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Elk and Forest Counties, PA
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: April 19, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 76)]
[Notices]
[Page 19386-19388]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19ap02-25]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Elk and Forest Counties, PA
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act,
notice is hereby given that the Forest Service, Allegheny National
Forest (ANF), Marienville Ranger District will prepare a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement to disclose the environmental
consequences of the proposed Spring Creek Project. The purpose of this
project is to move the ANF from the existing condition towards the
desired condition, as detailed in the Allegheny National Forest Land
and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan).
The Forest Plan provides for management of forest resources.
Management objectives include producing a sustainable supply of high-
quality saw timber and wood products, developing and maintaining a wide
array of wildlife habitats, and providing a range of recreation
settings and experiences. The Allegheny National Forest is divided into
specific zones or Management Areas. Specific objectives are defined for
each Management Area, and the Spring Creek Project Area contains
Management Areas 1.0, 3.0, 6.1, and 6.3. MA 3.0 emphasizes timber
harvest as a means for making desired changes to forest vegetation and
satisfying the public demand for timber products. Management Area 1.0
emphasizes habitat conditions in early successional forest stages and
those wildlife species dependent on such habitat. Management Area 6.1
emphasizes management of forest vegetation as mature or over mature
forest. Management Area 6.3 is a special management area designated for
waterfowl and associated riparian habitat management.
In order to move toward the Desired Condition proposed activities
include: (1) Regeneration harvests consisting of shelterwood seed/
removal cuts, overstory removal cuts, two-age harvests, strip
regeneration harvests, salvage overstory removal cuts, and salvage
shelterwood/removal cuts; (2) intermediate harvest consisting of
thinning/improvement cuts, single tree and group selection, salvage
harvests, and release cuts (pre-commercial timber stand improvement);
(3) reforestation treatment consisting of herbicide application, site
preparation, fertilization, fencing, and planting; (4) wildlife habitat
improvement consisting of (a) restoring/improving aquatic habitat
through planting and controlling aquatic, shrub, and conifer and
streamside vegetation species and rehabilitating erosion prone areas
and placing aquatic structures and coarse woody debris, (b) restoring/
reestablishing/improving terrestrial habitat vegetation through
planting and releasing native tree and shrubs, prescribe burning, and
opening management through planting and seeding of native herbaceous
vegetation, (c) restoring/improving terrestrial habitat structure
through aspen management, creating snag and providing coarse woody
debris, and placing nest structures, (d) general wildlife habitat
improvements through providing user access and parking at wildlife
viewing areas; (5) transportation activities consisting of road
construction, reconstruction, eliminating unnecessary roads, limestone
surfacing, maintaining roads to high standards, and pit expansion; (6)
recreation activities including horse trail designation, dispersed
campsite construction/rehabilitation, scenery management, and efforts
to curve illegal Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use.
During project analysis issues will be identified that focus on the
management of the area. Alternatives will be developed to show various
ways to address the issues. This process is driven by comments received
from the public, other agencies, and internal Forest Service concerns.
To assist in commenting, a scoping letter providing more detailed
information on the project proposal has been prepared and is available
to interested parties.
DATES: The public comment period will be for 30 days from the date this
notice is published in the Federal Register. Comments and suggestions
concerning the scope of the analysis should be submitted (postmarked)
by May 20, 2002 to ensure timely consideration.
ADDRESSES: Submit written, oral, or e-mail comments by: (1) Mail--
Spring Creek Project, ID Team Leader, Marienville Ranger District,
Ridgway Office, RD 1, Box 28A, Montmorenci Road, Ridgway, PA 15953; (2)
phone--814-776-6172; (3) e-mail--anf/r9_allegheny@fs.fed.us (please
note: when commenting by e-mail be sure to list Spring Creek EIS in the
subject line and include a US Postal Service address so we may add you
to our mailing list).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl Leland or John Weyant,
Marienville Ranger District, at 814-776-6172.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Preliminary Issues were developed based on
past projects in the area (environmental analysis), issues developed
for similar projects, and Forest Service concerns and opportunities
identified in the Project Area. These issues are listed below:
1. Road Management--The Forest Service will complete a Roads
Analysis, which includes evaluating all roads in the Project Area for
effects to the ecosystem. This effort has been undertaken within the
Spring Creek watershed. The proposed action requires examining the road
system to determine if the existing road system is adequate (or if
improvements are needed), and if any roads need to be closed for
resource protection or other reasons (e.g., water quality, wildlife, or
recreation opportunities).
2. Even-Aged/Uneven-Aged Management--The Forest Plan provides
direction regarding the primary silvicultural system to be used in each
management area; for Management Area 3.0 it is even-aged management.
However, uneven-aged management is an option considered for inclusions
such as riparian areas, wet soils, or visually sensitive areas.
These issues may be modified as additional issues are identified
during scoping. A range of alternatives will be considered after public
comments are received and analyzed. One of these will consider No
Action for the Project Area. Another alternative will be the proposed
action. Management actions within the alternatives will respond to the
issues in different ways by varying the size and intensity of the
treatments and projects proposed. The amount of even and uneven-aged
management, wildlife, recreation development, road management,
watershed rehabilitation and other activities may differ within the
alternatives. The combinations of proposed activities are likely to be
adjusted after all comments are reviewed.
Comments that are site-specific in nature are most helpful to
resource professionals when trying to narrow and address the public's
issues and concerns.
Commenting: Comments received, including names and addresses of
those who comment, will be considered part of the public record and may
be subject to public disclosure. Any person may request the Agency to
withhold a submission from the public record by showing how the Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality.
The Draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental
Protection Agency and available for public review by January 2003. At
that time the Environmental Protection Agency will publish a Notice of
Availability of the document in the Federal Register (this will begin
the 45-day comment period on the Draft EIS). After the comment period
ends on the Draft EIS, the
[[Page 19388]]
comments will be analyzed and considered by the Forest Service in
preparing the final environmental impact statement. The Final EIS is
scheduled for release in May 2003.
The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers
notice at this early stage of several court ruling 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 an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions (Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519
553 [1978]). Also, environmental objection that could be raised at the
draft environmental impact statement state but that are not raised
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement
stage may be waived or dismissed by the courts (City of Angoon v.
Hodel, 803 F.2nd 1016, 1022 [9th Cir. 1986]
and Wisconsin Heritages,
Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 [E.D. Wis. 1980]).
Because of the 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 are made available to
the Forest Service at a time when they can be meaningfully considered
and responded to in the final environmental impact statement. To assist
the Forest Service in identifying and consider issues and concerns on
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, sections, 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 Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the
procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at CFR
1503.3 in addressing these points.
This decision will be subject to appeal under 36 CFR 215. The
responsible official is Leon F. Blashock, Marienville Ranger District,
Ridgway Office, RD 1 Box 28A, Montmorenci Road, Ridgway, PA 15853 @
(814) 776-6172.
Dated: April 9, 2002.
Kevin B. Elliott,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 02-9141 Filed 4-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P