-fir and white fir that are rapidly choking out the pine and leaving the entire landscape at risk to uncharacteristic wildfire. The Umpqua National Forest has witnessed a sharp increase in wildfire over the last couple of decades. During this period, tens of thousands of acres have burned within the planning area and the immediately adjacent watersheds, about 20,000 acres of which were stand replacement fire within habitat for the northern spotted owl. This project proposes a combination of timber harvest, non- commercial thinning, and prescribed fire to reduce stem densities and improve the fuel profiles in plantations as well as in older stands with sugar or ponderosa pine. The project also proposes to create strategically placed shaded fuel breaks along roads to help manage wildfire to reduce the risk of stand replacement fire in the remaining late-successional and old-growth stands. Finally, the project would provide log placement in lower Calf Creek to improve stream conditions, restore two wetlands and possibly decommission or close roads to improve watershed conditions. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by August 31, 2017. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected December, 2018 and the Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected July, 2019. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 2900 NW Stewart Parkway, Oregon 97471. Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to 970- 957-3283. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Helliwell at 541-957-3337, [email protected] or Amy Nathanson at 541-957-3338, [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 purpose of this project is to provide greater landscape resiliency to wildfire and other disturbances. Integral to maintaining landscape resiliency is maintenance of legacy ponderosa and sugar pine and recruitment of new pine to begin replacing the trees that have been lost to competition in the wake of decades of fire suppression. Also essential to restoring fire resiliency is the need to restore the historic species composition and structure where it has been altered due to past timber management. In order to truly improve landscape resiliency it would be necessary to group management actions, as much as practical, into ecologically significant units that would allow fire to function more similarly to how it did historically. There is a need to manage for old-growth and late-successional habitat for the northern spotted owl and other old forest species to compensate, in part, for the many thousands of acres that have been converted to early seral habitat due to recent stand-replacement fires in and adjacent to the planning area. Finally, there is a need to improve aquatic conditions that have been altered through roads and past timber harvest. Proposed Action Restoration of mixed-conifer stands with sugar pine or ponderosa pine would occur on 1,777 acres. Treatment would consist of removal of all conifers under 20-24 inches diameter breast height (DBH) within 20- 25 feet of the dripline of all healthy pine over 20 inches DBH. Overall canopy cover in the stands would be reduced to 40-60% canopy closure. No trees over 20-24'' DBH would be removed. Non-commercial thinning, girdling or burning would occur on 185 acres. Non-commercial thinning would be comprised of predominately conifers under 7'' DBH, although larger trees up to 24'' DBH may be cut and left within 20 feet of the dripline of large pines. In some cases trees up to 24'' DBH could also be girdled in the vicinity of large pines rather than felled. Fuels treatments may consist of pile and burning or broadcast burning or both. Thinning would occur on 1,147 acres of previously managed stands. All of these stands had been clearcut between 1956 and 1975 and planted to predominately Douglas-fir. These stands would be thinned to 40-60% canopy closure and small gaps of 0.5 to 3 acres would be created and planted to rust-resistant sugar pine or ponderosa pine. A 50 foot no entry buffer would be left along all streams, allowing for thinning [[Page 35746]] within the riparian reserve area outside of that 50 feet. Shaded fuel breaks would be created along about 28 miles of road. The fuel break would remove conifers less than 7'' DBH and ladder fuels up to 150 feet on either side of the road. This would result in up to 1,033 acres of shaded fuel breaks although 216 of these acres overlaps with other proposed treatment stands. Log placement would occur at eight locations along lower Calf Creek. The failing sump along Forest Service road 4750-200 would be restored to a series of three small wetlands. The small earthen dam would be removed and the new wetlands contoured in to take its place. The wetland at Little Oak Flats that is currently being drained by Forest Service road 4770-030 would be restored to retain approximately its natural hydrologic state. About six miles of road would be decommissioned, including the last 1.7 miles of Forest Service road 2801 that follows Copeland Creek. About 13 miles of road have been identified as not currently needed or expected to be needed within the next twenty years. These would be put into storage that would include pulling the culverts such that they would no longer be drivable. Of these, about 10 miles would be closed to all vehicle traffic while about three miles would still be accessible to motorized vehicles under 50'' in width. Responsible Official North Umpqua District Ranger. Nature of Decision To Be Made The deciding officer will decide whether to implement the proposed action, take an alternative action that meets the purpose and need or take no action. Preliminary Issues Preliminary issues include vegetation management in areas designated as Late Seral Reserves under the Northwest Forest Plan as well as vegetation management in designated critical habitat for the threatened northern spotted owl. Management of the road system is an issue that has been identified for this project area. Noncommercial vegetation management in inventoried roadless areas and areas that are currently undeveloped is also an issue for this project. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. Public meetings and field trips will be planned for the summer of 2017. These meetings will be announced in the Roseburg News Review and the Umpqua National Forest Web page. 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. Dated: July 19, 2017. Jeanne M. Higgins, Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System. [FR Doc. 2017-16129 Filed 7-31-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 146 / Tuesday, August 1, 2017 / Notices 35745
Individuals who use the steep slopes and canyons Purpose and Need for Action
telecommunication devices for the deaf historically tended to burn hot while the The purpose of this project is to
(TDD) may call the Federal Information benches and ridges tended towards provide greater landscape resiliency to
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 high-frequency, low-severity fire. As a wildfire and other disturbances. Integral
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., consequence, the benches and ridges to maintaining landscape resiliency is
Eastern Standard Time, Monday developed open stands of mixed-age maintenance of legacy ponderosa and
through Friday. Douglas-fir, sugar pine, ponderosa pine sugar pine and recruitment of new pine
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The and incense-cedar. Fire suppression and to begin replacing the trees that have
purpose of the meeting is to review, past timber harvest have converted been lost to competition in the wake of
evaluate, and recommend project these areas to overstocked stands of decades of fire suppression. Also
proposals to be funded with Title II predominately young Douglas-fir and essential to restoring fire resiliency is
money. white fir that are rapidly choking out the need to restore the historic species
The meeting is open to the public. the pine and leaving the entire composition and structure where it has
The agenda will include time for people landscape at risk to uncharacteristic been altered due to past timber
to make oral statements of three minutes wildfire. The Umpqua National Forest management. In order to truly improve
or less. Individuals wishing to make an has witnessed a sharp increase in landscape resiliency it would be
oral statement should request in writing wildfire over the last couple of decades. necessary to group management actions,
by August 11, 2017, to be scheduled on During this period, tens of thousands of as much as practical, into ecologically
the agenda. Anyone who would like to acres have burned within the planning significant units that would allow fire to
bring related matters to the attention of area and the immediately adjacent function more similarly to how it did
the committee may file written watersheds, about 20,000 acres of which historically. There is a need to manage
statements with the committee staff were stand replacement fire within for old-growth and late-successional
before or after the meeting. Written habitat for the northern spotted owl. habitat for the northern spotted owl and
comments and requests for time to make other old forest species to compensate,
This project proposes a combination
oral comments must be sent to Mike in part, for the many thousands of acres
of timber harvest, non-commercial
Blakeman, RAC Coordinator, Rio that have been converted to early seral
thinning, and prescribed fire to reduce
Grande NF Supervisor’s Office, 1803 habitat due to recent stand-replacement
stem densities and improve the fuel
West U.S. Highway 160, Monte Vista, fires in and adjacent to the planning
profiles in plantations as well as in
Colorado, 81144; by email to area. Finally, there is a need to improve
older stands with sugar or ponderosa
mblakeman@fs.fed.us; or via facsimile aquatic conditions that have been
to 719–852–6250. pine. The project also proposes to create
strategically placed shaded fuel breaks altered through roads and past timber
Meeting Accommodations: If you are harvest.
a person requiring reasonable along roads to help manage wildfire to
accommodation, please make requests reduce the risk of stand replacement fire Proposed Action
in advance for sign language in the remaining late-successional and
old-growth stands. Finally, the project Restoration of mixed-conifer stands
interpreting, assistive listening devices, with sugar pine or ponderosa pine
or other reasonable accommodation. For would provide log placement in lower
Calf Creek to improve stream would occur on 1,777 acres. Treatment
access to the facility or proceedings, would consist of removal of all conifers
please contact the person listed in the conditions, restore two wetlands and
possibly decommission or close roads to under 20–24 inches diameter breast
section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION height (DBH) within 20–25 feet of the
CONTACT. All reasonable improve watershed conditions.
dripline of all healthy pine over 20
accommodation requests are managed DATES: Comments concerning the scope inches DBH. Overall canopy cover in
on a case by case basis. of the analysis must be received by the stands would be reduced to 40–60%
Dated: July 10, 2017. August 31, 2017. The Draft canopy closure. No trees over 20–24″
Glenn Casamass, Environmental Impact Statement is DBH would be removed.
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest expected December, 2018 and the Final Non-commercial thinning, girdling or
System. Environmental Impact Statement is burning would occur on 185 acres. Non-
[FR Doc. 2017–16125 Filed 7–31–17; 8:45 am] expected July, 2019. commercial thinning would be
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
comprised of predominately conifers
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to under 7″ DBH, although larger trees up
2900 NW Stewart Parkway, Oregon to 24″ DBH may be cut and left within
97471. Comments may also be sent via 20 feet of the dripline of large pines. In
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
email to comments-pacificnorthwest- some cases trees up to 24″ DBH could
Forest Service umpqua-northumpqua@fs.fed.us, or via also be girdled in the vicinity of large
facsimile to 970–957–3283. pines rather than felled. Fuels
Umpqua and Diamond Lake Districts, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: treatments may consist of pile and
Umpqua National Forest, Oregon, Calf Richard Helliwell at 541–957–3337, burning or broadcast burning or both.
Copeland Restoration Project rhelliwell@fs.fed.us or Amy Nathanson Thinning would occur on 1,147 acres
AGENCY:Forest Service, USDA. at 541–957–3338, anathanson02@ of previously managed stands. All of
ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an fs.fed.us. these stands had been clearcut between
1956 and 1975 and planted to
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
Environmental Impact Statement. Individuals who use
predominately Douglas-fir. These stands
telecommunication devices for the deaf
SUMMARY: Calf and Copeland Creek are would be thinned to 40–60% canopy
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
major tributaries to the North Umpqua closure and small gaps of 0.5 to 3 acres
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
River and lie in the very center of the would be created and planted to rust-
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Umpqua National Forest. The 51,650 resistant sugar pine or ponderosa pine.
Time, Monday through Friday.
acre planning area is within a mixed- A 50 foot no entry buffer would be left
severity fire regime landscape in which SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: along all streams, allowing for thinning
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![35746 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 146 / Tuesday, August 1, 2017 / Notices
within the riparian reserve area outside impact statement. Public meetings and Conference Room, 18551 State Highway
of that 50 feet. field trips will be planned for the 7 East, Kennard, Texas. Participants
Shaded fuel breaks would be created summer of 2017. These meetings will be who would like to attend by
along about 28 miles of road. The fuel announced in the Roseburg News teleconference or by video conference,
break would remove conifers less than Review and the Umpqua National Forest please contact the person listed under
7″ DBH and ladder fuels up to 150 feet Web page. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
on either side of the road. This would It is important that reviewers provide Written comments may be submitted
result in up to 1,033 acres of shaded fuel their comments at such times and in as described under SUPPLEMENTARY
breaks although 216 of these acres such manner that they are useful to the INFORMATION. All comments, including
overlaps with other proposed treatment agency’s preparation of the names and addresses when provided,
stands. environmental impact statement. are placed in the record and are
Log placement would occur at eight Therefore, comments should be available for public inspection and
locations along lower Calf Creek. The provided prior to the close of the copying. The public may inspect
failing sump along Forest Service road comment period and should clearly comments received at Davy Crockett
4750–200 would be restored to a series articulate the reviewer’s concerns and Ranger District. Please call ahead to
of three small wetlands. The small contentions. facilitate entry into the building.
earthen dam would be removed and the Comments received in response to
new wetlands contoured in to take its this solicitation, including names and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
place. addresses of those who comment, will Michelle Rowe, RAC Coordinator, by
The wetland at Little Oak Flats that is be part of the public record for this phone at (936) 655–2299 extension 224
currently being drained by Forest proposed action. Comments submitted or via email at lrowe@fs.fed.us.
Service road 4770–030 would be anonymously will be accepted and Individuals who use
restored to retain approximately its considered, however. telecommunication devices for the deaf
natural hydrologic state. About six miles Dated: July 19, 2017. (TDD) may call the Federal Information
of road would be decommissioned, Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
Jeanne M. Higgins,
including the last 1.7 miles of Forest between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.,
Service road 2801 that follows Copeland Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National
Forest System. Eastern Standard Time, Monday
Creek. through Friday.
About 13 miles of road have been [FR Doc. 2017–16129 Filed 7–31–17; 8:45 am]
identified as not currently needed or BILLING CODE 3411–15–P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
expected to be needed within the next purpose of the meeting is to:
twenty years. These would be put into 1. Introduce new members,
storage that would include pulling the DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
2. Elect a new chairman, and
culverts such that they would no longer Forest Service
be drivable. Of these, about 10 miles 3. Review and approve new RAC
would be closed to all vehicle traffic projects.
Davy Crockett–Sam Houston Resource
while about three miles would still be Advisory Committee The meeting is open to the public.
accessible to motorized vehicles under The agenda will include time for people
50″ in width. AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. to make oral statements of three minutes
ACTION: Notice of meeting. or less. Individuals wishing to make an
Responsible Official oral statement should request in writing
North Umpqua District Ranger. SUMMARY: The Davy Crockett–Sam by August 1, 2017, to be scheduled on
Houston Resource Advisory Committee the agenda. Anyone who would like to
Nature of Decision To Be Made (RAC) will meet in Ratcliff, Texas. The bring related matters to the attention of
The deciding officer will decide committee is authorized under the the committee may file written
whether to implement the proposed Secure Rural Schools and Community statements with the committee staff
action, take an alternative action that Self-Determination Act (the Act) and before or after the meeting. Written
meets the purpose and need or take no operates in compliance with the Federal comments and requests for time to make
action. Advisory Committee Act. The purpose oral comments must be sent to Gerald
of the committee is to improve Lawrence, Jr., Designated Federal
Preliminary Issues
collaborative relationships and to Officer, Davy Crockett Ranger District,
Preliminary issues include vegetation provide advice and recommendations to 18551 State Highway 7 East, Kennard,
management in areas designated as Late the Forest Service concerning projects Texas 75847; by email to glawrence@
Seral Reserves under the Northwest and funding consistent with the Act. fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 936–655–
Forest Plan as well as vegetation RAC information can be found at the 2817.
management in designated critical following Web site: http://cloudapps-
habitat for the threatened northern Meeting Accommodations: If you are
usda-gov.force.com/FSSRS/RAC_
spotted owl. Management of the road a person requiring reasonable
Page?id=001t0000002JcvhAAC.
system is an issue that has been accommodation, please make requests
DATES: The meeting will be held on in advance for sign language
identified for this project area.
August 17, 2017, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 interpreting, assistive listening devices,
Noncommercial vegetation management
p.m. or other reasonable accommodation. For
in inventoried roadless areas and areas
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
All RAC meetings are subject to access to the facility or proceedings,
that are currently undeveloped is also
cancellation. For status of meeting prior please contact the person listed in the
an issue for this project.
to attendance, please contact the person section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Scoping Process listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
CONTACT.
This notice of intent initiates the All reasonable accommodation
scoping process, which guides the ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at requests are managed on a case by case
development of the environmental Davy Crockett Ranger District, basis.
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Document Created: 2018-10-24 11:43:53
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 11:43:53
| 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 August 31, 2017. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected December, 2018 and the Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected July, 2019. | |
| Contact | Richard Helliwell at 541-957-3337, [email protected] or Amy Nathanson at 541-957-3338, [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 35745 |
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