[Federal Register: May 15, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 95)]
[Notices]
[Page 28098-28099]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15my08-29]
========================================================================
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.
========================================================================
[[Page 28098]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Dakota Prairie Grasslands, Medora Ranger District; North Dakota;
North Billings County Range Allotment Management Plan Revisions
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Medora Ranger District, Dakota Prairie Grasslands,
proposes to continue grazing on 48 allotments in a manner consistent
with direction set forth in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands Land and
Resource Management Plan (Grasslands Plan) and applicable laws. The ETS
will lay the groundwork for revising the Allotment Management Plans
(AMPs) for the 48 allotments. Site-specific resource objectives,
allowable grazing strategies, and adaptive management tools will be set
forth in the EIS in order to allow managers flexibility to meet
objectives.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
The draft environmental impact statement is expected in August 2008 and
the final environmental impact statement is expected in December 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Ronald W. Jablonski, Jr., District
Ranger, Medora Ranger District, 23 Ave W., Suite B, Dickinson, ND
58601, or e-mail your comments to comments-northern-dakota-praire-
medora@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Adams, Project Leader, or Nickole
Dahl, Co-Project Leader at the Medora Ranger District, USDA Forest
Service at the above address or call (701) 227-7800.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this action is to develop AMPs for permitted
domestic livestock grazing using management that is consistent with the
Grasslands Plan direction and to maintain, meet, or move towards
desired resource conditions within a 10-20 year timeframe following the
decision. There is an overall need for greater management flexibility
to meet Grasslands Plan resource goals and objectives and to cope with
fluctuations in environmental and social conditions including, but not
limited to, annual changes in weather; to be responsive to permittee
requests for reasonable operational adjustments; and to respond to
unforeseen issues.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service proposes to continue grazing on 48 allotments
which are located on the Medora Ranger District in a manner consistent
with direction in the Grasslands Plan and applicable laws. The proposal
takes an adaptive management approach to allow flexibility for both the
Forest Service and the livestock operators to manage appropriately
under changing conditions.
The Forest Service has developed allotment-specific desired
conditions, needs, and adaptive management proposals designed to meet
the overall purpose and need for the project area. Affected resources
will be monitored to determine whether they are moving toward, meeting
or maintaining desired conditions. If desired conditions are not being
met, or measureable progress is not being made toward them, then
adaptive management practices will be employed.
Possible Alternatives
Alternatives in addition to the proposed action include:
A No Action alternative, which would exclude all domestic
livestock grazing.
A current management alternative, which would continue
grazing as currently authorized.
An adaptive management alternative that accounts for
changes in animal unit forage demands based on changes in cow/calf
size.
An adaptive management alternative which considers actions
that can be implemented to maintain or improve resource conditions
including adjusting authorized use based on estimated livestock
carrying capacities and changes in animal unit forage demands based on
cow/calf size.
Other alternatives may be developed in response to comments.
Responsible Official
Ronald W. Jablonski, Jr., Medora District Ranger is the responsible
official. See address under the ADDRESSES section above.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The District Ranger will decide, whether to implement specific
changes in grazing management to meet desired conditions, what optional
grazing strategies may be used to meet desired conditions, and what
monitoring items need to be included.
Scoping Process
Public participation is important to this analysis. Part of the
goal of public involvement is to identify additional issues and to
refine general issues. Scoping notices will be mailed to the public on
or before May 23, 2008. People may visit with Forest Service officials
at any time during the analysis and prior to the decision. Two periods
are specifically designated for comments on the analysis: (1) During
the scoping process, and (2) during the draft ETS period. During the
scoping process, the Forest Service seeks additional information and
comments from individuals, organizations, and federal, state, and local
agencies that may be interested in or affected by the proposed action.
The Forest Service invites written comments and suggestions on this
action, particularly in terms of issues and alternative development.
While public participation in this analysis is welcome at any time,
comments received within 30 days of the publication of this notice will
be especially useful in the preparation of the draft environmental
impact statement.
Preliminary Issues
Issues identified through preliminary work include: Effects of
livestock grazing in woody draws, effects of livestock grazing on
riparian areas, effects of livestock grazing on herbaceous structure,
effects of potential management actions on the local economy, drought,
species composition, and the need for a drought management strategy.
[[Page 28099]]
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping proces which guides the
development of the environmental impact statement.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A draft environmental impact statement will be
prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental
impact statement will be 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. First, 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 reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings,
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 45-day comment period so that
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to
them in the final environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed 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 on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal
and will be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Dated: May 8, 2008.
Ronald W. Jablonski, Jr.,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. E8-10732 Filed 5-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M