[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 179 (Monday, September 16, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 58351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23428]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Dixie National Forest, Utah, Griffin Springs Resource Management 
Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact 
statement to the Griffin Springs Resource Management Project.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service announces its intent to prepare a 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to the Griffin 
Springs Resource Management Project (GSRMP) Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS). The GSRMP FEIS evaluated alternatives for vegetation 
management and associated road improvements within the Engelmann 
spruce/subalpine fir and aspen forest types on the Escalante Ranger 
District, Dixie National Forest.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by October 21, 2002. The draft supplemental environmental impact 
statement is expected November 2002 and the final supplemental 
environmental impact statement is expected January 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Kevin R. Schulkoski, District 
Ranger, P.O. Box 246, Escalante, Utah 84726.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David M. Keefe, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, Escalante Ranger District (see above ADDRESSES).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 16, 1998 a Notice of Intent to 
prepare an environmental impact statement for the Aquarius Ecosystem 
Restoration Project (AERP) was published in the Federal Register. On 
July 26, 1999 a revised Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental 
impact statement was published in the Federal Register. This revision 
advised the public that the AERP was being divided into smaller 
division blocks. The GSRMP is the first of these blocks to be analyzed 
and decided upon.
    On August 3, 2001 the Notice of Availability of the draft 
environmental impact statement for GSRMP was published in the Federal 
Register. In January 2002 the FEIS for the GSRMP was published. On 
January 10, 2002 Mary Wagner, Dixie National Forest Supervisor, signed 
the Record of Decision for the Griffin Springs Resource Management 
Project Final Environmental Impact Statement. Several organizations, 
including the Sierra Glen Canyon Group, Ecology Center, Center for 
Biological Diversity, Utah Environmental Congress, Boulder Regional 
Group, Western Watersheds Project, Escalante Wilderness Project, 
Aquarius Foundation and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, appealed 
Forest Supervisor Mary Wagner's decision.
    On April 28, 2002 Acting Deputy Regional Forester, Elizabeth G. 
Close (Appeal Deciding Officer) for the Intermountain Region concluded 
a thorough review of the appeals and issued a decision on the above 
mentioned appeals. Forest Supervisor Mary Wagner's decision to 
implement the Griffin Springs Resource Management Project was affirmed 
with direction. This direction included two points; (1) Although the 
record contains adequate information to conclude that Northern (or 
Common) Flicker populations are viable, the summary and explanation of 
this information in the FEIS must be clarified to confirm this; and (2) 
The ROD mentions possible future entries in seven years, but the 
analysis does not clearly document effects from these possible entries 
in some stands. If new entries, not analyzed with this project, are 
undertaken in those stands, the Forest must first complete an 
environmental analysis.
    On August 28, 2002 the Appeal Deciding Officer (ADO) for the GSRMP 
stated that the Forest response fulfilled the direction in the ADO's 
letter of April 18, 2002. The ADO also responded that the project may 
not be implemented until the Forest considered the new information 
contained in the report, ``Lift History and Analysis of Endangered, 
Threatened, Candidate, Sensitive and Management Indicator Species of 
the Dixie National Forest.'' On September 4, 2002 Randall G. Swick, 
Acting Forest Supervisor, Dixie National Forest, directed the GSRMP 
Interdisciplinary Team to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement that considers this new information relative to the GSRMP.
    The Record of Decision for the SEIS will be appealable under 36 CFR 
215.7 and should only address those items pertinent to the new 
information contained in the ``Life History and Analysis of Endangered, 
Threatened, Candidate, Sensitive and Management Indicator Species of 
the Dixie National Forest'' report.

Comments Requested

    Based on the new information the USDA Forest Service is now 
reconsidering the effects of implementing the various alternative on 
Management Indicator Species (MIS) located in the project area. 
Accordingly, the USDA Forest Service invites public comment on the 
scope of the SEIS that would evaluate potential changes in the agencies 
plans as related to the effects to MIS populations.

Responsible Official

    Randall G. Swick, Acting Forest Supervisor, Dixie National Forest, 
1789 Wedgewood Lane, Cedar City, Utah 84720.

    Dated: September 9, 2002.
Randall G. Swick,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 02-23428 Filed 9-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M