[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 158 (Thursday, August 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49723-49724]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19519]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests; Ely Ranger District; Ely
Westside Rangeland Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement.
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SUMMARY: The Ely Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National
Forest will prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
(SETS) on a proposal to authorize continued livestock grazing on
National Forest System (NFS) lands within the boundaries administered
by the Ely Ranger District. The Project Area is located in White Pine,
Lincoln, and Nye counties, Nevada.
A Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision were
distributed in September 2011. While considering an appeal on the
Record of Decision, it became apparent that clarification of some
elements in the selected alternative, Alternative 1 (Proposed Action),
was warranted. On January 6, 2012, the Record of Decision was
withdrawn. This SETS is being prepared to clarify several elements of
Alternative 1 (Proposed Action) and to provide additional information
on the development of stocking rates on the allotments in the project
area.
DATES: The Draft SEIS is expected to be released for public review and
comment in August of 2013 and the Final SEIS is expected to be released
in November of 2013.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Vernon Keller, Environmental
Coordinator, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way,
Sparks, NV 89431.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, mail
correspondence to or contact Vernon Keller, NEPA Coordinator, Humboldt-
Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, NV 89431. The
telephone number is: 775-355-5356. Email address is: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Initiation of the Ely Westside Rangeland Project began in 2006 with
the original Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register on
November 27, 2006 (Vol. 71, Number 227). The Draft EIS was released in
June of 2011 for a 45 day comment period. The Final EIS and Record of
Decision were released simultaneously on September 28, 2011. These
documents, which include descriptions of the purpose and need, the
proposed action, and two alternatives to the proposed action, can be
found at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/htnf/elywestrange.
One appeal was filed against the 2011 Record of Decision. On
January 6, 2012, the Forest Supervisor withdrew the Record of Decision,
finding that additional clarification in the Final Environmental Impact
Statement was desirable.
Purpose and Need for Action
As stated in Final EIS released in 2011, this action is being
considered at this time because current and prospective permittees have
expressed a desire to graze or continue grazing on allotments in the
project area and the Rescissions Act of 1995 directs the Forest Service
to establish and adhere to a schedule to complete environmental
analyses and decisions on all allotments. The purpose of the proposed
federal action is to authorize livestock grazing under terms and
conditions designed to sustain and improve the health of the land and
protect essential ecosystem functions and values. The need for the
proposed federal action is to allow these allotments to continue to
contribute to the overall desired Animal Use Month (AUM) production for
the Humboldt National Forest while improving the gap between existing
and desired rangeland conditions.
Proposed Action
As outlined in the Final EIS released in 2011, the Proposed Action
would authorize domestic livestock grazing on the nine of the twelve
allotments in the Project Area. Under this alternative, proper use
criteria (forage utilization and streambank alteration) would be based
on the current ecological conditions (functioning, functioning-at-risk,
or non-functioning) within each allotment.
[[Page 49724]]
The ecological condition of the allotments would continue to be
evaluated through a long-term monitoring process. If long-term
monitoring indicates the ecological condition of the allotment has
changed, then the set of proper use criteria associated with that
ecological condition would be applied to the allotment. The Proposed
Action includes a non-significant Forest Plan amendment to open the
Troy Mountain Allotment to livestock grazing.
Alternatives to the Proposed Action
In addition to the Proposed Action, two additional alternatives
have been identified for analysis in the SETS:
1. Current Management Alternative: Continue current grazing
management.
2. No Grazing Alternative: Eliminate grazing on all the allotments
in the project area immediately.
Responsible Official
The responsible official is: William Dunkelberger, Forest
Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way,
Sparks, NV 89431.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will decide whether or not to incorporate
the supplemental information and analysis into the FEIS. The
Responsible Official will also decide whether to authorize grazing (and
if so, under what terms and conditions) on the allotments in the Ely
Westside Rangeland Project area.
The objection process described in 36 CFR part 218, subparts A and
B will be used as this project goes forward, instead of the appeal
process described in 36 CFR part 215. After the comments on the Draft
Supplement are considered, a Final Supplemental EIS and a Draft Record
of Decision will be prepared and circulated. Those who commented during
any designated opportunity for public comment on this project will have
eligibility to file an objection on the draft Record of Decision.
Scoping Process
Scoping was conducted for the original EIS. The scoping period for
this EIS was formally initiated on November 27, 2006 when the original
notice of intent for this project was published in the Federal Register
(Volume 71, Number 227). Scoping is not required for supplements to
environmental impact statements (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4)). The supplement
will be subject to notice and comment. A draft supplemental EIS will be
published and made available for review and comment for 45 days,
following direction at 36 CFR 218.25. Comments on the draft
supplemental EIS will be limited to the supplemental information to the
2011 EIS.
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, anonymous comments will not provide
the Agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent
environmental documents.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15,
Section 21)
Dated: August 6, 2013.
William A. Dunkelberger,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2013-19519 Filed 8-14-13; 8:45 am]
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