Silver Creek Integrated Resource Project, Boise National Forest, Idaho

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Silver Creek Integrated Resource Project, Boise National Forest,

Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice, intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Emmett Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will

prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for an integrated

resource management project in the Silver Creek subwatershed, a

headwater tributary to the Middle Fork Payette River drainage. The

project area is located about 80 road miles north of Boise, Idaho.

The Forest Service is seeking information and comments from

Federal, State, tribal, and local agencies, as well as individuals and

organizations who may be interested and/or affected by the proposed

action. The agency invites written comments and suggestions on the

issues related to the proposal and the area being analyzed. The

information received will be used in preparing the draft and final EIS.

For most effective use, comments should be submitted within 30 days

from the date of publication of this Notice in the Federal Register.

Proposed Action

Six objectives have been identified for the project: (1) Restore

and/or maintain the presence of the seral, shade intolerant tree

species (i.e., ponderosa pine, aspen) as part of the area's vegetative

mosaic; (2) improve forest resilience to damaging insects and disease;

(3) improve timber stand vigor and growth; (4) reduce the risk of

large, stand-destroying wildfire, especially in the vicinity of the

Silver Creek Plunge Hot Springs Resort and rural subdivision; (5)

restore streambanks, riparian areas, and other wet, upland sites

damaged by unrestricted, cross-country motorized travel; and, (6)

provide sawlogs and other wood products to help sustain local sawmills

and communities.

The proposed action would treat, either with timber harvest or

prescribed fire, a total of 9,545 acres. An estimated 23 million board

feet (MMBF) of timber would be harvested by ground-based (1,089 acres),

skyline/cable (304 acres), or helicopter (4,722 acres) yarding systems.

The proposed action would employ a variety of silvicultural systems,

including improvement selection (38 percent), commercial thinning (31

percent), sanitation/salvage (13 percent), irregular shelterwood (9

percent) and group selection (6 percent). Prescribed fire would also

occur on another 3,430 acres to rejuvenate old, decadent aspen stands

and/or provide seedbeds for potential white-bark pine regeneration. The

existing transportation system would be improved to facilitate the

harvest operation and reduce sedimentation, 3 miles of road relocation

and construction, 1.3 miles of temporary road construction, and spot

graveling of intermittent sections of Roads No. 698 (Middle Fork

Payette), No. 671 (Silver Creek), and No. 678 (Bridge-Bryan Creek). Two

bridges would be constructed to provide log haul access. Six existing

helicopter landings would be used, however, each would be first

``stabilized'' to improve drainage and reduce potential sediment

delivery. Two dry, upland meadows would also be used as possible log

landing sites. An estimated 4 miles of existing, user-developed roads,

the majority which either lies immediately adjacent to perennial

streams or is deeply eroded, would be obliterated. Five existing, user-

developed stream crossings would be closed and rehabilitated. Upon

completion of post-harvest activities, motorized travel east of Silver

Creek would be restricted to designated routes (i.e., roads and

trails), except for snowmobiles during the winter.

To meet the project's objectives, several changes to the Boise Land

and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) would be needed. The

proposed Forest Plan changes include redefining the visual quality

objectives (VQO's) for the Peace Rock, Silver Creek, and Lightning

Creek management areas (MA's) as well as changing the prohibition

concerning the use of ground-based yarding systems, mechanized

equipment, and road construction in the Peace Rock MA.

Preliminary Issues

Anticipated concerns related with the proposed action are: (1)

Timber harvest and road relocation and/or construction could effect a

portion of the Peace Rock inventoried roadless area's (IRA) wild

character; (2) bridge construction and road relocation/reconstruction

activities could result in short-term increases in the sediment

entering area streams; (3) the project could alter the scenic quality

of the Silver Creek area; (4) the proposed restrictions on cross-

country, motorized travel could displace some outdoor enthusiasts and/

or reduce recreational opportunities for some user groups; and (5) the

activities resulting from the proposed Forest Plan changes could alter

the semiprimitive, motorized character of the area. Other potential

issues may be identified during the current scoping period.

Schedule

The draft EIS is anticipated to be available for public review and

comment in April 1998; the final EIS by July 1998.

Public Involvement

The Forest Service is inviting the public to visit Silver Creek

with Emmett District personnel. Two field tours are scheduled for the

project area; one on October 3, 1997; the other on October 4, 1997.

Both field tours will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., beginning at the Garden

Valley Station, Garden Valley, Idaho, with a brief presentation and

then proceeding to the project area. In addition, a public meeting will

be held at the Garden Valley Senior Citizens' Center, Crouch, Idaho on

October 6, 1997, from 7-9 p.m. to discuss the proposed activities.

Comments received from those field tours, as well as the public meeting

will be incorporated into the analysis and decision-making process.

Comments

Written comments concerning the proposed project should be received

on

[[Page 50289]]

or before 30 days following publication of this announcement in the

Federal Register. Mail comments to, or for further information contact,

Chris Worth, Project Team Leader, Emmett Ranger District, 1805 Highway

16, Room 5, Emmett, ID 83617, or telephone 208-365-7000.

Comments received in response to this solicitation, including the

names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of

the public record on this proposal and will be available to public

inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and

considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have

standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR 215 or 217.

Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request the

agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing how

the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) permits such confidentiality.

Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that, under

FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only limited circumstances,

such as to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service will inform the

requester of the agency's decision regarding the request for

confidentiality, and where the request is denied, the agency will

return the submission and notify the requester that the comments may be

resubmitted with or without name and address within 10 days.

Responsible Official

David D. Rittenhouse, Forest Supervisor, Boise National Forest is

the responsible official.

Dated: September 15, 1997.

Cathy Barbouletos,

Acting Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 97-25473 Filed 9-24-97; 8:45 am]

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