Department of Agriculture March 19, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The USDA Forest Service (Forest Service), Fremont Winema National Forests, is proposing to prepare an amendment to the Fremont National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) for the proposed Ruby Pipeline Project (Project). The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the lead agency for this proposed natural gas pipeline (Docket No. CP09-54-000). The staff of FERC is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will discuss the environmental impacts that could result from the construction and operation of a new underground natural gas pipeline proposed by Ruby Pipeline, LLC (Ruby). The Project's proposed facilities consist of 675.2 miles of 42-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline, four new compressor stations, and related facilities. The USDA Forest Service, Fremont Winema National Forests is participating as a cooperating agency because the Project traverses the Fremont Winema National Forests in Oregon. As a cooperating agency, the U.S. Forest Service, Fremont Winema National Forests intends to adopt the FERC EIS per Title 40 CFR 1506.3, to meet its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) responsibilities. FERC, as lead federal agency in the preparation of the EIS, is preparing the EIS to satisfy the requirements of NEPA. NEPA requires FERC to take into account the environmental impacts that could result from an action when it considers whether or not an interstate natural gas pipeline should be issued a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for construction of the pipeline. FERC will use the EIS to consider the environmental impacts that could result if it issues project authorizations. FERC will use the EIS in its decision-making processes to determine whether or not to authorize the Project. FERC initiated its pre-filing process on January 31, 2008 and issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS for this Project on September 26, 2008. The USDA Forest Service will use the EIS to evaluate the proposed amendments to the Fremont Forest Plan and for any forest plan amendment decisions made subsequently should FERC authorize this Project. The Forest Service has determined that an amendment to the Fremont Forest Plan would be needed because the Project would not meet the plan Standards and Guidelines for soil disturbance, visual quality, mechanical disturbance in seeps and springs, and old growth management. Analysis of the effects of the amendment will be included in the FERC EIS. This notice announces the intention to prepare an amendment to the Fremont Forest Plan.

GIPSA is announcing designation of the following organizations to provide official services under the United States Grain Standards Act, as amended (USGSA): Grain Inspection, Inc. (Jamestown); Lincoln Inspection Service, Inc. (Lincoln); Midsouth Grain Inspection Service (Midsouth); and Sioux City Inspection and Weighing Service Company (Sioux City).

The Hood/Willamette Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet on Friday, April 24, 2009. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 12 p.m. The meeting will be held at Salem Office of the Bureau of Land Management Office; 1717 Fabry Road SE; Salem, Oregon; (503) 375-5646. The tentative agenda includes: (1) Orientation; (2) Election of chairperson; (3) Decision on overhead rate for 2009 and 2010 projects; (4) Presentation of 2009 and 2010 Projects; and (5) Public Forum. The Public Forum is tentatively scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. Time allotted for individual presentations will be limited to 4-5 minutes. Written comments are encouraged, particularly if the material cannot be presented within the time limits for the Public Forum. Written comments may be submitted prior to the April 24th meeting by sending them to Donna Short at the address given below.