East Face Ecosystem Management Project, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Beaverhead County, Montana

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

East Face Ecosystem Management Project, Beaverhead-Deerlodge

National Forest, Beaverhead County, Montana

AGENCY: Forest Service, USD.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact

statement to document the analysis and disclose the environmental

impacts of a proposed action to manipulate forest, shrubland, and

grassland vegetation on about 16,000 acres. This area lies in the

southeast corner of the Pioneer Mountains, about 17 miles northwest of

Dillon, Montana.

The proposed action would commercially thin about 1,659 acres of

Douglas-fir forest, thin another 6,602 acres of Douglas-fir forest

using prescribed fire, release about 628 acres of aspen/shrub

communities, release about 1,688 acres of mountain mahogany, restore

about 5,200 acres of shrub/grass habitat that has been lost to conifer

succession, and release riparian shrub communities form overstory

conifers on about 448 acres.

DATES: Initial comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be

received in writing no later than October 15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The responsible official is the Forest Supervisor,

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, 420 Barrett Street, Dillon, MT

59725. Send written comments to the responsible official, Acting Forest

Supervisor Lawrence A. Timchak.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben Conard, Interdisciplinary Team

Leader, Dillon Ranger District, or phone: (406) 683-3900.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: About 80% of the Douglas-fir thinning would

be done using slashing and prescribed fire, and 20% using wood product

removal and prescribed fire. Aspen restoration would be done by

slashing or removing conifers, some stands would be burned after

slashing. Mountain mahogany restoration would be done by slashing and

piling, then burning the piles. Shrub/grass restoration would be done

using slashing and prescribed fire. Riparian shrub communities would be

released using harvest, felling and/or slashing. Some slash may be

piled and burned. Low standard temporary roads may be built to reach

some treatment areas.

The project area lies in that portion of the East Pioneer Mountains

between Rock Creek and Black Mountain in Townships 3, 4, and 5 South,

Range 10 West; Township 5 South, Range 11 West; and Township 6 South,

Range 10 and 11 West. The scope of this proposal is limited to specific

prescribed burning, timber harvest, and associated temporary road

building, slashing, lopping, or otherwise disposing of debris within

the affected area.

Public participation is important to this analysis. Part of the

goal of public involvement is to identify additional issues and to

refine the general, tentative issues. A scoping notice describing the

project was mailed to those who requested information on timber harvest

and burning activities on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has been involved in the development

of this proposal and will be consulted throughout the analysis and

decision making process. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service

will be consulted concerning effects to threatened and endangered

species.

Preliminary issues identified by the Forest Service include effects

to vegetation, wildlife habitats, and maintaining the existing

character of inventoried roadless areas. Slashing and prescribed fire

are proposed in Inventoried Roadless Areas 1-800D and 1-009. No road

building is proposed in inventoried roadless area. The analysis will

consider all reasonably foreseeable activities, including proposed

actions on adjacent BLM lands.

People may visit with Forest Service officials at any time during

the analysis and prior to the decision. Two periods are specifically

designated for comments on the analysis: (1) During the scoping process

and (2) during the draft EIS period.

During the scoping process, the Forest Service is seeking

additional information and comments from individuals or organization

who may be interested in or affected by the proposed action, Federal,

State and local agencies. The Forest Service invites written comments

and suggestions on this action, particularly in terms of identification

of issues and alternative development.

The draft EIS should be available for review in February 2000. The

final EIS is scheduled for completion in July, 2000.

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

the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of

availability in the Federal Register.

It is very important 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 environmental impact statement.

To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues

and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft

environmental impact statement 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

environmental impact statement 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

CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.

The responsible official will make the decision on this proposal

after considering comments and responses, environmental consequences

discussed in the final EIS, applicable laws, regulations, and policies.

The decision and reasons for the decision will be documented in a

Record of Decision.

Dated: September 7, 1999.

Jack de Golia,

Acting Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 99-24826 Filed 9-23-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-11-M