[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 114 (Friday, June 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 35426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14287]



[[Page 35426]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR-931-6320 HAG3-0057]


Notice of Availability of Draft Integrated Pest Management 
Program Environmental Impact Statement for the Tyrrell Seed Orchard

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Integrated Pest Management 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Tyrrell Seed Orchard.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 202 of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, a Draft Integrated Pest Management Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared for the Bureau of Land 
Management's Tyrrell Seed Orchard in the Bureau's Eugene District. The 
Draft EIS describes and analyzes options for integrated pest management 
to control the insect, weed, animal, and disease problems at the 
orchard 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 Tyrrell Seed Orchard.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS will be accepted for 60 days 
following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the 
Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. Written comments may 
also be presented at a public meeting/open house, which 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. 
Glenn Miller, Manager Tyrrell Seed Orchard, 26350 Siuslaw River Road 
(PO Box 121), Lorane, OR 97451, or by fax to 541-683-6597, or by e-mail 
to [email protected].
    Copies will be available at Eugene (Eugene city library-downtown 
branch), Springfield, Cottage Grove, and Veneta public libraries 
located in Lane County, OR, and on the BLM Eugene District Web site at 
http://www.edo.or.blm.gov/planning/seed_orchard/pest_mgmt_eis.htm. 
Copies will also be available from the Eugene District Office, 2890 
Chad Drive, Eugene, OR 97440; 541-683-6600. 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, 
Washington, DC. Background information and maps used in developing the 
EIS are available at the Eugene 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 Eugene District office 
(2890 Chad Drive, Eugene, OR) during regular hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15 
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. Glenn Miller, Manager Tyrrell Seed 
Orchard, 26350 Siuslaw River Road (PO Box 121), Lorane, OR 97451, 541-
683-6445, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft EIS analyzes four action 
alternatives and the No Action alternative to manage pests at Tyrrell 
Seed Orchard. 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, including aerial 
application of esfenvalerate by helicopter.
    Alternative B--Integrated Pest Management with Environmental 
Protection Emphasis. 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 National Marine Fisheries 
Service under the Endangered Species Act.
    Alternative C--Ground-Based Integrated Pest Management. This 
alternative is identical to Alternative B except for the exclusion of 
helicopter application.
    Alternative D--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 E--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 would be 
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.
    The preferred alternative is Alternative B.
    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). An open house, 
mail-outs, and a site visit also have been conducted to solicit 
comments and ideas. All comments presented throughout the process have 
been considered in developing the Draft EIS.

Pat Russell,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-14287 Filed 6-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P