Salmon River Ranger District; Idaho; Allison-Berg Allotment EIS, 20276-20277 [E9-9500]
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20276
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 83 / Friday, May 1, 2009 / Notices
Item
FS–2400–42a
Estimate of Annual Burden ......................
3.0 hours ..................................................
14.4 hours ................................................
FS–2400–
14BV
FS 2400–14
Type of Respondents ...............................
Individuals, large and small businesses, and corporations bidding on National Forest timber sales
and Integrated Resource Contracts.
Estimated Annual Number of Respondents.
Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents.
445 ...........................................................
825 ...........................................................
200.
1.8 ............................................................
3.9 ............................................................
1.2.
2,400 hours ..............................................
46,332 hours ............................................
8,256 hours.
Comment Is Invited
Comment is invited on: (1) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the stated purposes or
the proper performance of the functions
of the agency, including whether the
information shall have practical or
scientific utility; (2) 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; (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 name and address
when provided, will be summarized and
included in the request for Office of
Management and Budget approval. All
comments also will become a matter of
public record.
Dated: April 21, 2009.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
System.
[FR Doc. E9–10010 Filed 4–30–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Salmon River Ranger District; Idaho;
Allison-Berg Allotment EIS
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The EIS will document
changed conditions on the Allison-Berg
allotment relative to effects on bighorn
sheep and their habitat sufficient to
support a determination whether
continued grazing by domestic sheep
VerDate Nov<24>2008
15:15 Apr 30, 2009
Jkt 217001
34.4 hours.
should be allowed or not, and if so,
under what conditions.
Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by June
15, 2009. The draft environmental
impact statement is expected in
September 2010, and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected by March 2011.
DATES:
Send written comments to
Darcy Pederson, Acting District Ranger,
Salmon River Ranger District, 304 Slate
Creek Road, White Bird, Idaho 83554. It
is important that reviewers provide their
comments at such times and in such a
way that they are useful to the Agency’s
preparation of the EIS. Therefore,
comments should be provided prior to
the close of the comment period and
should clearly articulate the reviewer’s
concerns and contentions. The
submission of timely and specific
comments can affect a reviewer’s ability
to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial
review.
Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
be part of the public record for this
proposed action. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, anonymous
comments will not provide the
respondent with standing to participate
in subsequent administrative review or
judicial review.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joanne Bonn, via phone at (208) 839–
2211 or (208) 983–1950, or in person at
304 Slate Creek Road, between the
hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., PDT,
Monday through Friday.
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
Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Purpose and Need for Action
In April 1996 the Nez Perce National
Forest made the decision to authorize
domestic sheep, horse/pack stock, and
cattle grazing on the Allison-Berg
allotment. This decision was
accompanied by an Environmental
Assessment which concluded that the
action would have no significant
impacts under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and is
consistent with the National Forest
Management Act (NFMA). Under this
decision, the permittee has been issued
ten-year term grazing permits. The latest
ten-year term grazing permit, issued in
April 2006, allows for both a spring/
summer and a fall/winter domestic
sheep grazing period. Incidental
numbers of horses/pack stock and cattle
are permitted to graze spring through
fall.
In prior NEPA/NFMA decision
documentation for this allotment, no
specific concerns related to the bighorn
sheep were noted. New information and
changed conditions related to bighorn
sheep result in a need for the U.S. Forest
Service to revisit and update the
environmental effects analysis for this
allotment.
The Payette National Forest, which
manages National Forest System lands
south of this allotment, is finalizing an
extensive analysis addressing bighorn
sheep viability issues on that forest. In
September, 2008 the Payette National
Forest released the ‘‘Draft Supplement
to the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for the Southwest Idaho
Ecogroup Land and Resource
Management Plans.’’ This draft
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (SEIS) discusses the effects of
grazing domestic sheep within or near
the range of bighorn sheep for both the
Hell’s Canyon and Salmon River
populations. Although no decision is
being made in relation to the AllisonBerg allotment, the Payette National
Forest is producing information that is
directly pertinent to the update of the
Nez Perce National Forest’s effects
E:\FR\FM\01MYN1.SGM
01MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 83 / Friday, May 1, 2009 / Notices
analysis for the Allison-Berg allotment,
including bighorn sheep habitat
modeling, bighorn sheep population
modeling, geographic population range
modeling, quantitative risk assessment
modeling, disease spread modeling and
cumulative effects analysis. Current
maps produced by the Payette National
Forest and included in their DSEIS
show the Allison-Berg allotment is
located within the geographic
population range of bighorn sheep. The
allotment contains a substantial amount
of modeled bighorn sheep habitat. The
expected date for completion of a final
SEIS by the Payette National Forest is
December 2009.
Bighorn sheep sightings since 2007
and telemetry and GPS data from radiocollared bighorn sheep in a cooperative
study begun in 2008 with the Nez Perce
Tribe have confirmed both collared and
uncollared bighorn sheep presence on
the Allison-Berg allotment during both
the spring/summer and the fall/winter
grazing periods.
On March 13, 2009 the Nez Perce
National Forest prescribed non-use by
domestic sheep on the Allison-Berg
allotment for resource protection during
the time needed to update the NFMA
and NEPA analysis for the allotment.
This decision to prescribe non-use was
based on the following factors: (1)
Continued sightings of bighorn sheep
(including some that are now radiocollared) within and near the allotment,
(2) the lack of identified and agreed to
measures that would meet the objective
of the State of Idaho Interim Strategy to
ensure separation of bighorn sheep and
domestic sheep, (3) data assembled to
date on movement and distribution of
radio-collared Salmon River bighorns
has not provided the Forest with
information that would enable
development of BMPs to ensure
separation, and (4) there is a need to
obtain and utilize new information from
the Payette NF analysis to update our
decision documentation for the
allotment.
This Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS
initiates the process to update our
decision documentation for the AllisonBerg allotment. The expected date for
publication of our draft EIS allows time
for proper review and consideration of
the Payette National Forest’s bighorn
analysis as well as any additional GPS
and telemetry data for the collared
Salmon River bighorns.
Proposed Action and Possible
Alternatives
The Salmon River Ranger District of
the United States Forest Service
proposes to authorize continued
domestic sheep, horse/pack stock, and
VerDate Nov<24>2008
15:15 Apr 30, 2009
Jkt 217001
cattle grazing within the Allison-Berg
allotment. Alternatives that may be
considered include (1) Authorization of
grazing under conditions identified in
the existing ten-year term permit; (2)
modification of grazing consistent with
the Strategy for Managing Separation
between Bighorn Sheep and Domestic
Sheep and Goats in the Salmon River
Area (SRSS); (3) grazing with additional
mitigation measures to ensure
separation of bighorn sheep and
domestic sheep; and (4) no grazing. The
project is located 3 miles east of Riggins,
Idaho in the Allison, Berg, and Kelly
Creek drainages on the north side of the
Salmon River.
Responsible Official
Salmon River District Ranger.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
To determine whether to authorize
grazing of domestic sheep on the
Allison-Berg Allotment, and if so, under
what conditions.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement.
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
such manner that they are useful to the
agency’s preparation of the
environmental impact statement.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions. The submission of timely
and specific comments can affect a
reviewer’s ability to participate in
subsequent administrative appeal or
judicial review.
Dated: April 20, 2009.
Thomas K. Reilly,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9–9500 Filed 4–30–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2009–0027]
National Animal Identification System;
Public Meetings
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
SUMMARY: This is a notice to inform the
public of seven upcoming meetings to
discuss stakeholder concerns related to
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
20277
the implementation of the National
Animal Identification System. The
meetings are being organized by the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service.
DATES: The meetings will be held on
May 14, 18, 20, 21, 22, and 27, and June
1, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
ADDRESSES: The public meetings will be
held in Harrisburg, PA (May 14), Pasco,
WA (May 18), Austin, TX (May 20),
Birmingham, AL (May 21), Louisville,
KY (May 22), Storrs, CT (May 27), and
Greeley, CO (June 1).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Adam Grow, Director, Surveillance and
Identification Programs, National Center
for Animal Health Programs, VS,
APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 200,
Riverdale, MD 20737; 301–734–3752.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
As part of its ongoing efforts to
safeguard animal health, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
initiated implementation of a National
Animal Identification System (NAIS) in
2004. The NAIS is a cooperative StateFederal-industry program administered
by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS). The
purpose of the NAIS is to provide a
streamlined information system that
will help producers and animal health
officials respond quickly and effectively
to animal disease events in the United
States.
The ultimate long-term goal of the
NAIS is to provide State and Federal
officials with the capability to identify
all animals and premises that have had
direct contact with a disease of concern
within 48 hours after discovery. Meeting
that goal requires a comprehensive
animal-disease traceability
infrastructure. An NAIS User Guide and
a Business Plan, both available on our
Web site at https://
animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/
animal_id/index.shtml, provide detailed
information about our plans for
implementing the system.
Despite concerted efforts, APHIS has
not been able to fully implement the
NAIS. Many of the same issues that
producers originally had with the
system, such as the cost and impact on
small farmers, privacy and
confidentiality, and liability, continue
to cause concern.
In order to provide individuals and
organizations an opportunity to discuss
their concerns regarding the NAIS and
offer potential solutions, we plan to
hold several public meetings and to
solicit comments via our Web site. Our
goal is to gather feedback and input
from a wide range of stakeholders to
assist us in making an informed
E:\FR\FM\01MYN1.SGM
01MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 83 (Friday, May 1, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20276-20277]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9500]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Salmon River Ranger District; Idaho; Allison-Berg Allotment EIS
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The EIS will document changed conditions on the Allison-Berg
allotment relative to effects on bighorn sheep and their habitat
sufficient to support a determination whether continued grazing by
domestic sheep should be allowed or not, and if so, under what
conditions.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by June 15, 2009. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
in September 2010, and the final environmental impact statement is
expected by March 2011.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Darcy Pederson, Acting District
Ranger, Salmon River Ranger District, 304 Slate Creek Road, White Bird,
Idaho 83554. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at
such times and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's
preparation of the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to
the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the
reviewer's concerns and contentions. The submission of timely and
specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to participate in
subsequent administrative review or judicial review.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide
the respondent with standing to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanne Bonn, via phone at (208) 839-
2211 or (208) 983-1950, or in person at 304 Slate Creek Road, between
the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., PDT, Monday through Friday.
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 Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
In April 1996 the Nez Perce National Forest made the decision to
authorize domestic sheep, horse/pack stock, and cattle grazing on the
Allison-Berg allotment. This decision was accompanied by an
Environmental Assessment which concluded that the action would have no
significant impacts under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
and is consistent with the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). Under
this decision, the permittee has been issued ten-year term grazing
permits. The latest ten-year term grazing permit, issued in April 2006,
allows for both a spring/summer and a fall/winter domestic sheep
grazing period. Incidental numbers of horses/pack stock and cattle are
permitted to graze spring through fall.
In prior NEPA/NFMA decision documentation for this allotment, no
specific concerns related to the bighorn sheep were noted. New
information and changed conditions related to bighorn sheep result in a
need for the U.S. Forest Service to revisit and update the
environmental effects analysis for this allotment.
The Payette National Forest, which manages National Forest System
lands south of this allotment, is finalizing an extensive analysis
addressing bighorn sheep viability issues on that forest. In September,
2008 the Payette National Forest released the ``Draft Supplement to the
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Southwest Idaho Ecogroup
Land and Resource Management Plans.'' This draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) discusses the effects of grazing
domestic sheep within or near the range of bighorn sheep for both the
Hell's Canyon and Salmon River populations. Although no decision is
being made in relation to the Allison-Berg allotment, the Payette
National Forest is producing information that is directly pertinent to
the update of the Nez Perce National Forest's effects
[[Page 20277]]
analysis for the Allison-Berg allotment, including bighorn sheep
habitat modeling, bighorn sheep population modeling, geographic
population range modeling, quantitative risk assessment modeling,
disease spread modeling and cumulative effects analysis. Current maps
produced by the Payette National Forest and included in their DSEIS
show the Allison-Berg allotment is located within the geographic
population range of bighorn sheep. The allotment contains a substantial
amount of modeled bighorn sheep habitat. The expected date for
completion of a final SEIS by the Payette National Forest is December
2009.
Bighorn sheep sightings since 2007 and telemetry and GPS data from
radio-collared bighorn sheep in a cooperative study begun in 2008 with
the Nez Perce Tribe have confirmed both collared and uncollared bighorn
sheep presence on the Allison-Berg allotment during both the spring/
summer and the fall/winter grazing periods.
On March 13, 2009 the Nez Perce National Forest prescribed non-use
by domestic sheep on the Allison-Berg allotment for resource protection
during the time needed to update the NFMA and NEPA analysis for the
allotment. This decision to prescribe non-use was based on the
following factors: (1) Continued sightings of bighorn sheep (including
some that are now radio-collared) within and near the allotment, (2)
the lack of identified and agreed to measures that would meet the
objective of the State of Idaho Interim Strategy to ensure separation
of bighorn sheep and domestic sheep, (3) data assembled to date on
movement and distribution of radio-collared Salmon River bighorns has
not provided the Forest with information that would enable development
of BMPs to ensure separation, and (4) there is a need to obtain and
utilize new information from the Payette NF analysis to update our
decision documentation for the allotment.
This Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS initiates the process to
update our decision documentation for the Allison-Berg allotment. The
expected date for publication of our draft EIS allows time for proper
review and consideration of the Payette National Forest's bighorn
analysis as well as any additional GPS and telemetry data for the
collared Salmon River bighorns.
Proposed Action and Possible Alternatives
The Salmon River Ranger District of the United States Forest
Service proposes to authorize continued domestic sheep, horse/pack
stock, and cattle grazing within the Allison-Berg allotment.
Alternatives that may be considered include (1) Authorization of
grazing under conditions identified in the existing ten-year term
permit; (2) modification of grazing consistent with the Strategy for
Managing Separation between Bighorn Sheep and Domestic Sheep and Goats
in the Salmon River Area (SRSS); (3) grazing with additional mitigation
measures to ensure separation of bighorn sheep and domestic sheep; and
(4) no grazing. The project is located 3 miles east of Riggins, Idaho
in the Allison, Berg, and Kelly Creek drainages on the north side of
the Salmon River.
Responsible Official
Salmon River District Ranger.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
To determine whether to authorize grazing of domestic sheep on the
Allison-Berg Allotment, and if so, under what conditions.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. The submission of
timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to
participate in subsequent administrative appeal or judicial review.
Dated: April 20, 2009.
Thomas K. Reilly,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9-9500 Filed 4-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
