Suspension of Public Comment Period and Notice of Intent To Prepare Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement: North Fork Eagle Creek Wells Special Use Authorization, 42695 [2012-17695]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 140 / Friday, July 20, 2012 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Suspension of Public Comment Period and Notice of Intent To Prepare Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement: North Fork Eagle Creek Wells Special Use Authorization Forest Service, USDA. Suspension of comment period/ corrected notice of intent. AGENCY: ACTION: The USDA Forest Service, Lincoln National Forest, is suspending the public comment period for a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the North Fork Eagle Creek Wells Special Use Authorization. As a result of the Little Bear Fire occurring in the project area, a supplemental DEIS will be prepared considering changed circumstances. The supplemental DEIS will disclose potential impacts of a proposed action to authorize, under a new special use permit, the operation of four municipal supply water wells located on National Forest System (NFS) land in the North Fork Eagle Creek drainage. The new permit would be authorized for up to 20 years, with stipulations for frequent review and verification of the permit terms and conditions. These could occur as often as every year but would occur at least every 5 to 10 years. The new authorization would add terms and conditions to the permit reflecting adaptive management strategies, which respond both to the purpose and need for action as well as to mitigate potential adverse impacts to surface water and groundwater resources from well operations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice of availability (NOA) of the DEIS in the Federal Register on May 25, 2012 [77–31355; EIS No. 20120161]. The NOA provided for a public comment period ending on July 9, 2012. DATES: Due to extenuating circumstances caused by the Little Bear wildland fire, a supplemental DEIS will be prepared considering changed circumstances in the project area. At this time there is no formal notice and comment period that will provide the commenter appeal rights, but comments on these changed circumstances are encouraged to aid completion of the supplemental DEIS and will be most beneficial if received by September 7, 2012. Comments from all parties received or postmarked after September 7, 2012 will be considered to the extent practicable. Once completed, the DEIS and supplemental DEIS will be released for a formal 45-day public comment mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:18 Jul 19, 2012 Jkt 226001 period and notice of the comment period will be advertised. ADDRESSES: Copies of the DEIS are available for public review at the following locations: * Lincoln National Forest Supervisor’s Office: 3463 Las Palomas Road, Alamogordo, New Mexico. * Smokey Bear Ranger District: 901 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, New Mexico. Written comments are best submitted electronically by accessing https:// www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usdapop.php?project=9603. To electronically comment, select ‘Comment on Project’ in the ‘Get Connected’ box on the right side of Web page. Written comments may also be submitted to: Robert G. Trujillo, Forest Supervisor, Lincoln National Forest, 3463 Las Palomas Rd, Alamogordo, NM 88310, or facsimile 575–434–7218. Oral comments can be provided at the Responsible Official’s office during normal business hours (8:00 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays), via telephone 575– 434–7200, or in person. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debbie McGlothlin, Environmental Coordinator, TEAMS Enterprise Unit, at 559–920–4952. Dated: July 16, 2012. Robert G. Trujillo, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2012–17695 Filed 7–19–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland; Boulder and Gilpin County, CO; Eldora Mountain Resort Ski Area Projects; Correction Forest Service, USDA. Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; correction. AGENCY: ACTION: The Forest Service published a document in the Federal Register of July 6, 2012, concerning the notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. The document contained incorrect information pertaining to a component of the proposed action. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eldora EIS NEPA Contractor, Travis Beck, (970) 668–3398 ext. 103. SUMMARY: Correction In the Federal Register of July 6, 2012, in FR Doc. 2012–16300, on page PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 42695 39987, in the second column, correct the DATES caption to read: ‘‘Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by August 31, 2012. The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be available for public review in June 2013 and the final environmental impact statement is expected in April 2014.’’ In the Federal Register of July 6, 2012, in FR Doc. 2012–16300, on page 39987, in the third column, correct the first paragraph under the Proposed Action Heading to read: The project area includes 615 acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands and 435 acres of private lands. The Forest Service only maintains jurisdiction over NFS lands; however, to fulfill its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the Forest Service will analyze the entire project area for direct, indirect and cumulative effects. The proposed projects would add approximately 70 acres of traditional terrain and include approximately 70 acres of gladed terrain projects. Much of the traditional terrain construction will require tree removal for the area of the trails, approximating 70 acres of removal, although a more accurate quantity of tree removal will be disclosed in the EIS as all proposed trails may not necessitate complete tree removal. Each project component is discussed below and shown on the enclosed Eldora Mountain Resort Ski Area Projects map. Additional detail can be viewed at www.EldoraEIS.com. In the Federal Register of July 6, 2012, in FR Doc. 2012–16300, on page 39988, in the first column, correct numbers 4 through 6 under the Proposed Action Heading to read: 4. Jolly Jug Lift and Trails—Install a new four or six-person chairlift and construct four new Intermediate trails (approximately 20 acres of terrain) and approximately 10 acres of Intermediate ability level glades. A Forest Plan amendment would be required to adjust the SUP boundary to include approximately 16 acres of the southern portion of the Jolly Jug Pod. 5. Snowmaking—Expand snowmaking coverage to include all new traditional trails (not in any of the gladed areas) totaling approximately 70 acres. 6. Roads and Utilities—Build new road spurs and install utilities to construct and maintain the following proposed lifts and facilities: Placer Express Lift, Jolly Jug Lift, Challenge Lift, The Lookout Facility, and Challenge Mountain Facility. Proposed Mountain Access Roads are depicted by black dashed lines on the attached Eldora Mountain Resort Ski Area Projects map. The existing snowmaking infrastructure would deliver drinking water to The Lookout and Challenge Mountain facilities, as is the current method for The Lookout Facility. Onsite septic systems would accommodate sewage deposal for the proposed Lookout Facility and Challenge Mountain Facility. E:\FR\FM\20JYN1.SGM 20JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 42695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17695]



[[Page 42695]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Suspension of Public Comment Period and Notice of Intent To 
Prepare Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement: North Fork 
Eagle Creek Wells Special Use Authorization

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Suspension of comment period/corrected notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, Lincoln National Forest, is 
suspending the public comment period for a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the North Fork Eagle Creek Wells Special Use 
Authorization. As a result of the Little Bear Fire occurring in the 
project area, a supplemental DEIS will be prepared considering changed 
circumstances. The supplemental DEIS will disclose potential impacts of 
a proposed action to authorize, under a new special use permit, the 
operation of four municipal supply water wells located on National 
Forest System (NFS) land in the North Fork Eagle Creek drainage. The 
new permit would be authorized for up to 20 years, with stipulations 
for frequent review and verification of the permit terms and 
conditions. These could occur as often as every year but would occur at 
least every 5 to 10 years. The new authorization would add terms and 
conditions to the permit reflecting adaptive management strategies, 
which respond both to the purpose and need for action as well as to 
mitigate potential adverse impacts to surface water and groundwater 
resources from well operations. The Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) published a notice of availability (NOA) of the DEIS in the 
Federal Register on May 25, 2012 [77-31355; EIS No. 20120161]. The NOA 
provided for a public comment period ending on July 9, 2012.

DATES: Due to extenuating circumstances caused by the Little Bear 
wildland fire, a supplemental DEIS will be prepared considering changed 
circumstances in the project area. At this time there is no formal 
notice and comment period that will provide the commenter appeal 
rights, but comments on these changed circumstances are encouraged to 
aid completion of the supplemental DEIS and will be most beneficial if 
received by September 7, 2012. Comments from all parties received or 
postmarked after September 7, 2012 will be considered to the extent 
practicable. Once completed, the DEIS and supplemental DEIS will be 
released for a formal 45-day public comment period and notice of the 
comment period will be advertised.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the DEIS are available for public review at the 
following locations:
    * Lincoln National Forest Supervisor's Office: 3463 Las Palomas 
Road, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
    * Smokey Bear Ranger District: 901 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, New 
Mexico.

Written comments are best submitted electronically by accessing https://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php?project=9603. To electronically 
comment, select `Comment on Project' in the `Get Connected' box on the 
right side of Web page.
    Written comments may also be submitted to: Robert G. Trujillo, 
Forest Supervisor, Lincoln National Forest, 3463 Las Palomas Rd, 
Alamogordo, NM 88310, or facsimile 575-434-7218. Oral comments can be 
provided at the Responsible Official's office during normal business 
hours (8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays), 
via telephone 575-434-7200, or in person.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debbie McGlothlin, Environmental 
Coordinator, TEAMS Enterprise Unit, at 559-920-4952.

    Dated: July 16, 2012.
Robert G. Trujillo,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2012-17695 Filed 7-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
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