[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 234 (Thursday, December 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73186-73187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29075]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 234 / Thursday, December 5, 2013 /
Notices
[[Page 73186]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Wallowa-Whitman National Forests, Oregon; Lower Imnaha Rangeland
Analysis
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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Authority: 36 CFR 220.5(b).
SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact
statement to authorize the approval of grazing livestock within the
lower Imnaha area, including allotments within the Lightning Creek,
Tulley Creek, Cow Creek, and a portion of the Snake River watersheds of
the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area of the Wallowa-Whitman
National Forest.
The Lower Imnaha Rangeland Analysis (LIRA) has previously been
initiated through a scoping letter for environmental analysis for
livestock grazing. The scoping letter was sent on August 26, 2011 to
159 individuals, organizations, and agencies which included tribal
representatives, grazing permittees, state and federal resource
management agencies, special interest organizations, and interested
publics. As a result of scoping, a concern was brought forward
regarding impacts to Silene spaldingii or Spalding's catchfly, a
threatened species, which indicated the need for the LIRA to be
analyzed in an environmental impact statement (EIS) instead of the
environmental assessment (EA) that was indicated in the scoping letter.
Since the proposed action has not changed since the scoping letter was
released, a new scoping period will not be initiated. All scoping
comments received during the 2011 30-day scoping period will be
considered in the EIS.
DATES: The draft environmental impact statement is expected June 2014
and the final environmental impact statement and draft record of
decision are expected September 2014.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions to Area Ranger Kris
Stein, Hells Canyon National Recreation, Wallowa-Whitman National
Forest, PO Box 905, Joseph, OR 97846. Comments may also be sent via
email to comments-pacificnorthwest-wallowa-whitman-hellscanyonnra@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie McCormack, Interdisciplinary
Team Leader, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Wallowa Mountains Office,
PO Box 905, Joseph, OR 97846, Phone: (541) 263-1645.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need
The purpose of this project is to implement the direction of the
Wallowa-Whitman Forest Plan,\1\ HCNRA CMP (Comprehensive Management
Plan) FEIS,\2\ and the Acts of Congress to provide grazing on National
Forest System lands. This analysis is being prepared to determine if
the Forest Service should continue to authorize livestock grazing in
the four allotments identified of this project.
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\1\ USDA Forest Service. (1990). Land and Resources Management
Plan for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Wallowa-Whitman
National Forest, Baker City, Oregon.
\2\ USDA Forest Service. (2003). Hells Canyon National
Recreation Area Comprehensive Management Plan FEIS. Wallowa-Whitman
National Forest. Baker City, Oregon.
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The needs associated with this project are (1) to comply with with
the Rescission Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-19, Section 504), (2) to be
consistent with other multiple use goals and objectives provided by
Congress, (3) to continue contributing to the economic and social well-
being of communities that depend on range resources for their
livelihood by providing opportunities for economic diversity and
promoting stability (FSM 2202.14).
Proposed Action
The LIRA area is located approximately 35 miles northeast of the
town of Enterprise, Oregon, and primarily includes the Imnaha River
watershed and associated watersheds downstream of the Imnaha River
Bridge ``Cow Creek Bridge'', and watersheds from Deep Creek to the
mouth of the Imnaha River. The decision area will encompass 45,625
acres, including four allotments: Cow Creek, Lone Pine, Rhodes Creek,
and Toomey, all of which are in Wallowa County, Oregon. This EIS will
analyze and authorize the continued use of this area for cattle grazing
through Allotment Management Plans.
Responsible Official
The Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Ranger, Kris Stein will
be the responsible official for making the decision and providing
direction for the analysis.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The responsible official will decide whether or not to authorize
continued grazing in the LIRA project area. The responsible official
will also decide whether or not to select the proposed action as stated
or modified, or to select an alternative to it, any mitigation measures
needed, and any monitoring that may be required.
Preliminary Issues
The interdisciplinary team has conducted field surveys and data
research to identify preliminary issues of concern with this proposal.
There is one primary concern:
The concern is with Spalding's catchfly, in regard to potential
direct and indirect effects to the plant by livestock grazing. Through
surveys conducted within the project area, this species has been found
in several isolated patches, all of which are in fescue (Festuca)--type
vegetation habitat on relatively steep north facing slopes. The direct
effect would be livestock consuming the plant. However, livestock are
grazing these areas when the species is dormant, and grazing of the
plant is not a concern. The indirect effect to Spalding's catchfly is
of more concern, and would require more detailed analysis because these
plants are primarily growing in north facing areas, the soils tend to
be deeper, and with grazing in wet conditions, there is a higher
likelihood of hoof-shear causing damage to the crown of the Spalding's
catchfly. The second indirect effect of concern is soil sloughing and
[[Page 73187]]
hoof sheer on steeper slopes, and primarily in north-facing areas as
the sloughing and hoof shear which could be contributing to a slow-
moving erosion process in which soil is slowly being displaced and
moving down the hillsides.
There are no preliminary concerns for the listed fish species and
designated critical habitat of listed fish species within or adjacent
to this allotment.
Based on these two preliminary issues and their potential for
significant impacts, an EIS fits the scope of this analysis rather than
an EA.
New 218 Objection Period
The new regulations, found at 36 CFR 218, provide an opportunity
for individuals, organizations and tribal entities to file an objection
to a project before the final decision is signed (36 CFR 218.5). This
allows interested individuals, organizations and tribal entities to
advise the responsible official about concerns regarding the final
decision before the decision is made. When the final EIS and draft
Record of Decision are released for public review, the public will have
45 days in which to review the documents and, if desired, file an
objection to the Record of Decision.
Dated: November 26, 2013.
Thomas Montoya,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2013-29075 Filed 12-4-13; 8:45 am]
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