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Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Southwestern Region, Arizona, Coconino County, Coconino National Forests

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: January 18, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 12)]
[Notices]
[Page 4795-4796]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18ja01-40]

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Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.

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[[Page 4795]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
Southwestern Region, Arizona, Coconino County, Coconino National
Forests

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

SUMMARY: The Coconino National Forest is planning to prepare an
environmental impact statement on a proposal to improve grassland and
woodland conditions for wildlife and manage livestock grazing use on
the Pickett Lake and Padre Canyon Grazing Allotments during the next 10
years.

DATES: Comments in response to this Notice of Intent concerning the
scope of the analysis should be received in writing by on or before
February 20, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to USDA Forest Service, Coconino
National Forest, Peaks Ranger Station, 5075 N Hwy 89, Flagstaff, AZ
86004. Electronic mail may be sent to mhannemann@fs.fed.us.
    Responsible Official: The Forest Supervisor of the Coconino
National Forest, Supervisor's Office 2323 Greenlaw Lane, Flagstaff, AZ
86004, will decide what actions are most appropriate for managing the
Pickett and Padre Range Allotments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Hannemann, Interdisciplinary Team
Leader, Peaks Ranger District, (520) 526-0866.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposal includes 14,774 acres of
pinyon, juniper and ponderosa pine treatments. Ponderosa pine cuts
would be on trees 6" in diameter at breast height (DBH). Slash crushing
and seeding will be done in pinyon and juniper treatment areas where
slash is heavy and dense trees have removed the grass seed source from
the area. Approximately $258,810 will be spent on cutting the trees.
Approximately $95,500 will be spent on slash crushing, harrowing and
seeding. Approximately $126,500 would be spent on archaeological
surveys on the tree cutting areas. The Forest Service will look for
grants and partners to supplement normal Forest Service funds to
complete the pinyon and juniper treatments, slash crushing, harrowing
and seeding.
    This proposal also has a Forest Service permit of up to 850 cattle
from June 1 to September 30 on the 34,814 acres Pickett Lake Allotment
and up to 125 cattle from August 1 to September 30 on the 20,993 acres
Padre Canyon Allotment. This is a 10% reduction in cattle use on
Pickett Lake Allotment and a 31% reduction in cattle use on the Padre
Canyon Allotment. In addition, this proposal has a combined grazing
system option of up to 913 cattle from June 1 to September 30 on both
allotment areas, a 14% overall reduction in cattle use. In addition to
maintaining current range structures, approximately $25,600 will be
spent on one mile of barbwire fence, four miles of pipeline and five
drinkers. The Forest Service will spend approximately $13,700 primarily
for materials and the permittee will spend approximately $11,900
primarily for installation of the improvements.
    Preliminary issues include the effect of grazing on the
environment, especially watershed conditions and pronghorn antelope
habitat.
    The Proposed action was mailed to 104 individuals, organizations
and cooperating resource agencies for review and comment on January 5,
2001. From comments received, the Team will develop statements to
capture the substantive issues and developed alternatives other than
the proposed action. If you would like a copy of the proposed action
please contact our office. Your comments will be included in our
environmental analysis.
    It is anticipated that environmental analysis and preparation of
the draft and final environmental impact statements will take about six
months. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement can be expected April
of 2001 and the Final EIS in summer. The comment period on the draft
environmental impact statement extends 45 days from the date the
Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in
the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. To be the most
helpful, comments on the draft environmental impact statement should be
as specific as possible and may address the adequacy of the statement
or the merits of the alternatives discussed (see Council of
Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3).
    In addition, Federal court decisions have established that
reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewers' position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC 435 US 519, 553
(1978). Environmental objections that could have been raised at the
draft state may be waived if not raised until after completion of the
final environmental impact statement. City of Angoon v. Hodel 9th
Circuit, 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc v. Harris, 490F. Supp.
1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). The reason for this is to ensure that
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them in the final
environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposal action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer
to the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.

[[Page 4796]]

    Dated: January 5, 2001.
Jim Golden,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 01-1391 Filed 1-17-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M

 
 

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