Bull Run Watershed Management Unit Agreement, Multnomah County, OR, 7599-7600 [07-717]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 32 / Friday, February 16, 2007 / Notices producer prices of 20 percent or more during the marketing period beginning September 1, 2005, and ending August 31, 2006. If the determination is positive, all apiarists who produce and market their natural honey in Michigan will be eligible to apply to the Farm Service Agency for no cost technical assistance and for adjustment assistance payments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean-Louis Pajot, Coordinator, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers, FAS, USDA, (202) 720–2916, e-mail: trade.adjustment@fas.usda.gov. Dated: February 5, 2007. Michael W. Yost, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service. [FR Doc. E7–2778 Filed 2–15–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–10–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Foreign Agricultural Service Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers AGENCY: Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice. The Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), today accepted a petition filed by National Grape Cooperative Association representing New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio Concord juice grape producers for trade adjustment assistance. The Administrator will determine within 40 days whether or not increasing imports of grape juice, not concentrated, contributed importantly to a decline in domestic producer prices of 20 percent or more during the marketing period beginning August 1, 2005, and ending July 31, 2006. If the determination is positive, all Concord juice grape producers who produce and market their Concord juice grapes in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio will be eligible to apply to the Farm Service Agency for no cost technical assistance and for adjustment assistance payments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES Jean-Louis Pajot, Coordinator, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers, FAS, USDA, (202) 720–2916, e-mail: trade.adjustment@fas.usda.gov. Dated: February 5, 2007. Michael W. Yost, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service. [FR Doc. E7–2777 Filed 2–15–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–10–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:03 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 211001 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Bull Run Watershed Management Unit Agreement, Multnomah County, OR Forest Service, USDA. Notice of Availability of Draft Agreement. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Mt. Hood National Forest (Forest) in coordination with the City of Portland Water Bureau (City) is preparing a new Bull Run Watershed Management Unit Agreement pursuant to Public Law 95–200, Section 2(d). This Agreement will guide and be applicable to all occupancy, use, and management of the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit by the City and the Forest. This Agreement will replace the existing 1979 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The new Agreement will provide the revised administrative direction and agreements needed to structure the parties’ roles, responsibilities, business processes and working relationships for the coming decades. Consideration and approval of the Agreement is scheduled for June 2007. The Forest and the City invite written comments on the content and scope of the Agreement. A copy of the draft Agreement is available on the following Internet Web sites, https:// www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood or https:// www.potlandonline.com/water/. Hard copies of the draft Agreement may be obtained by contacting the contact person listed below. DATES: Comments concerning the content and scope of analysis should be postmarked by April 16, 2007. Two Public meetings are scheduled. The meeting dates are: 1. March 20, 2007, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Portland, OR. 2. March 21, 2007, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sandy, OR. ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning the Agreement to Gary Larsen, Forest Supervisor, Mt. Hood National Forest, 16400 Champion Way, Sandy, Oregon 97055–7248. Comment may also be emailed to: comments-pacificnorthwestmthood@fs.fed.us. Include your name and mailing address with your comments so documents pertaining to this Agreement may be mailed to you. The meeting location are: 1. Portland—Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center—Billy Frank Jr. Conference Center, 721 NW., 9th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209. 2. Sandy—Mt Hood National Forest Headquarters, 16400 Champion Way, Sandy, OR 97030. PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 7599 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the Agreement or requests for copies should be directed to Rick Acosta, Mt. Hood National Forest, Public Affairs Officer, 16400 Champion Way, Sandy, Oregon, 97055–7248, (emal: racosta@fs.fed.us), or phone: 503– 668–1791, or Terry Black, City of Portland Water Bureau, Outreach Specialist, 1120 SW., 5th Avenue, Portland, OR 97204, (e-mail: Terry.Black@ci.portland.or.us), or phone: 503–823–1168. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bull Run watershed, located in the Mt. Hood National Forest, is the largest and oldest of the several water supplies serving the Portland metropolitan area. Its role in the region’s past, present and future, along with its unprecedented level of water quality, make it a high priority for both the City and the Forest Service to take the steps necessary to ensure its continuing quality, productivity and protection. As the City and the Forest Service began to look closely at the administrative and policy frameworks that guided their interactions they noted that much of that framework dated from the late 1970s and arose from the direction provided in the 1977 Bull Run Management Act (Pub. L. 95–200). As little of that framework had been updated over time, its applicability to current issues and needs is limited. Thus, this Agreement replaces the existing 1979 MOU, aligns practice with existing legislation, and provides the revised administrative direction and agreements needed to structure the parties’ roles, responsibilities, business process and working relationships for the coming decades. The City and the Forest Service, along with community interests in the greater Portland metropolitan area, have had a long and sometimes contentious history of working together to protect and manage the valuable ecological and water resources of the Bull Run watershed. But with the coming of the 21st century, the issues and conflicts in policy and direction that held attention for the last fifty years have all but disappeared. Now, the parties are turning to the future, responding to new fiscal realities, and working together to frame the structures, processes, roles and responsibilities that will allow them to act effectively as joint stewards of this valuable regional and national resource, in concert with citizens who increasingly desire to redeem their responsibilities in stewardship of their lands. Officials from the City of Portland and the Mount Hood National Forest are E:\FR\FM\16FEN1.SGM 16FEN1 7600 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 32 / Friday, February 16, 2007 / Notices proposing a new Agreement between the City and the Forest Service to identify preferred administrative arrangements for their joint management of the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit. The purpose and hope of the Agreement is to document a new and more relevant relationship between the City and the Forest Service for the longterm stewardship of the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit that is built on a firm foundation of citizen involvement. The final Agreement is scheduled to be available in June 2007. In completing the Agreement, the Forest and the City will respond to comments received during the comment period. The Agency officials are Gary Larsen, Forest Supervisor, Mt. Hood National Forest for the Forest Service, and the City official is Randy Leonard, Commissioner-in-Charge, City of Portland Water Bureau for the City of Portland. (Authority: Sec. 2, Pub. L. 95–200, 91 Stat. 1425 (16 U.S.C. 482b) Dated: February 12, 2007. Gary L. Larsen, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 07–717 Filed 2–15–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Becker Vegetation Management Project, Boise National Forest, Idaho Forest Service, USDA. Notice of Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement. AGENCY: sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES ACTION: SUMMARY: The Boise Ranger District of the Boise National Forest will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a resource management project in the Crooked River Watershed. The 14,500 acre project area is located approximately 18 miles northeast of Idaho City, Idaho, and about 48 miles northeast of Boise, Idaho. The agency invites written comments and suggestions on the scope of the analysis. The agency also hereby gives notice of the environmental analysis and decision-making process that will occur on the proposal so interested and affected people are aware of how they may participate and contribute to the final decision. At this time no public meetings to discuss the project are planned. Proposed Action: The primary purposes of the project are: (1) Manage the stand density, structure, and species composition to provide conditions that VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:03 Feb 15, 2007 Jkt 211001 are more resistant to insect and disease infestations and uncharacteristic wildfire. Move towards the Forest Plan vegetation desired conditions, and maintain or increase the large tree component. (2) Modify stand density, structure, and species composition, to restore suitable habitat for white-headed woodpecker and flammulated owls. (3) Provide commercial timber that will contribute to the annual harvest of expected timber volume on the Boise National Forest while moving towards attaining the Forest Plan desired vegetative conditions. (4) Reduce tree stocking & brush within plantations in order to maintain good tree growth and vigor, to reduce fire hazard by removal of developing ladder fuels, and to reduce future susceptibility to insects and disease infestations. (5) Improve water quality and aquatic habitat by reducing long term sedimentation caused by existing roads. The Proposed Action would commercial harvest trees, and in some areas use a combination of commercial harvest thinning and pre-commercial thinning from approximately 1,970 acres in the 14,500 acre project area. Regeneration harvest would occur on approximately 1,100 acres where insect and disease infestation is particularly severe. In addition approximately 4,700 acres would have only pre-commercial removal of small diameter trees (including 1,688 acres of plantations). Within these areas of mechanical vegetation treatment, aspen clones would be managed by removing and reducing conifer competition in the immediate vicinity. Brush removal would occur within approximately 450 additional acres of conifer plantations. An estimated 14.0 MMBF of timber would be harvested using ground-based yarding systems. Prescribed burning would occur within approximately 12,000 acres of project area to breakup the horizontal and vertical fuel continuity to reduce the chance of uncharacteristic stand replacement fires. Approximately 1,550 acres would be a natural fuels burn area where no mechanical treatment would occur, these acres would include target areas and conditional or incidental burn areas. A burn block of approximately 10,620 acres would target mechanically treated areas (commercial and precommercial thinning) and also include conditional or incidental burn areas. Approximately 15 acres would be targeted for native plant restoration. Whitebark pine restoration and enhancement is proposed in a 40 acre area around the summit of Pilot Peak. The proposed action would decommission and remove these from PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the transportation system approximately 22 miles of currently authorized roads. Approximately 3.7 miles of temporary road would be constructed, and approximately 0.8 miles of new road would be constructed. Approximately 6.5 miles of road currently not authorized would be improved by construction and added to the transportation system. Approximately 15.6 miles of road would be closed (these would remain as authorized roads) that are currently open, and 10.9 miles of closed road would be opened. Three culverts that are currently posing a fish migration barrier will be replaced and one would be removed as part of road decommissioning. Possible Alternatives to the Proposed Action: One alternative to the Proposed Action that will be considered is a no action alternative. Other alternatives will likely be developed as issues are identified and information received. Decisions to be Made: The Boise National Forest Supervisor will decide the following: What amount and distribution of commercial tree harvest and pre-commercial tree thinning or removal should be implemented to achieve the project objectives? What amount of prescribed fire should be implemented to achieve the project objectives? What amount of plantation thinning or brush removal should be implemented to achieve the project objectives? Which roads should be adopted as part of the forest-wide minimum transporation system? What existing roads are needed for long term management of the area? What additional roads, if any, are needed to implement the action? What roads are not needed and should be decommissioned or obliterated? What roads currently open should be closed? What culverts that are currently functioning as fish migration barriers should be replaced? Should opportunities for aspen enhancement and whitebark pine restoration be implemented as part of the planned actions? Should opportunities for native plant restoration be implemented? DATES: Comments concerning the proposed project and analysis are encouraged and should be postmarked or received within 30 days following publication of this announcement in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to the Boise National Forest, ATTN: Daniel Schlender, 1249 South Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID 83709 or sent electronically to commentsintermtn-boise-idaho-city@fs.fed.us. Electronic comments must be submitted in plain text or another format E:\FR\FM\16FEN1.SGM 16FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 32 (Friday, February 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7599-7600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-717]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Bull Run Watershed Management Unit Agreement, Multnomah County, 
OR

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Agreement.

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

SUMMARY: The Mt. Hood National Forest (Forest) in coordination with the 
City of Portland Water Bureau (City) is preparing a new Bull Run 
Watershed Management Unit Agreement pursuant to Public Law 95-200, 
Section 2(d). This Agreement will guide and be applicable to all 
occupancy, use, and management of the Bull Run Watershed Management 
Unit by the City and the Forest. This Agreement will replace the 
existing 1979 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The new Agreement will 
provide the revised administrative direction and agreements needed to 
structure the parties' roles, responsibilities, business processes and 
working relationships for the coming decades. Consideration and 
approval of the Agreement is scheduled for June 2007. The Forest and 
the City invite written comments on the content and scope of the 
Agreement. A copy of the draft Agreement is available on the following 
Internet Web sites, 
https://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood or https://www.potlandonline.com/water/. 
Hard copies of the draft Agreement may be obtained by contacting the 
contact person listed below. 
DATES: Comments concerning the content and scope of analysis should be 
postmarked by April 16, 2007. Two Public meetings are scheduled. The 
meeting dates are: 
    1. March 20, 2007, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Portland, OR.
    2. March 21, 2007, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sandy, OR.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning the 
Agreement to Gary Larsen, Forest Supervisor, Mt. Hood National Forest, 
16400 Champion Way, Sandy, Oregon 97055-7248. Comment may also be 
emailed to: comments-pacificnorthwest-mthood@fs.fed.us. Include your 
name and mailing address with your comments so documents pertaining to 
this Agreement may be mailed to you. The meeting location are:
    1. Portland--Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center--Billy Frank Jr. 
Conference Center, 721 NW., 9th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209.
    2. Sandy--Mt Hood National Forest Headquarters, 16400 Champion Way, 
Sandy, OR 97030.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the Agreement or 
requests for copies should be directed to Rick Acosta, Mt. Hood 
National Forest, Public Affairs Officer, 16400 Champion Way, Sandy, 
Oregon, 97055-7248, (e-mal: racosta@fs.fed.us), or phone: 503-668-1791, 
or Terry Black, City of Portland Water Bureau, Outreach Specialist, 
1120 SW., 5th Avenue, Portland, OR 97204, (e-mail: 
Terry.Black@ci.portland.or.us), or phone: 503-823-1168.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bull Run watershed, located in the Mt. 
Hood National Forest, is the largest and oldest of the several water 
supplies serving the Portland metropolitan area. Its role in the 
region's past, present and future, along with its unprecedented level 
of water quality, make it a high priority for both the City and the 
Forest Service to take the steps necessary to ensure its continuing 
quality, productivity and protection.
    As the City and the Forest Service began to look closely at the 
administrative and policy frameworks that guided their interactions 
they noted that much of that framework dated from the late 1970s and 
arose from the direction provided in the 1977 Bull Run Management Act 
(Pub. L. 95-200). As little of that framework had been updated over 
time, its applicability to current issues and needs is limited. Thus, 
this Agreement replaces the existing 1979 MOU, aligns practice with 
existing legislation, and provides the revised administrative direction 
and agreements needed to structure the parties' roles, 
responsibilities, business process and working relationships for the 
coming decades.
    The City and the Forest Service, along with community interests in 
the greater Portland metropolitan area, have had a long and sometimes 
contentious history of working together to protect and manage the 
valuable ecological and water resources of the Bull Run watershed. But 
with the coming of the 21st century, the issues and conflicts in policy 
and direction that held attention for the last fifty years have all but 
disappeared. Now, the parties are turning to the future, responding to 
new fiscal realities, and working together to frame the structures, 
processes, roles and responsibilities that will allow them to act 
effectively as joint stewards of this valuable regional and national 
resource, in concert with citizens who increasingly desire to redeem 
their responsibilities in stewardship of their lands.
    Officials from the City of Portland and the Mount Hood National 
Forest are

[[Page 7600]]

proposing a new Agreement between the City and the Forest Service to 
identify preferred administrative arrangements for their joint 
management of the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit. The purpose and 
hope of the Agreement is to document a new and more relevant 
relationship between the City and the Forest Service for the long-term 
stewardship of the Bull Run Watershed Management Unit that is built on 
a firm foundation of citizen involvement.
    The final Agreement is scheduled to be available in June 2007. In 
completing the Agreement, the Forest and the City will respond to 
comments received during the comment period. The Agency officials are 
Gary Larsen, Forest Supervisor, Mt. Hood National Forest for the Forest 
Service, and the City official is Randy Leonard, Commissioner-in-
Charge, City of Portland Water Bureau for the City of Portland.
    (Authority: Sec. 2, Pub. L. 95-200, 91 Stat. 1425 (16 U.S.C. 482b)

    Dated: February 12, 2007.
Gary L. Larsen,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 07-717 Filed 2-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M

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