82 FR 55346 - Idaho and Southwestern Montana (Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Boise, Caribou-Targhee, Salmon-Challis, and Sawtooth National Forests and Curlew National Grassland); Nevada (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest); Utah (Ashley, Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-La Sal, and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests); Wyoming (Bridger-Teton National Forest); and Wyoming/Colorado (Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grassland); Amendments to Land Management Plans for Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 223 (November 21, 2017)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 223 (November 21, 2017)
| Page Range | 55346-55347 | |
| FR Document | 2017-25112 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 21, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 55346-55347] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-25112] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Idaho and Southwestern Montana (Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Boise, Caribou-Targhee, Salmon-Challis, and Sawtooth National Forests and Curlew National Grassland); Nevada (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest); Utah (Ashley, Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-La Sal, and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forests); Wyoming (Bridger-Teton National Forest); and Wyoming/Colorado (Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and Thunder Basin National Grassland); Amendments to Land Management Plans for Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice initiates the scoping process to solicit public comments on greater sage-grouse land management issues that could warrant land management plan amendments. Land management plans for National Forests in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming were amended in September 2015 to incorporate conservation measures to support the continued existence of the greater sage-grouse. New issues have been identified since 2015. The Forest Service intends to work cooperatively with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to address these issues and others to be identified through this scoping process. This notice also identifies the planning rule provisions likely to be directly related, and so applicable, to plan amendments that may be proposed. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by January 5, 2018. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Sage-grouse Amendment Comment, USDA Forest Service Intermountain Region, Federal Building, 324 25th Street, Ogden, UT 84401. Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to 801-625-5277. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Shivik at 801-625-5667 or email [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: On March 31, 2017, the United States District Court for the District of Nevada held that the Forest Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by failing to provide the public with enough information to meaningfully participate in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process in the Nevada and Northeastern California Greater Sage-grouse Land Management Plan Amendment in Nevada. Specifically, the agencies designated Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs) between the draft and final Environmental Impact Statements. The court remanded the Records of Decision to the agencies to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Western Exploration, LLC v. U.S. Dept. of Interior, 250 F.Supp.3d 718, 750-751. Similar claims were raised in other, pending lawsuits. In order to comply with the court and to address issues identified by the BLM, the states, and various interested parties, the Forest Service is considering the possibility of amending some, all, or none of the Forest Service land management plans that were amended in 2015 regarding greater sage-grouse conservation in the states of Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah and Montana (``2015 Sage-Grouse Plans''). The Forest Service seeks comment on certain parts of the 2015 Sage- Grouse Plans that have been preliminarily identified, but also seeks input on other related issues. The specific topics already identified for consideration include: SFA designations; mitigation standards; disturbance and density caps; modification of habitat boundaries to reflect new information; variance of management approaches within Priority Habitat Management Areas and General Habitat Management Areas; causal factors; adaptive management; the land [[Page 55347]] use exemptions process; and grazing guidelines. The Forest Service coordinated with the Sage Grouse Task Force and the BLM to identify the preliminary issues with current plan direction. The Forest Service intends to continue to work as a cooperating agency with the BLM in their planning process. This notice and the potential planning effort do not preclude the Forest Service from addressing issues through other means, including policy, training, or administrative changes, nor does it commit the Forest Service to amending some, all, or none of the greater sage-grouse plans. If the Forest Service amends land management plans, we hereby give notice that substantive requirements of the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219) likely to be directly related, and therefore applicable, to the amendments are in sections 219.8(b) (social and economic sustainability), 219.9 (diversity of plant and animal communities), and 219.10(a)(1) (integrated resource management). In addition to requesting comment on the topics identified in this notice, the Forest Service requests input on whether, if it undertakes plan amendments, the planning effort should occur on a regional, state- by-state, or forest-by-forest basis. In particular, the Forest Service looks forward to receiving the comments of the governors of each affected State. Lead and Cooperating Agencies If any further analysis and associated decision documents are completed, the Forest Service will be the lead agency, but will invite the BLM to act as a cooperating agency. The Forest Service will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other policies. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the proposed action, are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be asked by the Forest Service to participate in the development of the environmental analysis as a cooperating agency. The public is encouraged to help identify any issues, management questions, or concerns that should be addressed in plan amendment(s) or policy or administrative action. The Forest Service will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management direction that is best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns. The Forest Service will use an interdisciplinary approach as it considers the variety of resource issues and concerns. Dated: November 13, 2017. Jeanne M. Higgins, Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System. [FR Doc. 2017-25112 Filed 11-20-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
![55346 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 21, 2017 / Notices
Horses and Burros Act (16 U.S.C. 1331– the quality, utility, and clarity of the DATES: Comments concerning the scope
1340), as amended, and 36 CFR 222.60. information to be collected; and (4) of the analysis must be received by
The Forest Service gathers information ways to minimize the burden of the January 5, 2018.
from applicants intending to adopt a collection of information on ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
wild horse and/or burro, and issues a respondents, including the use of Sage-grouse Amendment Comment,
certificate of title related to the automated, electronic, mechanical, or USDA Forest Service Intermountain
adoption. The application form provides other technological collection Region, Federal Building, 324 25th
the Forest Service information including techniques or other forms of information Street, Ogden, UT 84401. Comments
the: technology. may also be sent via email to comments-
(a) Applicant’s name, address, contact All comments received in response to intermtn-regional-office@fs.fed.us, or via
information, history of adoption, and this notice, including names and facsimile to 801–625–5277.
care facility, addresses when provided, will be a FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
(b) Description of horse and/or burro matter of public record. Comments will Shivik at 801–625–5667 or email
to be adopted, be summarized and included in the johnashivik@fs.fed.us.
(c) Veterinarian certification that submission request toward Office of Individuals who use
animals, prior to issuing certificate of Management and Budget approval. telecommunication devices for the deaf
title, are in good condition and Dated: November 6, 2017. (TDD) may call the Federal Information
receiving proper care and treatment Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
Glenn Casamassa,
under humane conditions, and between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
(d) Ability to care for animals, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
System. Time, Monday through Friday.
transportation, fencing, and intended
[FR Doc. 2017–25116 Filed 11–20–17; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March
use.
The information will be collected BILLING CODE 3411–15–P 31, 2017, the United States District
from those who wish to adopt and Court for the District of Nevada held
obtain title to the wild horses and that the Forest Service violated the
burros. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Environmental Policy Act
Applicants will fill out the required (NEPA) by failing to provide the public
Forest Service with enough information to
form in person and submit it to the
Forest Service representative meaningfully participate in the
Idaho and Southwestern Montana Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
administering the wild horse and burro (Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Boise,
program. The Forest Service process in the Nevada and Northeastern
Caribou-Targhee, Salmon-Challis, and California Greater Sage-grouse Land
representative will review the form and Sawtooth National Forests and Curlew
determine whether the applicant Management Plan Amendment in
National Grassland); Nevada Nevada. Specifically, the agencies
understands the terms of adoption and (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest);
prohibited acts, has been in compliance designated Sagebrush Focal Areas
Utah (Ashley, Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-La (SFAs) between the draft and final
with the adoption agreement, and will Sal, and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National
provide or has provided humane Environmental Impact Statements. The
Forests); Wyoming (Bridger-Teton court remanded the Records of Decision
treatment, care, and maintenance for the National Forest); and Wyoming/
animal while in their care. to the agencies to prepare a
Colorado (Medicine Bow-Routt Supplemental Environmental Impact
Without the information from these National Forest and Thunder Basin
application forms, the Forest Service Statement. Western Exploration, LLC v.
National Grassland); Amendments to U.S. Dept. of Interior, 250 F.Supp.3d
will not be able to provide the oversight Land Management Plans for Greater
required to administer the wild horse 718, 750–751. Similar claims were
Sage-Grouse Conservation raised in other, pending lawsuits.
and burro program as authorized and
regulated by law. AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. In order to comply with the court and
Type of Respondents: Individuals, ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an to address issues identified by the BLM,
private businesses, state governments, environmental impact statement. the states, and various interested
tribal governments. parties, the Forest Service is considering
Estimated Annual Number of SUMMARY: This notice initiates the the possibility of amending some, all, or
Respondents: 400. scoping process to solicit public none of the Forest Service land
Estimate of Burden Hours per comments on greater sage-grouse land management plans that were amended
Response: 0.50 hours. management issues that could warrant in 2015 regarding greater sage-grouse
Estimated Annual Number of land management plan amendments. conservation in the states of Colorado,
Responses per Respondent: 1. Land management plans for National Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah and
Estimated Total Annual Burden Forests in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Montana (‘‘2015 Sage-Grouse Plans’’).
Hours on Respondents: 200 Hours. Utah, Colorado and Wyoming were The Forest Service seeks comment on
amended in September 2015 to certain parts of the 2015 Sage-Grouse
Comment Is Invited incorporate conservation measures to Plans that have been preliminarily
Comment is invited on: (1) Whether support the continued existence of the identified, but also seeks input on other
this collection of information is greater sage-grouse. New issues have related issues. The specific topics
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
necessary for the stated purposes and been identified since 2015. The Forest already identified for consideration
the proper performance of the functions Service intends to work cooperatively include: SFA designations; mitigation
of the agency, including whether the with the Bureau of Land Management standards; disturbance and density caps;
information will have practical or (BLM) to address these issues and others modification of habitat boundaries to
scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the to be identified through this scoping reflect new information; variance of
agency’s estimate of the burden of the process. This notice also identifies the management approaches within Priority
collection of information, including the planning rule provisions likely to be Habitat Management Areas and General
validity of the methodology and directly related, and so applicable, to Habitat Management Areas; causal
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance plan amendments that may be proposed. factors; adaptive management; the land
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 21, 2017 / Notices 55347
use exemptions process; and grazing considers the variety of resource issues and contractors must have access to
guidelines. and concerns. NFC to perform their duties.
The Forest Service coordinated with Dated: November 13, 2017. The Forest Service uses an electronic
the Sage Grouse Task Force and the form FS–6500–214, Financial
Jeanne M. Higgins,
BLM to identify the preliminary issues Information Security Request Form, to
with current plan direction. The Forest Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National apply to NFC for access for a specific
Forest System.
Service intends to continue to work as employee or contractor. Due to program
[FR Doc. 2017–25112 Filed 11–20–17; 8:45 am]
a cooperating agency with the BLM in management decisions and budget
their planning process. This notice and BILLING CODE 3411–15–P constraints, it has been determined that
the potential planning effort do not contractors will need to complete and
preclude the Forest Service from submit the form.
addressing issues through other means, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE The contractor and the Forest Service
including policy, training, or systems provide the information
Forest Service
administrative changes, nor does it necessary to complete form FS–6500–
commit the Forest Service to amending Information Collection; Financial 214. The contractor verifies completion
some, all, or none of the greater sage- Information Security Request Form of two courses within the last year:
grouse plans. Privacy Act Basics and IT (Information
If the Forest Service amends land AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. Technology) Security. The contractor
management plans, we hereby give ACTION: Notice; request for comment. then enters their short name assigned by
notice that substantive requirements of the Forest Service. Using the short
the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219) SUMMARY: In accordance with the name, the screen is populated with
likely to be directly related, and Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the information that the contractor can
therefore applicable, to the amendments Forest Service is seeking comments change if incorrect. The information
are in sections 219.8(b) (social and from all interested individuals and includes: Name, work email, work
economic sustainability), 219.9 organizations on the extension of a telephone number, and job title. The
(diversity of plant and animal currently approved information contractor checks the box for a non-
communities), and 219.10(a)(1) collection; Financial Information federal employee and provides the
(integrated resource management). Security Request Form (0596–0204). expiration date of the contract. The
In addition to requesting comment on DATES: Comments must be received in contractor then selects the databases
the topics identified in this notice, the writing on or before January 22, 2018 to and actions needed. Based on the
Forest Service requests input on be assured of consideration. Comments database(s) selected, the contractor
whether, if it undertakes plan received after that date will be provides additional information
amendments, the planning effort should considered to the extent practicable. regarding the financial systems, work
occur on a regional, state-by-state, or ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this location, access scope, etc. Once the
forest-by-forest basis. In particular, the notice should be addressed to USDA- form is submitted to the client security
Forest Service looks forward to Forest Service, Attn: Rico Clarke, officer, a one-page agreement
receiving the comments of the governors Financial Policy, Sidney Yates Federal automatically prints, which the
of each affected State. Building: 201 14th St. SW., Washington, contractor and client security officer
Lead and Cooperating Agencies DC 20250. Comments also may be sign. The agreement is a certification
submitted via email to: rclarke@ statement that acknowledges the
If any further analysis and associated contractor’s recognition of the sensitive
fs.fed.us. The public may inspect
decision documents are completed, the nature of the information and agrees to
comments received at the above address
Forest Service will be the lead agency, use the information only for authorized
during normal business hours. Visitors
but will invite the BLM to act as a purposes. The information collected is
are encouraged to call ahead to (703)
cooperating agency. The Forest Service shared with those managing or
605–4938 to facilitate entry to the
will consult with Indian tribes on a overseeing the financial systems used by
building.
government-to-government basis in the Forest Service, this includes
accordance with Executive Order 13175 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rico
auditors.
and other policies. Federal, State, and Clarke, Director of Financial Policy, Estimate of Annual Burden: 10
local agencies, along with tribes and (703) 605–4938. Individuals who use minutes.
other stakeholders that may be telecommunications for the deaf (TDD) Type of Respondents: Contracted
interested in or affected by the proposed may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) employees.
action, are invited to participate in the at (800) 877–8339, between 8 a.m. and Estimated Annual Number of
scoping process and, if eligible, may 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday Respondents: 9,549.
request or be asked by the Forest Service through Friday. Estimated Annual Number of
to participate in the development of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Responses per Respondent: 3.
environmental analysis as a cooperating Title: Financial Information Security Estimated Total Annual Burden on
agency. Request Form. Respondents: 4,774 hours.
The public is encouraged to help OMB Number: 0596–0204. Comment is invited on: (1) Whether
identify any issues, management Expiration Date of Approval: 02/28/ this collection of information is
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
questions, or concerns that should be 18. necessary for the stated purposes and
addressed in plan amendment(s) or Type of Request: Extension without the proper performance of the functions
policy or administrative action. The Revision. of the Agency, including whether the
Forest Service will work collaboratively Abstract: The majority of the Forest information will have practical or
with interested parties to identify the Service’s financial records are in scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the
management direction that is best suited databases stored at the National Finance Agency’s estimate of the burden of the
to local, regional, and national needs Center (NFC). The Forest Service uses collection of information, including the
and concerns. The Forest Service will employees and contractors to maintain validity of the methodology and
use an interdisciplinary approach as it these financial records. The employees assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
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Document Created: 2017-11-21 00:43:13
Document Modified: 2017-11-21 00:43:13
| 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 January 5, 2018. | |
| Contact | John Shivik at 801-625-5667 or email [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 55346 |
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