Shasta-Trinity National Forest; California; Highway 89 Safety Enhancement and Forest Ecosystem Restoration Project

David R. Myers
Department of Agriculture
September 15, 2015

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55323-55327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23157]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Shasta-Trinity National Forest; California; Highway 89 Safety 
Enhancement and Forest Ecosystem Restoration Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: With the Highway 89 Safety Enhancement and Forest Ecosystem 
Restoration Project (Highway 89 project), the Shasta-Trinity National 
Forest (Forest) is proposing to improve public safety along California 
State Highway 89 (Highway 89) and restore forest health throughout 
approximately 13,514 acres of forest by:
    Addressing infrastructure needs (National Forest System roads and 
helispot, developed recreation areas);
    Reducing the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire by reducing fuel 
loads, thinning overstocked stands, and gradually returning fire to the 
landscape both along the highway corridor and within the surrounding 
forest; and
    Restoring resilient forest structures, patterns, and disturbance 
regimes by reducing stand densities, retaining and releasing larger 
trees, increasing under-represented forest vegetation such as aspen and 
oak, and providing forest structural diversity across the landscape.
    The 13,514 acre project area is located in Siskiyou County, 
California, north and south of Highway 89, from near the junction of 
Highway 89 with Interstate 5 (Mount Shasta, California area), east to 
the Cattle Camp turnoff (Forest Roads 43N19 and 40N44). The project 
boundary extends up to 2.5 miles from the highway and is bounded by the 
McCloud River, private property, and major Forest roads. The large 
landscape selected encompasses both complex natural forest stands that 
retain more spatial heterogeneity combined with simplified forest 
stands that are typically homogeneous in structure and include uniform 
stands of small and medium-sized trees within plantations. Using 
logical landscape boundaries, including the river, private property, 
roads, and other restored landscapes (Algoma Vegetation Management 
Project) fosters restoration of resilient forest structures, patterns, 
and disturbance regimes which are lacking.
    The legal location is: Township 39 North, Range 1 West, Sections 2-
10, 17-18; Township 39 North, Range 2 West, Sections 1-3, 12; Township 
40 North, Range 1 West, Sections 27, 28, 31-34; Township 40 North, 
Range 2 West, Sections 34-36; Township 40 North, Range 3 West, Sections 
32-33; Township 40 North, Range 4 West, Sections 22-26, 34, Mt. Diablo 
Meridian. Elevations range from 3,200 to 4,400 feet.
    Project treatments include thinning along the Highway 89 corridor, 
thinning in plantations and in natural forest stands throughout the 
13,514 acres, hazard tree removal, prescribed burning, Forest road 
management, and developing a helispot.

DATES: Comments concerning this scope of the analysis must be received 
by October 15, 2015. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected in December, 2015 and the final environmental impact statement 
is expected in May 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Carolyn Napper, District Ranger, 
Shasta-McCloud Management Unit, 204 W. Alma St., Mt. Shasta, California 
96067, Attn. Heather McRae. Comments may also be sent via email to: 
comments-pacificsw-shasta-trinity-mtshasta-mccloud@fs.fed.us, or via 
facsimile to (530) 926-5120.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather McRae, Fuels Specialist, at 
(530) 964-3770 or hmcrae@fs.fed.us, or Ann Glubczynski, Natural 
Resource Planner, at (530) 964-3717 or aglubczynski@fs.fed.us.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The project purpose and need for action is 
generated by looking at the difference between the existing conditions 
and the desired conditions [as identified in the Shasta-Trinity 
National Forest Land Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan)] in the 
project area.

Highway 89 Corridor

    Existing Conditions: The Highway 89 corridor is defined as the area 
that extends up to 275 feet out from the edge of the pavement on both 
sides of the two-lane highway. This corridor is composed of three 
sections between Interstate 5 (I-5) and Cattle Camp (Forest roads 43N19 
and 40N44), for a total of 10.2 miles. The California Department of 
Transportation (CalTrans) right of way (ROW) along the highway varies 
from 80 to 200 feet from the roadway centerline through the project 
area.
    The vegetation along portions of the Highway 89 corridor includes 
tall, dense forest stands that are close to the road shoulder and cast 
shadows on the pavement. During the winter months, the shade on the 
roadway keeps snow and ice from melting for up to several weeks 
following a storm. Trees immediately adjacent to the highway with 
overhanging branches can drop snow loads onto the highway and passing 
vehicles. These branches collect snow, until the snow becomes too 
heavy, and drops onto the roadway. Snow from overhanging branches has 
been known to hit the windshields of vehicles as it falls, even 
breaking some windshields. In many areas, the trees and brush are very 
dense, growing within the ROW, which makes snow removal from the paved 
traffic lanes difficult.
    During the entire year, vegetation along the highway also limits 
visibility for drivers to see wildlife moving from the forest onto the 
highway. Numerous animal and vehicle collisions have occurred along the 
highway in the project area, because drivers are not able to see 
animals entering the roadway until they are so close that it is 
difficult to stop or even slow down.
    Dense vegetation, tree mortality, and large amounts of dead 
vegetation and debris along Highway 89 have increased the likelihood 
that a fire starting or burning along the highway could spread quickly 
to threaten surrounding forests and communities, or allow for a fire to 
cross the highway, and be difficult to control during dry summer 
conditions. Highway 89 also serves as an evacuation route for residents 
to leave and emergency personnel to access the area.
    Desired Future Conditions: Sunlight is able to reach the Highway 89 
road surface during winter months, enabling snow and ice to melt from 
the roadway more quickly. There are fewer trees with branches hanging 
over Highway 89.
    Drivers along Highway 89 have adequate sight distance and an open 
view of wildlife entering the roadway to respond as necessary.
    Sufficient gaps in vegetation exist along Highway 89 to allow for 
efficient snow removal during heavy snowfalls.
    Vegetation conditions and predicted fire behavior along Highway 89 
are such that a wildfire during summer months is less likely to spread 
along or across the highway, is less likely to threaten surrounding 
forests and communities, and would not limit access for firefighters, 
or egress for citizens.

Forest Roads, Powerline Corridors and Helispot

    Existing Conditions: There are many Forest roads within the project 
area. The conditions of these roads vary, from

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well maintained to nearly undrivable. Brush and trees encroach on some 
roadways making them undrivable or difficult to drive on and therefore 
unsafe for users. Many Forest roads are used frequently by Forest 
visitors to access areas where they recreate, or for recreation 
activities such as biking, horse-back riding, or driving off highway 
vehicles (OHVs). Some of these roads have reduced access for 
recreational opportunities due to their poor condition or being 
overgrown.
    Some roads that are open are not heavily used, nor are they needed 
for resource management activities. There are many user-created routes 
in the project area that are not part of the Forest transportation 
system (unauthorized routes) and not needed for resource management 
activities. But several Forest Transportation System roads and one 
unauthorized route in the project area that are currently closed or 
inaccessible do provide critical access for resource management 
activities.
    Powerlines crossing through the project area are maintained by the 
power companies, who currently remove vegetation within the power line 
corridor ROW. However, in some areas, such as near the community of 
Mount Shasta, dense forest stands on NFS lands are growing right up to 
the powerline corridors. The safety of firefighters responding to a 
fire near these powerlines is at risk. There is no break in the 
vegetation sufficient to safely put firefighters near the powerlines 
during a wildfire to protect them.
    There is an existing helispot located behind the Ash Creek Guard 
Station where trees are obstructing the take-off and landing paths for 
helicopters. These trees are part of a seed orchard of specially bred 
trees. Cutting these trees would result in the loss of valuable genetic 
research. The effectiveness of the helispot is increasingly hazardous 
due to the height of adjacent trees, and we expect that within 10 years 
the helispot will no longer be usable. There is currently no other 
suitable landing spot for helicopters in the general vicinity.
    Desired Future Conditions: Roads on the Forest transportation 
system that are needed for current and future resource management or 
recreation access have been maintained to provide safe access for 
forest management and recreation activities, including: OHV riding, 
horseback riding, and biking (activities the public has indicated are 
important to them). Forest transportation system roads used for Forest 
resource management are closed when not in use. Unauthorized routes 
that do not meet management needs are decommissioned and become 
revegetated. Forest system roads and trails that access rivers and 
streams for water-oriented recreation activities are improved, and 
roads and trails to hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing areas are 
maintained at an appropriate maintenance level.
    Vegetation on both sides of the powerline ROW is managed to reduce 
potential impacts during wildfire. Overstory, ladder, and surface fuels 
would be reduced such that the potential for crown fire during summer 
conditions is unlikely. Anticipated fire behavior during summer 
conditions is such that firefighters can safely manage a fire in the 
vicinity of the powerlines.
    A new helispot is located east of McCloud, with sufficient 
clearance to allow a medical evacuation (medevac) helicopter to land 
and transport a patient. This helispot is also available to support 
fire operations.

Developed Recreation Areas

    Existing Conditions: Developed recreation areas within the project 
boundary include those within the McCloud River Loop area, 
specifically: Fowlers, Cattle Camp and Camp 4 Campgrounds, Lower, 
Middle, and Upper Falls picnic areas, Lakin Dam and Cattle Camp 
Swimming Hole day use sites, the McCloud River Trail, and the Vista 
Point along Highway 89.
    Many of the forest stands in the recreation areas are overly dense 
and at risk of density-related mortality. Evidence of root disease and 
insect damage has been observed, and high fuel loading from mortality 
is present throughout the area, increasing the likelihood of 
undesirable effects in the event of a wildfire.
    In the Cattle Camp Campground, there has been an increase in tree 
mortality over the past five years. Within the developed campgrounds 
and other recreation sites in the McCloud River corridor, hazard trees 
continue to be a concern for public safety. Excessive hazardous fuel 
accumulations can increase the potential for intense wildfires.
    Vegetation is blocking views of the McCloud River from many of the 
developed recreation sites such as Fowlers Campground and views of 
Mount Shasta from the Vista Point.
    Desired Future Conditions: Hazardous fuels are reduced to the 
standards under the Forest Plan, allowing fire managers to effectively 
protect life, property, and natural resources during a wildfire. Hazard 
trees in developed recreation sites, along trails, and in campgrounds 
are removed for forest health and public safety. Forest stands within 
and surrounding campgrounds are healthy. Opportunities exist to view 
the McCloud River within the developed recreation sites and trails, and 
to view Mount Shasta from the Vista Point on Highway 89.

Wildland Urban Interface Defense Zones (Defined as Areas Up to \1/4\ 
Mile From Structures)

    Existing Conditions: Fuels have been reduced in a portion of the 
Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) in recent years around the communities 
of McCloud and Mount Shasta. However, there are numerous forest stands 
and brushy areas where fuels have not been reduced. Some of the treated 
stands are still in a condition that could sustain a wildfire with 
potential impacts to homes and private property, especially in the WUI 
defense zones near Mount Shasta and on Snowman's Hill.
    Desired Future Conditions: In the WUI defense zones around the 
community of Mt. Shasta and Snowman's Hill, fuel loading has been 
managed and reduced to the Forest Plan standards. Vegetation is managed 
to achieve 4-foot flame lengths or less during 97th percentile weather 
conditions. There is sufficient ingress/egress clearance and limited 
chances of crown fire.

Forest Ecosystem Health

    Existing Conditions: The project area is a combination of 
plantations and natural (non-plantation) forest stands. The primarily 
ponderosa pine plantations range in age from less than 10 years to over 
70 years. Some of the plantations have had recent treatments (brush 
mastication, thinning, pruning). Others have not and are overstocked, 
with interlocking tree crowns and decadent woody shrubs, making them 
vulnerable to mortality from insects and fire. Mortality has occurred 
within some of the plantations, resulting in pockets of dead trees. The 
plantations lack age, structure, and species diversity, and some were 
subject to windrowing (a site preparation method which resulted in 
piles of topsoil) and mechanical planting in the past.
    Most of the natural forest stands are overly dense and at risk of 
density-related mortality. Mortality pockets are starting to occur 
across the project area. Root diseases, such as black stain and 
Heterobasidion, along with evidence of insect damage, have been 
observed in many locations. Dense and dying knobcone pine stands are 
far outside of their natural range of variation both in overall numbers 
as well as percent composition and are creating unnaturally large fuel 
loads.

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    Windrows were created in several plantations prior to planting as a 
way to remove competing vegetation. Windrowing reduced overall soil 
productivity by scalping and piling nutrient rich topsoil, which 
displaced nutrients and soil organic matter in the piles and left 
poorer quality subsoil exposed for tree planting.
    Areas dominated by bitterbrush, individual black oak trees, and 
stands of aspen and oak (important for vegetative diversity and 
wildlife habitat) are being encroached on by conifers, which are 
shading out these shrubs/trees. Due to a lack of disturbance, forest 
stands have followed a process of succession in which conifers grow 
taller than aspen and oak, blocking the sunlight these species need. 
Conifers are competing for soil nutrients and water with the other tree 
and shrub species. Aspen stands are declining at a rapid rate due to 
past management such as fire suppression, timber management (removing 
aspen and planting conifers), livestock grazing and site conversion. 
Bitterbrush stands are mostly even-aged and decadent with limited 
regeneration or new growth, and there are encroaching conifers at the 
edges of and within the bitterbrush stands.
    Some Riparian Reserve areas located within the McCloud River 
corridor (inner gorge) contain dense pockets of young conifers 
encroaching on the riparian vegetation as well as dead and dying trees. 
Some of these areas are adjacent to trails, such as the McCloud River 
Trail, and recreation sites.
    Effective fire suppression in the last century has greatly reduced 
the total area burned when compared to pre-historic levels. 
Approximately 73% of the project area historically experienced a high 
frequency (0-35 year return interval), low to mixed severity fire 
regime. Approximately 6% of the project area historically experienced a 
high frequency (0-35 year return interval), high severity fire regime, 
while 6% of the project area evolved under a low frequency (35-100 
year) high severity fire regime (non-burnable area accounts for the 
remaining 15%).
    Based on the historic fire return intervals and fire history data, 
the project area is outside the historical range for fire occurrence. 
Approximately 80% of the project area is designated as a high departure 
from the historical fire return interval range. These areas have missed 
multiple fire return intervals. The remaining 4% of burnable area is at 
a moderate departure, missing one or more return intervals. This 
departure has resulted in changes to vegetation characteristics 
(species composition, structural stages, stand age, canopy closure, and 
mosaic pattern); fuel composition; fire frequency, severity, and 
pattern; and insect and disease activity. The risk of losing key 
ecosystem components is high.
    Desired Future Conditions: Plantations with trees primarily 10 
inches diameter at breast height (dbh) or greater have a more multi-
aged structure with variable sizes and spacing, and plantations with 
trees primarily less than 10 inches dbh are moving toward stands with 
larger sized trees. Natural stands have densities at levels that 
improve and protect forest health and vigor. The stands have structural 
diversity with varied species, multiple canopy layers, other types of 
vegetation, and appropriate levels of coarse woody debris and snags. 
Plantations and natural stands are resilient to epidemic insect or 
disease attack. Knobcone pine dominated stands more closely resemble 
their historic conditions of other species such as ponderosa pine, 
incense cedar and white fir mixed in with the knobcone.
    In plantations with windrows, the windrows have been respread, 
redistributing the topsoil and nutrients throughout the plantation. 
Overall soil quality and productivity are improved in the plantations 
providing more nutrients to the trees.
    Hardwoods, especially oaks and aspen, remain a healthy and vigorous 
component of forest stands where they are naturally located. In 
hardwood-dominated stands, there are fewer conifers competing for 
resources (sunlight, nutrients, water) with the hardwoods. Bitterbrush 
stands have a mix of age and condition classes and also have limited 
competition from conifers. In riparian areas, the species composition 
and structural diversity of the native vegetation maintain a healthy 
riparian ecosystem, without excess competition for resources from 
conifers.
    All stands and vegetation types experience fires at intervals that 
are historic to the area, have appropriate coarse woody debris and snag 
levels, but do not have excess fuel loads. Wildfires that occur within 
the project area during dry summer conditions are beneficial to the 
ecosystem, as occurred historically.

Purpose and Need

    For the Highway 89 corridor, there is a need to:
    (1) Cut vegetation throughout the highway corridor, so that the 
forest canopy is more open, allowing increased winter sunlight on the 
roadway and faster melting of snow and ice on the pavement.
    (2) Manage vegetation along the highway for increased driver sight 
distance to reduce the risk of vehicle-wildlife collisions.
    (3) Remove vegetation along the road shoulders for space to place 
plowed/blown snow during storms.
    (4) Reduce fuels along Highway 89 to allow for a more effective 
fire response during summer conditions.
    For Forest roads, powerline corridors and helispot facilities, 
there is a need:
    (1) To ensure that roads needed for Forest resource management are 
maintained or repaired to meet Forest standards and closed when not in 
use. Roads needed fror recreation access are maintained and repaired to 
meet Forest standards and public safety needs. Roads not needed for 
Forest management or recreation access are decommissioned. Roads are 
added or removed from the Forest transportation system as appropriate.
    (2) For a helispot east of McCloud to facilitate a medical 
evacuation and an appropriate fire management response.
    (3) To reduce hazardous fuels levels (surface fuel loadings, ladder 
fuels, and vegetation densities) along powerlines, to increase 
firefighter safety during a wildfire.
    For developed recreation areas, there is a need to:
    (1) Increase visitor safety from hazard trees and the risk of 
wildfires, including along the McCloud River Trail, and improve access 
within and surrounding the developed recreation sites.
    (2) Improve the views throughout the project area, including Mt. 
Shasta, the McCloud River, and the natural landscape.
    For the WUI defense zones, there is a need to:
    (1) Reduce hazardous fuel levels (surface fuel loadings, ladder 
fuels, and vegetation densities) within the defense zones to achieve 4-
foot flame lengths or less during 97th percentile weather conditions.
    For forest and ecosystem health, there is a need to:
    (1) Increase the diversity of species composition, age, and 
structure in plantations and natural forest stands.
    (2) Increase resilience to fire, insects and disease in all stands.
    (3) Reduce competition by conifers in hardwood stands, bitterbrush 
areas, and riparian vegetation to ensure their growth and vigor.
    (4) Respread existing windrowed topsoil in several plantations to 
redistribute soil nutrients and organic matter and improve overall soil 
productivity.
    (5) Restore the natural role of fire in the ecosystem to facilitate 
vegetative and other fire-related processes.

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Proposed Alternative 3

    The project area was divided into treatment areas based on 
vegetation type, use, and areas with special conditions. Activities 
include Forest road management, and construction of a new helispot for 
medical air evacuation and firefighting support. Silviculture 
treatments such as tree thinning, sanitation thinning and hazard tree 
removal, along with fuels treatments such as underburning, hand or 
machine piling, and mastication will be implemented to improve 
resilience and health in forest stands, and improve safety along the 
Highway 89 corridor, in WUI defense zones and in developed recreation 
areas.
    A complete description of alternative 3, including resource 
protection measures and treatment maps, can be found in the Highway 89 
Safety Enhancement and Forest Ecosystem Restoration Project Scoping 
Document on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Web site at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=43770.
    In summary, to meet the purpose and need the following treatments 
have been identified (all acreages and miles are approximate, some 
treatments will overlap, occurring in the same areas).
    Thinning (variable density across all diameter classes, including 
understory vegetation) of trees will be implemented throughout the 
project area to reduce relative stand densities and meet other 
objectives. In some areas thinning will create small gaps/openings in 
the canopy (such as the WUI defense zone). In other areas, clumps of 
trees with wildlife sheltering structure will be retained.
    Sanitation (removing dead and dying clumps of trees) will be 
implemented in areas of disease, insect damage, and ongoing mortality. 
Group selections will be installed in larger areas of mortality to try 
and slow rate of progression.
    Hazard tree removal will occur throughout the project area. 
Encroaching conifers will be removed to release riparian vegetation 
along the McCloud River Corridor and from bitterbrush fields.
    These treatments will occur in:
     3,376 acres of plantations with trees 10 inches or 
greater,
     617 acres of plantations with trees less than 10 inches 
dbh,
     1,241 acres of mixed conifer natural stands,
     3,794 acres of pine dominated natural stands,
     653 acres of knobcone pine dominated stands,
     212 acres of the McCloud River Corridor area,
     212 acres of the Big Canyon Creek area,
     61 acres of bitterbrush fields, and
     16 acres of black oak stands.
    Fuels treatments will include mastication, machine and hand piling 
and pile burning, and thinning for fuel reduction. The entire project 
area (with the exception of specific sensitive areas) will be 
underburned.
    The treatments will yield renewable forest by-products of both 
sawtimber (logs) and biomass (chips), firewood, and special forest 
products. Treatments will be accomplished through a variety of methods 
including service contacts, force account, commercial timber harvest, 
and stewardship contracts.
    In addition to vegetation treatments, a 550-foot x 550-foot 
helispot will be constructed across the highway from the Ash Creek Work 
Station (total area of approximately 14 acres). Forest road management 
activities will include 78 miles of road maintenance, 2.8 miles of 
reconstruction, 4 miles of new temporary road construction, 7.9 miles 
road/route decommissioning, 11.25 miles of road closures, 3 miles of 
road openings, and 0.25 miles of road (access to the new helispot) 
added to the Forest Transportation System.
    Highway 89 is designated as a Forest Service Scenic Byway. Visual 
quality objectives for the highway corridor through National Forest 
land call for retention, meaning human activities are not visually 
evident to the casual forest visitor. Trees will be removed along the 
highway in view of the roadway and the resulting changes in vegetation 
will be visually evident. Depending on the results of the scenery 
analysis, a Forest Plan amendment may be required for the project 
activities along the Highway 89 corridor.

Responsible Official

    Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Supervisor will decide whether to implement the proposed 
alternative 3, take an alternative action that meets the purpose and 
need, or take no action.

Permits or Licenses Required

    A permit would be required from the State of California prior to 
burning piles. The appropriate regulatory agencies will be consulted 
regarding national or state required permits associated with roads used 
during project implementation. All rquired permits will be obtained 
prior to implementation.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.
    Early in the project development process, meetings were held with 
local stakeholders, including representatives from the California 
Department of Transportation, the local timber industry and American 
Forest Resources Council, local fire safe and watershed councils, 
environmental and citizens' organizations, and the Pit River Tribe. It 
was anticipated at that time that an environmental assessment would be 
written for the project.
    The project was originally scoped in June, 2014. The project was 
posted on the Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) On June 30, 
2014. The Legal Notice was published in the newspaper of record (Record 
Searchlight, Redding, California) on June 30, 2014. A notice was also 
published in the Mount Shasta Herald (Mount Shasta, California). A 
scoping letter was mailed or emailed to 168 individuals, organizations, 
and government agencies. The scoping document and was posted to the 
Shasta-Trinity National Forest Web site. The scoping period was 30 
days. Comments were received from nine individuals, organizations, and 
agencies.
    In addition to the written request for comments, the scoping phase 
included two public meetings and field trips for interested members of 
the public and other government agencies. A public meeting/field trip 
was held on October 4, 2014 with 11 attendees. A field trip with 
representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was held on 
October 31, 2014. The comments from the scoping period and public 
meetings/field trips have become part of the Highway 89 Safety 
Enhancement and Forest Ecosystem Restoration Project record, and were 
considered when developing this new alternative (alternative 3), which 
is referred to as alternative 3 in this notice of intent.
    Based on the public involvement since scoping as well as new 
information, the line officer has chosen to evaluate and document 
project effects on the environment in an environmental impact 
statement.
    For the scoping period initiated by this notice of intent, it is 
important that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in 
such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of the 
environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be provided 
prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate 
the reviewer's concerns and

[[Page 55327]]

contentions. Comments submitted during the first scoping period will 
continue to be considered and need not be resubmitted. This project 
would implement the Forest Plan and is subject to 36 CFR 218 subparts A 
and B. All persons who provided comment in past designated comment 
periods associated with this project will have standing to object on 
comment issues previously provided however, those interested in the 
project are encouraged to review the scoping package and provide 
comments. Please note that to object per 36 CFR 218, a commenter must 
have provided specific written comments regarding the proposed project 
or activity during scoping or another designated opportunity for public 
comment (in other words objection issues must be based on previously 
submitted specific written comments except for issues that arose after 
the opportunities for comment). Please refer to 36 CFR 218.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered, however anonymous comments will not provide 
the Agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent 
environmental documents and may preclude their ability to object.

    Dated: September 8, 2015.
David R. Myers,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2015-23157 Filed 9-14-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P