From: Subject: FR Doc 2010-16325 Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 09:51:32 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="utf-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-16325.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5931 =EF=BB=BF FR Doc 2010-16325 
[Federal Register: July 6, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 128)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 38768-38770]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06jy10-28]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

=20
Ashley National Forest, UT, High Uintas Wilderness--Colorado=20
River Cutthroat Trout Habitat Enhancement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Ashley National Forest in cooperation with Utah Division=20
of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) proposes to restore genetically pure=20
Colorado River cutthroat trout (CRCT; Onchorhynchus clarki pleuriticus)=20
populations to suitable habitats within the High Uintas Wilderness.=20
Implementation of this proposal would require the use of rotenone (a=20
fish toxicant) to remove competing and hybridizing nonnative fish=20
species from selected streams and lakes within the High Uintas=20
Wilderness on the Roosevelt/Duchesne Ranger District. Nonnative fish=20
species to be removed are primarily brook trout (Salvelinus=20
fontinalis), Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Onchorhynchus clarki=20
bouvieri) and hybridized cutthroat trout. Removal of nonnative fish is=20
necessary to enhance habitat and restore genetically pure CRCT=20
populations to suitable habitats within the High Uintas Wilderness.
    Headwater subdrainages and basins proposed to be treated and=20
monitored over a period of ten or more years include selected lakes and=20
associated stream segments in the Garfield Basin and Swasey Hole in the=20
Yellowstone River drainage, Fish Creek (a tributary to Moon Lake),=20
Ottoson Basin and Oweep Creek in the Lake Fork River drainage, and Fall=20
Creek in the Rock Creek drainage.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received=20
by August 5, 2010. The draft environmental impact statement is expected=20
February 2011 and the final environmental impact statement is expected=20
June 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Ron Brunson, Roosevelt/Duchesne=20
Ranger District, P.O. Box 981, Duchesne, Utah 84021. Comments may also=20
be sent via e-mail to rbrunson@fs.fed.us, or via =
facsimile to (435)=20
781-5215.
    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.

[[Page 38769]]

    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Brunson at (435) 781-5202 or e-
mail rbrunson@fs.fed.us.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)=20
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339=20
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    The High Uintas Wilderness contains historic range and some of the=20
most remote and pristine habitat suitable for CRCT. However, nonnative=20
trout species threaten the continued existence of CRCT populations=20
within these headwater basins. Lakes and streams within headwater=20
basins were stategically selected based on essential habitat=20
characteristics. These characteristics primarily include the presence=20
of good spawning habitat which allows the persistance of self-
sustaining trout populations and the ability of the selected area to=20
resist re-invasion of nonnative trout species from reaches downstream=20
through the presence of migration barriers.
    CRCT are currently cooperatively managed as a conservation species=20
among the states of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, the U.S. Forest Service=20
(USFS), U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife=20
Service (USFWS) and the Ute Tribe Fish and Game Department. The CRCT is=20
designated as a species of special concern by Colorado and Wyoming, and=20
a Tier I specie in Utah (those species that are either federally listed=20
or for which a conservation agreement has been implemented). The CRCT=20
is classified as a sensitive species by Regions 2 and 4 of the USFS and=20
by the BLM in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.
    Expanding populations of nonnative brook trout, remnant populations=20
of Yellowstone cutthroat trout and cutthroat trout hybrids continue to=20
threaten populations of native CRCT within the High Uintas Wilderness=20
on the Ashley National Forest. Brook trout continue to displace CRCT=20
within suitable habitat and Yellowstone cutthroat trout and their=20
hybrids threaten genetically pure populations of CRCT with=20
hybridization.
    The underlying need for action is to remove competing brook trout=20
and preserve the integrity of genetically pure populations of native=20
CRCT. This would be accomplished by treating lakes and streams within=20
selected drainage basins with the piscicide rotenone to remove the=20
threat of competition and hybridization of nonnative trout. Following=20
treatment of selected waters, CRCT would be reintroduced through=20
stocking of fingerlings obtained from the well developed South Slope=20
brood population maintained in Sheep Creek Lake.
    The purpose statement includes goals to be achieved while meeting=20
the need for the project. These goals are used to evaluate alternatives=20
proposed to meet the need. The Forest Service will use the following=20
purposes to select among the alternatives:
     The Forest Service is a partner and signatory to the=20
Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Conservation Agreement and Strategy.=20
This action would help the Forest Service demonstrate support and=20
commitment to Colorado River cutthroat trout conservation efforts.
     Enhances administrative efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
     Avoids and minimizes adverse environmental impacts.
     Provides the potential to achieve the following biological=20
objectives:
    [cir] Preserve genetic integrity and enhance habitat for pure CRCT=20
populations in the High Uintas Wilderness.
    [cir] Eliminate from headwater lakes and their outflow streams, in=20
a timely manner, hybrid cutthroat trout and brook trout that threaten=20
genetic integrity and out compete CRCT.

Proposed Action

    The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in cooperation with the=20
Ashley National Forest propose to implement a long-term strategy to=20
treat selected lakes and streams within the High Uintas Wilderness with=20
piscicide (rotenone) to remove competing and hybridizing nonnative=20
trout species. The proposed project area encompasses three drainages=20
within the High Uintas Wilderness, including the Yellowstone River,=20
Lake Fork River and Rock Creek drainages. Within these drainages,=20
strategically selected lakes and streams would be treated.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    Utah Division of Wildlife Resources--Cooperating Agency.

Responsible Official

    Regional Forester--Intermountain Region (R4)

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decisions to be made include the approval of proposed=20
activities within the High Uintas Wilderness, the use of piscicides=20
(fish toxicants) within designated wilderness on National Forest System=20
Lands, seasonal and long-term timing of the action and method of=20
transport for materials, equipment, and personnel to treatment areas.=20
Because the majority of lakes and streams occur within wilderness,=20
methodologies and activities selected for implementation must conform=20
to special land use restrictions as much as possible. Based on the=20
environmental analyses presented in this document, the U.S. Forest=20
Service (FS) will decide whether to approve the use of fish toxins=20
within wilderness and whether to approve the short-term use of=20
aircraft, outboard motors, pumps, and mixers in the wilderness area.

Preliminary Issues

     Impacts to quality of fisheries and angling opportunities=20
may be caused by the proposed action. What is the extent and duration=20
of such impacts?
     Will the proposed action affect aquatic-dependent=20
organisms such as plankton, insects, and amphibians? Will threatened,=20
endangered, and sensitive species be impacted?
     How will dead fish impact lake habitat and wildlife?
     Will the use of fish toxins impact water quality in the=20
watershed, including drinking water for humans and animals?
     Is the use of fish toxins appropriate in the management of=20
wilderness areas?
     Should the use of aircraft, outboard motors, or any other=20
motorized/mechanized equipment in wilderness be authorized under the=20
administrative exemption clause to expedite the process?
     What economic impacts will be sustained by commercial=20
outfitters? What will be the short- and long-term effects to the local=20
tourism industry?

Permits or Licenses Required

    The proposed use of rotenone takes place on National Forest System=20
(NFS) lands on the Duchesne Ranger District of the Ashley National=20
Forest. Forest Service directives require that use of pesticides on NFS=20
lands be approved by the Forest Service and that a Pesticide Use=20
Proposal be submitted to and approved by the Forest Service.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides=20
the development of the environmental impact statement. In addition, a=20
public

[[Page 38770]]

notice requesting scoping comments was published in the newspaper of=20
record (Salt Lake Tribune) on May 3, 2010. On April 27, 2010, the=20
Ashley National Forest mailed a scoping letter and a project area map=20
to affected landowners, tribes, concerned citizens, special interest=20
groups, local governments, and any other interested parties to comment=20
on the scope of the proposed action. This information is also available=20
on our Web site http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR=
.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.fs.fed.us/r4/ashley/projects/=
.
    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.

    Dated: June 21, 2010.
Kevin B. Elliott,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2010-16325 Filed 7-2-10; 8:45 am]
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