[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 56 (Thursday, March 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14677-14678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-2796]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


``Cayuga Project'', Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest; WI

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a supplement to the environmental 
impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest intends to supplement the May 2003 ``Cayuga 
Project'' Final Environmental Impact

[[Page 14678]]

Statement. The supplement would clarify and add more detail to the 
cumulative effects analysis regarding certain Regional Forester 
Sensitive Species that may be affected by the actions considered in the 
original Environmental Impact Statement.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by May 15, 2006 in order to be fully considered in preparing this 
supplemental statement. The draft supplemental environmental impact 
statement is expected July, 2006 and the final supplemental 
environmental impact statement is expected September, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Anne F. Archie, Forest Supervisor, 
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 1170 4th Avenue S, Park Galls, WI 
54552.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Quinn, Forest Environmental 
Coordinator, (see address above).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Purpose and Need for Action: The purpose of the Cayuga Project is 
to move the structure and cover of the existing forest closer to 
desired conditions described in the 2004 Nicolet National Forest Plan. 
A concurrent purpose is to eliminate unneeded roads and manage needed 
roads in a more efficient and effective way.
    Proposed Action: The major actions would use commercial timber 
harvest, non-commercial vegetation management, road closure and road 
decommissioning to achieve the purpose and need.
    Responsible Official: Anne F. Archie, Forest Supervisor, 
Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, is the responsible official.
    Nature of Decision To Be Made: The decision will be limited to 
determining whether to revise, amend or reassert; the original Cayuga 
Record of Decision (May 7, 2003).
    Scoping Process: A scoping package will be mailed to all parties 
who previously were mailed the original draft environmental impact 
statement, and to those who request a copy.
    Comment Requested: This notice of intent initiates the scoping 
process which guides the development of the supplemental environmental 
impact statement. Specifically, the supplement will fully consider 
cumulative effects of timber harvest to goshawk, red-shouldered hawk, 
American marten, spruce grouse and black-backed woodpecker that occur 
in the Cayuga project area.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review: A draft supplement to the environmental impact 
statement will be prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft 
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 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 supplemental environmental impact 
statement stage but that are not raised until after completion of the 
final supplemental 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 address 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 151.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 20

    Dated: March 16, 2006.
Anne F. Archie,
Forest Supervisor, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
[FR Doc. 06-2796 Filed 3-22-06; 8:45am]
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