Environmental statements; notice of intent: Sierra Nevada National Forests, CA,

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Federal Register: April 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 77)NoticesPage 19745-19746From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr22ap99-26

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision of the Notice of Intent for the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment Environmental Impact Statement. The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Regions 4 and 5 announce the adjustment to the schedule for the development of new management direction in Sierra Nevada national forest, supported by an environmental impact statement. Previous schedules published in the Federal Register on July 10, 1998 and November 20, 1998 announced a completion date of July 31, 1999.

SUMMARY: The previous Federal Register notice of November 20, 1998 called for publication of the draft environmental impact statement in late February, 1999. The schedule is being adjusted to allow the Forest Service more time to integrate relevant natural resource science findings and to better integrate public concerns into alternatives to be displayed in the draft environmental impact statement. The adjustment in schedule will result in a more meaningful and useful draft environmental impact statement for public review and comment. The adjustment in schedule changes the estimated publication of the draft environmental impact statement to late spring or early summer of 1999. The Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will amend national forest plans for the Humboldt-Toiyabe, Modoc, Lassen, Plumas, Tahoe, Eldorado, Stanislaus, Sierra, Sequoia, and Inyou National Forests, and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. The EIS will address five problem areas described in the Notice of Intent published in the November 20, 1998 Federal Register: old forest ecosystems; aquatic, riparian, and meadow ecosystems; fire and fuels; noxious weeds; and, lower westside hardwood forest ecosystems.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please see the USDA Forest Service Region 5 World Wide Web site www.r5.fs.fed.us or contact Dr. Kent Connaughton, USDA Forest Service, Sierra Nevada Framework Project, Room 419, 801 ``I'' Street, Sacramento, CA 95814; phone number 916-492-7554; TTY via PacBell relay (800) 735-2929.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region and the Pacific Southwest Research Station are integrating new science into management of the national forests of California. The effort is called the Sierra Nevada Framework Project. One objective of the Framework Project is to amend forest plans in conformance with the National Forest Management Act

[Page 19746]and the National Environmental Policy Act. Other activities of the Framework Project involve improving long-term cooperation and coordination among the Forest Service, tribes, local governments, state and federal agencies.

On November 20, 1998, the Region published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register identifying five problem areas to address in an Environmental Impact Statement: old forest ecosystems; aquatic, riparian and meadow ecosystems; fire and fuels management; noxious weeds; and, lower westside hardwood ecosystems. Prior to drafting the Notice of Intent, the Pacific Southwest Region and Pacific Southwest Research Station reviewed recent science and gathered public comment and related information during a series of 37 community workshops throughout the Sierra and other towns in California and Nevada. Publication of the Notice of Intent initiated a 60-day opportunity for public comment, including 27 additional community workshops. To date, the Forest Service has received 3000 comments via letters, postcards, and e-mail. Response to these comments is integrated into the alternatives being developed to address the five problem areas.

In response to the significant public interest in the development of alternatives, the Forest Service is making available summary descriptions of alternatives that may appear in the draft EIS. The Forest Service is not soliciting public comment on these preliminary drafts, but is making them available so people may be better prepared to comment on the draft EIS when it is published.

At present, several alternatives are being developed by the Forest Service. These alternatives reflect extensive public comment and suggestions, as well as recent scientific information. To view summaries of these draft alternatives, please see the USDA Forest Service Region 5 World Wide Web site www.r5.fs.fed.us or contact USDA Forest Service, Sierra Nevada Framework Project, 801 I Street, Room 419, Sacramento, CA, 95814 to receive a copy by mail.

The Forest Service is convening public meetings to inform interested people about its progress in the development of the environmental impact statement. Meetings will be held in the Sierra Nevada Framework Project Office, 801 I Street, Sacramento, California, 95814 Room 484 as follows:

Tuesday, May 11, 1999, 1-3 pm

Wednesday, June 2, 1999, 1-3 pm

Wednesday, July 7, 1999, 1-3 pm

Wednesday, August 4, 1999, 1-3 pm

Dated: April 9, 1999. Kent P. Connaughton, Deputy Regional Forester.

FR Doc. 99-10062Filed4-21-99; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 3410-11-M

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