80 FR 36503 - Boise National Forest and Sawtooth National Forest; Idaho and Utah; Forest-Wide Invasive Plant Treatment Environmental Impact Statement
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 122 (June 25, 2015)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 122 (June 25, 2015)
| Page Range | 36503-36505 | |
| FR Document | 2015-15609 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 122 (Thursday, June 25, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 36503-36505] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-15609] [[Page 36503]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Boise National Forest and Sawtooth National Forest; Idaho and Utah; Forest-Wide Invasive Plant Treatment Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Invasive plants have been identified as a major threat to the biological diversity and ecological integrity within and outside the Boise National Forest and the Sawtooth National Forest (the Forests). Invasive plants create many adverse environmental effects, including, but not limited to: Displacement of native plants; reduction in functionality of habitat and forage for wildlife and livestock; threats to populations of threatened, endangered and sensitive species; alteration of physical and biological properties of soil, including productivity; changes to the intensity and frequency of fires; and loss of recreational opportunities. Within the 2,110,408 acres of the of the Sawtooth National Forest and with the 2,203,703 acres of the Boise National Forest, approximately 247,603 acres are identified as being infested with invasive, non-native, and/or State-listed noxious weeds. These invasive plant infestations have a high potential to expand on lands within and adjacent to the Forests, degrading desired plant communities and the values provided by those communities. Forest lands are also threatened by `potential invaders', invasive plants that have not been found on the Forests but are known to occur in adjacent lands, Counties, or States. Infestations can be prevented, eliminated, or controlled through the use of specific management practices. A clear and comprehensive integrated invasive plant management strategy would allow for the implementation of timely and effective invasive plant management and prevention for projects and programs on the Forests. In the absence of an aggressive invasive plant management program, the number, density, and distribution of invasive plants on both Forests will continue to increase. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by August 10, 2015. The draft environmental impact statement is expected April, 2016 and the final environmental impact statement is expected November, 2016. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Sawtooth National Forest-- Supervisor's Office; Attn: Invasive Species Project; 2647 Kimberly Road East, Twin Falls, ID 83301. The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered comments are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Comments can be sent via facsimile to (208) 737-3236. Electronic comment should be submitted as part of the actual email message or as an attachment in Microsoft Word, rich text format (rtf) or portable document format (pdf) only and sent to comments-intermtn-sawtooth@fs.fed.us. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Brown, Sawtooth Forest Environmental Coordinator; (208) 622-5371; via mail at Ketchum Ranger Station; P.O. Box 2356; Ketchum, ID 83340; or at the Ketchum Ranger Station located at 206 Sun Valley Road, Ketchum, Idaho. 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: Purpose and Need for Action The overall purpose of the proposed action is to reduce the negative effects of invasive plants on the structure and function of native plant communities and on other natural resource values that can otherwise be adversely impacted by invasive plants and to update analysis of the effects of Forest-wide integrated invasive plant management. The proposal is in response to an underlying need to implement policy and direction provided at the National, Regional, State, and Forest levels, which includes control and containment of invasive plants on the Forests (Executive Order 13112--Invasive Species, 2004 National Invasive Species Strategy and Implementation Plan, 2008-2012 National Invasive Species Management Plan, 2009 Intermountain Region Invasive Species Management Strategy, 2005 Idaho Strategic Plan for Managing Noxious and Invasive Weeds, amended 2010 Boise National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, and the amended 2012 Sawtooth National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan). The need of the proposed action is multifaceted: Invasive plants are diminishing the natural resource values of the Forest. Forest resources are negatively impacted by existing and expanding invasive plant species populations. These species are known to out-compete native plants, which can result in reduced productivity and biodiversity, habitat loss, and associated economic impacts. There must be a timely response to new infestations, new invasive plant species, and landscape scale disturbances. On the Forests, landscape level tree mortality and disturbance from insects and wildfires have increased and are likely to continue to increase the potential for invasive plant infestations. The Forests need the flexibility to treat expanded and/or newly identified infestations in a timely manner. Existing decisions for invasive plant management on the Forests do not address new species or provide priorities for managing new infestations. Updating these decisions would allow the Forests to satisfy the need to incorporate early detection and rapid response into the invasive plant management program. Existing invasive plant populations on the Forests require active and adaptive management. Invasive plant infestations already exist throughout the Forests and without management will likely increase in density and distribution. Active and adaptive integrated pest management is necessary to contain invasive plants within existing boundaries, reduce infestation densities, and retard the establishment of new infestations. Control efforts should be focused on infestations that can realize the greatest resource benefits--those with the highest risk of spread, those that have not become established, and those that have the best likelihood of success of control. New analysis and planning is needed to make available the most current tools and guide their best use. Rehabilitation of degraded landscapes can inhibit the spread and establishment of invasive plants. Appropriate rehabilitation efforts are a critical component of a fully functional invasive plant management program. The goals of rehabilitating degraded areas may include preventing new infestations, preventing the reoccurrence of eradicated infestations, and/or reducing the density and spread of existing infestations. Post-fire rehabilitation efforts may incorporate one or more of the established control techniques outlined in the Proposed Action. Federal, State, and Forest Service laws, regulation, policy and direction relating to invasive plant management must be implemented and followed. Implementing invasive species laws and policies requires aggressive invasive plant management. This analysis would identify the strategies that the Forests would use to comply with laws and policies [[Page 36504]] pertaining to invasive plant management. Proposed Action The Forests propose to implement adaptive and integrated invasive plant management on current and potential infested areas Forest-wide, including the Sawtooth Wilderness, but excluding the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness. The overall management objective is to maximize the control of invasive and noxious weed species using an Integrated Weed Management (IWM) approach. Management activities would include inventory and assessment designed to support `Early Detection Rapid Response' (EDRR), control methods, implementation and effectiveness monitoring, and rehabilitation. Activities would be implemented with partners at the federal, state, and local level where opportunities exist. To provide for EDRR, the Forests would design a plan that allows treatment of invasive plant infestations located outside of currently identified infested areas. Infestations outside of currently identified areas may include new sites that arise in the future, or sites that currently exist, but have not been identified in Forest inventories to date. The intent of EDRR is to allow timely control, so that new infestations can be treated when they are small, preventing establishment and spread, while reducing the costs and potential side effects of treatment. The Proposed Action includes the use of ground-based and aerial herbicide applications, manual and mechanical, aquatic treatments, biological, and combinations of these treatments to treat noxious weeds. Proposed control methods would be based on integrated pest management principles and methods known to be effective for each target species. They include, but are not limited to, mechanical techniques, such as mowing and pulling; cultural practices, such as the use of certified noxious weed-free hay; biological control agents, such as pathogens, insects, and controlled grazing; and herbicides that target specific invasive plant species. Control methods could be employed alone or in combination to achieve the most effective control. Treatment methods would be based on the extent, location, type, and character of an infestation and would be implemented using project design features. A maximum of 20,000 acres for each Forest is proposed for treatment annually: 2,000 Acres biocontrol, 2000 acres manual/mechanical treatment, and 16,000 acres chemical treatment. Management priority would be based on factors such number and size of known infestations, proximity to vectors or susceptible habitat, and ability to outcompete desirable plant species. The priority of species to be treated would vary based on these factors and could change over time. These priorities would be used to guide selection of specific management activities for particular infestations. Rehabilitation activities would be designed and implemented based on the conditions found in and around infested areas. Both active revegetation and passive revegetation (allowing plants on site to fill in a treated area) would be considered. Rehabilitation techniques would be assessed and implemented in order to promote native plant communities that are resistant to infestation by invasive plants. Possible Alternatives The `Current Management Alternative' would continue the same weed management programs, treatments, and levels of effort for controlling weeds on both Forests as are currently being used. These programs are limited to the treatments and methods analyzed in the original analyses and decisions. Under the Current Management Alternative, mechanical, biological, manual and localized herbicide use would continue. In addition cultural control, non-treatment practices that are part of the Forest Service IWM Program (including maintaining weed prevention, education, and public awareness programs) would continue to be implemented under the Current Management Alternative. Because of limited ability to rapidly respond to new treatment areas and updated methods, it is anticipated that continuation of the current weed treatment program would not keep pace with the spread of weeds on both Forests. New weed invaders would continue to establish populations that would likely increase in size unless a weed management program that is more comprehensive than the program associated with the Current Management Alternative is developed and implemented. Under this Alternative, it would likely not be possible to be consistent with management direction in all of the Management Areas on both Forests or to implement effectiveness monitoring and adaptive management as prescribed in the Boise amended 2010 Forest Plan or the Sawtooth amended 2012 Forest Plan. Expanding target weed species, treatment acres, and treatment methods in the under the Current Management Alternative would require further analysis and documentation. This would constrain Forest Service managers from responding in a timely and cost-effective manner to new weed infestations. Responsible Officials Boise Forest Supervisor and the Sawtooth Forest Supervisor. Nature of Decision To Be Made The Boise Forest Supervisor will decide whether or not to treat invasive plants on the Boise National Forest, excluding the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, and if so, what methods, how much treatment and what strategies (including adaptive management and EDRR) will be used to contain, control, or eradicate invasive plants. The Sawtooth Forest Supervisor will decide whether or not to treat invasive plants on the Sawtooth National Forest, including the Sawtooth Wilderness, and if so, what methods, how much treatment and what strategies (including adaptive management and EDRR) will be used to contain, control, or eradicate invasive plants. Permits or Licenses Required Applicators must be licensed Idaho professional herbicide applicators per Idaho Department of Agriculture Rules Governing Pesticide Use and Application. (Idaho Code Sec. 22-3404) Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. Comments that would be most useful are those concerning developing or refining the proposed action, in particular are site specific concerns and those that can help us develop treatments that would be responsive to our goal to control, contain, or eradicate invasive plants. Public meetings are anticipated to be held following publication of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 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 contentions. 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. [[Page 36505]] Dated: June 16, 2015. Kit T. Mullen, Sawtooth Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2015-15609 Filed 6-24-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 122 / Thursday, June 25, 2015 / Notices 36505
Dated: June 16, 2015. Federal Government, as well as private via electronic files or mailed printouts
Kit T. Mullen, industry, to analyze the housing and for about 375 jurisdictions.
Sawtooth Forest Supervisor. construction industry sector of the
economy. III. Data
[FR Doc. 2015–15609 Filed 6–24–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
The Census Bureau uses Form C–404 OMB Control Number: 0607–0094.
to collect information on changes to the
geographic coverage of the permit- Form Number(s): C–404.
issuing place, the number and valuation Type of Review: Regular submission.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
of new residential housing units Affected Public: State and Local
U.S. Census Bureau authorized by building permits, and
Governments.
additional information on residential
Proposed Information Collection; permits valued at $1M or more. The Estimated Number of Respondents:
Comment Request; Report of Building form is titled ‘‘Report of Building or 19,875.
or Zoning Permits Issued for New Zoning Permits Issued for New Estimated Time per Response: 8
Privately-Owned Housing Units Privately-Owned Housing Units’’. We minutes for monthly respondents who
(Building Permits Survey) use these data to estimate the number of report via Internet, mail or faxing the
housing units started, completed, and form, 23 minutes for annual
AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau, single-family houses sold, and to select
Commerce. respondents who report via Internet,
samples for the Census Bureau’s
mail or faxing the form and 3 minutes
ACTION: Notice. demographic surveys. These data are a
for monthly and annual respondents
component of the index of leading
SUMMARY: The Department of economic indicators. The Census who send electronic files or mail
Commerce, as part of its continuing Bureau uses the detailed geographic printouts.
effort to reduce paperwork and data collected from state and local Estimated Total Annual Burden
respondent burden, invites the general officials on new residential construction Hours: 16,918.
public and other Federal agencies to authorized by building permits in the
take this opportunity to comment on Estimated Total Annual Cost to
development of annual population Public: $0.
proposed and/or continuing information estimates that are used by government
collections, as required by the agencies to allocate funding and other Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. resources to local areas. Policymakers, Legal Authority: Title 13, United
DATES: To ensure consideration, written planners, businesses, and others also States Code, Sections 131 and 182.
comments must be submitted on or use the detailed geographic data to
before August 24, 2015. monitor growth, plan for local services, IV. Request for Comments
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments and to develop production and Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental marketing plans. The Building Permits
the proposed collection of information
Paperwork Clearance Officer, Survey is the only source of statistics on
residential construction for states and is necessary for the proper performance
Department of Commerce, Room 6616, of the functions of the agency, including
14th and Constitution Avenue NW., smaller geographic areas. Building
permits are public records; therefore, whether the information shall have
Washington, DC 20230 (or via the
the information is not subject to practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
Internet at jjessup@doc.gov).
disclosure restrictions. agency’s estimate of the burden
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
(including hours and cost) of the
Requests for additional information or II. Method of Collection proposed collection of information; (c)
copies of the information collection Respondents may submit their ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
instrument(s) and instructions should completed form by mail, Internet or fax. clarity of the information to be
be directed Raemeka Mayo, U.S. Census Some respondents choose to email collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
Bureau, MCD, CENHQ Room 7K181, electronic files or mail printouts of
4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC burden of the collection of information
permit information in lieu of returning on respondents, including through the
20233, telephone (301) 763–4688 (or via the form.
the Internet at Raemeka.M.Mayo@ use of automated collection techniques
The survey universe is comprised of
census.gov). or other forms of information
approximately 19,875 local governments
technology.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: that issue building permits. Due to
resource availability and time required Comments submitted in response to
I. Abstract to complete the data review and this notice will be summarized and/or
The Census Bureau plans to request a analysis, we collect data from some included in the request for OMB
three-year extension of a currently offices monthly and other offices approval of this information collection;
approved collection of the Form C–404, annually. The Building Permits Survey they also will become a matter of public
Building Permits Survey. The Census monthly sample is also used as the record.
Bureau produces statistics used to control totals in the calculation of ratios
Sheleen Dumas,
monitor activity in the large and used in the estimation methodology for
dynamic construction industry. Given the Survey of Construction. We collect Departmental PRA Lead, Office of the Chief
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
the importance of this industry, several this information monthly via Internet, Information Officer.
of the statistical series are key economic mail or fax for about 7,675 permit- [FR Doc. 2015–15543 Filed 6–24–15; 8:45 am]
indicators. Two such series are (a) issuing jurisdictions and via electronic BILLING CODE 3510–07–P
Housing Units Authorized by Building files or mailed printouts for about 400
Permits and (b) Housing Starts. Both are jurisdictions. For the remaining
based on data from samples of permit- jurisdictions, we collect this
issuing places. These statistics help information annually via Internet, mail
state and local governments and the or fax for about 11,425 jurisdictions and
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Document Created: 2015-12-15 14:17:17
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 14:17:17
| 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 concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by August 10, 2015. The draft environmental impact statement is expected April, 2016 and the final environmental impact statement is expected November, 2016. | |
| Contact | Carol Brown, Sawtooth Forest Environmental Coordinator; (208) 622-5371; via mail at Ketchum Ranger Station; P.O. Box 2356; Ketchum, ID 83340; or at the Ketchum Ranger Station located at 206 Sun Valley Road, Ketchum, Idaho. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 36503 |
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