81 FR 37177 - Lincoln National Forest; New Mexico; Integrated Non-Native Invasive Plant Management

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 111 (June 9, 2016)

The Lincoln National Forest will prepare an environmental impact statement to document and disclose projected effects of its management strategy for treating non-native invasive plants (NNIP) across the Forest. This strategy utilizes several management tools, including registered herbicides, biological treatments (biological controls and controlled grazing), and manual and/or mechanical methods. The strategy is adaptive, allowing for the treatment of new NNIP infestations and use of new treatment options, including new herbicides.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37177-37178]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13669]


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                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 111 / Thursday, June 9, 2016 / 
Notices

[[Page 37177]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Lincoln National Forest; New Mexico; Integrated Non-Native 
Invasive Plant Management

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Lincoln National Forest will prepare an environmental 
impact statement to document and disclose projected effects of its 
management strategy for treating non-native invasive plants (NNIP) 
across the Forest. This strategy utilizes several management tools, 
including registered herbicides, biological treatments (biological 
controls and controlled grazing), and manual and/or mechanical methods. 
The strategy is adaptive, allowing for the treatment of new NNIP 
infestations and use of new treatment options, including new 
herbicides.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by July 11, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
February 2017 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
August 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Aurora Roemmich, Integrated 
Non-Native Invasive Plant Management Project, Lincoln National Forest, 
3462 La Palomas Road, Alamogordo, NM 88310. Comments may also be sent 
via email to http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=31150, or via 
facsimile to (575) 434-7218. For email comments, go to the right-hand 
side ``Get Connected'', click ``Comment on Project'' to submit comments 
on this project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennie O'Connor Card, 
Interdisciplinary Team Leader at (406) 522-2537 or by email at 
[email protected] or Aurora Roemmich, Forest Botanist, 
Lincoln National Forest at (575) 434-7266 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

    Executive Order 13112, Forest Service Manual 2900, and Lincoln 
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), 
provide direction related to the management of invasive species. 
Executive Order 13112 directs Federal agencies to prevent and control 
invasive species and to minimize their economic, ecological, and human 
health impacts. The order provides for restoration of native species 
and habitat conditions in ecosystems that have been invaded by non-
native invasive species.
    A non-native invasive plant species is defined as any terrestrial 
or aquatic plant species occurring outside its natural range that is 
likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. 
If a native plant species is deemed a noxious weed by the New Mexico 
Department of Agriculture or another agency because it is likely to 
cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health, then the 
species would also be considered for treatment under this analysis and 
decision.
    The overall purpose of this project is to implement a management 
strategy that uses an integrated selection of techniques designed to 
prevent the introduction of and control the spread of non-native 
invasive plants (NNIP). A second purpose is to ensure that the strategy 
is adaptive, allowing for the treatment of new NNIP infestations and 
use of new treatment options, including new herbicides, because future 
NNIP management needs may be different. As such, there are underlying 
needs to:
    1. Utilize the most effective and economical strategies to treat 
NNIP while protecting valued resources to the greatest practical 
extent; and,
    2. Adapt management techniques to accommodate new NNIP infestations 
and treatment options, including new herbicides, within the scope of 
this analysis and resulting decision.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action presents a forest-wide integrated weed 
management (IWM) strategy, for the prevention, eradication, 
suppression, and reduction of existing and future non-native invasive 
plant infestations. The IWM strategy is based on ecological factors and 
includes consideration of site conditions, other resource values, 
resource uses, NNIP characteristics, and potential effectiveness of 
control measures for specific circumstances.
    The proposed action includes a wide range of treatment methods 
including options to use a combination of methods on the same site. It 
also was developed to minimize the risk of adverse impacts through 
resource protection measures. These resource protection measures are 
designed to minimize, avoid or mitigate adverse effects which could 
occur as a result of implementing proposed NNIP treatments on the 
Forest. The resource protection measures are based on Forest Plan 
direction and policy, best available science, and site-specific 
evaluations.
    Selection of the most appropriate treatment practice, or 
combination of treatments, depends on numerous factors, including the 
size of the infestation, risk of NNIP expansion, species biology, 
environmental setting, potential impacts to other resources, and 
management objectives. Treatment practices available for use would 
include manual, mechanical, biological, and chemical treatments. 
Chemical treatments include hand/selective and broadcast herbicide 
applications (including aerial application). Aerial herbicide 
application by helicopter could be used in selected locations of the 
Forest including designated wilderness areas. Aerial application 
provides a means to effectively treat infestations in isolated areas 
rapidly and efficiently, dramatically reducing the threat of further 
establishment or expansion.
    The project also includes an adaptive management strategy to 
determine treatment of identified and future NNIP infestations. This 
adaptive management strategy consists of two principle components: The 
ability to effectively treat new infestations as they are detected; 
and, the ability to incorporate new technology as it becomes available.

[[Page 37178]]

Forest Plan Amendment

    This project would require an amendment to the Lincoln National 
Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). The project 
proposes use of herbicides in places and under conditions that were not 
foreseen when the existing Forest Plan standards and guidelines were 
developed in 1986. To meet the purpose and need for this project, it 
may be necessary to apply herbicide treatments to areas infested with 
non-native invasive plant species.
    This amendment would change forestwide standards and guidelines 
applicable to all areas for wildlife (pages 31-34), grazing management 
(page 35 and replacement page 35B), soil and water (pages 40-41), fire 
and protection (replacement page 55), all species (pages 205-206), 
Mexican spotted owl (replacement page 206A), peregrine falcon (page 
207), and northern goshawk (replacement page 208A and 208E). The 
amendment also would change standards and guidelines related to 
protection in management area 1C Capitan Mountains Wilderness 
(replacement page 62), management area 1F White Mountain Wilderness 
(replacement page 70), management area 1H RNA William G. Telfer 
Research Natural Area (page 77), and management area 3A RNA Upper 
McKittrick RNA (page 115). If adopted, this would be the eigthtennth 
amendment to the Forest Plan since its inception in 1986.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official for this project is the Lincoln National 
Forest, Forest Supervisor.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Responsible Official will decide whether to adopt and implement 
the proposed action, an alternative to the proposed action, or take no 
action. The Responsible Official also will decide whether or not to 
amend the Forest Plan.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. 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.
    This proposed project is an activity implementing a land management 
plan and is subject to the objection process described in 36 CFR 218 
Subparts A and B. As such, individuals and organizations wishing to be 
eligible to file a predecisional objection must meet the information 
requirements in 36 CFR 218.25(a)(3). Names and contact information 
submitted with comments will become part of the public record and may 
be released under the Freedom of Information Act. Comments submitted 
anonymously will be accepted and considered, however.

    Dated: June 3, 2016.
Barry L. Imler,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2016-13669 Filed 6-8-16; 8:45 am]
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