[Federal Register: June 12, 2009 (Volume 74, Number = 112)] [Notices] =20 [Page 28007-28008] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr12jn09-29] =20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service =20 Black Hills National Forest, Mystic Ranger District, SD, Mystic=20 Range Project AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact=20 statement on a proposal to evaluate grazing on eight (8) allotments on=20 the Black Hills National Forest, Mystic Ranger District comprising=20 approximately 85,055 acres within the constraints of the Black Hills=20 National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, as amended. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of analysis must be received by=20 July 13, 2009. The draft environmental impact statement is expected=20 September 2009 and the final environmental impact statement is expected=20 December 2009. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Robert J. Thompson, District=20 Ranger, Black Hills National Forest, Mystic Ranger District, Mystic=20 Range Project, 8221 South Highway 16, Rapid City, South Dakota 57702.=20 Comments may also be sent via e-mail to comm= ents-rocky-mountain-black- hills-mystic@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to (605) 343-7134. Please = list=20 ``Mystic Range'' as the subject on comments sent via e-mail or=20 facsimile. Electronic comments must be readable in Word, Rich Text, or=20 PDF formats. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times=20 and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of=20 the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of=20 the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's=20 concerns and contentions. The submission of timely and specific=20 comments can affect a reviewer's ability to participate in subsequent=20 administrative review or judicial review. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names=20 and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record=20 for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be=20 accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide=20 the respondent with standing to participate in subsequent=20 administrative review or judicial review. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have any questions or need=20 additional information, please contact Mark Vedder, Range Specialist;=20 Katie Van Alstyne, Team Leader; or Robert J. Thompson, District Ranger,=20 at the Mystic Ranger District office in Rapid City at (605) 343-1567. Individiuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)=20 may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8330=20 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Purpose and Need for Action The purpose of this project is to authorize livestock grazing on=20 all or part of the project area and to ensure that livestock grazing=20 occurs in an enviromentally acceptable manner. The EIS will determine=20 current conditions, analyze environmental consequences of grazing=20 mangement actions on those conditions, and assist the decisionmaker in=20 selecting mangement/monitoring strategies consistent with meeting=20 desired conditions in the Forest Plan. The underlying needs for this proposal include:Improve livestock management so that it is consistent with=20 the goals, objectives, standards, and guidelines of the Forest Plan, as=20 amended. Improve species composition of upland vegetation. Improve streambank stability. Improve riparian vegetation diversity and abundance. Reduce opportunities for cattle conflicts with vehicle=20 traffic. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Action The Proposed Action is designed to maintain or improve resource=20 conditions in rangeland health, vegetation, watershed conditions,=20 designated Botanical Areas, and wildlife habitat relative to livestock=20 grazing. Some grazing practices would be changed to resolve grazing=20 related issues. Proposed range improvements include water developments,=20 fencing (for highway, pasture/allotment boundary, and/or riparian=20 exclosure purposes), cattleguards, corrals, stream [[Page 28008]] restoration structures, and construct, bury new and/or existing=20 pipeline. It provides for a range of alternate actions that may be=20 selected from to achieve desired conditions in an acceptable timeframe.=20 This approach is known as ``Adaptive Management.'' Some grazing=20 practices would be changed to resolve grazing related resource issues. Successful Adaptive Management requires timely monitoring of=20 resource conditions and trends. The Proposed Action also includes a=20 monitoring plan for each allotment designed to focus on specific areas=20 with livestock related resource problems. If monitoring results=20 indicate that resource problems persist, adaptive management options=20 are identified that would be implemented in cooperation with each=20 permittee to effect improvement in resource conditions. Possible Alternatives The Current Management Alternative would not change existing=20 permitted livestock grazing. The No Grazing Alternative would eliminate=20 any livestock grazing on the project area. Responsible Official Robert J. Thompson, District Ranger, Mystic Ranger District, Black=20 Hills National Forest, 8221 South Highway 16, Rapid City, SD 57702. Nature of Decision To Be Made The decision to be made is whether to continue to permit livestock=20 grazing on all, part, or none of these allotments and, if so, under=20 what terms and conditions to ensure that desired condition objectives=20 are met, or that movement occurs toward those objectives. Preliminary Issues Anticipated issues include: Support and opposition to livestock=20 grazing; impacts of livestock grazing on wildlife habitat, riparian=20 areas, and streambank stability. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides=20 the development of the environmental impact statement. Comments and=20 input regarding the proposal will be received via direct mailing from=20 the public, other groups, and agencies during the initial public=20 comment period in June of 2009. Comments submitted based on this NOI=20 will be most useful if received within 30 days from the date of this=20 notice. Response to the Draft EIS will be sought from the interested=20 public beginning in August 2009. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times=20 and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of=20 the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be=20 provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly=20 articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. The submission of=20 timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to=20 participate in subsequent administrative appeal or judicial review. Dated: June 4, 2009. Craig Bobzien, Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest. [FR Doc. E9-13690 Filed 6-11-09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M