[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5236]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 8, 1994]


                                                    VOL. 59, NO. 45

                                             Tuesday, March 8, 1994
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

 

Tusayan Land Exchange, Kaibab National Forest, Coconino County, 
AZ

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) on a proposed land exchange in the Kaibab National 
Forest. The EIS will examine the environmental impacts of implementing 
the proposed action and alternatives, including no-action.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
in writing by May 30, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Tusayan Exchange, Kaibab National 
Forest, 800 South Sixth Street, Williams, Arizona 86046.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: Forrest Carpenter, Deputy Regional Forester for 
Resources, Southwestern Region, 517 Gold Avenue SW, Albuquerque, New 
Mexico 87102, is the Responsible Official.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the EIS should be directed to Dennis Lund, Forest Lands 
Staff Officer, (602) 635-2681.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The nature and scope of the decision to be 
made is to determine whether or not to exchange certain selected 
Federal lands in the Tusayan Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest, 
for certain offered private parcels within the Tusayan Ranger District, 
Kaibab National Forest.
    Some of the selected Federal lands considered for exchange are not 
designated in the Kaibab Forest Plan as base-for-exchange (lands 
available for private ownership through exchange). The proposed action 
would require the designation of additional base-for-exchange lands 
which will require an amendment to the Kaibab Forest Plan.
    The proposed action involves the following lands:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Approximate location                        Acres   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Offered Private Lands within the Kaibab National Forest:                
  T28N, R3E, Section 15....................................       150.00
  T28N, R4E, Sections 5 and 8..............................       120.00
  T28N, R6E, Section 23....................................       160.00
  T29N, R6E, Sections 5, 6 and 8...........................       279.15
  T30N, R3E, Sections 28, 29, 33 and 34....................       173.54
  T29N, R3E, Sections 3 and 4..............................        21.12
  T30N, R5E, Sections 29 and 30............................       146.31
  T30N, R2E, Sections 14 and 23............................       160.00
                                                            ------------
    Total Offered Private Lands............................     1,210.10
Selected Federal Lands within the Kaibab National Forest:               
  T29N, R2E, Sections 1 and 2..............................       720.00
  T30N, R2E, Sections 25, 35 and 36........................       640.00
  T29N, R3E, Section 32....................................        40.00
                                                            ------------
    Total Selected Federal Lands...........................     1,400.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Forest Service and the exchange proponent have jointly 
described a parcel of Federal land comprising approximately 1,360 acres 
(selected Federal lands in T29N, R2E and T30N, R2E) from which a final, 
smaller sized parcel of land of approximately 640 acres will be 
selected as exchange property. The precise acreage will be determined 
by appraisal.
    The EIS will consider a range of alternatives, including the 
proposed action and no-action alternative. Other alternatives could 
include various combinations of offered private lands and selected 
Federal lands.
    Public participation, or scoping (40 CFR 1501.7), will be important 
throughout the analysis. The Forest Service, as lead agency, will be 
seeking information, comments and assistance from Federal, State and 
local agencies, as well as other individuals and organizations who may 
be interested in or affected by the proposed land exchange. The Forest 
Service will notify interested publics of opportunities to participate 
through meetings, personal contacts and written comment. The scoping 
process will include preparation of an informational mailing, 
solicitation of written comments and public scoping meetings, according 
to the following schedule:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Date                    Time                     Location        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, March 19  10 am-2 pm...............  Havasupai School, Supai, 
                                                Arizona.                
Wednesday, March    2 pm-6 pm................  Cameron Chapter House,   
 23.                                            Cameron, Arizona.       
Thursday, March 24  10 am-Noon...............  Hopi Civic Center, Second
                                                Mesa, Arizona.          
Tuesday, March 29.  4 pm-8 pm................  Hualapai School, Peach   
                                                Springs, Arizona.       
Monday, March 28..  2 pm-6 pm................  Tuba City Chapter House, 
                                                Tuba City, Arizona.     
Tuesday, April 19.  Noon-8 pm................  Little America, 2515 East
                                                Butler, Flagstaff,      
                                                Arizona.                
Wednesday, April    Noon-8 pm................  Moqui Lodge, Highway 64/ 
 20.                                            180, Tusayan, Arizona.  
Tuesday, April 26.  Noon-8 pm................  Holiday Inn Express, 831 
                                                W. Bill Williams        
                                                Avenue., Williams,      
                                                Arizona.                
Wednesday, April    Noon-8 pm................  Embassy Suites Hotel,    
 27.                                            1515 North 44th Street, 
                                                Phoenix, Arizona.       
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Input received at the public scoping meeting and from the 
informational mailing will be used in preparation of the draft and 
final EIS to:
    1. Identify potential environmental issues, including significant 
issues to be analyzed in depth in the EIS;
    2. Identify alternatives to the proposed action that will address 
the significant environmental issues;
    3. Identify environmental effects of the proposed action and 
alternatives that will require analysis in the EIS, and;
    4. Determine potential cooperating agencies and task assignments.
    Preliminary issues which have been identified include the 
socioeconomic impacts of the proposed exchange on surrounding 
communities, as well as at the county and State levels, the 
availability of water for development of the selected Federal lands and 
the impact of any proposed development on existing water users, impacts 
on the management of and visitation to Grand Canyon National Park, 
impacts to National Forest resources and management including fire, 
recreation, cultural, wildlife and threatened and endangered species.
    The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) and be available for public review by February 
1995. At that time, EPA will publish a notice of availability of the 
draft EIS in the Federal Register. The comment period on the draft EIS 
will be 45 days from the date the EPA publishes the notice of 
availability in the Federal Register.
    The final EIS is expected to be completed by October 1995. In the 
final EIS, the Forest Service will respond to comments and responses 
received during the comment period on the draft EIS. The Responsible 
Official will decide which, if any, of the alternative will be 
implemented. The Responsible Official will document the decision and 
reasons for the decision in the Record of Decision. That decision will 
be subject to Forest Service appeal regulations in 36 CFR part 215.
    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 reviewer's position and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
553 (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 Cor. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court 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 Quality Regulations for implementing 
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.

    Dated: March 2, 1994.
William M. Lannan,
Forest Supervisor, Kaibab National Forest.
[FR Doc. 94-5236 Filed 3-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M