[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 97 (Friday, May 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29272-29273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9878]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; California and Nevada; Great 
Basin South Rangeland Project Analysis

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Bridgeport Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe National 
Forest will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a 
proposal to authorize continued livestock grazing on National Forest 
System lands east of Bridgeport, California. The project area is 
located in portions of Mineral and Lyon counties, Nevada, and portions 
of Mono County, California. The analysis will determine if a change in 
management direction for livestock grazing is needed to move existing 
resource conditions towards desired conditions. The Conway, East 
Walker, Huntoon, Larkin Lake, Masonic, Aurora, Nine Mile, Powell 
Mountain, Rough Creek, Whiskey Flat, and Wild Horse Allotments would 
continue to have authorized grazing. Squaw Creek Allotment would 
continue to be vacant.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
within 30 days from the date this notice is published in the Federal 
Register. The draft environmental impact statement is expected in 
September, 2005 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected in December, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to District Ranger, Bridgeport Ranger 
District, HCR 1 Box 1000, Bridgeport, California 93517.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Loomis, Project Manager, Carson 
Ranger District, 1536 S. Carson Street, Carson City, Nevada 89701.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    There is a need to maintain or improve the overall health of the 
rangeland in the 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 Bridgeport Ranger District, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 
is proposing to authorize continued cattle grazing on the 410,000 acre 
Great Basin South 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.

Possible Alternatives

    In addition to the proposed action, two additional alternatives 
have been tentatively identified for analysis in the EIS:
    1. No Action Alternative: Continue current grazing management.
    2. No Grazing Alternative: Do not issue new grazing permits when 
existing permits expire.

Responsible Official

    Forest Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin 
Way, Sparks, NV 89431.

[[Page 29273]]

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Based on the environmental analysis in the EIS, the Forest 
Supervisor will decide whether or not to continue grazing on the 
allotments within the Great Basin South 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 mail 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.
     Continued livestock grazing has the potential to adversely 
affect the health of riparian vegetation.
     Continued livestock grazing has the potential to adversely 
affect the health of rangeland vegetation.
     Continued livestock grazing has the potential to adversely 
affect sage grouse habitat.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides 
the development of 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, that 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 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. 1334, 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 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 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: May 12, 2005.
Randall M. Sharp,
Natural Resources Staff Officer.
[FR Doc. 05-9878 Filed 5-19-05; 8:45 am]
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