81 FR 58910 - Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; Okanogan, Chelan and Skagit Counties, Washington; Pack Stock Outfitter Guide Special Use Permits Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 166 (August 26, 2016)

Notice is hereby given that the USDA, Forest Service will prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to update and correct the Pack and Saddle Stock Outfitter-Guide Special Use Permit Issuance Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The Notice of Availability for the FEIS was published on March 8, 2013 (FR Vol. 78, No. 46, 15011). The Record of Decision for the FEIS was withdrawn in June 2013, after appeals were filed, and Regional Office review found portions of the analysis needed correction. The Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement will evaluate a modification of FEIS Alternative 4 and make other corrections to provide pack stock outfitter and guide services on the Methow Valley, Chelan and Tonasket Ranger Districts of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 166 (Friday, August 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58910-58911]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20487]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; Okanogan, Chelan and Skagit 
Counties, Washington; Pack Stock Outfitter Guide Special Use Permits 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a supplement to a final 
environmental impact statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the USDA, Forest Service will 
prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to update 
and correct the Pack and Saddle Stock Outfitter-Guide Special Use 
Permit Issuance Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). The Notice 
of Availability for the FEIS was published on March 8, 2013 (FR Vol. 
78, No. 46, 15011). The Record of Decision for the FEIS was withdrawn 
in June 2013, after appeals were filed, and Regional Office review 
found portions of the analysis needed correction. The Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement will evaluate a modification of FEIS 
Alternative 4 and make other corrections to provide pack stock 
outfitter and guide services on the Methow Valley, Chelan and Tonasket 
Ranger Districts of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

DATES: The draft supplemental environmental impact statement is 
expected in October 2016 and the final supplemental environmental 
impact statement is expected February 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Zbyszewski, Project Team 
Leader, Methow Valley Ranger District, Okanogan-Wenatchee National 
Forest, (509) 996-4021, [email protected], or Paul Willard, 
Recreation Program Manager, Chelan Ranger District, Okanogan-Wenatchee 
National Forest, (509)682-4960, [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: Scoping is not required for supplements to 
environmental impact statements [40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4)] and will not be 
conducted because of the limited nature of the additional analysis 
needed.
    The SEIS will be modified based on a new 2016 Needs Assessment and 
Extent Necessary Determination; the 2012 Needs Assessment was revised 
to more accurately calculate the extent of

[[Page 58911]]

commercial services necessary in wilderness. FEIS Alternative 4 was 
modified to reduce the service days available in the Pasayten 
Wilderness to 1,640, and in the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth to 737 based on 
the 2016 Needs Assessment. The SEIS will also supplement, clarify, and 
update other information in the FEIS.
    The Responsible Official is Michael R. Williams, Forest Supervisor, 
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA 
98801.
    The Responsible Official will decide whether or not to issue term 
permits to the outfitters described in the proposed action presented in 
the FEIS and SEIS based on one or a combination of alternatives in the 
FEIS and/or SEIS. He will also decide what, if any, mitigation measures 
and monitoring are needed. The criteria that will be used to select 
among the alternatives are: (1) To what extent each alternative 
responds to applications for special use permits in a manner that 
provides stability to outfitter-guide businesses to allow financial 
commitments necessary to continue to provide public service; (2) the 
extent to which each alternative meets the minimum extent necessary for 
commercial services in Wilderness, to provide for wilderness 
appropriate activiteis, and protect wilderness character while 
providing pack and saddle stock outfitter-guide commercial services in 
the Pasayten and Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness areas; (3) the extent 
to which each alternative adesignates an amount of campsite barren core 
in wilderness used by the pack and saddle stock outfitter-guide that is 
compatible with party size, and (4) the effects of each alternative on 
the environment, particularly those aspects of the environment 
identified as Significant Issues.
    In the final SEIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to 
comments and responses received during the comment period that pertain 
to the environmental consequences discussed in the draft SEIS and 
applicable laws, regulations, and policies considered in making a 
decision regarding the proposal. The Forest Supervisor for the 
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest will be the Federal responsible 
official for this SEIS. The new Record of Decision will be based on 
both the FEIS and SEIS, and the Forest Supervisor's decision will be 
subject to objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218.

    Dated: August 19, 2016.
Michael R. Williams,
Forest Supervisor, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2016-20487 Filed 8-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P