Department of Agriculture April 6, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This is a revision of a Notice of Intent originally published in the Federal Register on August 4, 2004. This revision also hereby withdraws another Notice of Intent, originally published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2004, and incorporates that project into this one. The original Notice of August 4, 2004 for the ``Forest-Wide Integrated Weed Management'' project stated the Forest Service would prepare an environmental impact statement to address noxious weeds on a maximum of 15,000 acres per year on the Lolo National Forest, using aerial and ground application of herbicides, biological and manual control methods. The Notice of August 31, 2004 for the ``Pattee Canyon Weed Management Project'' stated the Forest Service would prepare an environmental impact statement to control invasive weeds on approximately 2,500 acres of land near Missoula, Montana, using aerial and ground applications of herbicides, biological control agents, and revegetation. This revision withdraws the ``Pattee Canyon Weed Management Project'' as a separate project, and combines it into the ``Forest-Wide Integrated Weed Management'' project. The reason for the change is to make the analysis more efficient, because the ``Pattee Canyon Weed Management Project'' area is wholly within the ``Forest-Wide Integrated Weed Management'' project area, because the proposed weed management methods and aims are the same for both projects, and because undertaking two analyses would be less efficient. The issues identified in the August 31, 2004 Federal Register Notice for the ``Pattee Canyon Weed Management Project'' included the effectiveness of the proposed treatments, potential risks to human health and safety associated with herbicides, and the potential adverse effects of herbicides on native vegetation. The August 4, 2004 Federal Register Notice for the ``Forest-Wide Integrated Weed Management'' project did not list any specific issues. However, based on public scoping, the issues identified for the ``Pattee Canyon Weed Management Project'' apply to the ``Forest-Wide Integrated Weed Management'' project as well. The public comments received for the ``Pattee Canyon Weed Management Project'' will be incorporated into the ``Forest-Wide Integrated Weed Management'' project. The August 4, 2004 Federal Register Notice is hereby amended to include them. The August 4, 2004 Notice is further amended to also include the following additional issues: 1. Recognizing that invasive weeds are spreading rapidly in Western Montana, what effect will invasive weeds have on wildlife and native plant communities? 2. What potential adverse effects might herbicides have on wildlife, fish and water quality?

The Shasta County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet at the USDA Service Center in Redding, California, May 4-5, June 1 and July 5 of 2005. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss proposed projects under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act of 2000.

The Intergovernmental Advisory Committee (IAC), Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP), has scheduled a meeting on April 21, 2005 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the Washington Conference Room, Jantzen Beach DoubleTree Hotel, 909 N Hayden Island Drive, Portland, OR 97217, 503- 283-4466. The purpose of the meeting is to review key findings and trends from the April 19-20, 2005 Science and the Northwest Forest Plan, Knowledge Gained Over a Decade conference (see https:// outreach.cof.orst.edu/nwforestplan/index.php) and collect advice regarding the findings and how they may be used to improve NWFP implementation. The meeting is open to the public and fully accessible for people with disabilities. A 15-minute time slot is reserved for public comments at 8:30 a.m. Interpreters are available upon request at least 10 days prior to the meeting. Written comments may be submitted for the meeting record. Interested persons are encouraged to attend.