Prichard Project Area, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Shoshone County, ID

dates: The appeal period on this decision ends June 20, 1994.

addresses: Appeals should be addressed to Appeals Deciding Officer,

Regional Forester, David F. Jolly, USDA Forest Service, Northern

Region, 200 East Broadway, P.O. Box 7669, Missoula, MT 59867.

for further information contact: Questions about the proposed action,

environmental impact statement and the Record of Decision should be

directed to Don Garringer, Planning Staff Officer, Wallace Ranger

District, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, P.O. Box 14, Silverton, ID

83867. Phone: (208) 752-1221.

summary: Notice is hereby given that the Forest Service has prepared a

Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and signed a Record of

Decision documenting a landscape-level approach to ecosystem management

in the Prichard Project Area. The area is located approximately 12 air

miles northeast of Wallace, Idaho, and is approximately 29,700 acres in

size.

Public participation has been on going throughout the project.

Comments received during the comment period have been addressed by

appropriate specialists in an appendix located in the FEIS. During the

45 day appeal period comments and concerns should still be addressed to

the planning officer for clarification.

The District Ranger is the responsible official for this EIS, and

has made the decision to implement alternative 7, a modification of the

preferred alternative in the DEIS. Rationale for this decision can be

found in the Record of Decision. His decision was based upon several

factors: Comments and responses from the public, environmental

consequences discussed in the FEIS, and applicable laws, regulations,

and policies.

supplementary information: A very specific proposed action was

developed for the area, and included timber harvest, reforestation

activities and watershed/fisheries rehabilitation as well as wildlife

improvements, through implementation of timber sales. The scope of the

proposed action is limited to timber harvesting, reforestation,

precommercial thinning, related road construction, road removal,

reconstruction activities and stream channel restoration and

stabilization. During development of the proposed action and

alternatives to the proposed action, emphasis has been placed on the

water resource needs and visual concerns of local residents.

Eight alternatives were developed, including a No-Action

Alternative. Alternative 7 is the alternative preferred by the Forest

Service. Under Alternative 7, the harvest of green, dead and dying

timber is scheduled for implementation in three separate but related

projects. The projects would produce an estimated 10.5 million board

feet of timber and treat 25 timber harvest units. Harvest methods

include, commercial thin, salvage, group selection and group

shelterwood using helicopter and cable yarding. In this proposal 1 mile

of road will be constructed, 2.39 miles will be reconstructed and 13.08

will be reconditioned. Road removal projects will involve the treatment

of new road construction and existing roads identified in the road

management plan as not being needed for future management needs. With

the removal of roads various miles of stream course will also undergo

restoration.

Management activities would be administered by the Wallace Ranger

District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests in Shoshone County,

Idaho. This FEIS will tie to the Forest Plan (September 1987) which

provides the overall guidance (Goals, Objectives, Standards and

Guidelines, and Management Area direction) in achieving the desired

future condition for this area.

Dated: April 29, 1994.

Steve Williams,

District Ranger, Wallace Ranger District, Idaho Panhandle National

Forests.

[FR Doc. 94-11318 Filed 5-10-94; 8:45 am]

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