[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 131 (Friday, July 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 33201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16384]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 131 / Friday, July 10, 2009 / 
Notices  

[[Page 33201]]



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--Extension of Scoping 
Period.

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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. This notice is extending 
the scoping period.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis were originally 
requested 30 days from the date the original notice was published in 
the Federal Register, which was June 15, 2009 (FR Volume 74, No. 113, 
pg. 28214). Comments are now requested by July 31, 2009. 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Extension of Scoping Period

    Several requests were received during the initial scoping period 
for an extension of the scoping period because of the nature of the 
project. The Responsible Officials have decided it is in the best 
interest of the public to extend the time during which scoping comments 
are received.

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.

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 extends the scoping process, which guides the 
development of the environmental impact statement. With this extension, 
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, now July 31, 2009, 
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 30, 2009.
Gina Freel.
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9-16384 Filed 7-9-09; 8:45 am]
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