Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests; Ely Ranger District; Ely Westside Rangeland Project, 49723-49724 [2013-19519]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 158 (Thursday, August 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49723-49724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19519]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests; Ely Ranger District; Ely 
Westside Rangeland Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Ely Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National 
Forest will prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(SETS) on a proposal to authorize continued livestock grazing on 
National Forest System (NFS) lands within the boundaries administered 
by the Ely Ranger District. The Project Area is located in White Pine, 
Lincoln, and Nye counties, Nevada.
    A Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision were 
distributed in September 2011. While considering an appeal on the 
Record of Decision, it became apparent that clarification of some 
elements in the selected alternative, Alternative 1 (Proposed Action), 
was warranted. On January 6, 2012, the Record of Decision was 
withdrawn. This SETS is being prepared to clarify several elements of 
Alternative 1 (Proposed Action) and to provide additional information 
on the development of stocking rates on the allotments in the project 
area.

DATES: The Draft SEIS is expected to be released for public review and 
comment in August of 2013 and the Final SEIS is expected to be released 
in November of 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Vernon Keller, Environmental 
Coordinator, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way, 
Sparks, NV 89431.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, mail 
correspondence to or contact Vernon Keller, NEPA Coordinator, Humboldt-
Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, NV 89431. The 
telephone number is: 775-355-5356. Email address is: vkeller@fs.fed.us.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Initiation of the Ely Westside Rangeland Project began in 2006 with 
the original Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register on 
November 27, 2006 (Vol. 71, Number 227). The Draft EIS was released in 
June of 2011 for a 45 day comment period. The Final EIS and Record of 
Decision were released simultaneously on September 28, 2011. These 
documents, which include descriptions of the purpose and need, the 
proposed action, and two alternatives to the proposed action, can be 
found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/htnf/elywestrange.
    One appeal was filed against the 2011 Record of Decision. On 
January 6, 2012, the Forest Supervisor withdrew the Record of Decision, 
finding that additional clarification in the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement was desirable.

Purpose and Need for Action

    As stated in Final EIS released in 2011, this action is being 
considered at this time because current and prospective permittees have 
expressed a desire to graze or continue grazing on allotments in the 
project area and the Rescissions Act of 1995 directs the Forest Service 
to establish and adhere to a schedule to complete environmental 
analyses and decisions on all allotments. The purpose of the proposed 
federal action is to authorize livestock grazing under terms and 
conditions designed to sustain and improve the health of the land and 
protect essential ecosystem functions and values. The need for the 
proposed federal action is to allow these allotments to continue to 
contribute to the overall desired Animal Use Month (AUM) production for 
the Humboldt National Forest while improving the gap between existing 
and desired rangeland conditions.

Proposed Action

    As outlined in the Final EIS released in 2011, the Proposed Action 
would authorize domestic livestock grazing on the nine of the twelve 
allotments in the Project Area. Under this alternative, proper use 
criteria (forage utilization and streambank alteration) would be based 
on the current ecological conditions (functioning, functioning-at-risk, 
or non-functioning) within each allotment.

[[Page 49724]]

    The ecological condition of the allotments would continue to be 
evaluated through a long-term monitoring process. If long-term 
monitoring indicates the ecological condition of the allotment has 
changed, then the set of proper use criteria associated with that 
ecological condition would be applied to the allotment. The Proposed 
Action includes a non-significant Forest Plan amendment to open the 
Troy Mountain Allotment to livestock grazing.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    In addition to the Proposed Action, two additional alternatives 
have been identified for analysis in the SETS:
    1. Current Management Alternative: Continue current grazing 
management.
    2. No Grazing Alternative: Eliminate grazing on all the allotments 
in the project area immediately.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official is: William Dunkelberger, Forest 
Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way, 
Sparks, NV 89431.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Responsible Official will decide whether or not to incorporate 
the supplemental information and analysis into the FEIS. The 
Responsible Official will also decide whether to authorize grazing (and 
if so, under what terms and conditions) on the allotments in the Ely 
Westside Rangeland Project area.
    The objection process described in 36 CFR part 218, subparts A and 
B will be used as this project goes forward, instead of the appeal 
process described in 36 CFR part 215. After the comments on the Draft 
Supplement are considered, a Final Supplemental EIS and a Draft Record 
of Decision will be prepared and circulated. Those who commented during 
any designated opportunity for public comment on this project will have 
eligibility to file an objection on the draft Record of Decision.

Scoping Process

    Scoping was conducted for the original EIS. The scoping period for 
this EIS was formally initiated on November 27, 2006 when the original 
notice of intent for this project was published in the Federal Register 
(Volume 71, Number 227). Scoping is not required for supplements to 
environmental impact statements (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4)). The supplement 
will be subject to notice and comment. A draft supplemental EIS will be 
published and made available for review and comment for 45 days, 
following direction at 36 CFR 218.25. Comments on the draft 
supplemental EIS will be limited to the supplemental information to the 
2011 EIS.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide 
the Agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent 
environmental documents.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, 
Section 21)

     Dated: August 6, 2013.
William A. Dunkelberger,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2013-19519 Filed 8-14-13; 8:45 am]
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