Beaver Creek Allotment Management Plan on the Medicine Wheel/Paintrock Ranger Districts, Bighorn National Forest, Big Horn County, WY, 27540-27541 [E7-9386]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 94 / Wednesday, May 16, 2007 / Notices
reason to believe are plant pests. Such
genetically engineered organisms and
products are considered ‘‘regulated
articles.’’ A permit must be obtained or
a notification acknowledged before a
regulated article may be introduced. The
regulations set forth the permit
application requirements and the
notification procedures for the
importation, interstate movement, or
release in the environment of a
regulated article.
On October 5, 2006, the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
received two permit applications (06–
278–01r and 06–278–02r) followed by a
third permit application (06–285–02r)
received on October 12, 2006, from
Ventria Bioscience, Sacramento, CA, for
confined field release of rice (Oryza
sativa) plants genetically engineered to
express genes coding for the proteins
lactoferrin, lysozyme, or serum albumin,
respectively. The proposed field
releases are to be conducted in Geary
County, KS. The subject plants have
been genetically engineered, using
techniques of micro-projectile
bombardment or disarmed
Agrobacterium-mediated
transformation, to express proteins for
recombinant human lactoferrin,
lysozyme, or serum albumin. Expression
of the genes is controlled by the rice
glutelin 1 promoter (GT1), the rice
glutelin 1 signal peptide (gt1), and the
nopaline synthase (NOS) terminator
sequence from Agrobacterium
tumefaciens. The genes are expressed
only in the seed. In addition, the plants
may contain either or both of the coding
sequences for the genes hygromycin
phosphotransferase (hpt) or
phosphinothricin acetyltransferase
(pat), which are marker genes that allow
for the selection of transgenic tissues in
the laboratory using the antibiotic
hygromycin and/or the herbicide
bialaphos. Neither selectable marker
gene is expressed in mature rice tissues,
nor do they have any inherent plant pest
characteristics or enhance gene transfer
from plants to other organisms. The
genetically engineered rice plants are
considered regulated articles under the
regulations in 7 CFR part 340 because
they contain gene sequences from plant
pathogens.
The purpose of these field releases is
for pure seed production and for the
extraction of lactoferrin, lysozyme, and
serum albumin for a variety of research
and commercial products. There is
currently no commercial rice
production in Geary County or in any
other location in the State of Kansas.
The planting will be conducted using
physical confinement measures. In
addition, the protocols and field plot
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:27 May 15, 2007
Jkt 211001
design, as well as the procedures for
termination of the field plantings, are
designed to ensure that none of the
subject rice plants persist in the
environment after the crop is harvested.
On February 28, 2007, APHIS
published a notice 1 in the Federal
Register (72 FR 8959–8960, Docket No.
APHIS–2007–0006) announcing the
availability of an environmental
assessment (EA) for the proposed field
release of rice genetically engineered to
express lactoferrin, lysozyme, or serum
albumin. During the designated 30-day
comment period, which ended March
30, 2007, APHIS received 20,034
comments. Of the 20,034 comments
received, 20,005 were opposed to
APHIS’ approval of these permits.
Respondents opposing APHIS’ approval
of these permits were four public
interest groups, academic professionals,
organic food producers, rice growers,
millers (or from related industries), and
individuals. One public interest group
submitted 13,289 nearly identical
comments, and 5,621 nearly identical
comments were submitted by another
public interest group. There were 29
comments supporting APHIS’ approval
of these permits. Respondents
supporting the approval of these permits
were from academia, a farm bureau, a
corn and grain sorghum growers
association, a corporation, a State
government agency, and individuals.
APHIS has addressed the issues raised
during the comment period and has
provided responses to these comments
as an attachment to the finding of no
significant impact (FONSI).
Pursuant to the regulations in 7 CFR
part 340 promulgated under the Plant
Protection Act, APHIS has determined
that these field releases will not pose a
risk of introducing or disseminating a
plant pest. Additionally, based upon
analysis described in the EA, APHIS has
determined that the action proposed in
Alternative 3 of the EA, issue the permit
with supplemental permit conditions,
will not have a significant impact on the
quality of the human environment. You
may read the FONSI and decision notice
on the Internet or in the APHIS reading
room (see ADDRESSES above). Copies
may also be obtained from the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
The EA and FONSI were prepared in
accordance with (1) The National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
1 To view the notice, EA, and the comments we
received, go to https://www.regulations.gov, click on
the ‘‘Advanced Search’’ tab, and select ‘‘Docket
Search.’’ In the Docket ID field, enter APHIS–2007–
0006, then click on ‘‘Submit.’’ Clicking on the
Docket ID link in the search results page will
produce a list of all documents in the docket.
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Fmt 4703
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(NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), (2) regulations of the Council on
Environmental Quality for
implementing the procedural provisions
of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), (3)
USDA regulations implementing NEPA
(7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part
372).
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781–
7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and
371.3.
Done in Washington, DC, this 9th day of
May, 2007.
W. Ron DeHaven,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7–9432 Filed 5–15–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Beaver Creek Allotment Management
Plan on the Medicine Wheel/Paintrock
Ranger Districts, Bighorn National
Forest, Big Horn County, WY
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 update range
management planning on fourteen (14)
cattle/horse and sheep/goat grazing
allotments in the Beaver Creek area,
which will result in development of
new allotment management plans
(AMPs). The agency gives notice of the
full environmental analysis and
decision-making process that will occur
on the proposal so that interested and
affected people may become aware of
how they may participate in the process
and contribute to the final decision.
DATES: Comments and input regarding
the proposal were requested from the
public, other groups and agencies, via a
legal notice published in the Casper
Star-Tribune on March 4, 2007.
Additional comments may be made at
the addresses below, and would be most
helpful if submitted within thirty days
of the publication of this notice. Based
on the comments received and
preliminary analysis, the Responsible
Official has determined that an
environmental impact statement will be
prepared for this project. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected in December, 2007 and the
final environmental impact statement is
expected April, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments and
suggestions concerning this proposal to
E:\FR\FM\16MYN1.SGM
16MYN1
cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 94 / Wednesday, May 16, 2007 / Notices
Dave Sisk, District Ranger, Medicine
Wheel/Paintrock Ranger District,
Bighorn National Forest, 604 E. Main,
Lovell, Wyoming 82431.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Direct
questions to Bernie Bornong,
Interdisciplinary Team Leader, Bighorn
National Forest, phone (307) 674–2600.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
allotments are located approximately 35
miles, by road, southeast of Lovell,
Wyoming in the Bighorn River drainage.
National Forest System lands within the
Bighorn National Forest will be
considered in the proposal. The purpose
of the analysis is to determine if
livestock grazing will continue on the
analysis area. If the decision is to
continue livestock grazing, then
updated management strategies
outlining how livestock will be grazed
will be developed to assure
implementation of Forest Plan
management direction. The analysis
will consider actions that continue to
improve trends in vegetation, watershed
conditions, and ecological sustainability
relative to livestock grazing within the
allotments. Management actions are
proposed to be implemented beginning
in the year 2009.
The Bighorn National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan (Forest
Plan) identifies livestock grazing as an
appropriate use and makes initial
determinations for lands capable and
suitable for grazing by domestic
livestock.
The fourteen allotments involved are:
Bear/Crystal Creek Sheep and Goat
(S&G), Beaver Creek S&G, Finger Creek
Cattle and Horse (C&H), Grouse Creek
S&G, Hunt Mountain S&G, Matthews
Ridge C&H, Red Canyon S&G, Red
Canyon C&H, Sunlight Mesa C&H,
South Park C&H, Whaley Creek S&G,
Wiley Sundown C&H, Antelope Ridge
S&G, and Little Horn S&G Allotments.
Purpose and Need for Action: The
purpose of this project is to determine
if livestock grazing will continue to be
authorized on the fourteen allotments,
and if it is to continue, how to best to
utilize adaptive management strategies
to maintain or achieve desired
conditions and meet forest plan
objectives. Livestock grazing is currently
occurring on most of the allotments
under the existing allotment
management plan (AMP) and through
direction provided in the Annual
Operating Instructions. A few of the
allotments are currently vacant.
Continuation of livestock grazing will
require reviewing existing management
strategies and, if necessary, updating
them to implement forest plan direction
and meet Section 504 of Public Law
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:27 May 15, 2007
Jkt 211001
104–19 (Rescission Bill, signed 7/27/
95). The results of this analysis may
require modifying term grazing permits
and AMPs. Modifications will be
documented in updated AMPs for the
allotments.
An additional purpose of this project
is to maintain or move toward desired
conditions for sagebrush/grassland
communities; specifically, to maintain a
mosaic of vegetation composition and
structure that emulates, or moves
toward, natural processes. The need to
provide a mosaic of sagebrush cover
densities has been identified in the
project area.
Proposed Action: The proposed action
is to continue livestock grazing using
adaptive management strategies to meet
or move toward Forest Plan and
allotment-specific desired conditions.
This includes changing livestock
management strategies, constructing
additional improvements (fences and
water developments), and treating
sagebrush.
Possible Alternatives: Two additional
alternatives have been identified to date:
(a) Remove livestock grazing from these
allotments; and, (b) Continue current
management strategies.
Responsible Official: Dave Sisk,
District Ranger, Medicine Wheel/
Paintrock Ranger District, Bighorn
National Forest, 604 E. Main, Lovell,
Wyoming 82431.
Nature of Decision to be Made: The
Responsible Official will consider the
results of the analysis and its findings
and then document the final decision in
a Record of Decision (ROD). The
decision will determine whether or not
to authorize livestock grazing on all,
part, or none of the allotments, and if so,
what adaptive management design
criteria, adaptive options, and
monitoring will be implemented so as to
meet or move toward the desired
conditions in the defined timeframe.
Scoping Process: Formal scoping for
this project occurred in March 2007.
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
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
27541
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: March 4, 2007.
Dave Sisk,
Medicine Wheel/Paintrock District Ranger.
[FR Doc. E7–9386 Filed 5–15–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
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Endangered and Threatened Species;
Take of Anadromous Fish
National Marine Fisheries
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AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\16MYN1.SGM
16MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27540-27541]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9386]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Beaver Creek Allotment Management Plan on the Medicine Wheel/
Paintrock Ranger Districts, Bighorn National Forest, Big Horn County,
WY
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 update range management planning on fourteen (14)
cattle/horse and sheep/goat grazing allotments in the Beaver Creek
area, which will result in development of new allotment management
plans (AMPs). The agency gives notice of the full environmental
analysis and decision-making process that will occur on the proposal so
that interested and affected people may become aware of how they may
participate in the process and contribute to the final decision.
DATES: Comments and input regarding the proposal were requested from
the public, other groups and agencies, via a legal notice published in
the Casper Star-Tribune on March 4, 2007. Additional comments may be
made at the addresses below, and would be most helpful if submitted
within thirty days of the publication of this notice. Based on the
comments received and preliminary analysis, the Responsible Official
has determined that an environmental impact statement will be prepared
for this project. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
in December, 2007 and the final environmental impact statement is
expected April, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this
proposal to
[[Page 27541]]
Dave Sisk, District Ranger, Medicine Wheel/Paintrock Ranger District,
Bighorn National Forest, 604 E. Main, Lovell, Wyoming 82431.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Direct questions to Bernie Bornong,
Interdisciplinary Team Leader, Bighorn National Forest, phone (307)
674-2600.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The allotments are located approximately 35
miles, by road, southeast of Lovell, Wyoming in the Bighorn River
drainage. National Forest System lands within the Bighorn National
Forest will be considered in the proposal. The purpose of the analysis
is to determine if livestock grazing will continue on the analysis
area. If the decision is to continue livestock grazing, then updated
management strategies outlining how livestock will be grazed will be
developed to assure implementation of Forest Plan management direction.
The analysis will consider actions that continue to improve trends in
vegetation, watershed conditions, and ecological sustainability
relative to livestock grazing within the allotments. Management actions
are proposed to be implemented beginning in the year 2009.
The Bighorn National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan
(Forest Plan) identifies livestock grazing as an appropriate use and
makes initial determinations for lands capable and suitable for grazing
by domestic livestock.
The fourteen allotments involved are: Bear/Crystal Creek Sheep and
Goat (S&G), Beaver Creek S&G, Finger Creek Cattle and Horse (C&H),
Grouse Creek S&G, Hunt Mountain S&G, Matthews Ridge C&H, Red Canyon
S&G, Red Canyon C&H, Sunlight Mesa C&H, South Park C&H, Whaley Creek
S&G, Wiley Sundown C&H, Antelope Ridge S&G, and Little Horn S&G
Allotments.
Purpose and Need for Action: The purpose of this project is to
determine if livestock grazing will continue to be authorized on the
fourteen allotments, and if it is to continue, how to best to utilize
adaptive management strategies to maintain or achieve desired
conditions and meet forest plan objectives. Livestock grazing is
currently occurring on most of the allotments under the existing
allotment management plan (AMP) and through direction provided in the
Annual Operating Instructions. A few of the allotments are currently
vacant. Continuation of livestock grazing will require reviewing
existing management strategies and, if necessary, updating them to
implement forest plan direction and meet Section 504 of Public Law 104-
19 (Rescission Bill, signed 7/27/95). The results of this analysis may
require modifying term grazing permits and AMPs. Modifications will be
documented in updated AMPs for the allotments.
An additional purpose of this project is to maintain or move toward
desired conditions for sagebrush/grassland communities; specifically,
to maintain a mosaic of vegetation composition and structure that
emulates, or moves toward, natural processes. The need to provide a
mosaic of sagebrush cover densities has been identified in the project
area.
Proposed Action: The proposed action is to continue livestock
grazing using adaptive management strategies to meet or move toward
Forest Plan and allotment-specific desired conditions. This includes
changing livestock management strategies, constructing additional
improvements (fences and water developments), and treating sagebrush.
Possible Alternatives: Two additional alternatives have been
identified to date: (a) Remove livestock grazing from these allotments;
and, (b) Continue current management strategies.
Responsible Official: Dave Sisk, District Ranger, Medicine Wheel/
Paintrock Ranger District, Bighorn National Forest, 604 E. Main,
Lovell, Wyoming 82431.
Nature of Decision to be Made: The Responsible Official will
consider the results of the analysis and its findings and then document
the final decision in a Record of Decision (ROD). The decision will
determine whether or not to authorize livestock grazing on all, part,
or none of the allotments, and if so, what adaptive management design
criteria, adaptive options, and monitoring will be implemented so as to
meet or move toward the desired conditions in the defined timeframe.
Scoping Process: Formal scoping for this project occurred in March
2007.
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: March 4, 2007.
Dave Sisk,
Medicine Wheel/Paintrock District Ranger.
[FR Doc. E7-9386 Filed 5-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
