Renewal of Special-Use Permits for Recreational Residences on the Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest, Graham County, AZ, 12162-12164 [06-2202]

Download as PDF 12162 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 46 / Thursday, March 9, 2006 / Notices determine if the organization is capable of successfully carrying out the requirements of the Self-Help program. The information is collected on an as requested or needed basis. RHS has reviewed the program’s need for the collection of information versus the burden placed on the public. Description of Respondents: State, Local or Tribal Government; Not-forprofit institutions. Number of Respondents: 160. Frequency of Responses: Recordkeeping; Reporting: Monthly, Annually. Total Burden Hours: 4,372. Charlene Parker, Departmental Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. E6–3319 Filed 3–8–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–XT–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Renewal of Special-Use Permits for Recreational Residences on the Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest, Graham County, AZ Forest Service, USDA. Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES ACTION: SUMMARY: In accordance with the President’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Coronado National Forest, announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate a proposed action to renew individual special-use permits (SUPs) for occupancy and use of 88 existing recreational residences on the Safford Ranger District. If a decision is made to renew, term permits would be issued for a 20-year period beginning on January 1, 2009. No change in the use of the residences would occur upon issuance of a new permit. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by April 10, 2006. Written and oral scoping comments will also be received at openhouse public meetings scheduled to be held in Tucson, Arizona, on March 27, 2006, and Safford, Arizona, on March 28, 2006. The Draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the fall of 2006. At that time, EPA will publish a Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft EIS in VerDate Aug<31>2005 13:58 Mar 08, 2006 Jkt 208001 the Federal Register, which will begin a period of public review of the Draft EIS. The review period will comprise 45 days from the date of publication of the NOA in the Federal Register. The Final EIS is scheduled to be completed in the winter of 2006/2007. ADDRESSES: Written comments on this notice may be mailed to the Bill Lewis, Recreation and Special-Uses Program Manager, Coronado National Forest, 300 West Congress Street, Tucson, Arizona 85701. You may also submit written comments by facsimile to Mr. Lewis at (520) 388–8305. Comments may be submitted by electronic mail to comments-southwesterncoronado@fs.fed.us. Envelopes and the subject line of electronic mail messages or faxes should be labeled ‘‘Safford Recreational Residence EIS.’’ Public meetings will be held during the scoping period at the following locations, dates, and times: TucsonPima County Main Library, Basement Meeting Room, 101 North Stone Avenue, Tucson, Arizona, March 27, 2006 (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.), The Manor House, Arizona Room, 415 East U.S. Highway 70, Safford, Arizona, March 28, 2006 (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the Special-Uses Program, please contact Mr. Bill Lewis, Recreation and Special-Uses Program Manager, Coronado National Forest, at the above address, and telephone (520) 388–8422. Questions on the Forest Service NEPA process or FOIA requirements may be directed to Ms. Andrea Wargo Campbell, Forest NEPA Coordinator, at the same address, and telephone (520) 388–8352. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The U.S. Forest Service has offered a recreational residence program on National Forest System lands since the 1920’s. The program was initiated with the objective of encouraging citydwellers to enjoy the recently established national forests by permitting them to construct vacation homes on specified plots. It expanded through the 1960’s to encompass a total of 19,000 cabins nationwide before the program was discontinued. There are now about 15,000 Forest Service cabins nationwide, each of which is maintained under the terms and conditions of SUPs issued by the managing Forest. Though some cabins have been traded on the open market, many are still owned by the descendants of the individuals who built them. PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Eighty-eight (88) recreational residences are located on the Safford Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest near Safford, Arizona: 14 at an area known as Columbine and 74 at Turkey Flat. The owners of these recreational residences hold Forest Service SUPs that allow each unit to be occupied under specific terms and conditions. Restrictions imposed on the use of recreational residences on National Forest System lands include, among other conditions, a prohibition on year-round residency and vacation rental, and constraints on proposed remodeling that would change the footprint or character of a residence. Special-use permits issued for recreational residences on the Safford Ranger District are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2008. Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 2709.11, Chapter 41.23a(2), requires that special-uses program staff ‘‘initiate the analysis and action to issue a new permit 2 years prior to expiration of the current term permit’’. The Handbook further states that, because ‘‘recreation residences have been in place for many years, and experience in administering this use has shown that continuing the use does not cause significant environmental impacts, issuance of a new permit can be made without further environmental documentation’’ [2709.11, Chapter 41.23a(1)]. However, ‘‘if the use has not been analyzed sufficiently as part of an EA or EIS completed within 5 years of permit expiration, (the program must) complete the appropriate environmental analysis and documentation’’ [2709.11, Chapter 41.23a(1)(b)]. Because NEPA documentation for the SUPs issued for recreational residences on the Safford District was completed more than five years prior to the upcoming permit expiration, the Forest Service has decided to prepare an EIS for the proposed permit renewal action. Proposed Action The Forest Service’s proposed action is to renew SUPs issued for recreational residences on the Safford Ranger District upon their expiration on December 31, 2008. The renewal period would extend 20 years, from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2028. Permit holders would be required to abide by all terms and conditions expressed in their respective SUPs and in accordance with the annual Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Plan conveyed with each SUP. (Examples of an SUP and O&M Plan are available for public review on the Coronado National Forest Web site at ‘‘https:// www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado’’.) Prior to the renewal of an SUP, each recreational E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 46 / Thursday, March 9, 2006 / Notices residence will be subject to inspection by Forest Service personnel to confirm that the permit holder is in compliance with the terms and conditions of his/her current permit [FSH 2709.11, 41.23a(3)]. Purpose of and Need for Action The purpose of and need for Forest Service action is based upon the anticipated expiration of the SUPs for recreational residences on the Safford Ranger District. Under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, the Forest Service is directed to consider special uses of National Forest System lands requested by the public, and to permit such uses when (1) they are allowable under the FLMPA and (2) they are implemented in accordance with goals, objectives, standards, and guidelines expressed in a Forest’s Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP). Action is needed at this time because the permits on the Safford Ranger District are scheduled to expire. It is Forest Service policy to continue recreation residence use and to work in partnership with holders of these permits to maximize public recreational benefits [Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2347.1; LRMP, pp. 9, 41 and 59]. taken, an SUP would be issued to each permit holder for a 10-year period, and during this period, each owner would be required to remove his/her residences from National Forest System lands at his/her expense. National Forest Management Act Consistency Determination A decision to issue new recreational residence permits, following expiration of the current permits, requires, in addition to a NEPA review, a determination of the consistency of the renewal action with the governing Land and Resource Management Plan for the Coronado National Forest (1986, as amended). According to policy, when a recreational residence use is consistent with the Land and Resource Management Plan, the use shall continue (FSM 2721.23e), and a new permit shall be issued to the current permit holder [FSM 2721.23e(1)], upon request. Consistency determinations are made by tract, not individual lots; therefore, on the Safford Ranger District, two consistency determinations will be made: one for residences at Columbine, the other for those at Turkey Flat. Preliminary Identification of Issues Based on a preliminary assessment of the potential impacts of the proposed action, the following issues were identified: 1. Insect infestation and fire have affected the population and habitat of the Mt. Graham red squirrel in the area of the Columbine recreational residences. 2. When a wildfire occurs, the appropriate response in the area of the recreational residences is suppression, which disrupts the natural fire cycle and the ability of the ecosystem to restore itself to natural historic fireadapted conditions. hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Responsible Official Mr. William A. Schuckert, Safford District Ranger, Coronado National Forest, will be the Responsible Official for this EIS process. The address for the Safford Ranger District is 711 14th Avenue, Suite D, Safford, Arizona 85546. Nature of NEPA Decision To Be Made The Safford District Ranger’s decision will recommend implementation of one of the following alternatives: (1) The proposed action to renew the recreational residence SUPs for a 20year period, (2) an alternative to the proposed action, if any exist, or (3) the no-action alternative. If the Ranger’s decision is that no action should be VerDate Aug<31>2005 13:58 Mar 08, 2006 Jkt 208001 Comments Requested The Forest Service encourages citizens to express issues, concerns, and suggestions they may have about this proposed action. Comments should be directly related to the proposed action to best assist us in our environmental impacts analysis. Although comments are welcome at any time, they will be most useful to us if they are received by April 10, 2006. If you have any questions about this notice or the comment process, please contact Bill Lewis, Recreation and Special-Uses Program Manager, Coronado National Forest, at (520) 388–8422 prior to submitting your comments. Written comments may be sent by U.S. mail to Bill Lewis (RE: Safford Recreation Residences EIS), Coronado National Forest, 300 West Congress Street, Tucson, Arizona 85701 or by facsimile to Mr. Lewis at (520) 388– 8305. Alternatively, comments may be submitted by electronic mail to the following address: ‘‘commentssouthwestern-coronado@fs.fed.us’’. Please include ‘‘Safford Recreation Residences EIS’’ in the subject line of all e-mails. Comments and personal information associated with them, such as names and addresses, will become part of the administrative project record for this NEPA review. As such, they may be made available to a third-party upon request pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). If you do not PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 12163 wish your personal information to be subject to release under FOIA, you may chose not to include it with your comments. Alternatively you may request an exemption from FOIA with your comment submittal. Should you choose the latter, you will be informed by the Forest Service as to whether or not your request qualifies for an exemption. If it does not, you will be afforded the opportunity to resubmit your comments without personal information or to withhold them. Early Notice of the Importance of Public Participation in the NEPA Process Following the 30-day scoping period announced in this notice, the Forest Service will prepare a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). Upon completion, the DEIS will be made available for a 45-day public review and comment period that will begin on the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes a notice of Availability of the DEIS in the Federal Register. The Forest Service believes that, at this early stage, it is important to provide the public with notice about several court rulings related to public participation in the NEPA environmental review process. First, reviewers of a DEIS must structure their participation in the NEPA review so that it is meaningful and alerts the agency to the reviewer’s position and contentions [Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)]. Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the DEIS stage but are not raised until after completion of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) 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. Wisc. 1980)]. Because of these court rulings, it is very important that those parties who are interested in this proposed action participate before the close of a public comment period so that substantive comments and objections are available to the Forest Service in a timely manner that will allow them to be meaningfully considered and subsequently addressed in the FEIS. To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues and concerns about the proposed action, comments on a DEIS should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific line numbers, pages, and/or chapters of the DEIS. Comments may address the adequacy of the DEIS or the merits of the alternatives formulated and E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1 12164 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 46 / Thursday, March 9, 2006 / Notices discussed in it. For comments of this nature, reviewers may choose to refer to CEQ regulations at 40 CFR 1503.3. Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record of this NEPA review and will be available or public inspection (Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; FSF 1909.15, Section 21). Authorization: National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321–4346); Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); U.S. Department of Agriculture NEPA Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1b). On March 30, the meeting agenda items to be covered include: (1) Viewing of the Forest Service ‘‘Greatest Good’’ Video; (2) Agency Updates; and (3) Public comment. The meeting is open to the public. Public input opportunity will be provided and individuals will have the opportunity to address the Committee at that time. Dated: March 1, 2006. Jeanine A. Derby, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 06–2202 Filed 3–8–06; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BILLING CODE 3410–11–M Environmental Assessment; Midlands Creek, Papillion Creek Watershed, NE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability, Finding of No Significant Impact. California Coast Provincial Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: hsrobinson on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES SUMMARY: The California Coast Provincial Advisory Committee (CCPAC) will meet on March 29–30, 2006, in Ukiah, California. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss issues relating to implementing the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP). DATES: The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 29 and 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. on March 30, 2006. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Discovery Inn (Landmark Conference Room), 1340 North State Street, Ukiah California. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Allen, Committee Coordinator, USDA, Six Rivers National Forest, 1330 Bayshore Way, Eureka, CA 95501; (707) 441–3557; kmallen@fs.fed.us. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 29, the meeting agenda items to be covered include: (1) Survey and Manage Update; (2) Aquatic Conservation Committee Update; (3) NWFP 10-year Monitoring Report; (4) Douglas Timber Operations Settlement Agreement— Implications on NWFP and Northern Province Forests; (5) 5-Year Planning Process and Stewardship Fireshed Assessment Process; (6) Regional Interagency Ecosystem Committee (RIEC) Meeting Update; (7) Update on Critical Habitat; and (8) Public comment. VerDate Aug<31>2005 13:58 Mar 08, 2006 Jkt 208001 BILLING CODE 3410–11–M Natural Resources Conservation Service Forest Service ACTION: Dated: March 1, 2006. William D. Metz, Acting Designated Federal Official. [FR Doc. 06–2243 Filed 3–8–06; 8:45am] SUMMARY: The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has prepared an Environmental Assessment in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended. Pursuant to the implementing regulations for NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); the USDA Departmental Policy for the NEPA (7 CFR part 1b); the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations (7 CFR part 650); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service policy (General Manual Title 190, Part 410); the Natural Resources Conservation Service gives notice that an environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the grade stabilization of Midlands Creek, Papillion Creek Watershed, Sarpy County Nebraska. The Environmental Assessment was developed in coordination with the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District for a federally assisted action authorized as a congressional earmark for a compacted earthen fill dam grade stabilization structure. Upon consideration of the affected environment, alternatives, environmental consequences, and comments and coordination with concerned public and agencies, the State Conservationist for NRCS, Nebraska found that based on the significance and context and intensity that the proposed action is not a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. Thus, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was made. PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Stephen K. Chick, State Conservationist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Federal Building, Room 152, 100 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508– 3866; telephone (402) 437–5300. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The sponsoring local organization (PapioMissouri River Natural Resources District) concurs with this determination and agrees with carrying forward the proposed project. The objective of the sponsoring local organization is to install a project that would reduce flood damage to urban areas; state, county and city roads and bridges; and other properties. The proposed action is to utilize an earthen dam on Midlands Creek at the identified S–30 site to provide grade stabilization as identified by the allocation of a congressional earmark. Information regarding this finding may be obtained at the contact information listed above. No administrative action on implementation of the proposed funding action will be taken until 30 days after the date of this publication in the Federal Register. Stephen K. Chick, State Conservationist. [FR Doc. E6–3311 Filed 3–8–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–16–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Bureau of Industry and Security Action Affecting Export Privileges; Dolphin International, Ltd., In the Matter of: Dolphin International, Ltd., 21 Commercial Complex, Gulboker Park Extension, New Delhi 110049, India; Respondent Order The Bureau of Industry and Security, U.S. Department of Commerce (‘‘BIS’’) has notified Dolphin International, Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as ‘‘Dolphin’’) of its intention to initiate an administrative proceeding against Dolphin pursuant to § 766.3 of the Export Administration Regulations (currently codified at 15 CFR parts 730–774 (2005)) (‘‘Regulations’’) 1 and Section 13(c) of the Export Administration Act of 1979, as amended (50 U.S.C. app. §§ 2401– 1 The violations charged occurred in 2000 through 2002. The Regulations governing the violations at issue at found in the 2000 through 2002 versions of the Code of Federal Regulations (15 CFR Parts 730–774 (2000–2002)). The 2005 Regulations establish the procedures that apply to this matter. E:\FR\FM\09MRN1.SGM 09MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 46 (Thursday, March 9, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12162-12164]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2202]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Renewal of Special-Use Permits for Recreational Residences on the 
Safford Ranger District, Coronado National Forest, Graham County, AZ

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the President's Council on Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture, Forest Service, Coronado National Forest, announces its 
intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate a 
proposed action to renew individual special-use permits (SUPs) for 
occupancy and use of 88 existing recreational residences on the Safford 
Ranger District. If a decision is made to renew, term permits would be 
issued for a 20-year period beginning on January 1, 2009. No change in 
the use of the residences would occur upon issuance of a new permit.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by April 10, 2006. Written and oral scoping comments will also be 
received at open-house public meetings scheduled to be held in Tucson, 
Arizona, on March 27, 2006, and Safford, Arizona, on March 28, 2006.
    The Draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) in the fall of 2006. At that time, EPA will 
publish a Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft EIS in the Federal 
Register, which will begin a period of public review of the Draft EIS. 
The review period will comprise 45 days from the date of publication of 
the NOA in the Federal Register. The Final EIS is scheduled to be 
completed in the winter of 2006/2007.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on this notice may be mailed to the Bill 
Lewis, Recreation and Special-Uses Program Manager, Coronado National 
Forest, 300 West Congress Street, Tucson, Arizona 85701. You may also 
submit written comments by facsimile to Mr. Lewis at (520) 388-8305. 
Comments may be submitted by electronic mail to comments-southwestern-
coronado@fs.fed.us. Envelopes and the subject line of electronic mail 
messages or faxes should be labeled ``Safford Recreational Residence 
EIS.''
    Public meetings will be held during the scoping period at the 
following locations, dates, and times: Tucson-Pima County Main Library, 
Basement Meeting Room, 101 North Stone Avenue, Tucson, Arizona, March 
27, 2006 (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.), The Manor House, Arizona Room, 415 East 
U.S. Highway 70, Safford, Arizona, March 28, 2006 (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the Special-Uses 
Program, please contact Mr. Bill Lewis, Recreation and Special-Uses 
Program Manager, Coronado National Forest, at the above address, and 
telephone (520) 388-8422. Questions on the Forest Service NEPA process 
or FOIA requirements may be directed to Ms. Andrea Wargo Campbell, 
Forest NEPA Coordinator, at the same address, and telephone (520) 388-
8352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The U.S. Forest Service has offered a recreational residence 
program on National Forest System lands since the 1920's. The program 
was initiated with the objective of encouraging city-dwellers to enjoy 
the recently established national forests by permitting them to 
construct vacation homes on specified plots. It expanded through the 
1960's to encompass a total of 19,000 cabins nationwide before the 
program was discontinued.
    There are now about 15,000 Forest Service cabins nationwide, each 
of which is maintained under the terms and conditions of SUPs issued by 
the managing Forest. Though some cabins have been traded on the open 
market, many are still owned by the descendants of the individuals who 
built them.
    Eighty-eight (88) recreational residences are located on the 
Safford Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest near Safford, 
Arizona: 14 at an area known as Columbine and 74 at Turkey Flat. The 
owners of these recreational residences hold Forest Service SUPs that 
allow each unit to be occupied under specific terms and conditions. 
Restrictions imposed on the use of recreational residences on National 
Forest System lands include, among other conditions, a prohibition on 
year-round residency and vacation rental, and constraints on proposed 
remodeling that would change the footprint or character of a residence.
    Special-use permits issued for recreational residences on the 
Safford Ranger District are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2008. 
Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 2709.11, Chapter 41.23a(2), requires that 
special-uses program staff ``initiate the analysis and action to issue 
a new permit 2 years prior to expiration of the current term permit''. 
The Handbook further states that, because ``recreation residences have 
been in place for many years, and experience in administering this use 
has shown that continuing the use does not cause significant 
environmental impacts, issuance of a new permit can be made without 
further environmental documentation'' [2709.11, Chapter 41.23a(1)]. 
However, ``if the use has not been analyzed sufficiently as part of an 
EA or EIS completed within 5 years of permit expiration, (the program 
must) complete the appropriate environmental analysis and 
documentation'' [2709.11, Chapter 41.23a(1)(b)]. Because NEPA 
documentation for the SUPs issued for recreational residences on the 
Safford District was completed more than five years prior to the 
upcoming permit expiration, the Forest Service has decided to prepare 
an EIS for the proposed permit renewal action.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service's proposed action is to renew SUPs issued for 
recreational residences on the Safford Ranger District upon their 
expiration on December 31, 2008. The renewal period would extend 20 
years, from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2028. Permit holders 
would be required to abide by all terms and conditions expressed in 
their respective SUPs and in accordance with the annual Operation and 
Maintenance (O&M) Plan conveyed with each SUP. (Examples of an SUP and 
O&M Plan are available for public review on the Coronado National 
Forest Web site at ``https://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado''.) Prior to the 
renewal of an SUP, each recreational

[[Page 12163]]

residence will be subject to inspection by Forest Service personnel to 
confirm that the permit holder is in compliance with the terms and 
conditions of his/her current permit [FSH 2709.11, 41.23a(3)].

Purpose of and Need for Action

    The purpose of and need for Forest Service action is based upon the 
anticipated expiration of the SUPs for recreational residences on the 
Safford Ranger District. Under the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, the Forest Service is directed to consider special 
uses of National Forest System lands requested by the public, and to 
permit such uses when (1) they are allowable under the FLMPA and (2) 
they are implemented in accordance with goals, objectives, standards, 
and guidelines expressed in a Forest's Land and Resource Management 
Plan (LRMP). Action is needed at this time because the permits on the 
Safford Ranger District are scheduled to expire. It is Forest Service 
policy to continue recreation residence use and to work in partnership 
with holders of these permits to maximize public recreational benefits 
[Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2347.1; LRMP, pp. 9, 41 and 59].

Preliminary Identification of Issues

    Based on a preliminary assessment of the potential impacts of the 
proposed action, the following issues were identified:
    1. Insect infestation and fire have affected the population and 
habitat of the Mt. Graham red squirrel in the area of the Columbine 
recreational residences.
    2. When a wildfire occurs, the appropriate response in the area of 
the recreational residences is suppression, which disrupts the natural 
fire cycle and the ability of the ecosystem to restore itself to 
natural historic fire-adapted conditions.

Responsible Official

    Mr. William A. Schuckert, Safford District Ranger, Coronado 
National Forest, will be the Responsible Official for this EIS process. 
The address for the Safford Ranger District is 711 14th Avenue, Suite 
D, Safford, Arizona 85546.

Nature of NEPA Decision To Be Made

    The Safford District Ranger's decision will recommend 
implementation of one of the following alternatives: (1) The proposed 
action to renew the recreational residence SUPs for a 20-year period, 
(2) an alternative to the proposed action, if any exist, or (3) the no-
action alternative. If the Ranger's decision is that no action should 
be taken, an SUP would be issued to each permit holder for a 10-year 
period, and during this period, each owner would be required to remove 
his/her residences from National Forest System lands at his/her 
expense.

National Forest Management Act Consistency Determination

    A decision to issue new recreational residence permits, following 
expiration of the current permits, requires, in addition to a NEPA 
review, a determination of the consistency of the renewal action with 
the governing Land and Resource Management Plan for the Coronado 
National Forest (1986, as amended). According to policy, when a 
recreational residence use is consistent with the Land and Resource 
Management Plan, the use shall continue (FSM 2721.23e), and a new 
permit shall be issued to the current permit holder [FSM 2721.23e(1)], 
upon request. Consistency determinations are made by tract, not 
individual lots; therefore, on the Safford Ranger District, two 
consistency determinations will be made: one for residences at 
Columbine, the other for those at Turkey Flat.

Comments Requested

    The Forest Service encourages citizens to express issues, concerns, 
and suggestions they may have about this proposed action. Comments 
should be directly related to the proposed action to best assist us in 
our environmental impacts analysis. Although comments are welcome at 
any time, they will be most useful to us if they are received by April 
10, 2006. If you have any questions about this notice or the comment 
process, please contact Bill Lewis, Recreation and Special-Uses Program 
Manager, Coronado National Forest, at (520) 388-8422 prior to 
submitting your comments.
    Written comments may be sent by U.S. mail to Bill Lewis (RE: 
Safford Recreation Residences EIS), Coronado National Forest, 300 West 
Congress Street, Tucson, Arizona 85701 or by facsimile to Mr. Lewis at 
(520) 388-8305. Alternatively, comments may be submitted by electronic 
mail to the following address: ``comments-southwestern-
coronado@fs.fed.us''. Please include ``Safford Recreation Residences 
EIS'' in the subject line of all e-mails.
    Comments and personal information associated with them, such as 
names and addresses, will become part of the administrative project 
record for this NEPA review. As such, they may be made available to a 
third-party upon request pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA). If you do not wish your personal information to be subject to 
release under FOIA, you may chose not to include it with your comments. 
Alternatively you may request an exemption from FOIA with your comment 
submittal. Should you choose the latter, you will be informed by the 
Forest Service as to whether or not your request qualifies for an 
exemption. If it does not, you will be afforded the opportunity to 
resubmit your comments without personal information or to withhold 
them.

Early Notice of the Importance of Public Participation in the NEPA 
Process

    Following the 30-day scoping period announced in this notice, the 
Forest Service will prepare a draft environmental impact statement 
(DEIS). Upon completion, the DEIS will be made available for a 45-day 
public review and comment period that will begin on the date that the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes a notice of Availability of 
the DEIS in the Federal Register. The Forest Service believes that, at 
this early stage, it is important to provide the public with notice 
about several court rulings related to public participation in the NEPA 
environmental review process.
    First, reviewers of a DEIS must structure their participation in 
the NEPA review so that it is meaningful and alerts the agency to the 
reviewer's position and contentions [Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. 
v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)]. Also, environmental objections that 
could be raised at the DEIS stage but are not raised until after 
completion of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) 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. Wisc. 1980)]. Because of these court rulings, 
it is very important that those parties who are interested in this 
proposed action participate before the close of a public comment period 
so that substantive comments and objections are available to the Forest 
Service in a timely manner that will allow them to be meaningfully 
considered and subsequently addressed in the FEIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns about the proposed action, comments on a DEIS should be as 
specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific 
line numbers, pages, and/or chapters of the DEIS. Comments may address 
the adequacy of the DEIS or the merits of the alternatives formulated 
and

[[Page 12164]]

discussed in it. For comments of this nature, reviewers may choose to 
refer to CEQ regulations at 40 CFR 1503.3.
    Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who 
comment, will be considered part of the public record of this NEPA 
review and will be available or public inspection (Authority: 40 CFR 
1501.7 and 1508.22; FSF 1909.15, Section 21).
    Authorization: National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended 
(42 U.S.C. 4321-4346); Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 
CFR parts 1500-1508); U.S. Department of Agriculture NEPA Policies and 
Procedures (7 CFR part 1b).

    Dated: March 1, 2006.
Jeanine A. Derby,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 06-2202 Filed 3-8-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
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