Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; Washington; Forest Plan Amendment for Planning and Management of Domestic Sheep and Goat Grazing Within the Range of Bighorn Sheep; Correction, 10284-10285 [2023-03354]

Download as PDF lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 10284 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2023 / Notices approximately 1.04 million acres across 18 counties in Western North Carolina. The Forests have a combined LMP. The LMP was developed pursuant to the 2012 Forest Service Planning Rule (36 CFR 219) and will replace the current LMP, which was significantly amended in 1994 following its 1987 release. The revised LMP describes desired conditions, objectives, standards, guidelines, and land suitability for project and activity decision-making and will guide all resource management activities on the Forests. The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests lie within one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world and are a global hotspot for biodiversity, with a rich diversity of ecosystems, unique habitats, and rare species. The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are among the most visited in the National Forest System with nationally recognized scenic and recreation destinations that are among the region’s greatest economic assets. The Pisgah Forest is also home to the birthplace of scientific forestry in America. The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests initiated LMP revision in 2013. During revision, the Forests engaged with federal, state, and local governments; 18 counties; three regional councils of government; local congressional staff; scientists; numerous interest and industry groups; individuals; and three collaborative groups that serve as liaisons to broader communities of interests. The design of public and government involvement was dynamic, allowing opportunities to both inform and accept feedback on the planning process as well as specific elements of the LMP. Public participants had opportunities to engage through more than 49 traditional public meetings, as well as through virtual meetings, facilitated phone calls, social media, email, and postal mail. The Forests engaged in government-togovernment consultation with 12 federally recognized tribes. The revised LMP honors and redeems the Forests’ trust responsibility to tribes, recognizes tribes and tribal members as partners in stewarding the national forests, and values traditional ecological knowledge and places of tribal significance. The development of the LMP was shaped by the best available scientific information, current laws, and public and government input. A 135-day public comment period on the draft LMP and associated Draft EIS was initiated on February 14, 2020. Comments were used to refine the preferred alternative and augment LMP. A draft ROD, LMP, and FEIS were released in January 2022, initiating a 60- VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:13 Feb 16, 2023 Jkt 259001 day objection filing period that closed March 22, 2022. The Forest Service received 825 eligible objections. Following the objection review, the Reviewing Officer held objection resolution meetings with objectors and interested persons. Based on these meetings, the Reviewing Officer issued a written response on January 19, 2023. The instructions from the Reviewing Officer were addressed in the ROD, LMP, and FEIS. Lead and Cooperating Agencies The Bureau of Land Management is a cooperating agency per their legal jurisdiction over the federal mineral estate underlying the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests and provides information and special expertise related to subsurface mineral resources. Responsible Official The Responsible Official for approving the revised LMP is James E. Melonas, Forest Supervisor, National Forests in North Carolina. The Responsible Official approving the list of species of conservation concern is Ken Arney, Regional Forester, Southern Region. Dated: February 9, 2023. Troy Heithecker, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System. [FR Doc. 2023–03353 Filed 2–16–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; Washington; Forest Plan Amendment for Planning and Management of Domestic Sheep and Goat Grazing Within the Range of Bighorn Sheep; Correction Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Correction to notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: The USDA Forest Service published a notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) in the Federal Register on May 17, 2019 (84 FR 22432). The NOI served as the scoping document for the Forest Plan Amendment for Planning and Management of Domestic Sheep and Goat Grazing Within the Range of Bighorn Sheep for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (Forest). After the initial 2019 scoping effort, the Forest determined the need to SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 update the NOI with new dates for the draft EIS and final EIS, new contact information, revised need for action, revised proposed action, preliminary alternatives, and nature of the decision to be made. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by April 3, 2023. The draft EIS is expected December 2023 and the final EIS is expected December 2024. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Domestic Sheep EIS, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, Washington 98801. Written comments can be submitted in person at the above address during regular business hours between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Comments may also be submitted online at https:// www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53257 or via facsimile to 509–664–9280. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacy Lundgren, Environmental Coordinator, via email at stacy.lundgren@usda.gov. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (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 purpose for this action remains the same as described in the 2019 NOI found here: https://www.govinfo.gov/ content/pkg/FR-2019-05-17/pdf/201910266.pdf. The need has been revised to address new concerns related to existing allotment management plans. To address these concerns, the Forest needs to amend both the Okanogan and Wenatchee Forest Plans to identify which existing grazing allotments are suitable or unsuitable for domestic sheep and goat grazing. The Forest also needs to identify potential site-specific grazing opportunities which could be made available to existing sheep permittees on the Forest. In contrast to the 2019 NOI, the proposed plan amendments and allotment analyses will not address grazing allotments on the Tonasket Ranger District, as that unit is now administered by the Colville National Forest. Proposed Action The revised proposed action would: (1) amend the Okanogan and Wenatchee Forest Plans to provide guidance for where domestic livestock grazing might be feasible and appropriate; and (2) develop site-specific allotment management plans for grazing of E:\FR\FM\17FEN1.SGM 17FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2023 / Notices domestic livestock, including sheep, goats, and cattle. While the Forest is currently managed as one administrative unit, forest plans were completed separately and were signed prior to the Regional Forester identifying bighorn sheep as a sensitive species. The proposed forest-wide plan amendment would add plan components to both forest plans to support management of domestic livestock grazing while mitigating disease transmission risk to bighorn sheep. Disease trasnmission risk factors that may be analyzed include bighorn sheep management and herd dynamics, local topography, spatial or temporal separation, other herd characteristics, or range management actions. In addition to forest plan components, site-specific conditions relative to risk of disease transmission between bighorn sheep and domestic livestock would be evaluated for each allotment. Domestic livestock grazing conditions, including but not limited to continuing sheep and goat grazing, switching from sheep and goat to cattle grazing, keeping allotments vacant, or closing allotments would be evaluated to determine how best to meet the need for action. Preliminary Alternatives The Forest has developed six preliminary alternatives: no action, current management strategies, no domestic livestock grazing, separation area delinations, allotment-by-allotment suitability determinations, and modified zone management. Expected Impacts The Forest will evaluate the proposed action and alternatives for potentially significant impacts including changes in the abundance and distribution of bighorn sheep, increased risk of disease transmission to bighorn sheep that result in population declines, changes in bighorn sheep viewing and hunting opportunities, changes to range conditions due to modification of grazing practices, and effects to local economies. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Lead and Cooperating Agencies The USDA Forest Service is the lead agency for the analysis in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The two cooperating agencies include the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) as described here: https:// www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-201905-17/pdf/2019-10266.pdf. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:13 Feb 16, 2023 Jkt 259001 Responsible Official The responsible official who will approve the Record of Decision is the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Supervisor. Scoping Comments and the Objection Process This notice of intent re-opens the scoping process that was initiated in the NOI published in the Federal Register in May 2019. Because the Forest continues to use the information received during the original comment period associated with the 2019 NOI, those comments need not be resubmitted. Comments submitted in response to this updated NOI will also be considered, and all comments will guide the development of the draft environmental impact statement. The Agency is requesting comments on potential alternatives and impacts, and identification of any relevant information, studies, or analyses concerning impacts that may affect the quality of the 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. The proposed action is subject to objection under Forest Service regulations found at 36 CFR 218 and 36 CFR 219. Commenting during scoping and any other designated opportunity to comment provided by the Responsible Official will establish eligibility to object once the final EIS and Draft Record of Decision have been published. 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 cannot be used to establish eligibility for the objection process. Nature of Decision To Be Made The Responsible Official will decide whether to approve the proposed amendment for the two Forest Plans to establish new plan components for domestic sheep and goat grazing on NFS lands within the range of the bighorn sheep and decide on site-specific allotment management for grazing of domestic sheep, goats, and cattle. PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 10285 Substantive Provisions In accordance with the regulation at 36 CFR 219.6, when evaluating an amendment for a Forest Plan, ‘‘the responsible official has the discretion to determine the scope, scale, and timing of an assessment . . . .’’ As per 36 CFR 219.13(b)(5), the responsible official shall, ‘‘[d]etermine which specific substantive requirement(s) within 219.8 through 219.11 are directly related to the plan direction being added, modified, or removed by the amendment and apply such requirement(s) within the scope and scale of the amendment.’’ With the proposed amendment, the relevant substantive requirements include: 219.6(b)(6): Social, cultural, and economic conditions relevant to the plan area; 219.8(a)(1)(ii): Contributions of the plan area to ecological conditions within the broader landscape influenced by the plan area; 219.9(a)(2)(i): Key characteristics associated within terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem types; and 219.10(a)(7): Reasonably foreseeable risks to ecological, social, and economic sustainability. Dated: February 10, 2023. Troy Heithecker, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System. [FR Doc. 2023–03354 Filed 2–16–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Census Bureau Census Scientific Advisory Committee Census Bureau, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public virtual meeting. AGENCY: The Census Bureau is giving notice of a virtual meeting of the Census Scientific Advisory Committee (CSAC). The Committee will address policy, research, and technical issues relating to a full range of Census Bureau programs and activities, including decennial, economic, field operations, information technology, and statistics. Last minute changes to the schedule are possible, which could prevent giving advance public notice of schedule adjustments. DATES: The virtual meeting will be held on: • Thursday, March 9, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT, and • Friday, March 10, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT. ADDRESSES: Please visit the Census Advisory Committee website at https:// www.census.gov/about/cac/sac/ SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\17FEN1.SGM 17FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10284-10285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03354]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest; Washington; Forest Plan 
Amendment for Planning and Management of Domestic Sheep and Goat 
Grazing Within the Range of Bighorn Sheep; Correction

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Correction to notice of intent to prepare an environmental 
impact statement.

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

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service published a notice of intent (NOI) to 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) in the Federal Register 
on May 17, 2019 (84 FR 22432). The NOI served as the scoping document 
for the Forest Plan Amendment for Planning and Management of Domestic 
Sheep and Goat Grazing Within the Range of Bighorn Sheep for the 
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (Forest). After the initial 2019 
scoping effort, the Forest determined the need to update the NOI with 
new dates for the draft EIS and final EIS, new contact information, 
revised need for action, revised proposed action, preliminary 
alternatives, and nature of the decision to be made.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by April 3, 2023. The draft EIS is expected December 2023 and the final 
EIS is expected December 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Okanogan-Wenatchee National 
Forest, Domestic Sheep EIS, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, Washington 
98801. Written comments can be submitted in person at the above address 
during regular business hours between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Pacific 
Time, Monday through Friday. Comments may also be submitted online at 
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53257 or via facsimile to 509-
664-9280.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacy Lundgren, Environmental 
Coordinator, via email at [email protected]. Individuals who use 
telecommunication devices for the deaf (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 purpose for this action remains the same as described in the 
2019 NOI found here: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-05-17/pdf/2019-10266.pdf. The need has been revised to address new concerns 
related to existing allotment management plans.
    To address these concerns, the Forest needs to amend both the 
Okanogan and Wenatchee Forest Plans to identify which existing grazing 
allotments are suitable or unsuitable for domestic sheep and goat 
grazing. The Forest also needs to identify potential site-specific 
grazing opportunities which could be made available to existing sheep 
permittees on the Forest. In contrast to the 2019 NOI, the proposed 
plan amendments and allotment analyses will not address grazing 
allotments on the Tonasket Ranger District, as that unit is now 
administered by the Colville National Forest.

Proposed Action

    The revised proposed action would: (1) amend the Okanogan and 
Wenatchee Forest Plans to provide guidance for where domestic livestock 
grazing might be feasible and appropriate; and (2) develop site-
specific allotment management plans for grazing of

[[Page 10285]]

domestic livestock, including sheep, goats, and cattle.
    While the Forest is currently managed as one administrative unit, 
forest plans were completed separately and were signed prior to the 
Regional Forester identifying bighorn sheep as a sensitive species. The 
proposed forest-wide plan amendment would add plan components to both 
forest plans to support management of domestic livestock grazing while 
mitigating disease transmission risk to bighorn sheep. Disease 
trasnmission risk factors that may be analyzed include bighorn sheep 
management and herd dynamics, local topography, spatial or temporal 
separation, other herd characteristics, or range management actions.
    In addition to forest plan components, site-specific conditions 
relative to risk of disease transmission between bighorn sheep and 
domestic livestock would be evaluated for each allotment. Domestic 
livestock grazing conditions, including but not limited to continuing 
sheep and goat grazing, switching from sheep and goat to cattle 
grazing, keeping allotments vacant, or closing allotments would be 
evaluated to determine how best to meet the need for action.

Preliminary Alternatives

    The Forest has developed six preliminary alternatives: no action, 
current management strategies, no domestic livestock grazing, 
separation area delinations, allotment-by-allotment suitability 
determinations, and modified zone management.

Expected Impacts

    The Forest will evaluate the proposed action and alternatives for 
potentially significant impacts including changes in the abundance and 
distribution of bighorn sheep, increased risk of disease transmission 
to bighorn sheep that result in population declines, changes in bighorn 
sheep viewing and hunting opportunities, changes to range conditions 
due to modification of grazing practices, and effects to local 
economies.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The USDA Forest Service is the lead agency for the analysis in 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. The two 
cooperating agencies include the USDA Agricultural Research Service 
(ARS) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) as 
described here: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-05-17/pdf/2019-10266.pdf.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official who will approve the Record of Decision is 
the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Supervisor.

Scoping Comments and the Objection Process

    This notice of intent re-opens the scoping process that was 
initiated in the NOI published in the Federal Register in May 2019. 
Because the Forest continues to use the information received during the 
original comment period associated with the 2019 NOI, those comments 
need not be resubmitted. Comments submitted in response to this updated 
NOI will also be considered, and all comments will guide the 
development of the draft environmental impact statement. The Agency is 
requesting comments on potential alternatives and impacts, and 
identification of any relevant information, studies, or analyses 
concerning impacts that may affect the quality of the 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.
    The proposed action is subject to objection under Forest Service 
regulations found at 36 CFR 218 and 36 CFR 219. Commenting during 
scoping and any other designated opportunity to comment provided by the 
Responsible Official will establish eligibility to object once the 
final EIS and Draft Record of Decision have been published. 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 cannot be used to establish eligibility 
for the objection process.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Responsible Official will decide whether to approve the 
proposed amendment for the two Forest Plans to establish new plan 
components for domestic sheep and goat grazing on NFS lands within the 
range of the bighorn sheep and decide on site-specific allotment 
management for grazing of domestic sheep, goats, and cattle.

Substantive Provisions

    In accordance with the regulation at 36 CFR 219.6, when evaluating 
an amendment for a Forest Plan, ``the responsible official has the 
discretion to determine the scope, scale, and timing of an assessment . 
. . .'' As per 36 CFR 219.13(b)(5), the responsible official shall, 
``[d]etermine which specific substantive requirement(s) within 219.8 
through 219.11 are directly related to the plan direction being added, 
modified, or removed by the amendment and apply such requirement(s) 
within the scope and scale of the amendment.'' With the proposed 
amendment, the relevant substantive requirements include: 219.6(b)(6): 
Social, cultural, and economic conditions relevant to the plan area; 
219.8(a)(1)(ii): Contributions of the plan area to ecological 
conditions within the broader landscape influenced by the plan area; 
219.9(a)(2)(i): Key characteristics associated within terrestrial and 
aquatic ecosystem types; and 219.10(a)(7): Reasonably foreseeable risks 
to ecological, social, and economic sustainability.

    Dated: February 10, 2023.
Troy Heithecker,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2023-03354 Filed 2-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

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