[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 250 (Monday, December 30, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79557-79559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32861]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Martin Basin Rangeland Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Santa Rosa Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe National 
Forest will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a 
proposal to authorize continued livestock grazing within the Martin 
Basin Rangeland Project area. The analysis will determine if a change 
in management direction for livestock grazing is needed to move 
existing resource conditions within the Martin Basin Rangeland Project 
area towards desired conditions. The allotments within the project 
areas

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include Martin Basin, Indian, West Side Flat Creek, Buffalo, Bradshaw, 
Buttermild, Granite Peak and Rebel Creek. These allotments are located 
within the Quinn River Watershed and North Fork Little Humboldt River 
Watershed in Humboldt County, Nevada.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by February 28, 2003. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected July 2003 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected September 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to District Ranger, Santa Rosa Ranger 
District, 1200 East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, mail 
correspondence to or contact Steven Williams, Project Coordinator, at 
Santa Rosa Ranger District, 1200 East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, 
Nevada 89445. The telephone number is 775-623-5025, extension 112. E-
mail address is [email protected].

Purpose and Need for Action

    There is a need to maintain or improve the condition of riparian 
resources and maintain or improve the overall health of the rangeland 
in the Martin Basin Rangeland Project area. The purpose of this project 
is to determine the management direction for livestock grazing needed 
to move existing resource conditions within the project area towards 
desired conditions.

Proposed Action

    The Santa Rosa Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe Nation Forest, is 
proposing to authorize continued cattle grazing in the Martin Basin 
Rangeland Project area under updated grazing management direction in 
order to move existing rangeland resource conditions within the project 
area toward desired condition. The updated direction will be 
incorporated in attendant grazing permits and allotment management 
plans to guide grazing management within the project area during the 
coming decade, or until amendments are warranted based on changed 
condition or monitoring.

Possible Alternatives

    In addition to the proposed action we have tentatively identified 
two additional alternatives that will be analyzed in the EIS.
    (1) No Act Alternative: This would be continuation of the current 
grazing management.
    (2) No Grazing Alternative: This would be not issuing new grazing 
permits when existing permits expire.

Responsible Official

    Jose Noriega, District Ranger, Santa Rosa Ranger District, 1200 
East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Based on the environmental analysis on the EIS the District Ranger 
will decide whether or not to continue grazing on the allotment within 
the Martin Basin project area in accordance with the standards in the 
proposed action or as modified by additional mitigation measures and 
monitoring requirements.

Scoping Process

    The Forest Service will use a mailing of information to interested 
parties. Public involvement will be ongoing throughout the analysis 
process and at certain times public input will be specifically 
requested. There are currently no scoping meetings planned.

Preliminary Issues

    The following are some potential issues identified through internal 
Forest Service scoping based on our experience with similar projects. 
The list is not considered all-inclusive, but should be viewed as a 
starting point. We are asking you to help us further refine the issues 
and identify other issues or concerns relevant to the proposed project.
    [sbull] Continued livestock grazing has the potential to adversely 
affect water quality in the Quinn River/Blackrock Basin and the 
Humboldt River Basin.
    [sbull] Continued livestock grazing has the potential to adversely 
affect habitat for Lahontan Cutthroat trout a Federally listed species 
found in the Quinn River/Blackrock Basin and the Humboldt Basin.
    [sbull] Continued livestock grazing has the potential to adversely 
affect heritage resources within the project area.
    [sbull] Continued livestock grazing has the potential to adversely 
affect vegetation, which may result in a decline in the long-term 
productivity of the land base.
    [sbull] Continued livestock grazing is currently affecting the 
health of some aspen stands.
    [sbull] Continued livestock grazing affects trails, trailheads, and 
dispersed recreation sites.
    [sbull] Continued livestock grazing has the potential to adversely 
affect wilderness values.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. Submit comments 
stating your concerns and issues that are relevant to the proposed 
project. Comments will be used to help establish the scope or studies 
and analysis for the environmental impact statement.

Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review

    A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for 
comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement 
will be 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. First, 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's position and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
533 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the 
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised 
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may 
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Hertages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these courts rulings, 
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action 
participate by the close of the 45 day comment period so that 
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest 
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to 
them in the final environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed 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 on Environmental

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Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the 
National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these 
points.
    Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who 
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal 
and will be available for public inspection.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21)

    Dated: December 20, 2002.
Jose Noriega,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 02-32861 Filed 12-27-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M