China Basin Fire Recovery and Associated Activities Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, Montana

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

China Basin Fire Recovery and Associated Activities Kootenai

National Forest, Lincoln County, Montana

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The China Basin and Quartz 3 Wildfires burned over 7,400 acres

of Kootenai National Forest system lands in the late summer of 1994.

The Forest Service intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) to assess and disclose the environmental effects of opportunities

designed to recover economic value of burned timber, reduce future

fuels accumulations, improve bighorn sheep winter range, rehabilitate

existing sediment sources, improve hydrologic conditions in affected

watersheds, and protect long-term soil productivity. These objectives

would be accomplished through salvage harvest of fire-killed timber;

harvest of fire-killed and green timber in bighorn sheep winter range;

reforestation of harvested and severely burned areas; fuels reduction

in harvested areas; restoration of roads, revegatation of road cuts and

fill slopes, and drainage improvement on existing roads; and providing

for immediate and long-term recruitment of instream large woody

material within the China Basin decision area. The China Basin decision

area is located approximately 5 air miles northwest of Libby, Montana.

The proposal's actions to salvage fire-killed trees and reforest

burned areas, harvest green and fire-killed trees in bighorn sheep

habitat, restore roads, reduce fuels, and implement watershed recovery

projects are being considered together because they represent either

connected or cumulative actions as defined by the Council on

Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1508.25). The EIS will tier to the

Kootenai National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan and Final

EIS of September 1987, which provides overall guidance for achieving

the desired forest condition of the area.

DATES: Written comments and suggestions should be received within 30

days following publication of this notice.

ADDRESSES: The Responsible Official is Robert L. Schrenk, Forest

Supervisor, Kootenai National Forest. Written comments and suggestions

concerning the scope of the analysis should be sent to Lawrence A.

Froberg, District Ranger, Libby Ranger District, 12557 HWY 37, Libby,

Montana, 59923.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michele Holman, Planning Forester, Libby Ranger Station. Phone: (406)

293-8861.

[[Page 9659]] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During the night of August 14-

15, 1994, a lightning storm started 207 fires on the Kootenai National

Forest in northwest Montana. Several fires ranging in size from less

than one acre to over 7,000 acres occurred on the Libby Ranger

District. The china Basin Fire Recovery EIS is being prepared in

response to conditions resulting from two fires which burned within the

boundary of the 12,000+ acre Libby Fire Complex. An interdisciplinary

landscape analysis team used an ecosystem based approach to assess the

fires affects and identify management opportunities that could be

implemented to move the postfire landscapes toward a desired ecological

condition.

The tree mortality levels which resulted from the China Basin and

Quartz 3 wildfires varied considerably. Within the fire perimeters,

approximately 1,518 acres average 90% tree mortality, approximately

2,315 acres average 70% tree mortality and approximately 3,643 acres

average 30% tree mortality. The China Basin fire burned within and

adjacent to a portion of the Kootenai River corridor currently under

study for designation as a Recreation River as provided for under the

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The China basin Fire also burned within and

adjacent to the Flagstaff Mountain Roadless Area (X-690).

The China Basin decision area contains approximately 10,300 acres

within the Kootenai National Forest in Lincoln County, Montana. A

portion of the proposed projects are located in the Quartz Creek

drainage, primarily within the Lamoka and West Fork Quartz

subdrainages. The remainder of the proposed projects are located within

Hunter Gulch, Dad Creek, Burrel Creek and China Creek, which flow

directly into the Kootenai River. The legal location of the decision

area is as follows: Sections 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30

Township 32 North, Range 32 West; Section 36, Township 32 North, Range

33 West; Sections 1, 12, 13, Township 31 North, Range 33 West; Sections

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 Township 31

North, Range 32 West; Principle Montana Meridian. The decision area

includes land owned by the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and

lands owned by private individuals.

Proposed Action

The primary purposes of the project are to recover valuable timber

products from trees burned by wildfires that occurred in 1994; restore

watershed conditions within the Quartz Creek and China Creek drainages;

and to improve bighorn sheep winter habitat. The Forest Service

proposes to harvest approximately 14-19 million board feet of timber by

salvaging fire-killed timber and imminently dead trees on approximately

1,955 acres of forest land outside riparian protection areas and to

improve bighorn sheep habitat by harvesting approximately 4-5 million

feet of fire-killed and green trees from approximately 1,141 acres in

an area known locally as the Sheep Range. Only trees that were killed,

or are expected to die as a result of the fires, would be harvested in

the areas not designed to improve bighorn sheep winter range. The

proposal includes prescribed burning of about 600 acres to improve

bighorn sheep winter range and about 727 acres to reduce fuel loads in

harvested areas. An estimated 1,500 acres of units proposed for harvest

would be planted with conifer seedlings to help meet desired conditions

for species diversity. An additional 650 acres of existing conifer

plantation which burned would be replanted with conifer seedlings. All

temporary roads constructed for this project, as well as an estimated

17.5 miles of existing system and non-system road are proposed for

restoration to reduce sediment and water yields, and improve grizzly

bear and elk habitat security. Stabilization of two slumps and riparian

planting of damaged stream banks are included under the proposal. In

addition, projects to improve watershed recovery, repair damaged hiking

trails, and damaged wildlife structures (guzzler) would be accomplished

if adequate funds are available.

Approximately 468 acres of existing old growth burned in the China

Basin Fire. These stands no longer provide habitat for old growth

dependent species and will be recommended for a change in management to

big game summer range. These burned areas of pre-fire old growth have

been proposed for salvage. Approximately 764 acres have been

recommended for designation as old growth to replace the stands which

burned.

The decision area includes a portion of the Flagstaff Mountain

Roadless Area (X-690). Most of the proposed units intended to improve

bighorn sheep winter range are located within this roadless area. The

activities would include harvest and prescribed burning. There is no

proposed road construction within the roadless area. No proposed

activities are located in areas considered for inclusion to the

National Wilderness System as recommended by the Kootenai National

Forest Plan or present legislative wilderness proposals.

Due to the high level of tree mortality in proposed harvest units,

most harvested areas would resemble clearcut, seedtree, or shelterwood

silvicultural methods. Only those live trees which must be cut to

facilitate logging fire-killed trees would be harvested, except in the

units intended to improve bighorn sheep habitat where live trees would

be designated for removal to enhance forage conditions. In addition to

most live trees, clumps of snags and downed woody debris would remain

on site for cavity habitat and for watershed purposes. Timber harvest

is designed to have the minimal amount of ground disturbance. Proposed

harvest would be completed by tractor, skyline, cable winching from

existing roads and helicopter logging systems.

The Kootenai National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan

provides overall management objectives in individual delineated

management areas (MA's). The decision area contains nine MA's: 2, 10,

12, 13, 15, 18, and 19. Briefly described, MA 2 is managed to protect

and enhance roadless recreation use and provide wildlife values. MA 10

is managed to maintain or enhance habitat effectiveness for winter use

by big-game animals and protect scenic quality in areas visible from

major travel routes. MA 12 is managed to maintain or enhance the summer

range habitat effectiveness for big-game species and produce a

programmed yield of timber. MA 13 is managed to provide the special

habitat necessary for old growth dependent wildlife. MA 15 is managed

primarily for timber production while providing for other resource

values. MA 18 are areas which have regeneration difficulties and are

managed by maintaining the vegetation in a healthy condition and

maintaining populations of existing wildlife. MA 19 is managed to

protect soil stability and water quality by maintaining the vegetation

in a healthy condition and minimizing surface disturbance. Timber

salvage and fuels reduction is proposed in MA 12 and MA 15. Harvest

units and prescribed burns to improve bighorn sheep habitat are

proposed within MA 10.

Preliminary Issues

Several preliminary issues of concern have been identified by the

Forest Service. These issues are briefly described below:

Water Quality--Streams in the decision area have been

impacted by past management and large wildfires. How would the proposed

action affect water yield, sediment production, stream stability, and

recovery from past impacts? [[Page 9660]]

Timber Supply--An estimated 24 million board feet of

timber was killed in the China Basin and Quartz 3 fires. Much of this

fire-killed timber will quickly lose its commercial value due to rapid

deterioration. To what extent does the proposed action recover the

commercial value of fire-killed timber to help meet local and national

needs?

Activity in Roadless Areas--What effect would the proposal

have on the roadless character of the Flagstaff Mountain Roadless Area?

Grizzly Bear--The decision area lies within the recovery

area for the Cabinet/Yaak grizzly bear ecosystem. How would the

proposal maintain and enhance grizzly bear habitat, and contribute to

recovery efforts?

Fisheries--Some streams contain fisheries habitat and

resident fish populations, including torrent sculpin (a Region 1

sensitive species), bull trout (currently being considered for listing

as a threatened or endangered species), and westslope cutthroat trout

(likely hybridized). How would the proposed action affect fisheries

habitat and populations?

Bighorn Sheep Habitat--The proposal contains approximately

1141 acres of ``special cuts'' intended to improve bighorn sheep

habitat. To what extent does the proposed action improve forage for

wintering bighorn sheep?

Visual Quality along Kootenai River--The units proposed to

improve bighorn sheep habitat are located along the Kootenai River

Corridor and can be viewed in places from HWY 2. To what extent will

the viewshed be altered from along HWY 2?

Forest Plan Amendment

The Kootenai National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan has

specific management direction for the China Basin decision area. The

China Basin proposed action is designed to maintain or improve resource

conditions and move towards achieving desired ecological conditions,

and is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Forest Plan.

Prior to making a NEPA decision, a thorough examination of all

standards and guidelines of the Forest Plan would be completed and, if

necessary, plan exceptions or amendments would be addressed in the EIS.

Decisions To Be Made

The Kootenai National Forest Supervisor will decide the following:

Should dead and imminently dead trees within fire areas be

harvested and if so how and where,

What amount, type, and distribution of watershed restoration

projects, including road restoration, would be implemented,

What burned areas need to be replanted,

Should dead and green trees be harvested to improve bighorn sheep

habitat and it so, how and where, and

If Forest Plan exception or amendments are necessary to proceed

with the Proposed Action within the decision area.

Public Involvement and Scoping

Some public participation efforts have already been initiated under

the Sheep Range Environmental Assessment, prior to the fires. The

design of the proposed units to improve bighorn sheep habitat have been

altered in response to the Sheep Range project public involvement.

Consultation with appropriate State and Federal agencies has been

initiated. Preliminary effects analysis indicated that the wildfires

may significantly affect the quality of the human environment, and fire

recovery activities have the potential to both intensify and reduce

effects. These potential effects prompted the decision to prepare an

EIS for the China Basin Fire Recovery Project.

This environmental analysis and decisionmaking process will enable

additional interested and affected people to participate and contribute

to the final decision. Public participation will be requested at

several points during the analysis. The Forest Service will be seeking

information, comments, and assistance from Federal, State, local

agencies, and other individuals or organizations who may be interested

in or affected by the proposed projects. This input will be used in

preparation of the draft and final EIS. The scoping process will

include:

Identifying potential issues.

Identifying major issues to be analyzed in depth.

Exploring additional alternatives which will be derived

from issues recognized during scoping activities.

Identifying potential environmental effects of this

project and alternatives (i.e. direct, indirect, and cumulative effects

and connected actions).

The analysis will consider a range of alternatives, including the

proposed action, no action, and other reasonable action alternatives.

Estimated Dates for Filing

The draft China Basin Fire Recovery EIS is expected to be filed

with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for

public review by May, 1995. At that time EPA will publish a Notice of

Availability of the draft EIS in the Federal Register. The comment

period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA publishes

the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.

The final EIS is scheduled to be completed in August, 1995. In the

final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to comments and

responses received during the comment period that pertain to the

environmental consequences discussed in the draft EIS and applicable

laws, regulations, and policies considered in making a decision

regarding the proposal.

Reviewer's Obligations

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 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 and respond to them in the final EIS.

To be most helpful, comments on the draft EIS should be as specific

as possible and may address the adequacy of the statement or the merit

of the alternatives discussed. 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

Robert L. Schrenk, Forest Supervisor, Kootenai National Forest, 506

US Highway 2 West, Libby, MT 59923 is the Responsible Official. I have

delegated the responsibility to prepare the China Basin Fire Recovery

Environmental Impact Statement to Lawrence A. Froberg, District Ranger,

Libby Ranger District. As the Responsible Official I [[Page 9661]] will

decide which, if any, of the proposed projects will be implemented. I

will document the decision and reasons for the decision in the Record

of Decision. That decision will be subject to Forest Service Appeal

Regulations.

Dated: February 10, 1995.

Robert L. Schrenk,

Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 95-4084 Filed 2-17-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-11-M