Department of Agriculture August 9, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting as a final rule, without change, an interim rule that amended the Asian longhorned beetle regulations by removing portions of Cook and DuPage Counties, IL, from the list of quarantined areas and removing restrictions on the interstate movement of regulated articles from those areas. The interim rule was based on our determination that the Asian longhorned beetle no longer presents a risk of spread from those areas and that the quarantine and restrictions are no longer necessary.

The USDA Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement to document and disclose the environmental impacts of a proposal to issue long term permits for a variety of commercial pack stock related activities to twelve existing Resort Special Use Permit holders (commercial service supported by horse). The DEIS also analyzes a proposal from one current outfitter and guide (commercial service supported by burros) and a proposal from one new outfitter and guide (commercial service supported by llamas) to issue permits for their proposed commercial activities. The services as proposed would occur on the Inyo National Forest in the Ansel Adams (AA), John Muir (JM), Golden Trout (GT), and South Sierra (SS) Wildernesses, and the non- wilderness portions of the Inyo National Forest. This EIS tiers to the Record of Decision that will be signed for the Trail and Commercial Pack Stock Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement for all activities and uses proposed in the AA and JM Wildernesses. Current activities provided by pack stations include full service guided trips (guide remains for the entire trip), dunnage trips (transport of material and supplies), spot trips (transport of people and supplies to a location and guide leaving), day rides, wild horse viewing in the Pizona Area (from a base camp finding and viewing wild horses), and stock drives (movement of stock to and from winter range to operating areas). Activities currently conducted by the Outfitter and Guides include use of burros and llamas to provide dunnage service, backpacking trips, and camp re-supply services.