83_FR_49249 83 FR 49060 - Chugach National Forest; Alaska; Notice of a Proposed Amendment to the Chugach National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, Applying Only to the Sterling Highway Milepost 45-60 Project

83 FR 49060 - Chugach National Forest; Alaska; Notice of a Proposed Amendment to the Chugach National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, Applying Only to the Sterling Highway Milepost 45-60 Project

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 189 (September 28, 2018)

Page Range49060-49062
FR Document2018-21153

On May 31, 2018, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) signed a Record of Decision for the Sterling Highway MP 45-60 Project, which involves highway construction and reconstruction near Cooper Landing, Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service participated as a cooperating agency with FHWA and Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities in the preparation of the draft and final Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). To support the FHWA decision, the Forest Service proposes a project-specific Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) amendment to make the selected route consistent with the Chugach Forest Plan.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 189 (Friday, September 28, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 189 (Friday, September 28, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49060-49062]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-21153]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Chugach National Forest; Alaska; Notice of a Proposed Amendment 
to the Chugach National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, 
Applying Only to the Sterling Highway Milepost 45-60 Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; project-specific amendment to the Chugach National 
Forest 2002 Land and Resource Management Plan.

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

SUMMARY: On May 31, 2018, the U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) signed a Record of Decision for 
the Sterling Highway MP 45-60 Project, which involves highway 
construction and reconstruction near Cooper Landing, Kenai Peninsula 
Borough, Alaska. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service 
participated as a cooperating agency with FHWA and Alaska Department of 
Transportation and Public Facilities in the preparation of the draft 
and final Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). To support the FHWA 
decision, the Forest Service proposes a project-specific Land and 
Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) amendment to make the selected 
route consistent with the Chugach Forest Plan.

DATES: Publication of this notice marks the initiation of a public 
comment period for the proposed action. Comments concerning the scope 
of the analysis must be received by November 13, 2018. The agency 
expects to release a draft Record of Decision for the proposed 
amendment in late 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Chugach National Forest 
Supervisor's Office, Attn: Sterling Highway Plan Amendment, 161 East 
1st Avenue, Door 8, Anchorage, AK 99501. Comments may also be sent via 
email to [email protected], or via facsimile to 907-
743-9476.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Detailed information about the 
Sterling Highway Project, including the FHWA's Record of Decision, 
FEIS, and related reports, is available at http://sterlinghighway.net/. 
For information related specifically to the Forest Plan amendment, 
please contact David Fitz-Enz, Forest Planner, Chugach National Forest 
at 907-743-9595 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    This notice is specific to the Forest Service. The FHWA was the 
lead Federal agency for the Sterling Highway Mile 45-60 Project EIS and 
Record of Decision, which was signed on May 31, 2018. The decision, 
implementing the ``Juneau Creek Alternative,'' requires 3.3 miles of 
new road construction across lands managed by the Chugach National 
Forest in the Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska. The Forest Service must 
determine whether to consent to the transfer of a highway easement for 
these lands under 23 U.S.C. 317. This consent is conditioned on the 
Forest Service completing a project-specific plan amendment because the 
new route is inconsistent with a Forest Plan standard prohibiting new 
road construction within a certain type of brown bear habitat. This 
notice pertains only to this project-specific plan amendment.
    The policy for project consistency with prior plans amended using 
the 2012 Planning Rule is set out at FSH 1909.12, Chapter 20, Section 
21.33. For a plan developed or revised under a prior planning 
regulation (1982 Planning Rule) that is amended pursuant to the 2012 
Planning Rule, the consistency requirement is that the 2012 Planning 
Rule consistency provisions at 36 CFR 219.15(d) apply only to plan 
component(s) added or modified in conformance with, and as defined by, 
the 2012 Planning Rule. With respect to other plan provisions, the 
Forest Service's prior interpretation of consistency applies, that 
projects need only be consistent with plan standards and guidelines. 
(See 2012 Final Rule 77 FR 21162, 21241 (April 9, 2012); 1991 Advanced 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 56 FR 6508, 6519-6520 (Feb 15, 1991) and 
the 1995 Proposed Rule, at 60 FR 18886, 18902, 18909 (April 13, 1995).)
    As analyzed and disclosed in the Sterling final EIS, this project 
is also inconsistent with one guideline related to brown bear habitat. 
This inconsistency does not require a plan amendment (Forest Plan, p. 
3-22), but is

[[Page 49061]]

briefly mentioned here because it will be documented in the Forest 
Service's Record of Decision.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The FHWA decision for the Sterling Highway MP 45-60 Project 
approves construction of new highway that crosses 3.3 miles of National 
Forest System land. The Forest Service must determine whether to 
consent to the transfer of a highway easement for construction and 
maintenance of the highway on these lands under 23 U.S.C. 317. This 
consent is conditioned on the Forest Service completing a project-
specific Forest Plan amendment because the new route is inconsistent 
with a Forest Plan standard prohibiting new road construction within 
important brown bear feeding areas.
    These feeding areas were mapped for this project in collaboration 
with Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the new highway employs 
many design features to minimize effects to brown bear habitat. The 
purpose of this plan amendment is to provide a project-specific 
variance exempting the requirement for full consistency with this one 
forestwide standard related to brown bear habitat. The variance would 
apply only to this project. Completion of this amendment is required 
for the Forest Service to consent to the appropriation of lands for 
highway construction.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action is to exempt the Sterling Highway MP 45-60 
Project from the following standard in the 2002 Chugach Forest Plan 
(Forest Plan, p. 3-29):
    ``Standard 1, Brown Bear Habitat Management. On the Kenai Peninsula 
geographic area, manage areas of forest cover approximately 750-feet 
from both sides of important bear feeding areas in specific areas of a 
stream where salmon are concentrated in pools, below falls, or where 
broad spawning flats result in localized feeding concentrations of 
bears to provide cover for brown bears while feeding, or between brown 
bears and humans. Important brown bear feeding areas will be located 
with the advice of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Within the 
750-foot brown bear management zone the following activities will not 
be allowed: a. new road construction; b. any vegetation management not 
intended to maintain or improve ecological conditions for brown bear. 
This standard does not prohibit relocation, reconstruction, or 
maintenance of existing roads and trails in these areas. During the 
process of reconstruction or relocation, emphasize opportunities to 
locate roads or trails outside of these brown bear zones.''
    The amendment would exempt this standard only for the Sterling 
Highway MP 45-60 Project. It is considered a project-specific amendment 
because it would not change the applicability of Forest Plan 
requirements for other projects.
    The Forest Service's decision will be supported by the 
environmental analysis contained within the FHWA final EIS. The FHWA 
has selected the ``Juneau Creek Alternative'' in their Record of 
Decision. The draft and final EIS issued by FHWA include a discussion 
of Forest Plan consistency, including the need for this project-
specific amendment. They also disclose the environmental effects of 
this project on brown bear habitat. The draft and final EIS is 
available at http://sterlinghighway.net/SHWPI_New.html. The following 
are selected sections of the final EIS describing the effects of the 
selected alternative related to the need for the plan amendment and to 
effects on brown bear habitat: the Executive Summary, Section 3.2--Land 
Use Plans and Policies (pp. 3-50--52; 3-56), Section 3.7--Cumulative 
Effects (pp. 3-589--390), Section 3.22--Wildlife (pp. 3-456--457; 3-
472--477; 3-478-482; 3-488--3-491).

Responsible Official

    The Forest Supervisor for the Chugach National Forest is the 
Responsible Official for amending the 2002 Revised Land and Resource 
Management Plan.

Nature and Scope of Decision To Be Made

    The Responsible Official will decide whether the project warrants a 
project-specific plan amendment and if so, the content of the 
amendment.
    The scope of this amendment is a one-time exemption from Standard 
1, Brown Bear Habitat Management, for the Sterling Highway MP 45-60 
Project.
    The scale of this amendment is limited to the important brown bear 
feeding areas where the Juneau Creek Alternative route impacts land 
mapped as Areas 8, 9, and 11 on Map 3.22-1 of the EIS (Chapter 3.22 
Wildlife, p. 3-513). The highway easement would encompass less than 100 
acres within the mapped feeding area of approximately 1,000 acres. The 
decision includes extensive mitigation, including a wildlife overpass 
and several underpasses, to mitigate the effects to wildlife.
    The Responsible Official must ensure that the amendment is 
consistent with 36 CFR 219 regulations, as described below.

Planning Rule Requirements for Forest Plan Amendments

    On December 15, 2016, the Department of Agriculture Under Secretary 
for Natural Resources and Environment issued a final rule that amended 
the 36 CFR 219 regulations pertaining to National Forest System Land 
Management Planning (Planning Rule) (81 FR 90723, 90737). The amendment 
to 36 CFR 219 clarified the Department's direction for amending Forest 
Plans. The Department also added a requirement for the responsible 
official amending a plan to provide notice ``about which substantive 
requirements of Sec.  219.8 through 219.11 are likely to be directly 
relate to the amendment'' (36 CFR 219.13(b)(2), 81 FR 90738). Whether a 
rule provision is directly related to an amendment is determined by any 
one of the following: The purpose for the amendment, a beneficial 
effect of the amendment, a substantial adverse effect of the amendment, 
or a lessening of plan protections by the amendment.
    The substantive requirements of Sec.  219.8 through 219.11 that are 
likely to be directly related to amending the above standard are:
    Sec.  219.9(a): (a) Ecosystem plan components. (1) Ecosystem 
integrity. As required by Sec.  219.8(a), the plan must include plan 
components, including standards or guidelines, to maintain or restore 
the ecological integrity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and 
watersheds in the plan area, including plan components to maintain or 
restore their structure, function, composition, and connectivity.
    Sec.  219.10(a)(3): Appropriate placement and sustainable 
management of infrastructure, such as recreational facilities and 
transportation and utility corridors
    Sec.  219.10(a)(5): Habitat conditions, subject to the requirements 
of 219.9, for wildlife, fish, and plants commonly enjoyed and used by 
the public; for hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, observing, 
subsistence and other activities
    If the proposed amendment is determined to be ``directly related'' 
to a substantive rule requirement, the Responsible Official must apply 
that requirement within the scope and scale of the proposed amendment 
and, if necessary, make adjustments to the proposed amendment to meet 
the rule requirement (36 CFR 219.13(b)(5) and (6)).

[[Page 49062]]

Opportunities for Public Participation

    The FHWA provided opportunities for public comment throughout the 
development of this project, including public comment periods and 
public meetings following issuance of the draft EIS and Final EIS. A 
history of public participation, including all public comments, is 
available at: http://sterlinghighway.net/SHWPI_New.html. Both the draft 
and final EIS disclosed the need for a Forest Plan amendment, depending 
on the alternative selected.
    This notice initiates a 45-day comment period on the proposed 
amendment. This will be the final comment period for this proposed 
amendment prior to issuing the record of decision for administrative 
review. Instructions on how to provide comment, and where to find 
additional information, are described in the beginning of this notice. 
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.

Administrative Review of Forest Plan Amendment Decisions

    The decision for a plan amendment will be documented in a record of 
decision issued by the Forest Service. The decision will be subject to 
the predecisional administrative review process per 36 CFR 219 subpart 
B. Objections will be accepted only from those who have previously 
submitted substantive formal comments specific to the proposed plan 
amendment. The Reviewing Official for any objection is the Regional 
Forester for the Alaska Region.

    Dated: September 7, 2018.
Gregory C. Smith,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-21153 Filed 9-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P



                                              49060                       Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 189 / Friday, September 28, 2018 / Notices

                                              establishments that process poultry for                 and notices. Customers can add or                     reports, is available at http://
                                              export comply with maximum line                         delete subscriptions themselves, and                  sterlinghighway.net/. For information
                                              speeds regulations similar to those in                  have the option to password protect                   related specifically to the Forest Plan
                                              the United States.                                      their accounts.                                       amendment, please contact David Fitz-
                                                                                                                                                            Enz, Forest Planner, Chugach National
                                              USDA Non-Discrimination Statement                       Paul Kiecker,
                                                                                                                                                            Forest at 907–743–9595 or dfitzenz@
                                                 No agency, officer, or employee of the               Acting Administrator.                                 fs.fed.us.
                                              USDA shall, on the grounds of race,                     [FR Doc. 2018–21143 Filed 9–27–18; 8:45 am]              Individuals who use
                                              color, national origin, religion, sex,                  BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P                                telecommunication devices for the deaf
                                              gender identity, sexual orientation,                                                                          (TDD) may call the Federal Information
                                              disability, age, marital status, family/                                                                      Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
                                              parental status, income derived from a                  DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                             between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
                                              public assistance program, or political                                                                       Time, Monday through Friday.
                                              beliefs, exclude from participation in,                 Forest Service
                                                                                                                                                            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                              deny the benefits of, or subject to                     Chugach National Forest; Alaska;
                                              discrimination any person in the United                                                                       Background
                                                                                                      Notice of a Proposed Amendment to
                                              States under any program or activity                                                                             This notice is specific to the Forest
                                                                                                      the Chugach National Forest Land and
                                              conducted by the USDA.                                                                                        Service. The FHWA was the lead
                                                                                                      Resource Management Plan, Applying
                                                 To file a complaint of discrimination,                                                                     Federal agency for the Sterling Highway
                                                                                                      Only to the Sterling Highway Milepost
                                              complete the USDA Program                                                                                     Mile 45–60 Project EIS and Record of
                                                                                                      45–60 Project
                                              Discrimination Complaint Form, which                                                                          Decision, which was signed on May 31,
                                              may be accessed online at http://                       AGENCY:  Forest Service, USDA.                        2018. The decision, implementing the
                                              www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/                  ACTION: Notice; project-specific                      ‘‘Juneau Creek Alternative,’’ requires 3.3
                                              docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_                        amendment to the Chugach National                     miles of new road construction across
                                              12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you                 Forest 2002 Land and Resource                         lands managed by the Chugach National
                                              or your authorized representative.                      Management Plan.                                      Forest in the Kenai Peninsula Borough,
                                                 Send your completed complaint form                                                                         Alaska. The Forest Service must
                                              or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email:               SUMMARY:    On May 31, 2018, the U.S.                 determine whether to consent to the
                                                 Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture,                Department of Transportation, Federal                 transfer of a highway easement for these
                                              Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400                  Highway Administration (FHWA)                         lands under 23 U.S.C. 317. This consent
                                              Independence Avenue SW, Washington,                     signed a Record of Decision for the                   is conditioned on the Forest Service
                                              DC 20250–9410.                                          Sterling Highway MP 45–60 Project,                    completing a project-specific plan
                                                 Fax: (202) 690–7442.                                 which involves highway construction                   amendment because the new route is
                                                 Email: program.intake@usda.gov.                      and reconstruction near Cooper                        inconsistent with a Forest Plan standard
                                                 Persons with disabilities who require                Landing, Kenai Peninsula Borough,                     prohibiting new road construction
                                              alternative means for communication                     Alaska. The U.S. Department of                        within a certain type of brown bear
                                              (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.)                 Agriculture, Forest Service participated              habitat. This notice pertains only to this
                                              should contact USDA’s TARGET Center                     as a cooperating agency with FHWA and                 project-specific plan amendment.
                                              at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).                      Alaska Department of Transportation                      The policy for project consistency
                                              Additional Public Notification                          and Public Facilities in the preparation              with prior plans amended using the
                                                                                                      of the draft and final Environmental                  2012 Planning Rule is set out at FSH
                                                 FSIS will announce this notice online                                                                      1909.12, Chapter 20, Section 21.33. For
                                                                                                      Impact Statements (EIS). To support the
                                              through the FSIS web page located at                                                                          a plan developed or revised under a
                                                                                                      FHWA decision, the Forest Service
                                              http://www.fsis.usda.gov/federal-                                                                             prior planning regulation (1982
                                                                                                      proposes a project-specific Land and
                                              register. FSIS will also make copies of                                                                       Planning Rule) that is amended
                                                                                                      Resource Management Plan (Forest
                                              this Federal Register publication                                                                             pursuant to the 2012 Planning Rule, the
                                                                                                      Plan) amendment to make the selected
                                              available through the FSIS Constituent                                                                        consistency requirement is that the 2012
                                                                                                      route consistent with the Chugach
                                              Update, which is used to provide                                                                              Planning Rule consistency provisions at
                                                                                                      Forest Plan.
                                              information regarding FSIS policies,                                                                          36 CFR 219.15(d) apply only to plan
                                              procedures, regulations, Federal                        DATES: Publication of this notice marks
                                                                                                                                                            component(s) added or modified in
                                              Register notices, FSIS public meetings,                 the initiation of a public comment
                                                                                                                                                            conformance with, and as defined by,
                                              and other types of information that                     period for the proposed action.
                                                                                                                                                            the 2012 Planning Rule. With respect to
                                              could affect or would be of interest to                 Comments concerning the scope of the
                                                                                                                                                            other plan provisions, the Forest
                                              constituents and stakeholders. The                      analysis must be received by November
                                                                                                                                                            Service’s prior interpretation of
                                              Update is communicated via Listserv, a                  13, 2018. The agency expects to release               consistency applies, that projects need
                                              free electronic mail subscription service               a draft Record of Decision for the                    only be consistent with plan standards
                                              for industry, trade groups, consumer                    proposed amendment in late 2018.                      and guidelines. (See 2012 Final Rule 77
                                              interest groups, health professionals,                  ADDRESSES: Send written comments to                   FR 21162, 21241 (April 9, 2012); 1991
                                              and other individuals who have asked                    Chugach National Forest Supervisor’s                  Advanced Notice of Proposed
                                              to be included. The Update is also                      Office, Attn: Sterling Highway Plan                   Rulemaking 56 FR 6508, 6519–6520
                                              available on the FSIS web page. In                      Amendment, 161 East 1st Avenue, Door                  (Feb 15, 1991) and the 1995 Proposed
                                              addition, FSIS offers an electronic mail                8, Anchorage, AK 99501. Comments                      Rule, at 60 FR 18886, 18902, 18909
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                                              subscription service which provides                     may also be sent via email to comments-               (April 13, 1995).)
                                              automatic and customized access to                      alaska-chugach@fs.fed.us, or via                         As analyzed and disclosed in the
                                              selected food safety news and                           facsimile to 907–743–9476.                            Sterling final EIS, this project is also
                                              information. This service is available at               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      inconsistent with one guideline related
                                              http://www.fsis.usda.gov/subscribe.                     Detailed information about the Sterling               to brown bear habitat. This
                                              Options range from recalls to export                    Highway Project, including the FHWA’s                 inconsistency does not require a plan
                                              information to regulations, directives,                 Record of Decision, FEIS, and related                 amendment (Forest Plan, p. 3–22), but is


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                                                                          Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 189 / Friday, September 28, 2018 / Notices                                          49061

                                              briefly mentioned here because it will                  opportunities to locate roads or trails               36 CFR 219 regulations, as described
                                              be documented in the Forest Service’s                   outside of these brown bear zones.’’                  below.
                                              Record of Decision.                                        The amendment would exempt this                    Planning Rule Requirements for Forest
                                              Purpose and Need for Action                             standard only for the Sterling Highway                Plan Amendments
                                                                                                      MP 45–60 Project. It is considered a
                                                 The FHWA decision for the Sterling                   project-specific amendment because it                   On December 15, 2016, the
                                              Highway MP 45–60 Project approves                       would not change the applicability of                 Department of Agriculture Under
                                              construction of new highway that                        Forest Plan requirements for other                    Secretary for Natural Resources and
                                              crosses 3.3 miles of National Forest                    projects.                                             Environment issued a final rule that
                                              System land. The Forest Service must                       The Forest Service’s decision will be              amended the 36 CFR 219 regulations
                                              determine whether to consent to the                     supported by the environmental                        pertaining to National Forest System
                                              transfer of a highway easement for                      analysis contained within the FHWA                    Land Management Planning (Planning
                                              construction and maintenance of the                     final EIS. The FHWA has selected the                  Rule) (81 FR 90723, 90737). The
                                              highway on these lands under 23 U.S.C.                  ‘‘Juneau Creek Alternative’’ in their                 amendment to 36 CFR 219 clarified the
                                              317. This consent is conditioned on the                 Record of Decision. The draft and final               Department’s direction for amending
                                              Forest Service completing a project-                    EIS issued by FHWA include a                          Forest Plans. The Department also
                                              specific Forest Plan amendment because                  discussion of Forest Plan consistency,                added a requirement for the responsible
                                              the new route is inconsistent with a                                                                          official amending a plan to provide
                                                                                                      including the need for this project-
                                              Forest Plan standard prohibiting new
                                                                                                      specific amendment. They also disclose                notice ‘‘about which substantive
                                              road construction within important
                                                                                                      the environmental effects of this project             requirements of § 219.8 through 219.11
                                              brown bear feeding areas.
                                                 These feeding areas were mapped for                  on brown bear habitat. The draft and                  are likely to be directly relate to the
                                              this project in collaboration with Alaska               final EIS is available at http://sterling             amendment’’ (36 CFR 219.13(b)(2), 81
                                              Department of Fish and Game, and the                    highway.net/SHWPI_New.html. The                       FR 90738). Whether a rule provision is
                                              new highway employs many design                         following are selected sections of the                directly related to an amendment is
                                              features to minimize effects to brown                   final EIS describing the effects of the               determined by any one of the following:
                                              bear habitat. The purpose of this plan                  selected alternative related to the need              The purpose for the amendment, a
                                              amendment is to provide a project-                      for the plan amendment and to effects                 beneficial effect of the amendment, a
                                              specific variance exempting the                         on brown bear habitat: the Executive                  substantial adverse effect of the
                                              requirement for full consistency with                   Summary, Section 3.2—Land Use Plans                   amendment, or a lessening of plan
                                              this one forestwide standard related to                 and Policies (pp. 3–50—52; 3–56),                     protections by the amendment.
                                              brown bear habitat. The variance would                  Section 3.7—Cumulative Effects (pp. 3–                  The substantive requirements of
                                              apply only to this project. Completion of               589—390), Section 3.22—Wildlife (pp.                  § 219.8 through 219.11 that are likely to
                                              this amendment is required for the                      3–456—457; 3–472—477; 3–478–482; 3–                   be directly related to amending the
                                              Forest Service to consent to the                        488—3–491).                                           above standard are:
                                              appropriation of lands for highway                      Responsible Official                                    § 219.9(a): (a) Ecosystem plan
                                              construction.                                                                                                 components. (1) Ecosystem integrity. As
                                                                                                        The Forest Supervisor for the
                                              Proposed Action                                                                                               required by § 219.8(a), the plan must
                                                                                                      Chugach National Forest is the
                                                                                                                                                            include plan components, including
                                                 The proposed action is to exempt the                 Responsible Official for amending the
                                                                                                                                                            standards or guidelines, to maintain or
                                              Sterling Highway MP 45–60 Project                       2002 Revised Land and Resource
                                                                                                                                                            restore the ecological integrity of
                                              from the following standard in the 2002                 Management Plan.
                                                                                                                                                            terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and
                                              Chugach Forest Plan (Forest Plan, p. 3–                 Nature and Scope of Decision To Be                    watersheds in the plan area, including
                                              29):                                                    Made                                                  plan components to maintain or restore
                                                 ‘‘Standard 1, Brown Bear Habitat                                                                           their structure, function, composition,
                                              Management. On the Kenai Peninsula                        The Responsible Official will decide
                                                                                                                                                            and connectivity.
                                              geographic area, manage areas of forest                 whether the project warrants a project-
                                              cover approximately 750-feet from both                  specific plan amendment and if so, the                  § 219.10(a)(3): Appropriate placement
                                              sides of important bear feeding areas in                content of the amendment.                             and sustainable management of
                                              specific areas of a stream where salmon                   The scope of this amendment is a one-               infrastructure, such as recreational
                                              are concentrated in pools, below falls, or              time exemption from Standard 1, Brown                 facilities and transportation and utility
                                              where broad spawning flats result in                    Bear Habitat Management, for the                      corridors
                                              localized feeding concentrations of                     Sterling Highway MP 45–60 Project.                      § 219.10(a)(5): Habitat conditions,
                                              bears to provide cover for brown bears                    The scale of this amendment is                      subject to the requirements of 219.9, for
                                              while feeding, or between brown bears                   limited to the important brown bear                   wildlife, fish, and plants commonly
                                              and humans. Important brown bear                        feeding areas where the Juneau Creek                  enjoyed and used by the public; for
                                              feeding areas will be located with the                  Alternative route impacts land mapped                 hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering,
                                              advice of the Alaska Department of Fish                 as Areas 8, 9, and 11 on Map 3.22–1 of                observing, subsistence and other
                                              and Game. Within the 750-foot brown                     the EIS (Chapter 3.22 Wildlife, p. 3–                 activities
                                              bear management zone the following                      513). The highway easement would                        If the proposed amendment is
                                              activities will not be allowed: a. new                  encompass less than 100 acres within                  determined to be ‘‘directly related’’ to a
                                              road construction; b. any vegetation                    the mapped feeding area of                            substantive rule requirement, the
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                                              management not intended to maintain                     approximately 1,000 acres. The decision               Responsible Official must apply that
                                              or improve ecological conditions for                    includes extensive mitigation, including              requirement within the scope and scale
                                              brown bear. This standard does not                      a wildlife overpass and several                       of the proposed amendment and, if
                                              prohibit relocation, reconstruction, or                 underpasses, to mitigate the effects to               necessary, make adjustments to the
                                              maintenance of existing roads and trails                wildlife.                                             proposed amendment to meet the rule
                                              in these areas. During the process of                     The Responsible Official must ensure                requirement (36 CFR 219.13(b)(5) and
                                              reconstruction or relocation, emphasize                 that the amendment is consistent with                 (6)).


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                                              49062                       Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 189 / Friday, September 28, 2018 / Notices

                                              Opportunities for Public Participation                  Office, is transmitting the final                     known as the Building Permits Survey
                                                The FHWA provided opportunities                       boundary of the Black Butte National                  (BPS). The Census Bureau conducts this
                                              for public comment throughout the                       Wild and Scenic River, including                      survey to collect data on new residential
                                              development of this project, including                  portions of Cold Creek, to Congress.                  buildings from state and local permit-
                                              public comment periods and public                       FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      issuing offices. The key estimates from
                                              meetings following issuance of the draft                Information may be obtained by                        the survey are the numbers of new
                                              EIS and Final EIS. A history of public                  contacting Mendocino National Forest                  housing units authorized by building
                                              participation, including all public                     Supervisor’s Office, 825 N Humboldt                   permits; data are also collected on the
                                              comments, is available at: http://sterling              Ave., Willows, CA 95988; (530) 934–                   valuation of the housing units. The BPS
                                              highway.net/SHWPI_New.html. Both the                    3316.                                                 specifically collects information on
                                              draft and final EIS disclosed the need                                                                        changes to the geographic coverage of
                                                                                                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:      The Black             the permit-issuing place, the number
                                              for a Forest Plan amendment, depending                  Butte Wild and Scenic River, including
                                              on the alternative selected.                                                                                  and valuation of new residential
                                                                                                      portions of Cold Creek, boundary is                   housing units authorized by building
                                                This notice initiates a 45-day                        available for review at the following
                                              comment period on the proposed                                                                                permits, and additional information on
                                                                                                      offices: USDA Forest Service, Yates                   residential permits valued at $1 million
                                              amendment. This will be the final                       Building, 14th and Independence
                                              comment period for this proposed                                                                              or more, including, but not limited to,
                                                                                                      Avenues SW, Washington, DC 20024;                     site address and type of building.
                                              amendment prior to issuing the record                   Pacific Southwest Region 1323 Club                       The Census Bureau produces statistics
                                              of decision for administrative review.                  Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592; and                         used to monitor activity in the large and
                                              Instructions on how to provide                          Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s                dynamic construction industry. Given
                                              comment, and where to find additional                   Office, 825 N Humboldt Ave., Willows,                 the importance of this industry, several
                                              information, are described in the                       CA 95988.                                             of the statistical series have been
                                              beginning of this notice. Comments                        The Northern California Coastal Wild                designated by the Office of Management
                                              received in response to this solicitation,              Heritage Wilderness Act (Pub. L. 109–                 and Budget as Principal Economic
                                              including names and addresses of those                  362) of October 17, 2006, designated the              Indicators. Two such indicators are
                                              who comment, will be part of the public                 Black Butte River and portions of Cold                directly dependent on the key estimates
                                              record for this proposed action.                        Creek, California, as a National Wild                 from the BPS. For New Residential
                                              Comments submitted anonymously will                     and Scenic River, to be administered by               Construction (which includes Housing
                                              be accepted and considered, however.                    the Secretary of Agriculture. As                      Units Authorized by Building Permits,
                                              Administrative Review of Forest Plan                    specified by law, the boundary will not               Housing Starts, and Housing
                                              Amendment Decisions                                     be effective until 90-days after Congress             Completions), form C–404 is used to
                                                                                                      receives the transmittal.                             collect the estimate for Housing Units
                                                The decision for a plan amendment
                                              will be documented in a record of                         Dated: September 21, 2018.                          Authorized by Building Permits. For
                                              decision issued by the Forest Service.                  Gregory C. Smith,                                     New Residential Construction and
                                                                                                                                                            Sales, the number of housing units
                                              The decision will be subject to the                     Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National
                                                                                                      Forest System.                                        authorized by building permits is a key
                                              predecisional administrative review
                                                                                                                                                            component utilized in the estimation of
                                              process per 36 CFR 219 subpart B.                       [FR Doc. 2018–21163 Filed 9–27–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                            housing units started, completed, and
                                              Objections will be accepted only from                   BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
                                                                                                                                                            sold.
                                              those who have previously submitted                                                                              These statistics help state, local, and
                                              substantive formal comments specific to                                                                       federal governments, as well as private
                                              the proposed plan amendment. The                        DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                industry, analyze this important sector
                                              Reviewing Official for any objection is                                                                       of the economy. The building permit
                                              the Regional Forester for the Alaska                    Submission for OMB Review;
                                                                                                                                                            series are available monthly based on a
                                              Region.                                                 Comment Request                                       sample of building permit offices, and
                                                Dated: September 7, 2018.                                The Department of Commerce will                    annually based on the entire universe of
                                              Gregory C. Smith,                                       submit to the Office of Management and                permit offices. Published data from the
                                              Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National                 Budget (OMB) for clearance the                        survey can be found on the Census
                                              Forest System.                                          following proposal for collection of                  Bureau’s website at www.census.gov/
                                              [FR Doc. 2018–21153 Filed 9–27–18; 8:45 am]             information under the provisions of the               permits.
                                              BILLING CODE 3411–15–P                                  Paperwork Reduction Act.                                 The Census Bureau collects these data
                                                                                                         Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.                        primarily by mail or online using an
                                                                                                         Title: Report of Building or Zoning                online version of the same
                                              DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                               Permits Issued for New Privately-                     questionnaire. Some data are also
                                                                                                      Owned Housing Units.                                  collected via receipt of proprietary
                                              Forest Service                                             OMB Control Number: 0607–0094.                     electronic files or mailed printouts for
                                                                                                         Form Number(s): C–404.                             jurisdictions who have established
                                              Boundary Establishment for Black                           Type of Request: Extension of a                    reporting arrangements which allow
                                              Butte National Wild and Scenic River,                   currently approved collection.                        them to submit their responses using
                                              Including Portions of Cold Creek,                          Number of Respondents: 20,325.                     their own file format.
                                              Mendocino National Forest, Mendocino                       Average Hours per Response: Ranges                    We use the data, a component of The
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1




                                              County, California                                      from 3 to 23 minutes.                                 Conference Board Leading Economic
                                              AGENCY:   Forest Service, USDA.                            Burden Hours: 17,263.                              Index, to estimate the number of
                                              ACTION:   Notice of availability.                          Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau                  housing units authorized, started,
                                                                                                      is requesting a three-year extension of               completed, and sold (single-family
                                              SUMMARY:   In accordance with Section                   the Report of Building or Zoning                      only). In addition, the Census Bureau
                                              3(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act,                 Permits Issued for New Privately-                     uses the detailed geographic data in the
                                              the USDA Forest Service, Washington                     Owned Housing Units, otherwise                        development of annual population


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Document Created: 2018-09-28 01:23:22
Document Modified: 2018-09-28 01:23:22
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; project-specific amendment to the Chugach National Forest 2002 Land and Resource Management Plan.
DatesPublication of this notice marks the initiation of a public comment period for the proposed action. Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by November 13, 2018. The agency expects to release a draft Record of Decision for the proposed amendment in late 2018.
ContactDetailed information about the Sterling Highway Project, including the FHWA's Record of Decision, FEIS, and related reports, is available at http://sterlinghighway.net/. For information related specifically to the Forest Plan amendment, please contact David Fitz-Enz, Forest Planner, Chugach National Forest at 907-743-9595 or [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 49060 

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