Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Colorado, 18598-18599 [2015-07886]

Download as PDF 18598 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 66 / Tuesday, April 7, 2015 / Notices review the MAP regulations, which are available at the following URL address: https://www.fas.usda.gov/programs/ market-access-program-map. Hard copies may be obtained by contacting the Program Operations Division. 3. Reporting: FAS requires various reports and evaluations from MAP Participants. Reporting requirements are detailed in the MAP regulations in section 1485.22 and 1485.23. G. Federal Agency Contact(s) For additional information and assistance, contact the Program Operations Division, Office of Trade Programs, Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Courier address: Room 6512, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250, or by phone: (202) 720–4327, or by fax: (202) 720–9361, or by email: uesadmin@fas.usda.gov. Signed at Washington, DC, on the 1st of April 2015. Asif Chaudhry, Acting Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. [FR Doc. 2015–07941 Filed 4–6–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE CODE 3410–10–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Information Collection; Community Forest and Open Space Program Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice; request for comment. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service (FS) is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the extension with no revision of a currently approved information collection; Community Forest and Open Space Program. The Agency is in the process of a proposed rule revision that will include a new information collection request; when the revised rule is final, the Agency will merge the new information collection with this information collection. DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before June 15, 2015 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Maya Solomon, USDA Forest Service, Cooperative Forestry Staff, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Mailstop 1123, Washington, DC 20250. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:46 Apr 06, 2015 Jkt 235001 Comments may also be submitted electronically via email to communityforest@fs.fed.us. If comments are sent electronically, do not duplicate via regular mail. The public may inspect comments received at the USDA Forest Service, Yates Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, Washington, DC during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to facilitate entry into the building. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maya Solomon, Forest Legacy Program Specialist, by phone at 202–206–1376. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Community Forest and Open Space Program. OMB Number: 0596–0189. Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2015. Type of Request: Extension with no change. Abstract: The purpose of Community Forest Program is to achieve community benefits through grants to local governments, Tribal Governments, and qualified nonprofit organizations to establish community forests by acquiring and protecting private forestlands. This proposed rule includes information requirements necessary to implement Community Forest Program and comply with grants regulations and OMB Circulars. The information requirements will be used to help the Forest Service in the following areas: (1) To determine that the applicant is eligible to receive funds under the program, (2) to determine if the proposal meets the qualifications in the law and regulations, (3) to evaluate and rank the proposals based on a standard, consistent information; and (4) to determine if the projects costs are allowable and sufficient cost share is provided. Local governmental entities, Tribal Governments, and qualified nonprofit organizations are the only entities eligible for the program, and therefore are the only organizations from which information will be collected. The information collection currently required for a request for proposals and grant application is approved and has been assigned the OMB Control No. 0596–0227. Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 150. Estimated Burden per Response: 22. Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1. PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 150. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,778 hours. Comment Is Invited Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the Agency’s estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. All comments received in response to this notice, including names and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. Comments will be summarized and included in the request for Office of Management and Budget approval. Dated: April 1, 2015. Victoria C. Christiansen, Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry. [FR Doc. 2015–07996 Filed 4–6–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Colorado Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement. AGENCY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is initiating a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) to propose reinstatement of the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception of the Colorado Roadless Rule. The exception would allow for temporary road construction for coal exploration and/or coal-related surface activities in a 19,100-acre area defined as the North Fork Coal Mining Area. The Forest Service will use the SEIS to address specific deficiencies identified by the District Court of Colorado in High Country Conservation Advocates v. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\07APN1.SGM 07APN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 66 / Tuesday, April 7, 2015 / Notices United States Forest Service (D. Colo. June 27, 2014). DATES: Comments must be received in writing by May 22, 2015. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically at https:// cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ CommentInput?Project=46470. In addition written comments can be submitted via hard-copy mail to: Colorado Roadless Rule, 740 Simms Street, Golden, CO 80401. All comments, including names and addresses, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Tu at 303–275–5156. Individuals using telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Services at 1–800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 3, 2012 (77 FR 39576), the U.S. Department of Agriculture promulgated the Colorado Roadless Rule, a statespecific regulation for management of Colorado Roadless Areas. This Rule addressed State-specific concerns while conserving roadless area characteristics. One State-specific concern was to avoid foreclosing exploration and development of coal resources on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests. The Colorado Roadless Rule addressed this by defining a 19,100-acre area as the North Fork Coal Mining Area, and developing an exception that allows temporary road construction for coalrelated activities within that defined area. In July 2013, High Country Conservation Advocates, WildEarth Guardians, and Sierra Club challenged the Forest Service’s decision to consent to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) modifying two existing coal leases, the BLM’s companion decision to modify the leases, BLM’s authorization of an exploration plan in the lease modification areas, and the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception of the Colorado Roadless Rule. In June 2014, the District Court of Colorado found the environmental documents supporting the four decisions to be in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) due to analysis deficiencies. In September 2014, the District Court of Colorado vacated the lease modifications, the exploration plan, and the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception of the Colorado Roadless Rule (36 CFR 294.43(c)(1)(ix)). This supplemental NEPA process will only address the Colorado Roadless VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:46 Apr 06, 2015 Jkt 235001 Rule. The lease modifications and exploration plan authorization will be addressed in future environmental analyses, if needed. Purpose and Need The purpose and need for this supplemental EIS is to provide management direction for conserving roadless characteristics within the area while addressing the State interest in not foreclosing exploration and development of the coal resources in the North Fork Coal Mining Area. Proposed Action The proposed action for the Colorado Roadless Rule supplemental is to reinstate the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception as written in 36 CFR 294.43(c)(1)(ix). In addition, the Forest Service is proposing to administratively correct the North Fork Coal Mining Area boundary to remedy clerical errors. Alternative to the Proposed Action The other alternative being considered is the no-action alternative, which is the continuation of current management following the District Court ruling to vacate the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception. The Colorado Roadless Rule contains a severability clause (36 CFR 294.48(f)), which allows the rest of the Rule to remain in effect. Therefore, the District Court of Colorado’s ruling only changed management of Colorado Roadless Areas in the North Fork Coal Mining Area. Currently, the North Fork Coal Mining Area is being managed the same as other non-upper tier Colorado Roadless Areas. Valid existing coal leases would operate according the terms of their leases. Cooperating Agencies The Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the BLM will participate as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the SEIS. Responsible Official The Responsible Official for the rulemaking and SEIS is the Secretary of Agriculture or his designee. Decision To Be Made The Responsible Official will determine whether to reinstate the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception, or continue to manage the area without the exception. In addition, the Forest Service will determine if corrections to the North Fork Coal Mining Area boundary should be made to adjust for clerical errors. Scoping Process The Forest Service is seeking public comments for 45 days from the PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 18599 publication date of this notice. Comments should be limited to issues related to the proposed action, which is limited only to reinstating the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception of the Colorado Roadless Rule. The Forest Service is not seeking comments on the other portions of the Colorado Roadless Rule, roadless area boundary modifications, or other roadless areas in Colorado. Due to the extensive public participation process that occurred with the development of the Colorado Roadless Rule, no public meetings are planned for this 45 day scoping effort. However, public meetings may be held in Denver and Paonia, Colorado after the release of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) and proposed rule. Estimated Timeline The SDEIS and proposed rule is estimated to be released in early fall 2015. The Supplemental Final EIS is estimated spring 2016. Brian Ferebee, Deputy Regional Forester, Rocky Mountain Region. [FR Doc. 2015–07886 Filed 4–6–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Notice of Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis Nacimiento Mine Site, Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of Settlement. AGENCY: In accordance with Section 122(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), notice is hereby given of an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (ASAOC), between the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (Forest Service) and Williams Express LLC (Williams), under Sections 104, 107 and 122 of CERCLA, regarding the Nacimiento Mine Site located on the Santa Fe National Forest near Cuba, New Mexico. The property that is the subject of this proposed ASAOC is areas where hazardous substances and/or pollutants or contaminants are located on the surface features of the federally owned portion of the Site designated as Operable Unit 1 (OU1). SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\07APN1.SGM 07APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18598-18599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07886]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in 
Colorado

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact 
statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is initiating a 
supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) to propose 
reinstatement of the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception of the 
Colorado Roadless Rule. The exception would allow for temporary road 
construction for coal exploration and/or coal-related surface 
activities in a 19,100-acre area defined as the North Fork Coal Mining 
Area. The Forest Service will use the SEIS to address specific 
deficiencies identified by the District Court of Colorado in High 
Country Conservation Advocates v.

[[Page 18599]]

United States Forest Service (D. Colo. June 27, 2014).

DATES: Comments must be received in writing by May 22, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?Project=46470. In 
addition written comments can be submitted via hard-copy mail to: 
Colorado Roadless Rule, 740 Simms Street, Golden, CO 80401.
    All comments, including names and addresses, are placed in the 
record and are available for public inspection and copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Tu at 303-275-5156. Individuals 
using telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Services at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. 
Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 3, 2012 (77 FR 39576), the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture promulgated the Colorado Roadless Rule, a 
state-specific regulation for management of Colorado Roadless Areas. 
This Rule addressed State-specific concerns while conserving roadless 
area characteristics. One State-specific concern was to avoid 
foreclosing exploration and development of coal resources on the Grand 
Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests. The Colorado 
Roadless Rule addressed this by defining a 19,100-acre area as the 
North Fork Coal Mining Area, and developing an exception that allows 
temporary road construction for coal-related activities within that 
defined area.
    In July 2013, High Country Conservation Advocates, WildEarth 
Guardians, and Sierra Club challenged the Forest Service's decision to 
consent to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) modifying two existing 
coal leases, the BLM's companion decision to modify the leases, BLM's 
authorization of an exploration plan in the lease modification areas, 
and the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception of the Colorado Roadless 
Rule. In June 2014, the District Court of Colorado found the 
environmental documents supporting the four decisions to be in 
violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) due to 
analysis deficiencies. In September 2014, the District Court of 
Colorado vacated the lease modifications, the exploration plan, and the 
North Fork Coal Mining Area exception of the Colorado Roadless Rule (36 
CFR 294.43(c)(1)(ix)).
    This supplemental NEPA process will only address the Colorado 
Roadless Rule. The lease modifications and exploration plan 
authorization will be addressed in future environmental analyses, if 
needed.

Purpose and Need

    The purpose and need for this supplemental EIS is to provide 
management direction for conserving roadless characteristics within the 
area while addressing the State interest in not foreclosing exploration 
and development of the coal resources in the North Fork Coal Mining 
Area.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action for the Colorado Roadless Rule supplemental is 
to reinstate the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception as written in 36 
CFR 294.43(c)(1)(ix). In addition, the Forest Service is proposing to 
administratively correct the North Fork Coal Mining Area boundary to 
remedy clerical errors.

Alternative to the Proposed Action

    The other alternative being considered is the no-action 
alternative, which is the continuation of current management following 
the District Court ruling to vacate the North Fork Coal Mining Area 
exception. The Colorado Roadless Rule contains a severability clause 
(36 CFR 294.48(f)), which allows the rest of the Rule to remain in 
effect. Therefore, the District Court of Colorado's ruling only changed 
management of Colorado Roadless Areas in the North Fork Coal Mining 
Area. Currently, the North Fork Coal Mining Area is being managed the 
same as other non-upper tier Colorado Roadless Areas. Valid existing 
coal leases would operate according the terms of their leases.

Cooperating Agencies

    The Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the BLM will 
participate as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the SEIS.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official for the rulemaking and SEIS is the 
Secretary of Agriculture or his designee.

Decision To Be Made

    The Responsible Official will determine whether to reinstate the 
North Fork Coal Mining Area exception, or continue to manage the area 
without the exception. In addition, the Forest Service will determine 
if corrections to the North Fork Coal Mining Area boundary should be 
made to adjust for clerical errors.

Scoping Process

    The Forest Service is seeking public comments for 45 days from the 
publication date of this notice. Comments should be limited to issues 
related to the proposed action, which is limited only to reinstating 
the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception of the Colorado Roadless 
Rule. The Forest Service is not seeking comments on the other portions 
of the Colorado Roadless Rule, roadless area boundary modifications, or 
other roadless areas in Colorado.
    Due to the extensive public participation process that occurred 
with the development of the Colorado Roadless Rule, no public meetings 
are planned for this 45 day scoping effort. However, public meetings 
may be held in Denver and Paonia, Colorado after the release of the 
Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) and proposed 
rule.

Estimated Timeline

    The SDEIS and proposed rule is estimated to be released in early 
fall 2015. The Supplemental Final EIS is estimated spring 2016.

Brian Ferebee,
Deputy Regional Forester, Rocky Mountain Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-07886 Filed 4-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE CODE 3410-11-P
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