[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 112 (Friday, June 12, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28007-28008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13690]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Black Hills National Forest, Mystic Ranger District, SD, Mystic 
Range Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement on a proposal to evaluate grazing on eight (8) allotments on 
the Black Hills National Forest, Mystic Ranger District comprising 
approximately 85,055 acres within the constraints of the Black Hills 
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, as amended.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of analysis must be received by 
July 13, 2009. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
September 2009 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
December 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Robert J. Thompson, District 
Ranger, Black Hills National Forest, Mystic Ranger District, Mystic 
Range Project, 8221 South Highway 16, Rapid City, South Dakota 57702. 
Comments may also be sent via e-mail to [email protected], or via facsimile to (605) 343-7134. Please list 
``Mystic Range'' as the subject on comments sent via e-mail or 
facsimile. Electronic comments must be readable in Word, Rich Text, or 
PDF formats.
    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 EIS. 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 review 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have any questions or need 
additional information, please contact Mark Vedder, Range Specialist; 
Katie Van Alstyne, Team Leader; or Robert J. Thompson, District Ranger, 
at the Mystic Ranger District office in Rapid City at (605) 343-1567.
    Individiuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8330 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of this project is to authorize livestock grazing on 
all or part of the project area and to ensure that livestock grazing 
occurs in an enviromentally acceptable manner. The EIS will determine 
current conditions, analyze environmental consequences of grazing 
mangement actions on those conditions, and assist the decisionmaker in 
selecting mangement/monitoring strategies consistent with meeting 
desired conditions in the Forest Plan.
    The underlying needs for this proposal include:
     Improve livestock management so that it is consistent with 
the goals, objectives, standards, and guidelines of the Forest Plan, as 
amended.
     Improve species composition of upland vegetation.
     Improve streambank stability.
     Improve riparian vegetation diversity and abundance.
     Reduce opportunities for cattle conflicts with vehicle 
traffic.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action is designed to maintain or improve resource 
conditions in rangeland health, vegetation, watershed conditions, 
designated Botanical Areas, and wildlife habitat relative to livestock 
grazing. Some grazing practices would be changed to resolve grazing 
related issues. Proposed range improvements include water developments, 
fencing (for highway, pasture/allotment boundary, and/or riparian 
exclosure purposes), cattleguards, corrals, stream

[[Page 28008]]

restoration structures, and construct, bury new and/or existing 
pipeline. It provides for a range of alternate actions that may be 
selected from to achieve desired conditions in an acceptable timeframe. 
This approach is known as ``Adaptive Management.'' Some grazing 
practices would be changed to resolve grazing related resource issues.
    Successful Adaptive Management requires timely monitoring of 
resource conditions and trends. The Proposed Action also includes a 
monitoring plan for each allotment designed to focus on specific areas 
with livestock related resource problems. If monitoring results 
indicate that resource problems persist, adaptive management options 
are identified that would be implemented in cooperation with each 
permittee to effect improvement in resource conditions.

Possible Alternatives

    The Current Management Alternative would not change existing 
permitted livestock grazing. The No Grazing Alternative would eliminate 
any livestock grazing on the project area.

Responsible Official

    Robert J. Thompson, District Ranger, Mystic Ranger District, Black 
Hills National Forest, 8221 South Highway 16, Rapid City, SD 57702.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made is whether to continue to permit livestock 
grazing on all, part, or none of these allotments and, if so, under 
what terms and conditions to ensure that desired condition objectives 
are met, or that movement occurs toward those objectives.

Preliminary Issues

    Anticipated issues include: Support and opposition to livestock 
grazing; impacts of livestock grazing on wildlife habitat, riparian 
areas, and streambank stability.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. Comments and 
input regarding the proposal will be received via direct mailing from 
the public, other groups, and agencies during the initial public 
comment period in June of 2009. Comments submitted based on this NOI 
will be most useful if received within 30 days from the date of this 
notice. Response to the Draft EIS will be sought from the interested 
public beginning in August 2009.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of 
the environmental impact statement. 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 appeal or judicial review.

    Dated: June 4, 2009.
Craig Bobzien,
Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest.
[FR Doc. E9-13690 Filed 6-11-09; 8:45 am]
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