Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Navajo Nation Integrated Weed Management Plan, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, 60065-60066 [2021-23591]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 207 / Friday, October 29, 2021 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs [222A2100DD/AAKC001030/ A0A501010.999900253G] Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Navajo Nation Integrated Weed Management Plan, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as the lead Federal agency, with the Navajo Nation as a cooperating agency, intends to file a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) with the Environmental Protection Agency for the proposed Navajo Nation Integrated Weed Management Plan (NNIWMP). This notice also announces that the DPEIS is now available for public review and comment and that a public hearing will be held to receive comments on the DPEIS. DATES: To be fully considered, written comments on the DEIS must arrive no later than 45 days after EPA publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The dates and times of the virtual public hearings will be published in the Navajo Times, the Gallup Sun, Farmington Daily Times, the Gallup Independent, and the Navajo-Hopi Observer. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Leonard Notah, NEPA Coordinator, Navajo Regional Office, Branch of Environmental Quality Compliance and Review, P.O. Box 1060, Gallup City, New Mexico 87301 or by email to leonard.notah@bia.gov. The locations of the virtual public hearings will be published in the Navajo Times, the Gallup Sun, Farmington Daily Times, the Gallup Independent, and the Navajo-Hopi Observer. The NNIWMP DPEIS is available for review at: https:// www.bia.gov/regional-offices/navajo/ navajo-nation-integrated-weedmanagement-plan. Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for physical locations where the DPEIS is available and for information on how to register to participate in the virtual public hearings. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leonard Notah, NEPA Coordinator, Bureau of Indian Affairs Navajo Regional Office, Branch of Environmental Quality Compliance and Review, P.O. Box 1060, Gallup City, khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:17 Oct 28, 2021 Jkt 256001 New Mexico 87301, telephone (505) 863–8256, email leonard.notah@bia.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Federal action is implementation of the NNIWMP. The BIA Navajo Regional Office prepared the NNIWMP to determine the most effective and appropriate methods to treat noxious and invasive weeds. The DPEIS discloses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of weed treatment techniques that would result from the Proposed Action and alternatives. The weed treatment techniques provide the BIA with the tools to implement an integrated approach to treating weeds on the Navajo Nation (Navajo Tribal Trust Lands, Navajo Indian Allotments, and Navajo Partitioned Lands). The purpose of the NNIWMP is to prevent, eradicate, contain, and/or monitor 45 noxious weed species on the Navajo Nation including the Navajo Tribal trust lands, Navajo Indian allotments, and Navajo partitioned lands. The NNIWMP focuses on managing non-native invasive plant species using mechanical, manual, cultural, biological, and chemical weed treatment methods. The following objectives were developed for the NNIWMP: • Develop the best control techniques described for the target weed species in a planned, coordinated, and economically feasible program to limit the impact and spread of noxious and invasive weeds; • Incorporate project successes and lessons learned from completed weed projects on the Navajo Nation when developing weed removal project proposals through adaptive management; • Identify and prevent the expansion of existing infestations of target weed species, and quickly prevent the spread of new high priority weed species in the project area; • Coordinate weed removal efforts with adjacent landowners, land managers, and/or Federal agencies to prevent the further spread of weed populations (e.g. State roads and Bureau of Land Management); • Provide and promote economic opportunities to the Navajo people by improving rangeland productivity and potentially providing economic opportunities to remove noxious plant species; and • Develop a public education program focusing on weed identification, prevention, and removal techniques for local communities and non-profit organizations. The NNWIMP encompasses a 10-year period but will incorporate a plan PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 60065 review after five years. Repeated treatments will be necessary for most species since seeds can be viable in soil for 10 or more years. Therefore, reoccurring weed treatments will be implemented until the desired management goal is reached. Cooperating agencies for this NEPA process include: The Navajo Nation, Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Navajo Nation Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD), San Juan Soil and Water Conservation District, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the National Park Service. The BIA will seek to coordinate weed removal projects on adjacent lands managed by the above-mentioned agencies and neighboring areas managed by the Coconino National Forest and the Hopi Tribe. BIA will use the DPEIS to make decisions on the implementation of the NNIWMP. Directions for Submitting Comments: In accordance with the regulations for implementing NEPA, the BIA solicits public comment on the DPEIS. Comments on the DPEIS may be submitted in writing or by email to the address listed above in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. At the top of your letter or in the subject line of your email message, indicate that the comments are ‘‘Navajo Nation IWMP Draft EIS Comments.’’ Public Hearings: To help protect the public and limit the spread of the COVID–19 virus, the BIA Navajo Regional Office will hold five virtual public hearings to facilitate public review and comment on the DPEIS. Members of the public can register for virtual public hearings at: https:// www.bia.gov/regional-offices/navajo/ navajo-nation-integrated-weedmanagement-plan. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email with instruction for joining the meeting. Locations Where the DPEIS is Available for Review: The NNIWMP DPEIS is available for review at: https:// www.bia.gov/regional-offices/navajo/ navajo-nation-integrated-weedmanagement-plan. Paper and CD copies of the DPEIS may also be available to the public at the following BIA Offices (Natural Resources): • Navajo Region, 301 West Hill Street, Room 214, Gallup, New Mexico 87301: Phone (505) 863–8314. • Western Navajo Agency, East Highway 160 & Warrior Drive, #407 E:\FR\FM\29OCN1.SGM 29OCN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 60066 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 207 / Friday, October 29, 2021 / Notices Federal Building, Tuba City, Arizona, 86045; Phone: (928) 283–2252. • Chinle (Central) Navajo Agency, U.S. Highway 191 & Navajo Route 7, Federal Building #136C, Room C–12, Chinle, Arizona 86503; Phone: (928) 674–5100. • Eastern Navajo Agency, Building #222, Chaco Boulevard, Crownpoint, New Mexico, 87313; Phone: (505) 786– 6100. • Fort Defiance Agency, Kit Carson Drive, Building #40, Fort Defiance, Arizona, 86504; Phone: (928) 729–7223. • Shiprock (Northern) Navajo Agency, Nataani Nez Complex, 2nd Floor, Highway 491 South, Shiprock, New Mexico, 87420; Phone: (505) 368– 3308. • Navajo Partitioned Lands, 1⁄4 mile South of Navajo Route 4 & Main, Pinon, Arizona, 86510; Phone: (928) 725–3343. Public Comment Availability: All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be available for public review to the extent consistent with applicable law. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be aware your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be publicly available at any time. You can request the BIA to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments may not have standing to appeal the subsequent decision. To be placed on the mailing list for future information, please see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Authority: This notice is published in accordance with section 1503.1 of the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500 et seq.) and the Department of the Interior Regulations (43 CFR part 46) implementing the procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq), and in accordance with the exercise of authority delegated to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary— Indian Affairs by part 209 of the Department Manual. Bryan Newland, Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2021–23591 Filed 10–28–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4337–15–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:17 Oct 28, 2021 Jkt 256001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–ONAA–31167; PPWOWMADY0–PPMPSAS1Y.Y00000] Indian Youth Service Corps Program Draft Guidelines and Tribal Consultations National Park Service, Interior. Notice of Tribal consultations and availability of draft guidelines. AGENCY: ACTION: In accordance with the John S. McCain III 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act, the National Park Service (NPS) is giving notice that the Department of the Interior is holding consultation with Tribes, Alaska Native corporations, and the Native Hawaiian community to announce the availability of draft guidelines for the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, and Interior to implement the Indian Youth Service Corps Program. This notice provides a link to the draft guidelines and provides information for how to register for each of the consultation sessions. DATES: The Department of the Interior will hold consultation sessions on the dates listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. Written comments on the draft guidelines will be accepted until 11:59 ET December 17, 2021. ADDRESSES: The draft guidelines are available at the Office of Native American Affairs’ website at https:// www.nps.gov/orgs/1015/index.htm. Tribes, Alaska Native corporations, and leaders of Native Hawaiian organizations may submit written comments to onaa_program@nps.gov. Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice for information on how to register for the consultation sessions. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning these draft guidelines, contact George McDonald, Chief, Youth Programs Division, NPS, at george_mcdonald@nps.gov, or by telephone at (202) 997–5189, or Genevieve Giaccardo, Chief of Staff, Bureau of Indian Affairs, at genevieve.giaccardo@bia.gov, or by telephone at (202) 208–3587. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Background The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Pub. L. 116–9, March 2019) established the John S. McCain III 21st Century Conservation Service Corps Act (21 CSC Act) that amends and expands the Public Lands Corps Act. Contained PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 within the 21 CSC Act is the establishment of the Indian Youth Service Corps (IYSC) Program. The intent of the IYSC Program is to provide a direct benefit to members of federally recognized Indian Tribes or Alaska Native corporations. The IYSC Program will provide meaningful education, employment, and training opportunities to its participants through conservation projects on eligible service land, which includes public lands, Indian lands, and Hawaiian homelands. While the Public Land Corps is established in the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce in addition to the Department of the Interior, the Act specifically charges the Secretary of the Interior with issuing guidelines for the management of the Indian Youth Service Corps (16 U.S.C. 1727b(c)). Consultation The Department invites Tribes, Alaska Native corporations, and the Native Hawaiian community to consult on the draft guidelines. • Consultation for all Tribes east of the Mississippi River: Æ Tuesday, November 30, 2021 Æ 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET Æ Please register in advance at: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/ register/vJIsce-qrjgrHR9_-5h9vtljHz4Z6TDrVE • Consultation for all Tribes west of the Mississippi River and Alaska Native corporations: Æ Thursday, December 2, 2021 Æ 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET Æ Please register in advance at: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/ register/vJIscumsrD8rHrvg9RUgp5LnLRuZLfpkIo • Consultation for Native Hawaiian Organizations: Æ Thursday, December 9, 2021 Æ 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET Æ Please register in advance at: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/ register/vJItce2hqDsi G4qyOuAZyPjzqd020qVcYZI Written Comments Tribes are also invited to submit written comments by the deadline listed in the DATES section of this notice. Public Disclosure of Comments: 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 may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public E:\FR\FM\29OCN1.SGM 29OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 207 (Friday, October 29, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60065-60066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23591]



[[Page 60065]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[222A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900253G]


Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Navajo 
Nation Integrated Weed Management Plan, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA) as the lead Federal agency, with the Navajo Nation as a 
cooperating agency, intends to file a Draft Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement (DPEIS) with the Environmental Protection Agency for 
the proposed Navajo Nation Integrated Weed Management Plan (NNIWMP). 
This notice also announces that the DPEIS is now available for public 
review and comment and that a public hearing will be held to receive 
comments on the DPEIS.

DATES: To be fully considered, written comments on the DEIS must arrive 
no later than 45 days after EPA publishes its Notice of Availability in 
the Federal Register. The dates and times of the virtual public 
hearings will be published in the Navajo Times, the Gallup Sun, 
Farmington Daily Times, the Gallup Independent, and the Navajo-Hopi 
Observer.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Leonard Notah, NEPA 
Coordinator, Navajo Regional Office, Branch of Environmental Quality 
Compliance and Review, P.O. Box 1060, Gallup City, New Mexico 87301 or 
by email to [email protected]. The locations of the virtual public 
hearings will be published in the Navajo Times, the Gallup Sun, 
Farmington Daily Times, the Gallup Independent, and the Navajo-Hopi 
Observer. The NNIWMP DPEIS is available for review at: https://www.bia.gov/regional-offices/navajo/navajo-nation-integrated-weed-management-plan. Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 
this notice for physical locations where the DPEIS is available and for 
information on how to register to participate in the virtual public 
hearings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leonard Notah, NEPA Coordinator, 
Bureau of Indian Affairs Navajo Regional Office, Branch of 
Environmental Quality Compliance and Review, P.O. Box 1060, Gallup 
City, New Mexico 87301, telephone (505) 863-8256, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Federal action is 
implementation of the NNIWMP. The BIA Navajo Regional Office prepared 
the NNIWMP to determine the most effective and appropriate methods to 
treat noxious and invasive weeds. The DPEIS discloses the direct, 
indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of weed treatment 
techniques that would result from the Proposed Action and alternatives. 
The weed treatment techniques provide the BIA with the tools to 
implement an integrated approach to treating weeds on the Navajo Nation 
(Navajo Tribal Trust Lands, Navajo Indian Allotments, and Navajo 
Partitioned Lands).
    The purpose of the NNIWMP is to prevent, eradicate, contain, and/or 
monitor 45 noxious weed species on the Navajo Nation including the 
Navajo Tribal trust lands, Navajo Indian allotments, and Navajo 
partitioned lands. The NNIWMP focuses on managing non-native invasive 
plant species using mechanical, manual, cultural, biological, and 
chemical weed treatment methods.
    The following objectives were developed for the NNIWMP:
     Develop the best control techniques described for the 
target weed species in a planned, coordinated, and economically 
feasible program to limit the impact and spread of noxious and invasive 
weeds;
     Incorporate project successes and lessons learned from 
completed weed projects on the Navajo Nation when developing weed 
removal project proposals through adaptive management;
     Identify and prevent the expansion of existing 
infestations of target weed species, and quickly prevent the spread of 
new high priority weed species in the project area;
     Coordinate weed removal efforts with adjacent landowners, 
land managers, and/or Federal agencies to prevent the further spread of 
weed populations (e.g. State roads and Bureau of Land Management);
     Provide and promote economic opportunities to the Navajo 
people by improving rangeland productivity and potentially providing 
economic opportunities to remove noxious plant species; and
     Develop a public education program focusing on weed 
identification, prevention, and removal techniques for local 
communities and non-profit organizations.
    The NNWIMP encompasses a 10-year period but will incorporate a plan 
review after five years. Repeated treatments will be necessary for most 
species since seeds can be viable in soil for 10 or more years. 
Therefore, re-occurring weed treatments will be implemented until the 
desired management goal is reached.
    Cooperating agencies for this NEPA process include: The Navajo 
Nation, Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), Utah Department of 
Transportation (UDOT), Navajo Nation Soil and Water Conservation 
Districts (SWCD), San Juan Soil and Water Conservation District, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service 
(NRCS), the Bureau of Land Management, USDA Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) and the National Park Service. The BIA will 
seek to coordinate weed removal projects on adjacent lands managed by 
the above-mentioned agencies and neighboring areas managed by the 
Coconino National Forest and the Hopi Tribe.
    BIA will use the DPEIS to make decisions on the implementation of 
the NNIWMP.
    Directions for Submitting Comments: In accordance with the 
regulations for implementing NEPA, the BIA solicits public comment on 
the DPEIS. Comments on the DPEIS may be submitted in writing or by 
email to the address listed above in the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice. At the top of your letter or in the subject line of your email 
message, indicate that the comments are ``Navajo Nation IWMP Draft EIS 
Comments.''
    Public Hearings: To help protect the public and limit the spread of 
the COVID-19 virus, the BIA Navajo Regional Office will hold five 
virtual public hearings to facilitate public review and comment on the 
DPEIS. Members of the public can register for virtual public hearings 
at: https://www.bia.gov/regional-offices/navajo/navajo-nation-integrated-weed-management-plan.
    After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email 
with instruction for joining the meeting.
    Locations Where the DPEIS is Available for Review: The NNIWMP DPEIS 
is available for review at: https://www.bia.gov/regional-offices/navajo/navajo-nation-integrated-weed-management-plan. Paper and CD 
copies of the DPEIS may also be available to the public at the 
following BIA Offices (Natural Resources):
     Navajo Region, 301 West Hill Street, Room 214, Gallup, New 
Mexico 87301: Phone (505) 863-8314.
     Western Navajo Agency, East Highway 160 & Warrior Drive, 
#407

[[Page 60066]]

Federal Building, Tuba City, Arizona, 86045; Phone: (928) 283-2252.
     Chinle (Central) Navajo Agency, U.S. Highway 191 & Navajo 
Route 7, Federal Building #136C, Room C-12, Chinle, Arizona 86503; 
Phone: (928) 674-5100.
     Eastern Navajo Agency, Building #222, Chaco Boulevard, 
Crownpoint, New Mexico, 87313; Phone: (505) 786-6100.
     Fort Defiance Agency, Kit Carson Drive, Building #40, Fort 
Defiance, Arizona, 86504; Phone: (928) 729-7223.
     Shiprock (Northern) Navajo Agency, Nataani Nez Complex, 
2nd Floor, Highway 491 South, Shiprock, New Mexico, 87420; Phone: (505) 
368-3308.
     Navajo Partitioned Lands, \1/4\ mile South of Navajo Route 
4 & Main, Pinon, Arizona, 86510; Phone: (928) 725-3343.
    Public Comment Availability: All submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be 
available for public review to the extent consistent with applicable 
law. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, be aware your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
publicly available at any time. You can request the BIA to withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, but we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so. Comments submitted anonymously 
will be accepted and considered; however, those who submit anonymous 
comments may not have standing to appeal the subsequent decision.
    To be placed on the mailing list for future information, please see 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Authority: This notice is published in accordance with section 
1503.1 of the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500 
et seq.) and the Department of the Interior Regulations (43 CFR part 
46) implementing the procedural requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq), and in accordance 
with the exercise of authority delegated to the Principal Deputy 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs by part 209 of the Department 
Manual.

Bryan Newland,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2021-23591 Filed 10-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P


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