Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest; Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District; Utah; Smiths Fork Vegetation Restoration Project, 26733-26734 [2012-10728]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 88 / Monday, May 7, 2012 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest; Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District; Utah; Smiths Fork Vegetation Restoration Project Forest Service, USDA. Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: ACTION: The Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District of the Uinta-WasatchCache National Forest proposes to treat approximately 4,300 acres of a variety of vegetation types within the 58,000-acre Smiths Fork project analysis area, located in Uinta County, Wyoming, and Summit County, Utah, approximately 25 miles southwest of Mountain View, Wyoming. Proposed treatment acivities include salvage clearcuts; sanitation salvage; and thin, pile, and burn. This proposal is being developed in direct response to the continuing mountain pine beetle epidemic in the area and its potential long-term impacts on the Smiths Fork area. The project is being undertaken under the auspices of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (‘‘HFRA’’). DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by May 31, 2012. The draft environmental impact statement is expected in August 2012 and the final environmental impact statement is expected November 2012. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Smiths Fork Vegetation Restoration Project, Attn: Rick Schuler, P.O. Box 1880, Evanston, WY 82931. Comments can also be hand delivered Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the following physical address: 1565 Highway 150, Suite A, Evanston, Wyoming. In addition, comments can be submitted electronically to: commentsintermtn-wasatch-cache-evanstonmtnview@fs.fed.us or submitted via facsimile to 307–783–8639. Reviewers should provide comments at such times and in such a way that they are useful to the agency’s preparation of the EIS. Comments should be provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer’s concerns and contentions. Submission of timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer’s ability to participate in the objection process or judicial review. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will become part of the public record for this proposed action. Comments submitted sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:11 May 04, 2012 Jkt 226001 anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide the respondent with standing to participate in the objection process associated with this project under the HFRA or judicial review. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pete Gomben, Environmental Coordinator, at 801–236–3407. 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 The HFRA recognizes healthy forests or forest health as an integral part of forest management. The proposed action responds directly to forest health objectives as described in the HFRA. The purpose of this project is to reduce the effects from current mountain pine beetle infestation in forested stands dominated by lodgepole pine trees and to reduce the susceptibility of vegetation to high-intensity wildfire and further mountain pine beetle attacks. The project is needed to: (1) Salvage forest products from, and manage stand densities on, forested lands classified as suitable for timber production to keep them positively contributing to the national forest’s allowable sale quantity; (2) Reduce the effects of tree mortality associated with the mountain pine beetle epidemic to restore healthy ecological conditions and scenic quality; (3) Accelerate regeneration of forested stands killed by the mountain pine beetle; and (4) Manage hazardous fuel loading associated with the mountain pine beetle epidemic and salvage operations to minimize the potential for large, high intensity/high severity wildfires. This action responds to the goals and objectives outlined in the WasatchCache National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (‘‘Forest Plan’’), and helps move the project area towards desired conditions described in that plan. Proposed Action The proposed project includes treatment of approximately 4,300 acres of aspen and lodgepole communities using timber harvest, prescribed fire, and mechanical fuels treatments. Sanitation salvage would be used on approximately 1,730 acres, clearcuts would be used on approximately 1,241 acres, sanitation salvage with pile and burn would be used on approximately PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 26733 76 acres, clearcut with pile and burn would be used on approximately 40 acres, roadside salvage would occur on approximately 695 acres, and approximately 514 acres would be undergo a thin, pile, and burn prescription. Proposed treatments are intended to reduce both the amount and continuity of woody fuels, to remove hazard trees, to harvest beetle-killed or infested trees, and to create a mix of tree ages and species. The proposed action would retain habitat for sensitive and other species, such as northern goshawks, where needed. The proposed action is also expected to make improvements to visual quality. Treatments in the vicinity of private land would be intended to reduce the threat of wildfire to human life and property. Access to treatment units, as currently mapped, is anticipated to involve approximately 3.1 miles of new specified road construction, approximately 10.7 miles of temporary road construction, approximately 6.7 miles of additional temporary road use on the existing road prism, and approximately 2.6 miles of road reconstruction. Approximately 3.8 miles of easements through private land would be needed for access to units 4, 20, and 79. Possible Alternatives In addition to the proposed action, a no action alternative will be considered. This alternative would continue current management without the actions of this proposal. Because this project is being analyzed via the HFRA, one additional alternative that addresses the purpose and need for the project may be developed in response to issues generated during the scoping process. Responsible Official Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest forest supervisor. Nature of Decision To Be Made The decision to be made is whether or not to implement vegetation restoration treatments in the Smiths Fork project area, and if so, to what degree and where. Preliminary Issues Preliminary issues are the effects of treatments on wildlife habitat, and the effects of insect and disease outbreaks on current forest health. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides the development of the environmental E:\FR\FM\07MYN1.SGM 07MYN1 26734 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 88 / Monday, May 7, 2012 / Notices impact statement. This project is not subject to the notice, comment, and appeal process found at 36 CFR part 215. Rather, it is subject to the predecisional administrative review process found at 36 CFR part 218. This process provides the opportunity to resolve issues raised in an objection and identify potential solutions. Only persons who submit specific written comments on the proposed action during the 30-day comment period will be eligible to file an objection. This comment period represents the only opportunity for the public to comment on this proposal prior to the objection process. The opportunity to comment will end 30 days after a legal notice announcing the request for scoping comments is published in the Salt Lake Tribune, which is the newspaper of record. Dated: April 26, 2012. Cheryl Probert, Acting Forest Supervisor. BILLING CODE 3410–11–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Forestry Research Advisory Council Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: The Forestry Research Advisory Council will meet in Washington, DC, on June 6–7, 2012. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss emerging issues in forestry research. DATES: The meeting will be held June 6– 7, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on both days. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Franklin Court Building, 1099 14th Street NW., Suite 5500W, Washington, DC. Individuals who wish to speak at the meeting or to propose agenda items must send their names and proposals by May 31, 2012 to Daina Apple, Designated Federal Officer, Forestry Research Advisory Council, USDA Forest Service, Research and Development, 1400 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250–1120, or fax their names and proposed agenda items to (202) 205–1530. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daina Apple, Forest Service, Office of the Deputy Chief for Research and Development, (202) 205–1665. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting is open to the public. Council discussion is limited to Forest Service, National Institute of Food and sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:11 May 04, 2012 Jkt 226001 Dated: April 30, 2012. Jimmy L. Reaves, Deputy Chief, Research and Development. [FR Doc. 2012–10873 Filed 5–4–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE National Institute of Food and Agriculture Notice of Intent To Extend a Currently Approved Information Collection National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: In accordance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations (5 CFR 1320) that implement the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), this notice announces the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) intention to request approval to extend the currently approved information collection for the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). There are no planned revisions. DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by July 6, 2012, to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice may be submitted by any of the following methods: Email: gmendez@nifa.usda.gov; Fax: 202–720– 0857; Mail: Office of Information Technology (OIT), NIFA, USDA, STOP 2216, 1400 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250–2216 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gidel Mendez, eGovernment Program Leader; Email: gmendez@nifa.usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. OMB Number: 0524–0044. Expiration Date of Current Approval: 07/31/2012. Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to extend the currently approved information collection for three years. There are no planned revisions. Abstract: The USDA’s NIFA Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) is a unique SUMMARY: [FR Doc. 2012–10728 Filed 5–4–12; 8:45 am] ACTION: Agriculture staff and Council members. However, persons who wish to bring forestry research matters to the attention of the Council may file written statements with the Council staff before or after the meeting. PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 program that began in 1969 and is designed to reach limited resource audiences, especially youth and families with young children. Extension professionals train and supervise paraprofessionals and volunteers who teach food and nutrition information and skills to limited resources families and youth. EFNEP operates through the 1862 and 1890 Land Grant Universities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia, Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The objectives of EFNEP are to assist limited resource families and youth in acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and changed behaviors necessary for nutritionally sound diets, and to contribute to their personal development and the improvement of the total family diet and nutritional well-being. NIFA sponsors an integrated data collection process that is used at the county, state, and federal level. The current data collection system, the Nutrition Education Evaluation and Reporting System (NEERS), captures EFNEP impacts. Its purpose is to gauge if the federal assistance provided has had an impact on the target audience. It also enables EFNEP staff to make programmatic improvements in delivering nutrition education. Further, the data collected provides information for program management decisions and diagnostic assessments of participant needs. Specifications for this system were developed by a committee of representatives from across the United States and are in compliance with Federal standards for maintaining, collecting, and presenting data on race and ethnicity and protecting personally identifiable information. NEERS stores information on: (1) Adult program participants, their family structure, and dietary practices; (2) youth group participants; and (3) staff. NEERS consists of separate software sub-systems for the County and the State levels (State also refers to U.S. Territories). Data is exported electronically to the State-level system. University staff generates State-level reports for State-level stakeholders and to guide program management decisions. They also export State-level data electronically to the Federal office for State and National assessments of the program’s impact. The State compiled data is aggregated using statistical software and then is used to create National reports which are made available to the public. There are no revisions to the currently approved collection. E:\FR\FM\07MYN1.SGM 07MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 88 (Monday, May 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26733-26734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10728]



[[Page 26733]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest; Evanston-Mountain View 
Ranger District; Utah; Smiths Fork Vegetation Restoration Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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

SUMMARY: The Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District of the Uinta-
Wasatch-Cache National Forest proposes to treat approximately 4,300 
acres of a variety of vegetation types within the 58,000-acre Smiths 
Fork project analysis area, located in Uinta County, Wyoming, and 
Summit County, Utah, approximately 25 miles southwest of Mountain View, 
Wyoming. Proposed treatment acivities include salvage clearcuts; 
sanitation salvage; and thin, pile, and burn. This proposal is being 
developed in direct response to the continuing mountain pine beetle 
epidemic in the area and its potential long-term impacts on the Smiths 
Fork area. The project is being undertaken under the auspices of the 
Healthy Forests Restoration Act (``HFRA'').

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by May 31, 2012. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
in August 2012 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
November 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Smiths Fork Vegetation Restoration 
Project, Attn: Rick Schuler, P.O. Box 1880, Evanston, WY 82931. 
Comments can also be hand delivered Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m. at the following physical address: 1565 Highway 150, Suite A, 
Evanston, Wyoming. In addition, comments can be submitted 
electronically to: comments-intermtn-wasatch-cache-evanston-mtnview@fs.fed.us or submitted via facsimile to 307-783-8639.
    Reviewers should provide comments at such times and in such a way 
that they are useful to the agency's preparation of the EIS. Comments 
should be provided prior to the close of the comment period and should 
clearly articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. Submission 
of timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to 
participate in the objection process or judicial review.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will become 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 the objection process 
associated with this project under the HFRA or judicial review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pete Gomben, Environmental 
Coordinator, at 801-236-3407.
    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

    The HFRA recognizes healthy forests or forest health as an integral 
part of forest management. The proposed action responds directly to 
forest health objectives as described in the HFRA. The purpose of this 
project is to reduce the effects from current mountain pine beetle 
infestation in forested stands dominated by lodgepole pine trees and to 
reduce the susceptibility of vegetation to high-intensity wildfire and 
further mountain pine beetle attacks. The project is needed to: (1) 
Salvage forest products from, and manage stand densities on, forested 
lands classified as suitable for timber production to keep them 
positively contributing to the national forest's allowable sale 
quantity; (2) Reduce the effects of tree mortality associated with the 
mountain pine beetle epidemic to restore healthy ecological conditions 
and scenic quality; (3) Accelerate regeneration of forested stands 
killed by the mountain pine beetle; and (4) Manage hazardous fuel 
loading associated with the mountain pine beetle epidemic and salvage 
operations to minimize the potential for large, high intensity/high 
severity wildfires.
    This action responds to the goals and objectives outlined in the 
Wasatch-Cache National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan 
(``Forest Plan''), and helps move the project area towards desired 
conditions described in that plan.

Proposed Action

    The proposed project includes treatment of approximately 4,300 
acres of aspen and lodgepole communities using timber harvest, 
prescribed fire, and mechanical fuels treatments. Sanitation salvage 
would be used on approximately 1,730 acres, clearcuts would be used on 
approximately 1,241 acres, sanitation salvage with pile and burn would 
be used on approximately 76 acres, clearcut with pile and burn would be 
used on approximately 40 acres, roadside salvage would occur on 
approximately 695 acres, and approximately 514 acres would be undergo a 
thin, pile, and burn prescription.
    Proposed treatments are intended to reduce both the amount and 
continuity of woody fuels, to remove hazard trees, to harvest beetle-
killed or infested trees, and to create a mix of tree ages and species.
    The proposed action would retain habitat for sensitive and other 
species, such as northern goshawks, where needed. The proposed action 
is also expected to make improvements to visual quality. Treatments in 
the vicinity of private land would be intended to reduce the threat of 
wildfire to human life and property.
    Access to treatment units, as currently mapped, is anticipated to 
involve approximately 3.1 miles of new specified road construction, 
approximately 10.7 miles of temporary road construction, approximately 
6.7 miles of additional temporary road use on the existing road prism, 
and approximately 2.6 miles of road reconstruction. Approximately 3.8 
miles of easements through private land would be needed for access to 
units 4, 20, and 79.

Possible Alternatives

    In addition to the proposed action, a no action alternative will be 
considered. This alternative would continue current management without 
the actions of this proposal. Because this project is being analyzed 
via the HFRA, one additional alternative that addresses the purpose and 
need for the project may be developed in response to issues generated 
during the scoping process.

Responsible Official

    Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest forest supervisor.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made is whether or not to implement vegetation 
restoration treatments in the Smiths Fork project area, and if so, to 
what degree and where.

Preliminary Issues

    Preliminary issues are the effects of treatments on wildlife 
habitat, and the effects of insect and disease outbreaks on current 
forest health.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental

[[Page 26734]]

impact statement. This project is not subject to the notice, comment, 
and appeal process found at 36 CFR part 215. Rather, it is subject to 
the predecisional administrative review process found at 36 CFR part 
218. This process provides the opportunity to resolve issues raised in 
an objection and identify potential solutions. Only persons who submit 
specific written comments on the proposed action during the 30-day 
comment period will be eligible to file an objection. This comment 
period represents the only opportunity for the public to comment on 
this proposal prior to the objection process. The opportunity to 
comment will end 30 days after a legal notice announcing the request 
for scoping comments is published in the Salt Lake Tribune, which is 
the newspaper of record.

     Dated: April 26, 2012.
Cheryl Probert,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2012-10728 Filed 5-4-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
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