80 FR 8845 - San Juan National Forest; Colorado; Weminuche Landscape Grazing Analysis
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 33 (February 19, 2015)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 33 (February 19, 2015)
| Page Range | 8845-8846 | |
| FR Document | 2015-03469 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 33 (Thursday, February 19, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 8845-8846] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-03469] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service San Juan National Forest; Colorado; Weminuche Landscape Grazing Analysis AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Forest Service intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to analyze the impacts of the proposal to continue to authorize term livestock grazing permit(s) on all or portions of the Weminuche Landscape in a manner that moves resource conditions toward desired on-the-ground conditions and is consistent with Forest Plan standards and guidelines. The Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act and agency policy. The analysis area encompasses approximately 167,000 acres on six active allotments and seven vacant allotments. The project area is located northeast of Durango, Colorado; from northern Missionary Ridge east through the Weminuche Wilderness to the Pine River; in Townships 36-40 North, Ranges 4-9 West, N.M.P.M., and is within the Columbine Ranger District, San Juan National Forest, Colorado. The proposed action is designed to increase the flexibility of livestock grazing systems through adaptive management, which will allow quicker and more effective response to problem areas when they are revealed. Problems will be revealed through the use of short and long term monitoring. Application of adaptive management practices should result in improved soil, watershed, and vegetative conditions, and healthier wildlife populations. DATES: If you have supplementary comments which meet the description in Scoping Process, below, they must be received by March 23, 2015. The draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected about April 2015, and the final Environmental Impact Statement is expected about July 2015. A decision is expected about November 2015. ADDRESSES: If you have supplementary comments which meet the description in Scoping Process, below, send them in written form to Matt Janowiak, Columbine District Ranger, P.O. Box 439, Bayfield, CO 81122. Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to 970-884-2428. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jared Whitmer, Interdisciplinary Team Leader at 970-884-1416. 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: Preceding EA Process A previous National Environmental Policy Act process, including public input and impacts analysis, has been conducted for this project under an Environmental Assessment. Due to scientific uncertainty regarding disease transmission between livestock and wildlife, and due to uncertainty of degree of impacts to wildlife population viability, a Finding of No Significant Impact could not be reached for the Environmental Assessment. This resulted in the initiation of this Environmental Impact Statement. Purpose and Need for Action The purpose of this action is administer term livestock grazing permits on all or portions of the Weminuche Landscape in a manner that moves resource conditions toward desired on-the-ground conditions and is consistent with Forest Plan standards and guidelines. Proposed Action and Alternatives Alternatives to be included in the Environmental Impact Statement are: 1. No Grazing, 2. Current Management, 3. Adaptive Management with Forage Reserves, and 4. Proposed Action, Adaptive Management with Vacant Allotment Closures. Responsible Official Columbine District Ranger. Nature of Decision To Be Made The Responsible Official will decide whether or not to authorize term grazing permit(s) on all or portions of the Weminuche Landscape, and if grazing is authorized, what design criteria and monitoring will be required. The Responsible Official will also document the decision and reasons for the decision in a Record of Decision. This decision will be subject to Forest Service predecisional objection procedures (36 CFR part 218, Subparts A and B). [[Page 8846]] Scope of Issues Extensive prior public involvement has resulted in the following key issues to be analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement: 1. Impacts of grazing on soil and water, 2. Impacts of grazing on vegetation, including riparian areas and wildflowers, 3. Impacts of grazing on recreational experiences, including grazing in a Wilderness, and hiker interactions with guard dogs, 4. Impacts of grazing on wildlife, including habitat damage and potential disease transmission, 5. Impacts of grazing on socio-economics of the local communities, and 6. Impacts of grazing on cultural resources. Scoping Process Written comments that were submitted during scoping and comment periods for the development of the preceding Environmental Assessment will still be considered and are still part of the project record. The Forest Service requests that you do not resubmit the same comments. Because of extensive public input during the Environmental Assessment process, the scope of issues and alternatives to be analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement have already been well examined and the Forest Service is considering this prior public input as meeting the primary requirement for scoping for the Environmental Impact Statement. This notice of intent initiates a supplementary scoping process, which is intended to provide the opportunity for the public to comment on the scope of issues and alternatives to be analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement only if there is new or different information that has not been previously considered. To determine whether your comment or concern has previously been submitted, please read the Scoping Summary and Response to Comments documents found on the project Web page at www.fs.usda.gov/projects/sanjuan/landmanagement/projects, or call Jared Whitmer. 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. Information regarding this project is available at the Columbine Ranger District office in Bayfield, Colorado, and on the San Juan National Forest Web site noted above. Public meetings may be scheduled at a later date to provide further information as needed. The dates of any public meetings will be announced by press releases in local papers, direct mailings, emails, and will be posted on the San Juan National Forest Web site. 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. Dated: February 3, 2015. Kara L. Chadwick, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2015-03469 Filed 2-18-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 33 / Thursday, February 19, 2015 / Notices 8845
documentation showing that the person Dated: February 11, 2015. Columbine District Ranger, P.O. Box
was engaged in the production or Rex A. Barnes, 439, Bayfield, CO 81122. Comments
importation of sorghum from January 1, Associate Administrator, Agricultural may also be sent via email to comments-
2011, through December 31, 2014, Marketing Service. rocky-mountain-san-juan-columbine@
where the referendum will be [FR Doc. 2015–03392 Filed 2–18–15; 8:45 am] fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 970–884–
conducted, counting and reporting BILLING CODE 3410–02–P 2428.
results, and disposition of the forms and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
records. Since the referendum will be Jared Whitmer, Interdisciplinary Team
conducted primarily at the county FSA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Leader at 970–884–1416.
offices, FSA employees will assist AMS Individuals who use
Forest Service telecommunication devices for the deaf
by determining eligibility, counting
requests, and reporting results. (TDD) may call the Federal Information
San Juan National Forest; Colorado;
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
Pursuant to the Act, USDA is Weminuche Landscape Grazing
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
conducting the required referendum Analysis
Time, Monday through Friday.
from March 23, 2015 through April 21, AGENCY:Forest Service, USDA. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
2015. Form LS–379 may be requested in ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an
person, by mail, or by facsimile from Preceding EA Process
Environmental Impact Statement.
March 23, 2015 through April 21, 2015. A previous National Environmental
Form LS–379 may also be obtained SUMMARY: The Forest Service intends to Policy Act process, including public
via the Internet at: http:// prepare an Environmental Impact input and impacts analysis, has been
www.ams.usda.gov/ Statement to analyze the impacts of the conducted for this project under an
lsmarketingprograms during the same 4- proposal to continue to authorize term Environmental Assessment. Due to
livestock grazing permit(s) on all or scientific uncertainty regarding disease
week period. Eligible voters would vote
portions of the Weminuche Landscape transmission between livestock and
at the FSA office where FSA maintains
in a manner that moves resource wildlife, and due to uncertainty of
and processes the person’s, conditions toward desired on-the- degree of impacts to wildlife population
corporation’s, or other entity’s ground conditions and is consistent viability, a Finding of No Significant
administrative farm records. For the with Forest Plan standards and Impact could not be reached for the
person, corporation, or other entity guidelines. The Environmental Impact Environmental Assessment. This
eligible to vote that does not participate Statement will be prepared pursuant to resulted in the initiation of this
in FSA programs, the opportunity to the National Environmental Policy Act Environmental Impact Statement.
vote would be provided at the FSA and agency policy. The analysis area
office serving the county where the Purpose and Need for Action
encompasses approximately 167,000
person, corporation, or other entity acres on six active allotments and seven The purpose of this action is
owns or rents land. vacant allotments. The project area is administer term livestock grazing
Voters can determine the location of located northeast of Durango, Colorado; permits on all or portions of the
from northern Missionary Ridge east Weminuche Landscape in a manner that
county FSA offices by contacting (1) the
through the Weminuche Wilderness to moves resource conditions toward
nearest FSA office, (2) the State FSA
the Pine River; in Townships 36–40 desired on-the-ground conditions and is
office, or (3) through an online search of
North, Ranges 4–9 West, N.M.P.M., and consistent with Forest Plan standards
FSA’s Web site at: http:// and guidelines.
www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/default.asp. is within the Columbine Ranger District,
San Juan National Forest, Colorado. Proposed Action and Alternatives
From the options available on this Web
The proposed action is designed to
site select ‘‘State Offices,’’ click on your increase the flexibility of livestock Alternatives to be included in the
State, select ‘‘County Offices,’’ and click grazing systems through adaptive Environmental Impact Statement are: 1.
on the map to select a county. management, which will allow quicker No Grazing, 2. Current Management, 3.
Form LS–379 and supporting and more effective response to problem Adaptive Management with Forage
documentation may be returned in areas when they are revealed. Problems Reserves, and 4. Proposed Action,
person, by mail, or facsimile to the will be revealed through the use of short Adaptive Management with Vacant
appropriate county FSA office. Form and long term monitoring. Application Allotment Closures.
LS–379 and accompanying of adaptive management practices Responsible Official
documentation returned in person or by should result in improved soil,
Columbine District Ranger.
facsimile, must be received in the watershed, and vegetative conditions,
appropriate FSA office prior to the close and healthier wildlife populations. Nature of Decision To Be Made
of business on April 21, 2015. Form LS– DATES: If you have supplementary The Responsible Official will decide
379 and accompanying documentation comments which meet the description whether or not to authorize term grazing
returned by mail must be postmarked no in Scoping Process, below, they must be permit(s) on all or portions of the
later than midnight of April 21, 2015, received by March 23, 2015. The draft Weminuche Landscape, and if grazing is
and received in the county FSA office Environmental Impact Statement is authorized, what design criteria and
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
by close of business on April 28, 2015. expected about April 2015, and the final monitoring will be required. The
Environmental Impact Statement is Responsible Official will also document
In accordance with Paperwork expected about July 2015. A decision is the decision and reasons for the
Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), expected about November 2015. decision in a Record of Decision. This
the information collection requirements ADDRESSES: If you have supplementary decision will be subject to Forest
have been approved under OMB comments which meet the description Service predecisional objection
number 0581–0093. in Scoping Process, below, send them in procedures (36 CFR part 218, Subparts
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7411–7425. written form to Matt Janowiak, A and B).
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![8846 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 33 / Thursday, February 19, 2015 / Notices
Scope of Issues dates of any public meetings will be such a way that they are useful to the
Extensive prior public involvement announced by press releases in local Agency’s preparation of the EIS.
has resulted in the following key issues papers, direct mailings, emails, and will Therefore, comments should be
to be analyzed in the Environmental be posted on the San Juan National provided prior to the close of the
Impact Statement: 1. Impacts of grazing Forest Web site. comment period and should clearly
Comments received in response to articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
on soil and water, 2. Impacts of grazing
this solicitation, including names and contentions.
on vegetation, including riparian areas
addresses of those who comment, will Comments received in response to
and wildflowers, 3. Impacts of grazing
be part of the public record for this this solicitation, including names and
on recreational experiences, including
proposed action. Comments submitted addresses of those who comment, will
grazing in a Wilderness, and hiker anonymously will be accepted and
interactions with guard dogs, 4. Impacts be part of the public record for this
considered; however, anonymous proposed action. Comments submitted
of grazing on wildlife, including habitat comments will not provide the Agency
damage and potential disease anonymously will be accepted and
with the ability to provide the considered, however.
transmission, 5. Impacts of grazing on respondent with subsequent
socio-economics of the local FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
environmental documents. Casselli Project Team Lead, at 406–791–
communities, and 6. Impacts of grazing
on cultural resources. Dated: February 3, 2015. 7723. Individuals who use
Kara L. Chadwick, telecommunication devices for the deaf
Scoping Process Forest Supervisor. (TDD) may call the Federal Information
Written comments that were [FR Doc. 2015–03469 Filed 2–18–15; 8:45 am] Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
submitted during scoping and comment BILLING CODE 3410–11–P between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
periods for the development of the Time, Monday through Friday.
preceding Environmental Assessment SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
will still be considered and are still part DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
of the project record. The Forest Service Purpose and Need for Action
requests that you do not resubmit the Forest Service The purpose of the project is to move
same comments. Because of extensive toward a resilient forest and grassland
Lewis and Clark National Forest,
public input during the Environmental ecosystem that will mimic a more
Montana, Castle Mountains
Assessment process, the scope of issues historic natural fire regime to reduce the
Restoration Project
and alternatives to be analyzed in the future threat of high intensity wildfire
Environmental Impact Statement have AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. and the associated hazards to life,
already been well examined and the ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an valued resources and infrastructure. In
Forest Service is considering this prior environmental impact statement. order to achieve this, there is a need to
public input as meeting the primary create a mosaic of vegetation and fuel
requirement for scoping for the SUMMARY: The Lewis and Clark National structure more resilient to disturbance
Environmental Impact Statement. Forest (LCNF) is going to prepare an over time that includes improving the
This notice of intent initiates a environmental impact statement for overall diversity in age classes, species,
supplementary scoping process, which vegetation management actions in the and meadow openings across the
is intended to provide the opportunity Castle Mountains located in Central landscape. The action will provide for
for the public to comment on the scope Montana. The project is designed to safer, more effective fire suppression
of issues and alternatives to be analyzed meet the desired condition of restoring actions when needed, reduce threats to
in the Environmental Impact Statement forest and grasslands ecosystems to forest users, to private residences,
only if there is new or different promote landscape resiliency over time power corridors, agency infrastructure,
information that has not been for multiple resource values while water quality of Willow Creek and to
previously considered. To determine minimizing the threat of high intensity valued wildlife habitat. These actions
whether your comment or concern has wildfire within the Willow Creek will reduce the probability of post-
previously been submitted, please read municipal watershed and areas of other wildfire watershed impacts to the
the Scoping Summary and Response to valued resources and infrastructure in Willow Creek municipal watershed and
Comments documents found on the the 69,610 acre Castle Mountains associated costs.
project Web page at www.fs.usda.gov/ landscape.
projects/sanjuan/landmanagement/ DATES: Comments concerning the scope
Proposed Action
projects, or call Jared Whitmer. of the analysis must be received by Approximately 22,124 acres are
It is important that reviewers provide March 23, 2015. The draft proposed for treatment which includes
their comments at such times and in environmental impact statement is a combination of fuels reduction
such manner that they are useful to the expected September 2015 and the final thinning, commercial harvest of trees,
agency’s preparation of the environmental impact statement is non-commercial thinning, and
Environmental Impact Statement. expected March 2016. prescribed fire. Mechanical and/or hand
Therefore, comments should be ADDRESSES: Send written comments to treatment methods would be used to
provided prior to the close of the Carol Hatfield White Sulphur Springs accomplish the treatment objectives.
comment period and should clearly District Ranger, Lewis & Clark National Proposed treatment activities include:
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
articulate the reviewer’s concerns. Forest, 204 W. Folsom, P.O. Box A, roughly 1,911 acres of Improvement
Information regarding this project is White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645. Thinning; 7,329 acres of Prescribed Fire;
available at the Columbine Ranger Comments may also be sent via email to 313 acres of Aspen Restoration; 277
District office in Bayfield, Colorado, and comments-northern-lewisclark-white- acres of Precommercial Thinning; 856
on the San Juan National Forest Web sulphur-sprg@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile acres of White Bark Pine Restoration;
site noted above. Public meetings may to 406–547–6023. 8,681 acres of meadow Restoration;
be scheduled at a later date to provide It is important that reviewers provide 1,519 acres of Douglas-fir Thinning; and
further information as needed. The their comments at such times and in 1,236 acres of Lodgepole Pine
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Document Created: 2018-02-16 11:12:35
Document Modified: 2018-02-16 11:12:35
| 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 | If you have supplementary comments which meet the description in Scoping Process, below, they must be received by March 23, 2015. The draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected about April 2015, and the final Environmental Impact Statement is expected about July 2015. A decision is expected about November 2015. | |
| Contact | Jared Whitmer, Interdisciplinary Team Leader at 970-884-1416. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 8845 |
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