[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68794-68796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9420]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Colville National Forest; Washington; Old Curlew Ranger Station 
Facilities Disposal

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Colville National Forest, USDA Forest Service, will 
prepare an EIS (environmental impact statement) on a proposal to sell 
the old Curlew Ranger Station administrative site, a 3-acre parcel 
including buildings, located on the south side of Curlew, in Ferry 
County, Washington. The parcel and buildings are no longer needed to 
meet public service or Forest Service mission requirements. The Forest 
Service Facility Realignment and Enhancement Act of 2005 authorized the 
Secretary of Agriculture to sell administrative sites that are no 
longer needed for National Forest System purposes. Project 
implementation is scheduled for Fiscal

[[Page 68795]]

Year 2007. This project is not associated with the proposed Secure 
Rural Schools Land Sale Initiative. The Colville National Forest 
invites written comments and suggestions on the scope of the analysis. 
The agency will give notice of the full environmental analysis and 
decision-making process so interested and affected people may 
participate and contribute to the final decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by December 29, 2006. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected February 2007 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected in May 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Rick Brazell, Forest Supervisor, 
Colville National Forest, 765 South Main, Colville, WA 99114 (phone 
509-684-7000). Comments may be submitted electronically to [email protected]. Comments may also be sent by fax 
to (509) 775-7401. Include your name and mailing address with your 
comments so documents pertaining to this project may be mailed to you.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed Shaw, Reality Specialist, Colville 
National Forest, 765 South Main, Colville, WA 99114 (phone 509-684-
7129), or Jim Parker, EIS Project Leader, Republic Ranger District, 650 
East Delaware, Republic, WA 99166 (phone 509-775-7462).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    One of the key findings of the Colville National Forest Facilities 
Master Plan is that the Colville National Forest maintains more 
facility space than it needs to perform its mission. The Colville 
National Forest needs to remove unneeded buildings from the Forest's 
facility inventory in order to eliminate the cost of maintaining 
unneeded facilities.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action is to sell the old Curlew Ranger Station 
administrative site, a 3-acre parcel of land including buildings 
located on the south side of Curlew, Washington. The property legal 
description is: A portion of the SW\1/4\NE\1/4\ Section 14, T39N, R33E, 
WM. This 3-acre site is located adjacent to the small town of Curlew, 
Washington, about 9 miles south of the Canadian border. The land was 
purchased by the Forest Service in 1936 and used as a ranger station 
until 1969 when two Ranger District areas were combined.
    The site has five major structures (one residential house, one 
residential garage, one 6-bay garage shop, one 12-person bunkhouse and 
one oil/gas house) and a small storage shed. The mineral estate would 
be disposed of with the surface estate with no reservation. Water is 
provided by a community system. The sewer system is independent; 
however a community sewer system is under development.
    The property may be sold directly to an identified purchaser or may 
be sold under competitive bidding procedures. The method of sale will 
be determined at a later date. If the property is offered for sale 
under competitive bidding procedures, an Invitation for Bid will 
provide specific information, including a minimum bid price, the 
scheduled starting date for bidding, approximate bid closing date, 
requirements and instructions for bidding, payment and other closing 
procedures. An Offer to Sell will be released after all environmental 
studies and other required analysis are completed and a final decision 
to sell the property is made.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official is Rick Brazell, Forest Supervisor, 
Colville National Forest, 765 South Main, Colville, WA 99114.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Responsible Official will decide whether or not to proceed with 
sale of the old Curlew Ranger Station property, including any 
outstanding interests or conditions to be conveyed. The decision and 
rationale for the decision will be documented in the Record of 
Decision, which will be subject to Forest Service Appeal Regulations 
(36 CFR part 215).

Scoping Process

    The scoping process will identify and clarify issues, identify key 
issues to be analyzed in depth, explore alternatives based on themes 
derived from key issues recognized during the scoping process, and 
identify potential environmental effects associated with the proposed 
action. A No Action alternative will be considered.

Preliminary Issues

    Only one key issue was identified in preliminary project 
assessment: The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, Revised, 
requires that Federal agencies evaluate properties for historic 
significance under Section 106. Three structures at the Curlew Ranger 
Station have been found eligible to the National Register of Historic 
Places (NRHP), with the Washington State Historic Preservation Office 
concurring on this finding. These three structures are the Ranger's 
Residence, Garage, and Oil and Gas house. Conveyance of the property 
from Federal ownership will be an adverse effect because of NRHP 
eligibility based on the following criteria: The property may represent 
a significant contribution to the American history (Criterion A), is 
associated with the lives of significant persons in our past (Criterion 
B), displays distinctive characteristics of type or period (Criterion 
C), or may be likely to yield information important to history 
(Criterion D). The NRHP eligibility for the three structures at the 
Curlew Ranger Station is based on a national significance of context in 
association with the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps. 
Eligibility is also based on national and regional significance of 
context associated with distinctive architectural characteristics.
    Comment Requested: This notice of intent initiates the scoping 
process which guides the development of the environmental impact 
statement. The Forest Service is seeking information, comments, and 
assistance from other agencies, organizations, Indian Tribes, and 
individuals who may be interested in or affected by the Proposed 
Action. This input will be used in preparation of the Draft EIS. Your 
comments are appreciated throughout the analysis process.
    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, 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.

[[Page 68796]]

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: November 21, 2006.
Mimi Tryon,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 06-9420 Filed 11-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M