82 FR 33041 - Deschutes National Forest; Deschutes and Klamath Counties, Oregon; Ringo Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Forest Plan Amendment

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 137 (July 19, 2017)

The Deschutes National Forest is issuing this notice to advise the public of a 45-day extension to the public comment period on the project-specific Forest Plan amendment proposed in the Ringo Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). This extended 45-day comment period is for the amendment, which includes the substantive provisions and relevant analysis.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33041-33042]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14821]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Deschutes National Forest; Deschutes and Klamath Counties, 
Oregon; Ringo Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Forest 
Plan Amendment

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice to extend the public comment period for the Ringo Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed Forest Plan amendment.

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SUMMARY: The Deschutes National Forest is issuing this notice to advise 
the public of a 45-day extension to the public comment period on the 
project-specific Forest Plan amendment proposed in the Ringo Project 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). This extended 45-day 
comment period is for the amendment, which includes the substantive 
provisions and relevant analysis.

DATES: The comment period ends September 5, 2017. All relevant comments 
received during the extended public comment period related to the 
proposed amendment, including the substantive provisions, will be 
considered in the preparation of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS).

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by any one of the following 
methods:
     Electronic Submissions: Comments can be filed 
electronically at: [email protected]. Electronic comments must be submitted as part of 
the email message or as an attachment in plain text (.txt), Microsoft 
Word (.doc), rich text format (.rtf), or portable document format 
(.pdf). Emails submitted to addresses other than the one listed above, 
or in formats other than those listed or containing viruses, will be 
rejected.
     Mail: Written, specific comments must be submitted to 
Daniel Rife, District Ranger, Crescent Ranger District, at P.O. Box 
208, (136471 Hwy. 97 N.) Crescent, Oregon 97733, or FAX at (541) 433-
3224.

[[Page 33042]]

    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period 
may not be considered by the forest. All comments received are part of 
the public record and will generally be posted for public viewing 
without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, 
address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise 
sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be 
publicly accessible.
    This opportunity for comment applies only to the analysis 
associated with the proposed Forest Plan Amendment. Previously 
submitted comments will be considered and should not be resubmitted. 
Previous commenters will have eligibility to object under 26 CFR 218.5.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Bowles, Project Team Leader, 
Crescent Ranger District, Deschutes National Forest, (541) 433-3200, or 
via email at [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. Electronic copies of the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement may be found on the Forest Service Web 
site at http://data.ecosystem-management.org/nepaweb/nepa_project_exp.php?project=46900.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The original Notice of Availability 
published in the Federal Register on March 17, 2017 (82 FR 14217). The 
2012 Planning Rule, as amended, requires identification in the initial 
notice of the amendment of the substantive provisions that are likely 
to be directly related to the amendment. The Notice of Intent (NOI) did 
not identify the substantive provisions, and the analysis in the DEIS 
did not identify nor address the substantive provisions.
    As identified in the DEIS, the Ringo Project would be exempt from 
the following Standard and Guideline of the 1990 Deschutes Land and 
Resource Management Plan (LRMP):
    Scenic Views, Foreground (M9-90; LRMP p. 4-131), ``Low intensity 
prescribed fires will be used to meet and promote the Desired Visual 
Condition within each stand type. Prescribed fire and other fuel 
management techniques will be used to minimize the hazard of large high 
intensity fire. In foreground areas, prescribed fires will be small, 
normally less than 5 acres and shaped to appear as natural occurrences. 
. . .'' In the Ringo DEIS planning area several of these areas are 
along major access routes in fire-adapted ponderosa pine and mixed 
conifer. This site-specific Forest Plan Amendment will modify 242 acres 
of the Scenic Views, Foreground Standards and Guidelines (M9-90 in 
Scenic Views, LRMP 4-121) to allow an increase in the size of 
prescribed burn units while utilizing underburning to mimic natural 
process and creating a mosaic pattern of burning on the landscape.
    Substantive provisions of 36 CFR 219.8 through 219.11 that apply to 
the proposed amendment for Ringo DEIS Purpose and Need are:
    219.8(a)(1)(v) Wildland fire and opportunities to restore fire 
adapted ecosystems.
    The following two provisions would be applicable to the effects 
from implementing this Forest Plan Amendment.
    219.10(a)(1) Aesthetic values, air quality, cultural and heritage 
resources, ecosystem services, fish and wildlife species, forage, 
geologic features, grazing and rangelands, habitat and habitat 
connectivity, recreation settings and opportunities, riparian areas, 
scenery, soil, surface and subsurface water quality, timber, trails, 
vegetation, viewsheds, wilderness, and other relevant resources and 
uses.
    219.10(a)(7) Reasonably foreseeable risks to ecological, social, 
and economic sustainability.

    Dated: June 23, 2017.
Jeanne M. Higgins,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2017-14821 Filed 7-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P