83_FR_658 83 FR 654 - Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest; Oregon; Shasta Agness Landscape Restoration Project Environmental Impact Statement

83 FR 654 - Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest; Oregon; Shasta Agness Landscape Restoration Project Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 4 (January 5, 2018)

Page Range654-657
FR Document2018-00049

The USDA Forest Service, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest (RRSNF), Gold Beach Ranger District is providing notice that it will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Shasta Agness Landscape Restoration Project, which would implement multiple landscape restoration actions on National Forest System lands within an approximately 93,000-acre project planning area. Restoration actions include vegetation treatments, prescribed fire, sustainable recreation, and sustainable roads actions. In order to implement the project, the Forest Service identified the need for a project-specific amendment to exempt commercial and noncommercial thinning restoration actions in unique oak and pine units from the silviculture standard. This notice identifies the planning rule provisions likely to be directly related to the plan amendment.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 4 (Friday, January 5, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 4 (Friday, January 5, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 654-657]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00049]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest; Oregon; Shasta Agness 
Landscape Restoration Project Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest 
(RRSNF), Gold Beach Ranger District is providing notice that it will 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Shasta Agness 
Landscape Restoration Project, which would implement multiple landscape 
restoration actions on National Forest System lands within an 
approximately 93,000-acre project planning area. Restoration actions 
include vegetation treatments, prescribed fire, sustainable recreation, 
and sustainable roads actions. In order to implement the project, the 
Forest Service identified the need for a project-specific amendment to 
exempt commercial and noncommercial thinning restoration actions in 
unique oak and pine units from the silviculture standard. This notice 
identifies the planning rule provisions likely to be directly related 
to the plan amendment.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by February 5, 2018. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected early 2018, and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected fall of 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Rogue River-Siskiyou National 
Forest (RRSNF), 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504.
    Comments may also be submitted online at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=49607; or via the Gold 
Beach Ranger District facsimile at 541-247-3641; or the RRSNF facsimile 
at (541) 618-2400.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Trulock, Deputy Forest 
Supervisor, [email protected], 541-618-2032. Individuals who use 
telecommunication devices for the deaf may call the Federal Information 
Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 
Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need

    As a result of past fire exclusion and vegetation management 
regimes conducted within the project area, current ecosystem conditions 
have departed from natural conditions and exhibit lower compositions of 
certain species, plant communities, and habitat types. The result is 
that some of these

[[Page 655]]

rare, highly specialized, and unique habitat types and plant 
associations are in decline and at risk of being lost or greatly 
reduced.
    Oak and pine savannahs and woodlands have suffered substantial 
losses in both areal extent and ecological integrity due to fire 
suppression and the resulting invading conifers. Composition, 
structure, and important habitat types associated with oak and pine 
vegetation communities are transitioning to a closed-canopy Douglas-fir 
forest, which is resulting in reduction and loss of these unique 
habitats.
    The overall purpose of the project is to restore resilience and 
ecological integrity to unique ecosystems and to aquatic and riparian 
habitats, to conserve and accelerate the development of late-
successional forests while preserving species diversity, and to provide 
a diverse range of high-quality, sustainable recreation opportunities 
supported by an environmentally sustainable road system.

Proposed Action

    Proposed project management activities include: Restoring unique 
oak savannahs and woodlands; restoring sugar pine and Jeffrey pine 
savannahs and woodlands; accelerating development of late seral forest 
structures; reducing spread of the Port-Orford-cedar root disease via 
roadside sanitation; implementing burn blocks of prescribed fire in and 
between thinning restoration units; improving water quality; 
rehabilitating soils impacted by past management activities and natural 
events; enhancing habitat conditions in aquatic and riparian areas for 
endangered and threatened fish species; reducing hydrologic impacts of 
excess or poorly designed roads; and managing recreational 
opportunities and needs in a sustainable manner.
    Variable and radial density thinning along with application of 
prescribed fire would be the primary restoration actions for the oak, 
pine, and plantation units. In order to optimize terrain features and 
weather windows and to achieve low-intensity prescribed fire 
conditions, burning would occur during spring-like conditions and 
include blocks of land between identified restoration thinning units. 
Roadside sanitation via removal of POC along identified road prisms 
would address the spread of root disease. Changes in road maintenance 
levels would address both water quality and sustainable recreation 
needs. Campground and trail maintenance and closures would address 
sustainable recreation needs. The RTV Plan would identify high-priority 
sites within the three watersheds analyzed and provide management 
direction to ensure RTV persistence and protection. This and future 
projects within those watersheds would follow that guidance.
    Portions of the project restoration units are located within the 
designated Fishhook Late Successional Reserve (LSR), which is 
geographically nested within the designated Southwest Oregon (SWOR) 
LSR, per the evaluation found in the SWOR Late-successional Reserve 
Assessment (USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management 
1995). Because of this, the proposed radial and variable density 
thinning to reduce competition around shade-intolerant oaks and pines, 
the restoration of forest structures and patterns, POC sanitation, and 
the reintroduction of ecological process and disturbance regimes (fire) 
all would be required to maintain consistency with the 1989 Siskiyou 
Land Resources Management Plan (LRMP) and as amended by the NWFP. The 
NWFP provides standards, guidelines, goals, and desired conditions for 
protecting and maintaining LSR resources.
    However, proposed commercial and noncommercial restoration thinning 
in older LSR stands would not comply with one NWFP silviculture 
standard: C-12, which prohibits harvest in stand over 80 years old in 
LSR (LRMP and NWFP; USDA Forest Service 1989; as amended by USDA Forest 
Service, USDI Bureau of Land Management, 1994); incorporated by 
reference and available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/rogue-siskiyou/landmanagement/?cid=stelprdb5315100). Therefore, after all 
reasonable stipulations to minimize adverse environmental impacts on 
National Forest LSR resources have been included, a project-specific 
forest plan amendment is required. This amendment would be the only 
exemption to Plan standards, and all other standards and guidelines 
would be unaffected.
    When proposing a Forest Plan amendment, the 2012 planning rule (36 
CFR 219), as amended, requires the responsible official to provide in 
the initial notice ``which substantive requirements of Sec. Sec.  
[thinsp]219.8 through 219.11 are likely to be directly related to the 
amendment'' (36 CFR 219.13 (b)(2)). Whether a rule provision is likely 
to be 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. Based on this amendment 
proposal and requirements of the planning rule, the following 
substantive requirements of the 36 CFR 219 planning regulations would 
likely be directly related to the proposed amendment:
    Sec.  219.8(a)(1)(i)--[ . . . the plan must include plan components 
to maintain or restore . . . ] Interdependence of terrestrial and 
aquatic ecosystems in the plan area;
    Sec.  219.8(a)(1)(ii) Contributions of the plan area to ecological 
conditions within the broader landscape influenced by the plan area;
    Sec.  219.8(a)(1)(iii) Conditions in the broader landscape that may 
influence the sustainability of resources and ecosystems within the 
plan area;
    Sec.  219.8(a)(1)(iv) System drivers, including dominant ecological 
processes, disturbance regimes, and stressors, such as natural 
succession, wildland fire, invasive species, and climate change; and 
the ability of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems on the plan area to 
adapt to change;
    Sec.  219.8(a)(1)(v) Wildland fire and opportunities to restore 
fire adapted ecosystems;
    Sec.  219.8(a)(1)(vi) Opportunities for landscape scale 
restoration;
    Sec.  219.8(a)(2)(ii) Soils and soil productivity, including 
guidance to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation.
    Sec.  219.8(a)(2)(iii) Water quality;
    Sec.  219.8(a)(3)(i)--[ . . . the plan must include plan components 
to maintain or restore the ecological integrity of riparian areas in 
the plan area . . . ] including plan components to maintain or restore 
structure, function, composition, and connectivity . . . ;
    Sec.  219.8(a)(3)(ii) Plans must establish width(s) for riparian 
management zones;
    Sec.  219.8(b)(1)--[ . . . the plan must include plan components to 
guide the plan area's contribution to social and economic 
sustainability . . . ] Social, cultural and economic conditions 
relevant to the area influenced by the plan;
    Sec.  219.8(b)(2) Sustainable recreation; including recreation 
settings, opportunities, and access; and scenic character;
    Sec.  219.8(b)(3) Multiple uses that contribute to local, regional, 
and national economies in a sustainable manner;
    Sec.  219.8(b)(4) Ecosystem services;
    Sec.  219.8(b)(5) Cultural and historic resources and uses;
    Sec.  219.9(a)(1)--[ . . . plan must provide for the diversity of 
plant and animal communities and include plan components to maintain or 
restore . . . ] Ecosystem integrity;

[[Page 656]]

    Sec.  219.9(a)(2)(i) Key characteristics associated with 
terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem types;
    Sec.  219.9(a)(2)(ii) Rare aquatic and terrestrial plant and animal 
communities;
    Sec.  219.9(a)(2)(iii) The diversity of native tree species similar 
to that existing in the plan area;
    Sec.  219.9(b)(1)--[ . . . plan must provide for the diversity of 
plant and animal communities and must include plan components to 
maintain or restore additional species-specific plan components . . . ] 
Provide the ecological conditions necessary to: contribute to the 
recovery of federally listed threatened and endangered species, 
conserve proposed and candidate species, and maintain a viable 
population of each species of conservation concern within the plan area 
. . . ;
    Sec.  219.9(c)--[ . . . plan must provide for the diversity of 
plant and animal communities and must include plan components to 
maintain or restore additional species-specific plan components . . . ] 
Species of conservation concern . . . for which the regional forester 
has determined that the best available scientific information indicates 
substantial concern about the species' capability to persist over the 
long-term in the plan area;
    Sec.  219.10(a)(1)--[ . . . plan must include plan components . . . 
for integrated resource management to provide for ecosystem services 
and multiple uses in the plan area . . . the responsible official shall 
consider: . . . ] Aesthetic values, cultural and heritage resources, 
ecosystem services, fish and wildlife species, forage, grazing and 
rangelands, habitat and habitat connectivity, recreation settings and 
opportunities, riparian areas, scenery, soil, surface water quality, 
timber, vegetation, viewsheds;
    Sec.  219.10(a)(5) Habitat conditions, subject to the requirements 
of Sec.  219.9, for wildlife, fish, and plants commonly enjoyed and 
used by the public; for hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering, 
observing, subsistence, and other activities (in collaboration with 
federally recognized Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, other Federal 
agencies, and State and local governments);
    Sec.  219.10(a)(7) Reasonably foreseeable risks to ecological, 
social, and economic sustainability;
    Sec.  219.10(a)(8) System drivers, including dominant ecological 
processes, disturbance regimes, and stressors, such as natural 
succession, wildland fire, invasive species, and climate change; and 
the ability of the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems on the plan area 
to adapt to change (Sec.  219.8);
    Sec.  219.11(c)--[ . . . plan must include plan components . . . 
and other plan content regarding timber management within Forest 
Service authority and the inherent capability of the plan area, . . . ] 
Timber harvest for purposes other than timber production . . . as a 
tool to assist in achieving or maintaining one or more applicable 
desired conditions or objectives of the plan in order to protect other 
multiple-use values, and for salvage, sanitation, or public health or 
safety. Examples of using timber harvest to protect other multiple use 
values may include improving wildlife or fish habitat, thinning to 
reduce fire risk, or restoring meadow or savanna ecosystems where trees 
have invaded;
    If this proposed project-specific amendment is determined to be 
directly related to the substantive rule requirements, the responsible 
official must apply those requirements within the scope and scale of 
the amendment and, if necessary, make adjustments to the amendment to 
meet these rule requirements (36 CFR 219.13 (b)(5) and (6)).

Possible Alternatives

    The Shasta Agness Landscape Restoration Project has emphasized 
early and substantive collaboration in its development. Robust 
engagement and contributions to project location, design, and proposed 
restoration components were derived from collaboration with members of 
the Wild Rivers Coast Forest Collaborative (WRCFC). As a result of that 
collaboration, additional District analyses, and public input from 
scoping comments, the Forest Service identified and evaluated four 
alternatives, including the no action alternative. The proposed action 
is a slightly modified version of the proposed scoping action described 
in the initial scoping letter. The other two action alternatives 
include varying degrees and types of recreational opportunities and 
restoration treatments. All action alternatives were related to 
proposals put forth by the WRCFC as evaluated by Forest staff. The no 
action alternative provides the baseline conditions with which to 
compare the action alternatives; it assumes conditions which would 
occur if no decision related to this project were implemented.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for this decision will be the Forest 
Supervisor for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Supervisor will decide where, and whether or not, to 
take action to meet desired conditions within the planning area. The 
responsible official also will decide how to mitigate any potential 
impacts of these actions and will determine when and how possible 
effects monitoring would take place. The final project decision and 
rationale will be documented in a Record of Decision supported by a 
final EIS.
    Per 36 CFR 218.7(a)(2), this is a project proposing to implement a 
land management plan and is not authorized under the Healthy Forests 
Restoration Act (HFRA). Therefore, it is subject to both subparts A and 
B of 36 CFR 218, Project-level Predecisional Administrative Review 
Process.
    Decisions by the Forest Supervisor to approve project-specific plan 
amendments are subject to the Administrative Review Process of 36 CFR 
218 Subpart A, in accordance with 36 CFR 219.59 (b). The term ``project 
specific'' refers to amendments that would only apply to the proposed 
project and would not apply to any future management actions.

Prior Scoping

    Besides ongoing public collaboration with the WRCFC, the Forest 
Service's project scoping proposal to develop an environmental 
assessment (EA) was first introduced to the broader public through the 
Forest Service's schedule of proposed action (SOPA) on June 14, 2016. A 
legal notice to initiate the 30-day NEPA public comment scoping period 
for the proposed action was published June 15, 2016 in the Curry County 
Reporter and in the Grants Pass Daily Courier. The proposed action and 
detailed maps were made available on the USFS website: http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/rogue-siskiyou/landmanagement/projects. 
Additionally, a public comment scoping letter dated June 15, 2016, was 
mailed via post to over 200 and electronically sent to over 60 
individuals, organizations, and agencies who had expressed interest in 
being informed of projects on the Gold Beach Ranger District. Letters 
summarized the proposed action and included directions to the Forest's 
website for more information. The formal scoping period ended July 15, 
2016. During the scoping period, the Forest Service received input from 
13 commenters representing a spectrum of individuals and groups from 
Oregon and Idaho. Comments received also were posted on the project 
website and can be viewed here: http://

[[Page 657]]

www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=49607.
    The project originally was released for scoping comments as an 
environmental assessment (EA) as described above. Subsequent to the 
initial EA scoping efforts and based on the overall project scope and 
complexity--including its associated analyses--it was determined that 
an EIS would better provide a more appropriate vehicle than an EA for 
evaluating project information important to the public and decision-
maker. Though the Forest Service anticipates and intends that this 
project will be beneficial for landscape restoration, due to these 
complex circumstances, the Forest Service proposes to develop an EIS to 
ensure sufficient analysis and to further the intent of NEPA.

Scoping Process

    Comments and submittals already received during the previously 
conducted public scoping comment period are part of the record and have 
been considered during further development of the project and its draft 
EIS and need not be re-submitted for the commenter to retain standing 
in the event of possible future objections. Furthermore, the draft EIS, 
including analysis of the project-specific plan amendment, is 
anticipated to be filed with the Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA) 
and available for public review and a designated 45-day public comment 
by early 2018. The EPA will publish a Notice of Availability of the 
draft EIS in the Federal Register. At such time, detailed instructions 
for how to submit comments regarding both the project-specific plan 
amendment and the draft EIS will be provided.
    Comments received, 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. Comments submitted anonymously 
will be accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not 
afford the Agency the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent 
environmental documents, nor will those who submit anonymous comments 
have standing to object to the subsequent decision under 36 CFR 218.
    Access and review for documents related to information in this 
notice is available at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=49607.

    Dated: December 21, 2017.
Glenn P. Casamassa,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-00049 Filed 1-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P



                                               654

                                               Notices                                                                                                        Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                              Vol. 83, No. 4

                                                                                                                                                              Friday, January 5, 2018



                                               This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                    use telecommunication devices for the                  SUMMARY:   The USDA Forest Service,
                                               contains documents other than rules or                  deaf (TDD) may call the Federal                        Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
                                               proposed rules that are applicable to the               Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–                 (RRSNF), Gold Beach Ranger District is
                                               public. Notices of hearings and investigations,         800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8                      providing notice that it will prepare an
                                               committee meetings, agency decisions and                p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through                     environmental impact statement (EIS)
                                               rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
                                                                                                       Friday.                                                for the Shasta Agness Landscape
                                               petitions and applications and agency
                                               statements of organization and functions are            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The                         Restoration Project, which would
                                               examples of documents appearing in this                 original notice of intent for public                   implement multiple landscape
                                               section.                                                comment on the greater sage-grouse                     restoration actions on National Forest
                                                                                                       plan amendments was published in the                   System lands within an approximately
                                                                                                       Federal Register on November 21, 2017                  93,000-acre project planning area.
                                               DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                               (82 FR 55346). The original notice of                  Restoration actions include vegetation
                                                                                                       intent provided a 45 day comment                       treatments, prescribed fire, sustainable
                                               Forest Service                                          period, which may be insufficient for                  recreation, and sustainable roads
                                                                                                       comment preparation from all interested                actions. In order to implement the
                                               Idaho and Southwestern Montana                                                                                 project, the Forest Service identified the
                                               (Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Boise,                           parties. As such, the comment period
                                                                                                       for the original notice is being extended              need for a project-specific amendment
                                               Caribou-Targhee, Salmon-Challis, and                                                                           to exempt commercial and
                                               Sawtooth National Forests and Curlew                    by 14 days.
                                                                                                          If the Forest Service amends land                   noncommercial thinning restoration
                                               National Grassland); Nevada                                                                                    actions in unique oak and pine units
                                                                                                       management plans, we hereby give
                                               (Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest);                                                                            from the silviculture standard. This
                                                                                                       notice that substantive requirements of
                                               Utah (Ashley, Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-La                                                                        notice identifies the planning rule
                                                                                                       the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219)
                                               Sal, and Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National                   likely to be directly related, and                     provisions likely to be directly related to
                                               Forests); Wyoming (Bridger-Teton                        therefore applicable, to the amendments                the plan amendment.
                                               National Forest); and Wyoming/                          are in sections 219.8(b) (social and                   DATES: Comments concerning the scope
                                               Colorado (Medicine Bow-Routt                            economic sustainability), 219.9                        of the analysis must be received by
                                               National Forest and Thunder Basin                       (diversity of plant and animal                         February 5, 2018. The draft
                                               National Grassland) Amendments to                       communities), and 219.10(a)(1)                         environmental impact statement is
                                               Land Management Plans for Greater                       (integrated resource management).                      expected early 2018, and the final
                                               Sage-Grouse Conservation                                   The public is encouraged to help                    environmental impact statement is
                                               AGENCY:  Forest Service, USDA.                          identify any issues, management                        expected fall of 2018.
                                               ACTION: Notice to Extend the Public                     questions, or concerns that should be                  ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
                                               Scoping Period for the Notice of Intent                 addressed in plan amendment(s) or                      Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
                                               to Prepare an Environmental Impact                      policy or administrative action. The                   (RRSNF), 3040 Biddle Road, Medford,
                                               Statement for the Amendments to Land                    Forest Service will work collaboratively               OR 97504.
                                               Management Plans for Greater Sage-                      with interested parties to identify the                   Comments may also be submitted
                                               Grouse Conservation                                     management direction that is best suited               online at https://cara.ecosystem-
                                                                                                       to local, regional, and national needs                 management.org/Public//
                                               SUMMARY:   The Forest Service is issuing                and concerns. The Forest Service will                  CommentInput?Project=49607; or via
                                               this notice to advise the public of a 14-               use an interdisciplinary approach as it                the Gold Beach Ranger District facsimile
                                               day extension to the public scoping                     considers the variety of resource issues               at 541–247–3641; or the RRSNF
                                               period on the notice of intent to prepare               and concerns.                                          facsimile at (541) 618–2400.
                                               an environmental impact statement for                     Dated: December 29, 2017.                            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                               the amendments to land management                       Chris French,                                          Craig Trulock, Deputy Forest
                                               plans for greater sage-grouse                           Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest                Supervisor, ctrulock@fs.fed.us, 541–
                                               conservation.                                           System.                                                618–2032. Individuals who use
                                               DATES:  Comments concerning the scope                   [FR Doc. 2018–00045 Filed 1–4–18; 8:45 am]             telecommunication devices for the deaf
                                               of the analysis must be received by                     BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
                                                                                                                                                              may call the Federal Information Relay
                                               January 19, 2018.                                                                                              Service at 1–800–877–8339 between 8
                                                                                                                                                              a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday
                                               ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
                                                                                                       DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                              through Friday.
                                               Sage-grouse Amendment Comment,
                                                                                                                                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                               USDA Forest Service Intermountain
                                                                                                       Forest Service
                                               Region, Federal Building, 324 25th                                                                             Purpose and Need
                                               Street, Ogden, UT 84401. Comments                       Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest;                    As a result of past fire exclusion and
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                               may also be sent via email to,                          Oregon; Shasta Agness Landscape                        vegetation management regimes
                                               comments-intermtn-regional-office@                      Restoration Project Environmental                      conducted within the project area,
                                               fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 801–625–                 Impact Statement                                       current ecosystem conditions have
                                               5277.                                                                                                          departed from natural conditions and
                                                                                                       AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:               John                                                            exhibit lower compositions of certain
                                                                                                       ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an
                                               Shivik at 801–625–5667 or email                                                                                species, plant communities, and habitat
                                                                                                       environmental impact statement.
                                               johnashivik@fs.fed.us. Individuals who                                                                         types. The result is that some of these


                                          VerDate Sep<11>2014   16:30 Jan 04, 2018   Jkt 244001   PO 00000   Frm 00001   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\05JAN1.SGM   05JAN1


                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2018 / Notices                                              655

                                               rare, highly specialized, and unique                    The RTV Plan would identify high-                      on this amendment proposal and
                                               habitat types and plant associations are                priority sites within the three                        requirements of the planning rule, the
                                               in decline and at risk of being lost or                 watersheds analyzed and provide                        following substantive requirements of
                                               greatly reduced.                                        management direction to ensure RTV                     the 36 CFR 219 planning regulations
                                                 Oak and pine savannahs and                            persistence and protection. This and                   would likely be directly related to the
                                               woodlands have suffered substantial                     future projects within those watersheds                proposed amendment:
                                               losses in both areal extent and                         would follow that guidance.                               § 219.8(a)(1)(i)—[ . . . the plan must
                                               ecological integrity due to fire                           Portions of the project restoration                 include plan components to maintain or
                                               suppression and the resulting invading                  units are located within the designated                restore . . . ] Interdependence of
                                               conifers. Composition, structure, and                   Fishhook Late Successional Reserve                     terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the
                                               important habitat types associated with                 (LSR), which is geographically nested                  plan area;
                                               oak and pine vegetation communities                     within the designated Southwest                           § 219.8(a)(1)(ii) Contributions of the
                                               are transitioning to a closed-canopy                    Oregon (SWOR) LSR, per the evaluation                  plan area to ecological conditions
                                               Douglas-fir forest, which is resulting in               found in the SWOR Late-successional                    within the broader landscape influenced
                                               reduction and loss of these unique                      Reserve Assessment (USDA Forest                        by the plan area;
                                               habitats.                                               Service and USDI Bureau of Land                           § 219.8(a)(1)(iii) Conditions in the
                                                 The overall purpose of the project is                 Management 1995). Because of this, the                 broader landscape that may influence
                                               to restore resilience and ecological                    proposed radial and variable density                   the sustainability of resources and
                                               integrity to unique ecosystems and to                   thinning to reduce competition around                  ecosystems within the plan area;
                                               aquatic and riparian habitats, to                       shade-intolerant oaks and pines, the                      § 219.8(a)(1)(iv) System drivers,
                                               conserve and accelerate the                             restoration of forest structures and                   including dominant ecological
                                               development of late-successional forests                patterns, POC sanitation, and the                      processes, disturbance regimes, and
                                               while preserving species diversity, and                 reintroduction of ecological process and               stressors, such as natural succession,
                                               to provide a diverse range of high-                     disturbance regimes (fire) all would be                wildland fire, invasive species, and
                                               quality, sustainable recreation                         required to maintain consistency with                  climate change; and the ability of
                                               opportunities supported by an                           the 1989 Siskiyou Land Resources                       terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems on the
                                               environmentally sustainable road                        Management Plan (LRMP) and as                          plan area to adapt to change;
                                               system.                                                 amended by the NWFP. The NWFP                             § 219.8(a)(1)(v) Wildland fire and
                                               Proposed Action                                         provides standards, guidelines, goals,                 opportunities to restore fire adapted
                                                                                                       and desired conditions for protecting                  ecosystems;
                                                  Proposed project management                          and maintaining LSR resources.
                                               activities include: Restoring unique oak                                                                          § 219.8(a)(1)(vi) Opportunities for
                                                                                                          However, proposed commercial and
                                               savannahs and woodlands; restoring                      noncommercial restoration thinning in                  landscape scale restoration;
                                               sugar pine and Jeffrey pine savannahs                   older LSR stands would not comply                         § 219.8(a)(2)(ii) Soils and soil
                                               and woodlands; accelerating                             with one NWFP silviculture standard:                   productivity, including guidance to
                                               development of late seral forest                        C–12, which prohibits harvest in stand                 reduce soil erosion and sedimentation.
                                               structures; reducing spread of the Port-                over 80 years old in LSR (LRMP and                        § 219.8(a)(2)(iii) Water quality;
                                               Orford-cedar root disease via roadside                  NWFP; USDA Forest Service 1989; as                        § 219.8(a)(3)(i)—[ . . . the plan must
                                               sanitation; implementing burn blocks of                 amended by USDA Forest Service, USDI                   include plan components to maintain or
                                               prescribed fire in and between thinning                 Bureau of Land Management, 1994);                      restore the ecological integrity of
                                               restoration units; improving water                      incorporated by reference and available                riparian areas in the plan area . . . ]
                                               quality; rehabilitating soils impacted by               at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/                    including plan components to maintain
                                               past management activities and natural                  rogue-siskiyou/landmanagement/                         or restore structure, function,
                                               events; enhancing habitat conditions in                 ?cid=stelprdb5315100). Therefore, after                composition, and connectivity . . . ;
                                               aquatic and riparian areas for                          all reasonable stipulations to minimize                   § 219.8(a)(3)(ii) Plans must establish
                                               endangered and threatened fish species;                 adverse environmental impacts on                       width(s) for riparian management zones;
                                               reducing hydrologic impacts of excess                   National Forest LSR resources have                        § 219.8(b)(1)—[ . . . the plan must
                                               or poorly designed roads; and managing                  been included, a project-specific forest               include plan components to guide the
                                               recreational opportunities and needs in                 plan amendment is required. This                       plan area’s contribution to social and
                                               a sustainable manner.                                   amendment would be the only                            economic sustainability . . . ] Social,
                                                  Variable and radial density thinning                 exemption to Plan standards, and all                   cultural and economic conditions
                                               along with application of prescribed fire               other standards and guidelines would                   relevant to the area influenced by the
                                               would be the primary restoration                        be unaffected.                                         plan;
                                               actions for the oak, pine, and plantation                  When proposing a Forest Plan                           § 219.8(b)(2) Sustainable recreation;
                                               units. In order to optimize terrain                     amendment, the 2012 planning rule (36                  including recreation settings,
                                               features and weather windows and to                     CFR 219), as amended, requires the                     opportunities, and access; and scenic
                                               achieve low-intensity prescribed fire                   responsible official to provide in the                 character;
                                               conditions, burning would occur during                  initial notice ‘‘which substantive                        § 219.8(b)(3) Multiple uses that
                                               spring-like conditions and include                      requirements of §§ 219.8 through 219.11                contribute to local, regional, and
                                               blocks of land between identified                       are likely to be directly related to the               national economies in a sustainable
                                               restoration thinning units. Roadside                    amendment’’ (36 CFR 219.13 (b)(2)).                    manner;
                                               sanitation via removal of POC along                     Whether a rule provision is likely to be                  § 219.8(b)(4) Ecosystem services;
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                                               identified road prisms would address                    directly related to an amendment is                       § 219.8(b)(5) Cultural and historic
                                               the spread of root disease. Changes in                  determined by any one of the following:                resources and uses;
                                               road maintenance levels would address                   The purpose for the amendment, a                          § 219.9(a)(1)—[ . . . plan must provide
                                               both water quality and sustainable                      beneficial effect of the amendment, a                  for the diversity of plant and animal
                                               recreation needs. Campground and trail                  substantial adverse effect of the                      communities and include plan
                                               maintenance and closures would                          amendment, or a lessening of plan                      components to maintain or restore . . . ]
                                               address sustainable recreation needs.                   protections by the amendment. Based                    Ecosystem integrity;


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                                               656                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2018 / Notices

                                                  § 219.9(a)(2)(i) Key characteristics                 terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems on the              Nature of Decision To Be Made
                                               associated with terrestrial and aquatic                 plan area to adapt to change (§ 219.8);                  The Forest Supervisor will decide
                                               ecosystem types;                                           § 219.11(c)—[ . . . plan must include
                                                                                                                                                              where, and whether or not, to take
                                                  § 219.9(a)(2)(ii) Rare aquatic and                   plan components . . . and other plan
                                                                                                                                                              action to meet desired conditions within
                                               terrestrial plant and animal                            content regarding timber management
                                                                                                                                                              the planning area. The responsible
                                               communities;                                            within Forest Service authority and the
                                                  § 219.9(a)(2)(iii) The diversity of                                                                         official also will decide how to mitigate
                                                                                                       inherent capability of the plan area,
                                               native tree species similar to that                                                                            any potential impacts of these actions
                                                                                                       . . . ] Timber harvest for purposes other
                                               existing in the plan area;                                                                                     and will determine when and how
                                                                                                       than timber production . . . as a tool to
                                                  § 219.9(b)(1)—[ . . . plan must                                                                             possible effects monitoring would take
                                                                                                       assist in achieving or maintaining one or
                                               provide for the diversity of plant and                                                                         place. The final project decision and
                                                                                                       more applicable desired conditions or
                                               animal communities and must include                                                                            rationale will be documented in a
                                                                                                       objectives of the plan in order to protect
                                               plan components to maintain or restore                  other multiple-use values, and for                     Record of Decision supported by a final
                                               additional species-specific plan                        salvage, sanitation, or public health or               EIS.
                                               components . . . ] Provide the ecological                                                                        Per 36 CFR 218.7(a)(2), this is a
                                                                                                       safety. Examples of using timber harvest
                                               conditions necessary to: contribute to                  to protect other multiple use values may               project proposing to implement a land
                                               the recovery of federally listed                        include improving wildlife or fish                     management plan and is not authorized
                                               threatened and endangered species,                      habitat, thinning to reduce fire risk, or              under the Healthy Forests Restoration
                                               conserve proposed and candidate                         restoring meadow or savanna                            Act (HFRA). Therefore, it is subject to
                                               species, and maintain a viable                          ecosystems where trees have invaded;                   both subparts A and B of 36 CFR 218,
                                               population of each species of                              If this proposed project-specific                   Project-level Predecisional
                                               conservation concern within the plan                    amendment is determined to be directly                 Administrative Review Process.
                                               area . . . ;                                            related to the substantive rule                          Decisions by the Forest Supervisor to
                                                  § 219.9(c)—[ . . . plan must provide                 requirements, the responsible official                 approve project-specific plan
                                               for the diversity of plant and animal                   must apply those requirements within                   amendments are subject to the
                                               communities and must include plan                       the scope and scale of the amendment                   Administrative Review Process of 36
                                               components to maintain or restore                       and, if necessary, make adjustments to                 CFR 218 Subpart A, in accordance with
                                               additional species-specific plan                        the amendment to meet these rule                       36 CFR 219.59 (b). The term ‘‘project
                                               components . . . ] Species of                           requirements (36 CFR 219.13 (b)(5) and                 specific’’ refers to amendments that
                                               conservation concern . . . for which the                (6)).                                                  would only apply to the proposed
                                               regional forester has determined that the                                                                      project and would not apply to any
                                               best available scientific information                   Possible Alternatives                                  future management actions.
                                               indicates substantial concern about the                    The Shasta Agness Landscape                         Prior Scoping
                                               species’ capability to persist over the                 Restoration Project has emphasized
                                               long-term in the plan area;                             early and substantive collaboration in                    Besides ongoing public collaboration
                                                  § 219.10(a)(1)—[ . . . plan must                     its development. Robust engagement                     with the WRCFC, the Forest Service’s
                                               include plan components . . . for                       and contributions to project location,                 project scoping proposal to develop an
                                               integrated resource management to                       design, and proposed restoration                       environmental assessment (EA) was first
                                               provide for ecosystem services and                      components were derived from                           introduced to the broader public
                                               multiple uses in the plan area . . . the                collaboration with members of the Wild                 through the Forest Service’s schedule of
                                               responsible official shall consider: . . . ]            Rivers Coast Forest Collaborative                      proposed action (SOPA) on June 14,
                                               Aesthetic values, cultural and heritage                 (WRCFC). As a result of that                           2016. A legal notice to initiate the 30-
                                               resources, ecosystem services, fish and                 collaboration, additional District                     day NEPA public comment scoping
                                               wildlife species, forage, grazing and                   analyses, and public input from scoping                period for the proposed action was
                                               rangelands, habitat and habitat                         comments, the Forest Service identified                published June 15, 2016 in the Curry
                                               connectivity, recreation settings and                   and evaluated four alternatives,                       County Reporter and in the Grants Pass
                                               opportunities, riparian areas, scenery,                 including the no action alternative. The               Daily Courier. The proposed action and
                                               soil, surface water quality, timber,                    proposed action is a slightly modified                 detailed maps were made available on
                                               vegetation, viewsheds;                                  version of the proposed scoping action                 the USFS website: http://
                                                  § 219.10(a)(5) Habitat conditions,                   described in the initial scoping letter.               www.fs.usda.gov/projects/rogue-
                                               subject to the requirements of § 219.9,                 The other two action alternatives                      siskiyou/landmanagement/projects.
                                               for wildlife, fish, and plants commonly                 include varying degrees and types of                   Additionally, a public comment scoping
                                               enjoyed and used by the public; for                     recreational opportunities and                         letter dated June 15, 2016, was mailed
                                               hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering,                  restoration treatments. All action                     via post to over 200 and electronically
                                               observing, subsistence, and other                       alternatives were related to proposals                 sent to over 60 individuals,
                                               activities (in collaboration with                       put forth by the WRCFC as evaluated by                 organizations, and agencies who had
                                               federally recognized Tribes, Alaska                     Forest staff. The no action alternative                expressed interest in being informed of
                                               Native Corporations, other Federal                      provides the baseline conditions with                  projects on the Gold Beach Ranger
                                               agencies, and State and local                           which to compare the action                            District. Letters summarized the
                                               governments);                                           alternatives; it assumes conditions                    proposed action and included directions
                                                  § 219.10(a)(7) Reasonably foreseeable                which would occur if no decision                       to the Forest’s website for more
                                               risks to ecological, social, and economic               related to this project were                           information. The formal scoping period
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                                               sustainability;                                         implemented.                                           ended July 15, 2016. During the scoping
                                                  § 219.10(a)(8) System drivers,                                                                              period, the Forest Service received
                                               including dominant ecological                           Responsible Official                                   input from 13 commenters representing
                                               processes, disturbance regimes, and                       The responsible official for this                    a spectrum of individuals and groups
                                               stressors, such as natural succession,                  decision will be the Forest Supervisor                 from Oregon and Idaho. Comments
                                               wildland fire, invasive species, and                    for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National                  received also were posted on the project
                                               climate change; and the ability of the                  Forest.                                                website and can be viewed here: http://


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                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 4 / Friday, January 5, 2018 / Notices                                                      657

                                               www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_                          Dated: December 21, 2017.                            endorsed the ‘‘APEC Privacy
                                               exp.php?project=49607.                                  Glenn P. Casamassa,                                    Framework’’ (Framework). The goal of
                                                  The project originally was released for              Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest                the Framework is to facilitate the flow
                                               scoping comments as an environmental                    System.                                                of information between the 21
                                                                                                       [FR Doc. 2018–00049 Filed 1–4–18; 8:45 am]             economies in APEC by promoting a
                                               assessment (EA) as described above.
                                                                                                       BILLING CODE 3411–15–P                                 common set of privacy principles that
                                               Subsequent to the initial EA scoping
                                                                                                                                                              will enhance electronic commerce,
                                               efforts and based on the overall project                                                                       facilitate trade and economic growth,
                                               scope and complexity—including its                                                                             and strengthen consumer privacy
                                               associated analyses—it was determined                   DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                                                                                                                                                              protections. In order to implement this
                                               that an EIS would better provide a more                                                                        Framework, member economies
                                                                                                       International Trade Administration
                                               appropriate vehicle than an EA for                                                                             developed a voluntary system of Cross
                                               evaluating project information                          [Docket No.: 160721646–6646–01]                        Border Privacy Rules (CBPR), which
                                               important to the public and decision-                   RIN No. 0625–XC022                                     was endorsed by APEC Leaders in
                                               maker. Though the Forest Service                                                                               November 2011 (the Leaders’
                                               anticipates and intends that this project               Applications To Serve as                               Declaration is available at http://
                                               will be beneficial for landscape                        Accountability Agents in the Asia                      www.apec.org/Meeting-Papers/Leaders-
                                               restoration, due to these complex                       Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)                    Declarations/2011/2011_aelm.aspx).
                                               circumstances, the Forest Service                       Privacy Recognition for Processors                     The Leaders’ Declaration instructs APEC
                                               proposes to develop an EIS to ensure                    (PRP) System                                           member economies to implement the
                                               sufficient analysis and to further the                                                                         APEC CBPR system to reduce barriers to
                                                                                                       AGENCY:  International Trade
                                               intent of NEPA.                                                                                                information flows, enhance consumer
                                                                                                       Administration, U.S. Department of
                                                                                                                                                              privacy, and promote interoperability
                                               Scoping Process                                         Commerce.
                                                                                                                                                              across regional data privacy regimes. In
                                                                                                       ACTION: Notice of opportunity for                      July 2012, the United States formally
                                                 Comments and submittals already                       organizations to submit applications to                commenced participation in the CBPR
                                               received during the previously                          serve as Accountability Agents in the                  system. The United States issued an
                                               conducted public scoping comment                        Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation                      open invitation for interested
                                               period are part of the record and have                  (APEC) Privacy Recognition for                         organizations to submit applications for
                                               been considered during further                          Processors (PRP) system.                               recognition by APEC to act as an
                                               development of the project and its draft                                                                       Accountability Agent for U.S.-based
                                               EIS and need not be re-submitted for the                SUMMARY:    The International Trade
                                                                                                       Administration’s Office of Digital                     companies that are subject to Federal
                                               commenter to retain standing in the                                                                            Trade Commission jurisdiction as part
                                                                                                       Services Industries (ODSI) invites
                                               event of possible future objections.                                                                           of APEC CBPR system, available at:
                                                                                                       interested organizations to submit
                                               Furthermore, the draft EIS, including                                                                          https://www.federalregister.gov/
                                                                                                       applications for recognition by APEC to
                                               analysis of the project-specific plan                   act as an Accountability Agent for U.S.-               documents/2012/07/30/2012-18515/
                                               amendment, is anticipated to be filed                   based companies that are subject to                    applications-to-serve-as-accountability-
                                               with the Enviromental Protection                        Federal Trade Commission jurisdiction                  agents-in-the-asia-pacific-economic-
                                               Agency (EPA) and available for public                   as part of APEC’s Privacy Recognition                  cooperation-apec-cross.
                                               review and a designated 45-day public                                                                             The APEC CBPR system applies to
                                                                                                       for Processors system.
                                               comment by early 2018. The EPA will                                                                            personal information controllers
                                                                                                       DATES: Applications may be submitted                   (‘‘controller’’), defined in the
                                               publish a Notice of Availability of the                 beginning December 29, 2017. Until
                                               draft EIS in the Federal Register. At                                                                          Framework as ‘‘person(s) or
                                                                                                       further notice, there is no closing date               organization(s) who control the
                                               such time, detailed instructions for how                for submitting applications.
                                               to submit comments regarding both the                                                                          collection, holding, processing or use of
                                                                                                       ADDRESSES: Please submit applications                  personal information’’. APEC developed
                                               project-specific plan amendment and                     by email to michael.rose@trade.gov,                    the Privacy Recognition for Processors
                                               the draft EIS will be provided.                         attention: Michael Rose, Office of Digital             (PRP) system to complement the CBPR
                                                 Comments received, including names                    Services Industries, International Trade               system, and APEC Leaders endorsed the
                                               and addresses of those who comment,                     Administration, U.S. Department of                     PRP system in February 2015. The
                                               will be part of the public record for this              Commerce. See SUPPLEMENTARY                            United States was approved by APEC
                                               proposed action and will be available                   INFORMATION for additional instructions                economies on the Joint Oversight Panel,
                                               for public inspection. Comments                         on submitting applications.                            the body overseeing the CBPR and PRP
                                               submitted anonymously will be                           FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: All                   systems, to participate in the PRP
                                               accepted and considered; however,                       questions concerning this notice should                system on November 15, 2017.
                                               anonymous comments will not afford                      be sent to the attention of Michael Rose,                 The PRP system is designed to help
                                               the Agency the ability to provide the                   Office of Digital Services Industries,                 personal information processors
                                               respondent with subsequent                              International Trade Administration,                    (‘‘processors’’), third parties that are
                                               environmental documents, nor will                       U.S. Department of Commerce, by                        acting as agents to perform task(s) on
                                               those who submit anonymous                              telephone at (202) 815–0374 (this is not               behalf of and under the instructions of
                                               comments have standing to object to the                 a toll-free number) or by email at                     a controller, demonstrate their ability to
                                                                                                                                                              implement a controller’s privacy
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                                               subsequent decision under 36 CFR 218.                   michael.rose@trade.gov.
                                                                                                       SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 2004,                    obligations related to the processing of
                                                 Access and review for documents                                                                              personal information. The PRP system
                                                                                                       Leaders of the 21 APEC economies 1
                                               related to information in this notice is                                                                       also helps controllers identify qualified
                                               available at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/                  1 The 21 APEC economies are Australia, Brunei
                                               nepa_project_exp.php?project=49607.                     Darussalam, Canada, Chile, the People’s Republic of    New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore,
                                                                                                       China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic       Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States, and
                                                                                                       of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua         Vietnam.



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Document Created: 2018-10-26 09:31:11
Document Modified: 2018-10-26 09:31:11
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.
DatesComments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by February 5, 2018. The draft environmental impact statement is expected early 2018, and the final environmental impact statement is expected fall of 2018.
ContactCraig Trulock, Deputy Forest Supervisor, [email protected], 541-618-2032. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
FR Citation83 FR 654 

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