83 FR 28608 - Idaho (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 83, Issue 119 (June 20, 2018)

Page Range		28608-28610
FR Document		2018-13260

This supplemental notice solicits public comments on a greater sage-grouse land management proposed action that could warrant land management plan amendments. Land management plans for National Forests and Grasslands 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. Since the plans were amended in 2015, scoping on specific issues was requested in a Notice of Intent (NOI) published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2017 (82 FR 55346). This supplemental NOI continues the scoping effort by seeking comments about a proposed action to make further amendments to the plans. This supplemental NOI also identifies the planning rule provisions likely to be directly related, and so applicable, to proposed plan amendments.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28608-28610]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13260]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Idaho (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: Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement; Notice of Updated Information Concerning the Forest
Service Greater Sage-Grouse Land and Resource Management Plan
Amendments

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SUMMARY: This supplemental notice solicits public comments on a greater
sage-grouse land management proposed action that could warrant land
management plan amendments. Land management plans for National Forests

[[Page 28609]]

and Grasslands 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. Since the
plans were amended in 2015, scoping on specific issues was requested in
a Notice of Intent (NOI) published in the Federal Register on November
21, 2017 (82 FR 55346). This supplemental NOI continues the scoping
effort by seeking comments about a proposed action to make further
amendments to the plans. This supplemental NOI also identifies the
planning rule provisions likely to be directly related, and so
applicable, to proposed plan amendments.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by July 20, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Please submit comments via one of the following methods:
1. Public participation portal (preferred): https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?project=52904.
2. Mail: Sage-grouse Amendment Comment, USDA Forest Service
Intermountain Region, Federal Building, 324 25th Street, Ogden, UT
84401.
3. Email: comments-intermtn-regional-office@fs.fed.us.
4. Facsimile: 801-625-5277.
All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are
placed in the record and are available for public inspection and
copying. The public may inspect comments received online via the public
reading room at: https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ReadingRoom?project=52904.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Shivik at 801-625-5667 or email
johnashivik@fs.fed.us. Individuals who use telecommunication devices
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time,
Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service is proposing to amend 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 Greater Sage-Grouse
Plans). This notice clarifies the purpose and need, proposed action,
and the responsible officials, which were not identified in the scoping
on specific issues that were requested in a Notice of Intent published
in the Federal Register on November 21, 2017 (2017 NOI). The Forest
Service is proposing amendments to land management plans that were
amended in 2015.
We hereby give notice that substantive requirements of the 2012
Planning Rule (36 CFR 219) that are likely to be directly related, and
therefore applicable, to the amendments are in sections 219.8 (a) and
(b) (ecological and social and economic sustainability), 219.9
(diversity of plant and animal communities), and 219.10(a) (integrated
resource management for ecosystem services and multiple use).

Preliminary Issues

In the 2017 NOI, the Forest Service requested public input on the
2015 Greater Sage-grouse plan amendments. A summary of comments can be
found here on the Intermountain Region home page: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r4/home/?cid=stelprd3843381. Public input helped
the Forest Service to identify preliminary issues which led to the
development of a purpose and need and proposed action for benefiting
sage-grouse on the landscape scale. The topics identified during that
scoping process were: Adaptive management, allowable land uses,
disturbance caps, the Endangered Species Act, fire management and
invasive species, habitat mapping, habitat objectives, lek buffers,
livestock grazing, mitigation, noise limitations, population
management, predation, required design features, role of science,
sagebrush focal areas, socioeconomics, and wild horses and burros.

Purpose and Need

The Forest Service published the 2017 NOI to consider the
possibility of amending land management plans for greater sage-grouse
that were originally amended in 2015 in the states of Colorado, Idaho,
Nevada, Wyoming, Utah and Montana (2015 Sage-Grouse Plan Amendments).
The need for further plan amendments is that the Forest Service has
gained new information and understanding from the 55,000 comments
received as a result of the 2017 NOI, within-agency scoping, and from
coordination with the Sage Grouse Task Force (with members from state
agencies, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service and the
Natural Resources Conservation Service). The purpose of the proposed
action is to incorporate new information to improve the clarity,
efficiency, and implementation of greater sage-grouse plans, including
better alignment with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and state
plans, in order to benefit greater sage-grouse conservation on the
landscape scale.

Proposed Action

The scope and scale of the proposed action is on 6.1 million acres
of greater sage-grouse habitat on National Forest System lands in the
Intermountain, Northern, and Rocky Mountain Regions. Specific textual
adjustments currently under consideration can be found on the
Intermountain Region home page: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r4/home/?cid=stelprd3843381.
In summary, proposed actions are:
(1) In order to streamline plans in accordance with BLM and Forest
Service (FS) policy, the subset of priority habitat management areas
designated as sagebrush focal areas will be eliminated, as will the use
of mineral withdrawals in FS plans, in accordance with the limits of FS
authority.
(2) Text will be edited to correct minor clerical errors, for
clarity, and to reduce redundancy within the plan and as related to
national policy.
(3) In order to clarify plan direction, when restrictions on
minerals developments are required, specific requirements (i.e.,
stipulations) on habitat disturbing activities will be inserted.
(4) In order to streamline the plans in accordance with FS and BLM
policy, where exceptions to restrictions on minerals development are
allowed, the details, requirements, and process of making the
exceptions will be revised.
(5) Updated information will be incorporated to revise mapped
habitat management areas, and the purpose and use of habitat management
area maps will be clarified.
(6) Livestock management guidelines will be revised to remove
restrictions on water development and to replace specific grass-height
requirements with standardized use of the habitat assessment framework
in order to better reflect current research and to align local
management with local habitat conditions.
(7) Because invasive plants are a primary threat to the sagebrush
ecosystem and greater sage-grouse, invasive plant management will be
further emphasized by adding a plan component that stresses treatment
of invasive plants in priority habitat management areas.
(8) In order to promote landscape-scale effectiveness, text within
the adaptive management framework will be revised to align the FS
framework with BLM and state-based adaptive management systems.
(9) Plan components will be altered to focus protections for
greater sage-grouse in priority habitat management areas in order to
better incentivize habitat

[[Page 28610]]

disturbance to areas outside of priority habitat management areas.
(10) Text within the compensatory mitigation framework, including
the use of no net loss or net conservation gain elements, will be
revised in order to promote landscape-scale effectiveness by aligning
the FS framework with BLM and state-based compensatory mitigation
systems.

Scoping Process

The Forest Service is proposing amendments to 20 land management
plans to change some of the plan components added to those plans in
2015. Public involvement is important for adding meaningful
participation from the early phases of planning through finalization of
the plan amendments and subsequent monitoring. A public participation
strategy has been designed to assist with communication within the
Forest Service and between the Forest Service and the public. Find the
strategy here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r4/home/?cid=stelprd3843381.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

If any further analysis and associated decision documents for the
Forest Service plan amendments are completed, then the Forest Service
will be the lead agency. Other 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. If eligible, they may request or be asked by the
Forest Service to participate in the development of the environmental
analysis 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.

Responsible Officials

The responsible officials who would approve plan amendments are the
Regional Foresters for the Intermountain, Rocky Mountain, and Northern
Regions.

Request for Comment

The public is encouraged to comment on the proposed action in this
notice. The Forest Service will use an interdisciplinary approach as it
considers the variety of resource issues and concerns.
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. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide
the Agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent
environmental documents.

Dated: June 12, 2018.
Glen Casamassa,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-13260 Filed 6-19-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

28610 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 119 / Wednesday, June 20, 2018 / Notices

disturbance to areas outside of priority considered; however, anonymous from the Agency, as long as such
habitat management areas. comments will not provide the Agency requests are made prior to July 5, 2018.
(10) Text within the compensatory with the ability to provide the The Agency will not solicit or consider
mitigation framework, including the use respondent with subsequent scoring or eligibility information that is
of no net loss or net conservation gain environmental documents. submitted after the application
elements, will be revised in order to Dated: June 12, 2018. deadline. The Agency reserves the right
promote landscape-scale effectiveness to contact applications to seek
Glen Casamassa,
by aligning the FS framework with BLM clarification information on materials
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
and state-based compensatory System. contained in the submitted application.
mitigation systems. ADDRESSES: Submit applications to the
[FR Doc. 2018–13260 Filed 6–19–18; 8:45 am]
Scoping Process BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
following addresses:
1. Electronic applications: http://
The Forest Service is proposing www.grants.gov/. Submit electronic
amendments to 20 land management applications through Grants.gov,
plans to change some of the plan DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
following the instructions on that
components added to those plans in Rural Utilities Service website.
2015. Public involvement is important 2. Paper applications: Water Programs
for adding meaningful participation Announcement of Grant Application Division, United States Department of
from the early phases of planning Deadlines and Funding Levels Agriculture, Rural Development, Rural
through finalization of the plan Utilities Service, STOP: 1570, Room
amendments and subsequent AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice of Funds Availability
ACTION:
2233–S, 1400 Independence Avenue
monitoring. A public participation SW, Washington, DC 20250–1570.
strategy has been designed to assist with (NOFA).
Obtain application guides and
communication within the Forest materials for the HWWS Grant Program
SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service
Service and between the Forest Service electronically or in paper format from
(RUS) announces its Household Water
and the public. Find the strategy here: the following addresses:
Well System (HWWS) Grant Program
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r4/ 1. Electronic copies: http://
funds availability and solicitation of
home/?cid=stelprd3843381. www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/
applications application window for
Lead and Cooperating Agencies fiscal year (FY) 2018. RUS will make household-water-well-system-grants;
If any further analysis and associated available $993,000 in grant funds to 2. Paper copies: U.S. Department of
decision documents for the Forest qualified private non-profit Agriculture, Rural Development, Rural
Service plan amendments are organizations to establish lending Utilities Service, Water and
completed, then the Forest Service will programs for homeowners to borrow up Environmental Programs STOP: 1570,
be the lead agency. Other federal, State, to $11,000 to construct or repair Room 2233–S, 1400 Independence
and local agencies, along with tribes and household water wells for an existing Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250–
other stakeholders that may be home. The HWWS Grant Program is 1570 or call (202) 720–9583.
interested in or affected by the proposed authorized under 7 U.S.C. 1926e. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
action are invited to participate in the Regulations may be found at 7 CFR part Derek Jones, Community Programs
scoping process. If eligible, they may 1776. The Agency encourages Specialist, Water and Environmental
request or be asked by the Forest Service applications that will support Programs, Rural Utilities Service, Rural
to participate in the development of the recommendations made in the Rural Development, U.S. Department of
environmental analysis as a cooperating Prosperity Task Force report to help Agriculture, STOP 1570, Room 2233–S,
agency. The Forest Service will consult improve life in rural America which can 1400 Independence Avenue SW,
with Indian tribes on a government-to- be found at www.usda.gov/ Washington, DC 20250–1570;
government basis in accordance with ruralprosperity. Applicants are Telephone: (202) 720–9640, fax: (202)
Executive Order 13175 and other encouraged to consider projects that 690–0649, email: derek.jones@
policies. provide measurable results in helping wdc.usda.gov.
rural communities build robust and
Responsible Officials SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
sustainable economies through strategic
The responsible officials who would investments in infrastructure, Overview
approve plan amendments are the partnerships and innovation. Key Federal Agency: Rural Utilities
Regional Foresters for the strategies include: Service, USDA.
Intermountain, Rocky Mountain, and • Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural Funding Opportunity Title: HWWS
Northern Regions. America Grant Program.
• Developing the Rural Economy Announcement Type: Grant—Notice
Request for Comment • Harnessing Technological Innovation
of Funds Availability (NOFA).
The public is encouraged to comment • Supporting a Rural Workforce
• Improving Quality of Life Catalog of Federal Domestic
on the proposed action in this notice. Assistance (CFDA) Number: 10.862.
The Forest Service will use an DATES: The deadline for completed
Due Date for Applications: July 20,
interdisciplinary approach as it applications for a HWWS grant is July
2018. See Section D of this notice for
20, 2018. Applications in either paper or
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

considers the variety of resource issues details.
and concerns. electronic format must be postmarked or
Comments received in response to time-stamped electronically on or before Items in Supplementary Information
this solicitation, including names and the deadline. Late applications will be A. Funding Opportunity: Description of the
addresses of those who comment, will ineligible for grant consideration. Prior HWWS Grant Program.
be part of the public record for this to official submission of applications, B. Award Information: Available funds,
proposed action. Comments submitted applicants may request technical anticipated number of awards, length of
anonymously will be accepted and assistance or other application guidance project periods, assistance instrument.

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Document Created: 2018-06-20 00:20:04
Document Modified: 2018-06-20 00:20:04

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		Supplemental Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement; Notice of Updated Information Concerning the Forest Service Greater Sage-Grouse Land and Resource Management Plan Amendments
Dates		Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by July 20, 2018.
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 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
FR Citation		83 FR 28608

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREForest Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 119 (June 20, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service