Settlement Land Transfers: Pueblo de San Ildefonso and Los Alamos County, Sante Fe National Forest, Los Alamos County/Rio Arriba/Santa Fe County, NM, 34428-34430 [07-3058]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 120 / Friday, June 22, 2007 / Notices
Stamp Program, ongoing households
must apply for recertification using an
application, which is very similar to the
above-mentioned application for initial
certification. The average certification
period is 10 months in length although
the length of the certification period
may range from 1-month to 24-months
depending on household circumstances.
Based on FY 2006 data, we estimate that
the burden associated with the
application for recertification at
3,205,217 hours for households
(10,121,739 applications × 19 minutes
(0.32 hrs) to complete the application).
We estimate the burden for State
agencies at 3,205,217 hours (10,121,739
applications × 19 minutes (0.32 hrs) to
review the application).
Monthly Report. Three State agencies
require a portion of their caseload to
report changes in household
circumstances through monthly reports.
Because the household does not submit
a separate monthly report when it
submits the application for
recertification, households are required
to submit monthly reports 11 times a
year. We estimate a total annual
household reporting burden of 182,883
hours for the monthly report (142,506
households × 11 reports per year × 7
minutes or 0.12 hrs per report). We
estimate a State agency burden of
287,387 hours (142,506 households × 11
reports per year × 11 minutes or 0.18 hrs
per report).
Quarterly Report. Currently, only one
State, California, requires households to
report changes in circumstances on a
quarterly basis. Since households are
not required to submit a separate
quarterly report when they submit an
application for recertification, the report
is submitted three times a year. We
estimate a household reporting burden
of 319,787 hours for the quarterly report
(799,469 households × 3 reports per year
× 8 minutes or 0.13 hrs per report). We
estimate a State agency burden of
479,681 hours (799,469 households × 3
reports per year × 12 minutes or 0.2 hrs
per report).
Semiannual or Simplified Reporting.
Under the simplified reporting option,
adopted by 47 States, most households
report changes in their circumstances
through a report that they normally
submit every six months. In addition to
the semiannual report, a household in a
simplified reporting system must report
when its gross income exceeds 130
percent of the poverty threshold. Based
on recent information regarding State
choices, we estimate that 10,788,683
households are currently subject to
simplified reporting. Under simplified
reporting, households submit one report
annually (these households submit an
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application for recertification at least
once every 12 months), and we estimate
a household burden of 1,438,491 hours
(10,788,683 reports × 8 minutes or .133
hrs per report) and a State agency
burden of 1.977,925 hours (10,788,683
reports × 11 minutes or .18 hrs per
report).
Change Reporting. Households not
subject to monthly, quarterly reporting
or semiannual reporting must report
most changes in household
circumstances with 10 days of the date
that the change becomes known to the
household. Most households subject to
change reporting are statutorily exempt
from periodic reporting, primarily are
those households with no earned
income in which all adult members are
elderly or disabled. We estimate a total
household burden for change reporting
at 138,737 hours per year (1,664,843
households submitting an average of 1
report per year at 5 minutes or 0.08 hrs
per report). We estimate the annual
State agency burden to process the
reports at 305,221 hours (1,664,843
households submitting an average of 1
report per year with an agency
processing time of 11 minutes or 0.18
hrs per report).
Notice of Eligibility or Denial. Based
on an estimated 21,089,658 notices
issued annually, we estimate a total
State agency burden of 632,690 hours
based on 2 minutes (.03 hrs) to generate
each report.
We estimate a total annual burden of
367,412 hours to issue the following
notices: Notice of Late/Incomplete
Report, Adequate Notice (notice of
reduction or termination based on
information reported by the household),
Notice of Adverse Action, Notice of
Expiration of Certification, Request for
Contact, and Notice of Missed
Interview. The total is based on total of
3,365,104 responses with an average
burden of 3 minutes or .03 hrs per
response for the first five notices and
953,915 responses with an average
burden of 1 minute or 0.167 hrs for the
Notice of Missed Interview.
Recordkeeping burden only. Local
agencies are required to maintain client
case records for three years and to
perform duplicate participation checks
on individual household members to
ensure the member is not participating
in more than one household. Data are
not available on the actual number of
local food stamp offices in each State or
the actual number of workers
(recordkeepers) that would be
maintaining case files and performing
duplicate participation checks. For the
purpose of this burden package, we are
using the number of food stamp project
areas, which equals 2,724.
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(A) Case Files: The caseload to be
maintained is equal to the number of
participating households and their
subsequent files. The number of times
recordkeepers must access these case
files is equal to the number of
documents expected to be filed or noted
in the file annually. We anticipate
minimal filing to involve a burden of 2
minutes per document. Including
documentation (i.e. electronic files,
caseworker written entry into the file, or
hard copies of the document) for notices
which were sent to the household and
when, we anticipate a total of
127,192,305 documents/year. Annual
recordkeeping burden associated with
creating, filing, and maintaining
household case files is estimated to be
4,239,744 burden hours (127,192,305 ×
2/60 = 4,239,744).
(B) Monitoring Duplicate
Participation: The estimated annual
recordkeeping burden for maintaining
this system that is automated by most
States is based on the number of total
applications (all approved and denied
initial and recertification applications)
expected to be received (20,250,469)
and the average number of persons (2.3)
in each applicant household. We
estimate the number of duplicate
participation checks (responses) that
must be performed by State agencies at
46,576,079. Burden is estimated to be 15
seconds (or 0.00416666 hour) per
response, for a total burden of 194,067
burden hours annually (20,250,469 × 2.3
× 15 seconds or 0.00416666 hrs).
(C) Total recordkeeping burden would
be 4,433,811 hours. Burden per
recordkeeper would be 1,627 hours.
Summary of burden hours for
public—state and local governments,
potential applicants, and current
participants:
Number of Respondents: 21,089,698.
Annual responses: 110,196,575.
Total burden hours: 24,017,997.
Dated: June 19, 2007.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 07–3099 Filed 6–20–07; 12:06 pm]
BILLING CODE 3410–30–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Settlement Land Transfers: Pueblo de
San Ildefonso and Los Alamos County,
Sante Fe National Forest, Los Alamos
County/Rio Arriba/Santa Fe County,
NM
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Forest Service (FS)
will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) on a proposed action
that implements certain aspects of the
Pueblo de San Ildefonso Claims
Settlement Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109–
286). Portions of the Act considered in
this analysis include mandated transfer
of certain National Forest System lands
to the Pueblo de San Ildefonso (about
7,058 acres), the Pueblo of Santa Clara
(about 740 acres), and Los Alamos
County (about 631 acres). Lands would
be conveyed in exchange for an
appraised monetary value. The
legislation also requires the Forest
Service to offer for purchase six parcels
of National Forest System lands to Los
Alamos County near the community
(totaling about 324 acres), and to
reconstruct Forest Road (FR) 416v to a
high-clearance, Level 2 standard.
Although these proposed actions have
been mandated by the Act, the Santa Fe
National Forest will conduct a National
Environmental Policy Act
environmental analysis to disclose the
impacts of these actions, and to fully
describe any discretionary actions that
may also be included as part of the land
transfers called for in the Act. However,
under the Act, discretion is limited. A
map of the area is located at the
following Forest Service Web site:
https://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/projects/.
DATES: Comments concerning the
project must be received by July 23,
2007. The draft environmental impact
statement is expected in September of
2007 and the final environmental
impact statement is expected in
November 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Sandy Hurlocker, District Ranger, U.S.
Forest Service, Espanola Ranger District,
P.O. Box 3307, Espanola, New Mexico,
87533. Electronic mail (e-mail) may be
sent to comments-southwestern-santafe
espanola@fs.fed.us and FAX may be
sent to (505) 753–9411.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sandy Hurlocker, District Ranger,
˜
Espanola, Espanola Ranger District,
(505) 753–7331.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: On September 27, 2006,
the Pueblo de San Ildefonso Claims
Settlement Act of 2005 was signed into
law. The purpose of the Act is to resolve
title claims asserted against the United
States by the San Ildefonso Pueblo
under the proceedings of the Indian
Claims Act (Docket No 354). Other
purposes of the Act related to this
analysis are (1) The authorization of the
Pueblo to acquire and the Forest Service
to convey National Forest Systems lands
as identified in the San Ildefonso
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Settlement Agreement (Settlement Area
Lands), and (2) the authorization for the
Secretary of the Agriculture to convey
other lands out of the National Forest
System in order to comply with an
inter-Pueblo Agreement and the Los
Alamos Agreement, which has been
incorporated by the San Ildefonso
Settlement Agreement and ratified by
the Act. These additional lands include
the Water System Lands, the Northern
Tier Lands (to be acquired by the Santa
Clara Pueblo), and the Los Alamos
Townsite Lands.
The Act provides that the Settlement
Area Land and the Northern Tier Lands
shall be held by the Secretary of the
Interior in trust for the benefit of each
Pueblo. Lands acquired by Los Alamos
County as Water System Lands become
San Ildefonso Pueblo tribal lands if they
were no longer needed for Los Alamos
County’s water facilities. Most of the
Los Alamos Townsite lands are
currently used for Los Alamos County
water facilities, including Los Alamos
Reservoir and dam, as well as water
tanks. Except for the restrictions and
reservations identified above, the
Secretary of Agriculture does not
propose to place any restrictions on
future use of the Townsite lands,
Settlement Area lands, Water System
lands, or Northern Tier lands.
The Act also calls for reservation of a
number of road easements to assure
public access to lands that would
otherwise be inaccessible to motorized
vehicles once the conveyance takes
place. For most of these reservations,
existing roads provide adequate access
and so only an administrative action is
expected. However, as part of the Los
Alamos Agreement, road improvement
work must be completed to improve
public access to the National Forest
System lands adjoining the Settlement
Area Lands prior to conveyance. The
Act allows for reconstruction of FR 416v
to a high clearance, Level 2 to provide
this access.
Even though the Act requires these
actions and so discretion is limited, the
Santa Fe National Forest will study and
disclose in an environmental impact
statement the effects of the actions
described in the Act that relate to the
Secretary of Agriculture’s authority to
transfer lands and reconstruct Road
416v. Other actions to be undertaken by
the Department of the Interior, the
Pueblo de San Ildefonso, or Los Alamos
have not been included in the scope of
this proposal because they can be
accomplished separately. A map of the
area is located at the following Forest
Service Web site: https://www.fs.fed.us/
r3/sfe/projects/.
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34429
Proposed Action: The Santa Fe
National Forest proposes the following:
• Convey the Settlement Area lands
to the Pueblo de San Ildefonso
(approximately 7,058 acres) located in:
Township 20 north, Range 7 east,
section 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33;
and Township 19 north, Range 7 east,
sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9; New Mexico
Principal Meridian.
• Convey the Water System lands to
Los Alamos County (approximately 631
acres) located in Township 20 north,
Range 7 east, section 31; Township 19
north, Range 7 east, sections 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9; Township 19 north, Range 6 east,
section 1; New Mexico Principal
Meridian.
• Convey the Northern Tier Lands to
the Pueblo of Santa Clara
(approximately 740 acres) located in
Township 20 north, Range 7 east,
sections 17, 18; New Mexico Principal
Meridian.
• Offer for conveyance the Los
Alamos Townsite lands to Los Alamos
County. These six parcels total
approximately 324 acres of National
Forest System lands located in
Township 19 north, Range 4 east,
section 13; Township 19 north, Range 5
east, sections 3, 4, 5, 18; New Mexico
Principal Meridian.
• Reconstruct FR 416v to a high
clearance, Level 2, standard, following
the existing route as much as practical.
Reconstruction will require grading,
culvert placement, and possible
relocation of short segments.
• Ancillary actions that may be
implemented along with the land
transfers and road reconstruction.
Examples include fence construction
along boundary lines and road closures
where roads no longer serve a purpose
to the management of National Forests.
Lead Agency: The USDA Forest
Service (FS) is the lead agency.
Responsible Official: The responsible
Official is the Forest Supervisor, Santa
Fe National Forest, 1474 Rodeo Road,
P.O. Box 1689, Santa Fe, NM 87504–
1689.
Decision Framework: The NEPA
decision to be made is limited by the
Act. Transfer or offering for sale of lands
is mandated. Reconstruction of FR 416v
is also mandated as an action that must
be completed before the land
conveyance can occur. However, the
Forest will evaluate effects and develop
mitigation measures and best
management practices to implement
during the road reconstruction and,
where applicable, in the land
conveyance.
Scoping Process: The scoping process
will include appropriate public
involvement activities during June/July
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2007. Appropriate activities will occur
once the Draft EIS is available for
review, which is expected to occur in
the late summer of 2007.
Preliminary Issues: Because the
conveyance of land will not
significantly change the expected land
use of the transferred lands, no
significant issues have been identified.
Reconstruction of FR 416v has the
potential to affect known cultural
resource sites located within the
existing roadway. Because the sites and
road occupy land between a canyon
wall and steep ground, options to avoid
these sites are limited, and so data
recovery is the likely method for
mitigating impacts. No threatened or
endangered species—or Region 3
sensitive species—of animal or plant are
known in the project area. Likewise, no
Region 3 sensitive species are known.
Because the National Forest System
lands would be closed to the general
public once conveyed to the Pueblos, a
change in recreational use patterns is
likely. A closed pumice mine exists on
the land to be conveyed to the San
Ildefonso Pueblo, with reclamation
underway. Any unfinished reclamation
will pass to the Secretary of the Interior
pursuant to the Act, Section 7(f).
Comment Requested: This notice of
intent initiates the scoping process that
guides the development of the
environmental impact statement. The
Forest Service invites written comments
and suggestions on the proposed action,
including any issues to consider, as well
as any concerns relevant to the analysis.
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
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16:51 Jun 21, 2007
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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 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.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21)
Dated: June 13, 2007.
Daniel J. Jiron,
Forest Supervisor, Santa Fe National Forest.
[FR Doc. 07–3058 Filed 6–21–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Deschutes Provincial Advisory
Committee (DPAC)
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Deschutes Provincial
Advisory Committee will meet on July
11, 2007, starting at 8 a.m. at the
Deschutes National Forest Supervisor’s
Office at 1001 SW. Emkay Drive, Bend,
Oregon, for a field trip to the Bend-Ft.
Rock and Crescent Ranger Districts. The
purpose of the trip is to monitor the
Dilman and Five Buttes Projects to
obtain feedback from members. The trip
is scheduled to end at 5 p.m. in Bend.
All Deschutes Province Advisory
Committee Meetings are open to the
public and an open public forum is
scheduled from 3 to 3:30 p.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mollie Chaudet, Province Liaison,
Deschutes NF, 1001 SW. Emkay Drive,
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
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Bend, Oregon, 97702, Phone (541) 383–
5517.
Leslie A.C. Weldon,
Deschutes National Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 07–3061 Filed 6–21–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Del Norte County Resource Advisory
Committee
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Del Norte County
Resource Advisory Committee (RAC)
will meet on June 26, 2007 in Crescent
City, California. The purpose of the
meeting is to discuss the project
submission and selection process for
Title II proposals submitted under
Public Law 106–393, H.R. 2389, the
Secure Rural Schools and Community
Self-Determination Act of 2000, also
called the ‘‘Payments to States’’ Act.
DATES: The meeting will be held on July
2, 2006, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Del Norte County Unified School
District Board Room, 301 West
Washington, Crescent City, California.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie
Ranieri, Committee Coordinator, USDA,
Six Rivers National Forest, 1330
Bayshore Way, Eureka, CA 95501.
Phone: (707) 441–3673.
e-mail: jranier@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Individuals, community-based
organization, tribes and government
agencies will present the Title II project
proposals submitted to the RAC. The
meeting is open to the public. Public
input opportunity will be provided and
individuals will have the opportunity to
address the committee at that time.
Dated: June 18, 2007.
William D. Metz,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 07–3062 Filed 6–21–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
RIN 0596–AC68
USDA Forest Service Open Space
Conservation Strategy
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of request for public
AGENCY:
ACTION:
input.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 120 (Friday, June 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34428-34430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-3058]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Settlement Land Transfers: Pueblo de San Ildefonso and Los Alamos
County, Sante Fe National Forest, Los Alamos County/Rio Arriba/Santa Fe
County, NM
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 34429]]
SUMMARY: The U.S. Forest Service (FS) will prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) on a proposed action that implements certain
aspects of the Pueblo de San Ildefonso Claims Settlement Act of 2005
(Pub. L. 109-286). Portions of the Act considered in this analysis
include mandated transfer of certain National Forest System lands to
the Pueblo de San Ildefonso (about 7,058 acres), the Pueblo of Santa
Clara (about 740 acres), and Los Alamos County (about 631 acres). Lands
would be conveyed in exchange for an appraised monetary value. The
legislation also requires the Forest Service to offer for purchase six
parcels of National Forest System lands to Los Alamos County near the
community (totaling about 324 acres), and to reconstruct Forest Road
(FR) 416v to a high-clearance, Level 2 standard. Although these
proposed actions have been mandated by the Act, the Santa Fe National
Forest will conduct a National Environmental Policy Act environmental
analysis to disclose the impacts of these actions, and to fully
describe any discretionary actions that may also be included as part of
the land transfers called for in the Act. However, under the Act,
discretion is limited. A map of the area is located at the following
Forest Service Web site: https://www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/projects/.
DATES: Comments concerning the project must be received by July 23,
2007. The draft environmental impact statement is expected in September
of 2007 and the final environmental impact statement is expected in
November 2007.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Sandy Hurlocker, District Ranger,
U.S. Forest Service, Espanola Ranger District, P.O. Box 3307, Espanola,
New Mexico, 87533. Electronic mail (e-mail) may be sent to comments-
southwestern-santafe espanola@fs.fed.us and FAX may be sent to (505)
753-9411.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Hurlocker, District Ranger,
Espa[ntilde]ola, Espanola Ranger District, (505) 753-7331.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: On September 27, 2006, the Pueblo de San Ildefonso
Claims Settlement Act of 2005 was signed into law. The purpose of the
Act is to resolve title claims asserted against the United States by
the San Ildefonso Pueblo under the proceedings of the Indian Claims Act
(Docket No 354). Other purposes of the Act related to this analysis are
(1) The authorization of the Pueblo to acquire and the Forest Service
to convey National Forest Systems lands as identified in the San
Ildefonso Settlement Agreement (Settlement Area Lands), and (2) the
authorization for the Secretary of the Agriculture to convey other
lands out of the National Forest System in order to comply with an
inter-Pueblo Agreement and the Los Alamos Agreement, which has been
incorporated by the San Ildefonso Settlement Agreement and ratified by
the Act. These additional lands include the Water System Lands, the
Northern Tier Lands (to be acquired by the Santa Clara Pueblo), and the
Los Alamos Townsite Lands.
The Act provides that the Settlement Area Land and the Northern
Tier Lands shall be held by the Secretary of the Interior in trust for
the benefit of each Pueblo. Lands acquired by Los Alamos County as
Water System Lands become San Ildefonso Pueblo tribal lands if they
were no longer needed for Los Alamos County's water facilities. Most of
the Los Alamos Townsite lands are currently used for Los Alamos County
water facilities, including Los Alamos Reservoir and dam, as well as
water tanks. Except for the restrictions and reservations identified
above, the Secretary of Agriculture does not propose to place any
restrictions on future use of the Townsite lands, Settlement Area
lands, Water System lands, or Northern Tier lands.
The Act also calls for reservation of a number of road easements to
assure public access to lands that would otherwise be inaccessible to
motorized vehicles once the conveyance takes place. For most of these
reservations, existing roads provide adequate access and so only an
administrative action is expected. However, as part of the Los Alamos
Agreement, road improvement work must be completed to improve public
access to the National Forest System lands adjoining the Settlement
Area Lands prior to conveyance. The Act allows for reconstruction of FR
416v to a high clearance, Level 2 to provide this access.
Even though the Act requires these actions and so discretion is
limited, the Santa Fe National Forest will study and disclose in an
environmental impact statement the effects of the actions described in
the Act that relate to the Secretary of Agriculture's authority to
transfer lands and reconstruct Road 416v. Other actions to be
undertaken by the Department of the Interior, the Pueblo de San
Ildefonso, or Los Alamos have not been included in the scope of this
proposal because they can be accomplished separately. A map of the area
is located at the following Forest Service Web site: https://
www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/projects/.
Proposed Action: The Santa Fe National Forest proposes the
following:
Convey the Settlement Area lands to the Pueblo de San
Ildefonso (approximately 7,058 acres) located in: Township 20 north,
Range 7 east, section 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33; and Township
19 north, Range 7 east, sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9; New Mexico Principal
Meridian.
Convey the Water System lands to Los Alamos County
(approximately 631 acres) located in Township 20 north, Range 7 east,
section 31; Township 19 north, Range 7 east, sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9;
Township 19 north, Range 6 east, section 1; New Mexico Principal
Meridian.
Convey the Northern Tier Lands to the Pueblo of Santa
Clara (approximately 740 acres) located in Township 20 north, Range 7
east, sections 17, 18; New Mexico Principal Meridian.
Offer for conveyance the Los Alamos Townsite lands to Los
Alamos County. These six parcels total approximately 324 acres of
National Forest System lands located in Township 19 north, Range 4
east, section 13; Township 19 north, Range 5 east, sections 3, 4, 5,
18; New Mexico Principal Meridian.
Reconstruct FR 416v to a high clearance, Level 2,
standard, following the existing route as much as practical.
Reconstruction will require grading, culvert placement, and possible
relocation of short segments.
Ancillary actions that may be implemented along with the
land transfers and road reconstruction. Examples include fence
construction along boundary lines and road closures where roads no
longer serve a purpose to the management of National Forests.
Lead Agency: The USDA Forest Service (FS) is the lead agency.
Responsible Official: The responsible Official is the Forest
Supervisor, Santa Fe National Forest, 1474 Rodeo Road, P.O. Box 1689,
Santa Fe, NM 87504-1689.
Decision Framework: The NEPA decision to be made is limited by the
Act. Transfer or offering for sale of lands is mandated. Reconstruction
of FR 416v is also mandated as an action that must be completed before
the land conveyance can occur. However, the Forest will evaluate
effects and develop mitigation measures and best management practices
to implement during the road reconstruction and, where applicable, in
the land conveyance.
Scoping Process: The scoping process will include appropriate
public involvement activities during June/July
[[Page 34430]]
2007. Appropriate activities will occur once the Draft EIS is available
for review, which is expected to occur in the late summer of 2007.
Preliminary Issues: Because the conveyance of land will not
significantly change the expected land use of the transferred lands, no
significant issues have been identified. Reconstruction of FR 416v has
the potential to affect known cultural resource sites located within
the existing roadway. Because the sites and road occupy land between a
canyon wall and steep ground, options to avoid these sites are limited,
and so data recovery is the likely method for mitigating impacts. No
threatened or endangered species--or Region 3 sensitive species--of
animal or plant are known in the project area. Likewise, no Region 3
sensitive species are known. Because the National Forest System lands
would be closed to the general public once conveyed to the Pueblos, a
change in recreational use patterns is likely. A closed pumice mine
exists on the land to be conveyed to the San Ildefonso Pueblo, with
reclamation underway. Any unfinished reclamation will pass to the
Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the Act, Section 7(f).
Comment Requested: This notice of intent initiates the scoping
process that guides the development of the environmental impact
statement. The Forest Service invites written comments and suggestions
on the proposed action, including any issues to consider, as well as
any concerns relevant to the analysis.
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 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.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Dated: June 13, 2007.
Daniel J. Jiron,
Forest Supervisor, Santa Fe National Forest.
[FR Doc. 07-3058 Filed 6-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
