Apalachicola National Forest; Apalachicola Ranger District, Florida; Beasley Pond Analysis Area, 61282-61283 [2014-24191]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 2014 / Notices
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
resources using the principles of
ecosystem management; and that lands
disturbed by mineral operations are
reclaimed using the best scientific
knowledge and returned to other
productive uses. If this information was
not collected, the Forest Service would
not be in compliance with the Federal
Regulations and locatable mineral
operations could result in undue
damage to surface resources.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 12 Hours
(10 hours—Plan of Operations; 1 hour—
Notice of Intent; 1 hour—Cessation of
Operations).
Type of Respondents: Mining
operators.
Estimated Annual Number of
Respondents: 283 (111—Plans of
Operations; 169—Notices of Intent; 3—
Cessation of Operations).
Estimated Annual Number of
Responses per Respondent: 1.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 10,005 Hours (12 hours ×
111 Plans of Operation = 1,332; 2 hour
× 169 Notices of Intent = 338; 1 hour ×
3 Cessation of Operations = 3; 1,332 +
338 + 3 = 1,673).
Comment is invited on: (1) Whether
this collection of information is
necessary for the stated purposes and
the proper performance of the functions
of the Agency, including whether the
information will have practical or
scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the
Agency’s estimate of the burden of the
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
respondents, including the use of
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology.
All comments received in response to
this notice, including names and
addresses when provided, will be a
matter of public record. Comments will
be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and
Budget approval.
Dated: October 2, 2014.
Gregory C. Smith,
Acting Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2014–24200 Filed 10–9–14; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Apalachicola National Forest;
Apalachicola Ranger District, Florida;
Beasley Pond Analysis Area
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Forest Service will
prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to analyze the impacts
of timber harvest and associated
activities on approximately 3,800 acres
of forestland and savannahs in the
Beasley Pond Analysis Area. Based on
public scoping, discussion with other
federal agencies and initial issues
analysis, the responsible official has
determined that preparation of an EIS is
appropriate for this project. The
proposed project is an activity
implementing a land management plan
and is subject to the pre-decisional
objection process at 36 CFR part 218
subparts A and B.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by
November 10, 2014. The draft EIS is
expected December 2014 and the final
EIS is expected March 2015.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Marcus Beard, District Ranger, 57 Taff
Drive, Crawfordville, FL 32327.
Comments may also be sent via email to
comments-southern-floridaapalachicola@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile
to (850) 926–1904.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Branden Tolver—phone: (850) 926–
3561; email: btolver02@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
a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday
through Friday.
SUMMARY:
Purpose and Need for Action
The National Forests in Florida’s
Forest Plan outlines several goals for the
National Forests of Florida, one of
which calls for the conservation and
protection of declining natural
communities, and uncommon
biological, ecological, or geological site.
The Beasley Pond Analysis area
contains large areas of historical
savannah habitat, multiple redcockaded woodpecker (RCW) clusters,
critical habitat for the frosted flatwoods
salamander and recent records of three
federally listed plant species that occur
in open savannah habitats. The primary
purpose of this project is to maintain,
improve, and restore a healthy forest
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ecosystem by: Thinning both longleaf
and slash pine stands to allow for
further tree growth, restoring remnant
savannahs to improve habitat for a
variety of plant species, and controlling
overabundant hardwood trees and brush
species to restore herbaceous
groundcover. Secondary benefits
include maintaining a stable RCW
habitat and improving the current
transportation system. There is a need to
reduce current stocking levels of stands
within the project area to open the forest
canopy and promote herbaceous
groundcover growth and establishment.
There also exists a need for
rehabilitation and maintenance in
declining natural savannah sites in the
project area.
Proposed Action
➢ First or intermediate thinning of
approximately 1981 acres of slash and
longleaf pine stands. Stands range in age
from 25 to 141 years old. Younger slash
and longleaf pine plantations have a
basal area (BA) ranging from 70 to 173
square-feet per acre. Thinning these
stands would reduce the BA to an
average of 50 square feet per acre thus
opening the stands for sunlight
penetration needed for continued
growth and groundcover establishment.
➢ Conduct uneven-aged management
cuts on 978 acres of mature longleaf
pine. Openings ranging from 1⁄4–2 acres
(average size of 1⁄2 acre) in size will be
created around existing longleaf
seedlings or in areas of the stand that
would be suitable for longleaf natural
regeneration. The number of openings
would be limited to 10% of the stand
size. Stand 7 of compartment 28 (91
acres) will be treated with a foliar
application of triclopyr (as needed) for
hardwood control.
➢ Savannah restoration treatments
on approximately 811 acres of savannah
sites to remove pine trees and
encroaching hardwoods. Girdling will
be used in stands that cannot be
accessed for traditional logging
operations (stands 19 and 41 in
compartment 26 and stand 37 in
compartment 27). All of these sites have
either been planted with slash pine or
have been encroached upon by woody
brush species and hardwood tree
species. To restore these savannah sites
a variable residual BA strategy will be
implemented with groundcover
condition serving as the trigger point for
thinning intensity. More herbaceous
groundcover is needed when thinning to
a lower BA in order to continue the use
prescribed fire as a means of
maintaining the open park-like structure
associated with savannahs. When
groundcover conditions are deemed less
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 197 / Friday, October 10, 2014 / Notices
than adequate to carry fire the Forest
Service proposes to leave a higher
residual BA of 40 square feet per acre
in order to allow pine needle cast to
serve as primary carrier of fire across the
stand.
➢ Spot foliar application of the
herbicide triclopyr (as needed) on 811
acres of savannah restoration sites for
site hardwood control. This is not a
broadcast application of herbicide. Spot
treatment would occur only where there
is a presence of woody vegetation that
threatens the re-establishment of
savannah plant species. If the savannah
restoration areas do not show evidence
of woody encroachment after harvest it
will not receive herbicide treatment.
➢ Clearcut 16 acres of slash pine
plantation for borrow pit excavation to
provide surface material for future road
work.
➢ Remove six cattle guards from a
closed range allotment (two on highway
379, two on FSR 113, and one on FSRs
174 and 109).
Possible Alternatives
Three potential alternatives will be
evaluated in the EIS. The first is the No
Action alternative which will consist of
no treatments in the proposed project
area other than those already approved
such as prescribed burning or nonnative invasive species control. The
second alternative addresses the impact
to the environment if no herbicides
were used and treatments such as
hardwood control were done by
mechanical means. The third alternative
would remove all proposed savannah
treatments in the project area.
Additional alternatives may also be
added as we move through the planning
process.
Responsible Official
Marcus Beard, District Ranger for the
Apalachicola National Forest
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Based upon the effects of the
alternatives, the responsible official will
decide whether or not to implement the
Proposed Action or one of the possible
alternatives.
Preliminary Issues
1. Impact of timber removal on
species listed as threatened or
endangered under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973.
2. Impact of borrow pit excavation on
16 acres of forested land.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent reinitiates the
scoping process, which was started with
a public scoping notice sent to
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17:09 Oct 09, 2014
Jkt 235001
interested parties in June 2013. Pursuant
to 36 CFR part 218 subparts A and B,
a draft EIS will be made available for the
45-day notice and comment period. A
final EIS and draft Record of Decision
will be made available for a 45-day
objection period.
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
such manner that they are useful to the
agency’s preparation of the
environmental impact statement.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions.
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, they will not have
standing to object.
Dated: October 1, 2014.
Marcus Beard,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2014–24191 Filed 10–9–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Shawnee National Forest, Illinois;
Cretaceous Hills Ecological
Restoration
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The USDA Forest Service
Shawnee National Forest (Forest)
intends to prepare an environmental
impact statement to disclose the
environmental consequences of an
ecological restoration project. In the
environmental impact statement, the
USDA Forest Service will address the
potential environmental effects of the
restoration of an oak-hickory hardwood
forest-type and the increase of wildlife
habitat diversity through the removal or
thinning of non-native pine trees and
small shade-tolerant hardwood trees
from about 3,200 acres, the application
of prescribed fire on about 15,100 acres,
treatment of invasive species,
maintenance of barrens habitats,
development of vernal ponds, and
transportation system maintenance,
construction, or reconstruction.
The Cretaceous Hills Ecological
Restoration Project (Hills Project) is
located in the Bay Creek Ditch, Barren
Creek and Sister Islands-Ohio River
SUMMARY:
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61283
watersheds between the communities of
Metropolis and Bay City, in southern
Pope and eastern Massac Counties,
Illinois. The 26,102 acres in the project
areas include about 15,130 acres of
National Forest System land and 10,972
acres of state and private land. All
activities are proposed on National
Forest System land.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by
November 10, 2014 in order to be most
useful in the development of the
environmental impact statement. The
draft environmental impact statement is
expected February, 2015 and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected September, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted on the Hills Project Web
page: https://tinyurl.com/CretaceousHills-Shawnee-NF. Written comments
may be sent to: Shawnee National
Forest, Attn: Hills Project, 602 N. 1st
Street, Vienna, IL 62995. Comments
may also be sent via facsimile to (618)
658–1300, with ‘‘Hills Project’’ on the
subject line.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amanda Kunzmann at 602 N. 1st Street,
Vienna, (618) 658–2111, or
akunzmann@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 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of and Need for Action
The purpose of the Hills Project is to
implement land management activities
consistent with the Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan (Plan) and
bring the Forest closer to the desired
condition stated therein. The Forest
Plan outlines goals, objectives and
desired conditions for Forest resources.
The Hills Project Area encompasses
three Forest Plan managementprescription areas: Even-Aged
Hardwood Forest (EH), Mature
Hardwood Forest (MH) and Natural
Area (NA).
The EH management prescription
emphasizes maintenance of the oakhickory forest-type; ecological
restoration to native hardwood of areas
planted with non-native pine; wildlife
habitat associated with a mix of
hardwoods, pine and openland; and the
production of high-quality hardwoods
in a roaded-natural recreational setting.
The desired condition relevant to this
project is for a natural-appearing
landscape with stands of hardwood
trees in various age and size classes. The
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 197 (Friday, October 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61282-61283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24191]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Apalachicola National Forest; Apalachicola Ranger District,
Florida; Beasley Pond Analysis Area
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to analyze the impacts of timber harvest and associated
activities on approximately 3,800 acres of forestland and savannahs in
the Beasley Pond Analysis Area. Based on public scoping, discussion
with other federal agencies and initial issues analysis, the
responsible official has determined that preparation of an EIS is
appropriate for this project. The proposed project is an activity
implementing a land management plan and is subject to the pre-
decisional objection process at 36 CFR part 218 subparts A and B.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by November 10, 2014. The draft EIS is expected December 2014 and the
final EIS is expected March 2015.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Marcus Beard, District Ranger, 57
Taff Drive, Crawfordville, FL 32327. Comments may also be sent via
email to comments-southern-florida-apalachicola@fs.fed.us, or via
facsimile to (850) 926-1904.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Branden Tolver--phone: (850) 926-3561;
email: btolver02@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 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday.
Purpose and Need for Action
The National Forests in Florida's Forest Plan outlines several
goals for the National Forests of Florida, one of which calls for the
conservation and protection of declining natural communities, and
uncommon biological, ecological, or geological site. The Beasley Pond
Analysis area contains large areas of historical savannah habitat,
multiple red-cockaded woodpecker (RCW) clusters, critical habitat for
the frosted flatwoods salamander and recent records of three federally
listed plant species that occur in open savannah habitats. The primary
purpose of this project is to maintain, improve, and restore a healthy
forest ecosystem by: Thinning both longleaf and slash pine stands to
allow for further tree growth, restoring remnant savannahs to improve
habitat for a variety of plant species, and controlling overabundant
hardwood trees and brush species to restore herbaceous groundcover.
Secondary benefits include maintaining a stable RCW habitat and
improving the current transportation system. There is a need to reduce
current stocking levels of stands within the project area to open the
forest canopy and promote herbaceous groundcover growth and
establishment. There also exists a need for rehabilitation and
maintenance in declining natural savannah sites in the project area.
Proposed Action
[rtarr8] First or intermediate thinning of approximately 1981 acres
of slash and longleaf pine stands. Stands range in age from 25 to 141
years old. Younger slash and longleaf pine plantations have a basal
area (BA) ranging from 70 to 173 square-feet per acre. Thinning these
stands would reduce the BA to an average of 50 square feet per acre
thus opening the stands for sunlight penetration needed for continued
growth and groundcover establishment.
[rtarr8] Conduct uneven-aged management cuts on 978 acres of mature
longleaf pine. Openings ranging from \1/4\-2 acres (average size of \1/
2\ acre) in size will be created around existing longleaf seedlings or
in areas of the stand that would be suitable for longleaf natural
regeneration. The number of openings would be limited to 10% of the
stand size. Stand 7 of compartment 28 (91 acres) will be treated with a
foliar application of triclopyr (as needed) for hardwood control.
[rtarr8] Savannah restoration treatments on approximately 811 acres
of savannah sites to remove pine trees and encroaching hardwoods.
Girdling will be used in stands that cannot be accessed for traditional
logging operations (stands 19 and 41 in compartment 26 and stand 37 in
compartment 27). All of these sites have either been planted with slash
pine or have been encroached upon by woody brush species and hardwood
tree species. To restore these savannah sites a variable residual BA
strategy will be implemented with groundcover condition serving as the
trigger point for thinning intensity. More herbaceous groundcover is
needed when thinning to a lower BA in order to continue the use
prescribed fire as a means of maintaining the open park-like structure
associated with savannahs. When groundcover conditions are deemed less
[[Page 61283]]
than adequate to carry fire the Forest Service proposes to leave a
higher residual BA of 40 square feet per acre in order to allow pine
needle cast to serve as primary carrier of fire across the stand.
[rtarr8] Spot foliar application of the herbicide triclopyr (as
needed) on 811 acres of savannah restoration sites for site hardwood
control. This is not a broadcast application of herbicide. Spot
treatment would occur only where there is a presence of woody
vegetation that threatens the re-establishment of savannah plant
species. If the savannah restoration areas do not show evidence of
woody encroachment after harvest it will not receive herbicide
treatment.
[rtarr8] Clearcut 16 acres of slash pine plantation for borrow pit
excavation to provide surface material for future road work.
[rtarr8] Remove six cattle guards from a closed range allotment
(two on highway 379, two on FSR 113, and one on FSRs 174 and 109).
Possible Alternatives
Three potential alternatives will be evaluated in the EIS. The
first is the No Action alternative which will consist of no treatments
in the proposed project area other than those already approved such as
prescribed burning or non-native invasive species control. The second
alternative addresses the impact to the environment if no herbicides
were used and treatments such as hardwood control were done by
mechanical means. The third alternative would remove all proposed
savannah treatments in the project area. Additional alternatives may
also be added as we move through the planning process.
Responsible Official
Marcus Beard, District Ranger for the Apalachicola National Forest
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Based upon the effects of the alternatives, the responsible
official will decide whether or not to implement the Proposed Action or
one of the possible alternatives.
Preliminary Issues
1. Impact of timber removal on species listed as threatened or
endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
2. Impact of borrow pit excavation on 16 acres of forested land.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent reinitiates the scoping process, which was
started with a public scoping notice sent to interested parties in June
2013. Pursuant to 36 CFR part 218 subparts A and B, a draft EIS will be
made available for the 45-day notice and comment period. A final EIS
and draft Record of Decision will be made available for a 45-day
objection period.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
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, they will not have standing to
object.
Dated: October 1, 2014.
Marcus Beard,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2014-24191 Filed 10-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P