[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 114 (Friday, June 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35424-35425]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14286]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR-931-6320 HAG3-0056]


Notice of Availability of Draft Integrated Pest Management 
Program Environmental Impact Statement for the Provolt and Sprague Seed 
Orchards

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Integrated Pest Management 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Provolt and Sprague Seed 
Orchards.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 202 of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, a Draft Integrated Pest Management EIS has been 
prepared for the Bureau of Land Management's Provolt and Sprague Seed 
Orchards in the Bureau's Medford District. The Draft EIS describes and 
analyzes options for integrated pest management to control the insect, 
weed, animal, and disease problems at the orchards and to maintain 
healthy, vigorous crop trees for the production of seed and other 
vegetative materials used for reforestation and a variety of land 
management actions. Preparation of this EIS precedes a final decision 
regarding the selection of an integrated pest management alternative at 
Provolt and Sprague Seed Orchards.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS will be accepted for 60 days 
from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice 
of Availability in the Federal Register. Written comments may also be 
presented at public meetings/open houses and will be announced at least 
15 days in advance through public notices, media news releases, and/or 
mailings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the document should be addressed to: Mr. 
Harvey Koester, Manager Provolt and Sprague Seed Orchards, 3040 Biddle 
Road, Medford, OR 97504, or by fax to 541-618-2400, or by e-mail to 
[email protected]. Copies will be available at Medford 
and Grants Pass public libraries located in Jackson and Josephine 
Counties, OR, and on the BLM Medford District Web site at http://www.or.blm.gov/medford/planning/medpest_eis_main.html. Copies will 
also be available from the Medford District Office, 3040 Biddle Road, 
Medford, OR 97504; 541-618-2200. Public reading copies will be 
available for review at the following BLM locations: BLM Oregon State 
Office, Portland, OR; and BLM Office of Public Affairs, Main Interior 
Building, Washington, DC. Background information and maps used in 
developing the EIS are available at the Medford District Office and the 
Oregon State Office in Portland.
    Pursuant to 7 CFR part 1, subpart B, Sec.  1.27, all written and 
electronic submissions in response to this notice, public scoping 
letters, and draft and final Environmental Impact Statements will be 
made available for public inspection at the Medford District office 
(3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR) during regular hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays) including the submitter's 
name and address, unless the submitter specifically requests 
confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or address from 
public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written 
comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. 
All submissions from organizations or businesses, submitted on official 
letterheads, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organization or businesses, will be 
made available for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Harvey Koester, Manager Provolt 
and Sprague Seed Orchards, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504, 541-
618-2401, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft EIS analyzes three action 
alternatives and the No Action alternative to manage pests at Provolt 
and Sprague Seed Orchards. The alternatives can be summarized as 
follows:
    Alternative A--Maximum Production Integrated Pest Management. Pests 
would be managed using all identified biological, chemical, prescribed 
fire, cultural and other pest control methods.
    Alternative B--Integrated Pest Management with Environmental 
Protection Emphasis. This is the preferred alternative. Pests would be 
managed using all of the methods in Alternative A, with special 
restrictions to protect workers' health and safety and the environment. 
The restrictions are based on the results of the human health and 
ecological risk assessment, scoping comments, and anticipated 
consultation issues with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National 
Marine Fisheries Service under the Endangered Species Act.

[[Page 35425]]

    Alternative C--Non-Chemical Pest Management. Pests would be managed 
using only the biological, prescribed fire, cultural, and other non-
chemical pesticide methods listed under Alternative A. No chemical 
methods would be permitted.
    Alternative D--No Action: Continuation of Current Management 
Approach. The current management system uses all non-chemical pest 
control practices at the seed orchard, as well as the use of limited 
chemicals on a specific case-by-case basis. All biological, prescribed 
fire, cultural and other non-chemical pesticide methods available for 
use. When a specific need is identified for a chemical pesticide, the 
action would be reviewed to determine whether it is encompassed by an 
existing NEPA document, or whether an environmental assessment or EIS 
is required.
    Public participation has occurred throughout the NEPA process. Two 
Notices of Intent were filed in the Federal Register (FR) on March 26, 
1999 (64 FR 14747) and March 29, 2001 (66 FR 17192). Open houses, mail-
outs, and site visits also have been conducted to solicit comments and 
ideas. All comments presented throughout the process have been 
considered in developing the Draft EIS.

Mary Smelcer,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-14286 Filed 6-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P