[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 63942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25594]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 209 / Tuesday, October 28, 2008 / 
Notices  

[[Page 63942]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Superior National Forest, LaCroix and Kawishiwi Ranger Districts; 
Minnesota; Echo Trail Area Forest Management Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a supplement to the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Superior National Forest will prepare a supplement to the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Echo Trail Area 
Forest Management Project. The supplement will address water quality 
and watershed health conditions potentially affected by the project. 
The project is located on the LaCroix Ranger District, Cook, Minnesota, 
and Kawishiwi Ranger District, Ely, Minnesota.

DATES: A 45-day comment period will be provided for the draft 
supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement. The draft 
supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected 
during the fall 2008 or winter of 2008-2009 and the final Supplement to 
the Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected during the spring 
of 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Nancy S. Larson, LaCroix District 
Ranger, Echo Trail SEIS, 320 Hwy 53 North, Cook, MN 55723. Send 
electronic comments to [email protected] 
and fax comments to (218) 666-0022.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Booth, Project Coordinator, 320 
Hwy 53 North, Cook, MN 55723; telephone (218) 666-0020.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement will 
address issues raised in the Memorandum Opinion and Order for Sierra 
Club, et al. v. Kimbell (Case No. 07-3160) issued September 15, 2008 by 
the United States District Court, District of Minnesota. The opinion 
vacated the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EEIS) and required 
that it be amended to further address water quality and watershed 
health. The original FEIS and Record of Decision (ROD) are available on 
the Superior National Forest Web site (http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/superior/projects) or by calling the Project Coordinator.
    The Echo Trail Area Forest Management Project is intended to 
implement the 2004 Superior National Forest Land and Resource 
Management Plan by moving the project area toward desired conditions 
for vegetation and landscape ecosystems, including, for example, forest 
age class, vegetation composition, tree species and structure 
diversity. The proposed action and alternatives include a range of 
forest vegetation and transportation system management options to 
address significant issues, which include impacts to wildlife habitat, 
roadless areas and recreation in and outside the Boundary Waters Canoe 
Area Wilderness.
    The purpose and need for action, proposed action, issues, 
alternatives, effects and nature of the decision are fully described in 
the original FETS and ROD.

Responsible Officials

    Nancy S. Larson, LaCroix District Ranger, 320 Hwy 53 North, Cook, 
MN 55723, and Mark E. VanEvery, Kawishiwi District Ranger, 1393 Highway 
169, Ely, MN 55731.

Scoping Process

    Scoping for the Echo Trail Area Forest Management Project was 
conducted as described in section 1.10 of the Echo Trail Area Forest 
Management Project FEIS. Scoping need not be repeated for a supplement 
to the FEIS (see 40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4)). Comments on the draft supplement 
to the Final Environmental Impact Statement will be solicited as 
described below in Comment Requested.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the process which guides 
development of a Supplement to the Echo Trail Area Forest Management 
Project Final Environmental Impact Statement. Written comments will be 
solicited through notification of individuals, organizations and 
agencies on the mailing list for the original FEIS.
    A draft supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement will 
be prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft supplement 
will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of 
the supplement to the FEIS.
    Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of the 
comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's concerns 
and contentions. The submission of timely and specific comments can 
affect a reviewer's ability to participate in subsequent administrative 
or judicial review.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide 
the respondent with standing to participate in subsequent 
administrative review or judicial review.

    Date: October 21, 2008.
Nancy S. Larson,
LaCroix District Ranger.

    Dated: October 21, 2008.
Mark E. Vanevery,
Kawishiwi District Ranger.
 [FR Doc. E8-25594 Filed 10-27-08; 8:45 am]
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