81 FR 58470 - Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota and Wyoming, Black Hills Resilient Landscapes Project
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 165 (August 25, 2016)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 165 (August 25, 2016)
| Page Range | 58470-58472 | |
| FR Document | 2016-20382 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 165 (Thursday, August 25, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 58470-58472] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-20382] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota and Wyoming, Black Hills Resilient Landscapes Project AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Forest Service is proposing forest resilience management actions on portions of approximately 1,098,000 acres of National Forest System lands managed by the Black Hills National Forest. The project area consists of lands within the treatment areas designated on the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota and Wyoming under the authority of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA, 16 U.S.C. 6591). The Black Hills Resilient Landscapes Project will be carried out in accordance with HFRA title VI, section 602(d)-- Insect and Disease Infestation. Since 1997, the Black Hills National Forest has experienced epidemic levels of mountain pine beetle infestation. The epidemic now appears to be slowing in most parts of the forest, but the infestation has left behind a changed landscape. Action is needed to address accumulations of fuels, undesirable distribution of forest structures, and other conditions that may decrease the forest's resilience to disturbance. The purpose of the project is to move landscape-level vegetation conditions in the project area toward objectives of the Black Hills National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, as amended, in order to increase ecosystem resilience to insect infestation and other natural disturbances, contribute to public safety and the local economy, and reduce risk of wildfire to landscapes and communities. The Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to disclose the potential environmental effects of implementing resilience treatments on National Forest System lands within the project area. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by September 26, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected in April 2017 and the final environmental impact statement is expected in October 2017. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to BHRL Project, Black Hills National Forest, 1019 North 5th Street, Custer, SD 57730, or via facsimile to 605-673-9350, c/o BHRL Project. Written comments also may be hand- delivered to the above address between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mountain time, Monday through Friday except federal holidays. Comments may also be submitted electronically at http://tinyurl.com/BHRLProjectComment. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rhonda O'Byrne, Project Manager, at 605-642-4622. 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 Since 1997, the Black Hills National Forest has experienced epidemic levels of mountain pine beetle infestation. Beetles have infested and killed trees on approximately 215,000 acres. In some areas, there are very few live, mature pine remaining. In others, the beetles only attacked pockets of trees, or very few trees. The Forest Service and its partners have responded to the epidemic by reducing stand susceptibility to beetle infestation, recovering the value of some infested trees, protecting recreation areas, and decreasing fuel build-up in some areas. The epidemic now appears to be slowing in most parts of the forest, but the beetles have left behind a changed landscape. Much of the forest is more open. The distribution of pine forest structure has moved away from desired conditions. The Black Hills National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (``Forest Plan'') sets these desired conditions. They are a critical part of maintaining a landscape that provides diverse habitat and is resilient to disturbance. Pine forest structure objectives apply to most of the National Forest. The current condition of some structural stages is inconsistent with the desired condition. Over time, the open and young forest structures resulting from the infestation are likely to develop characteristics that will decrease the forest's resilience to insect infestation, wildfire, and other disturbances. In the newly open stands, natural reforestation is occurring as pine seedlings become established. Ponderosa pine regenerates prolifically in the Black Hills, and often there are so many small trees that they become crowded and must compete for limited resources. Growth slows, stems remain thin, and heavy snow can result in widespread damage. There is a need to manage these new stands to prevent stagnation and allow transition to other structural stages. Mountain pine beetles most often infest dense pine stands. As a result of the epidemic, acreage of mature, moderately dense pine stands has decreased below Forest Plan objective levels. Mature, dense pine stands are still slightly above objective levels, though most of them are concentrated in a few areas that experienced less beetle infestation. There is a need to increase mature, moderately dense pine stands and maintain mature, dense pine stands. Late succession pine forests in the Black Hills provide habitat diversity and enhance scenery. There are fewer late succession stands than desired, and [[Page 58471]] there is a need to maintain and enhance old stands to work toward meeting this objective. The beetle infestation also has resulted in hazardous fuels in the form of dead trees. The trees usually fall within a few years of being infested and can pile up and cause uncharacteristically high fuel loadings. These fuels are unlikely to ignite easily, but if they do catch fire they can burn intensely, damaging soils and causing problems for firefighters. In addition, the dead trees pose an increased hazard to public health and safety, infrastructure, and communities. There is a need to reduce this hazard, especially near populated areas and critical infrastructure. Mature ponderosa pine are often resistant to fire, especially if there is some space between trees or if they have had periodic exposure to low-level fire. Small pine trees are not resistant to fire, and dense patches can allow a fire to spread both vertically and horizontally. There is a need to thin out these small trees to prevent development of a fire hazard. Historically, fire was a major force shaping the composition and distribution of Black Hills plant communities and ecological processes. Fire suppression over the last 140 years has altered plant communities and allowed fuels to accumulate, especially in less accessible areas. There is a need to use prescribed fire to efficiently reduce fuel buildup while providing the ecosystem benefits of a disturbance process that native species evolved with. Ponderosa pine covers most of the Black Hills. Other tree species and grasslands diversify habitat and scenery while increasing ecosystem resilience to disturbance. Hardwood trees such as aspen and oak are resistant to fire and to the insects that infest pine. Aspen stands recover quickly from disturbance. Over time, however, these areas can become overgrown with conifers. This encroachment can cause old hardwood stands and grasslands to lose vigor and gradually disappear. There is a need to maintain and perpetuate these ecosystem components. In response to these needs, the Forest Service is proposing actions to move landscape-level vegetation conditions in the project area toward objectives of the Forest Plan in order to increase ecosystem resilience to insect infestation and other natural disturbances, contribute to public safety and the local economy, and reduce risk of wildfire to landscapes and communities. The Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board has agreed to serve as the formal collaborator for this project under HFRA authority. Proposed Action The proposed action addresses the purpose and need through a combination of forest vegetation management actions. Activities would start in approximately 2018 and continue for up to 10 years. Where heavy down fuels or dense stands of small pine exist adjacent to residential areas, main access roads, major power lines, and other developments or infrastructure, the project would reduce fire hazard by thinning, chipping, piling, or otherwise removing or rearranging fuels. Work would focus on priority areas. Where slopes are too steep for other types of treatment, the project would burn pockets of hazardous fuels. These activities would occur on 3,000 to 7,000 acres annually. Fuel reduction work would include cutting of standing beetle-killed trees that could fall and block main access roads. The project proposes prescribed burning on up to 10,000 acres per year, primarily in the southern half of the Black Hills. The project would cut encroaching pine from areas of hardwoods and grasslands. Pine removal from aspen would take place on up to 6,000 acres. Pine removal from oak stands would take place on up to 3,000 acres. Pine would be cut from encroached grasslands on up to 5,600 acres. Regeneration of declining aspen stands would occur on up to 5,000 acres. Currently, approximately 43 percent of project area pine stands consist of open, mature forest, while the objective is 25 percent. The project proposes to convert some of these mature stands to young stands by removing some or all of the mature trees if there are enough pine seedlings and saplings to make a new stand. This may occur on up to a total of about 100,000 acres out of the total 300,000 acres of open, mature pine forest. The intent of this project is not to create very large areas of forest that is all alike. Therefore, the project would include limits on the maximum contiguous acreage of any one forest condition that could be created. Existing roads provide access to most of the potential treatment stands. To conduct proposed activities in areas without existing roads, it may be necessary to construct up to 15 miles of permanent roads and 44 miles of temporary roads. The project would conduct fuel treatments in some of the remaining mature, dense pine stands. Because the objective is to increase moderately dense mature forest, mature trees in these stands would generally not be cut. There would be exceptions, such as removing beetle-infested trees or thinning to reduce hazardous fuels adjacent to homes. The forest is below objectives for late succession forest. In some stands that are nearing late succession conditions, especially those with open canopies, the project would thin or burn understory vegetation to enhance late succession characteristics and increase stand resilience. Removing some of the small trees in young stands (precommercial thinning) increases the vigor of the remaining saplings and prevents stagnation. The project would precommercially thin up to 25,000 acres per year. Connected actions include road improvement, non-native invasive weed treatment, and other activities. The proposed action includes design features and mitigation necessary to ensure project compliance with directives, regulations, and Forest Plan standards and guidelines. Go to http://tinyurl.com/BHRLProject for more detailed information and maps of the project area and proposed treatments. Forest Plan Amendments If necessary to meet the project's purpose and need, the Forest Service may need to amend the Forest Plan in regard to reducing fuel loading by removing logging slash in certain areas. Responsible Official Mark Van Every, Black Hills National Forest Supervisor. Nature of Decision To Be Made This proposed action is a proposal, not a decision. The Forest Supervisor of the Black Hills National Forest will decide whether to implement the action as proposed, whether to take no action at this time, or whether to implement any alternatives that are analyzed. The Forest Supervisor will also decide whether to amend the Forest Plan if necessary to implement the decision. Preliminary Issues Anticipated issues include effects on threatened, endangered, and sensitive species, changes to scenery, and the unique fire hazards posed by fallen trees and regenerating stands. 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 [[Page 58472]] 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. Dated: August 15, 2016. Jim Zornes, Acting Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2016-20382 Filed 8-24-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
![58470 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 165 / Thursday, August 25, 2016 / Notices
for their use in reviewing applications 1,098,000 acres of National Forest SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
to participate and to sponsoring System lands managed by the Black
Purpose and Need for Action
organizations to ensure that they do not Hills National Forest.
employ as principals any persons who The project area consists of lands Since 1997, the Black Hills National
are disqualified from the program. This within the treatment areas designated Forest has experienced epidemic levels
statutory mandate has been on the Black Hills National Forest in of mountain pine beetle infestation.
incorporated into § 226.6(c)(7) of the South Dakota and Wyoming under the Beetles have infested and killed trees on
Program regulations. authority of the Healthy Forests approximately 215,000 acres. In some
Need and Use of the Information: The Restoration Act (HFRA, 16 U.S.C. 6591). areas, there are very few live, mature
Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) uses The Black Hills Resilient Landscapes pine remaining. In others, the beetles
forms FNS–843 Report of Project will be carried out in accordance only attacked pockets of trees, or very
Disqualification from Participation— with HFRA title VI, section 602(d)— few trees. The Forest Service and its
Institution and Responsible Principals/ Insect and Disease Infestation. partners have responded to the
Individuals and FNS–844 Report of Since 1997, the Black Hills National epidemic by reducing stand
Disqualification from Participation— Forest has experienced epidemic levels susceptibility to beetle infestation,
Individually Disqualified Responsible of mountain pine beetle infestation. The recovering the value of some infested
Principal/Individual or Day Care Home epidemic now appears to be slowing in trees, protecting recreation areas, and
Provider to collect and maintain the most parts of the forest, but the decreasing fuel build-up in some areas.
disqualification data. The State agencies infestation has left behind a changed The epidemic now appears to be
use these forms, which are accessed landscape. Action is needed to address slowing in most parts of the forest, but
through a web-based National accumulations of fuels, undesirable the beetles have left behind a changed
Disqualification List system, to collect distribution of forest structures, and landscape. Much of the forest is more
the contact information and the other conditions that may decrease the open. The distribution of pine forest
disqualification information and reasons forest’s resilience to disturbance. structure has moved away from desired
on all individuals and institutions that The purpose of the project is to move conditions. The Black Hills National
have been disqualified and are therefore landscape-level vegetation conditions in Forest Land and Resource Management
ineligible to participate in CACFP. The the project area toward objectives of the Plan (‘‘Forest Plan’’) sets these desired
information is collected from State Black Hills National Forest Land and conditions. They are a critical part of
Resource Management Plan, as maintaining a landscape that provides
agencies as the disqualifications occur
amended, in order to increase ecosystem diverse habitat and is resilient to
so that the list is kept current. By
resilience to insect infestation and other disturbance.
maintaining this list, the Department Pine forest structure objectives apply
ensures program integrity by making the natural disturbances, contribute to
public safety and the local economy, to most of the National Forest. The
list available to sponsoring current condition of some structural
organizations and State agencies so that and reduce risk of wildfire to
landscapes and communities. stages is inconsistent with the desired
no one who has been disqualified can condition. Over time, the open and
participate in CACFP. Without this data The Forest Service will prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement to young forest structures resulting from
collection, State agencies and the infestation are likely to develop
sponsoring organizations would have no disclose the potential environmental
effects of implementing resilience characteristics that will decrease the
way of knowing if an applicant has been forest’s resilience to insect infestation,
disqualified from participating in treatments on National Forest System
lands within the project area. wildfire, and other disturbances. In the
CACFP in another State. newly open stands, natural reforestation
Description of Respondents: State, DATES: Comments concerning the scope
is occurring as pine seedlings become
Local, or Tribal Government. of the analysis must be received by
established. Ponderosa pine regenerates
Number of Respondents: 56. September 26, 2016. The draft
prolifically in the Black Hills, and often
Frequency of Responses: Reporting: environmental impact statement is
there are so many small trees that they
On occasion; Other (as needed). expected in April 2017 and the final
Total Burden Hours: 784. become crowded and must compete for
environmental impact statement is
limited resources. Growth slows, stems
Ruth Brown,
expected in October 2017.
remain thin, and heavy snow can result
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Departmental Information Collection in widespread damage. There is a need
Clearance Officer. BHRL Project, Black Hills National to manage these new stands to prevent
[FR Doc. 2016–20371 Filed 8–24–16; 8:45 am]
Forest, 1019 North 5th Street, Custer, SD stagnation and allow transition to other
57730, or via facsimile to 605–673– structural stages.
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
9350, c/o BHRL Project. Written Mountain pine beetles most often
comments also may be hand-delivered infest dense pine stands. As a result of
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE to the above address between 8:00 a.m. the epidemic, acreage of mature,
and 4:30 p.m. Mountain time, Monday moderately dense pine stands has
Forest Service through Friday except federal holidays. decreased below Forest Plan objective
Comments may also be submitted levels. Mature, dense pine stands are
Black Hills National Forest, South electronically at http://tinyurl.com/ still slightly above objective levels,
Dakota and Wyoming, Black Hills BHRLProjectComment. though most of them are concentrated in
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Resilient Landscapes Project FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: a few areas that experienced less beetle
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. Rhonda O’Byrne, Project Manager, at infestation. There is a need to increase
ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an 605–642–4622. Individuals who use mature, moderately dense pine stands
environmental impact statement. telecommunication devices for the deaf and maintain mature, dense pine stands.
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Late succession pine forests in the Black
SUMMARY: The Forest Service is Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 Hills provide habitat diversity and
proposing forest resilience management between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern enhance scenery. There are fewer late
actions on portions of approximately Time, Monday through Friday. succession stands than desired, and
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![58472 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 165 / Thursday, August 25, 2016 / Notices
such times and in such manner that could possibly be deferred or reduced 5. Discussion of Reexport Technical
they are useful to the agency’s on foreign-status production equipment. Advisory Committee
preparation of the environmental impact The components and materials 6. Single Form Update
statement. Therefore, comments should sourced from abroad include: Mini-split 7. Subcommittee Updates
be provided prior to the close of the type HVAC systems, evaporator units 8. Discussion of Topics for Next
comment period and should clearly and condensing units (duty rates range Administration Action
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and from 1% to 2.2%). Closed Session
contentions. Public comment is invited from
Comments received in response to interested parties. Submissions shall be 9. Discussion of matters determined to
this solicitation, including names and addressed to the Board’s Executive be exempt from the provisions
addresses of those who comment, will Secretary at the address below. The relating to public meetings found in
be part of the public record for this closing period for their receipt is 5 U.S.C. app. 2 §§ 10(a)(1) and
proposed action. Comments submitted October 4, 2016. 10(a)(3).
anonymously will be accepted and A copy of the notification will be The open session will be accessible
considered, however. available for public inspection at the via teleconference to 25 participants on
Office of the Executive Secretary, a first come, first served basis. To join
Dated: August 15, 2016.
Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room the conference, submit inquiries to Ms.
Jim Zornes, 21013, U.S. Department of Commerce, Yvette Springer at
Acting Forest Supervisor. 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Yvette.Springer@bis.doc.gov no later
[FR Doc. 2016–20382 Filed 8–24–16; 8:45 am] Washington, DC 20230–0002, and in the than September 8, 2016.
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P ‘‘Reading Room’’ section of the Board’s A limited number of seats will be
Web site, which is accessible via available for the public session.
www.trade.gov/ftz. Reservations are not accepted. To the
For further information, contact Diane extent that time permits, members of the
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Finver at Diane.Finver@trade.gov or public may present oral statements to
Foreign-Trade Zones Board (202) 482–1367. the Committee. The public may submit
Dated: August 18, 2016. written statements at any time before or
[B–55–2016] Andrew McGilvray, after the meeting. However, to facilitate
Executive Secretary. the distribution of public presentation
Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 281—Miami, materials to the Committee members,
[FR Doc. 2016–20327 Filed 8–24–16; 8:45 am]
Florida; Notification of Proposed the Committee suggests that presenters
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
Production Activity Carrier forward the public presentation
InterAmerica Corporation (Heating, materials prior to the meeting to Ms.
Ventilating and Air Conditioning Springer via email.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Systems); Miami, Florida The Assistant Secretary for
Bureau of Industry and Security Administration, with the concurrence of
Miami-Dade County, grantee of FTZ
the delegate of the General Counsel,
281, submitted a notification of President’s Export Council formally determined on March 9, 2016,
proposed production activity to the FTZ Subcommittee on Export pursuant to Section 10(d) of the Federal
Board on behalf of Carrier InterAmerica Administration; Notice of Partially Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5
Corporation (Carrier), located in Miami, Closed Meeting U.S.C. app. 2 § (10)(d)), that the portion
Florida. The notification conforming to
of the meeting dealing with pre-
the requirements of the regulations of The President’s Export Council
decisional changes to the Commerce
the FTZ Board (15 CFR 400.22) was Subcommittee on Export
Control List and U.S. export control
received on August 5, 2016. Administration (PECSEA) will meet on
policies shall be exempt from the
The Carrier facility is located within September 15, 2016, 10:00 a.m., at the
provisions relating to public meetings
Site 3 of FTZ 281. The facility is used U.S. Department of Commerce, Herbert
found in 5 U.S.C. app. 2 §§ 10(a)(1) and
to combine and segregate mini-split and C. Hoover Building, Room 3884, 14th
10(a)(3). The remaining portions of the
multi-split type heating, ventilating, and Street between Pennsylvania and
meeting will be open to the public.
air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Constitution Avenues NW., Washington,
For more information, call Yvette
Pursuant to 15 CFR 400.14(b), FTZ DC The PECSEA provides advice on
Springer at (202) 482–2813.
activity would be limited to the specific matters pertinent to those portions of
foreign-status materials and components the Export Administration Act, as Dated: August 18, 2016.
and specific finished products described amended, that deal with United States Kevin J. Wolf,
in the submitted notification (as policies of encouraging trade with all Assistant Secretary for Export
described below) and subsequently countries with which the United States Administration.
authorized by the FTZ Board. has diplomatic or trading relations and [FR Doc. 2016–20335 Filed 8–24–16; 8:45 am]
Production under FTZ procedures of controlling trade for national security BILLING CODE 3510–JT–P
could exempt Carrier from customs duty and foreign policy reasons.
payments on the foreign-status Agenda
components used in export production. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
On its domestic sales, Carrier would be Open Session
able to choose the duty rates during International Trade Administration
1. Opening remarks by the Chairman
customs entry procedures that apply to and Vice Chairman. President’s Export Council: Meeting of
mini-split and multi-split type HVAC 2. Opening remarks by the Bureau of the President’s Export Council
systems and their component evaporator Industry and Security.
and condensing units (duty rates range 3. Export Control Reform Update. AGENCY:International Trade
from 1% to 2.2%) for the foreign-status 4. Presentation of papers or comments Administration, U.S. Department of
inputs noted below. Customs duties also by the Public. Commerce.
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Document Created: 2016-08-25 00:34:25
Document Modified: 2016-08-25 00:34:25
| 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 September 26, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected in April 2017 and the final environmental impact statement is expected in October 2017. | |
| Contact | Rhonda O'Byrne, Project Manager, at 605-642-4622. 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. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 58470 |
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