83_FR_42266 83 FR 42105 - Willamette National Forest, McKenzie River Ranger District; Oregon; Flat Country Project

83 FR 42105 - Willamette National Forest, McKenzie River Ranger District; Oregon; Flat Country Project

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 161 (August 20, 2018)

Page Range42105-42106
FR Document2018-17837

The Flat Country Project is located on the western slope of the Cascades, extending from Scott Mountain to the upper reach of the McKenzie River, eight miles east of McKenzie Bridge, Oregon. The project area is approximately 74,063 acres. There is a high amount of mid-seral stands, moving the seral distribution away from historic levels and limiting stand structure and species diversity across the landscape. This project proposes to thin, reduce the number of trees, and increase the size and structure of the remaining forest over time. Activities proposed include forest management treatments across approximately 5,001 acres, including forest thinning (including riparian reserve thinning) and regenerating harvests. Additional proposed activities would include road work (including maintenance, reconstruction, temporary road construction, and decommissioning), and meadow enhancements.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 161 (Monday, August 20, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 161 (Monday, August 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42105-42106]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17837]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Willamette National Forest, McKenzie River Ranger District; 
Oregon; Flat Country Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Flat Country Project is located on the western slope of 
the Cascades, extending from Scott Mountain to the upper reach of the 
McKenzie River, eight miles east of McKenzie Bridge, Oregon. The 
project area is approximately 74,063 acres. There is a high amount of 
mid-seral stands, moving the seral distribution away from historic 
levels and limiting stand structure and species diversity across the 
landscape. This project proposes to thin, reduce the number of trees, 
and increase the size and structure of the remaining forest over time. 
Activities proposed include forest management treatments across 
approximately 5,001 acres, including forest thinning (including 
riparian reserve thinning) and regenerating harvests. Additional 
proposed activities would include road work (including maintenance, 
reconstruction, temporary road construction, and decommissioning), and 
meadow enhancements.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by September 19, 2018. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected March 2019 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected August 2019.

ADDRESSES: Scoping comments can be submitted electronically through 
https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=53966. You may also submit written comments via 
mail or by hand delivery to Darren Cross, District Ranger, McKenzie 
Bridge Ranger District, 57600 McKenzie Hwy., McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413; 
or via facsimile to 541-822-7254.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dean Schlichting (Project Team Leader) 
at [email protected], 541-822-7214.
    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: 

Background

    This project was originally an environmental assessment and was 
scoped from May 22 to June 23, 2018. Scoping comments were received on 
a range of concerns and topics. Primary concerns included: Providing a 
sustainable supply of timber products for local industry, reasons for 
and against road construction, preserving and impacting northern 
spotted owl habitat, no logging of mature forests, encouraging the 
creation of early seral habitat, and alerting the recreating public of 
operation schedules and haul routes to avoid conflict. After the review 
of the project and due to the complexity and size of this project, as 
well as public input, the decision was made to elevate the analysis to 
an environmental impact statement.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Flat Country Project is proposed to provide a sustainable 
supply of timber products, actively manage stands to improve stand 
conditions (density, diversity, and structure), increase vegetative 
habitat complexity and hardwood composition along streams, and 
sustainably manage the network of road systems in the project area. 
Within the project area trees are competing for sunlight, water and 
nutrients causing reduced tree growth and vigor. The productivity and 
site conditions of forests in the project area allow for the production 
of forest products while being sensitive to the ecology of the area and 
meeting other important natural values and services.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action has multiple facets:
    (1) Commercially harvest about 5,001 acres (3.7% of the Project 
Area) and regenerate roughly 962 acres (1.0% of the Project Area). We 
propose to use thinning across the majority of the project and these 
treatments would incorporate some untreated areas (skips) and create 
gaps of up to three acres with variable spacing of remaining trees. We

[[Page 42106]]

would design the regeneration harvest to increase forest-age diversity 
across the project area. The type of regeneration harvests would vary 
and may potentially include: Shelterwood harvests, two-aged systems, 
group selection harvests, variable retention harvests, and seed tree 
harvests. The age of stands proposed for treatment range from 29 to 150 
years.
    (2) Thin and treat fuels on approximately 767 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.
    (3) Maintain or reconstruct approximately 146 miles of road, 
including installation of approximately 200 culverts (primarily 
replacements).
    (4) Decommission and hydrologically stabilize approximately 11 
miles of road.
    (5) Construct 16 miles of temporary roads; temporary roads would be 
restored to their previous function and closed after all project 
activities are completed.
    (6) Create fuel breaks along forest roads. Treatments would occur 
along approximate 57 miles of road and range from 33 to 66 feet wide 
which would equate to about 2597 acres.
    (7) Enhance dry and wet meadow habitats on approximately 368 acres, 
which includes a combination of tree removal and broadcast burning.
    (8) Reduce hazardous fuels on both existing fuel loadings and 
logging slash as a result of harvest to bring stands to levels within 
Forest Plan standards and guidelines. Proposed treatments include 
broadcast or under-burning, machine piling, burning of landings, hand 
piling and chipping.

Possible Alternatives

    Due to the responses we received from the initial scoping, there is 
at least one other action alternative that may be considered. One 
commentor suggested the Forest Service consider alternatives that avoid 
logging mature forests. The district will develop an alternative that 
harvests only in previously managed stands under 80 years old 
(Alternative 3).

Responsible Official

    McKenzie River 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 and 
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 begins the formal 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 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: July 26, 2018.
Chris French,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-17837 Filed 8-17-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 161 / Monday, August 20, 2018 / Notices 42105 TABLE 1—ESTIMATED TOTAL ANNUAL BURDEN FOR EACH TYPE OF RESPONDENT Estimated Number of Est. total Total annual Estimated total Affected public number of responses per hours per responses burden respondents respondent response Reporting State agencies ..................................................................... 54 24 1,296 0.25 324 Non-profit Institutions ........................................................... 3,445 1 3,445 0.25 861 Total Estimated Reporting Burden ...................................... 3,499 1.35 4,741 0.25 1,185 Recordkeeping State agencies ..................................................................... 54 861.8 46,537 0.10 4,714 Non-profit Institutions ........................................................... 3,445 10.78 1 37,129 0.20 7,426 Total Estimated Recordkeeping Burden .............................. 3,499 2 23.91 83,666 0.15 12,140 Total Reporting and Recordkeeping Reporting .............................................................................. 3,499 1.35 4,741 0.25 1,185 Recordkeeping ..................................................................... 3,499 23.91 83,666 0.15 12,140 Total .............................................................................. 3,499 25.27 88,407 0.15 13,325 1 Certainprocurement requirements only apply to the 2,679 school food authorities and residential child care institutions participating in the Special Milk Program. 2 Rounded from 23.91146. [FR Doc. 2018–17841 Filed 8–17–18; 8:45 am] DATES: Comments concerning the scope encouraging the creation of early seral BILLING CODE 3410–30–P of the analysis must be received by habitat, and alerting the recreating September 19, 2018. The draft public of operation schedules and haul environmental impact statement is routes to avoid conflict. After the review DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE expected March 2019 and the final of the project and due to the complexity environmental impact statement is and size of this project, as well as public Forest Service expected August 2019. input, the decision was made to elevate ADDRESSES: Scoping comments can be the analysis to an environmental impact Willamette National Forest, McKenzie statement. submitted electronically through River Ranger District; Oregon; Flat https://cara.ecosystem- Purpose and Need for Action Country Project management.org/Public// CommentInput?Project=53966. You may The Flat Country Project is proposed AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. also submit written comments via mail to provide a sustainable supply of ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an or by hand delivery to Darren Cross, timber products, actively manage stands environmental impact statement. District Ranger, McKenzie Bridge to improve stand conditions (density, Ranger District, 57600 McKenzie Hwy., diversity, and structure), increase SUMMARY: The Flat Country Project is McKenzie Bridge, OR 97413; or via vegetative habitat complexity and located on the western slope of the facsimile to 541–822–7254. hardwood composition along streams, Cascades, extending from Scott FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: and sustainably manage the network of Mountain to the upper reach of the Dean Schlichting (Project Team Leader) road systems in the project area. Within McKenzie River, eight miles east of at deandschlichting@fs.fed.us, 541–822– the project area trees are competing for McKenzie Bridge, Oregon. The project 7214. sunlight, water and nutrients causing area is approximately 74,063 acres. Individuals who use reduced tree growth and vigor. The There is a high amount of mid-seral telecommunication devices for the deaf productivity and site conditions of stands, moving the seral distribution (TDD) may call the Federal Information forests in the project area allow for the away from historic levels and limiting Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 production of forest products while stand structure and species diversity between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern being sensitive to the ecology of the area across the landscape. This project Time, Monday through Friday. and meeting other important natural proposes to thin, reduce the number of SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: values and services. trees, and increase the size and structure Proposed Action of the remaining forest over time. Background Activities proposed include forest This project was originally an The proposed action has multiple management treatments across environmental assessment and was facets: approximately 5,001 acres, including scoped from May 22 to June 23, 2018. (1) Commercially harvest about 5,001 forest thinning (including riparian Scoping comments were received on a acres (3.7% of the Project Area) and daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES reserve thinning) and regenerating range of concerns and topics. Primary regenerate roughly 962 acres (1.0% of harvests. Additional proposed activities concerns included: Providing a the Project Area). We propose to use would include road work (including sustainable supply of timber products thinning across the majority of the maintenance, reconstruction, temporary for local industry, reasons for and project and these treatments would road construction, and against road construction, preserving incorporate some untreated areas (skips) decommissioning), and meadow and impacting northern spotted owl and create gaps of up to three acres with enhancements. habitat, no logging of mature forests, variable spacing of remaining trees. We VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:04 Aug 17, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20AUN1.SGM 20AUN1

42106 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 161 / Monday, August 20, 2018 / Notices would design the regeneration harvest Nature of Decision To Be Made respondent with subsequent to increase forest-age diversity across environmental documents. the project area. The type of Given the purpose and need, the scope of the decision to be made by the Dated: July 26, 2018. regeneration harvests would vary and Chris French, may potentially include: Shelterwood responsible official will be as follows: Do the proposed actions comply with all Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest harvests, two-aged systems, group System. selection harvests, variable retention applicable laws governing Forest Service actions and with the applicable [FR Doc. 2018–17837 Filed 8–17–18; 8:45 am] harvests, and seed tree harvests. The age of stands proposed for treatment range standards and guidelines found in the BILLING CODE 3411–15–P from 29 to 150 years. Willamette Land and Resource (2) Thin and treat fuels on Management Plan (LRMP)? Does the Environmental Impact Statement have DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE approximately 767 acres of riparian reserves outside of riparian buffers to sufficient site-specific environmental Forest Service accelerate and/or improve Aquatic analysis to make an informed decision? Conservation Strategy Objectives Do the proposed actions meet the Comprehensive River Management (ACSOs). Additional riparian reserve purpose and need for action? With these Plan for Black Butte Wild and Scenic treatments could occur on up to 50 acres assurances the responsible official must River, Including Portions of Cold within buffers, including diversity decide: Whether or not to select the Creek, Mendocino National Forest, thinning in plantations, wood proposed action or one of any other Mendocino County, California placement in creeks and cutting and potential alternatives that may be developed, and what, if any, additional AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. leaving conifers in areas of hardwoods actions should be required. ACTION: Notice of availability. to encourage hardwood growth. All treatments will be designed to accelerate Scoping Process SUMMARY: In accordance with Section and/or improve ACSOs. 3(d)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers (3) Maintain or reconstruct This notice of intent begins the formal Act, the USDA Forest Service approximately 146 miles of road, scoping process, which guides the announces the completion and including installation of approximately development of the environmental availability of the comprehensive river 200 culverts (primarily replacements). impact statement. It is important that management plan for Black Butte Wild (4) Decommission and hydrologically reviewers provide their comments at and Scenic River, including portions of stabilize approximately 11 miles of such times and in such manner that Cold Creek. On May 11, 2018, Acting road. they are useful to the agency’s Mendocino Forest Supervisor, Gar (5) Construct 16 miles of temporary preparation of the environmental impact Abbas signed a decision notice to adopt roads; temporary roads would be statement. Therefore, comments should a comprehensive river management plan restored to their previous function and be provided prior to the close of the (‘‘CRMP’’) for Black Butte Wild and closed after all project activities are comment period and should clearly Scenic River (including Cold Creek). completed. articulate the reviewer’s concerns and The Black Butte Wild and Scenic River contentions. CRMP (including Cold Creek) addresses (6) Create fuel breaks along forest roads. Treatments would occur along We are interested in your comments resource protection, development of approximate 57 miles of road and range on the following questions: Are there lands and facilities, user capacities, and from 33 to 66 feet wide which would alternative ways to meet the purpose of other management practices necessary equate to about 2597 acres. the project other than the proposed or desirable to achieve the purposes of (7) Enhance dry and wet meadow action we offer, which you would like the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. This habitats on approximately 368 acres, the Forest Service to consider and CRMP was prepared after consultation which includes a combination of tree analyze? Is there any information about with State and local governments and removal and broadcast burning. the project area, which you believe is the interested public. An environmental (8) Reduce hazardous fuels on both important in the context of the proposed assessment (EA) was prepared as part of existing fuel loadings and logging slash activities that you would like the Forest the CRMP development. This EA has as a result of harvest to bring stands to Service to consider? What specifically been prepared in compliance with the levels within Forest Plan standards and are the potential effects of this proposal National Environmental Policy Act and guidelines. Proposed treatments include that you are particularly concerned other relevant federal laws and broadcast or under-burning, machine about? For example, rather than simply regulations. The EA discloses the direct, piling, burning of landings, hand piling stating that you would like a change in indirect, and cumulative environmental and chipping. a proposed activity or that you would effects that would result from adopting not like an activity to take place, it is the CRMP. Possible Alternatives most helpful to understand why you The Black Butte Wild and Scenic Due to the responses we received desire this. What are your underlying River CRMP (including Cold Creek) and from the initial scoping, there is at least concerns with an activity or action; the EA are available for review at one other action alternative that may be what are the effects from the activity https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/ considered. One commentor suggested that concern you? ?project=50351 and the following the Forest Service consider alternatives Comments received in response to offices: Upper Lake Ranger District, that avoid logging mature forests. The this solicitation, including names and 10025 Elk Mountain Road, Upper Lake, daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES district will develop an alternative that addresses of those who comment, will CA 95484. Mendocino National Forest harvests only in previously managed be part of the public record for this Supervisor’s Office, 825 N Humboldt stands under 80 years old (Alternative proposed action. Comments submitted Ave., Willows, CA 95988. 3). anonymously will be accepted and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: considered, however, anonymous Information may be obtained by Responsible Official comments will not provide the Agency contacting Hilda Kwan, District McKenzie River District Ranger. with the ability to provide the Hydrologist, Mendocino National VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:04 Aug 17, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20AUN1.SGM 20AUN1


Document Created: 2018-08-18 01:28:36
Document Modified: 2018-08-18 01:28:36
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
DatesComments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by September 19, 2018. The draft environmental impact statement is expected March 2019 and the final environmental impact statement is expected August 2019.
ContactDean Schlichting (Project Team Leader) at [email protected], 541-822-7214.
FR Citation83 FR 42105 
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