[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1087-1088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-353]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 5 / Wednesday, January 8, 1997 / 
Notices  

[[Page 1087]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Coconino National Forest, Arizona; Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement, Windmill Range Allotment

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Coconino National Forest of the Forest Service is planning 
to prepare an environmental impact statement on proposals to change 
cattle management on the 248,792 acre Windmill Allotment planning area.

DATES: This analysis has been ongoing and public participation has 
occurred at various stages. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
will be published in February of 1997. Preliminary comments can be made 
on this Notice of Intent before January 31, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Peaks Ranger District, 5075 N. Hwy 89, 
Flagstaff, Arizona 86004, Reference: Windmill EIS.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: Fred Trevey, Coconino Forest Supervisor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peaks District Range Staff, Mike Hannemann, (520) 526-0866.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Windmill Allotment Management Plan was 
updated in 1982 to improve the distribution of areas scheduled for 
cattle use. In 1988 the Allotment plan for the Winter Division was 
updated to change the grazing system to improve the growth of cool-
season Stipa grasses and overall range conditions.
    In 1994, the Peaks, Mormon Lake and Sedona Ranger Districts in 
partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department initiated the 
comprehensive analysis for the Windmill Allotment to update the 
Allotment Management Plan. The Allotment was selected for this update 
for the following reasons: Large, open meadows are in poor condition 
indicating an imbalance between plant growth and use of plants 
throughout the meadows; riparian conditions could be improved on the 
Allotment; a need exists to address threatened, endangered and 
sensitive species; an opportunity exists to increase administrative 
efficiency by consolidating the three portions of the Allotment under 
one Allotment Management Plan; an opportunity exists to examine the 
forest floor on a broad landscape scale; the Arizona Game and Fish 
Department can help describe existing conditions on the Allotment by 
combining the Department's information on elk with that obtained from 
joint-agency utilization monitoring.
    Under the 1995 Range Permit Issuance effort, a Burns amendment 
permit was issued for 10 years for the Windmill Allotment. As required 
by the Burns amendment the Allotment was than scheduled for 
comprehensive analysis within the 10 year period. The Burns decision 
for Windmill included some mitigating measures which included fencing 
riparian and sensitive plant habitats, sweeping cattle from driveways 
and shipping culled cows. Public participation occurred prior to 
issuance of the Burns Amendment decision in the form of public response 
to a proposed action.
    In 1996, the comprehensive analysis was re-initiated and will 
result in publication of an Environmental Impact Statement. This 
analysis attempts to gain more understanding about the relationship of 
the lands forage production which is affected by soils, tree densities, 
climatic conditions and past grazing and the dietary needs of cattle 
and elk. We had the opportunity to judge where forage dietary needs and 
grazing use were out of balance with the lands ability to produce 
forage in upward trends. We then had the opportunity to determine 
management actions which responded to what we found. A 10-year adaptive 
management plan will be developed which strives to take advantage of 
future opportunities, adapt to changing landscape conditions and 
progress toward a better balance between the landscape and forage 
grazers.
    A new Allotment management plan will be developed to guide grazing 
practices and a new permit may be issued. The option of eliminating 
cattle grazing from this Allotment will also be cosnidered.
    Tentative alternatives are,
    1. Alternative A is designed to meet all the current grazing 
management issues while maintaining a viable ranching operation. This 
alternative uses permittee and range conservationist knowledge to 
determine proper livestock numbers, graze periods, graze rotations, and 
pasture splits. Total livestock numbers are 1,252 to 1,257.
    2. Alternative B is the no action alternative as required by the 
National Environmental Policy Act regulations. Selection of this 
alternative would mean that no cattle grazing would occur on this 
allotment for the next 10 years.
    3. Alternative C is the management system currently in place. This 
alternative permits a total of 1,252 to 1,257 cattle to graze year-
round on the Windmill Range Allotment.
    4. Alternative D is designed to respond to grazing capacity and 
proper use guideline issues. This alternative uses timber stand data 
base and Terrestrial Ecosystem Survey data to project total yearly 
forage production for each pasture. Total livestock numbers are 635.
    5. Alternative F is the same as Alternative A except for adjusting 
the Luke Mountain pasture of the Foxboro Herd from a two-way pasture 
split to a three-way pasture split. This third pasture reduces graze 
periods in Little T-Six from 20 to 10 days and Highway Camp from 14-20 
days to 10 days. This responds to concerns over poor and declining 
range conditions in the Foxboro summer range area. Total livestock 
numbers are 1,252 to 1,257.
    6. Alternative G is designed to better meet resource concerns of 
poor and declining range conditions in parts of Munds-Pocket and 
Foxboro Herd areas. This alternative improves on Alternative A in these 
areas by reducing livestock numbers, adjusting graze periods and 
providing additional pasture splits. Total livestock numbers are 1,090 
to 1,125.
    Items common to alternatives include fencing some riparian areas to 
exclude livestock. The areas chosen for fencing are easily accessed by 
cattle, are fairly large and have adjacent wet meadows and are 
estimated to have high potential for improvement. Not all riparian 
springs located on the Allotment are fenced. Those not chosen for 
fencing are

[[Page 1088]]

less accessible to cattle, are not associated with wet meadows and are 
very small. Major creeks and rivers will not have direct cattle access 
under any of the alternatives. Other items common to all alternatives 
include tank re-location and/or waterlot construction where tanks occur 
in dry meadows. Pastures that will not be used in the 10 year 
management plan period are also identified.
    Environmental analysis has been ongoing. It is anticipated that a 
draft environmental impact statement will be published in February of 
1997. A ninety day comment period pursuant to 36 CFR 219.10(b) will be 
provided for the public to make comments on the draft environmental 
impact statement. A record of decision will be prepared and filed with 
the final environmental impact statement. A ninety day appeal period 
pursuant to 36 CFR 217.8(a) will be applicable. The ninety day comment 
period on the draft environmental impact statement will begin when the 
Environmental Protection Agency's Notice of Availability appears in the 
Federal Register.
    To be most helpful, comments on the draft environmental impact 
statement should be as specific as possible and may address the 
adequacy of the statement or the merits of the alternatives discussed 
(see Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the 
procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 
CFR 1503.3).
Fred Trevey,
Coconino Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 97-353 Filed 1-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 0521-00-M