[Federal Register: December 30, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 250)]
[Notices]
[Page 79557-79559]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Martin Basin Rangeland Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Santa Rosa Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe National
Forest will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a
proposal to authorize continued livestock grazing within the Martin
Basin Rangeland Project area. The analysis will determine if a change
in management direction for livestock grazing is needed to move
existing resource conditions within the Martin Basin Rangeland Project
area towards desired conditions. The allotments within the project
areas
[[Page 79558]]
include Martin Basin, Indian, West Side Flat Creek, Buffalo, Bradshaw,
Buttermild, Granite Peak and Rebel Creek. These allotments are located
within the Quinn River Watershed and North Fork Little Humboldt River
Watershed in Humboldt County, Nevada.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by February 28, 2003. The draft environmental impact statement is
expected July 2003 and the final environmental impact statement is
expected September 2003.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to District Ranger, Santa Rosa Ranger
District, 1200 East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, mail
correspondence to or contact Steven Williams, Project Coordinator, at
Santa Rosa Ranger District, 1200 East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca,
Nevada 89445. The telephone number is 775-623-5025, extension 112. E-
mail address is swilliams01@fs.fed.us.
Purpose and Need for Action
There is a need to maintain or improve the condition of riparian
resources and maintain or improve the overall health of the rangeland
in the Martin Basin Rangeland Project area. The purpose of this project
is to determine the management direction for livestock grazing needed
to move existing resource conditions within the project area towards
desired conditions.
Proposed Action
The Santa Rosa Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe Nation Forest, is
proposing to authorize continued cattle grazing in the Martin Basin
Rangeland Project area under updated grazing management direction in
order to move existing rangeland resource conditions within the project
area toward desired condition. The updated direction will be
incorporated in attendant grazing permits and allotment management
plans to guide grazing management within the project area during the
coming decade, or until amendments are warranted based on changed
condition or monitoring.
Possible Alternatives
In addition to the proposed action we have tentatively identified
two additional alternatives that will be analyzed in the EIS.
(1) No Act Alternative: This would be continuation of the current
grazing management.
(2) No Grazing Alternative: This would be not issuing new grazing
permits when existing permits expire.
Responsible Official
Jose Noriega, District Ranger, Santa Rosa Ranger District, 1200
East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Based on the environmental analysis on the EIS the District Ranger
will decide whether or not to continue grazing on the allotment within
the Martin Basin project area in accordance with the standards in the
proposed action or as modified by additional mitigation measures and
monitoring requirements.
Scoping Process
The Forest Service will use a mailing of information to interested
parties. Public involvement will be ongoing throughout the analysis
process and at certain times public input will be specifically
requested. There are currently no scoping meetings planned.
Preliminary Issues
The following are some potential issues identified through internal
Forest Service scoping based on our experience with similar projects.
The list is not considered all-inclusive, but should be viewed as a
starting point. We are asking you to help us further refine the issues
and identify other issues or concerns relevant to the proposed project.
[sbull] Continued livestock grazing has the potential to adversely
affect water quality in the Quinn River/Blackrock Basin and the
Humboldt River Basin.
[sbull] Continued livestock grazing has the potential to adversely
affect habitat for Lahontan Cutthroat trout a Federally listed species
found in the Quinn River/Blackrock Basin and the Humboldt Basin.
[sbull] Continued livestock grazing has the potential to adversely
affect heritage resources within the project area.
[sbull] Continued livestock grazing has the potential to adversely
affect vegetation, which may result in a decline in the long-term
productivity of the land base.
[sbull] Continued livestock grazing is currently affecting the
health of some aspen stands.
[sbull] Continued livestock grazing affects trails, trailheads, and
dispersed recreation sites.
[sbull] Continued livestock grazing has the potential to adversely
affect wilderness values.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. Submit comments
stating your concerns and issues that are relevant to the proposed
project. Comments will be used to help establish the scope or studies
and analysis for the environmental impact statement.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for
comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement
will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewers's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
533 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Hertages, Inc. v. Harris, 490
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these courts rulings,
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 45 day comment period so that
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to
them in the final environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer
to the Council on Environmental
[[Page 79559]]
Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these
points.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal
and will be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Dated: December 20, 2002.
Jose Noriega,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 02-32861 Filed 12-27-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
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