Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To Evaluate the Use of Three New Herbicides on Public Lands in 17 Western States, 75648-75649 [2012-30838]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with 75648 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 246 / Friday, December 21, 2012 / Notices Refuge Information The Refuge covers approximately 2 million acres on the Kenai Peninsula in south-central Alaska. It is readily accessible by road from the city of Anchorage, which is home to 41.5 percent of Alaska’s population. The Refuge consists of the western slopes of the Kenai Mountains and forested lowlands bordering Cook Inlet. The Kenai Mountains, with their glaciers, rise to more than 6,500 feet. Treeless alpine and subalpine habitats are home to mountain goats, Dall sheep, caribou, wolverine, marmots, and ptarmigan. Boreal forests extend from sea level to 1,800 feet and are composed of spruce and birch forests, which on the Refuge are intermingled with hundreds of lakes. Boreal forests are home to moose, wolves, black and brown bears, lynx, snowshoe hares, and numerous species of Neotropical birds, such as olive-sided flycatchers, myrtle warblers, and ruby crowned kinglets. At sea level, the Refuge encompasses the last remaining pristine major saltwater estuary on the Kenai Peninsula, the Chickaloon River Flats. The Flats provide a major migratory staging area and nesting habitat for shorebirds and waterfowl throughout the spring, summer, and fall. The Flats are also used as a haul-out area by harbor seals. Thousands of salmon migrate up the Chickaloon River system each year to spawn. While the United States owns the land surface within the Refuge, portions of the subsurface estate are owned by CIRI. CIRI is an Alaska Native regional corporation established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA; 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.). CIRI received the subsurface oil, gas, and coal estate to nearly 200,000 acres within the Refuge as part of its ANCSA entitlement. The State of Alaska also owns lands adjacent to the Refuge (Captain Cook State Recreation Area). ANILCA Section 1110(b) requires that the Service provide adequate and feasible access to the CIRI-owned subsurface estate. CIRI has previously leased other portions of its subsurface estate within the Refuge. Oil and gas are currently being produced from other production units within the Refuge. The ANILCA (Section 303[4]) established the Refuge from the Kenai Moose Range and other lands, and set forth the following major purposes for which the Refuge was to be managed: (i) To conserve fish and wildlife populations and habitats in their natural diversity, including, but not limited to, moose, bear, mountain goats, Dall sheep, wolves, and other furbearers; salmonoids and other fish; waterfowl VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:28 Dec 20, 2012 Jkt 229001 and other migratory and non-migratory birds; (ii) To fulfill the international treaty obligations of the United States with respect to fish and wildlife and their habitats; (iii) To ensure, to the maximum extent practicable and in a manner consistent with the purposes set forth in paragraph (i), water quality and necessary water quantity within the Refuge; (iv) To provide in a manner consistent with subparagraphs (i) and (ii), opportunities for scientific research, interpretation, environmental education, and land management training; and (v) To provide, in a manner compatible with these purposes, opportunities for fish and wildlifeoriented recreation. Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us to withhold it from public view, we cannot guarantee we will be able to do so. Dated: December 17, 2012. E. LaVerne Smith, Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska. [FR Doc. 2012–30756 Filed 12–20–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [WO–220–12–1020–JA–VEIS] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To Evaluate the Use of Three New Herbicides on Public Lands in 17 Western States Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Washington, DC, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the use of aminopyralid, fluroxypyr, and rimsulfuron herbicides as part of the its vegetation treatment programs on public lands in 17 Western SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 States. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. DATES: Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until February 19, 2013. For inclusion in the Draft EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period, or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will hold three public scoping meetings: On January 7, 2013, in Worland, Wyoming; January 9, 2013, in Reno, Nevada; and January 10, 2013, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The times and locations of the meetings can be found in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft EIS. ADDRESSES: You may submit scoping comments related to the EIS for the use of aminopyralid, fluroxypyr, and rimsulfuron on BLM Public Lands in 17 Western States by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://blm.gov/3vkd. • Email: VegEIS@blm.gov. • Fax: 206–623–3793. • Mail: AECOM, Attn. Stuart Paulus, 710 Second Avenue, Suite 1000, Seattle, WA 98104. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM Washington Office, 20 M Street SE., Room 2134, Washington, DC 20003. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Gina Ramos, Senior Weeds Specialist, telephone 202–912–7226 or Stuart Paulus, Project Manager, telephone 206– 403–4287. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the referenced individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This national programmatic EIS proposes to add aminopyralid, fluroxypyr, and rimsulfuron to the BLM’s approved list of herbicides for (1) Controlling noxious weeds and other invasive species; and (2) Conserving and restoring native vegetation, watersheds, and fish and wildlife habitat. The EIS will evaluate the use of the three new herbicides as part of the BLM’s vegetation treatment programs on public lands in 17 Western States. The analysis area will include all surface estate public lands administered E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM 21DEN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 246 / Friday, December 21, 2012 / Notices by the BLM in the following Western States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, North and South Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The purpose of the proposed action is to expand the BLM’s vegetation treatment program to allow herbicide treatments with aminopyralid, fluroxypyr, and rimsulfuron. This action would increase the number of active ingredients approved for use, and would give the BLM increased flexibility and options when designing herbicide treatments. The BLM has initially identified the following issues for analysis in this programmatic EIS: Effects of herbicides and inert ingredients used in herbicide formulations on human, vegetation, fish and wildlife, livestock, and wild horse and burro health; water quality; Native American resources and resource use; and the cumulative use of these and other herbicides by the BLM and other landowners in the Western U.S. The BLM will follow NEPA public participation requirements to assist the agency in satisfying public involvement requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470(f)) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d) (3). The information about historic and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by the proposed action will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA. The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate in the scoping process. If eligible, you may request, or be requested by the BLM, to participate in the development of the environmental analysis as a cooperating agency. The BLM will hold the following scoping meetings to seek public comments to identify any issues surrounding the agency’s proposal to prepare the EIS: January 7, 2013—7 p.m., Worland Community Center Complex, 1200 Culbertson Ave., Worland, Wyoming; January 9, 2013—7 p.m., Hyatt Place, 1790 East Plumb Lane, Reno, Nevada; and January 10, 2013—7 p.m., BLM Albuquerque District Office, 435 VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:28 Dec 20, 2012 Jkt 229001 Montano Rd. NE., Albuquerque, New Mexico. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may request in your comment that your personal identifying information be withheld from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7. Edwin Roberson, Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning. [FR Doc. 2012–30838 Filed 12–20–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–84–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCAC069000–L17110000–AL0000] Establishment of Interim Final Supplementary Rules for Public Lands Managed by the Carrizo Plain National Monument in Kern and San Luis Obispo Counties, CA Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The California State Director for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is establishing interim final supplementary rules and requests public comments. These interim final supplementary rules will become effective immediately upon their publication in the Federal Register and will apply to public lands within the Carrizo Plain National Monument in Kern and San Luis Obispo Counties, California (Monument). The BLM has determined that these interim final supplementary rules are necessary to promote the health and sustainability of the Carrizo Plain National Monument, while reducing the risks to the Monument’s ecosystem that, if left unchecked, could cause undue ecological degradation. These rules are in accordance with the Approved Resource Management Plan and Record of Decision (RMP/ROD) for the Monument. DATES: The interim final supplementary rules are effective immediately and remain in effect until modified or rescinded by the publication of final supplementary rules. The BLM invites comments until February 19, 2013. Comments received, postmarked, or SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 75649 electronically dated after that date will not necessarily be considered in the development of final supplementary rules. Please mail or hand deliver all comments concerning the interim final supplementary rules to the Bureau of Land Management, Attention: Ryan Cooper, BLM Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ryan Cooper, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308, 661–391–6048 or racooper@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Public Comment Procedures The public is invited to provide comments on these interim final supplementary rules. See DATES and ADDRESSES for information on submitting comments. Written comments on the interim final supplementary rules should be specific, confined to issues pertinent to the interim final supplementary rules, and explain the reason for any recommended change. Comments requesting changes to decisions in the RMP/ROD would be outside the scope of this rulemaking. Where possible, comments should reference a specific provision of these interim final supplementary rules. The BLM need not consider or include in the Administrative Record: (a) Comments that the BLM receives after the close of the comment period (see DATES), unless they are postmarked or electronically dated before the deadline, or (b) Comments delivered to an address other than one of those listed above (see ADDRESSES). Comments, including names, street addresses, and other contact information of respondents, will be available for public review at the BLM Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308 during regular business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. However, before including your address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. E:\FR\FM\21DEN1.SGM 21DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 246 (Friday, December 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75648-75649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30838]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-220-12-1020-JA-VEIS]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To 
Evaluate the Use of Three New Herbicides on Public Lands in 17 Western 
States

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Washington, 
DC, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
evaluate the use of aminopyralid, fluroxypyr, and rimsulfuron 
herbicides as part of the its vegetation treatment programs on public 
lands in 17 Western States. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the 
beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and 
identify issues.

DATES: Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until February 
19, 2013. For inclusion in the Draft EIS, all comments must be received 
prior to the close of the scoping period, or 15 days after the last 
public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will hold three public 
scoping meetings: On January 7, 2013, in Worland, Wyoming; January 9, 
2013, in Reno, Nevada; and January 10, 2013, in Albuquerque, New 
Mexico. The times and locations of the meetings can be found in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. The BLM will provide 
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of 
the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit scoping comments related to the EIS for the 
use of aminopyralid, fluroxypyr, and rimsulfuron on BLM Public Lands in 
17 Western States by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://blm.gov/3vkd.
     Email: VegEIS@blm.gov.
     Fax: 206-623-3793.
     Mail: AECOM, Attn. Stuart Paulus, 710 Second Avenue, Suite 
1000, Seattle, WA 98104.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM 
Washington Office, 20 M Street SE., Room 2134, Washington, DC 20003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Gina Ramos, Senior Weeds 
Specialist, telephone 202-912-7226 or Stuart Paulus, Project Manager, 
telephone 206-403-4287. Persons who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 to contact the referenced individual during normal 
business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to 
leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive 
a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This national programmatic EIS proposes to 
add aminopyralid, fluroxypyr, and rimsulfuron to the BLM's approved 
list of herbicides for (1) Controlling noxious weeds and other invasive 
species; and (2) Conserving and restoring native vegetation, 
watersheds, and fish and wildlife habitat. The EIS will evaluate the 
use of the three new herbicides as part of the BLM's vegetation 
treatment programs on public lands in 17 Western States. The analysis 
area will include all surface estate public lands administered

[[Page 75649]]

by the BLM in the following Western States: Alaska, Arizona, 
California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, North and South 
Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and 
Wyoming. The purpose of the proposed action is to expand the BLM's 
vegetation treatment program to allow herbicide treatments with 
aminopyralid, fluroxypyr, and rimsulfuron. This action would increase 
the number of active ingredients approved for use, and would give the 
BLM increased flexibility and options when designing herbicide 
treatments.
    The BLM has initially identified the following issues for analysis 
in this programmatic EIS: Effects of herbicides and inert ingredients 
used in herbicide formulations on human, vegetation, fish and wildlife, 
livestock, and wild horse and burro health; water quality; Native 
American resources and resource use; and the cumulative use of these 
and other herbicides by the BLM and other landowners in the Western 
U.S.
    The BLM will follow NEPA public participation requirements to 
assist the agency in satisfying public involvement requirements under 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 
470(f)) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d) (3). The information about historic 
and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by the 
proposed action will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating 
impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 
of the NHPA. The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-
to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate 
in the scoping process. If eligible, you may request, or be requested 
by the BLM, to participate in the development of the environmental 
analysis as a cooperating agency.
    The BLM will hold the following scoping meetings to seek public 
comments to identify any issues surrounding the agency's proposal to 
prepare the EIS:

January 7, 2013--7 p.m., Worland Community Center Complex, 1200 
Culbertson Ave., Worland, Wyoming;
January 9, 2013--7 p.m., Hyatt Place, 1790 East Plumb Lane, Reno, 
Nevada; and
January 10, 2013--7 p.m., BLM Albuquerque District Office, 435 Montano 
Rd. NE., Albuquerque, New Mexico.

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may 
request in your comment that your personal identifying information be 
withheld from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able 
to do so.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7.

Edwin Roberson,
Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning.
[FR Doc. 2012-30838 Filed 12-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P

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