Proposed Mann Creek Timber Sale and Other Activities Within the Mann Creek Subwatersheds, Payette National Forest, Washington County, ID

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Proposed Mann Creek Timber Sale and Other Activities Within the

Mann Creek Subwatersheds, Payette National Forest, Washington County,

ID

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is proposing the following for the

Mann Creek Subwatersheds: harvest and regeneration of timber; road

decommissioning or obliteration to protect watershed conditions; and

prescribed fire to reduce fuels and enhance plant growth and mountain

quail habitat.

The agency gives notice of the environmental analysis and decision-

making process so that interested and affected people know how they may

participate and contribute to the final decision. The agency invites

written comments and suggestions on the scope of the analysis and the

issues it should address.

DATES: Comments on the scope of the analysis must be received by August

13, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: David Alexander, Forest

Supervisor, Payette National Forest, P.O. Box 1026, McCall, Idaho

83638.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action

should be directed to Dautis Pearson, NEPA Coordinator, phone (208)

253-0134; or John Baglien, District Ranger, phone (208) 549-4201.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USDA Forest Service is proposing

projects within the 26,438 acre Mann Creek Subwatersheds. Approximately

6-8 MMBF of timber from about 2,000 acres will be harvested by thinning

and regeneration methods, using tractor, skyline, and helicopter

logging systems. Approximately 800 acres will be regenerated.

This proposal follows direction in the Payette National Forest Land

and Resource Management Plan. About 2-4 miles of road construction or

reconstruction are planned. About 10-30 miles of road decommissioning

or obliteration are planned.

Prescribed fire activities would occur on a total of about 4,000

acres of open ponderosa pine stands, dry Douglas-fir stands, aspen

communities, and grass/shrublands to enhance plant growth and

diversity.

Preliminary issues identified are forest health in stringer

habitat, and the economic and resource effects of longer return

intervals into the subwatershed.

Initial scoping began in June, 1999. Preliminary analysis is

currently being conducted. The Forest Service will be seeking

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

and local agencies and other individuals or organizations who may

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be interested or affected by the proposed projects. Additional input

will be used to help identify key issues and develop alternatives. This

input will be used in preparation of the draft EIS.

The Forest Service expects to file the draft EIS with the

Environmental Protection Agency and have it available for public review

by August 20, 1999. The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days

from the date the Environmental Protection Agency's notice of

availability appears 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

DEISs must structure their participation in the environmental review of

the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts the agency to the

reviewers' positions and contentions. Vermont Yankee Power Corp. v.

NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, courts may waive or dismiss

environmental objections that could be raised at the DEIS stage, but

that are not raised until after completion of the final environmental

impact statement (FEIS). City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022

(9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritagees, 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 FEIS.

To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues

and concerns on the proposed action, comments should be as specific as

possible. 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.

The Responsible Official is David F. Alexander, Forest Supervisor,

Payette National Forest, McCall, ID 83638.

Dated: July 2, 1999.

David F. Alexander,

Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 99-18013 Filed 7-14-99; 8:45 am]

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