Ochoco National Forest, Lookout Mountain Ranger District; Oregon; Bear Creek Allotment Management Plans EIS, 11391-11393 [2014-04394]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 40 / Friday, February 28, 2014 / Notices
Notice and request for
comments.
ACTION:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice
announces the Agricultural Marketing
Service’s (AMS) intention to request
approval, from the Office of
Management and Budget, for an
extension without change of a currently
approved information collection titled
Data Collection for Container
Availability.
SUMMARY:
Comments on this notice must be
received by April 29, 2014 to be assured
of consideration.
Additional Information Or Comments:
Contact April Taylor, Transportation
Services Division, Transportation and
Marketing Program, Agricultural
Marketing Service, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave.
SW.—Room 4534 South, Stop 0266,
Washington, DC 20250, telephone 202–
295–7374, fax 202–690-2451.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Data Collection for Container
Availability.
OMB Number: 0581–0276.
Expiration Date of Approval:
September 30, 2014.
Type of Request: Extension without
change of a currently approved
information collection.
Abstract: The Agricultural Marketing
Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627) directs
and authorizes the collection and
dissemination of marketing information
including adequate outlook information,
on a market area basis, for the purpose
of anticipating and meeting consumer
requirements aiding in the maintenance
of farm income and to bring about a
balance between production and
utilization.
As part of the Agricultural Marketing
Service, the Transportation Services
Division (TSD) provides insightful
agricultural transportation information
and analysis to help move agricultural
products to market. TSD informs,
represents, and assists agricultural
shippers and government policymakers
through: Market reports, representation,
analysis, assistance, and responses to
inquiries. TSD collects data for its
analysis from public resources as well
as unique data sources to help the
agricultural exporters make the most out
of the transportation options available.
The Data Collection for Container
Availability provides U.S. agricultural
exporters with weekly data detailing the
availability of containers at 18 select
locations around the country. AMS
collects these data on a voluntary basis
from ocean container carriers and then
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
DATES:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:47 Feb 27, 2014
Jkt 232001
11391
provides these up-to-date data in an
aggregate report on its Web site. The
goal of the report is to provide more
transparency in the market for the
location and availability of marine
shipping containers for U.S. exporters.
Exporters use this tool to make more
knowledgeable decisions about which
locations provide the best chance for
finding available containers to move
their products overseas.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 1.61 hours per
response.
Respondents: Ocean Container/Liner
Carriers and the Transpacific
Stabilization Agreement.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
21.
Estimated Total Annual Responses:
1,092.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 52.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 1,759.26.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (4) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Comments may be sent to April Taylor,
Transportation Services Division,
Transportation and Marketing Program,
Agricultural Marketing Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Ave. SW.—Rm 4534
South, Stop 0266, Washington, DC
20250, telephone 202–295–7374, fax
202–690–2451. All comments received
will be available for public inspection
during regular business hours at the
same address.
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
become a matter of public record.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Dated: February 18 2014.
Rex A. Barnes,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this proposal is to
reauthorize livestock grazing consistent
with Forest Plan standards and
guidelines. Based on surveys,
conditions on some streams in the
[FR Doc. 2014–04169 Filed 2–27–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–M
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Forest Service
Ochoco National Forest, Lookout
Mountain Ranger District; Oregon;
Bear Creek Allotment Management
Plans EIS
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Ochoco National Forest is
preparing an environmental impact
statement (EIS) to analyze the effects of
changing grazing management in four
grazing allotments on the Ochoco
National Forest. These four allotments
are Bear Creek, Elkhorn, Snowshoe, and
Trout Creek. The proposed action would
reauthorize term grazing permits, make
rangeland improvements, manage
livestock use and distribution to
facilitate the improvement of riparian
conditions, including streambank
stability, riparian vegetation, and water
temperature, and would conduct
riparian restoration activities on some
streams in the project area. These
actions are needed to achieve and
maintain consistency with the Ochoco
National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan, as amended.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by
March 31, 2014. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected to be completed and available
for public comment in January, 2015.
The final environmental impact
statement is expected to be completed
in May, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Slater Turner, District Ranger, Lookout
Mountain District, Ochoco National
Forest, 3160 NE Third Street, Prineville,
Oregon 97754. Alternately, electronic
comments may be sent to commentspacificnorthwest-ochoco@fs.fed.us.
Electronic comments must be submitted
as part of the actual email message, or
as an attachment in plain text (.txt),
Microsoft Word (.doc), rich text format
(.rtf), or portable document format
(.pdf).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tory
Kurtz, Project Leader, at 3160 NE Third
Street, Prineville, Oregon 97754, or at
(541) 416–6407, or by email at tlkurtz@
fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\28FEN1.SGM
28FEN1
11392
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 40 / Friday, February 28, 2014 / Notices
project area are not consistent with
desired condition; there is a need to
make range improvements and change
livestock management to move towards
desired conditions for stream shade,
bank stability and width-to-depth ratio.
Livestock grazing is one of the factors
that can contribute to altered riparian
function. Active riparian restoration
activities will facilitate the achievement
of the desired condition.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Proposed Action
The proposed action includes a
variety of pasture-specific management
strategies and activities, including
active management of livestock,
relocation or reconstruction of existing
water developments, planting of
riparian hardwoods, placing logs and
rocks in and along stream channels, and
protection of riparian vegetation and
streambanks.
Bear Creek Allotment
• The allotment would continue to
consist of 11,158 acres divided between
three pastures: North Bear, South Bear
and Dodd’s.
• Either cattle or sheep grazing would
be authorized, as follows:
Æ The current permitted amount of
685 AUMs with 132 cow/calf pair from
June 5 to September 30 would be
authorized;
Æ OR ewe/lamb livestock kind may be
used instead of cow/calf pair; a
permitted amount of 1,298 AUMs with
1,100 ewe/lamb pairs from June 5 to
September 30 would be authorized.
• Existing structural improvements
would be reauthorized including 16
troughs, 8 reservoirs and approximately
21 miles of fence.
• Approximately 12 miles of fence
would be reauthorized; (interior fence
lines would not be required with ewe/
lamb pairs since there is a herder).
• The grazing system for cattle would
be a three pasture rotation, deferring
North Bear and South Bear pastures
each year and utilizing Dodd’s pasture
last each year.
• Active management of livestock
would be required for cattle.
• The grazing system for ewe/lamb
pairs would be a herded system with the
following rules:
Æ Sheep would not be grazed within
a minimum of 1⁄4 mile of anadromous
fish-bearing streams prior to July 15th.
Æ Siesta or bedding places would be
far from open roads, streams, new
plantations, aspen stands, heritage sites
and prairies, and would not be located
in riparian areas or scablands.
Æ The sheep would not take siesta or
bedding at the same place more than
once per grazing season.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:47 Feb 27, 2014
Jkt 232001
Æ Salt and supplements would be
placed in portable containers, on rocks,
sawed tree trunks and fallen tree trunks,
and would be located away from roads
and generally 1⁄4 mile away from
Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas
(RHCAs) and scablands.
Æ Streams containing anadromous
fish habitat would not be used prior to
July 15th; off-source water including
water brought in by truck would be used
prior to July 15th.
Æ Drafting for water would not occur
in streams that are occupied by
steelhead.
• Aspen stands identified in the field
would be protected and enhanced
through conifer thinning and utilization
of thinned materials, prescribed fire,
and mechanical treatment. Exclosures
may be used when thinning and
placement of thinned materials to
protect aspens stands is not found to
provide adequate protection.
Elkhorn Allotment
• The allotment would continue to
consist of 9,620 acres divided between
four pastures: Bridge Creek, Elkhorn,
Indian Prairie and Val Trail.
• The current permitted amount of
1,378 AUMs with 290 cow/calf pair
from June 15 to September 30 would be
authorized.
• Existing structural improvements
would be reauthorized including 30
troughs and approximately 18 miles of
fence.
• The grazing system would be a
three pasture rotation using Elkhorn
first to decrease the spread of
Cynoglossum officinale (houndstongue)
infestations, Val Trail pasture and
utilizing Bridge Creek pasture last each
year. Indian Prairie pasture would be
used as needed for gathering and
holding.
• Active management of livestock
would be required.
• Trailing routes and anticipated
crossings between pastures would be
identified for Cynoglossum officinale
(houndstongue) infestations and other
listed non-native invasive plants and
routes and crossings would either be
avoided, relocated or be a priority for
treatment.
• Aspen stands identified in the field
would be protected and enhanced
through conifer thinning and utilization
of thinned materials, prescribed fire,
and mechanical treatment. Exclosures
may be used when thinning and
placement of thinned materials to
protect aspens stands is not found to
provide adequate protection.
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Snowshoe Allotment
• The allotment would continue to
consist of 2,711 acres divided between
two pastures: North Nature Creek and
Snowshoe.
• The current permitted amount of
343 AUMs with 156 cow/calf pair from
August 12 to September 30 would be
authorized.
• Existing structural improvements
would be reauthorized including 10
troughs and approx. 9.25 miles of fence.
• The grazing system would be a two
pasture rotation deferring Snowshoe
pasture each year until after July 15th at
the earliest.
• Active management of livestock
would be required.
• Trailing routes and anticipated
crossings between pastures would be
identified for Cynoglossum officinale
(houndstongue) infestations and other
listed non-native invasive plants and
routes and crossings would either be
avoided, relocated or be a priority for
treatment.
• Existing aspen stands identified in
the field would be protected and
enhanced through conifer thinning and
utilization of thinned materials,
prescribed fire, and mechanical
treatment. Exclosures may be used
when thinning and placement of
thinned materials to protect aspens
stands is not found to provide adequate
protection.
Trout Creek Allotment
• The allotment would consist of
21,370 acres.
• The current permitted amount of
1,797 AUMs with 1,953 ewe/lamb pairs
from June 16 to September 15 would be
authorized.
• Existing structural improvements
would be reauthorized including 22
troughs, 5 ponds, and approx. 20 miles
of fence.
• The grazing system for ewe/lamb
pairs would be a herded system with the
following rules:
Æ Sheep would not be grazed within
a minimum of 1⁄4 mile of anadromous
fish-bearing streams prior to July 15th.
Æ Siesta or bedding places would be
far from open roads, streams, new
plantations, aspen stands, heritage sites
and prairies, and would not be located
in riparian areas or scablands.
Æ The sheep would not take siesta or
bedding at the same place more than
once per grazing season.
Æ Salt and supplements would be
placed in portable containers, on rocks,
sawed tree trunks and fallen tree trunks,
and would be located away from roads
and generally 1⁄4 mile away from
Riparian Habitat Conservation Areas
(RHCAs) and scablands.
E:\FR\FM\28FEN1.SGM
28FEN1
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 40 / Friday, February 28, 2014 / Notices
Æ Streams containing anadromous
fish habitat would not be used prior to
July 15th; off-source water including
water brought in by truck would be used
prior to July 15th.
Æ Drafting for water would not occur
in streams that are occupied by
steelhead.
• Twenty-five water developments
would be reconstructed and associated
springs would be protected as needed.
• Two water developments would be
removed and their sites restored to a
natural state.
• Existing aspen stands identified in
the field would be protected and
enhanced through conifer thinning and
utilization of thinned materials,
prescribed fire, and mechanical
treatment. Exclosures may be used
when thinning and placement of
thinned materials to protect aspens
stands is not found to provide adequate
protection.
• Juniper up to 12″ diameter would
be mechanically thinned and/or thinned
by prescribed fire.
• An approximately 2-acre aspen
stand would be enhanced and protected
through conifer thinning and utilization
of thinned materials, prescribed fire and
mechanical treatment. Exclosures may
be used when thinning and placement
of thinned materials to protect aspens
stands is not found to provide adequate
protection.
• Bedding/camping areas would be
monitored for known Taeniatherum
caput-medusae (medusahead)
populations. Trailing routes onto the
allotment would be identified for listed
non-native invasive plants.
• Riparian restoration activities
would take place where necessary on
4.5 miles of Little McKay Creek and
tributaries; activities would include instream placement of wood and/or rock
structures, filling and connecting
floodplains, planting hardwoods, and
creating physical barriers (such as
wood, rock or fences) to protect
hardwoods and improve bank stability,
conifer thinning to improve RHCA stand
conditions and utilization of thinning
materials for in-stream placement and
improved bank stability. Wood and
physical barrier material may come from
on-site.
• An alternative grazing plan would
be included to have two total grazing
plans that can be alternated.
Possible Alternatives
In addition to the Proposed Action
and any alternative that is developed
following this scoping effort, the project
interdisciplinary team will analyze the
effects of:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:47 Feb 27, 2014
Jkt 232001
• No Action alternative: No grazing
permits would be reauthorized; cattle
would be removed from all allotments
within two years.
• Current management alternative:
Permits would be reauthorized at
current levels; there would be no new
water developments, no riparian
restoration, and there would be no
requirement for permittees to move
livestock out of sensitive areas, except
as required by current permits.
Dated: February 21, 2014.
Slater R. Turner,
District Ranger.
Responsible Official
ACTION:
The responsible official will be
District Ranger, Lookout Mountain
Ranger District, Ochoco National Forest,
3160 NE Third Street, Prineville, Oregon
97754.
SUMMARY:
11393
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Given the purpose and need, the
deciding official will review the
proposed action, the other alternatives,
and the environmental consequences in
order to make the following decisions:
• Whether and under what
circumstances grazing will be
reauthorized in the Bear Creek, Elkhorn,
Snowshoe, and Trout Creek allotments.
• Whether and under what
circumstances range improvements will
be constructed.
• Whether and under what
circumstances riparian restoration
activities will be implemented.
Preliminary Issues
Preliminary issues identified include
the potential effect of the proposed
action on livestock grazing, heritage
resources, fisheries, water quality,
sensitive plants, and on the introduction
and/or spread of invasive plants, as well
as the cumulative effects of the
proposed action where the effects of
associated activities overlap with the
effects of other management activities.
Scoping Process
Public comments about this proposal
are requested in order to assist in
identifying issues, determining how to
best manage the resources, and focusing
the analysis. Comments received to this
notice, 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.
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
[FR Doc. 2014–04394 Filed 2–27–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
GMUG Resource Advisory Committee
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
The GMUG Resource
Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in
Delta, Colorado. The committee is
authorized under the Secure Rural
Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (Pub. L. 110–343)
(the Act) and operates in compliance
with the Federal Advisory Committee
Act. The purpose of the committee is to
improve collaborative relationships and
to provide advice and recommendations
to the Forest Service concerning projects
and funding consistent with the title II
of the Act. The meeting is open to the
public. The purpose of the meeting is to
review past and current project
proposals to recommend for funding
and implementation under the Secure
Rural Schools, Title II disbursements.
DATES: The meeting will be held April
8, 2014 at 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
All RAC meetings are subject to
cancellation. For status of meeting prior
to attendance, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
2250 Highway 50, Delta, Colorado at the
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre & Gunnison
National Forests Forest Headquarters in
the North Spruce conference room.
Written comments may be submitted
as described under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION. All comments, including
names and addresses when provided,
are placed in the record and are
available for public inspection and
copying. The public may inspect
comments received at the Forest
Headquarters Office at 2250 Highway
50, Delta, Colorado. Please call ahead to
facilitate entry into the building.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee
Ann Loupe, RAC Coordinator by phone
at 970.874.6717 or via email at lloupe@
fs.fed.us.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.,
Eastern Standard Time, Monday
through Friday. Please make requests in
E:\FR\FM\28FEN1.SGM
28FEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11391-11393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04394]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Ochoco National Forest, Lookout Mountain Ranger District; Oregon;
Bear Creek Allotment Management Plans EIS
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Ochoco National Forest is preparing an environmental
impact statement (EIS) to analyze the effects of changing grazing
management in four grazing allotments on the Ochoco National Forest.
These four allotments are Bear Creek, Elkhorn, Snowshoe, and Trout
Creek. The proposed action would reauthorize term grazing permits, make
rangeland improvements, manage livestock use and distribution to
facilitate the improvement of riparian conditions, including streambank
stability, riparian vegetation, and water temperature, and would
conduct riparian restoration activities on some streams in the project
area. These actions are needed to achieve and maintain consistency with
the Ochoco National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, as
amended.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by March 31, 2014. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
to be completed and available for public comment in January, 2015. The
final environmental impact statement is expected to be completed in
May, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Slater Turner, District Ranger,
Lookout Mountain District, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE Third
Street, Prineville, Oregon 97754. Alternately, electronic comments may
be sent to comments-pacificnorthwest-ochoco@fs.fed.us. Electronic
comments must be submitted as part of the actual email message, or as
an attachment in plain text (.txt), Microsoft Word (.doc), rich text
format (.rtf), or portable document format (.pdf).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tory Kurtz, Project Leader, at 3160 NE
Third Street, Prineville, Oregon 97754, or at (541) 416-6407, or by
email at tlkurtz@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this proposal is to reauthorize livestock grazing
consistent with Forest Plan standards and guidelines. Based on surveys,
conditions on some streams in the
[[Page 11392]]
project area are not consistent with desired condition; there is a need
to make range improvements and change livestock management to move
towards desired conditions for stream shade, bank stability and width-
to-depth ratio. Livestock grazing is one of the factors that can
contribute to altered riparian function. Active riparian restoration
activities will facilitate the achievement of the desired condition.
Proposed Action
The proposed action includes a variety of pasture-specific
management strategies and activities, including active management of
livestock, relocation or reconstruction of existing water developments,
planting of riparian hardwoods, placing logs and rocks in and along
stream channels, and protection of riparian vegetation and streambanks.
Bear Creek Allotment
The allotment would continue to consist of 11,158 acres
divided between three pastures: North Bear, South Bear and Dodd's.
Either cattle or sheep grazing would be authorized, as
follows:
[cir] The current permitted amount of 685 AUMs with 132 cow/calf
pair from June 5 to September 30 would be authorized;
[cir] OR ewe/lamb livestock kind may be used instead of cow/calf
pair; a permitted amount of 1,298 AUMs with 1,100 ewe/lamb pairs from
June 5 to September 30 would be authorized.
Existing structural improvements would be reauthorized
including 16 troughs, 8 reservoirs and approximately 21 miles of fence.
Approximately 12 miles of fence would be reauthorized;
(interior fence lines would not be required with ewe/lamb pairs since
there is a herder).
The grazing system for cattle would be a three pasture
rotation, deferring North Bear and South Bear pastures each year and
utilizing Dodd's pasture last each year.
Active management of livestock would be required for
cattle.
The grazing system for ewe/lamb pairs would be a herded
system with the following rules:
[cir] Sheep would not be grazed within a minimum of \1/4\ mile of
anadromous fish-bearing streams prior to July 15th.
[cir] Siesta or bedding places would be far from open roads,
streams, new plantations, aspen stands, heritage sites and prairies,
and would not be located in riparian areas or scablands.
[cir] The sheep would not take siesta or bedding at the same place
more than once per grazing season.
[cir] Salt and supplements would be placed in portable containers,
on rocks, sawed tree trunks and fallen tree trunks, and would be
located away from roads and generally \1/4\ mile away from Riparian
Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs) and scablands.
[cir] Streams containing anadromous fish habitat would not be used
prior to July 15th; off-source water including water brought in by
truck would be used prior to July 15th.
[cir] Drafting for water would not occur in streams that are
occupied by steelhead.
Aspen stands identified in the field would be protected
and enhanced through conifer thinning and utilization of thinned
materials, prescribed fire, and mechanical treatment. Exclosures may be
used when thinning and placement of thinned materials to protect aspens
stands is not found to provide adequate protection.
Elkhorn Allotment
The allotment would continue to consist of 9,620 acres
divided between four pastures: Bridge Creek, Elkhorn, Indian Prairie
and Val Trail.
The current permitted amount of 1,378 AUMs with 290 cow/
calf pair from June 15 to September 30 would be authorized.
Existing structural improvements would be reauthorized
including 30 troughs and approximately 18 miles of fence.
The grazing system would be a three pasture rotation using
Elkhorn first to decrease the spread of Cynoglossum officinale
(houndstongue) infestations, Val Trail pasture and utilizing Bridge
Creek pasture last each year. Indian Prairie pasture would be used as
needed for gathering and holding.
Active management of livestock would be required.
Trailing routes and anticipated crossings between pastures
would be identified for Cynoglossum officinale (houndstongue)
infestations and other listed non-native invasive plants and routes and
crossings would either be avoided, relocated or be a priority for
treatment.
Aspen stands identified in the field would be protected
and enhanced through conifer thinning and utilization of thinned
materials, prescribed fire, and mechanical treatment. Exclosures may be
used when thinning and placement of thinned materials to protect aspens
stands is not found to provide adequate protection.
Snowshoe Allotment
The allotment would continue to consist of 2,711 acres
divided between two pastures: North Nature Creek and Snowshoe.
The current permitted amount of 343 AUMs with 156 cow/calf
pair from August 12 to September 30 would be authorized.
Existing structural improvements would be reauthorized
including 10 troughs and approx. 9.25 miles of fence.
The grazing system would be a two pasture rotation
deferring Snowshoe pasture each year until after July 15th at the
earliest.
Active management of livestock would be required.
Trailing routes and anticipated crossings between pastures
would be identified for Cynoglossum officinale (houndstongue)
infestations and other listed non-native invasive plants and routes and
crossings would either be avoided, relocated or be a priority for
treatment.
Existing aspen stands identified in the field would be
protected and enhanced through conifer thinning and utilization of
thinned materials, prescribed fire, and mechanical treatment.
Exclosures may be used when thinning and placement of thinned materials
to protect aspens stands is not found to provide adequate protection.
Trout Creek Allotment
The allotment would consist of 21,370 acres.
The current permitted amount of 1,797 AUMs with 1,953 ewe/
lamb pairs from June 16 to September 15 would be authorized.
Existing structural improvements would be reauthorized
including 22 troughs, 5 ponds, and approx. 20 miles of fence.
The grazing system for ewe/lamb pairs would be a herded
system with the following rules:
[cir] Sheep would not be grazed within a minimum of \1/4\ mile of
anadromous fish-bearing streams prior to July 15th.
[cir] Siesta or bedding places would be far from open roads,
streams, new plantations, aspen stands, heritage sites and prairies,
and would not be located in riparian areas or scablands.
[cir] The sheep would not take siesta or bedding at the same place
more than once per grazing season.
[cir] Salt and supplements would be placed in portable containers,
on rocks, sawed tree trunks and fallen tree trunks, and would be
located away from roads and generally \1/4\ mile away from Riparian
Habitat Conservation Areas (RHCAs) and scablands.
[[Page 11393]]
[cir] Streams containing anadromous fish habitat would not be used
prior to July 15th; off-source water including water brought in by
truck would be used prior to July 15th.
[cir] Drafting for water would not occur in streams that are
occupied by steelhead.
Twenty-five water developments would be reconstructed and
associated springs would be protected as needed.
Two water developments would be removed and their sites
restored to a natural state.
Existing aspen stands identified in the field would be
protected and enhanced through conifer thinning and utilization of
thinned materials, prescribed fire, and mechanical treatment.
Exclosures may be used when thinning and placement of thinned materials
to protect aspens stands is not found to provide adequate protection.
Juniper up to 12'' diameter would be mechanically thinned
and/or thinned by prescribed fire.
An approximately 2-acre aspen stand would be enhanced and
protected through conifer thinning and utilization of thinned
materials, prescribed fire and mechanical treatment. Exclosures may be
used when thinning and placement of thinned materials to protect aspens
stands is not found to provide adequate protection.
Bedding/camping areas would be monitored for known
Taeniatherum caput-medusae (medusahead) populations. Trailing routes
onto the allotment would be identified for listed non-native invasive
plants.
Riparian restoration activities would take place where
necessary on 4.5 miles of Little McKay Creek and tributaries;
activities would include in-stream placement of wood and/or rock
structures, filling and connecting floodplains, planting hardwoods, and
creating physical barriers (such as wood, rock or fences) to protect
hardwoods and improve bank stability, conifer thinning to improve RHCA
stand conditions and utilization of thinning materials for in-stream
placement and improved bank stability. Wood and physical barrier
material may come from on-site.
An alternative grazing plan would be included to have two
total grazing plans that can be alternated.
Possible Alternatives
In addition to the Proposed Action and any alternative that is
developed following this scoping effort, the project interdisciplinary
team will analyze the effects of:
No Action alternative: No grazing permits would be
reauthorized; cattle would be removed from all allotments within two
years.
Current management alternative: Permits would be
reauthorized at current levels; there would be no new water
developments, no riparian restoration, and there would be no
requirement for permittees to move livestock out of sensitive areas,
except as required by current permits.
Responsible Official
The responsible official will be District Ranger, Lookout Mountain
Ranger District, Ochoco National Forest, 3160 NE Third Street,
Prineville, Oregon 97754.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Given the purpose and need, the deciding official will review the
proposed action, the other alternatives, and the environmental
consequences in order to make the following decisions:
Whether and under what circumstances grazing will be
reauthorized in the Bear Creek, Elkhorn, Snowshoe, and Trout Creek
allotments.
Whether and under what circumstances range improvements
will be constructed.
Whether and under what circumstances riparian restoration
activities will be implemented.
Preliminary Issues
Preliminary issues identified include the potential effect of the
proposed action on livestock grazing, heritage resources, fisheries,
water quality, sensitive plants, and on the introduction and/or spread
of invasive plants, as well as the cumulative effects of the proposed
action where the effects of associated activities overlap with the
effects of other management activities.
Scoping Process
Public comments about this proposal are requested in order to
assist in identifying issues, determining how to best manage the
resources, and focusing the analysis. Comments received to this notice,
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.
Dated: February 21, 2014.
Slater R. Turner,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2014-04394 Filed 2-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P