83 FR 46701 - Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Madison Ranger District; Montana; Strawberry to Cascade Allotment Management Plans

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 179 (September 14, 2018)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Strawberry to Cascade allotment management plans (AMPs). The proposed project would revise grazing management on the Barnett, Black Butte, Coal Creek, Cottonwood, Fossil-Hellroaring, Lyon-Wolverine, Poison Basin, and Upper Ruby allotments (sheep grazing portions) in the Gravelly Mountain Range on the Madison Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest (B-D NF).

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46701-46702]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20045]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Madison Ranger District; 
Montana; Strawberry to Cascade Allotment Management Plans

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Strawberry to 
Cascade allotment management plans (AMPs). The proposed project would 
revise grazing management on the Barnett, Black Butte, Coal Creek, 
Cottonwood, Fossil-Hellroaring, Lyon-Wolverine, Poison Basin, and Upper 
Ruby allotments (sheep grazing portions) in the Gravelly Mountain Range 
on the Madison Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National 
Forest (B-D NF).

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by October 15, 2018. The draft EIS is expected to be published March 
2019

[[Page 46702]]

and the final EIS is expected to be published October 2019.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Dale Olson, District Ranger, 
Madison Ranger District, 5 Forest Service Road, Ennis, MT 59729. 
Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected] or via facsimile to 406-682-4233. For all forms of 
comment, make sure to include your name, physical address, phone 
number, and a subject title of ``Strawberry to Cascade AMPs.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale Olson, District Ranger, Madison 
Ranger District, 5 Forest Service Road, Ennis, MT 59729. Phone: 406-
682-4253. 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:

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose and need for this EIS is to revise grazing management, 
as necessary, on the Barnett, Black Butte, Coal Creek, Cottonwood, 
Fossil-Hellroaring, Lyon-Wolverine, Poison Basin, and Upper Ruby 
allotments sheep grazing portions to ensure consistency with all law, 
regulation and policy, including direction from the Rescissions Act of 
1995 [Pub. L. 104-19]. Section 504(a) of the Rescissions Act; and, the 
2004 Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-108) Section 325, require the 
Secretary of Agriculture to schedule when national forests will 
complete environmental analysis and documentation required under the 
National Environmental Policy Act for all grazing allotments.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action would authorize domestic livestock (sheep) 
grazing on eight allotments and proposes no change to existing grazing 
management.

Possible Alternatives

    A `no grazing' alternative will be analyzed in detail in addition 
to the proposed action.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official will be the Madison District Ranger.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made is whether or not to implement the proposed 
action, another alternative, or a combination of the alternatives.

Preliminary Issues

    Issues of concern are the effects of domestic sheep grazing on the 
wild Bighorn Sheep populations found on the B-D NF. There is concern 
that domestic sheep grazing is a disease transmission risk to the wild 
Bighorn sheep. Additional issues will be identified through scoping.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments in a manner 
that are useful to the agency's preparation of the environmental impact 
statement. Comments should be provided prior to the close of the 
comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's concerns 
and contentions.
    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.

    Dated: August 23, 2018.
Chris French,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-20045 Filed 9-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P