Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment for Non-native Plant Control and Re-establishment of Riparian Habitats Along the Rio Grande in Seldon Canyon, Doña Ana County, NM, 49457-49458 [2012-20016]

Agencies

• International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 159 (Thursday, August 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49457-49458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20016]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND MEXICO


Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of 
No Significant Impact for Environmental Assessment for Non-native Plant 
Control and Re-establishment of Riparian Habitats Along the Rio Grande 
in Seldon Canyon, Do[ntilde]a Ana County, NM

AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water 
Commission, United States and Mexico.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment 
(EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969; the Council on Environmental Quality Final 
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508); and the United States 
Section, Operational Procedures for Implementing Section 102 of NEPA, 
published in the Federal Register September 2, 1981, (46 FR 44083); the 
United States Section hereby gives notice that the Final Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Non-native Plant 
Control and Re-establishment of Riparian Habitats Along the Rio Grande 
on U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission and Bureau of Land 
Management Lands are available. A notice of finding of no significant 
impact dated January 24, 2012, provided a thirty (30) day comment 
period before making the finding final. The Notice was published in the 
Federal Register on January 24, 2012 (Federal Register Notice, Vol. 77, 
No. 15, Page 3497).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gilbert Anaya, Division Chief, 
Environmental Management Division; United States Section, International 
Boundary and Water Commission; 4171 N. Mesa, C-100; El Paso, Texas 
79902. Telephone: (915) 832-4702, email: Gilbert.Anaya@ibwc.gov.

BACKGROUND: This proposed project will be part of a regional initiative 
to restore the form and function of the Rio Grande floodplain that has 
been undertaken by other Federal, State, and non government 
organizations. The overarching goals of the project are to improve the 
ecosystem integrity within the project area by shifting conditions to 
match those that historically existed. This project will focus on 
restoring 31.35 acres divided between two tracts of federal lands 
(25.85 ac USIBWC and 5.5 ac BLM) from saltcedar to native riparian 
habitats by utilizing validated mechanical and chemical control methods 
to remove and control saltcedar.
    Availability: Electronic copies of the Final EA and FONSI are 
available from the USIBWC Web site at: https://www.ibwc.gov/Organization/Environmental/reports_studies.html.

    Dated: August 3, 2012.
Steven Fitten,
General Counsel.

U.S. INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION EL PASO FIELD OFFICE 
TEXAS

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

NON-NATIVE PLANT CONTROL AND RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF RIPARIAN HABITATS 
ALONG THE RIO GRANDE

LEAD AGENCY

United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission, 
United States and Mexico (USIBWC).

PROPOSED ACTION

The United States Section, International Boundary and Water Commission 
(USIBWC) proposes to remove the non-native salt cedar (Tamarix 
chinensis) on a 25.85 acre parcel of USIBWC land along the Rio Grande 
in Selden Canyon.

[[Page 49458]]

The proposed action will include mechanical removal of salt cedar and 
follow-up treatments using herbicide.

Two alternatives were discussed in an environmental assessment made 
available to the public during the formal public review period 
initiated on January 19, 2012:

    1. Mechanical Removal of salt cedar with follow-up herbicide 
treatments, prescribed burning of debris and native plant restoration. 
(Preferred Alternative).
    2. No Action would be taken to control non-native salt cedar and no 
restoration of native plant species would occur.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

On January 19, 2012 the Draft Environmental Assessment for removing 
salt cedar on the IBWC tract known as Broad Canyon Arroyo was released 
for public review by the USIBWC. Notice of this document was published 
in the Federal Register and made available on the USIBWC Web site: 
www.ibwc.gov/Organization/Environmental/EIS_EA_Public_Comment.html.

An electronic copy of the draft EA was also made available through the 
San Andres NWR Web site at: https://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/newmex/sanandres/.

Public review of the draft EA was completed following a 30 day review 
period.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Pursuant to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) guidance (40 Code 
of Federal Regulations 1500-1508), The President's Council on 
Environmental Quality issued regulations for NEPA implementation which 
included provisions for both the content and procedural aspects of the 
required Environmental Assessment (EA) the USIBWC has prepared the 
draft EA.
A careful review of the draft EA indicates that there will not be a 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment as a result 
of this proposal. This determination is based on the following factors:

    1. The proposed action will occur in a localized area belonging to 
the International Boundary and Water Commission and will be of short 
duration during part of the year. The proposed activities are not 
national or regional in scope.
    2. The proposed action will not significantly affect public health 
or safety. The methods used are limited in scope, monitored by San 
Andres National Wildlife Refuge staff and occur in areas with no public 
access.
    3. The proposed action will not significantly impact unique 
characteristics of the geographic area such as historical or cultural 
resources, park lands, prime farmlands, wetlands, wild and scenic 
rivers, or ecologically critical areas. The proposed action will impact 
the abundance of the non-native salt cedar on less than 26 acres.
    4. The effects of the proposed action are not considered highly 
controversial. The use of mechanical extraction and follow-up herbicide 
treatments as a management tool to reduce an exotic species is accepted 
among wildlife experts.
    5. The possible effects of the proposed action are not highly 
uncertain and do not involve unique or unknown risks.
    6. The proposed action does not establish a precedent for actions 
with future significant effects or represent a decision in principle 
about a future consideration.
    7. There are no significant cumulative effects identified by the 
EA. Mechanical extraction of salt cedar will be limited in scope and 
time, will be coordinated with other management agencies, and will stay 
within management objectives.
    8. The proposed action will not affect districts, sites, highways, 
structures, or objects listed in or eligible for listing in the 
National Register of Historic Places, nor will it cause a loss or 
destruction of significant scientific, cultural, or historic resources. 
The fieldwork conducted under the proposed action does not constitute 
an undertaking as defined by the National Historic Preservation Act.
    9. The proposed action will fully comply with the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended. The proposed action would not affect 
non-target federally or state listed threatened and endangered species. 
The proposed action will likely benefit native wildlife populations, 
particularly neotropical migrant birds by replacing a monotypic stand 
of non-native salt cedar with a diverse native plant community.
    10. The proposed action will result in the irretrievable loss of 
some individual salt cedar. The proposed action will reduce the amount 
of salt cedar on a small parcel in an area that is made up of salt 
cedar along the river for miles in either direction. Impacts to the 
statewide population of salt cedar are determined to be insignificant.
    11. The proposed action will not have any significant adverse 
effects on wetlands and floodplains, pursuant to Executive Orders 11990 
and 11988 because the study area is not located within any wetlands and 
the amount of floodplain affected is minimal.
    12. The proposed action will not threaten a violation of Federal, 
State, or local law or requirement imposed for the protection of the 
environment. The proposed action will be conducted consistent with any 
and all requisite approvals or authorizations of the cooperating 
agencies.

On the basis of the information contained in the environmental 
assessment, it is the determination of the USIBWC that the proposed 
action does not constitute a major Federal action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment under the meaning of 
Section 102 (2) (c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
as amended. Accordingly, requirements of the National Environmental 
Policy Act and regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental 
Quality are fulfilled and an environmental impact statement is not 
required.

Edward Drusina
Commissioner
International Boundary and Water Commission, United States Section

Date: August 8, 2012
[FR Doc. 2012-20016 Filed 8-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7010-01-P