83_FR_12771 83 FR 12714 - Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Oregon; Powder River Watershed Mining Plans

83 FR 12714 - Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Oregon; Powder River Watershed Mining Plans

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 57 (March 23, 2018)

Page Range12714-12715
FR Document2018-06002

The USDA Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to process and respond to the mining Plans of Operations within the Powder River Watershed submitted to the Whitman Ranger District of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 57 (Friday, March 23, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12714-12715]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06002]


========================================================================
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.

========================================================================


Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 57 / Friday, March 23, 2018 / 
Notices

[[Page 12714]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Oregon; Powder River Watershed 
Mining Plans

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to process and respond to the mining Plans of 
Operations within the Powder River Watershed submitted to the Whitman 
Ranger District of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.

DATES: Written comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be 
received by April 23, 2018. The draft EIS is expected July 2018, and 
the final EIS is expected December 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions to Jeff Tomac, Whitman 
District Ranger, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, 1550 Dewey Ave., 
Suite A, Baker City, OR 97814. Comments may also be sent via email to 
comments-pacificnorthwest-wallowa-whitman-whitmanunit@fs.fed.us.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sophia Millar, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Whitman Ranger District, 1550 
Dewey Ave., Suite A, Baker City, OR 97814, Phone: (541) 263-1735.
    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: Per the General Mining Law of 1872, the 
miner is entitled to conduct operations that are reasonably incident to 
exploration and development of mineral deposits on its mining claims 
pursuant to applicable U.S. laws and regulations and is asserting its 
right under the General Mining Law to develop, mine, and remove the 
mineral deposit subject to regulatory laws.

Purpose and Need

    The purpose and need for action is to (1) respond to the proposed 
Plans of Operations (Plans) to conduct mining activities within the 
Powder River watershed; (2) ensure that the selected alternative, where 
feasible, would minimize adverse environmental impacts on National 
Forest System (NFS) surface resources; and (3) ensure that measures 
would be included that provide for reclamation of the surface 
disturbance.

Proposed Action

    The Powder River Watershed Mining Plans analysis area is located on 
the Whitman Ranger District of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, 
approximately 14 miles southwest of Baker City, Oregon. The decision 
area will cover 22 proposed mining Plans within the Powder River 
Watershed, an analysis area encompassing approximately 126,831 acres of 
NFS lands in Baker County. Typically, each project would disturb and 
reclaim an area of approximately 1-10 acres annually.
    This EIS will evaluate each of the 22 Plans and propose additional 
operational requirements for some or all of the Plans. The final Record 
of Decision (ROD) would identify which Plans will be approved, and any 
specific Plans that require further action prior to Plan approval.
    Once the ROD is signed and issued, reclamation bonds and any 401 
certifications deemed necessary to be consistent with the Clean Water 
Act would be presented to the Forest Service before the Plans are 
approved. PACFISH (which amended the WWNF Forest Plan in 1995) Minerals 
Management standard #1 requires a reclamation plan and reclamation bond 
for mineral operations in riparian habitat conservation areas (RHCAs).

Responsible Official

    The Whitman District Ranger, Jeff Tomac, will be the responsible 
official for making the decision and providing direction for the 
analysis.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The responsible official will decide whether or not to move forward 
with approving specific mining Plans within the Powder River Watershed 
Mining Plans analysis area. The responsible official will also decide 
whether or not to select the proposed action as stated or modified, or 
to select an alternative to it; any mitigation measures needed; and any 
monitoring that may be required.

Preliminary Issues

    The interdisciplinary team has conducted field surveys and data 
research to identify preliminary issues of concern with this proposal. 
The primary concern is the potential for sediment or heavy metal 
discharges into streams from mining operations, potentially impacting 
water quality, and Endangered Species Act-listed bull trout and bull 
trout habitat (pools and temperature). Based on these preliminary 
issues and the level of activity proposed at some sites, there is the 
potential for significant impacts to some resources, therefore an EIS 
fits the scope of this analysis rather than an Environmental 
Assessment.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the EIS. Public participation is especially 
important at several points during the development of the EIS. The 
Forest Service is seeking information, comments, and coordination with 
Federal, State, and local agencies, and tribal governments, individuals 
or organizations who may be interested in or affected by the proposed 
action. The most useful comments to developing or refining the proposed 
action would be site-specific concerns and those that pertain to 
authorizing mining activities within the Powder River Watershed Mining 
Plans analysis area that meet the purpose of and need for action.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of 
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of 
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's 
concerns and contentions.

[[Page 12715]]

    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 and will be available for public inspection.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21).

    Dated: February 16, 2018.
Glenn P. Casamassa,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-06002 Filed 3-22-18; 8:45 am]
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                                             12714

                                             Notices                                                                                                       Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                           Vol. 83, No. 57

                                                                                                                                                           Friday, March 23, 2018



                                             This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    asserting its right under the General                 Nature of Decision To Be Made
                                             contains documents other than rules or                  Mining Law to develop, mine, and
                                             proposed rules that are applicable to the               remove the mineral deposit subject to                   The responsible official will decide
                                             public. Notices of hearings and investigations,         regulatory laws.                                      whether or not to move forward with
                                             committee meetings, agency decisions and                                                                      approving specific mining Plans within
                                             rulings, delegations of authority, filing of            Purpose and Need                                      the Powder River Watershed Mining
                                             petitions and applications and agency                                                                         Plans analysis area. The responsible
                                             statements of organization and functions are               The purpose and need for action is to              official will also decide whether or not
                                             examples of documents appearing in this                 (1) respond to the proposed Plans of                  to select the proposed action as stated
                                             section.                                                Operations (Plans) to conduct mining                  or modified, or to select an alternative
                                                                                                     activities within the Powder River                    to it; any mitigation measures needed;
                                                                                                     watershed; (2) ensure that the selected               and any monitoring that may be
                                             DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                               alternative, where feasible, would                    required.
                                             Forest Service                                          minimize adverse environmental
                                                                                                     impacts on National Forest System                     Preliminary Issues
                                             Wallowa-Whitman National Forest,                        (NFS) surface resources; and (3) ensure                  The interdisciplinary team has
                                             Oregon; Powder River Watershed                          that measures would be included that                  conducted field surveys and data
                                             Mining Plans                                            provide for reclamation of the surface                research to identify preliminary issues
                                                                                                     disturbance.                                          of concern with this proposal. The
                                             AGENCY:Forest Service, USDA.
                                                                                                     Proposed Action                                       primary concern is the potential for
                                             ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an
                                                                                                                                                           sediment or heavy metal discharges into
                                             Environmental Impact Statement.
                                                                                                       The Powder River Watershed Mining                   streams from mining operations,
                                             SUMMARY:    The USDA Forest Service will                Plans analysis area is located on the                 potentially impacting water quality, and
                                             prepare an Environmental Impact                         Whitman Ranger District of the                        Endangered Species Act-listed bull trout
                                             Statement (EIS) to process and respond                  Wallowa-Whitman National Forest,                      and bull trout habitat (pools and
                                             to the mining Plans of Operations                       approximately 14 miles southwest of                   temperature). Based on these
                                             within the Powder River Watershed                       Baker City, Oregon. The decision area                 preliminary issues and the level of
                                             submitted to the Whitman Ranger                         will cover 22 proposed mining Plans                   activity proposed at some sites, there is
                                             District of the Wallowa-Whitman                         within the Powder River Watershed, an                 the potential for significant impacts to
                                             National Forest.                                        analysis area encompassing                            some resources, therefore an EIS fits the
                                             DATES: Written comments concerning                      approximately 126,831 acres of NFS                    scope of this analysis rather than an
                                             the scope of the analysis must be                       lands in Baker County. Typically, each                Environmental Assessment.
                                             received by April 23, 2018. The draft                   project would disturb and reclaim an                  Scoping Process
                                             EIS is expected July 2018, and the final                area of approximately 1–10 acres
                                             EIS is expected December 2018.                          annually.                                               This notice of intent initiates the
                                             ADDRESSES: Send written comments and                      This EIS will evaluate each of the 22               scoping process, which guides the
                                             suggestions to Jeff Tomac, Whitman                      Plans and propose additional                          development of the EIS. Public
                                             District Ranger, Wallowa-Whitman                        operational requirements for some or all              participation is especially important at
                                             National Forest, 1550 Dewey Ave., Suite                 of the Plans. The final Record of                     several points during the development
                                             A, Baker City, OR 97814. Comments                       Decision (ROD) would identify which                   of the EIS. The Forest Service is seeking
                                             may also be sent via email to comments-                 Plans will be approved, and any specific              information, comments, and
                                             pacificnorthwest-wallowa-whitman-                                                                             coordination with Federal, State, and
                                                                                                     Plans that require further action prior to
                                             whitmanunit@fs.fed.us.                                                                                        local agencies, and tribal governments,
                                                                                                     Plan approval.
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                                                              individuals or organizations who may
                                             Sophia Millar, Interdisciplinary Team                     Once the ROD is signed and issued,                  be interested in or affected by the
                                             Leader, Wallowa-Whitman National                        reclamation bonds and any 401                         proposed action. The most useful
                                             Forest, Whitman Ranger District, 1550                   certifications deemed necessary to be                 comments to developing or refining the
                                             Dewey Ave., Suite A, Baker City, OR                     consistent with the Clean Water Act                   proposed action would be site-specific
                                             97814, Phone: (541) 263–1735.                           would be presented to the Forest                      concerns and those that pertain to
                                                Individuals who use                                  Service before the Plans are approved.                authorizing mining activities within the
                                             telecommunication devices for the deaf                  PACFISH (which amended the WWNF                       Powder River Watershed Mining Plans
                                             (TDD) may call the Federal Information                  Forest Plan in 1995) Minerals                         analysis area that meet the purpose of
                                             Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339                  Management standard #1 requires a                     and need for action.
                                             between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern                      reclamation plan and reclamation bond                   It is important that reviewers provide
                                             Time, Monday through Friday.                            for mineral operations in riparian                    their comments at such times and in
                                                                                                     habitat conservation areas (RHCAs).
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                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Per the                                                                            such manner that they are useful to the
                                             General Mining Law of 1872, the miner                   Responsible Official                                  agency’s preparation of the EIS.
                                             is entitled to conduct operations that are                                                                    Therefore, comments should be
                                             reasonably incident to exploration and                    The Whitman District Ranger, Jeff                   provided prior to the close of the
                                             development of mineral deposits on its                  Tomac, will be the responsible official               comment period and should clearly
                                             mining claims pursuant to applicable                    for making the decision and providing                 articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
                                             U.S. laws and regulations and is                        direction for the analysis.                           contentions.


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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 57 / Friday, March 23, 2018 / Notices                                          12715

                                               Comments received in response to                      notwithstanding the inclusion of the                  be recognized and built on to full
                                             this solicitation, including names and                  routine notice.                                       advantage. In addition, stewards
                                             addresses of those who comment, will                       The public may inspect the comments                themselves may not be aware of others
                                             be part of the public record for this                   received at USDA Forest Service, USDA                 doing similar work in their area so there
                                             proposed action and will be available                   Forest Service, NYC Urban Field                       may be lost opportunities for
                                             for public inspection.                                  Station, 431 Walter Reed Rd., Bayside,                collaboration between groups.
                                               Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;                 NY 11359 during normal business                          The purpose of this research is to
                                             Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section                hours. Visitors are encouraged to call                gather information on civic stewardship
                                             21).                                                    ahead to 718–225–3061 to facilitate                   groups and their efforts such as where
                                                                                                     entry to the building. The public may                 they work, the types of projects they
                                               Dated: February 16, 2018.
                                                                                                     request an electronic copy of the draft               focus on, and how they are organize.
                                             Glenn P. Casamassa,                                                                                           This information will be summarized
                                                                                                     supporting statement and/or any
                                             Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest                 comments received be sent via return                  and made publicly available online for
                                             System.                                                                                                       use by policy makers, land managers,
                                                                                                     email. Requests should be emailed to
                                             [FR Doc. 2018–06002 Filed 3–22–18; 8:45 am]                                                                   environmental professionals, the general
                                                                                                     esvendsen@fs.fed.us.
                                             BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
                                                                                                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      public, stewards themselves, and other
                                                                                                     Erika Svendsen at 718–225–3061 x301.                  natural resource management
                                                                                                     Individuals who use telecommunication                 stakeholders.
                                             DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                                                                                        There are three phases to a STEW–
                                                                                                     devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the
                                                                                                                                                           MAP project:
                                             Forest Service                                          Federal Information Relay Service                        • Phase One (Census) is a census of
                                                                                                     (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 twenty-four                  stewardship groups in the target region,
                                             Information Collection: Stewardship                     hours a day, every day of the year,                   generating a master list of known
                                             Mapping and Assessment Project                          including holidays.                                   stewardship groups and their contact
                                             (STEW–MAP)                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            information.
                                             AGENCY:   Forest Service, USDA.                            Title: Information Collection                         • Phase Two (Survey) is a survey
                                                                                                     Clearance for the Stewardship Mapping                 which is distributed to all of the
                                             ACTION:   Notice; request for comment.                  and Assessment Project (STEW–MAP).                    organizations identified in Phase One to
                                             SUMMARY:   In accordance with the                          OMB Number: 0596–0240.                             collect information about what they
                                             Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the                       Type of Request: Renewal.                          work on, how their group is structured,
                                             Forest Service is seeking comments                         Abstract: Local environmental                      where they work, and what other groups
                                             from all interested individuals and                     stewardship groups are essential for                  they collaborate with.
                                             organizations on the renewal of the                     ensuring the vibrancy of natural areas in                • Phase Three (Follow-Up Interviews)
                                             Stewardship Mapping and Assessment                      cities, suburbs, towns, and rural areas,              is follow-up interviews with key
                                             Project (STEW–MAP) information                          including National Forest lands and the               responding organizations identified
                                             collection.                                             surrounding areas. Natural areas                      during Phase Two to collect more
                                                                                                     provide a range of benefits and services              detailed information about the
                                             DATES:  Comments must be received in                    including storm water management, air                 organizations and their histories.
                                             writing on or before May 22, 2018 to be                 pollution removal, urban heat island                     A primary goal of STEW–MAP is to
                                             assured of consideration. Comments                      mitigation, carbon storage, wildlife                  visualize stewardship activities, which
                                             received after that date will be                        habitat, recreation opportunities, stress             can span across the urban to rural
                                             considered to the extent practicable.                   reduction, aesthetic beauty, noise                    landscape. The geographic information
                                             ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this                     reduction, increased property values,                 provided by stewardship groups on the
                                             notice should be addressed to Erika                     and reduced energy use. The work of                   survey (Phase Two) will allow the
                                             Svendsen, USDA Forest Service, NYC                      civic environmental stewards leverages                researchers to do a spatial analysis of
                                             Urban Field Station, 431 Walter Reed                    the efforts of local government officials             where stewardship groups are working,
                                             Rd., Bayside, NY 11359. Comments also                   in maintaining these resources,                       identify ‘‘gaps’’ where little to no
                                             may be submitted by email to                            especially in lean budget times. Civic                stewardship is being done, and provide
                                             esvendsen@fs.fed.us. Please put                         stewardship organizations, including                  locally relevant geographic information
                                             ‘‘Comments re: STEW–MAP’’ in the                        nonprofits, faith-based groups, formal                like what kinds of stewardship groups
                                             subject line. Comments submitted in                     and informal community groups, and                    are working in particular places. This
                                             response to this notice may be made                     coalitions, are often involved in, for                geographic information will be
                                             available to the public through relevant                example, planting trees, organizing                   displayed on maps to show stewards,
                                             websites and upon request. For this                     community gardens, offering                           local land managers, policy makers, and
                                             reason, please do not include in your                   environment-themed classes, engaging                  other interested stakeholders how
                                             comments information of a confidential                  with local officials on behalf of the                 stewardship work is distributed across
                                             nature, such as sensitive personal                      environment, monitoring plants or                     the region with the goal of encouraging
                                             information or proprietary information.                 animals, and cleaning up nearby parks                 collaboration, building innovative
                                             If you send an email comment, your                      or natural areas. People who do this                  partnerships, increasing organizational
                                             email address will be automatically                     work are stewards of their local                      capacities, and generally making
                                             captured and included as part of the                    environments, even if they do not                     stewardship efforts more effective.
                                             comment that is placed in the public                    normally use the word ‘‘steward’’ or                     Information from STEW–MAP will
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                                             docket and made available on the                        think of what they do as ‘‘stewardship.’’             help planners, natural resource decision
                                             internet. Please note that responses to                    The roles of civic environmental                   makers, land managers, and the general
                                             this public comment request containing                  stewards and their levels of engagement               public work across property
                                             any routine notice about the                            and commitment are often not                          jurisdictions, management regimes and
                                             confidentiality of the communication                    understood by land managers and other                 political boundaries to conserve,
                                             will be treated as public comments that                 decision makers. This means that the                  protect, and manage natural resources
                                             may be made available to the public                     valuable services they provide may not                effectively. It will also be used to


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Document Created: 2018-11-01 08:53:57
Document Modified: 2018-11-01 08:53:57
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 of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
DatesWritten comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by April 23, 2018. The draft EIS is expected July 2018, and the final EIS is expected December 2018.
ContactSophia Millar, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Whitman Ranger District, 1550 Dewey Ave., Suite A, Baker City, OR 97814, Phone: (541) 263-1735.
FR Citation83 FR 12714 

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