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Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto National Forests Rodeo/Chediski Fire Salvage and Rehabilitation Project
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: September 26, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 187)]
[Notices]
[Page 60637-60639]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26se02-32]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto National Forests Rodeo/Chediski Fire
Salvage and Rehabilitation Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto National Forests of the
Southwestern Region of the Forest Service are planning to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposal to salvage fire-
killed timber on National Forest System lands within the Rodeo/Chediski
Fire on June 2002. The EIS is intended to foster informed decision-
making and public participation of a site-specific proposal to improve
or maintain post-fire ecological functions of the land.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by November 15, 2002. The draft environmental impact statement is
[[Page 60638]]
expected February 15, 2003 and the final environmental impact statement
is expected July 1, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Rodeo/Chediski Salvage and
Rehabilitation Project, Attn: Merle Glenn, Public Affairs Specialist,
P.O. Box 569, Overgaard, AZ 85933. For further information, mail
correspondence to the same address as listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jimmy E. Hibbetts, ID Team Leader, for
the Rodeo/Chediski Salvage and Rehabilitation Project at (928) 535-
5979.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Rodeo/Chediski Fire burned over 460,000
acres of forested lands, including over 176,000 acres of Apache-
Sitgreaves and Tonto National Forest System lands. Over 470 structures
were destroyed in the fire, which threatened 30 communities and
subdivisions. Over 225 miles of heavily traveled system roads and 107
miles of trails received damage. This fire killed millions of trees
with an estimated volume of over 300 million board feet of commercial
timber, which represent serious short and long-term hazards to users of
the two national forests, adjacent local communities and subdivisions,
and remaining forest resources. Hazards from burned trees include
falling dead trees and potential fuel loadings. Another hazard
associated with burn areas relates to flash flooding, which has a great
potential to affect public health and safety. Treatments are being
considered to meet public health and safety concerns with
considerations for other resources.
Area watersheds with denuded slopes are susceptible to erosion and
can lead to reduced soil productivity, loss of vegetation regeneration
potential and increased downstream flooding and sedimentation. All
watersheds are being analyzed within the burn area for potential
damages to downstream resources. Both Black Canyon Lake and Canyon
Creek have been heavily impacted by sedimentation and debris resulting
from the fire. Utilizing dead trees and slash from treatment activities
is being considered to improve watershed conditions by creating
protective ground cover and providing ground shade to re-establish
vegetation.
Purpose and Need for Action: Due to the intensity, magnitude and
size of the fire, there is a tremendous amount of standing dead and
dying trees within the burn. Portions of the burned area now pose a
potential risk to forest users, communities, private property and
remaining resources. These risks include the hazards of falling trees,
erosion and flooding, future wildfires occurring in the wildland/urban
interface, impacts to wildlife and fish and their habitats, and insect
infestation to remaining live trees. Urgent action is needed to recover
fire-killed timber while it still has economic value. If completed
within 18 months after the burn, the substantial cost of removing these
trees can be offset by the commercial sale of wood products.
Proposed Action: Salvage dead trees while maintaining or improving
watershed conditions with considerations for wildlife and fisheries.
Burn severity, slope and specific resource needs will determine actual
treatments. Forest Plan standards will be adhered to for all resources
and activities. Treatments will also consider lowering visual impacts
along Highway 260 and to private lands. On existing system roads,
repair, reconstruct, realign, resurface and construct additional
turnouts where needed. There will be no new permanent road
construction. Close and obliterate unneeded roads once salvage
operations have been completed.
Possible Alternatives: Preliminary alternatives may include
continuation of present situation (no action alternative) and
alternatives to meet the purpose and need of the proposed action.
Responsible Officials: The Forest Supervisors for the Apache-
Sitgreaves and Tonto National Forests are jointly responsible for
deciding whether or not to salvage dead trees resulting from the Rodeo/
Chediski Fire. They are: John C. Bedell, Forest Supervisor, Apache-
Sitgreaves National Forest, P.O. Box 640, Springerville, AZ 85938-0640
and Karl P. Siderits, Forest Supervisor, Tonto National Forest, 2324 E.
McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006.
Nature of Decision To Be Made: The Forest Supervisors are jointly
responsible for deciding whether or not to salvage dead trees and if
so, where and to what extent it will occur; how to stabilize watersheds
and what treatments will be used; what repairs or treatments of
existing system roads would occur; and which roads will be closed and
obliterated, if any. They will also determine what treatments, if any,
will be implemented to mitigate further damages to threatened and
sensitive species habitats and to fisheries. The Supervisors may decide
to select the proposed action, take no action or select another
alternative to the proposed action.
Scoping Process: A detailed scoping and public involvement plan has
been developed. An interdisciplinary team has been selected and began
work August 5, 2002 to do the environmental analysis, prepare and
accomplish scoping, and public involvement activities. Comments on the
nature and timing of scoping and public participation activities would
be beneficial to the team in updating the scoping plan. Additional
public notice will be given of specific planned activities when the
scoping and public involvement plan is completed.
On August 26, 2002, scoping letters were sent to over 325
organizations, Tribes, agencies and individuals. Responses ranged from
total support to total opposition of the proposed action. It was
determined that additional scoping was needed and an EIS be prepared.
Comment Requested: This notice of intent initiates the scoping
process which guides the development of the environmental impact
statement. Comments are specifically requested for the proposed action
and any alternatives to the proposed action that should be considered.
Comments on the proposal are most useful if they pertain directly to
the project area and are as site specific as possible. Comments citing
scientific reports or literature should address how that research
specifically applies to this project.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A draft environmental impact statement will be
prepared for comment. 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 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
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are 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, 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
[[Page 60639]]
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 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.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal
and will be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Dated: September 19, 2002.
John C. Bedell,
Forest Supervisor, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.
Dated: September 20, 2002.
Thomas J. Klabunde,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Tonto National Forest.
[FR Doc. 02-24480 Filed 9-25-02; 8:45 am]
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