[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 28, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81561-81562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-32420]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Huron-Manistee National Forests, Michigan, Land and Resource 
Management Plan Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Huron-Manistee National Forests (Forest Service) will 
prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) to assess 
the environmental impacts of a Land and Resource Management Plan 
alternative that would ban firearm hunting and snowmobile use (subject 
to existing rights) on National Forest System lands within 
Semiprimitive Nonmotorized Management Areas and would ban firearm 
hunting (subject to existing rights) in Primitive Area (Nordhouse Dunes 
Wilderness). This analysis will remedy deficiencies identified by the 
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Court in the original 
Environmental Impact Statement prepared for the Huron-Manistee Land and 
Resource Management Plan Revision of 2006. The decision which results 
may amend the Huron-Manistee National Forests Land and Resource 
Management Plan. The objectives of the analysis, consistent with 
existing regulatory direction as identified by the court, are to 
coordinate recreation planning with the State of Michigan with the aim 
(to the extent feasible) to reduce duplication in meeting recreation 
demands, to minimize conflicts between off-road vehicle use and other 
uses of the Forests, and to identify recreational preferences of user 
groups and the settings needed to provide quality recreational 
opportunities.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by February 11, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Lee Evison, Forest Planner, Huron-
Manistee National Forests, 1755 S. Mitchell Street, Cadillac, MI, 
49601; fax: 231-775-5551. Send electronic comments to: [email protected]. Comments sent via e-mail should 
contain the subject line: ``Forest Plan SEIS''.
    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, anonymous comments may limit the respondent's 
ability to participate in subsequent administrative or judicial review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Arbogast, Huron-Manistee National 
Forests; telephone: 231-775-2421; fax: 231-775-5551. See address above 
under ADDRESSES. Copies of documents may be requested at the same 
address. Another means of obtaining information is to visit the Forest 
Web page at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hmnf then click on ``Land and 
Resources Management'', then ``Forest Land and Resource Management 
Plan''.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TTY) 
may call 1-231-775-3183.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    On September 29, 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the 
Sixth Circuit issued an opinion in the case of Meister v. U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, et al., No. 09-1712 (September 29, 2010), 
which found deficiencies in the analysis supporting the revised Land 
and Resource Management Plan for the Huron-Manistee National Forests. 
Specifically, the court found that:
    1. The Forest Service's estimates of snowmobile and cross-country 
visitors to the Forests were arbitrary,
    2. The Service did not coordinate its recreation planning with the 
State of Michigan, as required, to reduce duplication in recreation 
demands with respect to gun hunting and snowmobiling,
    3. The Service's reasons for keeping certain trails open to 
snowmobile use were arbitrary, and
    4. The Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act when 
it failed to consider closing Primitive and Semiprimitive Nonmotorized 
areas to gun hunting and snowmobile use.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service proposes to remedy the deficiencies identified 
by the court by supplementing the Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. The supplement will 
evaluate an alternative that closes Semiprimitive Nonmotorized 
Management Areas to snowmobile use and firearm hunting (subject to 
existing rights) and closes Primitive Area (Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness) 
to firearm hunting (subject to existing rights).
    The Forest Service proposes to utilize such studies as: The 
National Visitor Use Monitoring study (2009); Michigan's Statewide 
Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP 2008-2012); Social and 
Economic Assessment for the Michigan National Forests (2003); Social 
and Economic Assessment for Michigan's State Forests (2006); 
Demographics, Recruitment, and Retention of Michigan Hunters by Brian 
J. Frawley; Demographics, Recruitment, and Retention of Michigan 
Hunters: 2005 Update; A Portrait of Hunters and Hunting License Trends 
in Michigan by the National Shooting Sports Foundation on Behalf of the 
Michgan Department of Natural Resources; Assessment of Snowmobiling in 
Michigan by Snowmobilers with Michigan Trail Permits (2009) by Charles 
Nelson; Opinions of Selected Stakeholders Concerning Semi-primitive 
Area Designation in the Huron-Manistee National Forests (1994) by 
Charles Nelson.

Possible Alternatives

    No Action Alternative: The Forest Service would continue to 
implement the 2006 Forest Plan in its current form. Current direction 
would continue to guide management of the Semiprimitive Nonmotorized 
Management Areas and Primitive Area (Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness). There 
would be no changes to the management of these areas.
    Modified Closure Alternative: The Forest Service would ban firearm 
hunting and snowmobile use in some portion of the 13 existing 
Semiprimitive Nonmotorized Areas and the Primitive Area (Nordhouse 
Dunes Wildnerness).
    Other reasonable alternatives may be developed to respond to issues 
raised during public participation.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The lead agency for this proposal is the U.S. Forest Service. The 
Forest Service has invited the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 
and Environment (MDNRE) to become a Cooperating Agency.

Responsible Official for Lead Agency

    The Responsible Official for the decision is the Regional Forester 
of the Eastern Region of the Forest Service.

[[Page 81562]]

Nature of Decision to be Made

    The Regional Forester will decide whether or not to amend the Land 
and Resource Management Plan for the Huron-Manistee National Forests, 
through the closure of some or all of the Semiprimitive Nonmotorized 
Management Areas to firearm hunting and snowmobile use (subject to 
existing rights); and the Primitive Area (Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness) 
to firearm hunting (subject to existing rights).

Preliminary Issues

    We expect issues to include effects on game species and wildlife 
management, effects on vegetation, and changes to the recreational 
experience for visitors to the Semiprimitive Nonmotorized Management 
Areas and the Primitive Area (Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness), as well as 
the possible effects of the project on tourism in the counties 
affected.

Permits and Licenses Required

    The Forest Service is not required to obtain any permits or 
licenses in order to implement this proposal.

Scoping Process

    This Notice of Intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the SEIS. The Forest Service plans to scope for 
information by contacting persons and organizations interested or 
potentially affected by the proposed action through mailings, public 
announcements, and personal contacts. Comments received on this notice 
will be used to identify the range of actions, alternatives and effects 
to be considered in the SEIS.
    It is important that respondents provide their comments at such 
times and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's 
preparation of the SETS. Therefore, comments must be provided prior to 
the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the 
respondent's concerns and contentions. The submission of timely and 
specific comments can affect a respondent's ability to participate in 
subsequent administrative appeal or judicial review.
    Public meetings will be held to answer questions on our process and 
to accept written comments. The time and locations are as follows:
     1/31/11--Hilton Inn Express of Birch Run, 12150 Dixie 
Hwy., Birch Run, MI, from 4-8 p.m.;
     1/31/11--Huron Shores Ranger Station, 5761 North Skeel 
Rd., Oscoda, MI, from 4-7 p.m.;
     2/01/11--Hilton Garden Inn, 26000 American Drive, 
Southfield, MI, from 4-8 p.m.;
     2/01/11--Mio Ranger Station, 107 McKinley Road, Mio, MI, 
from 4-7 p.m.;
     2/02/11--Causeway Bay Hotel (Will be Changing to Best 
Western), 6820 South Cedar, Lansing, MI, from 4-8 p.m.;
     2/02/11--Days Inn of Manistee, 1462 US 31 South, Manistee, 
MI, from 4-7 p.m.;
     2/03/11--Crowne Plaza, 57000 East 28th St., Grand Rapids, 
MI, from 4-8 p.m.;
     2/03/11--Plainfield Township Hall, 885 Eighth Street, 
Baldwin, MI, from 4-7 p.m.

    Dated: December 20, 2010.
Barry Paulson,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2010-32420 Filed 12-27-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M