Plumas National Forest, Feather River Ranger District, CA; Flea Project, 50096-50098 [07-4253]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
50096
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 72, No. 168
Thursday, August 30, 2007
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
United States Agency for
International Development.
AGENCY:
Notice to delete systems of
Pursuant to the Privacy Act of
1974 (U.S.C. 552a), as amended, the
United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) is deleting nine
systems of records notices in its existing
inventory.
SUMMARY:
Comments may be
submitted by any of the following
methods:
eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions on submitting comments.
E-mail: privacy@usaid.gov
Fax: (703) 666–1466.
Mail: Chief Privacy Officer, United
States Agency for International
Development, 1300 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Suite 2.12–003,
Washington, DC 20523–2120.
[FR Doc. E7–17180 Filed 8–29–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6116–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
AID–6, Recruiting, Examining,
Placement and Employee Records.
Reason: The records contained in this
system of records are covered by OPM/
GOVT–5 (Recruiting, Examining,
Placement and Employee Records), a
government-wide system of record.
Forest Service
SYSTEM NAME:
AID–11, Employee Conduct and
Discipline Records.
Reason: The records contained in this
system of records are covered by OPM/
GOVT–3 (Adverse Actions and Actions
Based on Unacceptable Performance), a
government-wide system of record.
Ms.
Barbara English, Office of Human
Resources, Policy, Planning and
Information Division either by e-mail at
benglish@usaid.gov or by phone on
(202) 712–1913.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES
AID–24, Emergency Case File.
Reason: The records contained in this
system of records are covered by OPM/
GOVT–1 (General Personnel Records), a
government-wide system of record.
AID–7, Foreign Service Personnel
Evaluation Records.
Reason: The records contained in this
system of records are covered by OPM/
GOVT–2 (Employee Performance File
System Records), a government-wide
system of record.
ADDRESSES:
USAID
has reviewed its Privacy Act systems of
records. As a result of this review,
USAID is deleting nine systems of
records notices in its existing inventory.
All nine systems being deleted are
covered under government-wide
systems of records. The specific
deletions are set forth below.
Jkt 211001
SYSTEM NAME:
Plumas National Forest, Feather River
Ranger District, CA; Flea Project
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SYSTEM NAME:
This proposed action will be
effective on October 1, 2007.
DATES:
14:38 Aug 29, 2007
AID–1, Foreign Service Employee
Personnel Records System.
Reason: The records contained in this
system of records are covered by OPM/
GOVT–1 (General Personnel Records), a
government-wide system of record.
SYSTEM NAME:
records.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
SYSTEM NAME:
AID–14, Awards and Incentive
Records.
Reason: The records contained in this
system of records are covered by OPM/
GOVT–2 (Employee Performance File
System Records), a government-wide
system of record.
AID–2, Civil Service Employee Office
Personnel Records.
Reason: The records contained in this
system of records are covered by OPM/
GOVT–1 (General Personnel Records), a
government-wide system of record.
Privacy Act of 1974, System of
Records
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SYSTEM NAME:
SYSTEM NAME:
AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
ACTION:
Dated: August 20, 2007.
Philip M. Heneghan,
Chief Privacy Officer, USAID.
SYSTEM NAME:
AID–12, Executive Assignment
Records.
Reason: The records contained in this
system of records are covered by OPM/
GOVT–1 (General Personnel Records), a
government-wide system of record.
SYSTEM NAME:
AID–13, Orientation and Training
Records.
Reason: The records contained in this
system of records are covered by OPM/
GOVT–1 (General Personnel Records), a
government-wide system of record.
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will
prepare an environmental impact
statement to disclose the environmental
effects resulting from construction of
fuel breaks known as defensible fuel
profile zones (DFPZs); harvest and
reforestation of timber stands;
restoration and enhancement of aquatic
and riparian habitat; improvement of
wildlife habitat and long term
watershed condition; underburning to
improve the health of unique plant
communities; and road construction,
reconstruction, and decommissioning.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received within
30 days of the publication of this notice
in the Federal Register. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected by January 2008, and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected by April 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Karen Hayden, District Ranger, Plumas
National Forest, Feather River Ranger
District, 875 Mitchell Ave, Oroville, CA
95965. Comments may be (1) Mailed to
the Responsible Official; (2) handdelivered between the hours of 8 a.m.–
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding holidays; (3) faxed to (530)
532–1210; or (4) electronically mailed
E:\FR\FM\30AUN1.SGM
30AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 168 / Thursday, August 30, 2007 / Notices
to: comments-pacificsouthwest-plumasfeatherrvr@fs.fed.us.
John
Zarlengo, Project Leader, Feather River
Ranger District, 875 Mitchell Avenue,
Oroville, CA 95965, or call (530) 532–
8932.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Flea
Project area is located within the
Feather River Ranger District of the
Plumas National Forest in Butte County.
Encompassing approximately 11,000
acres, the project area is located north
and east of Paradise, from De Sabla in
the northwest to Jorbo Gap in the
southeast, and north and west of Mayaro
and North Fork of the Feather River in
the northeast. Treatment units range in
elevation from 1,600 to 4,300 feet above
sea level. Communities in and near the
project area include Paradise, Magalia,
DeSabla, Yankee Hill, Concow, Pulga
and Mayaro.
The Flea Project is proposed as part
of a broad resource management
program to promote the ecological
health of lands and economic health
and stability of communities in the
northern Sierra Nevada under the
authority of the Herger-Feinstein
Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery
Act (HFQLG Act).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Purpose and Need for Action
The Forest Service has identified the
following project objectives: (1) Protect
communities and forest ecosystems
from high-intensity wildfires; (2)
promote a healthy all-aged,
multistoried, fire-resilient forest; (3)
contribute to the stability and economic
health of communities; (4) promote the
health of unique plant communities; (5)
promote healthy aquatic and riparian
ecosystems, and improve long term
watershed condition; and (6) improve
wildlife habitat.
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES
Proposed Action
To achieve project objectives, the
Forest Service proposes to construct
approximately 2,007 acres of fuelbreaks
known as Defensible Fuel Profile Zones
(DFPZ). A DFPZ is a strategically
located strip of land approximately 1⁄2
mile in width on which fuels, both
living and dead, have been modified in
order to reduce the potential for
sustained crown fire and to allow fire
suppression personnel a safer location
from which to take action against a
wildfire. The DFPZs in the Flea Project
would be part of a larger, strategic
system of DFPZs on the Plumas
National Forest, adjacent private lands,
and other national forests.
Proposed DFPZs are generally located
on ridges, along roads, or adjacent to
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:38 Aug 29, 2007
Jkt 211001
private property within wildland urban
interface with tree crowns spaced at a
distance that reduces the potential for
crown fire spread (generally 40 percent
canopy cover). DFPZs would be
constructed through mechanically
thinning and biomass removal on
approximately 671 acres, mastication on
approximately 456 acres, underburning
on approximately 447 acres, and hand
cutting, piling, and burning on
approximately 433 acres.
The Forest Service proposes to
harvest up to 5 million board feet of
timber from group selection units (228
acres), and DFPZ mechanical thinning
units (546 acres). Group selection
involves harvest of trees less than 30inches in diameter from small (0.5 to 2
acres) groups. Over time, this would
create an uneven-aged (all-aged) forest
made up of a mosaic of small groups of
same-aged trees.
Use of existing and temporary roads
would be needed to access group
selection and DFPZ treatment areas. An
estimated 13.4 miles of existing road
would be reconstructed with 0.45
additional miles of new classified road
construction and 4.5 miles of new
temporary spur construction. An
estimated 9.5 miles of system roads
would be decommissioned or closed by
various methods, such as ripping and
seeding, re-contouring, and installing
barriers. Future use of all other roads
and user-developed OHV routes in the
Flea Project area would be determined
by the Plumas National Forest’s travel
management process. Improve the
health of serpentine plant communities
through the use of prescribed fire.
Underburn approximately 100 acres
included as DFPZ treatment.
Aquatic and riparian restoration
projects include restoring and
enhancing aquatic, native plant, and
riparian habitat and improving long
term watershed condition by
decommissioning 9.5 miles of system
roads, replacing or upgrading three
culverts to restore aquatic species
passage to approximately 5 miles of
upstream habitat; and stabilizing stream
channels and banks.
Habitat for northern goshawk would
be improved by enhancing tree growth
and health, and by creating a more
desirable open understory on 84 acres
included as DFPZ treatment.
Responsible Official
Karen L. Hayden, District Ranger, 875
Mitchell Ave., Oroville, CA 95965 is the
Responsible Official. The Forest Service
intends to use Stewardship contracting
authority to apply the value from timber
harvest to offset costs of fuel treatments.
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
50097
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will decide
whether to implement this proposal, an
alternative design that moves the project
area towards the desired conditions, or
not to implement any project at this
time.
Scoping Process
Public questions and comments
regarding this proposal are an integral
part of this environmental analysis
process. Comments will be used to
identify issues and develop alternatives
to the proposed action. To assist the
Forest service in identifying and
considering issues and concerns related
to the proposed actions, comments
should be as specific as possible.
Information about the proposed action
will be mailed to the adjacent
landowners, as well as to those people
and organizations that have indicated a
specific interest in the project, to Native
American entities, and federal, state,
and local agencies. The public will be
notified of any meetings regarding this
proposal by mailings and press releases
sent to local newspapers and media. A
community meeting in the project area
is planned for January 2008, although
specific information is not available at
this time.
Preliminary Issues
The following preliminary issues have
been identified for this proposal: (a)
Impacts of ground disturbing activities
on watershed condition, (b) impacts of
activities on highly erodible soils, (c)
economic feasibility of the project due
to high treatment and regeneration
costs, and (d) impacts of activities on
habitat used by the California spotted
owl and northern goshawk. Continued
analysis will determine the relevance of
these preliminary issues. Additional
issues may be identified during the
scoping process.
Permits or Licenses Required
No federal permits, licenses, or
entitlements are necessary to implement
the proposed project. State
requirements, based on federal laws,
and administered by the County
Agricultural Commissioner for air
quality management will be followed.
These requirements include burning
only on permissive burn days or
receiving a special variance prior to
ignition. Smoke permits are required
from the Northern Sierra and Feather
River Air Quality Management Districts
(AQMD) prior to any understory or pile
burning. Timber Harvest Activity
Waivers are required from the California
Regional Water Quality Control Board.
E:\FR\FM\30AUN1.SGM
30AUN1
50098
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 168 / Thursday, August 30, 2007 / Notices
Comment Requested
rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. The public is
encouraged to take part in the process
and is encouraged to visit with Forest
Service officials at any time during the
analysis and prior to the decision. The
Forest Service will be seeking
information, comments, and assistance
from Federal, State, and local agencies
and other individuals or organizations
that may be interested in, or affected by,
the proposed vegetation management
activities.
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
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:48 Aug 29, 2007
Jkt 211001
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 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.
Dated: August 21, 2007.
Karen L. Hayden,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 07–4253 Filed 8–29–07; 8:45 am]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On February 2, 2007, the U.S.
Department of Commerce
(‘‘Department’’) published a notice of
initiation of the administrative review of
the antidumping duty order on hot–
rolled carbon steel flat products from
India, covering the period December 1,
2005 to November 30, 2006. See
Initiation of Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Administrative
Reviews and Request for Revocation in
Part, 72 FR 5005 (February 2, 2007). The
preliminary results of this review are
currently due no later than September 2,
2007.
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
Extension of Time Limit of Preliminary
Results
COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Tariff Act
of 1930, as amended (‘‘the Act’’),
requires the Department to make a
preliminary determination within 245
days after the last day of the anniversary
month of an order or finding for which
a review is requested. Section
751(a)(3)(A) of the Act further states that
if it is not practicable to complete the
review within the time period specified,
the administering authority may extend
the 245-day period to issue its
preliminary results to up to 365 days.
Agenda and Notice of Public Meeting
of the Hawaii State Advisory
Committee; Correction
A correction is hereby made to the
meeting notice of the Hawaii Advisory
Committee that appeared in the second
column, first paragraph, at line 8, on
August 22, 2007, in Vol. 72 of the
Federal Register at page 46953. The
time for convening the meeting should
be 10 a.m. No other corrections are
made to that notice.
Dated at Washington, DC, August 27, 2007.
Ivy L. Davis,
Acting Chief, Regional Programs
Coordination Unit.
[FR Doc. E7–17224 Filed 8–29–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6335–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
(A–533–820)
Certain Hot–Rolled Carbon Steel Flat
Products From India: Extension of
Time Limits for the Preliminary Results
of Antidumping Duty Administrative
Review
Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Victoria Cho, AD/CVD Operations,
Office 3, Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th
Street and Constitution Ave, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202)
482–5075.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
We determine that completion of the
preliminary results of this review within
the 245-day period is not practicable for
the following reasons. This review
covers four companies, and to conduct
the sales and cost analyses for each
company requires the Department to
gather and analyze a significant amount
of information pertaining to each
company’s sales practices,
manufacturing costs and corporate
relationships. Given the number and
complexity of issues in this case, and in
accordance with section 751(a)(3)(A) of
the Act, we are extending the time
period for issuing the preliminary
results of review by 108 days. Therefore,
the preliminary results are now due no
later than December 19, 2007. The final
results continue to be due 120 days after
publication of the preliminary results.
This notice is issued and published in
accordance with sections 751(a)(3)(A)
and 777(i)(1) of the Act.
Dated: August 23, 2007.
Gary Taverman,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import
Administration.
[FR Doc. E7–17225 Filed 8–29–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–S
E:\FR\FM\30AUN1.SGM
30AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 168 (Thursday, August 30, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50096-50098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4253]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Plumas National Forest, Feather River Ranger District, CA; Flea
Project
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 to disclose the environmental effects resulting from
construction of fuel breaks known as defensible fuel profile zones
(DFPZs); harvest and reforestation of timber stands; restoration and
enhancement of aquatic and riparian habitat; improvement of wildlife
habitat and long term watershed condition; underburning to improve the
health of unique plant communities; and road construction,
reconstruction, and decommissioning.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
within 30 days of the publication of this notice in the Federal
Register. The draft environmental impact statement is expected by
January 2008, and the final environmental impact statement is expected
by April 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Karen Hayden, District Ranger,
Plumas National Forest, Feather River Ranger District, 875 Mitchell
Ave, Oroville, CA 95965. Comments may be (1) Mailed to the Responsible
Official; (2) hand-delivered between the hours of 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, excluding holidays; (3) faxed to (530) 532-1210;
or (4) electronically mailed
[[Page 50097]]
to: comments-pacificsouthwest-plumas-featherrvr@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Zarlengo, Project Leader, Feather
River Ranger District, 875 Mitchell Avenue, Oroville, CA 95965, or call
(530) 532-8932.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Flea Project area is located within the
Feather River Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest in Butte
County. Encompassing approximately 11,000 acres, the project area is
located north and east of Paradise, from De Sabla in the northwest to
Jorbo Gap in the southeast, and north and west of Mayaro and North Fork
of the Feather River in the northeast. Treatment units range in
elevation from 1,600 to 4,300 feet above sea level. Communities in and
near the project area include Paradise, Magalia, DeSabla, Yankee Hill,
Concow, Pulga and Mayaro.
The Flea Project is proposed as part of a broad resource management
program to promote the ecological health of lands and economic health
and stability of communities in the northern Sierra Nevada under the
authority of the Herger-Feinstein Quincy Library Group Forest Recovery
Act (HFQLG Act).
Purpose and Need for Action
The Forest Service has identified the following project objectives:
(1) Protect communities and forest ecosystems from high-intensity
wildfires; (2) promote a healthy all-aged, multistoried, fire-resilient
forest; (3) contribute to the stability and economic health of
communities; (4) promote the health of unique plant communities; (5)
promote healthy aquatic and riparian ecosystems, and improve long term
watershed condition; and (6) improve wildlife habitat.
Proposed Action
To achieve project objectives, the Forest Service proposes to
construct approximately 2,007 acres of fuelbreaks known as Defensible
Fuel Profile Zones (DFPZ). A DFPZ is a strategically located strip of
land approximately \1/2\ mile in width on which fuels, both living and
dead, have been modified in order to reduce the potential for sustained
crown fire and to allow fire suppression personnel a safer location
from which to take action against a wildfire. The DFPZs in the Flea
Project would be part of a larger, strategic system of DFPZs on the
Plumas National Forest, adjacent private lands, and other national
forests.
Proposed DFPZs are generally located on ridges, along roads, or
adjacent to private property within wildland urban interface with tree
crowns spaced at a distance that reduces the potential for crown fire
spread (generally 40 percent canopy cover). DFPZs would be constructed
through mechanically thinning and biomass removal on approximately 671
acres, mastication on approximately 456 acres, underburning on
approximately 447 acres, and hand cutting, piling, and burning on
approximately 433 acres.
The Forest Service proposes to harvest up to 5 million board feet
of timber from group selection units (228 acres), and DFPZ mechanical
thinning units (546 acres). Group selection involves harvest of trees
less than 30-inches in diameter from small (0.5 to 2 acres) groups.
Over time, this would create an uneven-aged (all-aged) forest made up
of a mosaic of small groups of same-aged trees.
Use of existing and temporary roads would be needed to access group
selection and DFPZ treatment areas. An estimated 13.4 miles of existing
road would be reconstructed with 0.45 additional miles of new
classified road construction and 4.5 miles of new temporary spur
construction. An estimated 9.5 miles of system roads would be
decommissioned or closed by various methods, such as ripping and
seeding, re-contouring, and installing barriers. Future use of all
other roads and user-developed OHV routes in the Flea Project area
would be determined by the Plumas National Forest's travel management
process. Improve the health of serpentine plant communities through the
use of prescribed fire. Underburn approximately 100 acres included as
DFPZ treatment.
Aquatic and riparian restoration projects include restoring and
enhancing aquatic, native plant, and riparian habitat and improving
long term watershed condition by decommissioning 9.5 miles of system
roads, replacing or upgrading three culverts to restore aquatic species
passage to approximately 5 miles of upstream habitat; and stabilizing
stream channels and banks.
Habitat for northern goshawk would be improved by enhancing tree
growth and health, and by creating a more desirable open understory on
84 acres included as DFPZ treatment.
Responsible Official
Karen L. Hayden, District Ranger, 875 Mitchell Ave., Oroville, CA
95965 is the Responsible Official. The Forest Service intends to use
Stewardship contracting authority to apply the value from timber
harvest to offset costs of fuel treatments.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will decide whether to implement this
proposal, an alternative design that moves the project area towards the
desired conditions, or not to implement any project at this time.
Scoping Process
Public questions and comments regarding this proposal are an
integral part of this environmental analysis process. Comments will be
used to identify issues and develop alternatives to the proposed
action. To assist the Forest service in identifying and considering
issues and concerns related to the proposed actions, comments should be
as specific as possible.
Information about the proposed action will be mailed to the
adjacent landowners, as well as to those people and organizations that
have indicated a specific interest in the project, to Native American
entities, and federal, state, and local agencies. The public will be
notified of any meetings regarding this proposal by mailings and press
releases sent to local newspapers and media. A community meeting in the
project area is planned for January 2008, although specific information
is not available at this time.
Preliminary Issues
The following preliminary issues have been identified for this
proposal: (a) Impacts of ground disturbing activities on watershed
condition, (b) impacts of activities on highly erodible soils, (c)
economic feasibility of the project due to high treatment and
regeneration costs, and (d) impacts of activities on habitat used by
the California spotted owl and northern goshawk. Continued analysis
will determine the relevance of these preliminary issues. Additional
issues may be identified during the scoping process.
Permits or Licenses Required
No federal permits, licenses, or entitlements are necessary to
implement the proposed project. State requirements, based on federal
laws, and administered by the County Agricultural Commissioner for air
quality management will be followed. These requirements include burning
only on permissive burn days or receiving a special variance prior to
ignition. Smoke permits are required from the Northern Sierra and
Feather River Air Quality Management Districts (AQMD) prior to any
understory or pile burning. Timber Harvest Activity Waivers are
required from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board.
[[Page 50098]]
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. The public is
encouraged to take part in the process and is encouraged to visit with
Forest Service officials at any time during the analysis and prior to
the decision. The Forest Service will be seeking information, comments,
and assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies and other
individuals or organizations that may be interested in, or affected by,
the proposed vegetation management activities.
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 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.
Dated: August 21, 2007.
Karen L. Hayden,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 07-4253 Filed 8-29-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
