[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52518-52519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24875]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MT-963-1020-04-WEED]
Certified Noxious Weed-Free Forage, ND
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of final supplementary rules to require the use of
certified noxious weed-free forage on BLM-administered lands in North
Dakota.
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SUMMARY: The North Dakota Field Office of the BLM recently prepared an
environmental assessment (EA) documenting the analysis of two
alternatives for managing noxious weeds on public lands in North
Dakota. The EA's proposed action consisted of a supplementary rule
under 43 CFR 8365.1-6 to require the use of certified noxious weed-free
forage on those public lands. Forage subject to this supplementary rule
would include hay, straw, cubes, grains, and mulch. The Field Manager
of the BLM's North Dakota Field Office has issued a decision record
stating the EA's proposed action will not have any significant impact
on the human environment and that an environmental impact statement is
not required. Therefore, the Field Manager is requiring that public
land users, including local, State, or Federal government agents
conducting administrative activities, recreationists using pack and
saddle stock, and contractors using straw or other mulch for reseeding
purposes, use certified noxious weed-free forage products, or other
approved products such as pelletized feed, while on the approximately
60,000 acres of BLM administered public lands in North Dakota. Copies
of the EA, Finding of No Significant Impact, and Decision Record are
available at the BLM North Dakota Field Office in Dickinson, ND.
There were no comments on the Notice of Proposed Supplementary
Rules To Require the Use of Certified Noxious Weed-Free Forage on BLM
Administered Lands in North Dakota, placed in the Federal Register
dated June 17, 1999.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The Final Supplementary Rules will be effective October
29, 1999 and will remain in effect until modified or rescinded by the
Authorized Officer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: BLM--North Dakota Field Office, Don
Rufledt, Natural Resource Specialist, 2933 3rd Ave. W., Dickinson, ND
[[Page 52519]]
58601-2619, or telephone (701) 225-9148.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Noxious weeds are a serious problem in the
western United States. Estimates of the rapid spread of weeds in the
west include 2,300 acres per day on BLM administered lands and 4,600
acres per day on all western public lands. Species such as leafy
spurge, Canada thistle, spotted knapweed, Russian knapweed, musk
thistle, and many others are alien to the United States and, at least
initially, have no natural enemies to keep their populations in
balance. Consequently, these weeds invade healthy ecosystems, displace
native vegetation, reduce species diversity, and damage wildlife
habitat. Widespread infestations can lead to soil erosion and stream
sedimentation. Furthermore, noxious weed invasions reduce livestock and
wildlife grazing capacity, occasionally affect the health of public
land users by aggravating allergies and other ailments, and threaten
federally protected or native plants and animals.
To curb the spread of noxious weeds, a growing number of western
states have jointly developed noxious weed-free forage certification
standards, and, in cooperation with various Federal, State, and county
agencies, passed weed management laws. Because hay and other forage
products containing noxious weed seeds are part of the infestation
problem, North Dakota has developed a program to certify weed-free
forage. The State encourages forage producers to grow noxious weed-free
products and have them certified.
Region One of the United States Forest Service, Department of
Agriculture, implemented a similar policy for the National Grasslands
in North Dakota in 1998. This proposal will provide a standard
supplementary regulation for all users of BLM-administered public lands
in North Dakota and will provide for coordinated and consistent
management with the National Forest Grasslands.
In cooperation with the State of North Dakota and the U.S. Forest
Service, the BLM is implementing, for all BLM-administered lands within
North Dakota, a ban on hay, straw, cubes, grains, or mulch that has not
been certified. This proposal will ensure that: (1) this ban is well
publicized and understood. The BLM will stress education and awareness
in 1999 and 2000 and move to implement enforcement in 2001; and (2) BLM
visitors and land users will know where they can purchase state-
certified hay and other forage products.
The principal author of these supplementary rules is Don Rufledt,
Natural Resource Specialist, of the North Dakota Field Office, BLM.
For the reasons stated above, under the authority of 43 CFR 8365.1-
6, the North Dakota Field Manager, BLM, issues final supplementary
rules to read: Supplementary Rules to Require the Use of Certified
Noxious Weed-Free Forage on Bureau of Land Management-Administered
Lands in North Dakota.
(1) To help prevent the spread of weeds on BLM-administered public
lands in North Dakota, effective October 29, 1999, all such lands shall
be closed to possessing, transporting or storing hay, straw, cubes,
grains, or mulch that has not been certified as free of noxious weed
seed. Pelletized feed does not require certification.
(2) Certification will comply with North Dakota's Pilot Weed-Free
Forage Program. North Dakota's pilot program will certify forage as
free of only those noxious weeds listed in North Dakota. Forage from
other States should be free of all regionally listed noxious weeds.
(3) The following persons are exempt from this order: (a) anyone
with a permit signed by BLM's authorized officer at the North Dakota
Field Office specifically authorizing the prohibited act or omission on
BLM-administered public lands within the state; (b) persons
transporting forage products on Federal and State highways and county
roads that are not BLM-developed roads or trails.
(4) Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the provisions
of these supplementary rules may be commanded to appear before a
designated United States Magistrate and may be subject to a fine of not
more than $1,000 or imprisonment of not more than 12 months, or both,
as defined in 43 United States Code Section 1733(a).
Dated: September 15, 1999.
Douglas J. Burger,
Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management, North Dakota.
[FR Doc. 99-24875 Filed 9-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P