Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest; Wisconsin, Northwest Sands Project, 75996-75998 [E8-29439]
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75996
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 241 / Monday, December 15, 2008 / Notices
Signed in Washington, DC on December 8,
2008.
James Callan,
Acting Manager, Federal Crop Insurance
Corporation.
[FR Doc. E8–29549 Filed 12–12–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–08–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Role of
Communities in Stewardship
Contracting Projects
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice; request for comment.
AGENCY:
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
ACTION:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Forest Service is seeking comments
from all interested individuals and
organizations on the extension with
revision of a currently approved
information collection, Role of
Communities in Stewardship
Contracting Projects.
DATES: Comments must be received in
writing on or before February 13, 2009
to be assured of consideration.
Comments received after that date will
be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this
notice should be addressed to Director,
Forest Management Staff, USDA Forest
Service, Mail Stop 1103, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250.
Comments also may be submitted via
facsimile to 202–205–1045 or by e-mail
to: InfoCollection0201@fs.fed.us.
The public may inspect comments
received at USDA Forest Service, Forest
Management, Yates Federal Building,
3rd floor SW wing, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC during
normal business hours. Visitors are
encouraged to call ahead to 202–205–
1766 to facilitate entry to the building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sharon Nygaard-Scott, Forest Service,
Forest Management Staff, 202–205–
1766. Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339
twenty-four hours a day, every day of
the year, including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Role of Communities in
Stewardship Contracting Projects.
OMB Number: 0596–0201.
Expiration Date of Approval: July 31,
2009.
Type of Request: Extension with
Revision.
Abstract: Section 323 of Public Law
108–7 (16 U.S.C. 2104 Note) requires the
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20:00 Dec 12, 2008
Jkt 217001
Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management to report to Congress
annually on the role of local
communities in the development of
agreement or contract plans through
stewardship contracting. To meet that
requirement, the Forest Service
conducts surveys to gather the necessary
information for use by both Forest
Service and Bureau of Land
Management. The survey provides
information regarding the:
(a) Nature of the local community
involved in developing agreement or
contract plans,
(b) Nature of roles played by the
entities involved in developing
agreement or contract plans,
(c) Benefits to the community and
agency by being involved in planning
and development of contract plans, and
(d) Usefulness of stewardship
contracting in helping meet the needs of
local communities.
The Pinchot Institute for Conservation
and its sub-contractors collect
information through an annual phone
survey. The survey queries Federal
employees, employees of for-profit and
not-for-profit institutions, employees of
State and local agencies, and individual
citizens who have been involved in
stewardship contracting projects about
their role in the development of
agreement or contract plans.
The information collected through the
survey is analyzed by the Pinchot
Institute for Conservation and its subcontractors and used to help develop
the Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management report to Congress
pursuant to Section 323 of Public Law
108–7.
Without the information from this
annual collection of data, the Forest
Service and Bureau of Land
Management will not be able to provide
the required annual report to Congress
on the role of communities in
development of agreement or contract
plans under stewardship contracting.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 0.75
hours.
Type of Respondents: Employees of
for-profit and non-profit businesses and
institutions, as well as individuals.
Estimated Annual Number of
Respondents: 350
Estimated Annual Number of
Responses per Respondent: 1
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 263 hours
Comment Is Invited:
Comment is invited on: (1) Whether
this collection of information is
necessary for the stated purposes and
the proper performance of the functions
of the agency, including whether the
information will have practical or
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scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (4)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
All comments received in response to
this notice, including names and
addresses when provided, will be a
matter of public record. Comments will
be summarized and included in the
submission request toward Office of
Management and Budget approval.
Dated: December 5, 2008.
Charles L. Myers,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
System.
[FR Doc. E8–29515 Filed 12–12–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest;
Wisconsin, Northwest Sands Project
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Washburn Ranger District
intends to prepare an environmental
impact statement (EIS) to disclose the
environmental consequences of
proposed pine barren restoration
project. The Northwest Sands Project
area is approximately 25,900 acres in
size; about 125 acres of this is not
National Forest System land. The
project area is located in Bayfield
County, approximately six miles
northeast of Iron River, Wisconsin. The
legal description of the area includes
lands lying within the National Forest
boundary within T.49 N, R.7 W, Section
23–26, 35, 36; T.49 N, R.6 W, Section
19–22, 27–33; T.48 N, R.8 W, Section
12, 13, 24, 25, 36; T.48 N, R.7 W,
Section 1–5, 7–11, 14–23, 26–36; T.48
N, R6 W, Sections 2, 4–6, 10–16, 21–27;
and T.47 N, R.7 W, Sections 3–6, 8–10,
15–17, 20–22. See the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section for the purpose and
need for the action.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis should be received by
January 10, 2008 to receive timely
consideration. The draft environmental
impact statement is expected in March
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 241 / Monday, December 15, 2008 / Notices
2009, and the final environmental
impact statement is expected in June
2009.
Send written comments to
District Ranger Spring Rosales,
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests,
Washburn Ranger District, P.O. Box 578,
Washburn, WI 54891. For further
information, mail correspondence to
Jennifer Maziasz, Project Leader;
Washburn Ranger District, P.O. Box 578,
Washburn, WI 54891.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
ADDRESSES:
Purpose and Need for Action
The main goal of this project is to
restore the pine barrens ecosystem. This
includes the restoration of the structure
and species composition of the
vegetation; the creation of habitat
conditions needed for wildlife; and to
the extent possible, the re-creation of
natural disturbance processes, such as
fire, which are essential components of
a properly functioning pine barrens
ecosystem. For this phase of the
restoration effort, the following specific
needs were identified: (1) Restore the
vegetation species composition and
structure that typified the pine barrens
that existed under a natural disturbance
regime; (2) Re-establish fire as a process
in the restoration of the pine barrens
ecosystem; (3) Restore small, open areas
and ‘‘pocket barrens’’ as a component of
the overall landscape; (4) Improve
habitat for wildlife species that rely on
the pine barrens ecosystem; (5)
Rehabilitate the closed ATV play area
located in the pine barren management
area; and (6) Provide a road system that
meets the long term transportation
needs, fosters the restoration of the pine
barrens ecosystem and reduces overall
road density.
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
Proposed Action
In order to address the needs
identified above, approximately 6,250
acres would be harvested to the desired
density of trees for the structure of a
pine barren ecosystem. Of the 6,250
approximately 1,800 acres of harvest is
considered sub merchantable (<4 inches
in diameter) or low quality.
Approximately 14,850 acres of
prescribed fire would be conducted to
re-establish fire as a process in the
restoration of the pine barrens
ecosystem. In order to restore small,
open areas and pocket barrens
approximately 285 acres would be
mechanically treated either by harvest,
brushing and (or) prescribed burning.
The proposed treatment activities
described above would greatly improve
habitat conditions for wildlife
associated with barrens habitat. As part
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:00 Dec 12, 2008
Jkt 217001
of those activities, the following actions
and design features would be
incorporated to enhance the
effectiveness of the project in providing
favorable habitat conditions for certain
species: (1) Three sites (approximately
100 acres) would be managed as refugia
for the chryxus arctic and tawny
crescent spot butterfly. (2) At least one
one-acre patch of recently burned dead
trees would be maintained at all times
on the landscape to provide favorable
habitat for black-backed woodpeckers.
(3) 4,800 acres of the open barrens
habitat component would be managed
as a contiguous large patch to benefit
sharp-tailed grouse.
A closed ATV play area (20 acres in
size) would be rehabilitated by restoring
native ground cover, planting trees, and
reshaping major rills and gullies. To
provide a road system that meets the
long term transportation needs and
fosters the restoration of the pine
barrens ecosystem the following road
actions are proposed: Decommission
approximately 55 miles of roads (49 of
the 55 miles are currently closed on the
ground by overgrown vegetation and
(or) berms); convert 1 mile to trail;
convert 3 miles to fireline; re-construct
(on existing corridors such as old roads
or fireline) 17 miles of temporary road;
and construct an estimated 6 miles of
temporary road to facilitate the initial
timber harvest.
Possible Alternatives
Three alternatives to the Proposed
Action are being developed in response
to public comments received. One
alternative increases the quantity and
reduces the desired brush cover of the
open barrens component (<1 tree per
acre) of the pine barren ecosystem. This
would result in some additional harvest
and mechanical treatment, and
increasing the frequency/intensity of
prescribed fire in the open barrens
designated area. In the two other
alternatives implementation of timber
harvesting activities and subsequent
treatments would occur over a longer
period of time. Both alternatives modify
the rate of harvest to include multiple
harvests (verses 1 harvest entry in the
proposed action) over a 15 year period
to a selected numbers of stands. One
alternative also delays the prescribed
burning in the multiple harvest stands
and the other does not. This potentially
would result in a difference in the
flexibility of implementation of the
project, wind firmness of the residual
trees, risk of invasive species
infestation, and the overall economics of
the management activities.
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75997
Responsible Official
The responsible official for this
project is Spring Rosales, ChequamegonNicolet National Forests, Washburn
Ranger District, P.O. Box 578, Washburn
WI 54891.
Scoping Process
The Chequamegon-Nicolet Forest
began the scoping process for this
project as an environmental assessment
during February 2008. Persons and
organizations on the District’s mailing
list were sent information packages, and
a notice was placed in the newspaper of
record. The project is listed in the
Chequamegon-Nicolet Schedule of
Proposed Actions, and is viewable on
the Forest Web page at https://
www.fs.fed.us/r9/cnnf/. Click on
‘‘Project Proposals and Decisions,’’ then
‘‘Northwest Sands Project.’’
Preliminary Issues
The following issues will be analyzed
in the EIS: effects of the proposed
activities on soils, water, air quality,
Regional Forester Sensitive Species
plants and wildlife, and non-native
invasive species.
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
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
75998
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 241 / Monday, December 15, 2008 / Notices
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
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: December 1, 2008.
Jeanne Higgins,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E8–29439 Filed 12–12–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Escalante Ranger District, Dixie
National Forest; UT; Pockets Resource
Management Forest Service, USDA
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a
supplement to the final environmental
impact statement.
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service
announces its intent to prepare a
supplement to the Pockets Resource
Management Project (PRMP) Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).
PRMP FEIS evaluated alternatives for
vegetation management and associated
road improvements within the
Englemann spruce/subalpine fir and
aspen forest types on the Escalante
Ranger District, Dixie National Forest.
The original proposed action and
subsequent analysis disclosed in the
FEIS remains unchanged. The purpose
of this supplement is to provide
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20:00 Dec 12, 2008
Jkt 217001
additional analysis and disclosure on
the effects of the proposed action on
unroaded and undeveloped areas
identified on a 2005 draft map produced
during forest plan revision as part of a
required inventory and evaluation of
areas with wilderness potential. This
analysis will focus on the impacts to the
wilderness attributes of the three areas
being affected by the proposed action.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by
February 15, 2009. The draft
supplement to the final environmental
impact statement is expected in March
2009 and the final environmental
impact statement is expected May 2009.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Georgina Lampman, District Ranger,
P.O. Box 246, Escalante, Utah 84726.
Written comments should be specific
and should be limited to the scope of
this supplement. If you do not have any
comments, but wish to remain on the
mailing list for this proposal, please
send a letter to the above address, or email address listed below and request to
be kept informed about the proposal. An
e-mail comment mailbox is established
for receiving comments electronically
at: comments-intermtn-dixieescalante@fs.fed.us. Please use the
project name (Pockets Resource
Management Project) as the subject line
in your e-mail comment message.
Electronic comments must be submitted
in a format such as an e-mail message,
plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or
Word (.doc).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mail
written correspondence to Marianne
Orton, Interdisciplinary Team Leader,
Powell Ranger Station, P.O. Box 80,
Panguitch, Utah 84759.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On June 16, 2006 a Notice of Intent to
prepare an environmental impact
statement for the Pockets Resource
Management Project (PRMP) was
published in the Federal Register. In
November 2007 the Notice of
Availability of the draft environmental
impact statement for the PRMP was
published in the Federal Register. On
July 14, 2008, Robert MacWhorter, Dixie
National Forest Supervisor, signed the
Record of Decision for the Pockets
Resource Management Project Final
Environmental Impact Statement and
the NOA was published on August 1,
2008. Three organizations including
Utah Environmental Congress, Forest
Guardians, and Sierra Club, Utah
Chapter, appealed Forest Supervisor
Robert MacWhorter’s decision stating a
lack of disclosure on impacts to areas
with wilderness potential.
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Fmt 4703
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Forest Supervisor Robert MacWhorter
withdrew the decision in October 2008
and directed the PRMP Interdisciplinary
Team to prepare a Supplement to the
FEIS that discloses the impacts to the
wilderness potential of the Pacer Lake,
Antimony, and Dry Lake areas
inventoried during forest plan revision.
The Record of Decision for the SEIS will
be appealable under 36 CFR 215 and
should only address those items
pertinent to the disclosure of effects to
the wilderness attributes of these areas.
Comment Requested
Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A draft
supplement to the final environmental
impact statement will be prepared for
comment. The comment period on the
draft supplement 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 timely
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
supplement to the environmental
impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns on the proposed supplement,
comments should be as specific as
possible. It is also helpful if comments
refer to specific pages of the draft
supplement to the statement. Comments
may also address the adequacy of the
draft supplement or the merits of the
disclosure formulated and discussed in
this supplement. Reviewers may wish to
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 241 (Monday, December 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75996-75998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-29439]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest; Wisconsin, Northwest Sands
Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Washburn Ranger District intends to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) to disclose the environmental
consequences of proposed pine barren restoration project. The Northwest
Sands Project area is approximately 25,900 acres in size; about 125
acres of this is not National Forest System land. The project area is
located in Bayfield County, approximately six miles northeast of Iron
River, Wisconsin. The legal description of the area includes lands
lying within the National Forest boundary within T.49 N, R.7 W, Section
23-26, 35, 36; T.49 N, R.6 W, Section 19-22, 27-33; T.48 N, R.8 W,
Section 12, 13, 24, 25, 36; T.48 N, R.7 W, Section 1-5, 7-11, 14-23,
26-36; T.48 N, R6 W, Sections 2, 4-6, 10-16, 21-27; and T.47 N, R.7 W,
Sections 3-6, 8-10, 15-17, 20-22. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section for the purpose and need for the action.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received
by January 10, 2008 to receive timely consideration. The draft
environmental impact statement is expected in March
[[Page 75997]]
2009, and the final environmental impact statement is expected in June
2009.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to District Ranger Spring Rosales,
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests, Washburn Ranger District, P.O.
Box 578, Washburn, WI 54891. For further information, mail
correspondence to Jennifer Maziasz, Project Leader; Washburn Ranger
District, P.O. Box 578, Washburn, WI 54891.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The main goal of this project is to restore the pine barrens
ecosystem. This includes the restoration of the structure and species
composition of the vegetation; the creation of habitat conditions
needed for wildlife; and to the extent possible, the re-creation of
natural disturbance processes, such as fire, which are essential
components of a properly functioning pine barrens ecosystem. For this
phase of the restoration effort, the following specific needs were
identified: (1) Restore the vegetation species composition and
structure that typified the pine barrens that existed under a natural
disturbance regime; (2) Re-establish fire as a process in the
restoration of the pine barrens ecosystem; (3) Restore small, open
areas and ``pocket barrens'' as a component of the overall landscape;
(4) Improve habitat for wildlife species that rely on the pine barrens
ecosystem; (5) Rehabilitate the closed ATV play area located in the
pine barren management area; and (6) Provide a road system that meets
the long term transportation needs, fosters the restoration of the pine
barrens ecosystem and reduces overall road density.
Proposed Action
In order to address the needs identified above, approximately 6,250
acres would be harvested to the desired density of trees for the
structure of a pine barren ecosystem. Of the 6,250 approximately 1,800
acres of harvest is considered sub merchantable (<4 inches in diameter)
or low quality. Approximately 14,850 acres of prescribed fire would be
conducted to re-establish fire as a process in the restoration of the
pine barrens ecosystem. In order to restore small, open areas and
pocket barrens approximately 285 acres would be mechanically treated
either by harvest, brushing and (or) prescribed burning.
The proposed treatment activities described above would greatly
improve habitat conditions for wildlife associated with barrens
habitat. As part of those activities, the following actions and design
features would be incorporated to enhance the effectiveness of the
project in providing favorable habitat conditions for certain species:
(1) Three sites (approximately 100 acres) would be managed as refugia
for the chryxus arctic and tawny crescent spot butterfly. (2) At least
one one-acre patch of recently burned dead trees would be maintained at
all times on the landscape to provide favorable habitat for black-
backed woodpeckers. (3) 4,800 acres of the open barrens habitat
component would be managed as a contiguous large patch to benefit
sharp-tailed grouse.
A closed ATV play area (20 acres in size) would be rehabilitated by
restoring native ground cover, planting trees, and reshaping major
rills and gullies. To provide a road system that meets the long term
transportation needs and fosters the restoration of the pine barrens
ecosystem the following road actions are proposed: Decommission
approximately 55 miles of roads (49 of the 55 miles are currently
closed on the ground by overgrown vegetation and (or) berms); convert 1
mile to trail; convert 3 miles to fireline; re-construct (on existing
corridors such as old roads or fireline) 17 miles of temporary road;
and construct an estimated 6 miles of temporary road to facilitate the
initial timber harvest.
Possible Alternatives
Three alternatives to the Proposed Action are being developed in
response to public comments received. One alternative increases the
quantity and reduces the desired brush cover of the open barrens
component (<1 tree per acre) of the pine barren ecosystem. This would
result in some additional harvest and mechanical treatment, and
increasing the frequency/intensity of prescribed fire in the open
barrens designated area. In the two other alternatives implementation
of timber harvesting activities and subsequent treatments would occur
over a longer period of time. Both alternatives modify the rate of
harvest to include multiple harvests (verses 1 harvest entry in the
proposed action) over a 15 year period to a selected numbers of stands.
One alternative also delays the prescribed burning in the multiple
harvest stands and the other does not. This potentially would result in
a difference in the flexibility of implementation of the project, wind
firmness of the residual trees, risk of invasive species infestation,
and the overall economics of the management activities.
Responsible Official
The responsible official for this project is Spring Rosales,
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forests, Washburn Ranger District, P.O.
Box 578, Washburn WI 54891.
Scoping Process
The Chequamegon-Nicolet Forest began the scoping process for this
project as an environmental assessment during February 2008. Persons
and organizations on the District's mailing list were sent information
packages, and a notice was placed in the newspaper of record. The
project is listed in the Chequamegon-Nicolet Schedule of Proposed
Actions, and is viewable on the Forest Web page at https://
www.fs.fed.us/r9/cnnf/. Click on ``Project Proposals and Decisions,''
then ``Northwest Sands Project.''
Preliminary Issues
The following issues will be analyzed in the EIS: effects of the
proposed activities on soils, water, air quality, Regional Forester
Sensitive Species plants and wildlife, and non-native invasive species.
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
[[Page 75998]]
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: December 1, 2008.
Jeanne Higgins,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E8-29439 Filed 12-12-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
