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West Gold Project, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Bonner County, Idaho

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: July 17, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 137)]
[Notices]
[Page 44025-44026]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17jy00-27]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


West Gold Project, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Bonner
County, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) to document and disclose the potential environmental
effects of proposed activities within the West Gold watershed in the
Sandpoint Ranger District, Idaho Panhandle National Forests. The
watershed is located about 25 miles south of Sandpoint, Idaho, near the
town of Lakeview.
    The proposal was designed using science from broad scale
assessments including the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management
Project. The proposal is intended to improve the health and
productivity of terrestrial and aquatic habitats by: (1) Restoring
desired forest structures, habitats, and species composition where they
are decreasing and where root disease occurs, (2) restoring fire as an
ecological process, (3) reducing the level of forest fuels and the risk
of catastrophic wildfire; (4) reducing existing and potential sediment
risks and improving aquatic habitat, and (5) providing public access
and managing motorized recreation to protect resource values such as
wildlife and water.
    Activities would include thinning overcrowded stands of trees,
cutting stands dead or dying from insects and root disease and
replanting them with longer lived seral species; burning to reduce
fuels, improve growing conditions, and improve forage for wildlife;
placing woody debris in stream segments where needed, improving
drainage structures and the design of existing roads; decommissioning
or recontouring unneeded road segments; and redesigning gates to allow
limited, dry season, off-road vehicle use on some existing roads.
    The Sandpoint Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National
Forests in Bonner County, Idaho will administer these activities. The
EIS will tier to the Idaho Panhandle National Forests Forest Plan
(September 1987).

DATES: Comments should be postmarked on or before August 16, 2000.
Please include your name and address and the name of the project you
are commenting on.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and suggestions on the proposed
management activities or request to be placed on the project mailing
list by writing to: West Gold Project, Attn: Judy York Sandpoint Ranger
District, 1500 Hwy 2, Suite 110, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judy York, Project Team Leader,
Sandpoint Ranger District, 208-265-6665.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the
public record on this proposed action and will be available for public
inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have
standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR Parts 215 or
217, Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(D), any person may request
the agency to withhold a submission from the public record by

[[Page 44026]]

showing how the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such
confidentiality. For persons requesting such confidentiality, it may be
granted in only very limited circumstances, such as to protect trade
secrets. The Forest Service will inform the requester of the agency's
decision regarding the request for confidentiality, and where the
request is denied, the agency will return the submission and notify the
requester that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and
address within 10 days.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The legal description for the project area
includes all or portions of sections 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, and 36
in Township 53 North; Range 2 West and sections 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, 20,
21, and 29 in Township 53 North, Ranger 1 West. This project was
initially presented in a letter to the public in June of 1997,
soliciting comments on a proposal to be analyzed in an environmental
analysis. An update letter was sent in October of 1998 describing
public and Forest Service issues identified and alternatives developed
by the interdisciplinary team at that time. Key issues identified were
the effects of logging and road construction on the watershed, aquatic
habitat, fisheries, wildlife, and noxious weed spread, and how much
motorized access should occur on existing roads.
    A new proposal has been developed and the Forest Service is now
preparing an environmental impact statement. In the new proposal,
treatment of vegetation would occur on about 1,300 acres of a 4,500-
acre project area. Cutting techniques would include thinning to reduce
competition and increase tree growth within stands. Irregular
shelterwood, seed tree with reserves, final removal with reserves, and
rehabilitation would be used to improve forest health and promote
longer-lived seral species in areas of root disease and insect
infestations. Prescribed fire would be used to reduce fuels and prepare
some sites for planting. There would be approximately 3 miles of road
construction for short-term treatment access, and 15 miles of existing
road reconstruction (most of which includes road reconditioning) to
reduce potential sediment risk to the watershed. Of the 3 miles of road
construction, all except \1/3\ of a mile would be fully recontoured
upon completion of project activities. An additional 2 miles of
existing road would be fully recontoured. Logs and other woody debris
would be placed in headwater areas where needed, and in other areas
where lacking.
    Two periods are specifically designated for comments on this
analysis: (1) During the scoping period which is 30 days from the date
of this notice in the Federal Register and (2) during the draft EIS
comment period. The mailing list for this project will include those
individuals who have previously expressed interest in this project as
well as adjacent landowners and those responding to this NOI or to the
Idaho Panhandle National Forests Quarterly Schedule of proposed
Actions. In addition, the public is encouraged to visit with Forest
Service officials during the analysis and prior to the decision. The
forest Service will continue to seek information, comments, and
assistance from Federal, Tribal, State, and local agencies and other
individuals or organizations that may be interested in or affected by
the proposed actions. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service will
be consulted concerning any effects to threatened and endangered
species. The agency invites written comments and suggestions on this
action, particularly in terms of identification of issues and
alternative development.
    Comments from the public and other agencies will be used in
preparation of the Draft EIS to identify potential issues and concerns,
potential alternatives to the proposed action and to promote
communications with members of the public or other agencies.
    The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) is expected to be
filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and made available
for public review in September of 2000. The final environmental impact
statement is expected to be completed in November or December of 2000.
    The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement 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
draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts and agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
533 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental statement stage but that are not raised until after
completion of the final environmental statement may be waived or
dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F 2d 1016, 1022
(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
related to the proposed action, comments on the draft environmental
impact statement 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 draft environmental
impact statement 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.
    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits
discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital
or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape,
etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and
TDD). To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340
(voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment
opportunity employer.
    The Idaho Panhandle National Forests Supervisor is the responsible
official who will make the decision on this project. The decision will
be made after considering comments and responses, environmental
consequences discussed in the Final EIS, and applicable laws,
regulations and policies. The decision and supporting reasons will be
documented in a Record of Decision upon release of the Final EIS.

    Dated: June 30, 2000.
David J. Wright,
Forest Supervisor, Idaho Panhandle National Forests.
[FR Doc. 00-17946 Filed 7-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M

 
 

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