Dakota Prairie Grasslands, Medora Ranger District; North Dakota; North Billings County Range Allotment Management Plan Revisions, 28098-28099 [E8-10732]
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28098
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 73, No. 95
Thursday, May 15, 2008
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.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Dakota Prairie Grasslands, Medora
Ranger District; North Dakota; North
Billings County Range Allotment
Management Plan Revisions
Proposed Action
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Medora Ranger District,
Dakota Prairie Grasslands, proposes to
continue grazing on 48 allotments in a
manner consistent with direction set
forth in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands
Land and Resource Management Plan
(Grasslands Plan) and applicable laws.
The ETS will lay the groundwork for
revising the Allotment Management
Plans (AMPs) for the 48 allotments. Sitespecific resource objectives, allowable
grazing strategies, and adaptive
management tools will be set forth in
the EIS in order to allow managers
flexibility to meet objectives.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received within
30 days of publication of this notice in
the Federal Register. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected in August 2008 and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected in December 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Ronald W. Jablonski, Jr., District Ranger,
Medora Ranger District, 23 Ave W.,
Suite B, Dickinson, ND 58601, or e-mail
your comments to comments-northerndakota-praire-medora@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff
Adams, Project Leader, or Nickole Dahl,
Co-Project Leader at the Medora Ranger
District, USDA Forest Service at the
above address or call (701) 227–7800.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this action is to
develop AMPs for permitted domestic
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:18 May 14, 2008
Jkt 214001
livestock grazing using management that
is consistent with the Grasslands Plan
direction and to maintain, meet, or
move towards desired resource
conditions within a 10–20 year
timeframe following the decision. There
is an overall need for greater
management flexibility to meet
Grasslands Plan resource goals and
objectives and to cope with fluctuations
in environmental and social conditions
including, but not limited to, annual
changes in weather; to be responsive to
permittee requests for reasonable
operational adjustments; and to respond
to unforeseen issues.
The Forest Service proposes to
continue grazing on 48 allotments
which are located on the Medora Ranger
District in a manner consistent with
direction in the Grasslands Plan and
applicable laws. The proposal takes an
adaptive management approach to allow
flexibility for both the Forest Service
and the livestock operators to manage
appropriately under changing
conditions.
The Forest Service has developed
allotment-specific desired conditions,
needs, and adaptive management
proposals designed to meet the overall
purpose and need for the project area.
Affected resources will be monitored to
determine whether they are moving
toward, meeting or maintaining desired
conditions. If desired conditions are not
being met, or measureable progress is
not being made toward them, then
adaptive management practices will be
employed.
Possible Alternatives
Alternatives in addition to the
proposed action include:
• A No Action alternative, which
would exclude all domestic livestock
grazing.
• A current management alternative,
which would continue grazing as
currently authorized.
• An adaptive management
alternative that accounts for changes in
animal unit forage demands based on
changes in cow/calf size.
• An adaptive management
alternative which considers actions that
can be implemented to maintain or
improve resource conditions including
adjusting authorized use based on
estimated livestock carrying capacities
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
and changes in animal unit forage
demands based on cow/calf size.
Other alternatives may be developed
in response to comments.
Responsible Official
Ronald W. Jablonski, Jr., Medora
District Ranger is the responsible
official. See address under the
ADDRESSES section above.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The District Ranger will decide,
whether to implement specific changes
in grazing management to meet desired
conditions, what optional grazing
strategies may be used to meet desired
conditions, and what monitoring items
need to be included.
Scoping Process
Public participation is important to
this analysis. Part of the goal of public
involvement is to identify additional
issues and to refine general issues.
Scoping notices will be mailed to the
public on or before May 23, 2008.
People may visit with Forest Service
officials at any time during the analysis
and prior to the decision. Two periods
are specifically designated for
comments on the analysis: (1) During
the scoping process, and (2) during the
draft ETS period. During the scoping
process, the Forest Service seeks
additional information and comments
from individuals, organizations, and
federal, state, and local agencies that
may be interested in or affected by the
proposed action. The Forest Service
invites written comments and
suggestions on this action, particularly
in terms of issues and alternative
development. While public
participation in this analysis is welcome
at any time, comments received within
30 days of the publication of this notice
will be especially useful in the
preparation of the draft environmental
impact statement.
Preliminary Issues
Issues identified through preliminary
work include: Effects of livestock
grazing in woody draws, effects of
livestock grazing on riparian areas,
effects of livestock grazing on
herbaceous structure, effects of potential
management actions on the local
economy, drought, species composition,
and the need for a drought management
strategy.
E:\FR\FM\15MYN1.SGM
15MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 95 / Thursday, May 15, 2008 / Notices
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping proces 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, 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 45day 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
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:18 May 14, 2008
Jkt 214001
public record on this proposal and will
be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21)
Dated: May 8, 2008.
Ronald W. Jablonski, Jr.,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. E8–10732 Filed 5–14–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
The Department of Commerce will
submit to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for clearance the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35).
Agency: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Title: Southeast Region Permit Family
of Forms.
Form Number(s): None.
OMB Approval Number: 0648–0205.
Type of Request: Regular submission.
Burden Hours: 15,671.
Number of Respondents: 16,820.
Average Hours per Response: The
new information is included in a permit
form, at no additional burden.
Needs and Uses: The participants in
the federally-regulated fisheries in the
Exclusive Economic Zone of the South
Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean
are required to obtain federal permits
under the existing permit program for
the specific Fishery Management Plans
of each region. National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, National
Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA
Fisheries Service) needs information
from the applications and associated
data collections to identify fishing
vessels/dealers/participants, properly
manage the fisheries, and generate
fishery-specific data.
Additional information to be collected
is crew size and percentage of
ownership. The need to collect
percentage of ownership in a
corporation from permit holders is
necessary information for the red
snapper Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)
program. The IFQ program has a cap on
share percent ownership of six percent.
Without the ability to track corporate
shareholder information, NOAA
Fisheries Service will be unable to
enforce this share ownership cap. The
crew size information is being collected
to better understand the nature of the
fishery and the number of participants
who are not permit holders.
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
28099
Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations.
Frequency: Annually and on occasion.
Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker,
(202) 395–3897.
Copies of the above information
collection proposal can be obtained by
calling or writing Diana Hynek,
Departmental Paperwork Clearance
Officer, (202) 482–0266, Department of
Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington,
DC 20230 (or via the Internet at
dHynek@doc.gov).
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice to David Rostker, OMB Desk
Officer, FAX number (202) 395–7285, or
David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov.
Dated: May 12, 2008.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–10852 Filed 5–14–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
The Department of Commerce will
submit to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for clearance the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35).
Agency: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Title: Southeast Region Gulf of
Mexico Red Snapper IFQ Program.
OMB Approval Number: 0648–0551.
Form Number(s): None.
Type of Request: Regular submission.
Burden Hours: 1,038 total (24 from
revision).
Number of Respondents: 1,417.
Average Hours per Response: 1
minute.
Needs and Uses: The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, National Marine
Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries
Service) manages the red snapper
fishery in the waters of the Gulf of
Mexico under the Reef Fish Fishery
Management Plan (FMP). The
Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program
was implemented to reduce the
overcapacity in the fishery and end the
derby fishing conditions that resulted
from that overcapitalization. As part of
this program, the Southeast Regional
Office needs to collect percentage of
E:\FR\FM\15MYN1.SGM
15MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 95 (Thursday, May 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28098-28099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10732]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 95 / Thursday, May 15, 2008 /
Notices
[[Page 28098]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Dakota Prairie Grasslands, Medora Ranger District; North Dakota;
North Billings County Range Allotment Management Plan Revisions
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Medora Ranger District, Dakota Prairie Grasslands,
proposes to continue grazing on 48 allotments in a manner consistent
with direction set forth in the Dakota Prairie Grasslands Land and
Resource Management Plan (Grasslands Plan) and applicable laws. The ETS
will lay the groundwork for revising the Allotment Management Plans
(AMPs) for the 48 allotments. Site-specific resource objectives,
allowable grazing strategies, and adaptive management tools will be set
forth in the EIS in order to allow managers flexibility to meet
objectives.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
within 30 days of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
The draft environmental impact statement is expected in August 2008 and
the final environmental impact statement is expected in December 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Ronald W. Jablonski, Jr., District
Ranger, Medora Ranger District, 23 Ave W., Suite B, Dickinson, ND
58601, or e-mail your comments to comments-northern-dakota-praire-
medora@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Adams, Project Leader, or Nickole
Dahl, Co-Project Leader at the Medora Ranger District, USDA Forest
Service at the above address or call (701) 227-7800.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this action is to develop AMPs for permitted
domestic livestock grazing using management that is consistent with the
Grasslands Plan direction and to maintain, meet, or move towards
desired resource conditions within a 10-20 year timeframe following the
decision. There is an overall need for greater management flexibility
to meet Grasslands Plan resource goals and objectives and to cope with
fluctuations in environmental and social conditions including, but not
limited to, annual changes in weather; to be responsive to permittee
requests for reasonable operational adjustments; and to respond to
unforeseen issues.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service proposes to continue grazing on 48 allotments
which are located on the Medora Ranger District in a manner consistent
with direction in the Grasslands Plan and applicable laws. The proposal
takes an adaptive management approach to allow flexibility for both the
Forest Service and the livestock operators to manage appropriately
under changing conditions.
The Forest Service has developed allotment-specific desired
conditions, needs, and adaptive management proposals designed to meet
the overall purpose and need for the project area. Affected resources
will be monitored to determine whether they are moving toward, meeting
or maintaining desired conditions. If desired conditions are not being
met, or measureable progress is not being made toward them, then
adaptive management practices will be employed.
Possible Alternatives
Alternatives in addition to the proposed action include:
A No Action alternative, which would exclude all domestic
livestock grazing.
A current management alternative, which would continue
grazing as currently authorized.
An adaptive management alternative that accounts for
changes in animal unit forage demands based on changes in cow/calf
size.
An adaptive management alternative which considers actions
that can be implemented to maintain or improve resource conditions
including adjusting authorized use based on estimated livestock
carrying capacities and changes in animal unit forage demands based on
cow/calf size.
Other alternatives may be developed in response to comments.
Responsible Official
Ronald W. Jablonski, Jr., Medora District Ranger is the responsible
official. See address under the ADDRESSES section above.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The District Ranger will decide, whether to implement specific
changes in grazing management to meet desired conditions, what optional
grazing strategies may be used to meet desired conditions, and what
monitoring items need to be included.
Scoping Process
Public participation is important to this analysis. Part of the
goal of public involvement is to identify additional issues and to
refine general issues. Scoping notices will be mailed to the public on
or before May 23, 2008. People may visit with Forest Service officials
at any time during the analysis and prior to the decision. Two periods
are specifically designated for comments on the analysis: (1) During
the scoping process, and (2) during the draft ETS period. During the
scoping process, the Forest Service seeks additional information and
comments from individuals, organizations, and federal, state, and local
agencies that may be interested in or affected by the proposed action.
The Forest Service invites written comments and suggestions on this
action, particularly in terms of issues and alternative development.
While public participation in this analysis is welcome at any time,
comments received within 30 days of the publication of this notice will
be especially useful in the preparation of the draft environmental
impact statement.
Preliminary Issues
Issues identified through preliminary work include: Effects of
livestock grazing in woody draws, effects of livestock grazing on
riparian areas, effects of livestock grazing on herbaceous structure,
effects of potential management actions on the local economy, drought,
species composition, and the need for a drought management strategy.
[[Page 28099]]
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping proces 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,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings,
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 45-day comment period so that
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to
them in the final environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal
and will be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Dated: May 8, 2008.
Ronald W. Jablonski, Jr.,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. E8-10732 Filed 5-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
