82_FR_57937 82 FR 57703 - Malheur National Forest, Blue Mountain Ranger District and Umatilla National Forest, North Fork John Day Ranger District; Oregon; Ragged Ruby Project

82 FR 57703 - Malheur National Forest, Blue Mountain Ranger District and Umatilla National Forest, North Fork John Day Ranger District; Oregon; Ragged Ruby Project

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 234 (December 7, 2017)

Page Range57703-57703
FR Document2017-26377

The Malheur National Forest is issuing this notice to advise the public of a 30-day extension to the public scoping period on the project-specific forest plan amendments proposed as part of the Ragged Ruby Project. This extension is for two amendments for connectivity and harvest in late and old structure stands, which includes identification of the applicable planning rule provisions that are likely to be directly related to the amendment.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 234 (Thursday, December 7, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 234 (Thursday, December 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 57703]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26377]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
appearing in this section.

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 234 / Thursday, December 7, 2017 / 
Notices

[[Page 57703]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Malheur National Forest, Blue Mountain Ranger District and 
Umatilla National Forest, North Fork John Day Ranger District; Oregon; 
Ragged Ruby Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice to extend the public scoping period for the Ragged Ruby 
Project for two proposed forest plan amendments.

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SUMMARY: The Malheur National Forest is issuing this notice to advise 
the public of a 30-day extension to the public scoping period on the 
project-specific forest plan amendments proposed as part of the Ragged 
Ruby Project. This extension is for two amendments for connectivity and 
harvest in late and old structure stands, which includes identification 
of the applicable planning rule provisions that are likely to be 
directly related to the amendment.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by January 8, 2018.

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 Dave 
Halemeier, District Ranger, Blue Mountain Ranger District, c/o Sasha 
Fertig, P.O. Box 909, John Day, OR 97845, or FAX at 541-575-3319.
    Instructions: Comments sent by any other method or to any other 
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period 
may not be considered by the Malheur National 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 project-specific 
forest plan amendments described below in the Supplementary Information 
section. 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: Sasha Fertig, NEPA Planner, Blue 
Mountain Ranger District, Malheur National Forest, 541-575-3061 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. The 
full Ragged Ruby Project Scoping Package and Addendum is available on 
the Malheur National Forest Web site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=49392.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The original Ragged Ruby Project Notice of 
Intent (NOI) was published in the Federal Register on March 24, 2017 
(82 FR 15020). 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 (36 CFR 219.8 through 219.11). During project development 
following the original NOI, the project's interdisciplinary team 
identified the need for a project-specific forest plan amendment to the 
Malheur National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (forest 
plan), as amended by the Decision Notice for the Revised Continuation 
of Interim Management Direction Establishing Riparian, Ecosystem and 
Wildlife Standards for Timber Sales (Eastside Screens).
    The original NOI did not identify the need for this amendment to 
the Eastside Screens, Standard 6(d)(3)(a), or the applicable 
substantive provisions. The original NOI also did not identify the 
applicable substantive provisions for the project-specific forest plan 
amendment to the Eastside Screens, Standard 6(d) to allow harvest in 
late and old structure stands.
    Standard 6(d)(3)(a) provides direction to maintain or enhance the 
current level of connectivity between late and old structure (LOS) and 
old growth Management Area 13 (MA13) stands by maintaining connections 
between them as described in the Eastside Screens. This amendment is 
being proposed to allow upland restoration activities that would reduce 
stand density, increase tree spatial heterogeneity, protect old trees, 
and shift species composition to a higher proportion of early seral 
species (e.g., western white pine, western larch, and ponderosa pine), 
limiting the ability to connect all LOS and MA13 stands as directed in 
the Eastside Screens. Wildlife corridors would be provided between all 
MA13 stands, some LOS stands, and to adjacent watersheds; however, not 
all LOS stands would be connected due to LOS stand sizes and position 
on the landscape.
    The updated information described in this notice is provided in the 
Ragged Ruby Project Scoping Package Addendum, now available on the 
Forest's Web site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=49392.

    Dated: Novmeber 16, 2017.
Chris French,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2017-26377 Filed 12-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

57703 Notices Federal Register Vol. 82, No. 234 Thursday, December 7, 2017 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER John Day, OR 97845, or FAX at 541– Ecosystem and Wildlife Standards for contains documents other than rules or 575–3319. Timber Sales (Eastside Screens). proposed rules that are applicable to the Instructions: Comments sent by any The original NOI did not identify the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, need for this amendment to the Eastside other method or to any other address or committee meetings, agency decisions and Screens, Standard 6(d)(3)(a), or the rulings, delegations of authority, filing of individual, or received after the end of petitions and applications and agency the comment period may not be applicable substantive provisions. The statements of organization and functions are considered by the Malheur National original NOI also did not identify the examples of documents appearing in this Forest. All comments received are part applicable substantive provisions for the section. of the public record and will generally project-specific forest plan amendment be posted for public viewing without to the Eastside Screens, Standard 6(d) to change. All personal identifying allow harvest in late and old structure DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE information (e.g., name, address, etc.), stands. confidential business information, or Standard 6(d)(3)(a) provides direction Forest Service otherwise sensitive information to maintain or enhance the current level submitted voluntarily by the sender will of connectivity between late and old Malheur National Forest, Blue structure (LOS) and old growth Mountain Ranger District and Umatilla be publicly accessible. This opportunity for comment applies Management Area 13 (MA13) stands by National Forest, North Fork John Day maintaining connections between them Ranger District; Oregon; Ragged Ruby only to the project-specific forest plan amendments described below in the as described in the Eastside Screens. Project SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. This amendment is being proposed to AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. Previously submitted comments will be allow upland restoration activities that ACTION: Notice to extend the public considered and should not be would reduce stand density, increase scoping period for the Ragged Ruby resubmitted. Previous commenters will tree spatial heterogeneity, protect old Project for two proposed forest plan have eligibility to object under 26 CFR trees, and shift species composition to a amendments. 218.5. higher proportion of early seral species (e.g., western white pine, western larch, SUMMARY: The Malheur National Forest FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: and ponderosa pine), limiting the ability is issuing this notice to advise the Sasha Fertig, NEPA Planner, Blue to connect all LOS and MA13 stands as public of a 30-day extension to the Mountain Ranger District, Malheur directed in the Eastside Screens. public scoping period on the project- National Forest, 541–575–3061 or Wildlife corridors would be provided specific forest plan amendments sashafertig@fs.fed.us. between all MA13 stands, some LOS proposed as part of the Ragged Ruby Individuals who use stands, and to adjacent watersheds; Project. This extension is for two telecommunication devices for the deaf however, not all LOS stands would be amendments for connectivity and (TDD) may call the Federal Information connected due to LOS stand sizes and harvest in late and old structure stands, Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 position on the landscape. which includes identification of the between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern The updated information described in applicable planning rule provisions that Time, Monday through Friday. The full this notice is provided in the Ragged are likely to be directly related to the Ragged Ruby Project Scoping Package Ruby Project Scoping Package amendment. and Addendum is available on the Addendum, now available on the DATES: Comments concerning the scope Malheur National Forest Web site: Forest’s Web site: https:// of the analysis must be received by https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/ www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project= January 8, 2018. ?project=49392. 49392. ADDRESSES: Comments may be SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Dated: Novmeber 16, 2017. submitted by any one of the following original Ragged Ruby Project Notice of Chris French, methods: Intent (NOI) was published in the Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest • Electronic Submissions: Comments Federal Register on March 24, 2017 (82 System. can be filed electronically at: comments- FR 15020). The 2012 Planning Rule, as [FR Doc. 2017–26377 Filed 12–6–17; 8:45 am] pacificnorthwest-malheur- amended, requires identification in the BILLING CODE 3411–15–P bluemountain@fs.fed.us. Electronic initial notice of the amendment of the comments must be submitted as part of substantive provisions that are likely to the email message or as an attachment be directly related to the amendment (36 in plain text (.txt), Microsoft Word CFR 219.8 through 219.11). During COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS (.doc), rich text format (.rtf), or portable project development following the Notice of Public Meetings of the document format (.pdf). Emails original NOI, the project’s Arkansas Advisory Committee to the interdisciplinary team identified the sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES submitted to addresses other than the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights one listed above, or in formats other need for a project-specific forest plan than those listed or containing viruses, amendment to the Malheur National AGENCY: U.S. Commission on Civil will be rejected. Forest Land and Resource Management Rights. • Mail: Written, specific comments Plan (forest plan), as amended by the ACTION: Announcement of meeting. must be submitted to Dave Halemeier, Decision Notice for the Revised District Ranger, Blue Mountain Ranger Continuation of Interim Management SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given, District, c/o Sasha Fertig, P.O. Box 909, Direction Establishing Riparian, pursuant to the provisions of the rules VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:50 Dec 06, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07DEN1.SGM 07DEN1


Document Created: 2017-12-07 00:34:35
Document Modified: 2017-12-07 00:34:35
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice to extend the public scoping period for the Ragged Ruby Project for two proposed forest plan amendments.
DatesComments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by January 8, 2018.
ContactSasha Fertig, NEPA Planner, Blue Mountain Ranger District, Malheur National Forest, 541-575-3061 or [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 57703 
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