80 FR 75046 - Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland, Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District; Wyoming; North Savery Project
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 230 (December 1, 2015)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 230 (December 1, 2015)
| Page Range | 75046-75048 | |
| FR Document | 2015-30422 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 75046-75048] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-30422] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland, Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District; Wyoming; North Savery Project AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In the North Savery Project, the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland, Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District proposes approximately 6,500 acres of salvage logging, precommercial thinning, and hazard tree clearing on National Forest System lands in the northwest Sierra Madre mountain range. The District also proposes changes to the road system in the project area, including decommissioning 26 miles of roads that are causing direct impacts to watershed resources. The Governor of Wyoming has identified the project area as a priority landscape for treatment under the 2014 Farm Bill and amended Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003, which provide for expedited environmental analysis and treatments to address areas affected by insect and disease infestations. Accordingly, the environmental analysis associated with the North Savery Project will proceed according to Section 104 of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act and will be subject to subparts A and C of the U.S. Forest Service Project-Level Predecisional Administrative Review Process documented at 36 CFR 218. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by February 1, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected in May 2016 and the final [[Page 75047]] environmental impact statement is expected in September 2016. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Medicine Bow National Forest; Attn: Melanie Fullman; PO Box 249, Saratoga, WY 82331. Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to 307-326-5250. Comments may be hand delivered during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to 2171 Highway 130, Saratoga WY 82331. All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received at 2171 Highway 130, Saratoga WY. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 307-326-2500 to facilitate entry into the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monique Nelson, Medicine Bow National Forest; 2468 Jackson St, Laramie WY 82070; phone (307)745-2310; or email: [email protected]. A scoping document, including maps, is available online at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=47913. 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 purpose of the North Savery Analysis is to (1) promote forest regeneration in stands affected by mountain pine beetle; (2) treat overstocked timber stands to improve growth and vigor; (3) reduce the development of large continuous high hazard fuel conditions in high timber production areas; (4) remove hazard trees from high priority areas affecting public safety; (5) provide merchantable timber products for sale from designated timber units; and (6) relocate, reconstruct, or restore to natural conditions portions of the existing road system that are in need of maintenance or are detrimentally contributing to watershed health. Over the past decade, a mountain pine beetle epidemic has killed pine trees across thousands of acres of forest land in southern Wyoming. In lodgepole pine forests, approximately 70% of the trees greater than 6'' in diameter are dead or dying from mountain pine beetle infestation. Timber stands in the North Savery Project analysis area are among the most productive growing sites on the Medicine Bow National Forest, and it is a priority to reforest and return these stands to timber production. There is a limited time in which to salvage these trees and recover a sawtimber product. The Governor of Wyoming has identified this project location as a priority area for treatment due to insect and disease infestation. Proposed Action Salvage Harvest The Forest Service has identified and will analyze approximately 7,700 acres for salvage harvest. Approximately 2,200 of the analyzed acres will not be harvested in order to conserve watershed heath and wildlife habitat. Acres to be set aside from treatment will be determined based on the analyzed effects to water yields in each watershed and the presence of wildlife and other resources of interest. Overstory Removal and Clearcut treatments would be used in lodgepole pine stands to salvage dead and dying trees; some live trees will also be harvested. Overstory removal treatments are used in areas that have a significant understory component. The intent is to harvest overstory trees while maintaining understory trees that are too small to be merchantable. Clearcut prescriptions are used in stands that have beetle mortality greater than 70%, are highly mistletoe infested, have low levels of existing regeneration, or where the remaining green trees would be at high risk of windthrow. Species present and the presence, distribution, and health of the understory will dictate what options are available for salvage treatments on a stand-by-stand basis. Generally, lodgepole pine trees over 7.0 inches in diameter would be designated for removal. Trees of all species less than 7.0 inches in diameter would generally remain on site. Areas within units that have large, contiguous components of Engelmann spruce may be retained for wildlife. Subalpine fir, when found as a minor component in lodgepole pine stands, would not be retained unless included as wildlife habitat. Precommercial Thinning Precommercial thinning is proposed on approximately 1,000 acres of densely regenerating lodgepole pine seedling/sapling stands. Precommercial thinning would improve growth and vigor, reduce stress from overcrowding and competition, and provide for a future stand that is less susceptible to bark beetles. Hazard Tree Clearing Some areas identified for salvage harvest include hazard trees along roads, trails, and administrative sites. Roads Proposals The Forest Service proposes to decommission (return to a natural state) approximately 26 miles of roads that are causing direct impacts to wetland and water resources, provide redundant access in areas of high road density, or are in greater sage-grouse core habitat. To ensure adequate access to the area, the Forest Service proposes to add approximately 6 miles of well-placed unauthorized routes to the National Forest road system, convert 1 mile of road to ORV trail, and build approximately 1 mile of ORV trail. Finally, the Forest Service proposes to construct 1 mile of road, reconstruct 2 miles of road, and reroute 1 mile of road. Approximately 20 miles of temporary roads may be needed to facilitate timber harvest. Responsible Official Melanie B. Fullman, District Ranger; Medicine Bow Routt-National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland, Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District. Nature of Decision To Be Made The Responsible Official will decide whether to adopt and implement the proposed action, implement an alternative to or modification of the proposed action, or take no action with respect to the North Savery Project. Preliminary Issues The following issues were identified while scoping a larger ``Savery'' project in 2011. The Savery Project was scoped but was not analyzed or implemented. This North Savery Project is located with the former Savery Project analysis area but is smaller in extent and includes fewer proposals. Preliminary issues are: (1) effects of proposed timber salvage treatments on wildlife, wildlife habitat, and watershed funtion; (2) effects of road closures and road decommissioning on recreational access to the national forest. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. There will a public meeting held at the Bureau of Land Management Rawlins Field Office located at 1300 North 3rd St., Rawlins WY 82301 on December 9, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. A second public meeting will be held at the Platte Valley Community Center located at 210 W [[Page 75048]] Elm Ave, Saratoga, WY 82331 on December 10, 2015 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 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. Melanie B. Fullman, District Ranger. [FR Doc. 2015-30422 Filed 11-30-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
![75046 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 230 / Tuesday, December 1, 2015 / Notices
As such there is a need to evaluate and alternative which would not authorize articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
better understand the impacts of sheep grazing on the allotments. During the contentions.
grazing on recently designated RFSS. course of the project analysis, it is Comments received in response to
There is also a need to better understand possible additional alternatives will be this solicitation, including names and
the effects of domestic sheep grazing on analyzed that may result from public addresses of those who comment, will
the surrounding physical environment participation or from staff participation, be part of the public record for this
and the social environment. The overall or from both. proposed action. Comments submitted
purpose of this project is to evaluate the anonymously will be accepted and
Responsible Official considered, however.
effects of domestic sheep grazing in
these allotments and determine the There are two Responsible Officials November 20, 2015.
impacts on the physical and social for this project: The Uinta Wasatch David C. Whittekiend,
aspects of the project area. Cache Forest Supervisor and the Ashley
Forest Supervisor, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache
Forest Supervisor. National Forest,
Proposed Action
Nature of Decision To Be Made Dated: November 20, 2015.
The Forest Service will evaluate the
The decision to be made includes John R. Erickson,
10 sheep allotments on the UWC and
whether or not sheep grazing will Forest Supervisor, Ashley National Forest.
Ashley NFs: Those allotments are
Gilbert Peak, Hessie Lake-Henry’s Fork, continue on these allotments, and [FR Doc. 2015–30371 Filed 11–30–15; 8:45 am]
Red Castle, East Fork Blacks Fork, and whether or not a site specific Forest BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
the Middle Fork Blacks Fork on the Plan amendment could be needed.
UWCNF, and Painter Basin, Tungsten, Preliminary Issues DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Oweep, Ottoson Basin, and Fall Creek
on the Ashley NF. Preliminary issues that have been
identified include impacts to Rocky Forest Service
Based on current information both
Forests are proposing to authorize Mountain bighorn sheep, wilderness,
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests
grazing on five allotments on the socioeconomics, recreation, soils, and Thunder Basin National
UWCNF and five allotments on the hydrology, and vegetation. Additional Grassland, Brush Creek/Hayden
Ashley NF. Livestock grazing would be issues may arise from the public during Ranger District; Wyoming; North
authorized using Forest Plan direction the comment process. Savery Project
to meet or move toward the desired Scoping Process
conditions identified in the Forest AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
Scoping for this project was initiated ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an
Plans. The Forests are also proposing to
in May of 2014. At that time a scoping environmental impact statement.
continue to use the sheep driveway that
package was sent to interested parties,
allows for sheep that graze the listed SUMMARY: In the North Savery Project,
tribes, and organizations. The proposed
allotments the Medicine Bow-Routt National
action has not changed from that
The project will evaluate multiple Forests and Thunder Basin National
original scoping letter, with the
resources for impacts to include range, Grassland, Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger
exception that the Forests have decided
wilderness, recreation, hydrology, District proposes approximately 6,500
to prepare an environmental impact
wildlife, fisheries and aquatic acres of salvage logging, precommercial
statement instead of an environemental
organisms, plants, soils, as well as thinning, and hazard tree clearing on
assessment.
potential impacts to economics and National Forest System lands in the
This notice of intent initiates the
society. northwest Sierra Madre mountain range.
scoping process, which guides the
The project analysis area is located in The District also proposes changes to
development of the environmental
Uinta County, Wyoming and Duchesne the road system in the project area,
impact statement. Following this Notice
and Summit Counties, Utah on the including decommissioning 26 miles of
of Intent, it is anticipated that a second
Evanston-Mountain View and roads that are causing direct impacts to
scoping letter describing the nature of
Duchesne/Roosevelt Ranger Districts. watershed resources. The Governor of
the project will be sent to interested
The project area is located Wyoming has identified the project area
parties and organziations in the fall of
approximately 40 miles north-northwest as a priority landscape for treatment
2015. There will also be opportunities to
of Duchesne, Utah, and about 40 miles under the 2014 Farm Bill and amended
comment when the draft EIS is released.
southeast of Evanston, Wyoming. The Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003,
Additionally, public meetings are being
project area encompasses about 160,000 which provide for expedited
considered as well, and would occur
acres and is located in the Uinta environmental analysis and treatments
after a scoping letter was sent out.
Mountains on both the north and south to address areas affected by insect and
The Forest Service is looking for
facing slopes of the central ridgeline. disease infestations. Accordingly, the
comments identifing issues or concerns
The Forest Service will begin the environmental analysis associated with
with regards to sheep grazing on these
environmental analysis in 2015, and the the North Savery Project will proceed
allotments. Comments that clearly and
project is anticipated to end in late according to Section 104 of the Healthy
concisely articulate a percieved
2017. Forests Restoration Act and will be
problem, and how to find a solution to
Possible Alternatives that problem are most helpful. subject to subparts A and C of the U.S.
It is important that reviewers provide Forest Service Project-Level
At this time, there are two alternatives
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
their comments at such times and in Predecisional Administrative Review
that are being considered. The first is Process documented at 36 CFR 218.
such manner that they are useful to the
the proposed action described above.
agency’s preparation of the DATES: Comments concerning the scope
The second is the ‘‘No-Action’’
environmental impact statement. of the analysis must be received by
disallow impact, but the decision must not result
Therefore, comments should be February 1, 2016. The draft
in loss of species viability or create significant provided prior to the close of the environmental impact statement is
trends toward federal listing.)’’ comment period and should clearly expected in May 2016 and the final
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![75048 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 230 / Tuesday, December 1, 2015 / Notices
Elm Ave, Saratoga, WY 82331 on DATES: Comments on this notice must be Security Act of 1985 as amended, 7
December 10, 2015 from 5:30 to 7:30 received by February 1, 2016 to be U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to
p.m. assured of consideration. afford strict confidentiality to non-
It is important that reviewers provide ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, aggregated data provided by
their comments at such times and in identified by docket number 0535–0001, respondents. This notice is submitted in
such manner that they are useful to the by any of the following methods: accordance with the Paperwork
agency’s preparation of the • Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. Reduction Act of 1995, (Pub. L. 104–13)
environmental impact statement. Include docket number above in the and Office of Management and Budget
Therefore, comments should be subject line of the message. regulations at 5 CFR part 1320.
provided prior to the close of the • E-fax: (855) 838–6382. NASS also complies with OMB
comment period and should clearly • Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD– Implementation Guidance,
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and ROM submissions to: David Hancock, ‘‘Implementation Guidance for Title V
contentions. NASS Clearance Officer, U.S.
Comments received in response to of the E-Government Act, Confidential
Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 Information Protection and Statistical
this solicitation, including names and South Building, 1400 Independence
addresses of those who comment, will Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),’’
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250– Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June
be part of the public record for this 2024. 15, 2007, p. 33362.
proposed action. Comments submitted • Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand
anonymously will be accepted and deliver to: David Hancock, NASS Most of these surveys are voluntary;
considered, however. Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of the one exception is for operations that
Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, store certain manufactured dairy
Melanie B. Fullman,
1400 Independence Avenue SW., products that are required by Public
District Ranger.
Washington, DC 20250–2024. Law 106–532 and 107–171 to respond.
[FR Doc. 2015–30422 Filed 11–30–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: R. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
Renee Picanso, Associate Administrator, burden for this information collection is
National Agricultural Statistics Service, based on 3 individual surveys with
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) expected responses of 10–30 minutes.
720–2707. Copies of this information The Refrigerated Capacity Survey is
National Agricultural Statistics Service collection and related instructions can conducted once every 2 years, the other
be obtained without charge from David surveys are conducted monthly.
Notice of Intent To Request Revision Hancock, NASS—OMB Clearance
and Extension of a Currently Approved Respondents: Refrigerated storage
Officer, at (202) 690–2388 or at facilities.
Information Collection ombofficer@nass.usda.gov.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1,600.
Service, USDA. Title: Cold Storage Survey.
ACTION: Notice and request for OMB Control Number: 0535–0001. Estimated Total Annual Burden on
comments. Expiration Date of Approval: May 31, Respondents: With an estimated
2016. response rate of approximately 85%, we
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Type of Request: To revise and extend estimate the burden to be 4,200 hours.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this a currently approved information Copies of this information collection
notice announces the intention the collection for a period of three years. and related instructions can be obtained
National Agricultural Statistics Service Abstract: The primary objective of the without charge from David Hancock,
(NASS) to request revision and National Agricultural Statistics Service NASS Clearance Officer, at (202) 690–
extension of a currently approved (NASS) is to collect, prepare, and issue 2388.
information collection, the Cold Storage State and national estimates of crop and
Survey. Revision to burden hours will livestock production, prices, and Comments: Comments are invited on:
be needed due to changes in the size of disposition; as well as economic (a) Whether the proposed collection of
the target population, expected statistics, environmental statistics information is necessary for the proper
increases in response rates, and modes related to agriculture and also to performance of the functions of the
of data collection. The questionnaires conduct the Census of Agriculture. The agency, including whether the
have had some minor modifications to monthly Cold Storage Survey provides information will have practical utility;
accommodate changes in the products information on national supplies of food (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
stored by the industry, and to make the commodities in refrigerated storage of the burden of the proposed collection
questionnaires easier to complete. The facilities. A biennial survey of of information including the validity of
target population for cold storage refrigerated warehouse capacity is also the methodology and assumptions used;
operators (both mandatory and conducted to provide a benchmark of (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility,
voluntary samples) will be contacted for the capacity available for refrigerated and clarity of the information to be
this data on a monthly basis. Fruit storage of the nation’s food supply. collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
storage operations are contacted on a Information on stocks of food burden of the collection of information
monthly—seasonal basis. The capacity commodities that are in refrigerated on those who are to respond, through
survey is conducted once every other facilitates have a major impact on the the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, technological or
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
year of all operations with refrigerated price, marketing, processing, and
storage capacity. Most of these surveys distribution of agricultural products. other forms of information technology
are voluntary; the one exception is for Authority: These data will be collection methods.
operations that store certain collected under authority of 7 U.S.C. All responses to this notice will
manufactured dairy products that are 2204(a). Individually identifiable data become a matter of public record and be
required by Public Law 106–532 and collected under this authority are summarized in the request for OMB
107–171 to respond. governed by Section 1770 of the Food approval.
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Document Created: 2018-03-02 09:10:08
Document Modified: 2018-03-02 09:10:08
| 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 February 1, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected in May 2016 and the final environmental impact statement is expected in September 2016. | |
| Contact | Monique Nelson, Medicine Bow National Forest; 2468 Jackson St, Laramie WY 82070; phone (307)745-2310; or email: [email protected] A scoping document, including maps, is available online at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/ nepa_project_exp.php?project=47913. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 75046 |
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