[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 189 (Thursday, September 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60405-60406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24545]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico, Integrated Non-Native 
Invasive Plant Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Lincoln National Forest (LNF) proposes to implement an 
integrated Forest-wide management strategy to control spread of non-
native invasive plants (NNIP) within the LNF. The proposal utilizes 
several management tools, including registered herbicides, biological 
agents, controlled grazing, manual/mechanical methods, and adaptive 
management. Invasive plants designated by the State of New Mexico as 
noxious weeds are the primary focus of this project. By definition, 
noxious weeds pose a potential threat to human health and/or economic 
activity. The LNF proposes to manage occurrences of other NNIP species 
that pose an identifiable threat to native species diversity, 
ecological function, or resilience of native habitats.

DATES: Comments concerning scope of analysis must be received by 
November 29, 2010. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
January 2011 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
April 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to NNIP Project, Lincoln National 
Forest, 3463 Las Palomas Road, Alamogordo, NM 88310. Comments may also 
be sent via e-mail to [email protected], or via 
facsimile to (575) 434-7218.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will become 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: Sabrina Flores, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, Lincoln National Forest--SO, 3463 Las Palomas Road, Alamogordo,

[[Page 60406]]

NM 88310. Telephone: (575) 434-7237 or electronic address: 
[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: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    As provided by direction in Executive Order 13112, the Forest 
Service Manual, and LNF Land and Resource Management Plan, as amended 
(Forest Plan), the primary purpose of and need for this project is to 
protect and restore resilience, abundance, and biological diversity of 
desired native plant communities. This project is part of the LNF's 
ongoing ecosystem restoration effort. Management activities would 
result in Forest-wide progress toward site- or situation-specific 
needs, for all management areas within the LNF. This proposal is needed 
because existing populations of NNIP occur within the LNF and are 
degrading natural communities. Inventoried and new or unknown 
infestations continue to spread unchecked. Past projects to control 
NNIP on the LNF have been authorized with budgetary and geographic 
limitations. These limitations have kept the LNF from keeping pace with 
the extent in which several NNIP species spread and encroach into new 
areas.

Proposed Action

    The LNF proposes to implement an integrated weed management (IWM) 
strategy as defined in the Forest Service Manual for prevention, 
eradication, suppression, and reduction of existing and future NNIP 
infestations. The IWM strategy is based on ecological factors and 
includes consideration of site conditions, other resource values, 
resource uses, NNIP characteristics, and potential effectiveness of 
control measures for specific circumstances. The proposed action 
includes both non-treatment and treatment practices: Strategies for 
awareness and education in order to prevent new infestations; early 
detection of and rapid response to newly discovered infestations; 
control of outbreaks of existing infestations that threaten sensitive 
and native habitats; containment of established infestations by 
maintaining treatments along spread pathways and previously treated 
areas; and cost-effective maintenance of vegetation treatments 
including those designed to reduce hazardous fuels and improve wildlife 
habitat; use of all treatment ``tools'' such as chemical, mechanical, 
biological, and controlled grazing management practices; treatment 
followed by restoration and revegetation (as appropriate), as well as 
monitoring of NNIP-impacted lands; and close coordination across 
jurisdictional boundaries through cooperative partnerships.

Cooperating Agencies

    The LNF initiated correspondence with 61 entities as an invitation 
as a cooperating agency on September 17, 2010.

Possible Alternatives

    The No Action alternative will serve as a baseline for comparison 
of alternatives. Under the No Action alternative, the LNF would 
continue to deal with NNIP species as authorized under existing 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents including; current 
noxious weed and other site-specific projects. Additional action 
alternatives may be developed to respond to significant issues, if any.

Responsible Official

    The Forest Service Southwestern Regional Forester is the 
responsible official for portions of the project that propose herbicide 
treatment of NNIP species within congressionally designated wilderness 
and research natural areas within the LNF. The LNF Forest Supervisor is 
the responsible official for all other portions of the LNF and non-
herbicide treatment within wilderness and research natural areas.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Service Southwestern Regional Forester and the LNF 
Forest Supervisor will decide whether or not management of NNIP species 
on the LNF will be Forest-wide with a more comprehensive approach, and 
if so, what resource protection measures and monitoring requirements 
will be required for implementation.

Preliminary Issues

    Several analysis efforts related to the treatment of NNIP species 
on National Forests in New Mexico and Arizona (Region 3) have been 
completed or are currently on-going at this time. Unintended 
detrimental environmental effects to non-target species could result 
from the application of herbicide or release of biological agents. The 
application of herbicide could result in an increase of toxic chemicals 
in groundwater.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
development of the environmental impact statement (EIS). To assist the 
LNF in identifying and considering issues and concerns about the 
proposed action, public comment opportunities will continue to be 
provided throughout the EIS process. In addition to taking written 
comments, the LNF will consider holding a series of public meetings 
during the fall/winter of 2010 to ensure that those who are interested 
have every opportunity to provide additional information or comments 
and to identify any issues or concerns they may have relative to the 
proposed action. 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 
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 considered part of the public record on this 
proposed action and will be available for public inspection. Comments 
submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, 
respondents who submit anonymous comments will not be granted standing 
to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 Code of Federal Regulation 
(CFR) Part 215 or judicial review. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 
1.27(d), any person may request the agency to withhold a submission 
from the public record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA) permits such confidentiality. Persons requesting such 
confidentiality should be aware that, under the FOIA, confidentiality 
may be granted in only very limited circumstances, such as to protect 
trade secrets. The Forest Service will inform the requester of the 
agency's decision regarding the request for confidentiality, and where 
the request is denied; the agency will return the submission and notify 
the requester that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name 
and address within a specified number of days.

    Dated: September 23, 2010.
Garth Smelser,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2010-24545 Filed 9-29-10; 8:45 am]
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