[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 69 (Thursday, April 10, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 17596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8804]


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 Notices
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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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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 69 / Thursday, April 10, 2003 / 
Notices  

[[Page 17596]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


USDA-Forest Service/Spalding Land Exchange and Special Use Permit 
Environmental Impact Statement and Lassen National Forest Plan 
Amendment, Lassen National Forest, Lassen County, CA

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Lassen 
National Forest, wishes to advise the public of availability of a DRAFT 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a proposed land exchange 
between the Spalding Community Services District (SCDS) and the Lessen 
National Forest, Lassen County, CA. Approval would include the transfer 
of approximately 57.21 acres of Federal lands encompassing one 52.50 
acre parcel and one 4.71 acres parcel, and also includes a non-
significant minor amendment to the ``Lassen National Forest Land and 
Resource Management Plan'' (LRMP), and authorization of a special use 
of National Forest System Lands for water and sewer pipeline corridors, 
and an access road totaling approximately 2.7 acres. Details on the 
proposed action, location and areas of environmental concern addressed 
in the DEIS are provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

DATES: Submit comments on or before close of business on May 27, 2003 
at the address listed below.
    The final EIS is scheduled for completion in June 2003.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments to the responsible official: Edward 
C. Cole, Forest Supervisor, Lassen National Forest, 2550 Riverside 
Drive, Susanville, CA 96130.
    To obtain a copy of the DEIS or for further information contact: 
Lois Charlton, Forest Lands Officer, Lassen National Forest, 2550 
Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130. Telephone (530) 257-2151.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Forest Service (lead agency) is proposing an 
equal value exchange of federal land with the SCSD for one SCSD parcel 
and third party private lands. If the values are unequal, either party 
may equalize the values by making a cash payment not to exceed 25 
percent of the value of the lands transferred out of Federal ownership. 
The Forest Service is initiating this action in response to a request 
by SCSD to acquire lands to accommodate construction and operation of a 
wastewater collection and treatment facility. The federal lands are 
from the Lassen National Forest (57.21 acres). Lands the SCSD may 
potentially exchange include up to eleven parcels listed in order of 
priority for acquisition (Lassen County Assessor Parcel Numbers 077-
303-21; 075-120-14, -15, 075-130-11, 075-080-17; and Plumas County 
Assessor Parcel Numbers 009-190-006; 010-010-029, -030; and 005-220-
018, -019, -020). Acquisition of these parcels would improve access to 
National Forest System Lands, eliminate one or more in-holdings, and 
add wetland habitat to the Lassen National Forest. Approval of the land 
exchange would also include a non-significant minor amendment to the 
Lassen LRMP, and authorization of a special use of National Forest 
System Lands for water and sewer pipeline corridors and an access road 
totaling approximately 2.7 acres. The DEIS analyses the environmental 
impacts of this proposal as well as the ``no action'' alternative.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the 
public record on this proposed action and will be available for public 
inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and 
considered. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may 
request the agency to withhold a submission to the public record by 
showing how the Freedom of Information (FOIA) permits 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 comments may be resubmitted with or without name 
and address.
    Reviewers should provide the Forest Service with their comments 
during the review period of the DEIS. This will enable the Forest 
Service to analyze and respond to the comments at one time and to use 
information acquired in the preparation of the final environmental 
impact statement, thus avoiding undue delay in the decision making 
process. Reviewers have an obligation to structure their participation 
in the National Environmental Policy Act process so that it is 
meaningful and alerts the agency to the reviewers' position and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
553 (1978). Environmental objections that could have been raised at the 
draft stage 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, 490 F. Supp. 
1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Comments on the DEIS should be specific 
and should address the adequacy of the statement and the merits of the 
alternatives discussed (40 CFR 1503.3).

    Dated: March 21, 2003.
Edward C. Cole,
Forest Supervisor, Lassen National Forest.
[FR Doc. 03-8804 Filed 4-9-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M