81 FR 10573 - Conejos Peak Ranger District, Rio Grande National Forest; Colorado; CP District-wide Salvage Project
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 40 (March 1, 2016)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 40 (March 1, 2016)
| Page Range | 10573-10574 | |
| FR Document | 2016-04487 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 10573-10574] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-04487] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Conejos Peak Ranger District, Rio Grande National Forest; Colorado; CP District-wide Salvage Project AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Conejos Peak Ranger District, Rio Grande National Forest, proposes to salvage timber stands killed or infested by spruce beetles; reduce fuel loading adjacent to private lands; and regenerate forested acres, as needed, to move toward the long-term desired conditions described in the Forest Plan. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by March 31, 2016. ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Andrea Jones, District Ranger; Conejos Peak Ranger District; 15571 CR T.5; La Jara, CO; 81140. Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to 719-274-6301, with subject `CP District-wide Salvage Project.' 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 the Conejos Peak Ranger District office, address listed above. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 719-274-8971 to facilitate document access. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Tooley, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, telephone: (719) 274-8971 or visit the Forest Web site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/riogrande/landmanagement/projects. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Estimated Dates The draft environmental impact statement is expected September 2017 and the final environmental impact statement is expected December 2017. Purpose and Need for Action Extensive spruce beetle mortality has occurred across the Conejos Peak Ranger District since 2002, affecting over 67,000 acres to date. As a result, existing conditions within certain Management Area Prescriptions (MAPs) have departed from desired conditions described in the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). Management emphasis is on wood production within some MAPs, and there is express intent to evaluate insect and disease outbreaks against the potential for loss of commercial forest resources, with an emphasis on protecting the commercial resources. Within other MAPs, vegetation composition and structure are managed to meet specific objectives for the area (e.g. recreation), and vegetation management treatments are implemented to accomplish those objectives or contribute to user safety. Within yet other MAPs, the plant communities may be managed in a range of successional stages to achieve biological diversity, and vegetation management treatments are allowed with resource constraints. These desired conditions for the MAPs tie to overarching Forestwide Desired Conditions and Objectives. One overarching Desired Condition is to supply wood products while providing for the biological diversity of forested areas. An associated Objective provides an emphasis on long- term sustainable production of resources for economies, communities, and people. Another overarching Desired Condition is that fuel profiles be consistent with land uses and estimates of historic fire regimes. An associated Objective provides for using appropriate vegetative- management methods to modify unacceptable fuel profiles, contributing to the protection of human life, property, and resources needed to support long-term industries, with firefighter safety being paramount. This disparity between existing and desired conditions creates a need to utilize available dead and dying trees in a timely manner to meet multiple-use mandates and provide for the protection of firefighters, users, communities, and private resources. The purpose of this project is to provide an adaptive decision framework for responding to spruce beetle mortality with salvage and hazardous fuel treatment projects in a timely and cost-effective manner, while providing for site-specific protection of biological diversity and other resource management objectives. Proposed Action The Conejos Peak Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest proposes to salvage dead and dying spruce from suitable areas across the district, as well as modify forest fuels adjacent to private property and administrative sites within areas affected by spruce beetle mortality. Salvage harvest activities would occur on up to 17,000 acres across the district, on lands determined by the Forest Plan as appropriate for timber harvest. Hazardous fuel treatment activities would occur on up to 1,000 acres of treatment area, on lands determined by the same plan as appropriate for pre-commercial hand- thinning operations. Activities would begin in the summer of 2018 and continue for 10-15 years. Activities associated with spruce salvage harvest would include: (1) Commercial logging and log hauling operations; (2) National Forest System Road maintenance and reconstruction; (3) Re-opening old non- system roads, followed by rehabilitation; (4) Temporary road construction and rehabilitation; (5) Areas identified for public and commercial firewood gathering; (6) Planting of native conifer seedlings as needed to meet future forest objectives. Activities associated with hazardous fuel treatments within spruce mortality zones would include: (1) Pre-commercial thinning by chainsaw within 400 feet of private boundary or 200 feet of administrative sites to create defensible space; (2) Hazard tree removal by chainsaw within 400 feet of private boundary or 200 feet of administrative sites; (3) Pruning of residual trees to lift crown base height; (4) Piling and burning or removal of activity-generated fuels within timber sale or pre-commercial thinning areas. The proposed action also includes development of an implementation checklist for later-stage analysis. The developed checklist would tier to this early-stage decision and allow focus on compliance alone in relation to (1) project decision, (2) Forest Plan, statute, and regulation, and (3) reporting and notification requirements. Responsible Official Conejos Peak District Ranger at 15571 County Road T.5; La Jara, CO; 81140 Nature of Decision To Be Made An environmental impact statement (EIS) will be prepared that discloses the environmental consequences of implementing the proposed action and alternatives to the proposed action, including No Action. A separate Record [[Page 10574]] of Decision (ROD) will explain the Responsible Official's decision regarding whether or not to implement some level of timber harvest and other proposed activities on all, part, or none of the area analyzed, given the consideration of multiple-use goals and objectives. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. The Forest invites public comment and participation in this project by publication of this notice. Comments are also invited by: publication in the quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA); public notice regarding this project in the newspaper of record, the Valley Courier; and letters to potentially interested individuals, tribal governments, elected officials, and State and other Federal Agencies. Information will also be posted on the Rio Grande National Forest project Web site as this project progresses. Comments received during these and other scoping efforts will be considered in this EIS. No scoping meetings are planned at this time. 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. Preliminary Issues The effect of proposed activities on the habitat structural needs of the local population of Canada Lynx, a Threatened species, and their primary prey, the snowshoe hare. Comment Requested The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. The Forest Service believes, at this early state, it is important to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must structure their participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's positions 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 environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised until after completion the final environmental impact statement 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 by the close of the 45 day 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 environmental impact statement To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft environmental impact statement 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 environmental impact statement 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. Dated: February 24, 2016. Andrea Jones, District Ranger. [FR Doc. 2016-04487 Filed 2-29-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices 10573
Dated: February 22, 2016. Purpose and Need for Action Proposed Action
Audrey Rowe, The Conejos Peak Ranger District of
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service. Extensive spruce beetle mortality has
occurred across the Conejos Peak Ranger the Rio Grande National Forest proposes
[FR Doc. 2016–04443 Filed 2–29–16; 8:45 am] to salvage dead and dying spruce from
District since 2002, affecting over 67,000
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
acres to date. As a result, existing suitable areas across the district, as well
conditions within certain Management as modify forest fuels adjacent to private
Area Prescriptions (MAPs) have property and administrative sites within
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE areas affected by spruce beetle
departed from desired conditions
mortality. Salvage harvest activities
Forest Service described in the Revised Land and
would occur on up to 17,000 acres
Resource Management Plan (Forest
Conejos Peak Ranger District, Rio across the district, on lands determined
Plan). Management emphasis is on
Grande National Forest; Colorado; CP by the Forest Plan as appropriate for
wood production within some MAPs,
District-wide Salvage Project timber harvest. Hazardous fuel
and there is express intent to evaluate treatment activities would occur on up
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. insect and disease outbreaks against the to 1,000 acres of treatment area, on
ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an potential for loss of commercial forest lands determined by the same plan as
environmental impact statement. resources, with an emphasis on appropriate for pre-commercial hand-
protecting the commercial resources. thinning operations. Activities would
SUMMARY: The Conejos Peak Ranger Within other MAPs, vegetation begin in the summer of 2018 and
District, Rio Grande National Forest, composition and structure are managed continue for 10–15 years.
proposes to salvage timber stands killed to meet specific objectives for the area Activities associated with spruce
or infested by spruce beetles; reduce (e.g. recreation), and vegetation salvage harvest would include: (1)
fuel loading adjacent to private lands; management treatments are Commercial logging and log hauling
and regenerate forested acres, as needed, implemented to accomplish those operations; (2) National Forest System
to move toward the long-term desired objectives or contribute to user safety. Road maintenance and reconstruction;
conditions described in the Forest Plan. Within yet other MAPs, the plant (3) Re-opening old non-system roads,
DATES: Comments concerning the scope communities may be managed in a followed by rehabilitation; (4)
of the analysis must be received by range of successional stages to achieve Temporary road construction and
March 31, 2016. biological diversity, and vegetation rehabilitation; (5) Areas identified for
ADDRESSES: Written comments management treatments are allowed public and commercial firewood
concerning this notice should be with resource constraints. gathering; (6) Planting of native conifer
addressed to Andrea Jones, District These desired conditions for the seedlings as needed to meet future forest
Ranger; Conejos Peak Ranger District; MAPs tie to overarching Forestwide objectives.
15571 CR T.5; La Jara, CO; 81140. Desired Conditions and Objectives. One Activities associated with hazardous
Comments may also be sent via email to overarching Desired Condition is to fuel treatments within spruce mortality
comments-rocky-mountain-rio-grande- supply wood products while providing zones would include: (1) Pre-
conejos-peak@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile for the biological diversity of forested commercial thinning by chainsaw
to 719–274–6301, with subject ‘CP areas. An associated Objective provides within 400 feet of private boundary or
District-wide Salvage Project.’ an emphasis on long-term sustainable 200 feet of administrative sites to create
All comments, including names and production of resources for economies, defensible space; (2) Hazard tree
addresses when provided, are placed in communities, and people. Another removal by chainsaw within 400 feet of
the record and are available for public private boundary or 200 feet of
overarching Desired Condition is that
inspection and copying. The public may administrative sites; (3) Pruning of
fuel profiles be consistent with land
inspect comments received at the residual trees to lift crown base height;
uses and estimates of historic fire
Conejos Peak Ranger District office, (4) Piling and burning or removal of
regimes. An associated Objective
address listed above. Visitors are activity-generated fuels within timber
provides for using appropriate
encouraged to call ahead to 719–274– sale or pre-commercial thinning areas.
vegetative-management methods to
8971 to facilitate document access. The proposed action also includes
modify unacceptable fuel profiles,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: development of an implementation
contributing to the protection of human
Michael Tooley, Interdisciplinary Team life, property, and resources needed to checklist for later-stage analysis. The
Leader, telephone: (719) 274–8971 or support long-term industries, with developed checklist would tier to this
visit the Forest Web site: http:// firefighter safety being paramount. early-stage decision and allow focus on
www.fs.usda.gov/projects/riogrande/ compliance alone in relation to (1)
landmanagement/projects. This disparity between existing and project decision, (2) Forest Plan, statute,
Individuals who use desired conditions creates a need to and regulation, and (3) reporting and
telecommunication devices for the deaf utilize available dead and dying trees in notification requirements.
(TDD) may call the Federal Information a timely manner to meet multiple-use
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 mandates and provide for the protection Responsible Official
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., of firefighters, users, communities, and Conejos Peak District Ranger at 15571
Eastern Standard Time, Monday private resources. The purpose of this County Road T.5; La Jara, CO; 81140
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
through Friday. project is to provide an adaptive
decision framework for responding to Nature of Decision To Be Made
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
spruce beetle mortality with salvage and An environmental impact statement
Estimated Dates hazardous fuel treatment projects in a (EIS) will be prepared that discloses the
The draft environmental impact timely and cost-effective manner, while environmental consequences of
statement is expected September 2017 providing for site-specific protection of implementing the proposed action and
and the final environmental impact biological diversity and other resource alternatives to the proposed action,
statement is expected December 2017. management objectives. including No Action. A separate Record
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![10574 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 40 / Tuesday, March 1, 2016 / Notices
of Decision (ROD) will explain the NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, United States Grain Standards Act
Responsible Official’s decision environmental objections that could be (USGSA), as amended.
regarding whether or not to implement raised at the draft environmental impact DATES: Effective: April 1, 2015
some level of timber harvest and other statement stage but that are not raised ADDRESSES: Eric J. Jabs, Deputy Director,
proposed activities on all, part, or none until after completion the final USDA, GIPSA, FGIS, QACD, 10383
of the area analyzed, given the environmental impact statement may be North Ambassador Drive, Kansas City,
consideration of multiple-use goals and waived or dismissed by the courts. City MO 64153
objectives. of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric
Scoping Process 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin J. Jabs, 816–659–8408 or Eric.J.Jabs@
Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. usda.gov.
This notice of intent initiates the 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of
scoping process, which guides the Read Applications: All applications
these court rulings, it is very important and comments are available for public
development of the environmental that those interested in this proposed
impact statement. The Forest invites inspection at the office above during
action participate by the close of the 45 regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(c)).
public comment and participation in day comment period so that substantive
this project by publication of this notice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the
comments and objections are made
Comments are also invited by: October 14, 2014, Federal Register (79
available to the Forest Service at a time
publication in the quarterly Schedule of FR 61596), GIPSA requested
when it can meaningfully consider them
Proposed Actions (SOPA); public notice applications for designation to provide
and respond to them in the final
regarding this project in the newspaper official services in the geographic areas
environmental impact statement
of record, the Valley Courier; and letters presently serviced by Farwell
To assist the Forest Service in Southwest, Jamestown, Lincoln,
to potentially interested individuals, identifying and considering issues and
tribal governments, elected officials, and Midsouth, and Sioux City. Applications
concerns on the proposed action, were due by November 13, 2014.
State and other Federal Agencies. comments on the draft environmental
Information will also be posted on the The current official agencies- Farwell
impact statement should be as specific Southwest, Jamestown, Lincoln,
Rio Grande National Forest project Web as possible. It is also helpful if
site as this project progresses. Midsouth, and Sioux City were the only
comments refer to specific pages or applicants for designation to provide
Comments received during these and chapters of the draft statement.
other scoping efforts will be considered official services in these areas. As a
Comments may also address the result, GIPSA did not ask for additional
in this EIS. No scoping meetings are adequacy of the draft environmental
planned at this time. comments. On January 2, 2015,
impact statement or the merits of the subsequently, Sioux City purchased
Comments received in response to
alternatives formulated and discussed in Central Iowa Grain Inspection
this solicitation, including names and
the statement. Reviewers may wish to Corporation (Central Iowa) and Sioux
addresses of those who comment, will
refer to the Council on Environmental City asked GIPSA to amend their
be part of the public record for this
Quality Regulations for implementing designation to include Central Iowa’s
proposed action. Comments submitted
the procedural provisions of the geographic area. GIPSA reviewed the
anonymously will be accepted and
National Environmental Policy Act at 40 proposed amendment and determined
considered; however anonymous
CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points. that Sioux City met all of the
comments will not provide the Agency
with the ability to provide the Dated: February 24, 2016. requirements specified in 7 CFR
respondent with subsequent Andrea Jones, 800.196(f)(2) to amend their
environmental documents. District Ranger. geographical area.
[FR Doc. 2016–04487 Filed 2–29–16; 8:45 am] GIPSA evaluated the designation
Preliminary Issues criteria in section 79(f) of the USGSA (7
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
The effect of proposed activities on U.S.C. 79(f)) and determined that
the habitat structural needs of the local Farwell Southwest, Jamestown, Lincoln,
population of Canada Lynx, a DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE and Midsouth are qualified to provide
Threatened species, and their primary official services in the geographic area
prey, the snowshoe hare. Grain Inspection, Packers and specified in the Federal Register on
Stockyards Administration October 14, 2014. This designation to
Comment Requested provide official services in the specified
The comment period on the draft Designation for the Casa Grande, AZ; areas for Jamestown, Lincoln, and
environmental impact statement will be Jamestown, ND; Lincoln, NE; Midsouth is effective April 1, 2015, to
45 days from the date the Memphis, TN; and Sioux City, IA Areas March 31, 2018. This designation action
Environmental Protection Agency to provide official services in the
publishes the notice of availability in AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and specified areas for Farwell Southwest is
the Federal Register. Stockyards Administration, USDA. effective April 1, 2015, to March 31,
The Forest Service believes, at this ACTION: Notice. 2017.
early state, it is important to give Sioux City’s designation is amended
reviewers notice of several court rulings SUMMARY: GIPSA is announcing the to include the additional geographic
related to public participation in the designation of Farwell Commodity
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
area previously designated to Central
environmental review process. First, Grain Services, Inc. (Farwell Iowa. Sioux City’s designation for the
reviewers of draft environmental impact Southwest); Grain Inspection, Inc. following amended geographical area is
statements must structure their (Jamestown); Lincoln Inspection effective April 1, 2015, to March 31,
participation in the environmental Service, Inc. (Lincoln); Midsouth Grain 2017.
review of the proposal so that it is Inspection Service (Midsouth); and
meaningful and alerts an agency to the Sioux City Grain Inspection and Sioux City
reviewer’s positions and contentions. Weighing Service, Inc. (Sioux City) to Pursuant to Section 79(f)(2) of the
Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act, the
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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:59:49
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:59:49
| 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 March 31, 2016. | |
| Contact | Michael Tooley, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, telephone: (719) 274-8971 or visit the Forest Web site: http:// www.fs.usda.gov/projects/riogrande/landmanagement/projects. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 10573 |
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