Big Piney Ranger District and Greys River Ranger District; Bridger-Teton National Forest; Wyoming, Dell Creek and Forest Park Elk Feedgrounds: Long-Term Special Use Permits, 2404-2405 [2022-00700]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2404-2405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00700]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Big Piney Ranger District and Greys River Ranger District; 
Bridger-Teton National Forest; Wyoming, Dell Creek and Forest Park Elk 
Feedgrounds: Long-Term Special Use Permits

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) is preparing an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Dell Creek and Forest Park 
Feedgrounds: Long-Term Special Use Permit project. The Wyoming Game and 
Fish Commission (WGFC) has applied for continued use of facilities on 
National Forest System lands to conduct their elk management 
activities, including providing hay to wintering elk at Dell Creek and 
Forest Park feedgrounds between mid-November and the end of April. The 
Dell Creek feedground is in the Big Piney Ranger District on Dell Creek 
Road (Forest Service Road 30600) about 4 miles east of Highway 191/189, 
in Bondurant, Wyoming, and has been maintained by the WGFC under a 
Forest Service special use permit since 1975. The Forest Park 
feedground is in the Greys River Ranger District along the Greys River 
Road (Forest Service Road 10138) about 33 miles from Alpine, Wyoming, 
and has been maintained by the WGFC under a Forest Service special use 
permit since 1979. The Forest Service action is to determine whether to 
authorize the requested long-term use and if so, under what conditions.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by February 14, 2022. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected January 2023 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected January 2024.

ADDRESSES: Scoping comments can be submitted electronically through the 
project web page or directly to https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=60949. Comments may also be mailed to P.O. 
Box 1888, Jackson, WY 83001, or sent via facsimile to 307-739-5010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Visit the project web page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60949 for current information. A 
public meeting will be held virtually during the comment period to 
share information about the project. For additional information contact 
Mary Cernicek, Planning and Public Affairs Staff Officer by email at 
[email protected] or by phone at 307-739-5564 or cellphone 307-
413-2481. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf/
hard-of-hearing (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-
800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Forest Service received a request from the WGFC to continue to 
use facilities at Dell Creek and Forest Park feedgrounds to conduct 
their elk winter feeding and related management activities. Under 36 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 251.50, authorization is required for 
this type of special use of National Forest System lands. The purpose 
of the WGFC's proposal is to prevent conflicts with nearby livestock 
operations including reduce the risk of

[[Page 2405]]

brucellosis transmission, maintain elk population objectives pursuant 
to the interests of their constituents and without excessive winter elk 
mortality, and prevent vehicle collisions on Highway 191. The purpose 
of the federal action is to decide whether to approve the WGFC's 
request and, if so, under what conditions to continue to permit the 
use. As part of the federal action, the Forest Service must ensure that 
the decision complies with the BTNF Land and Resource Management Plan 
(Forest Plan), Forest Service regulations and policies, and other 
applicable direction. Pertinent direction in the Forest Plan includes 
but is not limited to: An objective to ``[p]rovide suitable and 
adequate habitat to support the game and fish populations established 
by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, as agreed to by the Forest 
Service'' (Objective 2.1(a)); and to ``[h]elp re-establish historic elk 
migration routes to provide increased viewing and hunting opportunities 
for outfitters and clients'' (Objective 1.1(g)). The need for the 
federal action is to respond to the WGFC's application as required 
under 36 CFR 251.50. In addition, the need for the federal action is to 
address any gaps between desired and existing conditions at Dell Creek 
and Forest Park feedgrounds associated with disease (including 
brucellosis and chronic wasting disease), elk habitat, recreation 
opportunities (hunting and wildlife viewing), and the condition of 
soil, vegetation, riparian areas, and associated fish and wildlife.

Proposed Action

    The WGFC's proposal is to continue long-term use (20 years) of the 
Dell Creek feedground (35 acres), Forest Park feedgound (100 acres), 
and existing facilities for their winter elk management program. Hay 
would be distributed from horse-drawn sleighs daily between November 
15th and April 30th, depending on winter conditions. The WGFC would 
maintain and operate existing facilities necessary for their ongoing 
winter elk management activities including: Hay storage sheds, fenced 
stackyard, corrals, elk traps, fencing, 0.25 mile of road, bridge, 
cabin, spring development, water well and portable tack shed. No new 
construction would be permitted. Winter elk management activities would 
include, but are not limited to, feeding, capturing, collaring, 
vaccinating and testing elk, and removing seropositive elk from the 
population.

Preliminary Alternatives

    Three preliminary alternatives, in addition to the proposed action, 
have been identified. (1) No Special Use Authorization Alternative: Use 
of National Forest System lands for WGFC's winter elk management 
activities would not be permitted at Dell Creek and Forest Park 
feedgrounds. WGFC would remove the existing facilities and re-
habilitate impacts at both locations. (2) Phase-Out Alternative: Use of 
National Forest System lands for WGFC's winter elk management 
activities would be permitted at Dell Creek and Forest Park feedgrounds 
for less than 20 years. The number of days elk would be fed would 
decrease over time. Upon expiration of the permit, use of National 
Forest System lands for WGFC's winter elk management activities would 
be terminated and WGFC would remove the existing facilities and re-
habilitate impacts at both locations. (3) Emergency Feeding Only 
Alternative: Use of National Forest System lands for WGFC's winter elk 
management activities would be permitted at Dell Creek and Forest Park 
feedgrounds for emergency use only. Upon expiration of the permit, use 
of National Forest System lands for WGFC's winter elk management 
activities would be terminated and WGFC would remove the existing 
facilities and re-habilitate impacts at both locations. Alternatives 
will be developed based on comments received and issues identified.

Expected Impacts

    The effect of the Forest Service authorizing the WGFC's occupancy 
of Dell Creek and Forest Park feedgrounds and use of associated 
facilities would be that the WGFC utilizes these feedgrounds to 
implement their elk management program. Under the WGFC's elk management 
program, supplemental winter feeding increases over-winter elk survival 
by maintaining body condition. Winter feeding of elk reduces 
transmission of diseases to livestock, such as brucellosis, by reducing 
commingling of wintering elk and livestock. The continuation of 
feedground operations may increase elk mortality by increasing the 
prevalence of chronic wasting disease in the elk herds that use the 
feedgrounds. Conversely, terminating elk winter feeding may reduce elk 
winter survival. A decrease in the health and population size of elk 
herds would negatively impact hunting and wildlife viewing 
opportunities.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    Forest Service is the lead agency and Wyoming Game and Fish 
Department, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Geological 
Survey are cooperating agencies.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official is the Forest Supervisor of the Bridger-
Teton National Forest, Patricia O'Connor.

Scoping Comments and the Objection Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. In this process 
the Agency is requesting comments on potential alternatives and 
impacts, and identification of any relevant information, studies or 
analyses of any kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the 
human environment.
    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. Commenting during 
scoping and any other designated opportunity to comment provided by the 
Responsible Official will also establish standing to object once the 
notice of the final EIS and draft Record of Decision has been published 
in the newspaper of record. 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 be used to establish standing for the objection process.

Permits Required

    A Forest Service special use permit would be required to authorize 
WGFC's use of facilities at Dell Creek and Forest Park feedgrounds to 
conduct their elk winter feeding and related management activities.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Service is to decide whether to reauthorize the WGFC 
long-term use of Dell Creek and Forest Park feedgrounds and associated 
facilities to conduct their elk management activities, and if so, under 
what conditions.

    Dated: January 7, 2022.
Barnie Gyant,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2022-00700 Filed 1-13-22; 8:45 am]
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