[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 113 (Monday, June 15, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28214-28217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14045]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Proposed Amendment of Rogue River, Umpqua and Winema National 
Forest (NF) Land and Resource Management Plans for the Pacific 
Connector Gas Pipeline

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
for Land and Resource Management Plan amendments.

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

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is proposing to amend the Land and 
Resource Management Plans (LRMP) of the Rogue River (administered as 
the Rogue River-Siskiyou NF), Umpqua, and Winema (administered as the 
Fremont-Winema NF) National Forests to make provision for the proposed 
Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline (PCGP). The Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (FERC) is the lead agency for the environmental analysis of 
the construction and operation of the proposed natural gas pipeline 
(FERC Docket No. CP07-441-000). The FERC has prepared an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) that discusses the environmental impacts that 
could result from the construction and operation of the PCGP. FERC 
issued the FEIS for the PCGP on May 1, 2009.
    The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service is a Cooperating 
Agency with the FERC in environmental analysis and preparation of the 
EIS for the PCGP. Certain features of the PCGP Project could not be 
made consistent with the LRMPs of the Rogue River, Umpqua and Winema 
National Forests because of the nature of pipeline construction. 
Therefore, in order to comply with the requirements of the National 
Forest Management Act (NFMA) the Forest Service must amend these LRMPs 
to make provision for the PCGP.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by 30 days from the date this notice is published in the Federal 
Register. The draft environmental impact statement for amendment of 
forest plans is expected to be published in August, 2009 and the final 
environmental impact statement is expected in December, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Pam Sichting, Umpqua National 
Forest, 2900 NW. Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, OR 97471. Comments may also 
be sent via e-mail to: [email protected], or 
via facsimile to 541-957-3495. Comments may be hand-delivered to the 
above address Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. till 4:30 p.m., 
excluding legal holidays.
    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 appeal the subsequent decision.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pam Sichting at 541-957-3342 or by e-
mail at [email protected]. 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.
    Information concerning the construction and operation of the PCGP 
is contained in the FERC Jordon Cove-Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline 
Project Final Environmental Impact Statement. Also information about 
the Project is available from the FERC Office of External Affairs at 1-
866-208 FERC (3372) or on the FERC Internet Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, 
click on ``General Search,'' and enter the docket number (CP07-441-000) 
excluding the last three digits in the Docket. For assistance, please 
contact FERC Online Support at [email protected] or toll free 
at 1-866-208-3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. The

[[Page 28215]]

eLibrary link on the FERC Internet Web site also provides access to the 
texts of final documents issued by the Commission, such as Orders, 
notices, and rule makings.
    Finally, PCGP has established a Web site for this project at http://www.pacificconnectorgp.com/. The Web site includes a project overview, 
timeline, safety and environmental information, and answers to 
frequently asked questions. You can also request additional information 
by e-mailing PCGP at [email protected] or by phone at 866-
227-9249.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    Jordon Cove--Pacific Connector LP (Company) has proposed to 
construct a 36 inch natural gas pipeline from a liquified natural gas 
terminal at Coos Bay, Oregon, to an interstate gas transmission 
pipeline at Malin, Oregon. The PCGP will provide natural gas to 
southern Oregon, the Willamette Valley, California and Nevada. The 
Company submitted its application for the Pacific Connector Gas 
Pipeline (PCGP) project to the FERC on September 4, 2007. The 
applications were noticed in the Federal Register on September 13, 
2007. The FERC authorizes the construction and operation of natural gas 
pipelines upon its determination that the pipeline fulfills a public 
need. The PCGP is proposed to cross the Rogue River, Umpqua and Winema 
National Forests on its route between Coos Bay and Malin, Oregon. 
Transmission of natural gas is a legitimate use of public land 
consistent with the Natural Gas Act, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and 
the Forest Service's National Strategic Plan, 2007-2012.
    A Notice of Intent (NOI) was issued by the FERC for construction 
and operation of the PCGP on June 23, 2006. Subsequently, a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was made available to the public 
on August 29, 2008. The public comment period on the DEIS closed on 
December 4, 2008. The FERC, as lead Federal agency, issued the Jordan 
Cove-Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) on May 1, 2009. For portions of the proposed PCGP that 
cross National Forest System lands, the Forest Service was a 
cooperating agency with the FERC in preparing the EIS for the Project. 
The FERC will use this FEIS to determine whether to issue a Certificate 
of Public Convenience and Necessity (Certificate). The Certificate 
authorizes construction and operation of the PCGP.
    The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issues and administers natural 
gas pipeline Right of Way Grants across all Federal lands, including 
the Forest Service, under the Mineral Leasing Act. The PCGP must have a 
Right of Way Grant to occupy any Federal lands in addition to the 
FERC's Certificate. To issue a Right of Way Grant across NFS lands, the 
BLM must obtain the consent of the Forest Service.
    The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) requires all projects or 
activities on a given National Forest to be consistent with that 
Forest's LRMP. Certain features of this project could not be made 
consistent with the LRMPs of the Rogue River, Umpqua and Winema 
National Forests because of the nature of pipeline construction. 
Therefore, the Forest Service must amend these LRMPs in order to comply 
with the requirements of NFMA prior to consenting to the BLM's issuance 
of a Right of Way Grant. This Notice of Intent is for preparation of an 
EIS by the Forest Service that will consider and disclose the 
significance of these proposed amendments pursuant to 36 CFR 
219.10(f)(1982 Version). The issue of whether a plan amendment is 
significant is guided by several factors, including the timing and 
duration of the proposed change, the location and size of the project, 
and how the proposed change may alter multiple-use goals and objectives 
for long-term land and resource management. In this analysis of 
significance, the Forest Service will rely on the FERC EIS for 
consideration of environmental consequences of construction and 
operation of the PCGP. These amendments of Forest Plans will only be 
implemented if the FERC authorizes the PCGP.

Proposed Action

    This Proposed Action is to amend the LRMPs of the Rogue River, 
Umpqua and Winema National Forests to make provision for the PCGP.
    Rogue River NF LRMP--The Forest Service proposes to amend the Rogue 
River NF LRMP as follows:
     By establishing a Forest Plan objective that states: While 
considering other multiple use values, the Forest shall facilitate and 
make provision for energy transmission via the Pacific Connector Gas 
Pipeline consistent with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Mineral 
Leasing Act, the Natural Gas Act, the Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act 
and the National Forest Management Act.
     By changing the designation of approximately 600 acres 
from the matrix land allocation to the LSR 227 land allocation. 
Standards and Guidelines for Developments in Late Successional Reserves 
(LSRs) require that new developments that may adversely affect LSRs be 
minimized or mitigated (see Standards and Guidelines for Management of 
Habitat for Late-Successional and Old-Growth Related Species Within the 
Range of the Northern Spotted Owl, Page C-17). This change in land 
allocation is proposed to mitigate the potential adverse impact of the 
PCGP on LSR 227 on the Rogue River National Forest. This amendment 
would change future management direction for the lands transferred from 
matrix to LSR. Additional mitigations for impacts to LSRs are included 
in the FERC FEIS in Appendix L for the PCGP.
     By changing the Visual Quality Objective (VQO) in the 
vicinity where the 75 foot wide PCGP Right of Way crosses the Big Elk 
Road from Foreground Retention to Foreground Partial Retention and 
allowing ten to fifteen years for amended visual quality objectives to 
be attained. Existing Standards and Guidelines for VQO in foreground 
retention where the PCGP crosses the Big Elk Road require VQO's be met 
within 1 year of completion of the project and that management 
activities not be visually evident (Rogue River NF LRMP, Page 4-72, 
Management Area 6). This amendment applies only to the Right of Way of 
the PCGP in the vicinity of the Big Elk Road and does not change future 
management direction for any other project. Additional mitigations for 
impacts to scenic resources are included in the PCGP FEIS Appendix L.
     By changing the Visual Quality Objective in the vicinity 
where the 75 foot wide PCGP Right of Way crosses the Pacific Crest 
Trail (PCT) from Foreground Partial Retention to modification and 
allowing ten to fifteen years for amended visual quality objectives to 
be attained. Existing Standards and Guidelines for Visual Quality 
Objectives in Foreground Partial Retention (Rogue River NF LRMP, Page 
4-86, Management Area 7) where the PCGP crosses the Pacific Crest 
Trail, requires visual mitigations to meet the stated visual quality 
objective within 2 years of the completion of the project and that 
management activities be visually subordinate to the landscape. This 
amendment applies only to the Right of Way of the PCGP in the vicinity 
of the Pacific Crest Trail and does not change future management 
direction. Additional mitigations for visual impacts are included in 
the PCGP FEIS Appendix L.
     By waiving restrictions on detrimental soil conditions 
from displacement and compaction within the Right of Way of the PCGP in 
all management areas. Standards and

[[Page 28216]]

Guidelines for detrimental soil impacts in all affected management 
areas require that no more than 10% of the activity area be 
detrimentally compacted, puddled or displaced upon completion of a 
project. Additional mitigations for detrimental soil conditions are in 
the PCGP FEIS in Appendix L.
     By allowing the PCGP to cross the Restricted Riparian land 
allocation. This potentially affects two perennial streams and 
approximately 0.7 of an acre of the Restricted Riparian land 
allocation. Standards and Guidelines for the Restricted Riparian land 
allocation (Rogue River NF LRMP, page 4-308, Management Area 26) states 
that transmission corridors should be located outside of this 
management area. This amendment applies only to the project area of the 
PCGP and does not change future management direction. Mitigations for 
potential adverse impacts to the Restricted Riparian land allocation 
are included in the PCGP FEIS in Appendix L.
    Umpqua NF LRMP--The Forest Service proposes to amend the Umpqua NF 
LRMP as follows:
     By changing the designation of approximately 585 acres 
from the matrix land allocation to the LSR 223 land allocation. 
Standards and Guidelines for Developments in Late Successional Reserves 
(LSRs) require that new developments that may adversely affect LSRs be 
minimized or mitigated (see Standards and Guidelines for Management of 
Habitat for Late-Successional and Old-Growth Related Species Within the 
Range of the Northern Spotted Owl, Page C-17). This change in land 
allocation is proposed to mitigate the potential adverse impact of the 
PCGP on LSR 223 on the Umpqua NF. This amendment would change future 
management direction for the lands transferred from matrix to LSR. 
Additional mitigations for impacts to LSRs are included in the PCGP 
FEIS in Appendix L.
     By amending Standards and Guidelines for Fisheries (Umpqua 
NF LRMP, page IV-33, Forest-Wide) to allow the removal of effective 
shading vegetation where perennial streams are crossed by the PCGP. 
This potentially affects approximately 5 perennial streams by removing 
an estimated 3 acres of effective shade. This amendment applies only to 
the 75 foot right of way where the PCGP crosses perennial streams and 
does not change future management direction at any other location. 
Mitigations for impacts on fisheries are included in the FERC FEIS for 
the PCGP in Appendix L.
     By waiving restrictions on detrimental soil conditions 
from displacement and compaction within the Right of Way of the PCGP. 
Standards and Guidelines for Soils (Umpqua NF LRMP, page IV-67) 
requires that not more than 20% of the project area should have 
detrimental compaction, displacement or puddling after completion of 
the project. This amendment applies only to the project area of the 
PCGP and does not change future management direction. Mitigations for 
soils with detrimental conditions are included in the PCGP FEIS in 
Appendix L.
     By amending prescriptions C2-I, C2-II, C2-III, C2-IV, C2-
V, and C2-VI (Umpqua NF LRMP IV-169-182) to allow the PCGP to cross 
Riparian Areas and run parallel to streams. This potentially affects 
approximately 0.8 of an acre of Riparian Reserve. This amendment 
applies only to the project area of the PCGP and does not change future 
management direction. Mitigations for potential adverse impacts from 
Project stream crossings are included in the FEIS for the PCGP in 
Appendix L.
    Winema National Forest--The Forest Service proposes to amend the 
Winema NF LRMP as follows:
     By amending Standards and Guidelines for Management Area 3 
(Winema NF LRMP, page 4-103-4, Lands) to allow the 95 foot wide PCGP 
corridor in MA-3 from the Forest Boundary to the Clover Creek Road 
corridor. This corridor is approximately 1 mile long and affects and 
potentially affects approximately 11 acres. This amendment applies only 
to the project area of the PCGP and does not change future management 
direction. Mitigations for potential adverse impacts to scenic values 
are included in the FEIS for the PCGP in Appendix L.
     By allowing more time to achieve Visual Quality Objectives 
(VQO) in the vicinity where the 75 foot wide PCGP corridor crosses the 
Dead Indian Memorial Highway. Standards and Guidelines for Scenic 
Management, Foreground Retention (Winema NF LRMP, page 4-103, MA 3A, 
Foreground Retention) require visual quality objectives for a given 
location be achieved within 1 year of completion of the project. The 
Forest Service proposes to allow a longer time frame to meet the 
specified VQO at this location. This amendment applies only to the 
project area of the PCGP and does not change future management 
direction. Mitigations for visual impacts are included in the FEIS for 
the PCGP in Appendix L.
     By allowing more time to meet Visual Quality Objectives 
(VQO) for Scenic Management, Foreground Partial Retention where the 
PCGP is in the vicinity of the Clover Creek Road from approximate 
pipeline milepost 170 to 175. This potentially affects approximately 50 
acres where it will take additional time to meet the Partial Retention 
standard. Standards and Guidelines for Foreground Partial Retention 
(Winema NF LRMP, page 4-107, MA 3B) requires that visual quality 
objectives be met within 1 year of completion of a project. The Forest 
Service proposes to allow a longer time frame to meet the amended VQO 
at this location. This amendment applies only to the project area of 
the PCGP in the vicinity of the Clover Creek Road and does not change 
future management direction. Mitigations for potential adverse impacts 
to scenic values are included in the FEIS for the PCGP in Appendix L.
     By waiving restrictions on detrimental soil conditions 
from displacement and compaction within the Right of Way of the PCGP in 
all management areas. Standards and Guidelines for detrimental soil 
impacts (Winema NF LRMP, page 4-73, 12-5) in all affected management 
areas require that no more than 20% of the activity area be 
detrimentally compacted, puddled or displaced upon completion of a 
project. Additional mitigations for detrimental soil conditions are in 
the PCGP FEIS in Appendix L.
     By waiving restrictions on detrimental soil conditions 
from displacement and compaction within the 75 foot wide Right of Way 
of the PCGP within Management Area 8 Riparian Area. This potentially 
affects approximately 0.5 miles of Management Area 8 Riparian Area 
totaling an estimated 9.6 acres. Standards and Guidelines for Soil and 
Water, Management Area 8 (Winema NF LRMP, page 4-137, 2) require that 
not more than 10% of the total riparian zone in an activity area be in 
a detrimental soil condition upon the completion of a project. This 
amendment applies only to the project area of the PCGP and does not 
change future management direction. Mitigations for potential adverse 
soil impacts are included in the PCGP FEIS in Appendix L.

Lead Agency

    The Forest Service is the Lead Agency for amendments of Forest 
Plans.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Officials for amendments of the Rogue River, Umpqua 
and Winema LRMPs are respectively Forest Supervisors, Scott D. Conroy, 
Clifford J. Dils and Karen Shimamoto.

[[Page 28217]]

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The nature of the decision to be made is whether the respective 
LRMPs would be amended if the FERC authorizes the PCGP.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. With this NOI, 
the Forest Service is requesting public comments on the proposed 
amendments of the Rogue River, Umpqua and Winema NF LRMPs.
    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 8, 2009.
Clifford J. Dils,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9-14045 Filed 6-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P