[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 58 (Friday, March 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14747-14748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6836]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[OR-931-6320-05; GP9-0099]


Seed Orchard Pest Management Programs at the Walter H. Horning, 
Charles A. Sprague, Travis Tyrrell, and Provolt Seed Orchards, on Lands 
Administered by the Bureau of Land Management, Clackamas, Josephine, 
Lane, and Jackson Counties, OR

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, (BLM) 
will prepare a draft and final environmental impact statement (EIS) on 
a proposed action to develop a pest management program at all four of 
its Oregon Seed Orchards: the Horning Seed Orchard near Colton, the 
Sprague Seed Orchard near Merlin, the Tyrrell Seed Orchard near Lorane, 
and the Provolt Seed Orchard near Grants Pass.
    The BLM invites written comments on the scope of the analysis. In 
addition, the BLM gives notice of the environmental analysis and 
decision making process that will occur on the proposed action so that 
interested and affected people are aware of how they may participate 
and contribute to the final decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
in writing by May 10, 1999, to ensure timely consideration.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Dennis Weber, Project Leader, 
Horning Seed Orchard, 27004 S. Sheckly Road, Colton, OR 97017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harvey Koester, Orchard Manager, 
Sprague and Provolt Seed Orchards (541) 770-2401; Glenn Miller, Orchard 
Manager, Tyrrell Seed Orchard, (541) 683-6445; or Jim Hallberg, Orchard 
Manager, Horning Seed Orchard, (503) 824-2151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Seed Orchards are managed primarily 
for the production of Douglas-fir, and sugar pine seed. Minor species 
managed for seed production include western hemlock, noble fir, western 
red cedar, western white pine, ponderosa pine, incense cedar, and Port-
Orford cedar. The seed is used to produce seedlings for reforestation 
on BLM lands in Oregon and for use in cooperative orchard efforts. Some 
of the seed is used in the tree improvement program to produce 
genetically superior trees. The primary objective of the orchards is to 
produce seed of high quality and sufficient quantity to meet the needs 
of the BLM and of their cooperative partnerships. Use of pest 
management technology and products is necessary to achieve this goal.
    The BLM will conduct an environmental analysis to determine what 
type of pest management program will be used at the Horning, Sprague, 
Tyrrell, and Provolt Seed Orchards in western Oregon to produce seed 
and seedlings for the BLM in Oregon. The pest management practices that 
will be analyzed include, but are not limited to, control of unwanted 
vegetation by mechanical and chemical methods; control of diseases 
using sanitation, biological control organisms, and fungicides; control 
of insect pests with biological and chemical insecticides and use of 
sanitation; and control of animal pests through mechanical and 
preventative measures. Fertilization practices will also be considered 
in this analysis.
    In preparing the environmental impact statement, the BLM will 
identify and consider a range of alternative pest management programs. 
One alternative will be a no action (continuation of the present pest 
management program) alternative. Another alternative will be a pest 
management program without the use of chemical pesticides. Other 
alternatives will be pest management programs comprised of various 
combinations of control methods.
    Public participation will be especially important at several points 
during the analysis. The first point is during the scoping process (40 
CFR 1501.7), which includes:
    1. Defining the scope of the analysis and nature of the decision to 
be made.
    2. Identifying the issues and determining the significant issues 
for consideration and analysis within the environmental impact 
statement.
    3. Defining the proper make up of the interdisciplinary team.
    4. Exploring possible alternatives.
    5. Identifying potential environmental effects.
    6. Determining potential cooperating agencies.
    7. Identifying groups or individuals interested or affected by the 
decision.
    The BLM will be seeking information, comments, and assistance from 
Federal, State, and local agencies and other individuals or 
organizations interested in or affected by the proposed action.
    Public participation will be solicited by person-to-person contact 
and/or by mail to known interested and affected publics and key 
contacts regarding scope of the analysis. In addition, news releases 
will be used to give the public general notice. Input from interested 
people and organizations will be used in preparation of the draft 
environmental impact statement.
    The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be filed 
with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for 
public review by October 1999. At that time, EPA will publish a notice 
of availability of the draft environmental impact statement in the 
Federal Register.
    The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will 
be 60 days from the date the EPA's notice of availability appears in 
the Federal Register. It is very important that those interested in the 
proposed action participate at that time. 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 40 CFR 1503.3).
    Following the comment period on the draft environmental impact 
statement, substantive comments will be analyzed, considered, and 
responded to by the BLM in preparing the final

[[Page 14748]]

environmental impact statement. The final environmental impact 
statement is scheduled to be completed by September 2000.
    The responsible official will consider the comments and responses; 
environmental consequences discussed in the environmental impact 
statement; and applicable laws, regulations, and policies in making a 
decision regarding this proposal. The decision and rationale for the 
decision will be documented in the Record of Decision. A separate 
Record of Decision will be prepared for each orchard considered in the 
analysis. The responsible officials for each of these projects are as 
follows:

Van Manning, Salem District Manager, (Horning Seed Orchard),
Denis Williamson, Eugene District Manager, (Tyrrell Seed Orchard), and
Ronald Wenker, Medford District Manager, (Sprague and Provolt Seed 
Orchards).

    Dated: March 15, 1999.
Mark Lawrence,
Acting District Manager, Salem District.
[FR Doc. 99-6836 Filed 3-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P