[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46162-46163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19838]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


North Fork Eel Grazing Allotments EIS--Six Rivers National Forest

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revised notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: This notice revises the original notice of intent (67FR68089) 
published in the Federal Register on November 8, 2002. The Six Rivers 
National Forest will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on 
a proposal to: (1) Authorize grazing up to 10 years, under changed 
seasons of use and grazing practices, of about 500 Cow/Calf Pairs on 
the Hoaglin, Zenia, Long Ridge, and Van Horn cattle allotments 
encompassing about 116,000 acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands; 
and (2) amend the Six Rivers National Forest Land and Resources 
Management Plan (LRMP) to close the vacant Soldier Creek Allotment 
encompassing about 10,000 acres of NFS lands.
    The analysis area is located predominantly within the North Fork 
Eel River Watershed and includes all or portions of the following 
townships: T2SR6E, T2SR7E, T3SR6E, T3SR7E, T3SR8E, T4SR6E, T4S7E, 
T4SR8E, T5SR6E, T5SR7E, Humboldt. Meridian; T25NR12W, T26NR12W, Mount 
Diablo Meridian; Trinity County, California.
    The proposal is designed to meet the following needs: (1) Continued 
livestock grazing in the currently active allotments; (2) achievement 
of soil compaction and bank stability standards as stated in the LRMP; 
(3) achievement of forage utilization standards in riparian areas and 
annual grasslands as stated in the LRMP; and (4) meeting the management 
goals for the Soldier Basin Recommended Research Natural Area (RRNA) as 
directed in the LRMP. The EIS will satisfy the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and implementing regulations 
(40 CFR 1500).

DATES: Comments concerning the proposed action must be received on or 
before 14 days after publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register. The draft EIS is expected to be published in October 2003 and 
the final EIS is expected in February 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to S.E. ''Lou'' Woltering, Forest 
Supervisor, Six Rivers National Forest, 1330 Bayshore Way, Eureka, CA 
95501-3834. Comments may be mailed electronically to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruben Escatell or Clara Cross EIS Team 
Leaders, Mad River Ranger District, Star Route Box 300, Bridgeville, CA 
95526. Phone (707) 574-6233. E-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Six Rivers National Forest has determined the following needs 
concerning the Van Horn, Long Ridge, Hoaglin, Zenia and Soldier Creek 
Allotments: (1) Continued livestock grazing under updated allotment 
Management Plans on the Van Horn, Long Ridge, Hoaglin, and Zenia 
allotments; (2) achievement of soil compaction and bank stability 
standards and guidelines as stated in the LRMP; (3) achievement of 
forge utilization standards in riparian areas and annual grasslands as 
stated in the LRMP; and (4) meeting the management goals, as directed 
in the LRMP, for the Soldier Basin Recommended Research Natural Area 
(RRNA) which is located in the Soldier Creek Allotment. In achieving 
the aforementioned needs the following purposes will be met: (1) 
fulfill a trust responsibility to the Round Valley Indian Tribes to 
manage grazing activities so as to not adversely impact tribal trust 
properties and rights down river of the allotments, namely water 
quality and anadromous fish; (2) minimize impacts to anadromous 
fisheries along the North Fork Eel River system; (3) redistribute 
cattle away from identified heritage sites; (4) maintain the permitees' 
ability to graze livestock efficiently and economically, and (5) 
maintain rangeland productivity on suitable rangelands while providing 
forage for livestock production consistent with demand and other 
resource values and uses.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service proposes to (1) authorize grazing up to 10 
years, under changed seasons of use and grazing practices, of about 500 
Cow/Calf Pairs on the Hoaglin, Zenia, Long Ridge and Van Horn 
Allotments encompassing about 116,00 acres of National Forest System 
(NFS) lands; and (2) amend the Six Rivers National Forest Land and 
Resource Management Plan (LRMP) to close the currently vacant Soldier 
Creek allotment encompassing about 10,000 acres of NFS lands. The 
proposed action includes change to Allotment Management Plans that 
address grazing practices, construction of new range improvements, 
restoration and/or removal of existing range improvements, allotment 
boundary modifications, and monitoring provisions. Closure of the 
Soldier Creek allotment would constitute a Forest Plan amendment. A 
detailed description of the proposed action can be obtained by 
contacting Ruben Escatell at the address listed above.

[[Page 46163]]

Responsible Official

    S.E. ``Lou'' Woltering, Forest Supervisor, Six Rivers National 
Forest, USDA Forest Service, 1330 Bayshore Way, Eureka, CA 95501-3834, 
is the Responsible Official for any decision to authorize grazing, 
manage rangelands, or close any allotment on affected National Forest 
System lands within the Six Rivers National Forest. His decisions and 
rationale will be documented in a Record of Decision.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Supervisory will make the following decisions: Whether 
or not to authorize cattle grazing in allotments considered in this 
analysis and, if so, the terms and conditions required for the term 
grazing permits and AMPs; and, whether or not to close the Soldier 
Creek Allotment, thereby removing its rangeland from the LRMP suitable 
forage base.

Scoping Process

    Scoping is the procedure by which the Forest Service identifies 
important issues and determines the extent of analysis necessary for an 
informed decision on a proposed action. The public is encouraged to 
comment on this proposal and is encouraged to visit with Forest Service 
Officials at any time during the analysis and prior to the decision. 
The Forest Service will be seeking information, comments and assistance 
from Federal, State and local agencies and other individuals or 
organizations who may be interested in, or affected by, the proposed 
action. While public participation in this analysis welcome at any 
time, comments received within 14 days of the publication of this 
notice will be especially useful in the preparation of the Draft EIS

Early Notice of Importance of Pubic 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 service 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 reviewer's position and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
553 (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 Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 
F. supp. 1344, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court 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 re 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 EIS 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 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: July 30, 2003.
William D. Metz,
Deputy Forest Supervisor, Six Rivers National Forest.
[FR Doc. 03-19838 Filed 8-4-03; 8:45 am]
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