Brick Trout Project, Clearwater National Forest, Idaho County, ID, 53650-53652 [06-7587]

Download as PDF sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES 53650 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 12, 2006 / Notices to https://www.regulations.gov and, in the ‘‘Search for Open Regulations’’ box, select ‘‘Food Safety and Inspection Service’’ from the agency drop-down menu, and then click on ‘‘Submit.’’ In the Docket ID column, select FDMS Docket Number FSIS–2005–0011 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related material available electronically. This docket can be viewed using the ‘‘Advanced Search’’ function in Regulations.gov. Mail, including floppy disks or CD– ROM’s, and hand or courier-delivered items: Send to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 300 12th Street, SW., Room 102 Cotton Annex, Washington, DC 20250. Electronic mail: FSIS.regulations comments@fsis.usda.gov. All submissions received by mail and electronic mail must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS–2006– 0011. All comments submitted in response to this notice will be available for public inspection in the FSIS Docket Room at the address listed above between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The comments also will be posted to the regulations.gov Web site and on the Agency’s Web site at https:// www.fsis.usda.gov/ regulations_&_policies/ 2006_Proposed_Rules_Index/index.asp. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn E. Dickey, PhD, Director, Regulations and Petitions Policy Staff, Office of Policy, Program, and Employee Development, Room 112, Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20250–3700; Telephone (202) 720–5627. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 12, 2006, FSIS published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that the Agency was making the 2005 updated Harvard Risk Assessment of BSE available to the public. In the notice, FSIS gave the public until August 11, 2006, to submit comments on the updated risk assessment. The notice also announced that the Agency would be holding a technical meeting to provide information on the 2005 updated Harvard Risk Assessment. This meeting was held on July 25, 2006. On August 1, 2006, FSIS received a comment requesting that the Agency extend the comment period on the updated Harvard Risk Assessment until 45 days from the day on which it makes the transcript of the July 25, 2006, technical meeting publicly available. The comment was submitted by a trade association that represents small cattle producers. The comment asserted that the 30-day comment period provided in VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:16 Sep 11, 2006 Jkt 208001 the July 12, 2006, Federal Register notice is not an adequate amount of time to evaluate the new assumptions and analyses in the revised risk assessment, and that it needed the official transcript of the technical meeting proceedings to formulate its comments. FSIS agrees that the matters presented in the risk assessment are complex. Therefore, FSIS is reopening the comment period for 45 days as the transcript of the July 25, 2006, technical meeting is now available on the FSIS Web site at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/ PDF/BSE_Transcript_072506.pdf and https://www.fsis.usda.gov/ News_&_Events/2006_events/index.asp. This comment period will provide time for interested persons to fully assess the complex information presented at the technical meeting and to make written comments based upon their assessments. and other individuals who have requested to be included. The update also is available on the FSIS Web page. Through Listserv and the Web page, FSIS is able to provide information to a much broader, more diverse audience. In addition, FSIS offers an e-mail subscription service which provides automatic and customized access to selected food safety news and information. This service is available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/ news_and_events/email_subscription/. Options range from recalls to export information to regulations, directives and notices. Customers can add or delete subscriptions themselves and have the option to password protect their account. Additional Public Notification Public awareness of all segments of rulemaking and policy development is important. Consequently, in an effort to ensure that the public and in particular minorities, women, and persons with disabilities, are aware of this proposal, FSIS will announce it on-line through the FSIS Web page located at https:// www.fsis.usda.gov/ regulations_&_policies/ 2006_Proposed_Rules_Index/index.asp. The Regulations.gov Web site is the central online rulemaking portal of the United States government. It is being offered as a public service to increase participation in the Federal government’s regulatory activities. FSIS participates in Regulations.gov and will accept comments on documents published on the site. The site allows visitors to search by keyword or Department or Agency for rulemakings that allow for public comment. Each entry provides a quick link to a comment form so that visitors can type in their comments and submit them to FSIS. The Web site is located at https://www.regulations.gov. FSIS also will make copies of this Federal Register publication available through the FSIS Constituent Update, which is used to provide information regarding FSIS policies, procedures, regulations, Federal Register notices, FSIS public meetings, recalls, and other types of information that could affect or would be of interest to our constituents and stakeholders. The update is communicated via Listserv, a free e-mail subscription service consisting of industry, trade, and farm groups, consumer interest groups, allied health professionals, scientific professionals, BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Done in Washington, DC, September 6, 2006. Barbara J. Masters, Administrator. [FR Doc. E6–15017 Filed 9–11–06; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Brick Trout Project, Clearwater National Forest, Idaho County, ID Forest Service, USDA. Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental effects of timber harvesting the Brick Creek, Panther Creek, Lunch Creek, Trout Creek, and Fan Creek drainages (herein referred to as the Brick Trout project). The project area is located 16 miles east of Kamiah, Idaho, north of U.S. Highway 12, mostly along or near Forest Roads 514 and 5043. The project area is outside of inventoried roadless areas. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be postmarked within 45 days after this Notice of Intent appears in the Federal Register. The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be available in February, 2007 and the final environmental impact statement is expected to be completed in September of 2007. ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice or a request to be placed on the project mailing list should be addressed to Chris Tootell, TEAMS, 200 East Broadway, Suite 251. Missoula, Montana, 59807. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to ctootell@fs.fed.us. The subject line in the e-mail message should contain the title ‘‘Brick Trout E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM 12SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 12, 2006 / Notices Timber Sale Project.’’ If you choose to comment by e-mail, please include your name and regular mailing address with the comment. Comments may also be sent via facsimile to (406) 329–3411, c/ o Chris Tootell, Environmental Coordinator. All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received at the U.S. Forest Service, Lochsa District Office in Kooskia, Idaho. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Tootell, Environmental Resource Coordinator, TEAMS Enterprise unit, USDA Forest Service (406) 329–3459. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project is located in portions of Sections 8, 17, 18, 23–28, 33–36, T34N, R6E, and Section 3, T33N, R6E, Boise Meridian, Idaho County, Idaho. The analysis area encompasses approximately 7,000 acres. Purpose and Need for Action The purpose and need for the proposed action is to: (1) Improve forest health, reduce catastrophic wildfire risk, maintain and restore ecological processes and functions, and restore tree stands to structure and species composition that would be expected under natural disturbance regimes; (2) manage the landscape to provide for goods and services deemed important to society; (3) restore the aquatic ecosystem to more natural processes and functions. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Proposed Action The Forest Service proposes to harvest timber on 427 acres and then plan western white pine and western larch on most of the harvest area. Specifically, harvesting would include: 300 acres of clearcutting with reserves, 70 acres of seed tree harvest, 57 acres of final removal, 437 acres of slash treatment and site preparation for tree planting, 437 acres of tree planting. Cable yarding systems would be used for most of the area (350 acres). The rest of the area (77 acres) would use tractoryarding methods. To access the harvest units, 3.5 miles of temporary road would be built. Upon project completion, all temporary roads would be decommissioned, which includes recontouring the road prism. Watershed restoration activities would consist of VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:16 Sep 11, 2006 Jkt 208001 road reconstruction on 1.9 miles of road, road reconditioning (brushing, blading and ditch cleaning) on 43.7 miles of road, replacement of two undersized culverts to improve fish passage, road decommissioning on three miles of road, and placing about 7.7 miles of road into storage. Possible Alternatives The Forest Service will consider alternatives to the proposed action including a ‘‘no action’’ alternative in which none of the proposed activities would be implemented. Additional alternatives being considered examine varying levels and locations for the proposed activities to achieve the proposal’s purpose and need, as well as to respond to issues and other resource concerns. Responsible Official The Responsible Official is the Forest Supervisor of the Clearwater National Forest, 12730 Highway 12, Orofino, ID 83544. The Responsible Official will decide if the proposed project will be implemented and will document the decision and reasons for the decision in a Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to Forest Service Appeal Regulations. The responsibility for preparing the DEIS and FEIS has been delegated to the District Ranger, Lochsa Ranger District, Rt. 1 Box 398, Kooskia, ID 83539. Scoping Process The Clearwater National Forest has developed a listing of individuals and organizations that have expressed an interest in being informed of and providing input to projects such as this. This list of individuals and organizations include Native American groups, private citizens, businesses, various organizations, and Federal, State and county agencies. All of these contacts will be sent the initial scoping document. Preliminary Issues The following list of preliminary issues was developed for the project area by the Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team (ID Team). This list of issues will be amended and/or expanded after review of the Brick Trout Environmental Impact Statement project scoping comments. Preliminary issues include: effects of tree retention levels on ecosystem functions and processes, effects, of road decommissioning on future forest access, effects of mature forest harvest on sensitive species, and effects of proposed activities on old growth habitat. PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 53651 Comment Requested This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides the development of the draft environmental impact statement, including the identification of the range of issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues related to the proposed action. The Forest Service believes that it is important to give reviewers notice that they must comment or otherwise notify the Forest Service of their interest in this project to have the right to appeal. To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues, concerns and other relevant information on the project proposal, comments should be as specific as possible. 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 environmental 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, at this early stage, it is important to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public participation in the environmental review process. First, 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). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the draft environmental impact statement stage but that 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 45day comment period so that substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the final environmental impact statement. To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues and concerns on the proposed actions, comments on the draft environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM 12SEN1 53652 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 12, 2006 / Notices chapters of the draft statement. 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: September 5, 2006. Thomas K. Reilly, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 06–7587 Filed 9–11–06; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Northeast Oregon Forests Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meetings. AGENCY: sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committees Act (Pub. L. 92–463), the Northeast Oregon Forests Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet via teleconference on September 27, 2006. The purpose of the meeting is to meet as a Committee to review proposed projects for fiscal year 2007. DATES: The meeting will be held as follows: September 27, 2006, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in John Day, Oregon. ADDRESSES: The September 27, 2006 teleconference meeting will be held at the Malheur National Forest Supervisor’s Office, 431 Patterson Bridge Rd., John Day, Oregon 97845. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Harris, Designated Federal Official, USDA, Malheur National Forest, P.O. Box 909, John Day, Oregon 97845. Phone: (541) 575–3008. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A public comment period will be provided at 1:05 p.m. and individuals will have the opportunity to address the committee at that time. Dated: September 5, 2006. Jennifer L. Harris, Designated Federal Official. [FR Doc. 06–7586 Filed 9–11–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–DK–M VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:54 Sep 11, 2006 Jkt 208001 Forest Service Mendocino Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Mendocino County Resource Advisory Committee will meet September 15, 2006 (RAC) in Willits, California. Agenda items to be covered include: (1) Approval of minutes; (2) Handout Discussions, (3) Public Comment, (4) Financial Report, (5) Subcommittees, (6) Matters before the group, (7) Discussion—Approval of projects, (8) Next agenda and meeting date. The meeting will be held on September 15, 2006, from 9 a.m. until 12 noon. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Mendocino County Museum, located at 400 E. Commercial St., Willits, California. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roberta Hurt, Committee Coordinator, USDA, Mendocino National Forest, Covelo Ranger District, 78150 Covelo Road, Covelo, CA 95428. (707) 983– 8503; e-mail rhurt@fs.fed.us. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting is open to the public. Persons who wish to bring matters to the attention of the Committee may file written statements with the Committee staff by September 12, 2006. Public comment will have the opportunity to address the committee at the meeting. DATES: BILLING CODE 3410–11–M ACTION: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Dated: September 4, 2006. Blaine Baker, Designated Federal Official. [FR Doc. 06–7595 Filed 9–11–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Office of Inspector General; Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Applicant for Funding Assistance ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DOC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the continuing and proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Written comments must be submitted on or before November 13, 2006. DATES: Direct all written comments to Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at dHynek@doc.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information and copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to the attention of Joyce Baker, Herbert C. Hoover Building, Room 7721, (202) 482–1023, or via e-mail to jbaker@oig.doc.gov. ADDRESSES: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract The Department of Commerce, through its bureaus, the Economic Development Administration (EDA), Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), International Trade Administration (ITA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Technical Information Service (NTIS), National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA), and other programs, assists reliable, capable individuals and firms in pursuit of various business development, business enterprise development and other forms of economic development. The form, CD– 346, is used to assist programs and grants administration officials in determining the fiscal responsibility and financial integrity of principal officers and employees of organizations, firms, and other entities which are recipients or beneficiaries of grants, cooperative agreements, loans, loan guarantees or other forms of federal financial assistance. The requirement is derived from the duties and responsibilities set forth in Section 4(a)(3) of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, 5 U.S.C.A. App. 3. The CD–346 is also completed, when required, by grant recipients. Through the name check process, the Office of Inspector General collects background information on key individuals associated with proposed financial assistance (grants, cooperative agreements, loans and loan guarantees) recipient organizations. The name check identifies those principals affiliated with proposed recipient organizations who have been convicted of, or are presently facing, criminal charges or are under investigation for fraud, theft, perjury or other matters which have significant impact on questions of E:\FR\FM\12SEN1.SGM 12SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 12, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53650-53652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-7587]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Brick Trout Project, Clearwater National Forest, Idaho County, ID

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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

SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental effects of timber 
harvesting the Brick Creek, Panther Creek, Lunch Creek, Trout Creek, 
and Fan Creek drainages (herein referred to as the Brick Trout 
project). The project area is located 16 miles east of Kamiah, Idaho, 
north of U.S. Highway 12, mostly along or near Forest Roads 514 and 
5043. The project area is outside of inventoried roadless areas.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be postmarked 
within 45 days after this Notice of Intent appears in the Federal 
Register. The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be 
available in February, 2007 and the final environmental impact 
statement is expected to be completed in September of 2007.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice or a request to be 
placed on the project mailing list should be addressed to Chris 
Tootell, TEAMS, 200 East Broadway, Suite 251. Missoula, Montana, 59807. 
Comments may also be sent via e-mail to ctootell@fs.fed.us. The subject 
line in the e-mail message should contain the title ``Brick Trout

[[Page 53651]]

Timber Sale Project.'' If you choose to comment by e-mail, please 
include your name and regular mailing address with the comment. 
Comments may also be sent via facsimile to (406) 329-3411, c/o Chris 
Tootell, Environmental Coordinator.
    All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are 
placed in the record and are available for public inspection and 
copying. The public may inspect comments received at the U.S. Forest 
Service, Lochsa District Office in Kooskia, Idaho.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Tootell, Environmental Resource 
Coordinator, TEAMS Enterprise unit, USDA Forest Service (406) 329-3459. 
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through 
Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project is located in portions 
of Sections 8, 17, 18, 23-28, 33-36, T34N, R6E, and Section 3, T33N, 
R6E, Boise Meridian, Idaho County, Idaho. The analysis area encompasses 
approximately 7,000 acres.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose and need for the proposed action is to: (1) Improve 
forest health, reduce catastrophic wildfire risk, maintain and restore 
ecological processes and functions, and restore tree stands to 
structure and species composition that would be expected under natural 
disturbance regimes; (2) manage the landscape to provide for goods and 
services deemed important to society; (3) restore the aquatic ecosystem 
to more natural processes and functions.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service proposes to harvest timber on 427 acres and then 
plan western white pine and western larch on most of the harvest area. 
Specifically, harvesting would include: 300 acres of clearcutting with 
reserves, 70 acres of seed tree harvest, 57 acres of final removal, 437 
acres of slash treatment and site preparation for tree planting, 437 
acres of tree planting. Cable yarding systems would be used for most of 
the area (350 acres). The rest of the area (77 acres) would use 
tractor-yarding methods. To access the harvest units, 3.5 miles of 
temporary road would be built. Upon project completion, all temporary 
roads would be decommissioned, which includes recontouring the road 
prism. Watershed restoration activities would consist of road 
reconstruction on 1.9 miles of road, road reconditioning (brushing, 
blading and ditch cleaning) on 43.7 miles of road, replacement of two 
undersized culverts to improve fish passage, road decommissioning on 
three miles of road, and placing about 7.7 miles of road into storage.

Possible Alternatives

    The Forest Service will consider alternatives to the proposed 
action including a ``no action'' alternative in which none of the 
proposed activities would be implemented. Additional alternatives being 
considered examine varying levels and locations for the proposed 
activities to achieve the proposal's purpose and need, as well as to 
respond to issues and other resource concerns.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official is the Forest Supervisor of the Clearwater 
National Forest, 12730 Highway 12, Orofino, ID 83544. The Responsible 
Official will decide if the proposed project will be implemented and 
will document the decision and reasons for the decision in a Record of 
Decision. That decision will be subject to Forest Service Appeal 
Regulations. The responsibility for preparing the DEIS and FEIS has 
been delegated to the District Ranger, Lochsa Ranger District, Rt. 1 
Box 398, Kooskia, ID 83539.

Scoping Process

    The Clearwater National Forest has developed a listing of 
individuals and organizations that have expressed an interest in being 
informed of and providing input to projects such as this. This list of 
individuals and organizations include Native American groups, private 
citizens, businesses, various organizations, and Federal, State and 
county agencies. All of these contacts will be sent the initial scoping 
document.

Preliminary Issues

    The following list of preliminary issues was developed for the 
project area by the Forest Service Interdisciplinary Team (ID Team). 
This list of issues will be amended and/or expanded after review of the 
Brick Trout Environmental Impact Statement project scoping comments. 
Preliminary issues include: effects of tree retention levels on 
ecosystem functions and processes, effects, of road decommissioning on 
future forest access, effects of mature forest harvest on sensitive 
species, and effects of proposed activities on old growth habitat.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides 
the development of the draft environmental impact statement, including 
the identification of the range of issues to be addressed and for 
identifying the significant issues related to the proposed action. The 
Forest Service believes that it is important to give reviewers notice 
that they must comment or otherwise notify the Forest Service of their 
interest in this project to have the right to appeal. To assist the 
Forest Service in identifying and considering issues, concerns and 
other relevant information on the project proposal, comments should be 
as specific as possible.
    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 environmental 
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, at this early stage, it is 
important to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to 
public participation in the environmental review process. First, 
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). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the 
draft environmental impact statement stage but that 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 are made available to the Forest 
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to 
them in the final environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed actions, comments on the draft 
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is 
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or

[[Page 53652]]

chapters of the draft statement. 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: September 5, 2006.
Thomas K. Reilly,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 06-7587 Filed 9-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M

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