Shasta-Trinity National Forest; California; Gemmill Thin, 73430-73431 [05-23894]
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73430
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 70, No. 237
Monday, December 12, 2005
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
Office of the Under Secretary,
Research, Education, and Economics;
Notice of the Advisory Committee on
Biotechnology and 21st Century
Agriculture Meeting
Agricultural Research Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, the
United States Department of Agriculture
announces a meeting of the Advisory
Committee on Biotechnology and 21st
Century Agriculture (AC21).
DATES: January 5–6, 2006, 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. on January 5 and 8 am to 4 pm on
January 6. Written requests to make oral
presentations at the meeting must be
received by the contact person
identified herein at least three business
days before the meeting.
ADDRESSES: Room 107A, USDA Jamie L.
Whitten Building, 12th Street and
Jefferson Drive, SW., Washington, DC
20250. Members of the public should
enter the building through the Jefferson
Drive entrance. Requests to make oral
presentations at the meeting may be sent
to the contact person at USDA, Office of
the Deputy Secretary, 202 B Jamie L.
Whitten Federal Building, 12th Street
and Jefferson Drive, SW., Washington,
DC 20250.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Schechtman, Designated
Federal Official, Office of the Deputy
Secretary, USDA, Telephone (202) 720–
3817; Fax (202) 690–4265; E-mail
mschechtman@ars.usda.gov.
The
eleventh meeting of the AC21 has been
scheduled for January 5–6, 2006. The
AC21 consists of 19 members
representing the biotechnology industry,
international plant genetics research,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:51 Dec 09, 2005
Jkt 208001
farmers, food manufacturers,
commodity processors and shippers,
environmental and consumer groups,
and academic researchers. In addition,
representatives from the Departments of
Commerce, Health and Human Services,
and State, and the Environmental
Protection Agency, the Council on
Environmental Quality, and the Office
of the United States Trade
Representative serve as ‘‘ex officio’’
members.
At this meeting, the Committee will
aim to complete major work on a paper
examining the impacts of agricultural
biotechnology on American agriculture
and USDA over the next 5 to 10 years,
through review and revision of the
current draft Chair’s text for the paper,
and prepare for future work of the
committee.
Background information regarding the
work of the AC21 will be available on
the USDA Web site at https://
www.usda.gov/agencies/biotech/
ac21.html. On January 5, 2006, if time
permits, reasonable provision will be
made for oral presentations of no more
than five minutes each in duration.
The meeting will be open to the
public, but space is limited. If you
would like to attend the meetings, you
must register by contacting Ms. Dianne
Harmon at (202) 720–4074, by fax at
(202) 720–3191 or by e-mail at
dharmon@ars.usda.gov at least 5 days
prior to the meeting. Please provide
your name, title, business affiliation,
address, and telephone and fax numbers
when you register. If you require a sign
language interpreter or other special
accommodation due to disability, please
indicate those needs at the time of
registration.
Bernice Slutsky,
Special Assistant for Biotechnology.
[FR Doc. E5–7165 Filed 12–9–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Shasta-Trinity National Forest;
California; Gemmill Thin
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare
an environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Shasta-Trinity National
Forest proposes to thin trees and reduce
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
existing fuels on approximately 1,700
acres of National Forest System lands in
the Gemmill Thin project. The project is
in T.29 and 30 N., R.10 and 11 W., Mt.
Diablo Meridian, immediately north and
east of the community of Wildwood,
California and south of Chanchelulla
Wilderness and Roadless areas.
Treatments will consist of thinning
harvest to remove competing understory
trees, road restroation, and removal of
small trees and shrubs to protect and
enhance an area designated by the
Forest Land and Resource Management
Plan (LRMP) as Late Successional
Reserve (LSR). The project falls within
a 4,800 acre analysis area which
includes all or portions of Hall City
Creek, Wilson Creek and Chanchelulla
Creek. These creeks and many of their
tributaries are also identified within the
LRMP as Riparian Reserves (RR).
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received no later
than 30 days after the publication of this
notice in the Federal Register. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected in January 2006 and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected in April 2006.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Gemmill Thin Comments, South Fork
Management Unit, P.O. Box 159,
Hayfork, CA 96041.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Cheryl Carrothers, Gemmill Thin IDT
Lead, South Fork Management Unit,
P.O. Box 159, Hayfork at (530) 628–5227
or visit the Shasta-Trinity National
Forest Web site at https://www.fs.fed.us/
r5/shastatrinity/projects.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The Gemmill Thin project responds to
two problems within the Upper Hayfork
Creek fifth field watershed and
Chanchelulla late successional reserve
(LSR). 1) There is less late successional
old growth (LSOG) habitat than desired;
2) The risk of losing existing and
developing LSOG habitat to wildfire is
increasing. Thinning the forest will
improve the growing conditions for the
remaining trees by making more
sunlight, water and other nutrients
available for use. Tree health and
growth in the treated sounds would
improve; LSOG habitat would
development at a faster rate. Ladder
fuels, the small conifers, shrubs and
hardwoods in the understory, provide a
E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM
12DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 237 / Monday, December 12, 2005 / Notices
conduit for fire to travel from the
ground surface into the tree canopy and
put the later, older trees at greater risk
of loss to fire. Removing these ladder
fuels greatly reduces the likelihood that
wildfire will get into the canopy. The
harvest and sale of cut trees provides
wood products to society and offsets the
cost of the proposed treatments.
Proposed Action
The proposed action is to thin trees
and shrubs and reduce existing fuels.
Thinning prescriptions would be based
on the following guidelines:
• On approximately 600 acres in 15
stands of mixed conifer and hardwood
forest, aged 100 to 150 years, implement
a low thinning. Enough trees would be
removed to reduce the number of stems
per acre to a stocking level that
maintains a greater competitive
advantage for the larger older trees and
to remove fuel ladders. The largest and
oldest trees would be retained, with the
resulting stand averaging 60% tree
canopy cover.
• On approximately 1,000 acres in 23
stands of mixed conifer and hardwood
forest, aged 80 to 100 years old,
implement a low thinning. Enough trees
would be removed to reduce the number
of stems per acre to a stocking level that
maintains or increases growth rates and
to remove fuel ladders. The largest and
healthiest trees would be retained with
the resulting stand averaging 50% tree
canopy cover.
A service contract would thin trees
and grind up shrubs in planted stands.
Thinning and release treatments would
be accomplished through hand failing
and mastication on approximately 100
acres in four planted conifer stands aged
20–40 years. Enough trees and shrubs
would be removed to reduce the number
of stems per acre to a stocking level that
maintains stand growth rate and
removes shrubs that act as a fuel ladder.
The resulting stand would have an
average of 100 trees per acre.
Responsible Official
J. Sharon Heywood, Forest
Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National
Forest, 3644 Avtech Parkway, Redding,
CA 96002. (530) 226–2500.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Forest Supervisor will decide
whether to implement the proposed
action, implement an alternative action
that meets the purpose and need or take
no action. The decision may include a
non-significant forest plan amendment
that permits treatment of stands older
than 80 years.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:51 Dec 09, 2005
Jkt 208001
Scoping Process
Notice of the proposed action will be
published in the newspaper of record,
the Redding Record Searchlight. It will
also be published in the Trinity Journal.
Scoping letters will be mailed to
interested and affected publics
coincident with publication of the NOI
in the Federal Register and information
on the proposed action will be posted
on the Forest Web site at https://
www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/projects.
In addition, this proposal will be
presented to and reviewed by the
Trinity County Firesake council. This
notice of intent initiates the scoping
process, which guides the development
of the environmental impact statement.
Comments submitted during this
scoping process should be in writing
and should be specific to the proposed
action. The comments should describe
as clearly and completely as possible
any issues the commenter has with the
proposal. The results of scoping will
include:
(a) Identifying potential issues.
(b) Identifying issues to be analyzed
in depth.
(c) Eliminating non-significant issues
or those previously covered by a
relevant previous environmental
analysis.
(d) Exploring additional alternatives.
(e) Identifying potential
environmental effects of the proposed
action and alternatives.
Preliminary Issues
No preliminary issues have been
identified. Issues will be identified
through scoping. Early Notice of
Importance of Public Participation in
Subsequent Environmental Review: A
draft environmental impact statement
will be prepared for comment. The
comment period on the draft
environment impact statement will be
45 days from the date the
Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in
the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes it is
important to give reviewers notice of
several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental
review process.
(1) Reviewers of draft environmental
impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental
review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the
reviewer’s position and contentions.
[Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp.
v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)].
(2) Environmental objections that
could be raised by the draft
environmental impact statement stage
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
73431
but are not raised until after completion
of the final environmental impact
statement may be waived or dismissed
by the courts [City of Angoon v. Hodel,
803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and
Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980)].
Because of these court rulings, it is
very important that those interested in
this proposed action participate by the
close of the 45 day comment period so
that substantive comments and
objections and received in time for
meaningful consideration and response
in the final environmental impact
statement.
Comments on the draft environmental
impact statement should be as specific
as possible, for example, refer to specific
pages and/or chapters. Comments may
also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement 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.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21.)
Dated: December 5, 2005.
J. Sharon Heywood,
Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National
Forest.
[FR Doc. 05–23894 Filed 12–9–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest Advisory
Board Public Meeting Dates
Announced
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of meetings.
SUMMARY: The Black Hills National
Forest Advisory Board (NFAB) has
announced its meeting dates for 2006.
These meetings are open to the public,
and public comment is accepted at any
time in writing and during the last 15
minutes of each meeting for spoken
comments. Persons wishing to speak are
given three minutes to address the
Board.
E:\FR\FM\12DEN1.SGM
12DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 237 (Monday, December 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73430-73431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23894]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Shasta-Trinity National Forest; California; Gemmill Thin
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact
statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Shasta-Trinity National Forest proposes to thin trees and
reduce existing fuels on approximately 1,700 acres of National Forest
System lands in the Gemmill Thin project. The project is in T.29 and 30
N., R.10 and 11 W., Mt. Diablo Meridian, immediately north and east of
the community of Wildwood, California and south of Chanchelulla
Wilderness and Roadless areas. Treatments will consist of thinning
harvest to remove competing understory trees, road restroation, and
removal of small trees and shrubs to protect and enhance an area
designated by the Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) as
Late Successional Reserve (LSR). The project falls within a 4,800 acre
analysis area which includes all or portions of Hall City Creek, Wilson
Creek and Chanchelulla Creek. These creeks and many of their
tributaries are also identified within the LRMP as Riparian Reserves
(RR).
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
no later than 30 days after the publication of this notice in the
Federal Register. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
in January 2006 and the final environmental impact statement is
expected in April 2006.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Gemmill Thin Comments, South Fork
Management Unit, P.O. Box 159, Hayfork, CA 96041.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cheryl Carrothers, Gemmill Thin IDT
Lead, South Fork Management Unit, P.O. Box 159, Hayfork at (530) 628-
5227 or visit the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Web site at https://
www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/projects.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The Gemmill Thin project responds to two problems within the Upper
Hayfork Creek fifth field watershed and Chanchelulla late successional
reserve (LSR). 1) There is less late successional old growth (LSOG)
habitat than desired; 2) The risk of losing existing and developing
LSOG habitat to wildfire is increasing. Thinning the forest will
improve the growing conditions for the remaining trees by making more
sunlight, water and other nutrients available for use. Tree health and
growth in the treated sounds would improve; LSOG habitat would
development at a faster rate. Ladder fuels, the small conifers, shrubs
and hardwoods in the understory, provide a
[[Page 73431]]
conduit for fire to travel from the ground surface into the tree canopy
and put the later, older trees at greater risk of loss to fire.
Removing these ladder fuels greatly reduces the likelihood that
wildfire will get into the canopy. The harvest and sale of cut trees
provides wood products to society and offsets the cost of the proposed
treatments.
Proposed Action
The proposed action is to thin trees and shrubs and reduce existing
fuels. Thinning prescriptions would be based on the following
guidelines:
On approximately 600 acres in 15 stands of mixed conifer
and hardwood forest, aged 100 to 150 years, implement a low thinning.
Enough trees would be removed to reduce the number of stems per acre to
a stocking level that maintains a greater competitive advantage for the
larger older trees and to remove fuel ladders. The largest and oldest
trees would be retained, with the resulting stand averaging 60% tree
canopy cover.
On approximately 1,000 acres in 23 stands of mixed conifer
and hardwood forest, aged 80 to 100 years old, implement a low
thinning. Enough trees would be removed to reduce the number of stems
per acre to a stocking level that maintains or increases growth rates
and to remove fuel ladders. The largest and healthiest trees would be
retained with the resulting stand averaging 50% tree canopy cover.
A service contract would thin trees and grind up shrubs in planted
stands. Thinning and release treatments would be accomplished through
hand failing and mastication on approximately 100 acres in four planted
conifer stands aged 20-40 years. Enough trees and shrubs would be
removed to reduce the number of stems per acre to a stocking level that
maintains stand growth rate and removes shrubs that act as a fuel
ladder. The resulting stand would have an average of 100 trees per
acre.
Responsible Official
J. Sharon Heywood, Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National
Forest, 3644 Avtech Parkway, Redding, CA 96002. (530) 226-2500.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Forest Supervisor will decide whether to implement the proposed
action, implement an alternative action that meets the purpose and need
or take no action. The decision may include a non-significant forest
plan amendment that permits treatment of stands older than 80 years.
Scoping Process
Notice of the proposed action will be published in the newspaper of
record, the Redding Record Searchlight. It will also be published in
the Trinity Journal. Scoping letters will be mailed to interested and
affected publics coincident with publication of the NOI in the Federal
Register and information on the proposed action will be posted on the
Forest Web site at https://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/projects. In
addition, this proposal will be presented to and reviewed by the
Trinity County Firesake council. This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides the development of the environmental
impact statement.
Comments submitted during this scoping process should be in writing
and should be specific to the proposed action. The comments should
describe as clearly and completely as possible any issues the commenter
has with the proposal. The results of scoping will include:
(a) Identifying potential issues.
(b) Identifying issues to be analyzed in depth.
(c) Eliminating non-significant issues or those previously covered
by a relevant previous environmental analysis.
(d) Exploring additional alternatives.
(e) Identifying potential environmental effects of the proposed
action and alternatives.
Preliminary Issues
No preliminary issues have been identified. Issues will be
identified through scoping. Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent Environmental Review: A draft environmental
impact statement will be prepared for comment. The comment period on
the draft environment impact statement will be 45 days from the date
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of
availability in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers
notice of several court rulings related to public participation in the
environmental review process.
(1) Reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must
structure their participation in the environmental review of the
proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the
reviewer's position and contentions. [Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power
Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)].
(2) Environmental objections that could be raised by the draft
environmental impact statement stage but are not raised until after
completion of the final environmental impact statement may be waived or
dismissed by the courts [City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022
(9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp.
1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980)].
Because of these court rulings, it is very important that those
interested in this proposed action participate by the close of the 45
day comment period so that substantive comments and objections and
received in time for meaningful consideration and response in the final
environmental impact statement.
Comments on the draft environmental impact statement should be as
specific as possible, for example, refer to specific pages and/or
chapters. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement 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.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21.)
Dated: December 5, 2005.
J. Sharon Heywood,
Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
[FR Doc. 05-23894 Filed 12-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
