[Federal Register: April 28, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 80)]
[Notices]
[Page 19193-19195]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28ap09-23]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Alpine, Black Mesa, Clifton, and Lakeside Ranger Districts of the
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, Mogollon Rim and Red Rock Ranger
Districts of the Coconino National Forest and Verde Ranger District of
the Prescott National Forest; Show Low South Land Exchange
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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[[Page 19194]]
SUMMARY: The Forest Service, USDA will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) on a proposal to exchange approximately 1,028 acres of
Federal lands for approximately 1,555 acres of non-Federal lands. The
EIS will analyze the proposed exchange of the Federal lands described
as Sierra Blanca Ranch Adjustment, City of Show Low, Show Low South,
and Soda Springs Ranch Adjustment parcels for the non-Federal lands
described as Sierra Blanca Ranch, Sprucedale, Alder Peak, Juan Miller,
Leonard Canyon, Soda Springs Ranch, Cherry, Sponseller Ranch, and
Railroad parcels. The Federal and non-Federal lands proposed for
exchange are located in Apache, Coconino, Greenlee, Navajo, and Yavapai
Counties, Arizona. The affected Forest Service units are the Alpine,
Black Mesa, Clifton, and Lakeside Ranger Districts of the Apache-
Sitgreaves National Forests, the Mogollon Rim and Red Rock Ranger
Districts of the Coconino National Forest, and the Verde Ranger
District of the Prescott National Forest. The exchange would occur with
First American Title Insurance Company, Trustee, under Trust 8667, on
behalf of SL Land Exchange, LLC. Implementation of the proposed
exchange is scheduled for May 2010. The Apache-Sitgreaves National
Forest Supervisor invites the public to submit comments on the proposal
and suggestions on the scope of the proposed exchange. The Forest
Supervisor also invites the public to participate in the environmental
analysis and decision-making process for the proposed exchange of
lands.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
30 days from date of publication in the Federal Register. The draft
environmental impact statement is expected January 2010 and the final
environmental impact statement is expected March 2010.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Bruce Buttrey, Natural Resources
Specialist, Springerville Ranger District, Apache-Sitgreaves National
Forest, c/o EnviroSystems Management, Inc, 23 East Fine Avenue,
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to
comments-southwestern-apache-sitgreaves@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to
(928) 333-4182.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's
concerns and contentions. The submission of timely and specific
comments can affect a reviewer's ability to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide
the respondent with standing to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Buttrey, Natural Resource
Specialist, at bbuttrey@fs.fed.us or (928) 331-4372.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The proposal to exchange lands in the Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino,
and Prescott National Forests responds to the Forest Service's need for
consolidation of Federal land ownership patterns and the need to
enhance management of the public's natural resources. There is a need
to acquire lands that (1) protect habitat for several threatened,
endangered, and sensitive species, (2) facilitate public access to
Federal lands, (3) improve wetlands, floodplains, and riparian areas,
(4) decrease the complexity of maintaining property boundaries, and (5)
improve the efficiency of resource management by focusing the Forest's
funding and staff on consolidated ownerships.
Proposed Action
The Forest Supervisor proposes to exchange approximately 1,028
acres of Federal lands for approximately 1,555 acres of non-Federal
lands. The Federal lands proposed for exchange are located in Apache,
Navajo, and Yavapai Counties, Arizona; the non-Federal lands proposed
for exchange are located in Apache, Coconino, Greenlee, Navajo, and
Yavapai Counties, Arizona. The affected Forest Service units are the
Alpine, Black Mesa, Clifton, and Lakeside Ranger Districts of the
Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, the Mogollon Rim and Red Rock
Ranger Districts of the Coconino National Forest, and the Verde Ranger
District of the Prescott National Forest. All acreages in this proposal
are approximate. The United States of America would convey fee title to
First American Title Insurance Company, Trustee, under Trust 8667 for
the approximate acreages of the 2-acre Sierra Blanca Ranch Adjustment
Parcel in the Apache National Forest; the 70-acre City of Show Low
Parcel and the 948-acre Show Low South Parcel in the Sitgreaves
National Forest; and the 8-acre Soda Springs Ranch Adjustment Parcel in
the Coconino National Forest. First American Title Insurance Company,
Trustee, under Trust 8667 would convey fee title to the United States
of America for the approximate acreages of the 152-acre Sierra Black
Ranch Parcel, 70-acre Sprucedale Parcel, 160-acre Alder Peak Parcel,
and 120-acre Juan Miller Parcel in the Apache National Forest; the 118-
acre Sponseller Parcel and 22-acre Railroad Parcel in the Sitgreaves
National Forest; the 640.00 acre Leonard Canyon Parcel and 157-acre
Soda Springs Ranch Parcel in the Coconino National Forest; and the 117-
acre Cherry Parcel in the Prescott National Forest. The proposed
exchange of lands does not require an amendment to the Apache-
Sitgreaves National Forests Land and Resource Management Plan. Pursuant
to the regulations for land exchanges (36 CFR 254.3(f)): ``Lands
acquired by exchange that are located within areas having an
administrative designation established through the land management
planning process shall automatically become part of the area within
which they are located, without further action by the Forest Service,
and shall be managed in accordance with the laws, rules, and
regulations, and land and resource management plan applicable to such
area.''
Possible Alternatives
A full range of alternatives to the proposed action, including a
no-action alternative, will be considered during the environmental
analysis and will be discussed in the EIS. The no-action alternative
represents no change from the current pattern of land ownership, and it
serves as the baseline for the comparison among the action
alternatives.
Responsible Official
The Responsible Official is the Forest Supervisor, Apache-
Sitgreaves National Forests. He will review all issues, alternatives,
and environmental consequences associated with the analysis; consider
all public comments and response; and comply with all policies,
regulations, and laws in making a decision regarding the proposed
exchange of lands
[[Page 19195]]
documented in the final EIS for the Show Low South Land Exchange. The
Responsible Official will document his decision and rationale for the
decision in a Record of Decision (ROD). His decision will be subject to
public notice, review, comment, and appeal under the Forest Service
Regulations for Notice, Comment, and Appeal Procedures for National
Forest System projects and Activities at 36 CFR part 215.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Forest Service will determine if the lands to be exchanged are
desirable, in the public interest, and suitable for inclusion in the
National Forest System. Land exchanges are discretionary, voluntary
real estate transactions between the Federal and non-Federal parties.
The exchange can only be completed after the authorized officer
determines that the exchanges meets the requirements at 36 CFR
254.3(b): (1) The resource values and the public objectives served by
non-Federal lands and interests to be acquired are equal to or exceed
the resource values and public objectives served by the Federal lands
to be disposed, and (2) the intended use of the disposed Federal lands
will not substantially conflict with established management objectives
on adjacent Federal lands, including Indian Trust Lands. Lands will be
exchanged on a value for value basis, based on current fair market
value appraisals. The appraisal is prepared in accordance with the
Uniform Appraisal Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and the
Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisition. The appraisal
prepared for the land exchange is reviewed by a qualified review
appraiser to ensure that it is fair and complies with the appropriate
standards. Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976,
all exchanges must be equal in value. Forest Service regulations at 36
CFR 254.3 require that exchanges must be of equal value or equalized
pursuant to 36 CFR 254.12 by cash payment after making all reasonable
efforts to equalize values by deleting lands. If lands proposed for
exchange are not equal in value, either party may make them equal by
cash payment not to exceed 25 percent of the Federal land value. A
value consultation by the Regional Appraiser, November 25, 2008
concluded that it appears that the exchange is structured with
flexibility to comply with the equal value requirement of the Federal
Land Policy Management Act (FLMPA), as amended.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. Scoping will
include notice in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests' Quarterly
Schedule of Proposed Actions; distribution of letters to individuals,
organizations, and agencies who have previously indicated interest in
the Show Low South Land Exchange; communication with Tribal interests;
and publication of news releases in the White Mountain Independent and
The Arizona Republic, the newspaper of record, for Regional Forester
decisions for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Any news releases
will also be distributed to other local newspapers that serve areas
affected by this proposal. A public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,
April 28, 2009, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Show Low Library, 180
North 9th Street, Show Low, AZ 85901. This meeting and any future
public meetings will have a notice of time and location provided to
newspapers that serve areas affected by this proposal. The scoping
process will include identifying any key issues and previously unknown
potential environmental effects of the proposed action.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. The submission of
timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to
participate in subsequent administrative appeal or judicial review.
Dated: April 17, 2009.
Chris Knopp,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9-9617 Filed 4-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M