[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 41 (Friday, March 2, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9501-9502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-944]


 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 41 / Friday, March 2, 2007 / 
Notices  

[[Page 9501]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Chugach National Forest, Glacier Ranger District, Alaska--Spencer 
Mineral Materials Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This project proposes the sale of mineral materials in the 
form of gravel aggregate and quarry rock from up to 570 acres at 
Spencer on the Glacier Ranger District of the Chugach National Forest, 
and will analyze removal of these materials within the constraints of 
the Chugach National Forest Revised Land and Resource Management Plan.

DATES: Comments and input regarding the proposal were requested from 
the public, other groups and agencies via direct mailing on November 
16, 2006. Based on the comments received, the Responsible Official has 
determined that an environmental impact statement will be prepared for 
this project. The draft environmental impact statement is expected in 
May, 2007 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
August, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Alice Allen, Hell Canyon Ranger 
District, 330 Mt. Rushmore Rd., Custer, South Dakota 57730. Comment may 
also be submitted by e-mail to: [email protected] with ``Spencer Minerals'' as subject.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alice Allen, Project Coordinator, 
Black Hills National Forest, Hell Canyon Ranger District, at 330 Mt. 
Rushmore Rd., phone (605) 673-4853.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Purpose and Need for Action: The purpose of the project is to 
authorize the sale of mineral materials (gravel aggregate and quarry 
rock). The EIS will determine current conditions, analyze environmental 
consequences of mineral extraction on those conditions, and assist the 
decisionmaker in selecting management/monitoring strategies consistent 
with meeting desired conditions in the CRLRMP, including one of the 
goals for ``Minerals''. The Forest Service seeks to continue to provide 
high quality mineral materials for the State of Alaska from the Spencer 
site as a valid multiple use while maintaining the integrity of the 
recreational experience at Spencer and restoring a more natural 
landscape.
    Proposed Action: The Forest Service will evaluate, analyze and 
determine the ability to develop and extract quarry rock and gravel 
aggregate from a mineral materials site at Spencer. Production of these 
materials will be permitted on all or a portion of the approximately 
570-acre site for up to 15 years. The site(s) chosen for mineral 
material extraction will be situated and operated so as not to conflict 
with a high quality recreation experience at the Spencer Glacier 
Whistle Stop.
    Issues: Key issues identified during scoping include impacts of the 
proposal to recreationists at Spencer; conflicts with valid existing 
placer claims; impacts on water quality; impacts on wildlife and 
wildlife habitat; economic feasibility of the proposal; and public 
safety.
    Possible Alternatives: The No Action alternative would not allow 
extraction of mineral materials from the Spencer site at this time. 
Alternative B would minimize impacts to recreationists. Alternative C 
would minimize visual impacts. Alternative D would allow gravel 
extraction from a larger area than Alternative B or C but less than 
Alternative A.
    Responsible Official: The Responsible Official for this project on 
the Glacier Ranger District is Joe Meade, Forest Supervisor, Chugach 
National Forest, 3301 ``C'' Street, Suite 300, Anchorage, Alaska.
    Nature of Decision To Be Made: The Forest Service will evaluate the 
proposed action and alternatives. After reviewing the proposed action, 
the alternatives, the environmental analysis, and considering public 
comment, the Forest Supervisor will reach a decision that is in 
accordance with the purpose and need for this project. The decision 
will include, but not be limited to:
    (1) Whether or not to permit production of mineral materials from 
the Spencer site.
    (2) What will be the size and location of the area(s) permitted for 
mineral materials production.
    (3) What types of equipment and facilities will be allowed in the 
permitted area to support minerals materials operations.
    (4) What methods of extraction will be allowed and/or prohibited.
    (5) What constraints will apply to mineral materials operations to 
provide a high quality recreational experience at the Spencer Glacier 
Whistle Stop.
    Public Comment: Comments and input regarding the proposal were 
requested from the public, other groups and agencies via direct mailing 
on November 16, 2006. Based on the comments received, the Responsible 
Official has determined that an environmental impact statement will be 
prepared for this project. Additional comments will be accepted during 
a 45-day public comment following publication of the draft 
environmental impact statement in May, 2007.
    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. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of

[[Page 9502]]

these courts 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: February 15, 2007.
Joe L. Meade,
Forest Supervisor, Chugach National Forest.
[FR Doc. 07-944 Filed 3-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M