![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Spruce Creek Project, Boise National Forest, Idaho
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: December 15, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 241)]
[Notices]
[Page 75476-75477]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15de06-17]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Spruce Creek Project, Boise National Forest, Idaho
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Cascade Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a resource
management project in the Gold Fork River drainage. The entire project
is located in the watersheds that drain into the Gold Fork River, which
in turn drains into Cascade Reservoir. The 9,997 acre project area is
located 10 miles northeast of Cascade, Idaho, and about 120 miles north
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
interested and affected people are aware of how they may participate
and contribute to the final decision. At this time no public meetings
to discuss the project are planned.
Proposed Action: Eight objectives have been identified for the
project: (1) Retain the existing size class of stands currently
identified as large tree and manipulate the structure of small and
medium tree size class stands to accelerate their movement towards the
large tree size class, thereby retaining and potentially contributing
to habitat for some terrestrial wildlife species associated with large
tree size class; (2) Reduce the densities of stands currently
identified as large tree size class in order to maintain or restore
canopy closures within desired conditions, and to potentially
contribute to habitat for those terrestrial wildlife species associated
with large tree size class stands with low to moderate canopy closures;
(3) Consistent with the particular habitat type, discriminate against
shade tolerant species such as grand fir and subalpine fir and
encourage retention and recruitment of seral species; (4) Relative to
Douglas-fir beetle, mountain pine beetle, western pine beetle, western
spruce budworm, and/or dwarf mistletoe, manipulate the structures,
densities, and compositions of stands in order to maintain a low or
moderate susceptibility level, or to decrease susceptibility to a low
or moderate level; (5) Maintain or restore aspen and immature whitebark
pine by eliminating competition with other conifer species; (6) Improve
long term stand growth to or near levels indicative of sustainable
forests; (7) Provide wood products to support local and regional
economies; and; (8) Stabilize the cutslope failure on the #498 road.
The Proposed Action would implement silvicultural activities,
including thinning of sub-merchantable trees, aspen enhancement, and
whitebark pine enhancement, on 2,702 acres. An estimated 9.0 MMbf would
be removed using tractor, off-road jammer, skyline, and helicopter
yarding systems. The Proposed Action would employ a variety of
silvicultural prescriptions including clearcut with reserve trees,
commercial thin, improvement cut, irregular shelterwood, individual
tree selection, sanitation, thinning of sub-merchantable trees, aspen
enhancement, and whitebark pine enhancement.
Road maintenance activities would occur on an estimated 0.4 miles
of existing road under this alternative. Specifically, one under-sized
culvert along the #402 road would be replaced with a culvert
sufficient in size to accommodate a 100-year flow event; a series of
drive-through dips would be installed on the #402F1 road to
prevent erosion; a culvert would be installed on the #402F road
to facilitate silvicultural activities, and; an existing slump on the
cutslope along the #498 road would be stabilized.
Roughly 1.1 miles of temporary road would be constructed to
facilitate harvest activities and six helicopter landings constructed.
Post-implementation management of the existing transportation system
within the project area would not change under this alternative. All
existing road restrictions would be reinstated upon completion of
harvest activities.
Preliminary Issues: Preliminary concerns with the Proposed Action
include potential impacts on water quality and terrestrial wildlife species.
Possible Alternatives to the Proposed Action: One alternative to
the Proposed Action that has been discussed thus far is a no action
alternative. Other alternatives will likely be developed as issues are
identified and information received.
Decisions to be Made: The Boise National Forest Supervisor will
decide the following: (1) Should vegetation be managed within the
project area at this time, and if so, which stands should be treated
and what silvicultural systems applied? (2) Should temporary roads be
built at this time, and if so, how many miles should be built and where
should they occur within the project area? (3) Should aspen and
immature whitebark pine be enhanced by eliminating competing conifer
species, and if so, where within the project area? (4) Should
identified road maintenance activities occur on portions of roads
#402, #402F1, #402F, and #498 at this time? (5) What design features,
mitigation measures, and/or monitoring should be applied to the project?
DATES: Comments concerning the proposed project and analysis are
encouraged and should be postmarked or received within 30 days
following publication of this announcement in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the Cascade Ranger District,
ATTN: Keith Dimmett, P.O. Box 696, Cascade, ID 83611 or sent
electronically to comments-intermtn-boise-casade@fs.fed.us. Electronic
comments must be submitted in plain text or another format compatible
with Microsoft Word. Comments may also be delivered to the above
address during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-
Friday. Comments can also be submitted by phone at 208-382-7400 or FAX
to 208-382-7480. Comments received in response to this request will be
available for public inspection and will be released in their
[[Page 75477]]
entirety if requested pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information can be obtained
from Keith Dimmett at the address mentioned above or by calling 208-
382-7400.
Schedule: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), April 2007.
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), June 2007.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An estimated 3,000 acres of the Needles
Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA) lie within the Spruce Creek Project
Area. With the exception of a portion of the whitebark pine enhancement
treatments, none of the activities associated with the Proposed Action
would occur within any IRA.
The entire project area drains into the Gold Fork River and,
although there are no 303(d)/305(b) listed streams within the project
area, that segment of the Gold Fork River immediately downstream of the
project area is identified as a water quality limited waterbody. The
pollutant of concern is phosphorus. A TMDL is currently in place and
addresses the entire length of the Gold Fork River.
The entire project area lies within Management Area 18 (Cascade
Reservoir), discussed on pages III-302 through III-315 in the Forest
Plan. Several Management Prescription Categories (MPCs) apply within
this management area. However, only MPC 4.1c and 5.2 occur within the
project area. With the exception of a portion of the whitebark pine
enhancement treatments, the Proposed Action includes management
activities within MPC 5.2 only.
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
the DEIS 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 are not raised until after
completion of the FEIS 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 DEIS
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 FEIS.
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. 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: Frank V. Guzman, Deputy Forest Supervisor,
Boise National Forest, 1249 South Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID 83709.
Dated: December 1, 2006.
Frank V. Guzman,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 06-9686 Filed 12-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M