Pacific Southwest Region, Regional Office, California, Sierra Nevada Forests-Supplemental EIS to the 2004 Sierra Nevada Framework per November 4, 2009 Court Order, 65508-65509 [E9-29446]
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65508
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 74, No. 236
Thursday, December 10, 2009
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.
RECOVERY ACCOUNTABILITY AND
TRANSPARENCY BOARD
Proposed Information Collection
Activities
ACTION: Notice of submission to OMB
and 30-day public comment period.
The Recovery Accountability
and Transparency Board (Board) is
giving public notice that it has
submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for approval the
information collection described in this
notice. The public is invited to
comment on the proposed information
collection pursuant to the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995.
SUMMARY:
DATES: Written comments must be
submitted to OMB at the address below
on or before January 11, 2010 to be
assured of consideration.
Send comments to Ms.
Sharon Mar, Desk Officer for the
Recovery Accountability and
Transparency Board, Office of
Management and Budget, New
Executive Office Building, Washington,
DC 20503; fax: 202–395–5167; or
electronically mailed to
smar@omb.eop.gov.
ADDRESSES:
Pursuant
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), Pubic Law 104–13, section 2, 109
Stat. 163 (1995) (codified as revised at
44 U.S.C. 3501–3520), the Board invites
the general public and other federal
agencies to comment on the proposed
information collection. The Board
published a notice of proposed
collection for this information collection
on August 31, 2009 (74 FR 44814). No
comments were received. However, the
first reporting period under the
American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009 has since occurred, and the
Board has therefore been able to modify
its estimated number of respondents
accordingly. The Board has submitted
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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the described information collection to
OMB for approval.
In response to this notice, comments
and suggestions should address one or
more of the following points: (a)
Whether the proposed information
collection is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Board; (b) the accuracy of the Board’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
information collection; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
of the information to be collected; (d)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including the use of
information technology; and (e) whether
small businesses are affected by this
collection. In this notice, the Board is
soliciting comments concerning the
following information collection:
Title of Collection:
FederalReporting.gov Recipient
Registration System.
OMB Control No.: 0430–0002.
Description: Section 1512 of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009, Public Law 111–5, 123 Stat.
115 (Recovery Act), requires recipients
of Recovery Act funds to report on the
use of those funds. These reports are to
be submitted to FederalReporting.gov,
and certain information from these
reports will later be posted to the
publicly available Web site
Recovery.gov.
The FederalReporting.gov Recipient
Registration System (FRRS) was
developed to protect the Board and
FederalReporting.gov users from
individuals seeking to gain
unauthorized access to user accounts on
FederalReporting.gov. FRRS is used for
the purpose of verifying the identity of
the user; allowing users to establish an
account on FederalReporting.gov;
providing users access to their
FederalReporting.gov account for
reporting data; allowing users to
customize, update, or terminate their
accounts with FederalReporting.gov;
renewing or revoking a user’s account
on FederalReporting.gov, thereby
protecting FederalReporting.gov and
FederalReporting.gov users from
potential harm caused by individuals
with malicious intentions gaining
unauthorized access to the system.
To assist in this goal, FRRS will
collect a registrant’s name, e-mail
address, telephone number and
extension, three security questions and
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answers, and, by way of a DUNS
number, organization information. The
person registering for
FederalReporting.gov will generate a
self-assigned password that will be
stored on the FRRS, but will only be
accessible to the registering individual.
Affected Public: Private sector and
state, local, and tribal governments.
Total Estimated Number of
Respondents: 88,000.
Frequency of Responses: Once.
Total Estimated Annual Burden
Hours: 7,333.
Ivan J. Flores,
Paralegal Specialist, Recovery Accountability
and Transparency Board.
[FR Doc. E9–29436 Filed 12–9–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820–GA–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region, Regional
Office, California, Sierra Nevada
Forests—Supplemental EIS to the 2004
Sierra Nevada Framework per
November 4, 2009 Court Order
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of Intent to prepare a
supplemental environmental impact
statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Pacific Southwest Region
of the U.S. Forest Service proposes to
prepare a supplemental EIS to the 2004
Sierra Nevada Framework EIS. This
SEIS is intended to accomplish two
narrow goals: (1) Analyze all the
alternatives considered in the 2004 SEIS
using the modeling techniques utilized
for alternatives S1 and S2 in the 2004
SEIS; and (2) account for the new
management objectives of reducing
stand density for forest health, restoring
and maintaining ecosystem structure
and composition, and restoring
ecosystems after severe wildfires and
other large catastrophic events in all the
alternatives evaluated. The purpose of
the SEIS is to comply with two
November 4, 2009 court orders from the
Eastern District of California which
require the preparation of this narrowly
tailored SEIS.
DATES: The Draft SEIS is expected in
early February 2010 and the public
comment period will be open for 45
days. The supplemental environmental
E:\FR\FM\10DEN1.SGM
10DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 236 / Thursday, December 10, 2009 / Notices
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
impact statement is expected by May 1,
2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information contact Ron Pugh,
Deputy Regional Planning Director, at
US Forest Service, 1323 Club Drive,
Vallejo, CA, Phone 707–562–8951.
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: The SEIS
proposed in this notice is required by
court orders issued in Sierra Forest
Legacy v. Rey, No. 2:05–cv–00205–
MCE–GGH (E.D. Cal. Nov. 4, 2009) and
People of the State of California v.
USDA, No. 2:05–cv–00211–MCE–GGH
(E.D. Cal. Nov. 4, 2009). Those orders
concluded that the Forest Service was
required to remedy the 2004
Framework’s violation of NEPA by
preparing a focused SEIS by May 1,
2010. Specifically, the Court stated as
follows:
the Court orders the Forest Service to prepare
another supplemental EIS on the Framework,
one that meets the range of alternatives and
analytical consistency identified by the Ninth
Circuit in its decision on the preliminary
injunction portion of this case. That
supplemental EIS process is to be completed
not later than May 1, 2010. The Ninth
Circuit’s decision on the 2004 Framework
concluded in a ruling on a motion for a
preliminary injunction that the 2004
Framework’s SEIS violated NEPA due a
failure to properly consider alternatives. See
Sierra Forest Legacy v. Rey, 577 F.3d 1015
(9th Cir. 2009). The Ninth Circuit found two
particular errors, as excerpted below:
First, USFS altered its modeling techniques
between the issuance of the 2001 FEIS and
the 2004 SEIS. Unfortunately, the 2004 SEIS
largely relied on fire risk and timber output
figures in the 2001 FEIS, a mistake that was
compounded because one of the alternatives
that was considered in 2004 was recalculated
under the new techniques, whereas the rest
of the alternatives to which it was compared
were not recalculated. Because USFS failed
to account for its changed modeling
techniques in the alternatives it considered,
Legacy has a strong probability of success on
the merits under NEPA.
Second, the 2004 SEIS introduced
substantively new objectives from those
contained within the 2001 FEIS. The 2004
SEIS repeatedly stated that its purpose was
to ‘‘adjust existing management direction,’’
2004 SEIS at 3098 (emphasis added), and to
broaden the basic strategy ‘‘to include other
management objectives such as reducing
stand density for forest health, restoring and
maintaining ecosystem structure and
composition, and restoring ecosystems after
severe wildfires and other large catastrophic
disturbance events,’’ 2004 SEIS at 2994
(emphasis added). The introduction of these
new objectives plainly constituted a change
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17:19 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 220001
in circumstance that is ‘‘relevant to the
development and evaluation of alternatives’’
that USFS must account for * * * in the
alternatives it considers.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this action is to remedy the
two flaws found by the Ninth Circuit, as
required in the District Court orders of
November 4, 2009.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service proposes to provide an
objective comparison of all of the alternatives
considered in detail in the 2004 Framework,
including those carried forward from the
2001 Framework. Alternatives F1 through F8
will be analyzed using the same modeling
methods that were used for Alternatives S1
and S2 (see Final Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement for the
Sierra Nevada Plan Amendment, January
2004, Chapter 2). A new SEIS to the 2004
Framework SEIS will be prepared that shows
the results of this analysis. The new SEIS
will also consider the objectives of reducing
stand density for forest health, restoring and
maintaining ecosystem structure and
composition, and restoring ecosystems after
severe wildfires and other large catastrophic
disturbance events, which the Ninth Circuit
found were introduced by the 2004
Framework. A new ROD consistent with the
scope of this supplement will be prepared
that considers all of this updated
information.
Responsible Official
Regional Forester, Pacific Southwest
Region, U.S. Forest Service, 1323 Club Drive,
Vallejo, CA 94592 is the Responsible Official.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will decide if a
different decision from that reached in the
2004 Framework ROD is warranted when the
range of alternatives flaws identified by the
Ninth Circuit are remedied or if continued
implementation of Alternative S2 as
originally chosen in the ROD for the 2004
SEIS is warranted.
Dated: December 9, 2009.
Thomas A. Contreras,
Deputy Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. E9–29446 Filed 12–9–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Technical Assistance and Training
Grant Program
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice of Funds Availability
(NOFA) under the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
for technical assistance and training
program and solicitation of applications.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service
(RUS) announces the availability of
grant funds pursuant to Title I of
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Sfmt 4703
65509
Division A of the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery
Act), Public Law 111–5 (Feb. 17, 2009)
with regard to the Technical Assistance
and Training Grant Program (TAT).
Funds authorized by the Recovery Act
are in addition to Fiscal Year (FY) 2009
funding for this grant program. The
intent of this notice is to advise the
public of the funds available and to
provide transparency as required by the
Recovery Act. Regulations for the
Technical Assistance and Training
Grant Program regulations can be found
at 7 CFR part 1775. Funding announced
is intended to support technical
assistance and training activities that
facilitate efforts by rural communities to
access Recovery Act funding for critical
water and waste disposal infrastructure
projects, particularly those communities
in smaller, lower income, and persistent
poverty areas.
DATES: You may submit completed
applications for TAT grants on paper or
electronically according to the following
deadlines:
Paper Submissions: Paper submission
of an application must be postmarked
and mailed, shipped, or sent overnight
no later than January 11, 2010 to be
eligible for grant funding. Late or
incomplete applications will not be
eligible for grant funding.
Electronic Submissions: Submit
electronic grant applications at https://
www.grants.gov (Grants.gov) and follow
the instructions you find on that Web
site. Electronic submissions of
applications must be received by
January 11, 2010 to be eligible for grant
funding. Late or incomplete
applications will not be eligible for
grant funding.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain application
guides and materials for the Technical
Assistance and Training grants the
following ways:
• The Internet at the RUS Water and
Environmental Programs (WEP) Web
site: https://www.usda.gov/rus/water/.
• You may also request application
guides and materials from RUS by
contacting WEP at (202) 720–9586.
Completed applications may be
submitted the following ways:
Paper applications: Send completed
paper applications for Technical
Assistance and Training grants to the
Rural Utilities Service, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave.,
SW., Room 2233, STOP 1570,
Washington, DC 20250–1570.
Applications should be marked
‘‘Attention: Assistant Administrator,
Water and Environmental Programs.’’
Electronic applications: Electronic
grant applications may be submitted at
E:\FR\FM\10DEN1.SGM
10DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 236 (Thursday, December 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65508-65509]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29446]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region, Regional Office, California, Sierra
Nevada Forests--Supplemental EIS to the 2004 Sierra Nevada Framework
per November 4, 2009 Court Order
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact
statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Pacific Southwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service
proposes to prepare a supplemental EIS to the 2004 Sierra Nevada
Framework EIS. This SEIS is intended to accomplish two narrow goals:
(1) Analyze all the alternatives considered in the 2004 SEIS using the
modeling techniques utilized for alternatives S1 and S2 in the 2004
SEIS; and (2) account for the new management objectives of reducing
stand density for forest health, restoring and maintaining ecosystem
structure and composition, and restoring ecosystems after severe
wildfires and other large catastrophic events in all the alternatives
evaluated. The purpose of the SEIS is to comply with two November 4,
2009 court orders from the Eastern District of California which require
the preparation of this narrowly tailored SEIS.
DATES: The Draft SEIS is expected in early February 2010 and the public
comment period will be open for 45 days. The supplemental environmental
[[Page 65509]]
impact statement is expected by May 1, 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Ron
Pugh, Deputy Regional Planning Director, at US Forest Service, 1323
Club Drive, Vallejo, CA, Phone 707-562-8951.
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: The SEIS proposed in this notice is required
by court orders issued in Sierra Forest Legacy v. Rey, No. 2:05-cv-
00205-MCE-GGH (E.D. Cal. Nov. 4, 2009) and People of the State of
California v. USDA, No. 2:05-cv-00211-MCE-GGH (E.D. Cal. Nov. 4, 2009).
Those orders concluded that the Forest Service was required to remedy
the 2004 Framework's violation of NEPA by preparing a focused SEIS by
May 1, 2010. Specifically, the Court stated as follows:
the Court orders the Forest Service to prepare another supplemental
EIS on the Framework, one that meets the range of alternatives and
analytical consistency identified by the Ninth Circuit in its
decision on the preliminary injunction portion of this case. That
supplemental EIS process is to be completed not later than May 1,
2010. The Ninth Circuit's decision on the 2004 Framework concluded
in a ruling on a motion for a preliminary injunction that the 2004
Framework's SEIS violated NEPA due a failure to properly consider
alternatives. See Sierra Forest Legacy v. Rey, 577 F.3d 1015 (9th
Cir. 2009). The Ninth Circuit found two particular errors, as
excerpted below:
First, USFS altered its modeling techniques between the issuance
of the 2001 FEIS and the 2004 SEIS. Unfortunately, the 2004 SEIS
largely relied on fire risk and timber output figures in the 2001
FEIS, a mistake that was compounded because one of the alternatives
that was considered in 2004 was recalculated under the new
techniques, whereas the rest of the alternatives to which it was
compared were not recalculated. Because USFS failed to account for
its changed modeling techniques in the alternatives it considered,
Legacy has a strong probability of success on the merits under NEPA.
Second, the 2004 SEIS introduced substantively new objectives
from those contained within the 2001 FEIS. The 2004 SEIS repeatedly
stated that its purpose was to ``adjust existing management
direction,'' 2004 SEIS at 3098 (emphasis added), and to broaden the
basic strategy ``to include other management objectives such as
reducing stand density for forest health, restoring and maintaining
ecosystem structure and composition, and restoring ecosystems after
severe wildfires and other large catastrophic disturbance events,''
2004 SEIS at 2994 (emphasis added). The introduction of these new
objectives plainly constituted a change in circumstance that is
``relevant to the development and evaluation of alternatives'' that
USFS must account for * * * in the alternatives it considers.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this action is to remedy the two flaws found by
the Ninth Circuit, as required in the District Court orders of
November 4, 2009.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service proposes to provide an objective comparison
of all of the alternatives considered in detail in the 2004
Framework, including those carried forward from the 2001 Framework.
Alternatives F1 through F8 will be analyzed using the same modeling
methods that were used for Alternatives S1 and S2 (see Final
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Sierra Nevada
Plan Amendment, January 2004, Chapter 2). A new SEIS to the 2004
Framework SEIS will be prepared that shows the results of this
analysis. The new SEIS will also consider the objectives of reducing
stand density for forest health, restoring and maintaining ecosystem
structure and composition, and restoring ecosystems after severe
wildfires and other large catastrophic disturbance events, which the
Ninth Circuit found were introduced by the 2004 Framework. A new ROD
consistent with the scope of this supplement will be prepared that
considers all of this updated information.
Responsible Official
Regional Forester, Pacific Southwest Region, U.S. Forest
Service, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, CA 94592 is the Responsible
Official.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will decide if a different decision
from that reached in the 2004 Framework ROD is warranted when the
range of alternatives flaws identified by the Ninth Circuit are
remedied or if continued implementation of Alternative S2 as
originally chosen in the ROD for the 2004 SEIS is warranted.
Dated: December 9, 2009.
Thomas A. Contreras,
Deputy Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. E9-29446 Filed 12-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
