Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Rock Creek Integrated Management Project, 32565-32566 [05-11088]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 106 / Friday, June 3, 2005 / Notices near the College Park Metro Station, or parking is available nearby for $2.25. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM CONTACT: John Carter, Farm Service Agency, USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., STOP 0513, Washington, DC 20250–0513; telephone: (202) 720– 8774; FAX (202) 720–4619; e-mail: john.carter@wdc.uda.gov. FOR FURTHER MEETING INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Ponish, Farm Service Agency, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., STOP 0513, Washington, DC 20250–0513; telephone: (202) 720–6853; FAX: (202) 720–4619; e-mail: matthew.ponish@wdc.usda.gov regarding conference questions. Persons with disabilities who require special accommodation to attend or participate in the conference should contact Toni Paris, telephone: (301) 734–8010 by June 16, 2005. CONFERENCE REGISTRATION: Meeting attendees must register in advance online at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/ cepd/public_meeting/register.htm. There is no charge to attend the meeting. Because space is limited and for security purposes, advance registration is required and all attendees will need to present a valid picture ID to enter the building. Conference details, including registration, meeting agenda, hotel accommodations and directions are available on FSA’s Web site at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/dafp/ cepd/public_meeting/information.htm or from Matthew Ponish at (202) 720– 6853; e-mail: matthew.ponish@wdc.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: First established in 1985, the CRP is a voluntary program, funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), encouraging farmers to implement conservation practices on environmentally-sensitive agricultural land to reduce soil erosion, protect water quality and enhance wildlife habitat. The CRP has provided significant environmental benefits across the nation, primarily by providing wildlife habitat, improving stream quality, and reducing soil erosion. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is committed to full enrollment up to the authorized level of 39.2 million acres. To ensure that the environmental benefits of CRP continue, and because of the significant number of contract expirations beginning in 2007, the FSA will offer early re-enrollments and extensions of existing contracts to current CRP participants. About 35 million acres are currently enrolled in the CRP. Over 16 million acres of CRP contracts expire in 2007, VerDate jul<14>2003 18:03 Jun 02, 2005 Jkt 205001 over 6 million acres expire in 2008, and 6 million acres in 2009 and 2010. Determining the future direction of the CRP is thus critical. CCC published a notice in the Federal Register on August 10, 2004 [69 FR 48447] seeking public comment on a number of issues involving the large number of expiring CRP contracts, such as how to best stagger contract expirations using re-enrollments and extensions over several years and under what criteria. In response to the FR notice, CCC received over 5,000 comments from a total of 570 individuals, agencies, and organizations. A majority of the comments received pertained to extending a contract for a certain length of time (question 1) and renewing a contract without competition (question 5). However, before proceeding with changes in the CRP implementation, CCC has determined that a public meeting should be held in order to solicit additional comments as well as provide a forum for open discussion of the following two topics: Topic 1. How should CCC address the large number of expiring CRP contracts and their associated acres in a manner that achieves the most environmental benefits but is also administratively feasible and cost-effective? What methods should be pursued that would address the large acreage expiring beginning in 2007 (for example, how could CCC stagger the contract expirations over several-year intervals and what criteria could CCC use to select and extend contracts)? Topic 2. If CCC offered CRP reenrollment without competition, how could it ensure that program goals are achieved in a manner that results in the most environmental benefits but is also administratively feasible and cost effective? How could CCC determine which contracts and acres would be most environmentally valuable to reenroll in the CRP without competition through a standard Environmental Benefits Index ranking process? The meeting will be structured around the two primary issues regarding expiring contracts and re-enrollment. Information and presentations will help establish the scope of the meeting and focus the facilitated discussion on the primary topics outlined in this notice. AGENDA: Signed in Washington, DC May 26, 2005. James R. Little, Administrator, Farm Service Agency. [FR Doc. 05–11128 Filed 5–31–05; 3:18 pm] BILLING CODE 3410–05–P PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 32565 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CO–140–1610–DS] Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Rock Creek Integrated Management Project Forest Service, USDA, and Bureau of Land Management, USDI. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, National Forest Management Act of 1976, and Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared for the Rock Creek Integrated Management Project and is available for a 60-day public review and comment period. The planning area lies in Routt County, Colorado. This project is an ‘‘authorized project’’ under Title I of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA). DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS will be accepted for 60 days following the date EPA publishes their NOA in the FR. Future public meetings and any other public involvement activities will be announced at least 15 days in advance through public notices, local media releases in Steamboat Springs, Glenwood Springs, and the project Web site at https://www.fs.fed.us/ r2/mbr/project under Environmental Analysis and Forest Health. When submitting comments please include your full name and address. Submit comments in Microsoft Word 2000 file format or as an ASCII file, avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: Web site: https://www.fs.fed.us/r2/ mbr/projects under Environmental Analysis and Forest Health. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the Web site. E-mail: comments-rocky-mountainmedicine-bow-routt-yampa@fs.fed.us. Include ‘‘Rock Creek’’ in the subject line of the e-mail message. Fax: (970) 870–2284. Mail or Hand Delivery: Joanne Sanfilippo, Environmental Coordinator, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, 925 Weiss Drive, Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80487. Written comments, including names and addresses of recipients, will be E:\FR\FM\03JNN1.SGM 03JNN1 32566 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 106 / Friday, June 3, 2005 / Notices available for public review at the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest Office, 925 Weiss Drive, Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80487, during normal working hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanne Sanfilippo (970–870–2210) or Andy Cadenhead (970–870–2220), Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, 925 Weiss Drive, Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80487 or Karl Mendonca (970– 947–2811), Bureau of Land Management, Glenwood Springs Field Office, 50629 Highway 6 & 24, Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81602. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Between 2002 and 2003, Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) activity in the drought-stressed Gore Pass Geographic Area increased 20-fold. A multidisciplinary, focused assessment was completed that identified the probability of a largescale, high intensity beetle epidemic and fires that will threaten hydrologic flows, timber, wildlife habitats, developed recreation sites, administrative sites, the transportation system, heritage sites, off-site urban development, and other values. The interdisciplinary team identified potential management actions using prevention, suppression, and salvage strategies to reduce the beetle infestations and minimize adverse effects to resources. Insect epidemics are one of the natural processes in forested landscapes. Some uses of the forest are compromised by tree mortality resulting from insect attacks. Recreation, wood product production, scenery, wildlife habitats and water resources are all adversely affected by large scale insect epidemics and the subsequent increased risk of these areas to large high intensity wildfires. The purpose of the Proposed Action is to reduce the size and intensity of an existing and imminent mountain pine beetle epidemic, and to reduce the future risk of large-scale high intensity wildfires within the Rock Creek Analysis Area. The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests is the lead agency. The Glenwood Springs Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management is the joint lead agency for the Rock Creek Integrated Management Project. To assist the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in identifying and considering issues and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft EIS should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the draft statement. VerDate jul<14>2003 18:03 Jun 02, 2005 Jkt 205001 Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft EIS 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. Healthy Forests Restoration Act Predecisional Review (Objection) Process HFRA [Section 105(a)] replaces the USDA Forest Service’s and Bureau of Land Management’s administrative appeals process with an objection process that occurs before the decision approving authorized fuel-reduction projects under the act. Participation in the predecisional review process is limited to individuals and organizations who have submitted specific written comments related to the proposed authorized hazardous fuel reduction project during the opportunity for public comment provided when an environmental (EA) or EIS is being prepared for the project [Section 105(a)(3), 36 CFR 218.6]. Written objections, including any attachments, must be filed with the reviewing officer within 30 days after the publication date of the legal notice of the EA or final EIS in the newspaper of record [Section 218.4(b)]. It is the responsibility of the objectors to ensure that their objection is received in a timely manner. Dated: April 8, 2005. Oscar P. Martinez, District Ranger, Yampa Ranger District, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, USDA Forest Service. Dated: April 8, 2005. Jamie Connell, Area Manager, Glenwood Springs Field Office, USDI Bureau of Land Management. [FR Doc. 05–11088 Filed 6–2–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Natural Resources Conservation Service Notice of Proposed Changes to Section IV of the Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Michigan Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Michigan, U.S. Department of Agriculture. ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed changes in NRCS-Michigan FOTG, Section IV for review and comment. SUMMARY: It is the intention of NRCS in Michigan to issue revised conservation practice standards in Section IV of the FOTG. The revised standards include: Access Road (560) Closure of Waste Impoundments (360) Forage Harvest Management (511) Heavy Use Protection Area (561) Irrigation System, Sprinkler (442) Manure Transfer (634) Nutrient Management (590) Pasture and Hay Planting (512) Prescribed Grazing (528) Sediment Basin (350) Stream Crossing (578) Stripcropping (585) Structure for Water Control (587) Subsurface Drain (606) Waste Facility Cover (347) Well Decommissioning (351) DATES: Comments will be received for a 30-day period commencing with this date of publication. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Inquire in writing to Kevin Wickey, Assistant State ConservationistTechnology, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 3001 Coolidge Road, Suite 250, East Lansing, MI 48823. Copies of these standards will be made available upon written request. You may submit electronic requests and comments to Kevin.Wickey@mi.usda.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Wickey (517) 324–5279. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 393 of the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 states that revisions made after enactment of the law, to NRCS state technical guides used to carry out highly erodible land and wetland provisions of the law, shall be made available for public review and comment. For the next 30 days, the NRCS in Michigan will receive comments relative to the proposed changes. Following that period, a determination will be made by the NRCS in Michigan regarding disposition of those comments and a final determination of change will be made. Dated: May 13, 2005. John A. Bricker, State Conservationist, East Lansing, Michigan. [FR Doc. 05–11025 Filed 6–2–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–16–P E:\FR\FM\03JNN1.SGM 03JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 106 (Friday, June 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32565-32566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11088]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO-140-1610-DS]


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Rock Creek Integrated Management Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA, and Bureau of Land Management, USDI.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, National Forest Management Act of 1976, and Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared for the Rock Creek Integrated 
Management Project and is available for a 60-day public review and 
comment period. The planning area lies in Routt County, Colorado. This 
project is an ``authorized project'' under Title I of the Healthy 
Forest Restoration Act (HFRA).

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS will be accepted for 60 days 
following the date EPA publishes their NOA in the FR. Future public 
meetings and any other public involvement activities will be announced 
at least 15 days in advance through public notices, local media 
releases in Steamboat Springs, Glenwood Springs, and the project Web 
site at https://www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/project under Environmental 
Analysis and Forest Health.
    When submitting comments please include your full name and address. 
Submit comments in Microsoft Word 2000 file format or as an ASCII file, 
avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
    Web site: https://www.fs.fed.us/r2/mbr/projects under Environmental 
Analysis and Forest Health. Follow the instructions for submitting 
comments on the Web site.
    E-mail: comments-rocky-mountain-medicine-bow-routt-yampa@fs.fed.us. 
Include ``Rock Creek'' in the subject line of the e-mail message.
    Fax: (970) 870-2284.
    Mail or Hand Delivery: Joanne Sanfilippo, Environmental 
Coordinator, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, 925 Weiss Drive, 
Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80487.
    Written comments, including names and addresses of recipients, will 
be

[[Page 32566]]

available for public review at the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest 
Office, 925 Weiss Drive, Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80487, during 
normal working hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanne Sanfilippo (970-870-2210) or 
Andy Cadenhead (970-870-2220), Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, 925 
Weiss Drive, Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80487 or Karl Mendonca (970-
947-2811), Bureau of Land Management, Glenwood Springs Field Office, 
50629 Highway 6 & 24, Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81602.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Between 2002 and 2003, Mountain Pine Beetle 
(MPB) activity in the drought-stressed Gore Pass Geographic Area 
increased 20-fold. A multidisciplinary, focused assessment was 
completed that identified the probability of a large-scale, high 
intensity beetle epidemic and fires that will threaten hydrologic 
flows, timber, wildlife habitats, developed recreation sites, 
administrative sites, the transportation system, heritage sites, off-
site urban development, and other values. The interdisciplinary team 
identified potential management actions using prevention, suppression, 
and salvage strategies to reduce the beetle infestations and minimize 
adverse effects to resources.
    Insect epidemics are one of the natural processes in forested 
landscapes. Some uses of the forest are compromised by tree mortality 
resulting from insect attacks. Recreation, wood product production, 
scenery, wildlife habitats and water resources are all adversely 
affected by large scale insect epidemics and the subsequent increased 
risk of these areas to large high intensity wildfires.
    The purpose of the Proposed Action is to reduce the size and 
intensity of an existing and imminent mountain pine beetle epidemic, 
and to reduce the future risk of large-scale high intensity wildfires 
within the Rock Creek Analysis Area.
    The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests is the lead agency. The 
Glenwood Springs Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management is the 
joint lead agency for the Rock Creek Integrated Management Project.
    To assist the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in 
identifying and considering issues and concerns on the proposed action, 
comments on the draft EIS 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 EIS 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.
    Healthy Forests Restoration Act Predecisional Review (Objection) 
Process HFRA [Section 105(a)] replaces the USDA Forest Service's and 
Bureau of Land Management's administrative appeals process with an 
objection process that occurs before the decision approving authorized 
fuel-reduction projects under the act. Participation in the 
predecisional review process is limited to individuals and 
organizations who have submitted specific written comments related to 
the proposed authorized hazardous fuel reduction project during the 
opportunity for public comment provided when an environmental (EA) or 
EIS is being prepared for the project [Section 105(a)(3), 36 CFR 
218.6].
    Written objections, including any attachments, must be filed with 
the reviewing officer within 30 days after the publication date of the 
legal notice of the EA or final EIS in the newspaper of record [Section 
218.4(b)]. It is the responsibility of the objectors to ensure that 
their objection is received in a timely manner.

    Dated: April 8, 2005.
Oscar P. Martinez,
District Ranger, Yampa Ranger District, Medicine Bow-Routt National 
Forests, USDA Forest Service.

    Dated: April 8, 2005.
Jamie Connell,
Area Manager, Glenwood Springs Field Office, USDI Bureau of Land 
Management.
[FR Doc. 05-11088 Filed 6-2-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P

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