[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 154 (Thursday, August 9, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41828-41829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19959]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 154 / Thursday, August 9, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 41828]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Kudzu Eradication Environmental Impact Statement--Shawnee 
National Forest

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to analyze eradicaiton of Kudzu infestations on the 
Shawnee National Forest. The purposed action includes eradication of 
approximately 90 acres of known kudzu infestations and subsequently 
identified infestations on the Shawnee National Forest. The purpose and 
need for this proposal is to remove the kudzu threat to biodiversity on 
the Shawnee National Forest.

DATES: Comments concerning the proposed action and scope of the 
analysis should be received within 30 days of this notice to receive 
timely consideration in the Draft EIS. An open house is scheduled for 
August 23, 2001 (4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.). The Draft EIS is anticipated 
to be filed and available for review by December, 2001. The Final EIS 
is anticipated to be filed by March 2002.

ADDRESSES: Mail written comments to: Tom Neal, Vienna Ranger District, 
P.O. Box 37, Vienna, IL 62995. Send electronic mail comments to: 
[email protected] with a subject line that reads ``Kudzm Eradication 
EIS''. The open house will be at the Shawnee National Forest 
Supervisors Office, 50 Highway 145 South, Harrisburg, Illinois.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Neal, EIS Team Leader, or Nicholas 
J. Giannettino, District Ranger, at the Vienna Ranger District, 
Address: P.O. Box 37, Vienna, IL. 62995; Telephone: (618-658-2111) Tom 
Neal may also be contacted by electronic mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information presented in the notice is 
included to help the reviewer determine if they are interested in or 
potentially affected by this project. The information is this notice is 
summarized. Those who wish to comment on this project, or are otherwise 
interested in or potentially affected by it, are encouraged to review 
more detailed information available. Additional information may be 
obtained from the contacts listed in the preceding section of this 
notice or at the Shawnee National Forest's website http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/shawnee/.

Purpose of and Need for Action

    Kudzu, Pueraria lobatas, is an invasive species that was introduced 
in the 1930's to help control soil erosion. Today, kudzu a federal 
noxious weed is a classic example of another well-intended introduction 
that has grown out of control. Kudzu kills, smothers, and suppressed 
other plants beneath its thickly tangled masses of leaves and vines. It 
girdles trees, breaks branches and even uproots entire trees through 
the sheer force of its weight. Kudzu forms extensive monotypical 
patches, alternating or eliminating native plant communities. 
Currently, there are six known areas of infestation of Kudzu on the 
Shawnee National Forest (Forest). Given the invasive nature of kudzu, 
additional infestations are likely to occur. The purpose and need for 
this proposal is to remove the kudzu threat to biodiversity on the 
Forest. This purpose and need is consistent with direction contained in 
the Shawnee National Forest Amended Land and Resource Management Plan 
(Forest Plan). This purpose and need is also responsive to other laws, 
regulations, and policies regarding noxious weeds.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action is to eradicate known and subsequently 
discovered kudzu infestations on the Forest. The proposed action 
includes eradication of kudzu through application of herbicide at six 
known sites on the Forest, totaling approximately 90 acres. Herbicides 
to be used are Transline, Garlon 4, and Rodeo. Application procedures 
and rates will adhere to directions prescribed by the manufacturers. 
Kudzu stems extending into trees may be cut to facilitate herbicide 
application and reduce the quantity of herbicide being applied. 
Prescribed fire may be used to reduce the total volume of kudzu vines, 
facilitating herbicide application and reducing the quantity of 
herbicide being applied. Treatment will continue annually until kudzu 
is eradicated. Treatment will be monitored to ensure compliance with 
herbicide application directions and to access the effectiveness of 
kudzu eradication methods. All equipment used for treating kudzu will 
be cleaned prior to leaving the kudzu sites to limit the spread of the 
kudzu infestation. Kudzu sites may be closed to all wheeled vehicles to 
limit the possible spread of the kudzu plant. The proposed action also 
includes treatment of subsequent kudzu sites discovered on the Forest 
using the methods described above. Although there are no known kudzu 
infestations in Research Natural Areas on the Forest, if kudzu were 
found there, Forest Service Research would be involved to coordinate 
actions for kudzu eradication. Maps of the proposed action are 
available for viewing and photocopying at the Shawnee National Forest 
offices. Electronic viewing is also available on the Forest's website: 
www.fs.fed.us/r9/shawnee/.

Preliminary Issues

    The following preliminary issues have been identified relating to 
the proposal: effects of kudzu on native plant communities, wildlife, 
and ecosystem diversity; and effects of herbicide on human health, 
native plant communities, wildlife, water, and fish.

Alternatives

    In preparing the EIS, the Forest Service will consider a reasonable 
range of alternatives to the proposed action, including a ``no action'' 
alternative. The no action alternative will be the continuation of 
implementing the Forest Plan and all applicable laws, regulations, and 
Forest Orders. In the no action alternative, no kudzu would be treated 
allowing existing kudzu plants and any future kudzu plants to advance 
unrestrained onto adjacent National Forest Systems Lands, other public 
lands, or private lands. Based on the comments received on the 
proposal, other alternatives will be considered. Possible alternatives 
for kudzu eradication may include: various herbicides, mechanical 
treatments, prescribed fire, biological treatments,

[[Page 41829]]

silvicultural treatments, and grazing. Suggestions for alternatives 
that meet the purpose and need are welcome.

Public Participation

    Public participation will be an integral part of this project, 
beginning with the scoping process, which starts with publication of 
this notice. During the scoping process, the Forest Service will be 
seeking information, comments, and assistance from Federal, State, 
County, and local agencies, individuals, and organizations that may be 
interested in or affected by this project action. The scoping process 
will include: (1) Identification of potential issues, (2) 
identification of issues to be analyzed in depth, (3) elimination of 
insignificant issues or those which have been covered by a previous 
environmental review, (4) exploring additional alternatives, (5) 
identifying potential environmental effects, and (6) determining 
potential cooperating agencies. In addition to this notice, scoping 
comments will be solicited through a scoping package that will be sent 
to the project mailing list and those who otherwise request it; notice 
in the Southern Illinoisan newspaper, Carbondale IL, and an open house.
    Comments concerning the proposed action and scope of the analysis 
should be received within 30 days of this notice to receive timely 
consideration in the Draft EIS. We may also meet with the public as 
needed. The Draft EIS is anticipated to be available by December 2001. 
The comment period on the Draft EIS will be 45 days from notice in the 
Federal Register.

Reviewer's Obligation To Comment

    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. First, reviewers of 
Draft EISs 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 EIS stage, but were 
not raised until the completion of the final EIS, may be waived or 
dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2nd 1016, 1022 
(9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 
1334, 1338 (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 on the Draft EIS, so that 
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest 
Service at a time when they can be meaningfully considered and 
responded to in the Final EIS. To assist the Forest Service in 
identifying and considering issues and concerns of the proposed action, 
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 address the adequacy of the Draft EIS, or the 
merits of the alternatives 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 in 40 CFR 1503.3, in addressing these points.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Forest Service is the lead agency. The Forest will work in 
cooperation with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in 
developing and evaluating issues and alternatives for the eradication 
of kudzu.

Responsible Officials

    Forrest L. Starkey, Forest Supervisor, Shawnee National Forest, is 
the responsible official for making a project-level decision on this 
project. If an amendment to the Forest Plan is necessary to implement 
the project-level decision, the Forest Supervisor will be responsible 
for that portion of the decision.

Decision Space

    Decision-making for this project is limited to the National Forest 
System lands administered by the Shawnee National Forest. Decision-
making will be based on information in the Draft and Final EIS and 
supporting record, including consideration of all public comments. 
Decision-making will be limited to specific activities relating to the 
proposed action and its purpose and need. No decisions will be made for 
actions that are not responsive to the expressed purpose and need. The 
primary decision to be made will be whether or not to implement the 
proposed actions or an action alternative that responds to the purpose 
and need. If the proposed action or an action alternative is selected 
for implementation. The decision may include minor modifications or 
additional measures are appropriate as necessary. Documentation and 
rationale of the included modifications and additional measures would 
be made in a Record of Decision. If no action is selected for 
implementation, the Responsible Official may either discontinue the 
planning effort or document the decision in a Record of Decision.

    Dated: August 3, 2001.
Forrest L. Starkey,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 01-19959 Filed 8-8-01; 8:45 am]
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