[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 12 (Thursday, January 18, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4795-4796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1391]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 12 / Thursday, January 18, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 4795]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Southwestern Region, Arizona, Coconino County, Coconino National 
Forests

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

SUMMARY: The Coconino National Forest is planning to prepare an 
environmental impact statement on a proposal to improve grassland and 
woodland conditions for wildlife and manage livestock grazing use on 
the Pickett Lake and Padre Canyon Grazing Allotments during the next 10 
years.

DATES: Comments in response to this Notice of Intent concerning the 
scope of the analysis should be received in writing by on or before 
February 20, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to USDA Forest Service, Coconino 
National Forest, Peaks Ranger Station, 5075 N Hwy 89, Flagstaff, AZ 
86004. Electronic mail may be sent to [email protected].
    Responsible Official: The Forest Supervisor of the Coconino 
National Forest, Supervisor's Office 2323 Greenlaw Lane, Flagstaff, AZ 
86004, will decide what actions are most appropriate for managing the 
Pickett and Padre Range Allotments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Hannemann, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, Peaks Ranger District, (520) 526-0866.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposal includes 14,774 acres of 
pinyon, juniper and ponderosa pine treatments. Ponderosa pine cuts 
would be on trees 6" in diameter at breast height (DBH). Slash crushing 
and seeding will be done in pinyon and juniper treatment areas where 
slash is heavy and dense trees have removed the grass seed source from 
the area. Approximately $258,810 will be spent on cutting the trees. 
Approximately $95,500 will be spent on slash crushing, harrowing and 
seeding. Approximately $126,500 would be spent on archaeological 
surveys on the tree cutting areas. The Forest Service will look for 
grants and partners to supplement normal Forest Service funds to 
complete the pinyon and juniper treatments, slash crushing, harrowing 
and seeding.
    This proposal also has a Forest Service permit of up to 850 cattle 
from June 1 to September 30 on the 34,814 acres Pickett Lake Allotment 
and up to 125 cattle from August 1 to September 30 on the 20,993 acres 
Padre Canyon Allotment. This is a 10% reduction in cattle use on 
Pickett Lake Allotment and a 31% reduction in cattle use on the Padre 
Canyon Allotment. In addition, this proposal has a combined grazing 
system option of up to 913 cattle from June 1 to September 30 on both 
allotment areas, a 14% overall reduction in cattle use. In addition to 
maintaining current range structures, approximately $25,600 will be 
spent on one mile of barbwire fence, four miles of pipeline and five 
drinkers. The Forest Service will spend approximately $13,700 primarily 
for materials and the permittee will spend approximately $11,900 
primarily for installation of the improvements.
    Preliminary issues include the effect of grazing on the 
environment, especially watershed conditions and pronghorn antelope 
habitat.
    The Proposed action was mailed to 104 individuals, organizations 
and cooperating resource agencies for review and comment on January 5, 
2001. From comments received, the Team will develop statements to 
capture the substantive issues and developed alternatives other than 
the proposed action. If you would like a copy of the proposed action 
please contact our office. Your comments will be included in our 
environmental analysis.
    It is anticipated that environmental analysis and preparation of 
the draft and final environmental impact statements will take about six 
months. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement can be expected April 
of 2001 and the Final EIS in summer. The comment period on the draft 
environmental impact statement extends 45 days from the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in 
the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important 
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. To be the 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 of 
Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural 
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3).
    In addition, Federal court decisions have established that 
reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must structure their 
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is 
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewers' position and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC 435 US 519, 553 
(1978). Environmental objections that could have been raised at the 
draft state may be waived if not raised until after completion of the 
final environmental impact statement. City of Angoon v. Hodel 9th 
Circuit, 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc v. Harris, 490F. Supp. 
1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). The reason for this is to ensure that 
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest 
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them in the final 
environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposal action, comments on the draft 
environmental impact statement 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 
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives 
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer 
to the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing 
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.


[[Page 4796]]


    Dated: January 5, 2001.
Jim Golden,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 01-1391 Filed 1-17-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M