[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 242 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78464-78465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31952]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Southwestern Region, Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas and 
Oklahoma; Proposed Projects in the Invasive Plant Analysis Area, Carson 
National Forest, Portions of Rio Arriba, Mora, Taos, and Colfax 
Counties; Santa Fe National Forest, Portions of Rio Arriba, Los Alamos, 
Sandoval, San Miquel, and Mora Counties, New Mexico

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Carson National Forest, and Santa Fe National Forest will 
prepare a joint environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze 
information relevant to reduce and control existing populations of 
invasive plants within the boundaries of the two national forests. 
Proposed projects can be accomplished using one, or a combination of 
methods including mechanical, herbicidal, biological, and cultural 
treatments.

DATES: It is estimated that the draft environmental Impact statement 
(DEIS) will be completed and distributed by the end of March 2001. A 45 
day comment period will follow issuance of the DEIS. The final 
environmental impact statement is estimated to be released in June 
2001.

ADDRESSES: The draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) will be 
available upon request from the Carson Forest Supervisor's Office, 208 
Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571, Attn: Range and Wildlife; or Santa Fe 
Forest Supervisor's Office, 1471 Rodeo Road, P.O. Box 1689, Santa Fe, 
NM 87504-1689, Attn: Range and Wildlife. Comments related to this NOI 
can be sent to the contractor Mike, Tremble, Ecosystem Management Inc., 
4004 Carlisle Blvd., NE, Suite C1, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107; or 
via e-mail at [email protected].

[[Page 78465]]

    Responsible Official: The Forest Supervisor, Carson National 
Forest, is the responsible official and will decide whether or not 
projects will be implemented by the Forest Service in the Carson 
National Forest; The Forest Supervisor, Santa Fe National Forest, is 
the responsible official and will decide whether or not projects will 
be implemented by the Forest Service in the Santa Fe National Forest. 
The Forest Supervisor of each National Forest will decide what projects 
and where, how and when they will be implemented.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Resource Staff Officer (Project 
Leader), Charles Jankiewicz, Santa Fe National Forest, 505-438-7820, or 
Daniel Rael, Carson National Forest, 505-758-6200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Location: The analysis area is the two national forests, Carson, 
and Santa Fe, lying predominantly in the Sange de Cristo, the Jemez, 
and the Tusas mountains all in central to north central New Mexico.
    Purpose: The purpose of treating the invasive plant infestations 
within the boundaries of the Carson, and Santa Fe National Forests is 
to reduce the likelihood of ecological change from native plant species 
to introduced plant species, noxious, or detrimental to native plant 
communities, wildlife species, and domestic livestock.

Decisions To Be Made

The Decisions To Be Made Are

     Whether areas should be allocated to no treatment of 
invasive weeds (plants). If so, where and how much?
     Whether areas should be treated to reduce and control 
invasive weeds (plants). If so, where and how much?
     Whether one, or a combination of methods should be used, 
including mechanical, herbicidal, biological, or cultural treatments 
should be used. If so, where and how much should be treated.

Supplemental Information for Public Participation

    Comments received in response to this NOI, including names and 
addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public 
record and will be available for public inspection. Comments submitted 
anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, those who submit 
anonymous comments will not have standing to appeal the subsequent 
decisions under 36 CFR parts 215 or 217. Additionally, pursuant to 7 
CFR 1.23(d), any person may request the agency to withhold a submission 
from the public record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA) permits such confidentiality. Persons requesting such 
confidentiality should be aware that, under the FOIA; confidentiality 
may be granted in only very limited circumstances such as to protect 
trade secrets. The Forest Service will inform the requester of the 
agency's decision regarding the request for confidentiality, and where 
the request is denied, the agency will return the submission and notify 
the requester that the comment may be resubmitted with or without name 
and address within 10 days.

    Dated: December 8, 2000.
Steve Okamoto,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Carson National Forest.
Dolores Maese,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Santa Fe National Forest.
[FR Doc. 00-31952 Filed 12-14-00; 8:45 am]
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