Paradise Project, Boise National Forest, Idaho

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Paradise Project, Boise National Forest, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Services, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Mountain Home Ranger District of the Boise National Forest

will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for an integrated

resource management project in the Paradise project area, located

immediately west of the South Fork Boise River and approximately 2

miles south of Featherville, Idaho. Access is via Forest Development

Road (FDR) 183. The project area encompasses approximately 2,800 acres

of National Forest System land and is located 60 road miles northeast

of Mountain Home and about 100 road miles east of Boise, Idaho.

The agency invites written comments and suggestions on the scope of

the

[[Page 49434]]

analysis. The agency also hereby gives notice of the environmental

analysis and decisionmaking process that will occur on the proposal so

that interested and affected people are aware of how they may

participate and contribute to the final decision.

Proposed Action: The proposed action would commercial thin, salvage

harvest, and use prescribed fire throughout most of the project area.

Helicopter, skyline, and tractor/off-road jammer (excavator) yarding

would be done. Approximately 4 miles of road would be constructed and 1

mile of existing road would be reconstructed. New and existing

helicopter landings would be used. Bald eagle habitat would be

protected and enhanced with buffer zones and thinning. The activities

would occur from 1997 to 1998.

Preliminary Issues: One significant issue with the proposed action

has been identified so far. The issue is that timber harvest and

associated road construction could impact the undeveloped

characteristics and wilderness attributes of the Rainbow Inventoried

Roadless Area (IRA).

Possible Alternatives to the Proposed Action: One alternative to

the proposed action has been identified. It is the no action

alternative. Other alternatives may be developed as issues are raised

and information is received.

Decisions to be Made: The Boise National Forest Supervisor will

decide whether to implement the project. If the project is to be

implemented, the Forest Supervisor will decide which activities to

include in the project, when the project should occur, and what

mitigation and monitoring is needed to ensure the project is

environmentally acceptable.

Schedule: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), November

1996. Final, January 1997.

Public Involvement: Scoping was initiated in October 1995. A legal

notice appeared in the Idaho Statesman on October 2, 1995. A scoping

letter was sent out to over 80 individuals, groups, organizations, and

agencies. Comments receive from these public involvement efforts will

be incorporated into the analysis process.

Comments: Written comments concerning the proposed project and

analysis are encouraged and should be postmarked within 30 days

following publication of this announcement in the Federal Register.

Mail comments to Frank Marsh, Mountain Home Ranger District, 2180

American Legion Boulevard, Mountain Home, ID 83647; telephone 208-587-

7961 or 208-364-4310. Further information can be obtained at the same

location.

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

DEIS's 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 final environmental impact statement, 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 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 final environmental impact statement.

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. Comments may also address the

adequacy of the DEIS 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.

Responsible Official: David D. Rittenhouse, Forest Supervisor,

Boise National Forest, 1750 Front Street, Boise, ID 83702.

Dated: September 16, 1996.

Cathy Barbouletos,

Deputy Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 96-24142 Filed 9-19-96; 8:45 am]

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