Pacific Northwest Region Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth Project, Colville, Okanogan, and Wenatchee National Forests in Washington; and Malheur, Fremont, Ochoco, Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, and Winema National Forests in Oregon

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Pacific Northwest Region Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth Project,

Colville, Okanogan, and Wenatchee National Forests in Washington; and

Malheur, Fremont, Ochoco, Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, and Winema

National Forests in Oregon

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact

statement (EIS) to disclose the potential environmental effects of

proposed activities in forested sands infested with Douglas-fir tussock

moth. Activities include no-action and short-term treatments with a

biological insecticide to maintain existing desired stand structure and

tree condition.

DATES: Commetns concerning the scope of this analysis should be

received no later than July 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to National Resource Staff; Air

Management, Forest Insects and Diseases Group; Pacific Northwest

Regional Office, PO Box 3623, Portland, OR 97208-3623.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Funk, Team Leader, Douglas-fir

Tussock Moth Project, Pacific Northwest Regional Office, PO Box 3623,

Portland, OR 97208-3623 by calling (503) 808-2984.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Need for the Proposal

The Douglas-fir tussock moth (DFTM) is a native insect, occurring

in the Douglas-fir and true fir hosts throughout the west. Outbreaks of

this insect are short and cyclic in nature, occurring approximately

every 7 to 10 years. Sometimes outbreaks are widespread, and other

times they are more localized. In Washington and Oregon, outbreaks of

this insect occur east of the Cascades and most notably in northeastern

Oregon, and north central and northeastern Washington. The last

widespread outbreak, which caused significant damage, occurred in the

early 1970s causing defoliation and tree mortality throughout about

700,000 acres in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. More localized, less

dramatic outbreaks occurred in the early 1980s and 1990s. By the time

noticeable defoliation occurs, it is too late to implement a management

strategy if needed. As a result, following the outbreak in the early

1970s, a DFTM early warning trapping system was put in place throughout

eastern Washington and Oregon. This trapping system is used to monitor

changes in the populations and give an advance indication of a

potential outbreak, thus allowing land managers to do analysis and

implement possible actions, as necessary, prior to severe visible

defoliation. Data from the 1997 and 1998 trapping program indicate that

there has been a significant increase in populations, particularly in

northeastern Oregon and northcentral and northeastern Washington. Based

on this information, a fairly widespread DFTM outbreak is anticipated

involving several Forests, as well as other land ownerships, in 2000

and 2001; and this outbreak will be similar to the one experienced in

1972-1974.

Since the outbreak is anticipated to be widespread, we recognize

that it is not realistic nor desirable to try to control or stop it.

There is, however, opportunity to evaluate its impacts on specific

areas where foliage protection and tree protection may be critical, and

to evaluate effects of short-term management strategies.

DFTM larvae emerge in the spring and begin feeding on new needles

of Douglas-firs and true firs. As the larvae get older they begin to

feed on older needles, and in high populations, whole trees will be

defoliated in a single year. Complete defoliation often results in tree

mortality. The female moth has vestigial wings, and therefore, does not

fly and disperse her eggs throughout the forest canopy as other forest

defoliators might do. AS a result, a DFTM outbreak has a patchy

appearance, with pockets of heavy defoliation scattered throughout a

larger area of light or moderate defoliation. The areas of heavy

defoliation and mortality vary in size, but can often be 500-1000

acres.

This insect has a short-term outbreak cycle of four phases or

years. This makes the timing of any short-term management options

critical. During the first two phases, populations begin to increase.

Widespread, significant defoliation occurs in the third phase when

populations are very high. Significant defoliation also occurs during

the fourth phase, but due to competition for available food and a

natural virus, the population collapses naturally. For any short term

treatment to be effective and provide foliage protection, it should be

applied at, or before, the beginning of the third phase. The short-term

cycle of the outbreak, and the immobility of the female make it

possible to treat localized areas without concern about spread and re-

invasion from adjacent untreated areas.

In addition to the impacts of defoliation and tree mortality, there

is also the consideration of additional tree mortality from bark

beetles attracted to trees weakened from defoliation. A current

outbreak of Douglas-fir bark beetle in parts of the area under

consideration makes this a particular concern.

The hairs on the bodies of the larvae and the cocoon cases of this

insect are irritating hairs that cause welts, rashes and reactions in

many people when they are exposed to this insect. This reaction is

called tussockosis. The level of reaction is dependent on individual

sensitivity.

The purpose of this EIS is to identify those areas where foliage

and stand structure must be protected to maintain the integrity of

existing conditions, such as critical habitat for threatened,

endangered and sensitive species, and late and successional old-growth

reserves; or to reduce impacts of the insect and defoliation on the

human environment, such as campgrounds, administrative sites, or

foreground aesthetics. It will evaluate the impacts of short-term

management options, should treatment be necessary. There are two

insecticides that are currently registered and will be considered in

the analysis. Both are biological insecticides. One insecticide uses

Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, which is bacterium-based, and

affects some of the lepidopteran (moth and butterfly) species. The

second insecticide employs a nucleopolyhedrosis virus specific to DFTM,

and which affects a few other closely related species, such as the

rusty tussock moth.

B. Proposed Action

The Pacific Northwest Region will be preparing an EIS to evaluate

short-term suppression of a potential DFTM outbreak using a biological

insecticide, to protect specific areas and habitats, such as riparian

habitats of isolated bull trout populations, high value recreation

sites and administrative sites. The intent is only to look at short-

term strategies. Long-term strategies are addressed in longer term

management plans.

C. Proposed Scoping

Public participation is an important part of the analysis. The

scoping period associated with this Notice of Intent will be thirty

(30) days in length, beginning the day after publication of this

notice. In addition to this scoping, the public may visit Forest

Service officials at any time during the analysis and prior to the

decision.

[[Page 32842]]

The Forest Service is seeking information, comments, and assistance

from Federal, State and local agencies, tribes, and other individuals

or organizations who may be interested in or affected by the proposed

action. Comments submitted during the scoping process should be in

writing. They should be specific to the action being proposed and

should describe as clearly and completely as possible any issues the

commentor has with the proposal. This input will be used in preparation

of the draft EIS.

D. Preliminary Issues Identified to Date

Preliminary issues that have been identified are:

The impacts of the DFTM outbreak and subsequent

defoliation and tree mortality, and the proposed treatment options, on

habitats for threatened, endangered or sensitive species.

The impacts of defoliation on remaining stands of limited

late and old growth structure in many of the Forests.

The impacts of the DFTM on the human environment such as

recreation areas, and residential and administrative sites, along with

the issues of tussockosis, aesthetics and water quality.

The response and concerns of the proposed insecticide

treatments which will be considered, and the impacts and risk of these

treatments to humans and the environment.

The significant concern over the impact of numerous forest

health related problems that have already been occurring, especially in

the Blue Mountain forests, such as the past western spruce budworm

outbreak, and an ongoing Douglas-fir bark beetle outbreak, and high

amounts of existing fuels, and loss of timber.

E. Alternatives Considered

The No Action alternative will serve as a baseline for comparison

of alternatives. This alternative will be no change from current

management of the Forests and will be fully developed and analyzed. The

proposed action, as described above will be consider and other

alternatives developed around the proposed action to address issues

identified in the scoping and public involvement process.

F. Estimated Dates for Draft and Final EIS

The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for public comment by

October 1999. 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 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 objectives

that could be raised at the draft EIS stage but that are not raised

until after the completion of the final EIS may be waived or dismissed

by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir.

1986) and Wisconsin Heritage, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334 (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 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 the 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. Reviewer may wish to refer

to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing

the procedural provision of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40

CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.

Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names

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

public record on this proposed action and will be available for public

inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and

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

standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR Part 215.

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 the

FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only very limited

circumstances, such as 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 a specified number

of days.

Comments on the draft EIS will be analyzed, considered, and

responded to by the Forest Service in preparing the final EIS. The

final EIS is scheduled to be completed in February 2000. The Regional

Forester is the responsible official and as such will consider

comments, responses, environmental consequences discussed in the final

EIS, and applicable laws, regulations, and policies in making a

decision regarding this proposed action. The responsible official will

document the decision and reasons for the Pacific Northwest Region

Douglas-fir Tussock Moth Project in the Record of Decision. That will

be subject Forest Service Appeal Regulations (36 CFR Part 215).

Dated: June 11, 1999.

Nancy Graybeal,

Acting Regional Forester, Pacific Northwest Region.

[FR Doc. 99-15504 Filed 6-17-99; 8:45 am]

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