Cibola National Forest, Mount Taylor Ranger District, NM, Designation of the Proposed Rinconada Communication Site, 47579-47580 [E8-18833]

Download as PDF 47579 Notices Federal Register Vol. 73, No. 158 Thursday, August 14, 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 Cibola National Forest, Mount Taylor Ranger District, NM, Designation of the Proposed Rinconada Communication Site Forest Service, USDA. Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: ACTION: sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES SUMMARY: The Cibola National Forest will prepare an environmental impact statement to assess the designation and development of the proposed Rinconada Communication Site on the Mt. Taylor Ranger District. The Forest Service proposes to designate a three-acre Rinconada Communication Site that would serve present and future high power communication needs, and to permit the development of a facility within the site. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by days after the publication of the NOI. The draft environmental impact statement is expected November, 2008 and the final environmental impact statement is expected March, 2009. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Nancy Rose, Forest Supervisor, Cibola National Forest, 2113 Osuna Road NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, mail correspondence to Donald L. Hall, Cibola National Forest, 2113 Osuna Road NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose and Need for Action The proposed high power transmission facility cannot be placed on the existing Microwave Ridge Communication Site, located approximately one-half mile to the north, because the existing site is designated as a low power facility. It is not feasible to co-locate low and high VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:57 Aug 13, 2008 Jkt 214001 power facilities; therefore, the new communication site is being proposed. The Rinconada site would occupy the location for Microwave Ridge No. 2, which was identified in the Cibola National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. Proposed Action The Cibola National Forest has accepted an application for development of an FM transmission facility by KDSK Radio, Inc. within the Mt. Taylor Ranger District. The Forest Service proposes to designate a threeacre Rinconada Communication Site which would serve present and future high power communication needs, and to permit the development of the KDSK facility within the site. The site would provide radio broadcasting service to the citizens of Grants, New Mexico and those who live, commute, and work in the surrounding, more rural areas of Cibola and Valencia Counties. KDSK Radio’s development would consist of an unlit, 180-foot, self-supporting tower with antennas, and an equipment building measuring 12 feet by 20 feet. The proposed Rinconada Communication Site is approximately 1⁄2 mile south of the existing Microwave Ridge Communication Site, and is served by an existing power line and existing roads. The proposed site is located adjacent to Forest Service Road 400 in T.11N., R.7W., Section 17, NMPM, Cibola County, New Mexico. Responsible Official Forest Supervisor Nancy Rose, Cibola National Forest, 2113 Osuna Road NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113. Nature of Decision To Be Made The Forest Supervisor will use the EIS process to develop the necessary information to make an informed decision on whether or not to designate the Rinconada Communication Site and permit the development of the KDSK facility within the site. Scoping Process Scoping will include NOI to Federal Register, listing in the Quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions, letters to interested and affected individuals, agencies, and organizations, and legal notices. No public meeting is planned. PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Preliminary Issues One preliminary issue has been identified. The designation and development of the Rinconada Communication Site may affect the characteristics that make the Mount Taylor Traditional Cultural Property eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. 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, 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 E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM 14AUN1 47580 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 158 / Thursday, August 14, 2008 / Notices 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: August 5, 2008. Nancy Rose, Forest Supervisor, Cibola National Forest. [FR Doc. E8–18833 Filed 8–13–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Agricultural Statistics Service Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Conduct an Information Collection National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to seek approval to conduct two new information collections, the 2008 On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey and the 2008 Organic Production and Marketing Survey. DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by October 14, 2008 to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number 0535– NEW, 2008 On Farm-Renewable Energy Production Survey and the 2008 Organic Production and Marketing Survey, by any of the following methods: • E-mail: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. Include docket number and title above in the subject line of the message. • Fax: (202) 720–6396. • Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD– ROM submissions to: NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336A, Mail Stop 2024, South VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:57 Aug 13, 2008 Jkt 214001 Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–2024. • Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand deliver to: NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Room 5336A, South Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250–2024. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph T. Reilly, Associate Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) 720–4333. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 2008 On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey, and 2008 Organic Production and Marketing Survey. OMB Control Number: 0535—NEW. Type of Request: Intent to Seek Approval to Conduct two Information Collections as mandated by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. Abstract: The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for both the On-Farm Renewable Energy Production Survey and the Organic Products Survey to be conducted as follow-on surveys from the 2007 Census of Agriculture. (1) The 2008 Energy Produced on Farms Survey will use as a sampling universe every respondent on the 2007 Census of Agriculture who reported energy generation on the farm using wind or solar technology, methane digester, etc. This energy survey will provide a comprehensive inventory of farm-generated energy practices with detailed data relating to category or type of energy produced (wind, solar, hydropower, biomass, methane digester, geothermal, etc.), how much energy was generated, if any energy was sold onto a power grid, and the average payment received per kilowatt hour. Data collection will be in the Spring of 2009 with a final report published in the Fall of 2009. Data will be published at both the U.S. and State level where possible. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 minutes per response. Respondents: Farmers, ranchers, and farm managers self identified as producers of energy through the 2007 Census of Agriculture. Estimated Number of Respondents: 16,500. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 5,500 hours. (2) The 2008 Organic Production and Marketing Survey will use as a sampling universe every respondent on the 2007 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Census of Agriculture who reported organic production for sale in 2007. This survey will provide organic production by commodity, marketing practices (handling, distribution, retail, and consumer purchasing patterns), and prices received by organic producers. Data collection will be in the Spring of 2009 with a final report published in the Spring of 2010. Data will be published at the U.S. and State level where possible. Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 60 minutes per response. Respondents: Farmers, ranchers, and farm managers self identified as organic producers through the 2007 Census of Agriculture. Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,500. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 15,500 hours. The primary objectives of the National Agricultural Statistics Service are to prepare and issue State and national estimates of crop production, livestock production, economic statistics, and environmental statistics related to agriculture and to conduct the Census of Agriculture and its follow on surveys. This notice request is in response to a mandate in 7 U.S.C. 5925c, as amended by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, Section 10302, Public Law 110–246. Authority: These data will be collected under the authority of 7 U.S.C. 2204(a). Individually identifiable data collected under this authority are governed by Section 1770 of the Food Security Act of 1985, 7 U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to afford strict confidentiality to non-aggregated data provided by respondents. This Notice is submitted in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13) and Office of Management and Budget regulations at 5 CFR part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29, 1995). Copies of this information collection and related instructions can be obtained without charge from the NASS OMB Clearance Officer at (202) 720–2248. Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM 14AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 158 (Thursday, August 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47579-47580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-18833]


========================================================================
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. 158 / Thursday, August 14, 2008 / 
Notices

[[Page 47579]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Cibola National Forest, Mount Taylor Ranger District, NM, 
Designation of the Proposed Rinconada Communication Site

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Cibola National Forest will prepare an environmental 
impact statement to assess the designation and development of the 
proposed Rinconada Communication Site on the Mt. Taylor Ranger 
District. The Forest Service proposes to designate a three-acre 
Rinconada Communication Site that would serve present and future high 
power communication needs, and to permit the development of a facility 
within the site.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by days after the publication of the NOI. The draft environmental 
impact statement is expected November, 2008 and the final environmental 
impact statement is expected March, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Nancy Rose, Forest Supervisor, 
Cibola National Forest, 2113 Osuna Road NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, mail 
correspondence to Donald L. Hall, Cibola National Forest, 2113 Osuna 
Road NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    The proposed high power transmission facility cannot be placed on 
the existing Microwave Ridge Communication Site, located approximately 
one-half mile to the north, because the existing site is designated as 
a low power facility. It is not feasible to co-locate low and high 
power facilities; therefore, the new communication site is being 
proposed. The Rinconada site would occupy the location for Microwave 
Ridge No. 2, which was identified in the Cibola National Forest Land 
and Resource Management Plan.

Proposed Action

    The Cibola National Forest has accepted an application for 
development of an FM transmission facility by KDSK Radio, Inc. within 
the Mt. Taylor Ranger District. The Forest Service proposes to 
designate a three-acre Rinconada Communication Site which would serve 
present and future high power communication needs, and to permit the 
development of the KDSK facility within the site. The site would 
provide radio broadcasting service to the citizens of Grants, New 
Mexico and those who live, commute, and work in the surrounding, more 
rural areas of Cibola and Valencia Counties. KDSK Radio's development 
would consist of an unlit, 180-foot, self-supporting tower with 
antennas, and an equipment building measuring 12 feet by 20 feet.
    The proposed Rinconada Communication Site is approximately \1/2\ 
mile south of the existing Microwave Ridge Communication Site, and is 
served by an existing power line and existing roads. The proposed site 
is located adjacent to Forest Service Road 400 in T.11N., R.7W., 
Section 17, NMPM, Cibola County, New Mexico.

Responsible Official

    Forest Supervisor Nancy Rose, Cibola National Forest, 2113 Osuna 
Road NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Supervisor will use the EIS process to develop the 
necessary information to make an informed decision on whether or not to 
designate the Rinconada Communication Site and permit the development 
of the KDSK facility within the site.

Scoping Process

    Scoping will include NOI to Federal Register, listing in the 
Quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions, letters to interested and 
affected individuals, agencies, and organizations, and legal notices. 
No public meeting is planned.

Preliminary Issues

    One preliminary issue has been identified. The designation and 
development of the Rinconada Communication Site may affect the 
characteristics that make the Mount Taylor Traditional Cultural 
Property eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

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, 
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

[[Page 47580]]

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: August 5, 2008.
Nancy Rose,
Forest Supervisor, Cibola National Forest.
[FR Doc. E8-18833 Filed 8-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
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