80 FR 10663 - Stanislaus National Forest, CA; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Rim Fire Reforestation
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 39 (February 27, 2015)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 39 (February 27, 2015)
| Page Range | 10663-10664 | |
| FR Document | 2015-04109 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 10663-10664] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-04109] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Stanislaus National Forest, CA; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Rim Fire Reforestation AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Stanislaus National Forest proposes about 42,000 acres of reforestation, plantation thinning, additional deer habitat and noxious weed treatments on National Forest System (NFS) lands within the 2013 Rim Fire in order to: Return mixed conifer forest to the landscape; restore old forest for wildlife; reduce fuels; enhance deer habitat; and, eradicate noxious weeds. DATES: Comments on the proposed action should be submitted within 45 days of the date of publication of this Notice of Intent. Completion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is expected in November 2015 followed by the Final EIS and Draft Record of Decision (ROD) in May 2016. A final decision is expected in August 2016. ADDRESSES: Comments may be: mailed to the Stanislaus National Forest; Attn: Rim Reforestation; 19777 Greenley Road; Sonora, CA 95370; delivered to the address shown during business hours (M-F 8:00 am to 4:30 pm); or, submitted by FAX (209) 533-1890. Submit electronic comments, in common (.doc, .pdf, .rtf, .txt) formats, to: [email protected] with Subject: Rim Reforestation. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maria Benech, Stanislaus National Forest; 19777 Greenley Road; Sonora, CA 95370; phone (209) 532-3671; or email: [email protected]. A scoping package, maps and other information are online at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45612. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: General Background The Rim Fire started on August 17, 2013 in a remote area of the Stanislaus National Forest near the confluence of the Clavey and Tuolumne Rivers about 20 miles east of Sonora, California. Over the next several weeks it burned 257,314 acres, including 154,430 acres of NFS lands, becoming the third largest wildfire in California history. The Rim Fire Reforestation project is located within the Rim Fire perimeter in the Stanislaus National Forest on portions of the Mi-Wok and Groveland Ranger Districts. Purpose and Need for Action The primary purposes of the project are to: (1) Return Mixed Conifer Forest to the Landscape; (2) Restore Old Forest for Wildlife Habitat and Connectivity; (3) Reduce Fuels for Future Fire Resiliency; (4) Enhance Deer Habitat; and, (5) Eradicate Noxious Weeds. Proposed Action The Forest Service proposed action includes about 42,000 acres of reforestation, plantation thinning, additional deer habitat and noxious weed eradication treatments on NFS lands within the 2013 Rim Fire. Reforestation treatments (30,065 acres) include: Hand, mechanical and manual herbicide site preparation (Glyphosate); prescribed burning; planting a diversity of conifer tree species using various patterns and densities (trees per acre) across the landscape (up and down slopes with fewer on ridges and more in drainage bottoms) to develop resilient mixed conifer forest and enhance wildlife (including deer) habitat; manual herbicide release (Glyphosate) when vegetation competition begins to inhibit survival and growth; and, noxious weed eradication as described below. The reforestation treatment (30,065 acres) includes thinning and planting on 7,307 acres of existing plantations currently under-stocked due to high burn severity from the 2013 Rim Fire. Plantation Thinning treatments (11,359 acres) include: Hand and mechanical site preparation; prescribed burning and thinning to achieve an Individual, Clumpy, Open (ICO) pattern to maximize heterogeneity and wildlife (including deer) habitat while creating more fire resilient stands; and, noxious weed eradication as described below. Additional Deer Habitat treatments (407 acres) include: Prescribed burning; and, noxious weed eradication as described below. Noxious Weed Eradication treatments (4,160 acres) include: Weed treatments with a variety of EPA approved herbicides (such as Glyphosate, Clopyralid, Aminopyralid, Clethodim and Fluazifop-P-butyl). These noxious weed treatments overlap (within and up to 100 feet adjacent to) the reforestation, plantation thinning and additional deer habitat treaments described above. No treatments are proposed within Wilderness, Inventoried Roadless Areas, or the wild classification segments of Wild and Scenic Rivers or Proposed Wild and Scenic Rivers. Project design will incorporate Best Management Practices (BMPs) according to regional and national guidance. Implementation is expected to begin in fall 2016 and continue for up to 10 years. Possible Alternatives In addition to the Proposed Action, the EIS will evaluate the required No Action alternative and likely consider other alternatives identified through the inderdisciplinary process and public participation. Responsible Official Jeanne M. Higgins, Forest Supervisor; Stanislaus National Forest; 19777 Greenley Road; Sonora, CA 95370. Nature of Decision To Be Made The responsible official will decide whether to adopt and implement the proposed action, an alternative to the proposed action, or take no action with respect to the Rim Fire Reforestation project. Scoping Process Public participation is important at numerous points during the analysis. The Forest Service seeks information, [[Page 10664]] comments and assistance from federal, state, and local agencies and individuals or organizations that may be interested in or affected by the proposed action. The Forest Service conducts scoping according to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations (40 CFR 1501.7). In addition to other public involvment, this Notice of Intent initiates an early and open process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS and for identifying the significant issues related to a proposed action. This scoping process allows the Forest Service to not only identify significant environmental issues deserving of study, but also to deemphasize insignificant issues, narrowing the scope of the EIS process accordingly (40 CFR 1500.4(g)). Comment Requested This Notice of Intent initiates the scoping proces which guides the development of the EIS. Comments on the proposed action should be submitted within 45 days of the date of publication of this Notice of Intent. Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent Environmental Review A draft EIS will be available for comment when the Environmental Protection Agency 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 a 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 objections that could be raised at the draft EIS stage but that are not raised until after 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 Heritages, 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 during the 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 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. 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. Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal and will be available for public inspection. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 21. Dated: February 20, 2015. Jeanne M. Higgins, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2015-04109 Filed 2-26-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 39 / Friday, February 27, 2015 / Notices 10663
ajwages@fs.fed.us or 928–402–6222. by the Final EIS and Draft Record of (including deer) habitat; manual
Individuals who use telecommunication Decision (ROD) in May 2016. A final herbicide release (Glyphosate) when
devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the decision is expected in August 2016. vegetation competition begins to inhibit
Federal Information Relay Service at ADDRESSES: Comments may be: mailed survival and growth; and, noxious weed
(800) 877–8339 between 8:00 a.m. and to the Stanislaus National Forest; Attn: eradication as described below. The
8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Rim Reforestation; 19777 Greenley reforestation treatment (30,065 acres)
Monday through Friday. Road; Sonora, CA 95370; delivered to includes thinning and planting on 7,307
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Selecting the address shown during business acres of existing plantations currently
to do an EIS upfront was a shortcut for hours (M–F 8:00 am to 4:30 pm); or, under-stocked due to high burn severity
doing an EA and then not being able to submitted by FAX (209) 533–1890. from the 2013 Rim Fire.
certify proposed action did not have a Submit electronic comments, in Plantation Thinning treatments
significant impact in a FONSI. However, common (.doc, .pdf, .rtf, .txt) formats, to: (11,359 acres) include: Hand and
through discussions with term-grazing comments-pacificsouthwest-stanislaus@ mechanical site preparation; prescribed
permittees, it was determined that if fs.fed.us with Subject: Rim burning and thinning to achieve an
livestock were allowed to graze along Reforestation. Individual, Clumpy, Open (ICO) pattern
river that neither Forest Service nor to maximize heterogeneity and wildlife
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
term-grazing permittees had time or (including deer) habitat while creating
Maria Benech, Stanislaus National more fire resilient stands; and, noxious
money to conduct monitoring necessary Forest; 19777 Greenley Road; Sonora,
to determine appropriateness of this weed eradication as described below.
CA 95370; phone (209) 532–3671; or Additional Deer Habitat treatments
proposed action along river corridor. By email: mbenech@fs.fed.us. A scoping
withdrawing complexity inherent in (407 acres) include: Prescribed burning;
package, maps and other information and, noxious weed eradication as
proposed action to graze along river, are online at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/
need for an EIS evaporated. Therefore, described below.
project/?project=45612. Noxious Weed Eradication treatments
project planning will continue through
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (4,160 acres) include: Weed treatments
an EA process. Environmental Impact
Statement will be retracted on February General Background with a variety of EPA approved
18, 2015. herbicides (such as Glyphosate,
The Rim Fire started on August 17, Clopyralid, Aminopyralid, Clethodim
Dated: February 17, 2015. 2013 in a remote area of the Stanislaus and Fluazifop-P-butyl). These noxious
Richard Reitz, National Forest near the confluence of weed treatments overlap (within and up
Globe Ranger District, Tonto National Forest. the Clavey and Tuolumne Rivers about to 100 feet adjacent to) the reforestation,
Dated: February 18, 2015. 20 miles east of Sonora, California. Over plantation thinning and additional deer
Kelly Jardine, the next several weeks it burned habitat treaments described above.
257,314 acres, including 154,430 acres No treatments are proposed within
Tonto Basin Ranger District, Tonto National
Forest. of NFS lands, becoming the third largest Wilderness, Inventoried Roadless Areas,
wildfire in California history. The Rim or the wild classification segments of
[FR Doc. 2015–04073 Filed 2–26–15; 8:45 am]
Fire Reforestation project is located Wild and Scenic Rivers or Proposed
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
within the Rim Fire perimeter in the Wild and Scenic Rivers. Project design
Stanislaus National Forest on portions will incorporate Best Management
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE of the Mi-Wok and Groveland Ranger Practices (BMPs) according to regional
Districts. and national guidance. Implementation
Forest Service Purpose and Need for Action is expected to begin in fall 2016 and
continue for up to 10 years.
Stanislaus National Forest, CA; Notice The primary purposes of the project
of Intent To Prepare an Environmental are to: (1) Return Mixed Conifer Forest Possible Alternatives
Impact Statement for Rim Fire to the Landscape; (2) Restore Old Forest In addition to the Proposed Action,
Reforestation for Wildlife Habitat and Connectivity; the EIS will evaluate the required No
(3) Reduce Fuels for Future Fire Action alternative and likely consider
AGENCY:Forest Service, USDA. Resiliency; (4) Enhance Deer Habitat; other alternatives identified through the
ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an and, (5) Eradicate Noxious Weeds. inderdisciplinary process and public
Environmental Impact Statement. participation.
Proposed Action
SUMMARY: The Stanislaus National The Forest Service proposed action Responsible Official
Forest proposes about 42,000 acres of includes about 42,000 acres of Jeanne M. Higgins, Forest Supervisor;
reforestation, plantation thinning, reforestation, plantation thinning, Stanislaus National Forest; 19777
additional deer habitat and noxious additional deer habitat and noxious Greenley Road; Sonora, CA 95370.
weed treatments on National Forest weed eradication treatments on NFS
System (NFS) lands within the 2013 lands within the 2013 Rim Fire. Nature of Decision To Be Made
Rim Fire in order to: Return mixed Reforestation treatments (30,065 The responsible official will decide
conifer forest to the landscape; restore acres) include: Hand, mechanical and whether to adopt and implement the
old forest for wildlife; reduce fuels; manual herbicide site preparation proposed action, an alternative to the
enhance deer habitat; and, eradicate
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
(Glyphosate); prescribed burning; proposed action, or take no action with
noxious weeds. planting a diversity of conifer tree respect to the Rim Fire Reforestation
DATES: Comments on the proposed species using various patterns and project.
action should be submitted within 45 densities (trees per acre) across the
days of the date of publication of this landscape (up and down slopes with Scoping Process
Notice of Intent. Completion of the Draft fewer on ridges and more in drainage Public participation is important at
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) bottoms) to develop resilient mixed numerous points during the analysis.
is expected in November 2015 followed conifer forest and enhance wildlife The Forest Service seeks information,
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![10664 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 39 / Friday, February 27, 2015 / Notices
comments and assistance from federal, comments refer to specific pages or reference to the date and page number
state, and local agencies and individuals chapters of the draft statement. of this issue of the Federal Register. The
or organizations that may be interested Comments may also address the information collection package, public
in or affected by the proposed action. adequacy of the draft EIS or the merits comments, and other documents
The Forest Service conducts scoping of the alternatives formulated and relating to this action will be available
according to the Council on discussed in the statement. Reviewers for public inspection in the above office
Environmental Quality (CEQ) may wish to refer to the Council on during regular business hours (7 CFR
regulations (40 CFR 1501.7). In addition Environmental Quality Regulations for 1.27(b)). Please call GIPSA’s
to other public involvment, this Notice implementing the procedural provisions Management and Budget Services at
of Intent initiates an early and open of the National Environmental Policy (202) 720–7486 to arrange a viewing of
process for determining the scope of Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these documents.
issues to be addressed in the EIS and for these points. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
identifying the significant issues related Comments received, including the information regarding the collection of
to a proposed action. This scoping names and addresses of those who information activities and the use of the
process allows the Forest Service to not comment, will be considered part of the information, contact Candace Hildreth
only identify significant environmental public record on this proposal and will at (202) 720–0203.
issues deserving of study, but also to be available for public inspection. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress
deemphasize insignificant issues,
narrowing the scope of the EIS process
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; enacted The United States Grain
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section Standards Act (USGSA) (7 U.S.C. 71–
accordingly (40 CFR 1500.4(g)). 21. 87k) to facilitate the marketing of grain
Comment Requested Dated: February 20, 2015. in interstate and foreign commerce. The
This Notice of Intent initiates the Jeanne M. Higgins, USGSA, with few exceptions, requires
scoping proces which guides the Forest Supervisor. that all grain shipped from the United
development of the EIS. Comments on [FR Doc. 2015–04109 Filed 2–26–15; 8:45 am]
States must be officially inspected and
the proposed action should be officially weighed. The USGSA
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
submitted within 45 days of the date of authorizes the Department of
publication of this Notice of Intent. Agriculture to waive the mandatory
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE inspection and weighing requirements
Early Notice of Importance of Public of the USGSA in circumstances when
Participation in Subsequent the objectives of the USGSA would not
Grain Inspection, Packers and
Environmental Review be impaired.
Stockyards Administration
A draft EIS will be available for The Grain Inspection, Packers and
comment when the Environmental Request for Extension and Revision of Stockyards Administration (GIPSA)
Protection Agency publishes the notice a Currently Approved Information amended section 7 CFR 800.18 of the
of availability in the Federal Register. Collection regulations to waive the mandatory
The Forest Service believes, at this early inspection and weighing requirements
AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and
stage, it is important to give reviewers of the USGSA for high quality specialty
Stockyards Administration, USDA.
notice of several court rulings related to grain exported in containers. GIPSA
public participation in the ACTION: Notice and request for established this waiver to facilitate the
environmental review process. First, comments. marketing of high quality specialty grain
reviewers of a draft EIS must structure SUMMARY: In accordance with the exported in containers. GIPSA
their participation in the environmental Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 determined that this action was
review of the proposal so that it is U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice consistent with the objectives of the
meaningful and alerts an agency to the announces our intention to request a 3- USGSA and would promote the
reviewer’s position and contentions. year extension and revision of a continuing development of the high
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. currently approved information quality specialty grain export market.
NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, collection for ‘‘Export Inspection and To ensure that exporters of high
environmental objections that could be Weighing Waiver for High Quality quality specialty grain complied with
raised at the draft EIS stage but that are Specialty Grain Transported in this waiver, GIPSA required exporters to
not raised until after completion of the Containers.’’ maintain records generated during the
final EIS may be waived or dismissed by normal course of business that pertain
the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 DATES: We will consider comments that to these shipments and make these
F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and we receive by April 28, 2015. documents available to GIPSA upon
Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit request for review or copying purposes
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). comments on this notice by any of the (76 FR 45397). These records shall be
Because of these court rulings, it is very following methods: maintained for a period of 3 years. This
important that those interested in this • Internet: Go to http:// information collection requirement is
proposed action participate during the www.regulations.gov. Follow the online essential to ensure that exporters who
comment period so that substantive instructions for submitting comments. ship high quality specialty grain in
comments and objections are made • Mail, hand deliver, or courier to containers comply with the waiver
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
available to the Forest Service at a time Irene Omade, GIPSA, USDA, 1400 provisions. GIPSA does not require
when it can meaningfully consider them Independence Avenue SW., Room exporters of high quality specialty grain
and respond to them in the final EIS. 2530–S, Washington, DC 20250–3604. to complete and submit new Federal
To assist the Forest Service in • Fax to (202) 690–2173. government record(s), form(s), or
identifying and considering issues and Instructions: All comments should be report(s).
concerns on the proposed action, identified as ‘‘High Quality Specialty Title: Export Inspection and Weighing
comments on the draft EIS should be as Grain Exported in Containers Waiver for High Quality Specialty Grain
specific as possible. It is also helpful if Information Collection,’’ and should Transported in Containers.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:05 Feb 26, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\27FEN1.SGM 27FEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/80_FR_10702/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:15:01
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:15:01
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. | |
| Dates | Comments on the proposed action should be submitted within 45 days of the date of publication of this Notice of Intent. Completion of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is expected in November 2015 followed by the Final EIS and Draft Record of Decision (ROD) in May 2016. A final decision is expected in August 2016. | |
| Contact | Maria Benech, Stanislaus National Forest; 19777 Greenley Road; Sonora, CA 95370; phone (209) 532-3671; or email: [email protected] A scoping package, maps and other information are online at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=45612. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 10663 |
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