81 FR 31587 - Gila National Forest, Quemado Ranger District; New Mexico; Luna Restoration Project
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 97 (May 19, 2016)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 97 (May 19, 2016)
| Page Range | 31587-31588 | |
| FR Document | 2016-11801 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 97 (Thursday, May 19, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 31587-31588] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-11801] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Gila National Forest, Quemado Ranger District; New Mexico; Luna Restoration Project AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Gila National Forest will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate a proposed action on a landscape level project to improve forest health within 185,586 acres Luna planning area on the Quemado Ranger District. The full text and maps of the proposed action will be located on the Forest's Web site at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gila/home/?cid=STELPRD3828973. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by July 5, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected December, 2016 and the final environmental impact statement is expected July 2017. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Quemado Ranger District, ATTN: District Ranger, P.O. Box 159, Quemado, NM 87829. Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to 575-773-4114. An Open House is scheduled for Wednesday June 8, 2016, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Luna Community Center, Luna, NM. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Irwin, District Ranger, Quemado Ranger District, at (575) 773-4678 or [email protected]. 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 Luna Restoration Project is to create and maintain a healthy resilient landscape and watersheds capable of delivering benefits to the public including clean air and water, habitat for native fish and wildlife, forest products, and outdoor recreation opportunities. There is a need to:Reduce the impacts of high severity fire on natural and cultural resources, private inholdings, communities, infrastructure, and livelihoods within the planning area; Implement vegetative treatments to restore departed landscapes that are overstocked, encroached, and at risk to fire, disease, insects, and other climate stressors; Implement treatments in watershed that are not properly functioning; Improve water quality by hardening stream crossings and performing road maintenance; Continue to provide the wide range of forest products that are important to the culture, tradition and livelihoods of local communities; Protect and restore threatened and endangered species and habitat; Provide opportunities for OHV use, enjoyment, and access from the community of Luna; Provide permanent water to support wildlife and livestock; and Improve rangeland, wildlife, aquatic and riparian habitat. Proposed Action In response to the purpose and need, the Gila National Forest proposes to conduct a wide variety of restoration, maintenance, and improvement projects within the Luna planning area (185,570 acres) on the Quemado Ranger District. Vegetation treatments would be accomplished by hand or mechanized equipment, cutting trees individually or in groups. Maintenance and restoration activities are prosed on approximately 73,446 acres of woodland (e.g. pinyon juniper, pinyon pine) and forest (ponderosa pine and mixed conifer) stands. Grassland maintenance and restoration treatments are proposed on approximately 23,373 acres. Ponderosa pine and pinyon juniper have encroached, become established, and continue to spread into the grasslands. Proposed activities consist of cutting ponderosa pine and pinyon-juniper by hand or mechanized equipment, to reduce tree canopy cover to less than 10% in grasslands. Rabbit brush treatment consists of mowing with rubber tired equipment during the dormant season (late fall to early winter) on approximately 100 acres for consecutive years to improve rangeland condition on the Centerfire Allotment. An additional 100 to 1,000 acres may be treated depending on monitoring results of the initial 100 acres. Thin small diameter trees <9 inches, pile burn or broadcast burn approximately 1,464 acres within Mexican Spotted Owl protected activity centers. No activities would take place between March 1 to August 31 to avoid disturbance during breeding season. Cut and prescribe burn Gambel oak and mountain mahogany stands to promote new growth and sprouting in various locations across the planning area for wildlife, especially game species. This would be accomplished with other vegetation and fuel treatments. Fall snags over approximately 1,955 acres within the Wallow Fire (2011) for site preparation (planting or natural regeneration of trees). Snags would be cut by hand or by mechanical equipment and piled, decked, removed and/or left where felled. Decks may be burned. Use prescribe fire exclusively to treat approximately 12,898 acres to maintain and/or reduce fuel loadings. Use prescribe fire in areas identified for vegetation treatments (approximately 70,000 to 100,000 acres). Prescribed fire can be implemented prior and after proposed vegetation treatments. Areas identified for prescribed fire are available for re-entry if objectives are not fully achieved as a result of initial treatments or for maintenance Improve and restore stream and riparian habitat through various activities such as constructing exclosures, planting riparian species, installing bank stabilization structures; removing invasive or non- native plant species; placing weirs to restore channel gradient; improving stream crossing, and installing and/or upgrading road drainage features. Add new or upgrade existing water systems on the Luna, Centerfire, and Mangitas allotments to increase livestock and wildlife distribution to benefit rangeland conditions, including watershed, soils, and stream resources. Conduct heavy maintenance and upgrade drainage features on forest roads to improve water quality. Harden crossings on roads and motorized trails to improve accessibility and reduce impacts to aquatic species and habitat. Decommission approximately 121 miles of closed roads to improve watershed condition and reduce wildlife habitat fragmentation. Decommission user created routes within the planning area. Add and designate approximately 20 miles of routes for ATV use, creating loop and connector route opportunities around the Luna Community. [[Page 31588]] Responsible Official Gila Forest Supervisor. Nature of Decision To Be Made The decision to be made will be whether or not to implement the proposed action or an alternative to the proposed action and what mitigation measures would be required. The Forest Supervisor will also decide which forest project-level plan amendments to adopt. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. An Open House is scheduled for Wednesday June 8, 2016, 5 to 7 p.m. at the Luna Community Center, Luna, NM to provide an opportunity to review project maps, ask questions, and provide input to the proposed project. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in such a 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. Dated: May 10, 2016. Adam Mendonca, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2016-11801 Filed 5-18-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 97 / Thursday, May 19, 2016 / Notices 31587
requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 recreation opportunities. There is a need Thin small diameter trees <9 inches,
CFR 404.7. to: pile burn or broadcast burn
• Reduce the impacts of high severity approximately 1,464 acres within
Mojdeh Bahar,
fire on natural and cultural resources, Mexican Spotted Owl protected activity
Assistant Administrator. centers. No activities would take place
private inholdings, communities,
[FR Doc. 2016–11813 Filed 5–18–16; 8:45 am] infrastructure, and livelihoods within between March 1 to August 31 to avoid
BILLING CODE 3410–03–P the planning area; disturbance during breeding season.
• Implement vegetative treatments to Cut and prescribe burn Gambel oak
restore departed landscapes that are and mountain mahogany stands to
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE overstocked, encroached, and at risk to promote new growth and sprouting in
Forest Service fire, disease, insects, and other climate various locations across the planning
stressors; area for wildlife, especially game
Gila National Forest, Quemado Ranger • Implement treatments in watershed species. This would be accomplished
District; New Mexico; Luna Restoration that are not properly functioning; with other vegetation and fuel
Project • Improve water quality by hardening treatments.
stream crossings and performing road Fall snags over approximately 1,955
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. maintenance; acres within the Wallow Fire (2011) for
ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an • Continue to provide the wide range site preparation (planting or natural
environmental impact statement. of forest products that are important to regeneration of trees). Snags would be
the culture, tradition and livelihoods of cut by hand or by mechanical
SUMMARY: The Gila National Forest will
local communities; equipment and piled, decked, removed
prepare an Environmental Impact
• Protect and restore threatened and and/or left where felled. Decks may be
Statement to evaluate a proposed action
endangered species and habitat; burned.
on a landscape level project to improve
forest health within 185,586 acres Luna • Provide opportunities for OHV use, Use prescribe fire exclusively to treat
planning area on the Quemado Ranger enjoyment, and access from the approximately 12,898 acres to maintain
District. community of Luna; and/or reduce fuel loadings. Use
The full text and maps of the • Provide permanent water to support prescribe fire in areas identified for
proposed action will be located on the wildlife and livestock; and vegetation treatments (approximately
Forest’s Web site at http:// • Improve rangeland, wildlife, 70,000 to 100,000 acres). Prescribed fire
www.fs.usda.gov/detail/gila/home/ aquatic and riparian habitat. can be implemented prior and after
?cid=STELPRD3828973. Proposed Action proposed vegetation treatments. Areas
identified for prescribed fire are
DATES: Comments concerning the scope In response to the purpose and need, available for re-entry if objectives are
of the analysis must be received by July the Gila National Forest proposes to not fully achieved as a result of initial
5, 2016. The draft environmental impact conduct a wide variety of restoration, treatments or for maintenance
statement is expected December, 2016 maintenance, and improvement projects
and the final environmental impact Improve and restore stream and
within the Luna planning area (185,570
statement is expected July 2017. riparian habitat through various
acres) on the Quemado Ranger District.
activities such as constructing
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Vegetation treatments would be exclosures, planting riparian species,
Quemado Ranger District, ATTN: accomplished by hand or mechanized installing bank stabilization structures;
District Ranger, P.O. Box 159, Quemado, equipment, cutting trees individually or removing invasive or non-native plant
NM 87829. Comments may also be sent in groups. Maintenance and restoration species; placing weirs to restore channel
via email to comments-southwestern- activities are prosed on approximately gradient; improving stream crossing,
gila-quemado@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile 73,446 acres of woodland (e.g. pinyon and installing and/or upgrading road
to 575–773–4114. juniper, pinyon pine) and forest drainage features.
An Open House is scheduled for (ponderosa pine and mixed conifer)
Wednesday June 8, 2016, 5 to 7 p.m. at stands. Add new or upgrade existing water
the Luna Community Center, Luna, NM. Grassland maintenance and systems on the Luna, Centerfire, and
restoration treatments are proposed on Mangitas allotments to increase
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
approximately 23,373 acres. Ponderosa livestock and wildlife distribution to
Emily Irwin, District Ranger, Quemado
pine and pinyon juniper have benefit rangeland conditions, including
Ranger District, at (575) 773–4678 or
encroached, become established, and watershed, soils, and stream resources.
comments-southwestern-gila@fs.fed.us.
Individuals who use continue to spread into the grasslands. Conduct heavy maintenance and
telecommunication devices for the deaf Proposed activities consist of cutting upgrade drainage features on forest
(TDD) may call the Federal Information ponderosa pine and pinyon-juniper by roads to improve water quality. Harden
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 hand or mechanized equipment, to crossings on roads and motorized trails
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern reduce tree canopy cover to less than to improve accessibility and reduce
Time, Monday through Friday. 10% in grasslands. impacts to aquatic species and habitat.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rabbit brush treatment consists of Decommission approximately 121
mowing with rubber tired equipment miles of closed roads to improve
Purpose and Need for Action during the dormant season (late fall to watershed condition and reduce
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
The purpose of the Luna Restoration early winter) on approximately 100 wildlife habitat fragmentation.
Project is to create and maintain a acres for consecutive years to improve Decommission user created routes
healthy resilient landscape and rangeland condition on the Centerfire within the planning area.
watersheds capable of delivering Allotment. An additional 100 to 1,000 Add and designate approximately 20
benefits to the public including clean air acres may be treated depending on miles of routes for ATV use, creating
and water, habitat for native fish and monitoring results of the initial 100 loop and connector route opportunities
wildlife, forest products, and outdoor acres. around the Luna Community.
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![31588 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 97 / Thursday, May 19, 2016 / Notices
Responsible Official and funding consistent with Title II of section titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Gila Forest Supervisor. the Act. RAC information can be found CONTACT. All reasonable
at the following Web site: https:// accommodation requests are managed
Nature of Decision To Be Made fsplaces.fs.fed.us/fsfiles/unit/wo/ on a case by case basis.
The decision to be made will be secure_rural_schools.nsf. Dated: May 16, 2016.
whether or not to implement the DATES: The meeting will be held June 6, Matt D. Anderson,
proposed action or an alternative to the 2016, at 10:00 a.m. District Ranger, DFO.
proposed action and what mitigation All RAC meetings are subject to
[FR Doc. 2016–11797 Filed 5–18–16; 8:45 am]
measures would be required. The Forest cancellation. For status of meeting prior
to attendance, please contact the person BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
Supervisor will also decide which forest
project-level plan amendments to adopt. listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Scoping Process DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
This notice of intent initiates the Craig Ranger District, 504 9th Street, Forest Service
scoping process, which guides the Craig, Alaska. If you wish to attend via
development of the environmental teleconference, please contact the Siskiyou County Resource Advisory
impact statement. An Open House is person listed under FOR FURTHER Committee
scheduled for Wednesday June 8, 2016, INFORMATION CONTACT.
5 to 7 p.m. at the Luna Community AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
Written comments may be submitted
Center, Luna, NM to provide an as described under SUPPLEMENTARY ACTION: Notice of meeting.
opportunity to review project maps, ask INFORMATION. All comments, including
questions, and provide input to the SUMMARY: The Siskiyou County
names and addresses when provided, Resource Advisory Committee (RAC)
proposed project. are placed in the record and are
It is important that reviewers provide will meet in Yreka, California. The
available for public inspection and committee is authorized under the
their comments at such times and in copying. The public may inspect
such a manner that they are useful to Secure Rural Schools and Community
comments received at the Craig Ranger Self-Determination Act (the Act) and
the agency’s preparation of the District. Please call ahead to facilitate
environmental impact statement. operates in compliance with the Federal
entry into the building. Advisory Committee Act. The purpose
Therefore, comments should be
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: of the committee is to improve
provided prior to the close of the
Amy Manuel, RAC Coordinator, by collaborative relationships and to
comment period and should clearly
phone at 907–228–6200 or via email at provide advice and recommendations to
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
amymmanuel@fs.fed.us. the Forest Service concerning projects
contentions. Individuals who use
Comments received in response to and funding consistent with Title II of
telecommunication devices for the deaf the Act. RAC information can be found
this solicitation, including names and
(TDD) may call the Federal Information at the following Web site: http://
addresses of those who comment, will
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 cloudapps-usda-gov.force.com/FSSRS/
be part of the public record for this
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., RAC_Meeting_
proposed action. Comments submitted
Eastern Standard Time, Monday Page?id=a2zt00000004CyPAAU.
anonymously will be accepted and
through Friday.
considered, however. DATES: The meeting will be held June 6,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Dated: May 10, 2016. 2016, at 5:00 p.m.
purpose of the meeting is to review and All RAC meetings are subject to
Adam Mendonca, recommend projects authorized under cancellation. For status of meeting prior
Forest Supervisor. Title II of the Act. to attendance, please contact the person
[FR Doc. 2016–11801 Filed 5–18–16; 8:45 am] The meeting is open to the public.
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P The agenda will include time for people
CONTACT.
to make oral statements of three minutes
or less. Individuals wishing to make an ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE oral statement should request in writing the Klamath National Forest (NF)
by June 1, 2016, to be scheduled on the Supervisor’s Office, Conference Room,
Forest Service agenda. Anyone who would like to 1711 South Main Street, Yreka,
bring related matters to the attention of California.
Prince of Wales Resource Advisory the committee may file written Written comments may be submitted
Committee statements with the committee staff as described under SUPPLEMENTARY
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. before or after the meeting. Written INFORMATION. All comments, including
comments and requests for time to make names and addresses when provided,
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
oral comments must be sent to Matthew are placed in the record and are
SUMMARY: The Prince of Wales Resource Anderson, Designated Federal Officer, available for public inspection and
Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in P.O. Box 500, Craig, Alaska 99921; by copying. The public may inspect
Craig, Alaska. The committee is email to mdanderson@fs.fed.us, or via comments received at Klamath NF
authorized under the Secure Rural facsimile to 907–826–2972. Supervior’s Office. Please call ahead to
Schools and Community Self- Meeting Accommodations: If you are facilitate entry into the building.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
Determination Act (the Act) and a person requiring reasonable FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
operates in compliance with the Federal accommodation, please make requests Natalie Stovall, RAC Coordinator, by
Advisory Committee Act. The purpose in advance for sign language phone at 530–841–4411 or via email at
of the committee is to improve interpreting, assistive listening devices, nstovall@fs.fed.us.
collaborative relationships and to or other reasonable accommodation. For Individuals who use
provide advice and recommendations to access to the facility or proceedings, telecommunication devices for the deaf
the Forest Service concerning projects please contact the person listed in the (TDD) may call the Federal Information
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Document Created: 2018-02-07 15:01:49
Document Modified: 2018-02-07 15:01:49
| 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 July 5, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected December, 2016 and the final environmental impact statement is expected July 2017. | |
| Contact | Emily Irwin, District Ranger, Quemado Ranger District, at (575) 773-4678 or comments-southwestern- [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 31587 |
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