Whiskey Campo Resource Management Project, Boise National Forest, Elmore County, ID

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Whiskey Campo Resource Management Project, Boise National Forest,

Elmore County, ID

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; 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 a resource

management project in the Whiskey Campo project area, located

approximately 5 miles west of Featherville, Idaho, in the middle to

upper elevation of the Trinity Creek watershed. The project area

encompasses about 12,870 acres of National Forest System land.

Approximately 5,550 acres of the project area are located within the

Whiskey Jack Inventoried Roadless Area (RARE No. 02009) and about 900

acres of the project area are located within the Rainbow Inventoried

Roadless Area (RARE No. 02008). Access is via Forest Development Road

(FDR) 172. The project area is located about 130 road miles east 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

that interested and affected people are aware of how they may

participate and contribute to the final decision.

Proposed Action

Timber Stand Management Activities--Approximately 2,000 acres of

forested land would be commercially thinned and underburned with low

severity prescribed fire. Some salvage harvest of large diameter,

beetle-infested Douglas-fir would occur in these stands. On

approximately 5,000 acres of forested land, bark beetle infested and

severely dwarf mistletoe infected trees would be salvage harvested.

Helicopter yarding would be done on approximately 6,000 acres.

Skyline yarding would be done on approximately 200 acres. A combination

of tractor and offroad jammer (excavator) yarding would be done on

approximately 800 acres.

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Approximately 2 miles of road would be constructed to access timber

stands proposed for treatment. The newly constructed roads would be

closed to all motorized use and revegetated following the project. Two

helicopter landings would be constructed and revegetated. Six existing

helicopter landings would be used and revegetated.

Aspen Stand Rejuvenation--On approximately 400 acres of aspen

stands dispersed throughout the project area, prescribed fire and/or

harvest of invading conifer trees would be used to rejuvenate decadent

stands or maintain vigorous, young stands. These activities would

promote regeneration of aspen suckers and saplings and prevent

conversion to conifer stands.

Elk Habitat Improvement--Approximately 7 miles of the roads in the

Spring Creek drainage would be obliterated and/or closed to all

motorized vehicles with earthen barricades. Such closures would bring

the elk habitat effectiveness of the Spring Creek drainage into

compliance with the Forest Plan.

Fish Habitat Improvements--Five existing culverts currently posing

a barrier to upstream fish passage would be replaced with bottomless

culverts or other suitable structures to allow fish passage upstream.

Bottomless culverts provide for slower water velocity and more pools,

which facilitate upstream fish passage.

Approximately 13.7 miles of FDR 172 would be graveled. Graveling of

the road surface would help retain the fine sediment particles on the

road surface.

Travel Safety Modifications to FDR 172--Approximately 25 ``blind''

curves and narrow road sections would be modified to improve sight

distance and provide sufficient safe passing opportunities.

Preliminary Issues

The potential development of the Whiskey Jack and Rainbow

Inventoried Roadless Areas is an anticipated concern. Under the

Proposed Action, approximately 1.9 miles of road construction, 150

acres of ground-based yarding methods, and 1,750 of helicopter yarding

would occur in the Whiskey Jack IRA. Approximately 250 acres of

helicopter yarding would occur in the Rainbow IRA.

The effects of road construction and timber stand management

activities on wildlife and fisheries are also anticipated concerns.

Trinity Creek is designated a high priority watershed (Forest Plan--

Inland Native Fish Strategy) because of its potential bull trout

habitat. Habitat for some threatened, endangered or sensitive species

exists in the project area. Proposed activities have the potential to

have both beneficial and adverse effects to wildlife and fisheries

habitat.

Possible Alternative 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 or not 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 EIS, May 1998. Final, July 1998.

Public Involvement

Scoping is being initiated with this notice, a legal notice in the

Idaho Statesman, and a letter to individuals, groups, organizations,

and agencies who have expressed an interest in this type of project.

Comments received 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. Comments

received in response to this notice will be released in their entirety

if requested pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. Mail comments

to Frank Marsh, Mountain Home Ranger District, 2180 American Legion

Boulevard, Mountain Home, ID 83647; telephone 208-587-7961 or 208-373-

4310. Further information can be obtained at the same location.

The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the date

the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice 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

draft EIS 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 EIS stage but that are not raised

until after completion of the final EIS 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

for those interested in this Proposed Action participate by the close

of the 45-day comment period so 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 EIS.

To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues

and concerns on the Proposed Action, comments on the draft EIS 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 draft EIS 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. Comments received on the

draft EIS will be released in their entirety if requested pursuant to

the Freedom of Information Act.

Responsible Official

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

1249 South Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID 83709.

Dated: December 22, 1997.

David D. Rittenhouse,

Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 98-039 Filed 1-2-98; 8:45 am]

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