[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8056-8058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3937]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Joseph Creek Range Planning on the Wallowa Valley Ranger 
District, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Wallowa County, Oregon

AGENCY: Forest Service USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to update range management planning on 11 livestock 
grazing allotments and 1 administrative horse pasture which will result 
in the development of new Allotment Management Plans. The grazing 
allotments are named Al-Cunningham, Cougar Creek, Crow Creek, Davis 
Creek, Fine, Hunting Camp, Swamp Creek, Table Mountain, Joseph Creek, 
Dobbins, and Elk Mountain and the administrative horse pasture is named 
Upper Chico. The allotments are located 70 miles north and east of 
LaGrande, Oregon. The allotments, combined, are called the Joseph Creek 
Range Planning Area. National Forest System lands within the Wallowa-
Whitman National Forests, will be considered in the proposal. 
Management actions are planned to be implemented beginning in the year 
2000. The agency gives notice of the full environmental analysis and 
decision-making process that will occur on the proposal so that 
interested and affected people may become aware of how they may 
participate in the process and contribute to the final decision.


[[Page 8057]]


DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
in writing by March 26, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions concerning this 
proposal to Jimmy Roberts, District Ranger, Wallowa Valley Ranger 
District, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest 88401 Hwy 82, Enterprise, 
Oregon 97828.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct questions about the proposed action and EIS to Paul Bridges, 
Interdisciplinary Team Leader, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Baker 
Ranger District, 3165 10th Street, Baker City, Oregon 97814, phone 
(541) 523-1950.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is to continue to permit 
livestock grazing on National Forest System lands. The proposed action 
is designed to continue the improving trends in vegetation, watershed 
conditions, and ecological sustainability relative to livestock grazing 
within the eleven allotments and one administrative horse pasture all 
located in the South Joseph Creek Watershed. The action is needed to 
develop new Allotment Management Plans (AMPs) which incorporate results 
of recent scientific research, analysis and documentation at the sub-
basin level.

    The Wallowa-Whitman Forest Plan as amended, recognized the 
continuing need for forage production from the Forest and recognized 
the 11 allotments and 1 administrative pasture within the Joseph Creek 
watershed as containing lands which are capable and suitable for 
grazing by domestic livestock. This action is needed to continue this 
historic use. The allotments encompass approximately 95,555 acres of 
National Forest System lands in the Joseph Creek Watershed. The Range 
Planning Area also contains private and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
lands within its boundary.
    Anadromous streams occur in all of the allotments and provide 
spawning and rearing habitat for Snake River Chinook salmon and Snake 
River summer steelhead. Chinook salmon were listed under the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) in 1992, and the summer steelhead in 1997. Range 
management practices within the allotments have been modified to 
address concerns for the listed fish species and their habitat. These 
modifications resulted in implementation of projects designed to 
protect streams such as fences, new water developments to draw cattle 
away from riparian areas, and adjustments in season of use to protect 
spawning populations of steelhead.
    Within the Joseph Creek Range Planning Area, Joseph Creek is 
designated as a Wild and Scenic River and is managed under the Forest 
Plan to maintain the river's outstandingly remarkable values. The range 
planning area is used by recreationists for numerous activities, with 
several campgrounds, trailheads and dispersed recreation sites 
receiving use. Joseph Canyon Viewpoint, an interpretive site describing 
significant events in Nez Perce Tribal history, is located in Joseph 
Creek allotment.
    The Joseph Creek Range Planning Area provides habitat for many 
wildlife species including management indicator species (MIS) and their 
habitats. These MIS species include California wolverine, North 
American lynx, Rocky Mountain elk, marten, pileated woodpecker, 
goshawk, bald eagle and American peregrine falcon.
    Premliminary issues include: (1) The effects of livestock grazing 
on riparian conditions (including water quality, water temperature and 
stream bank stability); (2) the ability to maintain ecological 
sustainability and continue watershed restoration with continued 
livestock grazing; (3) the effects of no grazing or reduced grazing on 
the local economy; and (4) the effects of livestock grazing on TES 
species.
    A detailed public involvement plan has been developed, and an 
interdisciplinary team has been selected to do the environmental 
analysis, prepare and accomplish scoping and public involvement 
activities.
    The proposed action is intended to provide the analysis needed to 
prepare new AMPs that meet all the Forest Plan amended requirements of 
Interim strategies for managing Pacific anadromous fish-producing 
watersheds in eastern Oregon and Washington, Idaho, and portions of 
California (PACFISH), Inland Native Strategies for Managing Fish-
producing Watersheds in Eastern Oregon and Washington, Idaho, Western 
Montana, and Portions of Nevada (INFISH) and are consistent with the 
scientific findings of the Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management 
Program (ICBEMP). Consultation with the National Marine Fisheries 
Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as required under the 
ESA, will be completed for all proposed activities.
    Public involvement will be especially important at several points 
during the analysis, beginning with the scoping process. The Forest 
Service will be consulting with Indian Tribes and seeking information, 
comments, and assistance from Federal, State, local agencies, tribes, 
and other individuals or organizations who may be interested in or 
affected by the proposals. The scoping process includes:
    1. Identifying and clarifying issues.
    2. Identifying key issues to be analyzed in depth.
    3. Exploring alternatives based on themes which will be derived 
from issues recognized during scoping activities.
    4. Identifying potential environmental effects of the proposals and 
alternatives (i.e., direct, indirect, and cumulative effects and 
connected actions).
    5. Determining potential cooperating agencies and task assignments.
    6. Developing a list of interested people to keep apprised of 
opportunities to participate through meetings, personal contacts, or 
written comments.
    7. Developing a means of informing the public through the media 
and/or written material (e.g., newsletters, correspondence, etc.).
    Public comments are appreciated throughout the analysis process. 
The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) and be available for public review by September 1999. 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 scheduled to be available March 2000.
    The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers 
notice of this early stage of public participation and of several court 
rulings related to public participation in the environmental review 
process. First, reviewers of a draft EIS 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 have been 
raised at the draft stage may be waived or dismissed by the court if 
not raised until after completion of the final EIS. City of Angoon v. 
Hodel, 803 f.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir, 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, 
Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334 (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 substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest 
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider and respond to them 
in the final EIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action,

[[Page 8058]]

comments on the draft EIS 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 EIS or 
the merits of the alternative 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.)
    In the final EIS, the Forest Service is required to respond to 
substantive comments and responses received during the comment period 
that pertain to the environmental consequences discussed in the draft 
EIS and applicable laws, regulations, and policies considered in making 
a decision regarding the proposal. The Responsible Official is Karyn L. 
Wood, Forest Supervisor for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. The 
Responsible Official will document the decision and rationale for the 
decision in the Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to 
appeal under 36 CFR Part 215.

    Dated: February 9, 1999.
William R. Gast,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 99-3937 Filed 2-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M