Cannon Gulch Project, Boise National Forest, ID

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 117 (Friday, June 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 32840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15371]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 117 / Friday, June 18, 1999 / 
Notices

[[Page 32840]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Cannon Gulch Project, Boise National Forest, ID

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Mountain Home Ranger District of the Boise National Forest 
will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a timber 
salvage project in the Cannon Gulch project area, located immediately 
southwest of Pine, Idaho. Access is via Forest Highway 61. The project 
area encompasses approximately 1,100 acres of National Forest System 
land and is located 60 road miles northeast of Mountain Home and about 
100 road miles east of Boise, Idaho.
    The agency invites written comments and suggestions on the scope of 
the analysis. The agency also hereby gives notice of the environmental 
analysis and decisionmaking process that will occur on the proposal so 
that interested and affected people are aware of how they may 
participate and contribute to the final decision.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action would commercial thin and salvage harvest 
approximately 500 acres. Prescribed fire would be used on approximately 
240 acres (40 acres of site preparation for tree planting, an 
additional 100 acres to take advantage of natural fuel breaks, and 100 
acres to rejuvenate aspen). Logs would be yarded with a helicopter 
using one helicopter landing south of the Pine schoolhouse. Conifer 
seedlings would be planted on 40 acres. The activities would occur from 
2000 to 2001.

Preliminary Issues

    One significant issue has been identified with the proposed action 
which is that timber harvest would develop a portion of the Rainbow 
Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA), changing the wilderness attributes on 
that portion. The developed portion would not be given future 
consideration for wilderness designation under current Forest Service 
guidelines.

Possible Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    One alternative to the proposed action identified is the no action 
alternative. Other alternatives may be developed as issues are raised 
and information is received.

Decisions To Be Made

    The Boise National Forest Supervisor will decide whether to conduct 
timber management and harvest activities now or to defer them until a 
later time. If he chooses to conduct timber management and harvest 
activities now, he will decide which acres to treat and which logging 
systems to use; what, if any, acres to treat with prescribed fire; and 
what mitigation and/or monitoring measures to implement to meet Forest 
standards and minimize resource conflicts.

Schedule

    Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), August 1999. Final, 
November 1999.

Public Involvement

    Scoping was initiated in January 1998. A scoping letter was sent to 
over 60 individuals, groups, organizations, and agencies. Comments 
received from these public involvement efforts will be incorporated 
into the analysis process.

Comments

    Written comments concerning the proposed project and analysis are 
encouraged and should be postmarked within 30 days following 
publication of this announcement in the Federal Register. Mail comments 
to Jane Beaulieu, Mountain Home Ranger District, 2180 American Legion 
Boulevard, Mountain Home, ID 83647; telephone 208-587-7961. Further 
information can be obtained at the same location.
    The comment period on the DEIS will be 45 days from the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in 
the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important 
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of 
DEIS's must structure their participation in the environmental review 
of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the 
reviewer's position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. 
v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that 
could be raised at the DEIS stage but not raised until after completion 
of the final environmental impact statement, may be waived or dismissed 
by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1002 (9th Cir., 
1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 
(E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, it is very important 
that those interested in this proposed action participate by the close 
of the 45-day comment period so that substantive comments and 
objections are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it 
can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the final 
environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the DEIS should be as 
specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific 
pages or chapters of the draft statement. Comments may also address the 
adequacy of the DEIS or the merits of the alternatives formulated and 
discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council 
on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural 
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in 
addressing these points.

Responsible Official

    David D. Rittenhouse, Forest Supervisor, Boise National Forest, 
1249 South Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID 83709.

    Dated: June 10, 1999.
Jack E. Williams,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 99-15371 Filed 6-17-99; 8:45 am]
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