Fremont-Winema National Forests; Oregon; Invasive Plant Treatment, 10136-10137 [07-1053]
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10136
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 44 / Wednesday, March 7, 2007 / Notices
Office of Management and Budget,
Washington, DC 20253.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
also become a matter of public record.
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2007_Notices_Index/index.asp.
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Done at Washington, DC on March 2, 2007.
David P. Goldman,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. E7–4086 Filed 3–6–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Fremont-Winema National Forests;
Oregon; Invasive Plant Treatment
AGENCY:
Forest Service, USDA.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:25 Mar 06, 2007
Jkt 211001
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will
prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to document and
disclose the potential environmental
effects of proposed invasive plant
treatments on the Fremont-Winema
National Forests. Treatment methods
would include manual, mechanical,
cultural, biological, and chemical
control. Combinations of methods may
be used. Treatments would focus on
4,274 known invasive plant sites
currently infesting approximately 7,730
acres. The Proposed Action also
includes an Early Detection/Rapid
Response (EDRR) process to allow
treatment of new or previously
undiscovered infestations. Under the
EDRR approach, new sites would be
evaluated to ensure that effects are
within the scope of those already
analyzed in the EIS.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by
April 9, 2007. The draft environmental
impact statement is expected in
November 2007 and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected in July 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Karen Shimamoto, Forests Supervisor,
Fremont-Winema National Forests,
Fremont-Winema Headquarters, 1301
South G Street, Lakeview, OR 97630.
Electronic comments can be submitted
to: comments-pacificnorthwest-fremontwinema@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick
Elston, Interdisciplinay Team Leader,
Fremont-Winema National Forests, P.O.
Box 129, Silver Lake, OR 97638. Phone
(541) 576–7569 or e-mail
relston@fs.fed.us; or Sarah Malaby,
Forest Botanist, Fremont-Winema
National Forests, 2819 Dahlia, Klamath
Falls, OR 97601. Phone (541) 885–3421
or e-mail smalaby@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
There is an underlying need for
timely control and/or eradiction of
invasive plants on the Fremont-Winema
National Forests so that desired
environmental conditions (healthy
native plant populations) may be
achieved. Invasive plants can displace
native plant communities, increase fire
hazard, degrade fish and wildlife
habitat, eliminate rare and cultural
plants, increase soil erosion, and
adversely affect scenic beauty and
recreational opportunities. Because of
their competitive abilities and a lack of
natural predators to keep them in check,
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
invasive plants can spread rapidly
across the landscape, unimpeded by
ownership or administrative
boundaries. Infested areas represent
potential seed sources for further
invasion into neighboring ownerships.
On the Fremont-Winema National
Forests there are presently 24 species of
invasive plants infesting approximately
7,400 acres.
Noxious weed control is currently
taking place on the Forests under
separate Winema and Fremont
Environmental Assessments. This
proposal would create a consistent
program across the two Forests, address
invasive species sites found since those
decisions were signed, and include use
of additional, often less toxic and more
effective, herbicides. The project will
utilize recent direction and new tools
provided by the Pacific Northwest
Region Invasive Plant Program
Preventing and Managing Invasive
Plants Record of Decision signed in
2005.
The purpose of this project is to
control invasive plants in a costeffective manner that complies with
environmental standards. Without
action, invasive plant populations will
continue to have adverse effects on
National Forest System and adjacent
lands.
Proposed Action
The Proposed Action for this project
is to apply site-specific treatment
prescriptions to invasive plants on the
Fremont-Winema National Forests.
Treatments are to be based on site
objective (containment, control, or
eradication), biology of the invasive
plant species, size of the infestation, and
spread potential. Project Design Criteria
(PDC) will be developed to reduce or
eliminate potentially adverse effects on
non-target species and other resources.
Treatment of both existing and newly
discovered invasive plant species
infestations would occur during the
next 10 to 15 years. Concentrations of
known invasive plant sites have been
grouped into 54 ‘‘treatment areas’’ that
take into consideration expected spread
patterns associated with road systems,
plantations, areas burned by wildfire,
and other habitat conditions at risk of
infestation. Treatment areas encompass
156,000 acres and contain 4,274 known
invasive plant sites currently infesting
approximately 7,730 acres. Maps and
descriptions of treatment areas are
available at: http:www.fs.fed.us/r6/
frewin/projects/analyses/2007invasives/
, or upon request. The amount of acres
treated in any given year would depend
on funding and the success of past
treatments. It is expected that less than
E:\FR\FM\07MRN1.SGM
07MRN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 44 / Wednesday, March 7, 2007 / Notices
5,000 acres would be treated each year.
With private landowner cooperation,
the proposal would provide the option
to use Federal funds to treat invasive
plants on adjacent private lands both
inside and outside the Forest boundary.
Use of federal dollars on private land
would be considered for high priority
species, populations overlapping both
ownerships, and sites with high
potential for spread across boundaries,
such as those in road corridors and
areas burned by wildfire.
The Proposed Action includes an
Early Detection/Rapid Response (EDRR)
process to allow treatment of new or
previously undiscovered infestations
outside of treatment areas. The intent of
the EDRR approach is to increase costeffectiveness by treating new
infestations when they are small so that
the likelihood of adverse effects from
treatment is minimized, and the
invasives plants do less ecological
damage. Under the EDRR approach, new
sites would be evaluated to determine
appropriate Project Design Criteria and
to ensure that effects are within the
scope of those already analyzed in the
EIS.
Responsible Official
The Responsible Official is Karen
Shimamoto, Fremont-Winema National
Forests Supervisor. She may be
contacted at Fremont-Winema
Headquarters, 1301 South G Street,
Lakeview, OR 97630.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will decide
what type of methods and how they will
be used to contain, control, or eradicate
invasive plants on the Fremont-Winema
National Forests.
Scoping Process
The public is asked to provide the
responsible official with written
comments describing their concerns
about this project. Public meetings will
be held during the spring or summer of
2007.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. The comments most
useful to developing or refining the
proposed action would be site specific
concerns and those that can help us
develop treatments that would be
responsive to our goal to control,
contain, or eradicate invasive plants as
well as being cost effective.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:25 Mar 06, 2007
Jkt 211001
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 action,
comments on the draft environmental
impact statement should be as specific
as possible. It is also helpful if
comments refer to specific pages or
chapters of the draft statement.
Comments may also address the
adequacy of the draft 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.
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
10137
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21)
Dated: February 28, 2007.
Karen Shimamoto,
Forest Supervisor, Fremont-Winema National
Forests.
[FR Doc. 07–1053 Filed 3–6–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Notice of Meeting; Federal Lands
Recreation Enhancement Act, (Title
VIII, Pub. L. 108–447)
Pacific Northwest Region,
Forest Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice of Meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Pacific Northwest
Recreation Resource Advisory
Committee (Recreation RAC) will hold
its first meeting April 2007 in Portland,
Oregon. The purpose of this initial
meeting is to develop the process for
making recommendations on recreation
fee proposals for facilities and services
offered on lands managed by the Forest
Service and Bureau of Land
Management in Oregon and
Washington.
DATES: The meeting will be held on
April 11, 2007 from 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
and April 12, 2007 from 8:30 a.m.–4
p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be at the
Double Tree Hotel, Lloyd Center, 1000
NE Multnomah St., Portland, Oregon
97232. Send written comments to Dan
Harkenrider, PNW Recreation RAC
Designated Federal Official, 902 Wasco
Street, Suite 200, Hood River, OR 97031,
541–308–1700 or
dharkenrider@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan
Harkenrider, PNW Recreation RAC
Designated Federal Official, 902 Wasco
Street, Suite 200, Hood River, OR 97031,
541–308–1700.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
meeting is open to the public. This
initial meeting will be an information
meeting and overview of current Pacific
Northwest Recreation Fee Programs for
the Forest Service and BLM. Recreation
RAC discussion is limited to Forest
Service and Bureau of Land
Management staff and Recreation RAC
members. However, persons who wish
to bring recreation fee matters to the
attention of the Recreation RAC may file
written statements with the Designated
Federal Official before or after the
E:\FR\FM\07MRN1.SGM
07MRN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10136-10137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-1053]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Fremont-Winema National Forests; Oregon; Invasive Plant Treatment
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 document and disclose the potential environmental
effects of proposed invasive plant treatments on the Fremont-Winema
National Forests. Treatment methods would include manual, mechanical,
cultural, biological, and chemical control. Combinations of methods may
be used. Treatments would focus on 4,274 known invasive plant sites
currently infesting approximately 7,730 acres. The Proposed Action also
includes an Early Detection/Rapid Response (EDRR) process to allow
treatment of new or previously undiscovered infestations. Under the
EDRR approach, new sites would be evaluated to ensure that effects are
within the scope of those already analyzed in the EIS.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by April 9, 2007. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
in November 2007 and the final environmental impact statement is
expected in July 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Karen Shimamoto, Forests
Supervisor, Fremont-Winema National Forests, Fremont-Winema
Headquarters, 1301 South G Street, Lakeview, OR 97630. Electronic
comments can be submitted to: comments-pacificnorthwest-fremont-
winema@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Elston, Interdisciplinay Team
Leader, Fremont-Winema National Forests, P.O. Box 129, Silver Lake, OR
97638. Phone (541) 576-7569 or e-mail relston@fs.fed.us; or Sarah
Malaby, Forest Botanist, Fremont-Winema National Forests, 2819 Dahlia,
Klamath Falls, OR 97601. Phone (541) 885-3421 or e-mail
smalaby@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
There is an underlying need for timely control and/or eradiction of
invasive plants on the Fremont-Winema National Forests so that desired
environmental conditions (healthy native plant populations) may be
achieved. Invasive plants can displace native plant communities,
increase fire hazard, degrade fish and wildlife habitat, eliminate rare
and cultural plants, increase soil erosion, and adversely affect scenic
beauty and recreational opportunities. Because of their competitive
abilities and a lack of natural predators to keep them in check,
invasive plants can spread rapidly across the landscape, unimpeded by
ownership or administrative boundaries. Infested areas represent
potential seed sources for further invasion into neighboring
ownerships. On the Fremont-Winema National Forests there are presently
24 species of invasive plants infesting approximately 7,400 acres.
Noxious weed control is currently taking place on the Forests under
separate Winema and Fremont Environmental Assessments. This proposal
would create a consistent program across the two Forests, address
invasive species sites found since those decisions were signed, and
include use of additional, often less toxic and more effective,
herbicides. The project will utilize recent direction and new tools
provided by the Pacific Northwest Region Invasive Plant Program
Preventing and Managing Invasive Plants Record of Decision signed in
2005.
The purpose of this project is to control invasive plants in a
cost-effective manner that complies with environmental standards.
Without action, invasive plant populations will continue to have
adverse effects on National Forest System and adjacent lands.
Proposed Action
The Proposed Action for this project is to apply site-specific
treatment prescriptions to invasive plants on the Fremont-Winema
National Forests. Treatments are to be based on site objective
(containment, control, or eradication), biology of the invasive plant
species, size of the infestation, and spread potential. Project Design
Criteria (PDC) will be developed to reduce or eliminate potentially
adverse effects on non-target species and other resources.
Treatment of both existing and newly discovered invasive plant
species infestations would occur during the next 10 to 15 years.
Concentrations of known invasive plant sites have been grouped into 54
``treatment areas'' that take into consideration expected spread
patterns associated with road systems, plantations, areas burned by
wildfire, and other habitat conditions at risk of infestation.
Treatment areas encompass 156,000 acres and contain 4,274 known
invasive plant sites currently infesting approximately 7,730 acres.
Maps and descriptions of treatment areas are available at:
http:www.fs.fed.us/r6/frewin/projects/analyses/2007invasives/, or upon
request. The amount of acres treated in any given year would depend on
funding and the success of past treatments. It is expected that less
than
[[Page 10137]]
5,000 acres would be treated each year. With private landowner
cooperation, the proposal would provide the option to use Federal funds
to treat invasive plants on adjacent private lands both inside and
outside the Forest boundary. Use of federal dollars on private land
would be considered for high priority species, populations overlapping
both ownerships, and sites with high potential for spread across
boundaries, such as those in road corridors and areas burned by
wildfire.
The Proposed Action includes an Early Detection/Rapid Response
(EDRR) process to allow treatment of new or previously undiscovered
infestations outside of treatment areas. The intent of the EDRR
approach is to increase cost-effectiveness by treating new infestations
when they are small so that the likelihood of adverse effects from
treatment is minimized, and the invasives plants do less ecological
damage. Under the EDRR approach, new sites would be evaluated to
determine appropriate Project Design Criteria and to ensure that
effects are within the scope of those already analyzed in the EIS.
Responsible Official
The Responsible Official is Karen Shimamoto, Fremont-Winema
National Forests Supervisor. She may be contacted at Fremont-Winema
Headquarters, 1301 South G Street, Lakeview, OR 97630.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will decide what type of methods and how
they will be used to contain, control, or eradicate invasive plants on
the Fremont-Winema National Forests.
Scoping Process
The public is asked to provide the responsible official with
written comments describing their concerns about this project. Public
meetings will be held during the spring or summer of 2007.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. The comments
most useful to developing or refining the proposed action would be site
specific concerns and those that can help us develop treatments that
would be responsive to our goal to control, contain, or eradicate
invasive plants as well as being cost effective.
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 action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
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: February 28, 2007.
Karen Shimamoto,
Forest Supervisor, Fremont-Winema National Forests.
[FR Doc. 07-1053 Filed 3-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
