Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, California, Sugar Pine Adaptive Management Project, 58048-58050 [07-5033]
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jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
58048
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 197 / Friday, October 12, 2007 / Notices
for approving the importation of
commodities that, based on the findings
of a pest risk analysis, can be safely
imported subject to one or more of the
designated phytosanitary measures
listed in paragraph (b) of that section.
These measures are:
• The fruits or vegetables are subject
to inspection upon arrival in the United
States and comply with all applicable
provisions of § 319.56–3;
• The fruits or vegetables are
imported from a pest-free area in the
country of origin that meets the
requirements of § 319.56–5 for freedom
from that pest and are accompanied by
a phytosanitary certificate stating that
the fruits or vegetables originated in a
pest-free area in the country of origin;
• The fruits or vegetables are treated
in accordance with 7 CFR part 305;
• The fruits or vegetables are
inspected in the country of origin by an
inspector or an official of the national
plant protection organization of the
exporting country, and have been found
free of one or more specific quarantine
pests identified by the risk analysis as
likely to follow the import pathway;
and/or
• The fruits or vegetables are a
commercial consignment.
APHIS received a request from the
Government of Australia to allow the
importation of sweet cherries from
Australia into the continental United
States and Hawaii. We have completed
a pest risk assessment to identify pests
of quarantine significance that could
follow the pathway of importation into
the United States and, based on that
pest risk assessment, have prepared a
risk management analysis to identify
phytosanitary measures that could be
applied to the commodity to mitigate
the pest risk. We have concluded that
sweet cherries can be safely imported
into the continental United States and
Hawaii from Australia using one or
more of the five designated
phytosanitary measures listed in
§ 319.56–4(b). Therefore, in accordance
with § 319.56–4(c), we are announcing
the availability of our pest risk analysis
for public review and comment. The
pest risk analysis may be viewed on the
Regulations.gov Web site or in our
reading room (see ADDRESSES above for
instructions for accessing
Regulations.gov and information on the
location and hours of the reading room).
You may request paper copies of the
pest risk analysis by calling or writing
to the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to the
subject of the pest risk analysis when
requesting copies. We have also
prepared an environmental assessment
in connection with this action which is
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16:35 Oct 11, 2007
Jkt 214001
available for review and comment in the
same manner as the pest risk analysis.
After reviewing the comments we
receive, we will announce our decision
regarding the import status of sweet
cherries from Australia in a subsequent
notice. If the overall conclusions of the
analysis and the Administrator’s
determination of risk remain unchanged
following our consideration of the
comments, then we will begin issuing
permits for importation of sweet
cherries from Australia into the
continental United States and Hawaii
subject to the requirements specified in
the risk management analysis.
Done in Washington, DC, this 5th day of
October 2007.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E7–20166 Filed 10–11–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake
Ranger District, California, Sugar Pine
Adaptive Management Project
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Sierra National Forest,
Bass Lake Ranger District is proposing
to conduct a comprehensive series of
treatments centered on a Wildland
Urban Intermix area known as the
community of Sugar Pine. Strategically
Placed Area Treatments (SPLATs) have
been initially identified to provide a
means to reduce the intensity and
spread of wildland fires across the
landscape and near communities.
Additional treatments within these
SPLATs have been identified where
forest stands are densely stocked and
thinning is needed. This thinning is
needed to reduce inter-tree competition
and improve tree vigor and increase
stand resistance to drought conditions,
insect and disease attack. The effects of
implementing the treatments called for
in the final decision will be studied by
the University of California as they
relate to fire and fuels, water quality and
quantity, wildlife (specifically the
Pacific Fisher) and public involvement.
Depending on the results of this study,
future management actions on other
similar ecosystems may be changed.
This approach to monitoring and
feedback is called Adaptive
Management and is a primary reason for
the descriptive title.
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
To be most effective, comments
concerning the scope of this analysis
should be received by October 31, 2007.
Public scoping for this analysis,
originally expected to be documented in
an Environmental Assessment, began on
April 1, 2007. Unless response to this
notice raises concerns not yet expressed,
the draft environmental impact
statement (DEIS) is expected in
November 2007 and the final
environmental impact statement (FEIS)
is expected in January 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to the
Forest Service at the following
addresses. Hardcopy mail: U.S. Forest
Service, Sierra National Forest, Bass
Lake Ranger District, 57003 Road 225,
North Fork, CA 93643, ATTN: David
Martin. Electronic mail: commentspacificsouthwest-sierra@fs.fed.us. Use
Rich Text format (.rtf) or Word format
(.doc).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Lemon, Interdisciplinary Team
Leader, at Sierra National Forest, Bass
Lake Ranger District, 57003 Road 225,
North Fork, CA 93643.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background Information: The Sugar
Pine Adaptive Management Project
(Madera and Mariposa Counties,
California) lies within the Fresno River
watershed, where during the period
before significant Euro-American
influence, natural fires occurred
frequently and were of low intensity
with return intervals ranging from every
5 to 10 years. During the past century,
management activities (including
harvesting operations, fire exclusion/
suppression, etc.) and increased human
habitation, have changed the
composition of vegetation. Currently,
vegetation within the Sugar Pine
Adaptive Management Project has
changed from one where frequent, low
intensity fires occurred to one with
increased suseptability to infrequent
moderate to high intensity wildland fire.
Forest stand densities are above that
which can be sustained, with inter-tree
competition increasing and tree vigor
beginning to decline. Pockets of insect
and disease attack are beginning to
show in the stands as well as the
drought induced mortality. Non-native
plant species and noxious weeds, that
were absent in the area, now are
growing in small pockets.
The Sugar Pine Adaptive Management
Project was originally to be documented
in an Environmental Assessment (EA).
The Sugar Pine Adaptive Management
Project lies within the elevational bands
for the Southern Sierra Fisher
Conservation Area. Public concern and
management review surrounding the
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\12OCN1.SGM
12OCN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 197 / Friday, October 12, 2007 / Notices
significance of potential impacts to the
Pacific fisher, a candidate threatened
and endangered species and the
California spotted owl, a sensitive
species, during past projects, has led to
the decision to document the
environmental analysis with an
environmental impact statement (EIS)
for this project.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Purpose and Need for Action
The Sierra National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan (as
amended in January 2004) has identified
wildland urban intermix areas as places
where human habitation is mixed with
areas of flammable wildland vegetation
and has the highest priority for
treatment. As directed in the Sierra
Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (2004),
national forests are to integrate fire and
fuels management objectives with other
resource management objectives and
address the role of wildland fire in the
ecosystem. The forest-wide standards
and guidelines state that ‘‘vegetation
within treatment areas should be
modified to meet desired surface, ladder
and crown fuel conditions as well as
stand densities necessary for healthy
forest during drought conditions’’.
The community of Sugar Pine
(Madera Counties, California) lies in the
center portion of the project area. On the
northern portion of the project boundary
is a large area of private land known as
Yosemite Mountain Ranch as well as the
community of Fish Camp. Most of the
homes in these communities do not
have sufficient clearance to protect them
if a fast moving wildland fire were to
move into the subdivision.
Vegetation in the Sugar Pine Adaptive
Management Project area includes
conifer stands consisting of ponderosa
pine and mixed conifer, where insect
and drought induced mortality is
beginning to appear in pockets within
both natural stands and conifer
plantations. In lower to mid-elevations
of the project area, on the steeper slopes,
brush (manzanita/ceanothus) is the
main vegetation. Scattered in pockets
throughout the project area are heavy
accumulations of dead and down
material (branches, limbs and logs)
resulting from natural accumulation and
past management activities.
Proposed Action
The proposed action includes
vegetation treatment areas designed to
create SPLATs to reduce the intensity
and spread of wildland fire across the
landscape and near communities and
reduce inter-tree competition to
improve tree vigor and increase stand
resistance to drought induced mortality,
insect and disease attack. Additional
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:35 Oct 11, 2007
Jkt 214001
areas for treatment are proposed to
create a defensible fuels profile near key
transportation corridors and within the
Defense zones of the wildland urban
intermix. The treatments proposed
include: Thinning in conifer stands,
either pre-commercially or
commercially to reduce lower level
canopy crown densities; mastication of
brush and shrub patches; perscribed
burning, both understory and piles;
manual and/or prescribed burning
treatment of noxious weed infestations;
prepare and plant failed conifer
plantations.
Possible Alternatives
To comply with NEPA, the Forest
Service will evaluate additional
alternatives to the proposed action,
including the no action alternative
within the EIS. Additional alternatives
suggested through public comment will
also be considered. Each alternative will
be rigorously explored and evaluated, or
rationale will be given for eliminating
an alternative from detailed study. A
range of alternatives may be considered.
Responsible Official
The Responsible Deciding Official is
Edward Cole, Forest Supervisor, Sierra
National Forest, 1600 Tollhouse Road,
Clovis, CA 93612.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Deciding Official
will use the EIS to make an informed
decision as to which alternative best
meets the purpose and need for this
project or to take no action at this time,
in accordance with applicable laws,
regulations, and Forest Service Manual/
Handbook direction.
Scoping Process
The public will be invited to
participate in the scoping process, and
review of the draft environmental
impact statement (DEIS). Comments
from the public and other agencies will
be used in preparation of the DEIS. A
public meeting was held on September
5, 2007. A public field trip is currently
scheduled for September 29, 2007.
Additional public meetings may be
scheduled as requested or needed, but
no dates have been set. The DEIS is
expected to be available for public
review and comment on November 2007
and a FEIS in January 2008.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement.
Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
58049
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, 533 (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)
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58050
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 197 / Friday, October 12, 2007 / Notices
Dated: September 27, 2007.
Edward Cole,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 07–5033 Filed 10–11–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
California Coast Provincial Advisory
Committee
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of Meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The California Coast
Provincial Advisory Committee
(CCPAC) will meet on October 17, 2007,
in Eureka, California. The purpose of
the meeting is to discuss issues relating
to implementing the Northwest Forest
Plan (NWFP).
DATES: The meeting will be held from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Six Rivers National Forest,
Supervisor’s Office, 1330 Bayshore Way,
Eureka, California.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathy Allen, Committee Coordinator,
USDA, Six Rivers National Forest, 1330
Bayshore Way, Eureka, CA 95501, (707)
441–3557, kmallen@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Agenda
topics to be covered include: (1) New
Mexico Forest Restoration Principles;
(2) Marijuana Cultivation; (3) Orleans
Community Fuels Reduction Project; (4)
Survey and Manage Update; (5)
Northwest Forest Plan Update; and (6)
Northern Spotted Owl Recovery Plan
Update.
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: October 5, 2007.
Tyrone Kelley,
Designated Federal Official.
[FR Doc. 07–5040 Filed 10–11–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
For
more information regarding this
meeting, contact Designated Federal
Official Paul Matter, Willamette
National Forest, Detroit Ranger District,
HC 73 Box 320, Mill City, OR 97360,
(503) 854–3366.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dated: October 5, 2007.
Dallas J. Emch,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 07–5043 Filed 10–11–07; 8:45 am]
Forest Service
Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area
(SRA) Advisory Council
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Wednesday, November 7, 2007. These
meetings are scheduled to begin at 6:30
p.m., and will conclude at
approximately 8:30 p.m. Meetings will
be held in the South Room of the
Stayton Community Center located on
400 West Virginia Street in Stayton,
Oregon.
The Opal Creek Wilderness and Opal
Creek Scenic Recreation Area Act of
1996 (Opal Creek Act) (Pub. L. 104–208)
directed the Secretary of Agriculture to
establish the Opal Creek Scenic
Recreation Area Advisory Council. The
Advisory Council is comprised of
twelve members representing state,
county and city governments, and
representatives of various organizations,
which include mining industry,
environmental organizations, inholders
in Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area,
economic development, Indian tribes,
and public at large. The council
provides advice to the Secretary of
Agriculture on preparation of a
comprehensive Opal Creek Management
Plan for the SRA, and consults on a
periodic and regular basis on the
management of the area. Tentative
agenda items include: review and
approve Advisory Council Bylaws and
Meeting Procedures, Three Pools
Recreation Fee Proposal and future
focus of the Advisory Council.
A direct public comment period is
tentatively scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.
Time allotted for individual
presentations will be limited to 3
minutes. Written comments are
encouraged, particularly if the material
cannot be presented within the time
limits of the comment period. Written
comments may be submitted prior to the
scheduled meeting by sending them to
Designated Federal Official Paul Matter
at the address given below.
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Opal Creek Scenic Recreation
Area Advisory Council meetings will
convene in Stayton, Oregon on
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16:35 Oct 11, 2007
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COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List; Proposed Additions
and Deletions
Proposed Additions to and
Deletions from the Procurement List.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Committee is proposing
to add to the Procurement List products
and services to be furnished by
nonprofit agencies employing persons
who are blind or have other severe
disabilities, and to delete products and
services previously furnished by such
agencies.
Comments Must Be Received On or
Before: November 11, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800,
1421 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Arlington, Virginia 22202–3259.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO SUBMIT
COMMENTS CONTACT: Kimberly M. Zeich,
Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703)
603–0655, or e-mail
CMTEFedReg@jwod.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice is published pursuant to 41
U.S.C. 47(a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its
purpose is to provide interested persons
an opportunity to submit comments on
the proposed actions.
Additions
If the Committee approves the
proposed additions, the entities of the
Federal Government identified in this
notice for each product or service will
be required to procure the products and
services listed below from nonprofit
agencies employing persons who are
blind or have other severe disabilities.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
I certify that the following action will
not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The major factors considered for this
certification were:
1. If approved, the action will not
result in any additional reporting,
recordkeeping or other compliance
requirements for small entities other
than the small organizations that will
furnish the products and services to the
Government.
2. If approved, the action will result
in authorizing small entities to furnish
the products and services to the
Government.
3. There are no known regulatory
alternatives which would accomplish
the objectives of the Javits-WagnerO’Day Act (41 U.S.C. 46–48c) in
connection with the products and
E:\FR\FM\12OCN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 197 (Friday, October 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58048-58050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-5033]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, California,
Sugar Pine Adaptive Management Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District is
proposing to conduct a comprehensive series of treatments centered on a
Wildland Urban Intermix area known as the community of Sugar Pine.
Strategically Placed Area Treatments (SPLATs) have been initially
identified to provide a means to reduce the intensity and spread of
wildland fires across the landscape and near communities. Additional
treatments within these SPLATs have been identified where forest stands
are densely stocked and thinning is needed. This thinning is needed to
reduce inter-tree competition and improve tree vigor and increase stand
resistance to drought conditions, insect and disease attack. The
effects of implementing the treatments called for in the final decision
will be studied by the University of California as they relate to fire
and fuels, water quality and quantity, wildlife (specifically the
Pacific Fisher) and public involvement. Depending on the results of
this study, future management actions on other similar ecosystems may
be changed. This approach to monitoring and feedback is called Adaptive
Management and is a primary reason for the descriptive title.
DATES: To be most effective, comments concerning the scope of this
analysis should be received by October 31, 2007. Public scoping for
this analysis, originally expected to be documented in an Environmental
Assessment, began on April 1, 2007. Unless response to this notice
raises concerns not yet expressed, the draft environmental impact
statement (DEIS) is expected in November 2007 and the final
environmental impact statement (FEIS) is expected in January 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Forest Service at the following
addresses. Hardcopy mail: U.S. Forest Service, Sierra National Forest,
Bass Lake Ranger District, 57003 Road 225, North Fork, CA 93643, ATTN:
David Martin. Electronic mail: comments-pacificsouthwest-
sierra@fs.fed.us. Use Rich Text format (.rtf) or Word format (.doc).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Lemon, Interdisciplinary Team
Leader, at Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, 57003
Road 225, North Fork, CA 93643.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background Information: The Sugar Pine Adaptive Management Project
(Madera and Mariposa Counties, California) lies within the Fresno River
watershed, where during the period before significant Euro-American
influence, natural fires occurred frequently and were of low intensity
with return intervals ranging from every 5 to 10 years. During the past
century, management activities (including harvesting operations, fire
exclusion/suppression, etc.) and increased human habitation, have
changed the composition of vegetation. Currently, vegetation within the
Sugar Pine Adaptive Management Project has changed from one where
frequent, low intensity fires occurred to one with increased
suseptability to infrequent moderate to high intensity wildland fire.
Forest stand densities are above that which can be sustained, with
inter-tree competition increasing and tree vigor beginning to decline.
Pockets of insect and disease attack are beginning to show in the
stands as well as the drought induced mortality. Non-native plant
species and noxious weeds, that were absent in the area, now are
growing in small pockets.
The Sugar Pine Adaptive Management Project was originally to be
documented in an Environmental Assessment (EA). The Sugar Pine Adaptive
Management Project lies within the elevational bands for the Southern
Sierra Fisher Conservation Area. Public concern and management review
surrounding the
[[Page 58049]]
significance of potential impacts to the Pacific fisher, a candidate
threatened and endangered species and the California spotted owl, a
sensitive species, during past projects, has led to the decision to
document the environmental analysis with an environmental impact
statement (EIS) for this project.
Purpose and Need for Action
The Sierra National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (as
amended in January 2004) has identified wildland urban intermix areas
as places where human habitation is mixed with areas of flammable
wildland vegetation and has the highest priority for treatment. As
directed in the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (2004), national
forests are to integrate fire and fuels management objectives with
other resource management objectives and address the role of wildland
fire in the ecosystem. The forest-wide standards and guidelines state
that ``vegetation within treatment areas should be modified to meet
desired surface, ladder and crown fuel conditions as well as stand
densities necessary for healthy forest during drought conditions''.
The community of Sugar Pine (Madera Counties, California) lies in
the center portion of the project area. On the northern portion of the
project boundary is a large area of private land known as Yosemite
Mountain Ranch as well as the community of Fish Camp. Most of the homes
in these communities do not have sufficient clearance to protect them
if a fast moving wildland fire were to move into the subdivision.
Vegetation in the Sugar Pine Adaptive Management Project area
includes conifer stands consisting of ponderosa pine and mixed conifer,
where insect and drought induced mortality is beginning to appear in
pockets within both natural stands and conifer plantations. In lower to
mid-elevations of the project area, on the steeper slopes, brush
(manzanita/ceanothus) is the main vegetation. Scattered in pockets
throughout the project area are heavy accumulations of dead and down
material (branches, limbs and logs) resulting from natural accumulation
and past management activities.
Proposed Action
The proposed action includes vegetation treatment areas designed to
create SPLATs to reduce the intensity and spread of wildland fire
across the landscape and near communities and reduce inter-tree
competition to improve tree vigor and increase stand resistance to
drought induced mortality, insect and disease attack. Additional areas
for treatment are proposed to create a defensible fuels profile near
key transportation corridors and within the Defense zones of the
wildland urban intermix. The treatments proposed include: Thinning in
conifer stands, either pre-commercially or commercially to reduce lower
level canopy crown densities; mastication of brush and shrub patches;
perscribed burning, both understory and piles; manual and/or prescribed
burning treatment of noxious weed infestations; prepare and plant
failed conifer plantations.
Possible Alternatives
To comply with NEPA, the Forest Service will evaluate additional
alternatives to the proposed action, including the no action
alternative within the EIS. Additional alternatives suggested through
public comment will also be considered. Each alternative will be
rigorously explored and evaluated, or rationale will be given for
eliminating an alternative from detailed study. A range of alternatives
may be considered.
Responsible Official
The Responsible Deciding Official is Edward Cole, Forest
Supervisor, Sierra National Forest, 1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis, CA
93612.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Deciding Official will use the EIS to make an
informed decision as to which alternative best meets the purpose and
need for this project or to take no action at this time, in accordance
with applicable laws, regulations, and Forest Service Manual/Handbook
direction.
Scoping Process
The public will be invited to participate in the scoping process,
and review of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). Comments
from the public and other agencies will be used in preparation of the
DEIS. A public meeting was held on September 5, 2007. A public field
trip is currently scheduled for September 29, 2007. Additional public
meetings may be scheduled as requested or needed, but no dates have
been set. The DEIS is expected to be available for public review and
comment on November 2007 and a FEIS in January 2008.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement.
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,
533 (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)
[[Page 58050]]
Dated: September 27, 2007.
Edward Cole,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 07-5033 Filed 10-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
