[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10754-10755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4747]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 45 / Tuesday, March 9, 2010 / 
Notices  

[[Page 10754]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests; Santa Rosa Ranger District; 
Martin Basin Rangeland Management Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Santa Rosa Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe 
National Forest will prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (SEIS) on a proposal to authorize continued livestock grazing 
on National Forest System (NFS) lands within the boundaries 
administered by the Santa Rosa Ranger District. The Project Area is 
located in Humboldt County, Nevada.
    The preparation of this SEIS is needed because the Record of 
Decision issued on October 30, 2009 for the Martin Basin Rangeland 
Management Project was appealed. Following review, the decision to 
authorize grazing on three of the allotments in the Project Area (the 
Buffalo, Granite Creek, and Rebel Creek Allotments) was reversed due to 
inadequate analysis on the effects of domestic livestock grazing to the 
designated wilderness in these allotments. The supplemental analysis 
will provide additional analysis and disclosure of environmental 
effects to the designated wilderness in these allotments.

DATES: The Draft SEIS is expected to be released for public review and 
comment in March of 2010 and the new Final SEIS is expected to be 
released in July of 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Vernon Keller, NEPA Coordinator, 
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, NV 89431.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, mail 
correspondence to or contact Vernon Keller, NEPA Coordinator, Humboldt-
Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, NV 89431. The 
telephone number is: 775-355-5356. E-mail address is: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Initiation of the Martin Basin Rangeland Project began in 2002 with 
the original Notice of Intent published in the Federal Register on 
December 30, 2002 (Vol. 67, Number 250). The Draft EIS was released in 
May of 2004 for a 135-day comment period. The Final EIS was released in 
June of 2005 and a 45-day comment period was also provided at that 
time. The Record of Decision for this project was issued on June 2, 
2006, by then Forest Supervisor Robert L. Vaught.
    The Record of Decision for the Martin Basin Rangeland Project was 
appealed to the Intermountain Regional Forester. On September 6, 2006, 
the Regional Forester issued a decision on the appeal and remanded the 
decision back to the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest for additional 
analysis.
    A Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement was published in the Federal Register on February 26, 2007 
(Vol. 72, Number 37). That NOI estimated that the Draft Supplemental 
EIS would be released for review and comment on April 2007 and the 
Final Supplemental EIS would be completed by July 2007.
    A Corrected Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register 
on October 16, 2008 (Vol. 73, No. 201). That Corrected NOI provided 
notice that a new EIS was being prepared, instead of a supplement to 
the 2005 Final EIS. That notice also updated the estimated dates for 
release of the new Draft and Final EISs, and provided additional 
information on the Proposed Action and Possible Alternatives. The new 
Draft EIS was released in January of 2009 for a 45-day comment period. 
The Final EIS was released in November of 2009. The legal notice of the 
Record of Decision for this project was published on November 23, 2009, 
by Forest Supervisor Edward C. Monnig.
    Two appeals were filed against the 2009 Record of Decision. On 
February 22, 2010, the portion of the decision to implement the Martin 
Basin Rangeland Project with the Santa Rosa Wilderness was reversed and 
the Forest Supervisor was instructed to complete additional analysis of 
the wilderness characteristics within the Santa Rosa Wilderness.

Purpose and Need for Action

    As stated in Final EIS released in 2009, the purpose and need for 
the proposed federal action is to contribute economic value to grazing 
permittees in a way that sustains the health of the land and protects 
essential ecosystem functions and values.

Proposed Action

    As outlined in the Final EIS released in 2009, the Proposed Action 
would authorize domestic livestock grazing on the eight allotments in 
the Project Area. Under this alternative, proper use criteria 
(utilization) would be based on the current ecological conditions 
(functioning, functioning-at-risk or non-functioning) within each 
allotment. The ecological condition of the allotments would continue to 
be evaluated through a long-term monitoring process. If long-term 
monitoring indicates the ecological condition of the allotment has 
changed, then the set of proper use criteria associated with that 
ecological condition would be applied to the allotment.

Possible Alternatives

    In addition to the Proposed Action, two additional alternatives 
have been identified for analysis in the SEIS:
    1. Current Management Alternative: Continue current grazing 
management.
    2. No Grazing Alternative: Eliminate grazing in the Buffalo, 
Granite Creek, and Rebel Creek Allotments immediately.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official is: Jeanne Higgins, Forest Supervisor, 
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, NV 89431.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Given the purpose and need, the deciding officer will decide 
whether or not to continue grazing on the Buffalo, Granite Creek, and 
Rebel Creek Allotments in the Martin Basin Rangeland Project area. If 
the decision is to continue grazing, then under what terms and 
conditions will livestock grazing be managed.

[[Page 10755]]

Scoping Process

    The scoping period for this EIS was formally initiated on December 
30, 2002 when the original Notice of Intent for this project was 
published in the Federal Register (Volume 67, Number 250). While no 
additional scoping periods are planned prior to the release of the 
Draft SEIS, those wishing to submit comments may do so at the address 
listed above for Vernon Keller, NEPA Coordinator. The Forest Service 
will use a mailing of information to notify interested parties of the 
preparation of the SEIS. Public involvement will be ongoing throughout 
the analysis process and at certain times public input will be 
specifically requested.
    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.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21.

    Dated: February 26, 2010.
Jeremiah C. Ingersoll,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2010-4747 Filed 3-8-10; 8:45 am]
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