Notice of Availability (NOA) Record of Decision (ROD) for the Designation of Energy Corridors on Federal Land in the 11 Western States, Including Proposed Amendments to Selected Land Management Plans, 12306-12307 [E9-6346]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 24, 2009 / Notices
motorized travel. The MVUM would be
the primary tool used to determine
compliance and enforcement with
motor vehicle use designations on the
ground. Currently, motorized travel on
the OWNF is permitted unless
designated closed. Following the
decision and publication of the MVUM,
motorized travel on the OWNF would
be closed unless designated open.
Additional details and a full
description of the proposed action can
be found on the Internet at https://www.
fs.fed.us/r6/okawen/travel-management.
In addition, maps and details will be
available for viewing at Forest Service
offices in Republic, Tonasket,
Okanogan, Winthrop, Chelan, Entiat,
Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cle Elum,
Naches, and North Bend, Washington.
Maps will also be available for viewing
at public libraries in Tonasket, Omak,
Okanogan, Twisp, Winthrop, Chelan,
Entiat, Wenatchee, Cashmere,
Leavenworth, Cle Elum, Ellensburg,
Naches, Tieton, Selah and Yakima,
Washington.
Possible Alternatives
A full range of alternatives will be
considered, including the proposed
action, no action, and additional
alternatives that respond to issues
generated during the scoping process.
The no action alternative would
maintain current allowances and
restrictions for OHV use and motorized
cross-country travel described in the
current Okanogan and Wenatchee
National Forest Plans and Okanogan
National Forest Travel Plan. All
alternatives would comply with the
Okanogan and Wenatchee National
Forest Plans.
Lead Agency
The Forest Service will be the lead
agency in accordance with 40 CFR
1501.5(b), and is responsible for
preparation of the environmental impact
statement (EIS).
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Responsible Official
The Forest Supervisor for the
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest,
Rebecca Lockett Heath, will be the
responsible official for this EIS and its
Record of Decision. As the Responsible
Official, the Forest Supervisor will
document the decision and reasons for
the decision in the Record of Decision.
That decision will be subject to Forest
Service Appeal Regulations (36 CFR
Part 215).
Nature of the Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will decide
whether to adopt and implement the
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01:06 Mar 24, 2009
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proposed action, an alternative to the
proposed action, or take no action to:
1. Designate where and under what
conditions motor vehicles can be used
on specific roads, trails and areas.
2. Designate where and under what
conditions motorized access for
dispersed recreation would be allowed.
3. Designate where and under what
conditions motorized mixed use would
be allowed on NFS roads.
4. Determine whether or under what
conditions to amend the Forest Plans.
Preliminary Issues
Preliminary issues identified during
the earlier public involvement process
include the following:
1. Motorized use on specific roads
and trails may affect: Wildlife (in
particular grizzly bear and other focal
species potentially affected by travel
corridor disturbance), soil erosion
(compaction and sedimentation), fish
and aquatics species (sedimentation),
and riparian habitat;
2. Motorized use on specific roads or
trails may cause social conflicts between
different recreational user groups;
3. Mixed motorized use on National
Forest System roads may affect the
safety of all users;
4. Motorized use on specific roads
and trails may affect the resources and
noise level on adjacent private land.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent (NOI) initiates
the scoping process, which guides
development of the environmental
impact statement.
The OWNF held 13 public meetings
in central Washington and in the
Seattle, Washington area in 2006 and
2007 to help develop the proposed
action. These meetings were used to
identify potential issues and potential
components of the proposed action.
The Forest Supervisor is seeking
public and agency comment on the
proposed action to identify issues that
arise from the proposed action. These
issues may lead to other alternatives, or
additional mitigation measures and
monitoring requirements.
Comments are most valuable if they
are site-specific. Comments about
existing or proposed conditions on
individual routes, desired motorized or
non-motorized recreation opportunities,
uses and impacts, and route
designations are being sought.
Public meetings to explain and gather
comments about the proposed action
will be held at the following locations
and dates from 5 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.:
Ellensburg, WA, April 6, Hal Holmes
Community Center.
Yakima, WA, April 7, Howard
Johnson Ballroom.
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Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
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Cashmere, WA, April 8, Apple Annie
Antique Gallery.
Okanogan, WA, April 9, Okanogan
County Agriplex.
Seattle, WA area: To be announced
and posted on the Travel Management
Web site (https://www.fs.fed.us/r6/
okawen/travel-management).
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 EIS
will be 45 days from the date the
Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in
the Federal Register. The draft EIS is
expected to be filed with the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and to be available for public review in
December 2009. The final EIS is
expected to be completed by July 2010.
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns about the proposed action,
comments on the draft EIS 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 EIS 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.
Dated: March 18, 2009.
Rebecca Lockett Heath,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9–6385 Filed 3–23–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Notice of Availability (NOA) Record of
Decision (ROD) for the Designation of
Energy Corridors on Federal Land in
the 11 Western States, Including
Proposed Amendments to Selected
Land Management Plans
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of availability of record
of decision.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the
National Forest Management Act
(NFMA, 16 U.S.C. 1600–1614 et seq.),
the Forest Service announces the
E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM
24MRN1
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 24, 2009 / Notices
decision to amend selected Land
Management Plans. Specifically, the
ROD amends 38 Land Management
Plans for National Forests in 10 of the
11 Western States. The United States
Department of the Interior and the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are
expected to concurrently announce a
similar decision amending their
respective Resource Management Plans.
Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act
of 2005 (EPAct 2005), Public Law 109–
58, directs the Secretaries of
Agriculture, Defense, Energy, and the
Interior to designate corridors on
Federal land in the 11 Western States
for oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines, as
well as electricity transmission and
distribution facilities, and incorporate
the designated corridors into relevant
agency land use and resource
management plans or equivalent plans.
The 11 Western States are Arizona,
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana,
Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming. The Forest
Service is not designating any corridors
in the State of New Mexico.
DATES: Effective Date: This decision is
effective April 23, 2009.
ADDRESSES: The ROD is available on the
internet at https://www.corridoreis.anl.
com. Printed copies will be available at
one of the involved National Forest
supervisor or district ranger offices in
the 10 Western States.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glen
Parker, Realty Specialist, Lands, 202–
205–1196 or Ron Pugh, Planning
Specialist, Ecosystem Management
Coordination, 202–205–0992. USDA
Forest Service, L; (Glen Parker); 1400
Independence Ave., SW, Mailstop Code:
1124; Washington, DC 20050–1124.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Standard Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In October
2008, the BLM released a final
Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement (PEIS) to designate corridors
for future oil, gas, and hydrogen
pipelines, as well as electricity
transmission and distribution facilities,
and to incorporate the designated
corridors into the relevant agencies’
land use and resource management
plans or equivalent plans. Section 368
directs the involved agencies to take
into account the need for upgraded and
new infrastructure and to take actions to
improve reliability, relieve congestion,
and enhance the capability of the
national grid to deliver energy. This
action only pertains to the designation
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01:06 Mar 24, 2009
Jkt 217001
of corridors for potential facilities on
Federal lands located within the 11
Western States.
Designation of Section 368 energy
corridors is an important step in
addressing critical energy needs in the
West. Energy corridors on Federal lands
provide pathways for future longdistance energy transmission that will
help to relieve congestion, improve
reliability, and enhance the national
electric grid. Future use of corridors
should reduce the proliferation of
rights-of-way (ROWs) across the
landscape and minimize the
environmental footprint of future
development.
Section 368 energy corridors are
located to avoid, to the maximum extent
possible, significant, known
environmental resources. The corridors
are designated considering potential
renewable energy development in the
West, which is currently constrained in
part by a lack of transmission capacity.
The coordinated, interagency permitting
and environmental compliance
processes, evaluated in the PEIS and
adopted by this ROD, will foster longterm, systematic planning for energy
transportation development and offer a
consistent and improved interagency
permitting process. The amendment of
the land management plans is
responsive to USDA’s responsibilities
under Section 368 of the Act and
represents a forward-looking proactive
response to the Nation’s energy needs
and the sustainable management of NFS
lands.
The ROD is intended to improve
coordination among the agencies to
increase the efficiency of using
designated corridors. In many areas of
the United States, including the West,
the infrastructure required to deliver
energy has not always kept pace with
growth in energy demand. The agencies
hope to improve the delivery of energy,
while enhancing the electric
transmission grid for the future, by
establishing a coordinated network of
Section 368 energy corridors on Federal
lands in the West. The final PEIS
analyzes the environmental impacts of
designating Section 368 energy
corridors in 11 Western States and
incorporating those designations into
relevant agency land use and resource
management plans or equivalent plans.
The Agencies prepared this PEIS at
the designation stage because they
believe it is an appropriate time to
examine environmental concerns at the
programmatic level. Impacts that affect
the quality of the environment will only
occur after specific proposals are
submitted, analyzed through the NEPA
process, and approved by the land
PO 00000
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12307
management agency. The agencies
expect that the PEIS will assist
subsequent site-specific analyses for
individual project proposals.
These energy corridors comprise a
comprehensive, coordinated network of
preferred locations for future energy
projects that could be developed to
satisfy demand for energy. This ROD
designates approximately 990 miles of
energy corridors on National Forest
System lands in 10 of the 11 Western
States as the preferred location for oil,
natural gas, and hydrogen pipelines as
well as electricity transmission and
distribution lines. Environmental,
engineering, and land use screening
criteria were applied during the
development of the proposed action to
reduce potential environmental and
land use conflicts. The energy corridors
will typically be 3,500 feet wide,
although the width may vary in certain
areas due to environmental,
topographic, or management
requirements.
The policies and Interagency
Operating Procedures (IOPs) developed
under the proposed action establish
requirements for the management of
future individual energy transportation
projects. The IOPs identify required
management procedures to be
incorporated into the analysis of future
project-specific energy transportation
development proposals.
The ROD amends a total of 38 Forest
Service land management plans in 10 of
the 11 Western States. The land use
plan amendments designate the Section
368 energy corridors identified in the
final ROD. The plan amendments do not
eliminate the need for site-specific
NEPA analyses of individual
development proposals.
Readers should note this decision was
signed by the Under Secretary of
Agriculture for Natural Resources and
the Environment; therefore, no
administrative review of the Record of
Decision under 36 CFR part 217 is
available.
Reference to previously published
Federal Register documents: 73 FR
72521, November 28, 2008; 73 FR 2905,
January 16, 2008; 72 FR 64591,
November 16, 2007; and 70 FR 56647,
September 28, 2005.
Dated: March 12, 2009.
Ann Bartuska,
Acting Deputy Under Secretary, Natural
Resources and Environment.
[FR Doc. E9–6346 Filed 3–23–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12306-12307]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6346]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Notice of Availability (NOA) Record of Decision (ROD) for the
Designation of Energy Corridors on Federal Land in the 11 Western
States, Including Proposed Amendments to Selected Land Management Plans
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability of record of decision.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the National Forest Management Act
(NFMA, 16 U.S.C. 1600-1614 et seq.), the Forest Service announces the
[[Page 12307]]
decision to amend selected Land Management Plans. Specifically, the ROD
amends 38 Land Management Plans for National Forests in 10 of the 11
Western States. The United States Department of the Interior and the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are expected to concurrently announce a
similar decision amending their respective Resource Management Plans.
Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), Public
Law 109-58, directs the Secretaries of Agriculture, Defense, Energy,
and the Interior to designate corridors on Federal land in the 11
Western States for oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines, as well as
electricity transmission and distribution facilities, and incorporate
the designated corridors into relevant agency land use and resource
management plans or equivalent plans.
The 11 Western States are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The
Forest Service is not designating any corridors in the State of New
Mexico.
DATES: Effective Date: This decision is effective April 23, 2009.
ADDRESSES: The ROD is available on the internet at https://www.corridoreis.anl.com. Printed copies will be available at one of the
involved National Forest supervisor or district ranger offices in the
10 Western States.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glen Parker, Realty Specialist, Lands,
202-205-1196 or Ron Pugh, Planning Specialist, Ecosystem Management
Coordination, 202-205-0992. USDA Forest Service, L; (Glen Parker); 1400
Independence Ave., SW, Mailstop Code: 1124; Washington, DC 20050-1124.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through
Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In October 2008, the BLM released a final
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to designate
corridors for future oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines, as well as
electricity transmission and distribution facilities, and to
incorporate the designated corridors into the relevant agencies' land
use and resource management plans or equivalent plans. Section 368
directs the involved agencies to take into account the need for
upgraded and new infrastructure and to take actions to improve
reliability, relieve congestion, and enhance the capability of the
national grid to deliver energy. This action only pertains to the
designation of corridors for potential facilities on Federal lands
located within the 11 Western States.
Designation of Section 368 energy corridors is an important step in
addressing critical energy needs in the West. Energy corridors on
Federal lands provide pathways for future long-distance energy
transmission that will help to relieve congestion, improve reliability,
and enhance the national electric grid. Future use of corridors should
reduce the proliferation of rights-of-way (ROWs) across the landscape
and minimize the environmental footprint of future development.
Section 368 energy corridors are located to avoid, to the maximum
extent possible, significant, known environmental resources. The
corridors are designated considering potential renewable energy
development in the West, which is currently constrained in part by a
lack of transmission capacity. The coordinated, interagency permitting
and environmental compliance processes, evaluated in the PEIS and
adopted by this ROD, will foster long-term, systematic planning for
energy transportation development and offer a consistent and improved
interagency permitting process. The amendment of the land management
plans is responsive to USDA's responsibilities under Section 368 of the
Act and represents a forward-looking proactive response to the Nation's
energy needs and the sustainable management of NFS lands.
The ROD is intended to improve coordination among the agencies to
increase the efficiency of using designated corridors. In many areas of
the United States, including the West, the infrastructure required to
deliver energy has not always kept pace with growth in energy demand.
The agencies hope to improve the delivery of energy, while enhancing
the electric transmission grid for the future, by establishing a
coordinated network of Section 368 energy corridors on Federal lands in
the West. The final PEIS analyzes the environmental impacts of
designating Section 368 energy corridors in 11 Western States and
incorporating those designations into relevant agency land use and
resource management plans or equivalent plans.
The Agencies prepared this PEIS at the designation stage because
they believe it is an appropriate time to examine environmental
concerns at the programmatic level. Impacts that affect the quality of
the environment will only occur after specific proposals are submitted,
analyzed through the NEPA process, and approved by the land management
agency. The agencies expect that the PEIS will assist subsequent site-
specific analyses for individual project proposals.
These energy corridors comprise a comprehensive, coordinated
network of preferred locations for future energy projects that could be
developed to satisfy demand for energy. This ROD designates
approximately 990 miles of energy corridors on National Forest System
lands in 10 of the 11 Western States as the preferred location for oil,
natural gas, and hydrogen pipelines as well as electricity transmission
and distribution lines. Environmental, engineering, and land use
screening criteria were applied during the development of the proposed
action to reduce potential environmental and land use conflicts. The
energy corridors will typically be 3,500 feet wide, although the width
may vary in certain areas due to environmental, topographic, or
management requirements.
The policies and Interagency Operating Procedures (IOPs) developed
under the proposed action establish requirements for the management of
future individual energy transportation projects. The IOPs identify
required management procedures to be incorporated into the analysis of
future project-specific energy transportation development proposals.
The ROD amends a total of 38 Forest Service land management plans
in 10 of the 11 Western States. The land use plan amendments designate
the Section 368 energy corridors identified in the final ROD. The plan
amendments do not eliminate the need for site-specific NEPA analyses of
individual development proposals.
Readers should note this decision was signed by the Under Secretary
of Agriculture for Natural Resources and the Environment; therefore, no
administrative review of the Record of Decision under 36 CFR part 217
is available.
Reference to previously published Federal Register documents: 73 FR
72521, November 28, 2008; 73 FR 2905, January 16, 2008; 72 FR 64591,
November 16, 2007; and 70 FR 56647, September 28, 2005.
Dated: March 12, 2009.
Ann Bartuska,
Acting Deputy Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment.
[FR Doc. E9-6346 Filed 3-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
