[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 106 (Thursday, June 2, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31933-31935]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-13640]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Tonto National Forest; AZ; Salt River Allotments Vegetative 
Management EIS

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Tonto National Forest will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) on a proposal to improve ecological conditions within 
the project area using tools such as fire and grazing management and to 
authorize continued livestock grazing on National Forest System (NFS) 
lands within the Globe and Tonto Basin Ranger Districts. The Project 
Area is located along the Salt River in Gila County, Arizona.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by July 5, 2011. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
November 2011 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
March 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Kathy Nelson, Tonto National 
Forest, 2324 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006. Comments may also be 
sent via e-mail to [email protected], or via 
facsimile to 602-225-5295.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Nelson, 602-225-5328, 
[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

    Six authorizations for livestock grazing have or will soon expire 
and ecological conditions in some areas on these allotments have not 
moved towards desired future conditions as outlined in the Tonto 
National Forest Plan. For example, diversity of current vegetation 
(including where it is located and how it functions) does not meet 
desired future conditions in all locations within the project area. 
Past management practices, such as suppression of wildland fires are 
limited and have not always proven effective. In addition, knowledge 
and strategies for ecosystem management have changed over time, 
providing an opportunity to improve vegetative conditions using current 
science, methods, and strategies. As a result, there is a need to 
develop new management strategies for ecosystems within the six 
allotments along the Salt River. The purpose of this effort is to 
improve ecological conditions within the project area using tools such 
as fire and grazing management in order to meet desired future 
conditions as specified in the Forest Plan while balancing multiples 
uses. In addition, per Forest Service Handbook 2209.13, Chapter 90, 
section 92.22, the purpose of this action is to authorize livestock 
grazing in a manner consistent with Forest Plan direction to move 
ecosystems towards their desired conditions.

Proposed Action

    The Tonto National Forest proposes to use a set of tools that 
lessen or eliminate disparities between existing conditions and desired 
conditions in the project area. Examples of tools that land managers 
may use to accomplish this include, but are not limited to, livestock 
grazing, prescribed fire, managed wildland fire, herbicide application, 
mechanical vegetative removal, and seeding. The proposed action 
includes an adaptive management strategy that allows land managers to 
be flexible enough to make timely decisions relative to a host of ever 
changing environmental conditions (CFR 220.3). This proposed action 
focuses on entire ecosystem potential rather than a subordinate role of 
a single resource use or activity within analysis area ecosystems. 
Since one tool under consideration for executing the proposed action is 
grazing, Globe and Tonto Basin Ranger Districts, in collaboration with 
grazing permittees, propose to reauthorize livestock grazing on six 
allotments; Chrysotile, Haystack

[[Page 31934]]

Butte, Dagger, Sedow, Hicks Pikes Peak and Poison Springs/Sierra Ancha. 
Livestock grazing, as an ecosystem tool, would provide year-long 
application utilizing various age classes of cattle on each allotment. 
Grazing would continue to comply with the Tonto National Forest Land 
Management Plan (1985 as amended), which provides direction for grazing 
using various management levels in five management areas on these two 
districts. Grazing practices would comply with national and regional 
policy and direction (FSM 2200, FSH 2209.13) and would incorporate 
adaptive management strategies (FSH 2209.13 Chapter 90) to optimize 
forage production where appropriate and benefit a variety of natural 
resources and multiple use objectives in ecosystems ranging from 
grassland to forest. Conditions are highly variable in the analysis 
area ecosystems due to historically dynamic climatic regimes in the 
desert southwest and globally changing climate conditions. Production 
of palatable forage and browse for livestock and wildlife varies 
greatly both seasonally and annually. Through adaptive management 
strategies, this proposed action strives to respond to change by 
utilizing a variety of tactics, which may include but are not limited 
to, flexible stocking rates, vegetation manipulation, and water 
development. Actual numbers, season of use, and class of domestic 
grazing animal would be determined annually within upper allowed 
stocking limits for the Tonto National Forest of 800 animals per 
grazing permittee (FSH 2209.13). Data for determining stocking would be 
gathered throughout each grazing season using a variety of monitoring 
techniques as described in agency manuals and handbooks as well as 
through scientific literature produced through other agencies, research 
stations, and universities. Rangeland allotment infrastructure 
includes, but is not limited to, forms of improvements such as fences, 
water wells, spring developments, storage tanks, pipelines, and 
watering troughs. These improvements range in condition from excellent 
to poor. Those in poor condition are considered a priority for 
improvement through this proposed action. Additionally, each allotment 
will propose a variety of new range improvements to be constructed for 
facilitation of livestock distribution to accomplish ecosystem 
objectives.
    Additional management tools, including but not limited to, wildfire 
and prescribed fire and noxious weed treatments are proposed for use to 
benefit forage and browse production and other resource objectives. 
Globe and Tonto Basin Ranger Districts also propose use of fuels 
management techniques on these allotments as authorized through Tonto 
National Forest Land Management Plan (1985, as amended), to allow 
wildfire to resume its natural ecological role in fire dependent 
ecosystems. The proposed action includes specific objectives and 
treatment alternatives for the following Management Areas found within 
analysis area:

6J General Management Area--Tonto Basin Ranger District

    Wildland fire would be managed to protect, maintain, and enhance 
Federal lands in a cost effective manner. A combination of wildfire and 
prescribed fire may be used to provide a mosaic of age classes and a 
mix of successional stages within fire-dependent ecosystems. Wildfires, 
or portions of those fires, would be suppressed when they adversely 
affect forest resources, endanger public safety, or have potential to 
damage property and natural/cultural resources. Sonoran Desert and 
riparian vegetation types would be protected from fire except where 
burn plans identify resource and ecological need.

2F General Management Area--Globe Ranger District

    Wildland fire would be managed to protect, maintain, and enhance 
Federal lands in a cost effective manner. A combination of wildfire and 
prescribed fire may be used to provide a mosaic of age classes and a 
mix of successional stages within fire-dependent ecosystems. Wildfires, 
or portions of those fires, would be suppressed when they adversely 
affect forest resources, endanger public safety, or have potential to 
damage property and natural/cultural resources. Sonoran Desert and 
riparian vegetation types would be protected from fire except where 
burn plans identify resource and ecological needs. A variety of fuels 
management techniques may be used to reduce natural and activity fuels 
to condition class 1 (e.g., fire regime within historic range and 
vegetation composition, function, and structure are within normal 
range), including fuel wood harvesting, chipping, pile and burn, and 
broadcast burning.

2C Upper Salt River Management Area--Globe Ranger District

    Wildland fire would be managed to protect, maintain, and enhance 
Federal lands in a cost effective manner. Fire management objectives 
for this area include providing a mosaic of age classes within total 
type, which would provide a mix of successional stages, and allow 
wildfire to resume its natural ecological role within ecosystems. 
Wildfires, or portions of those fires, would be suppressed when they 
adversely affect forest resources, endanger public safety, or have 
potential to damage property and natural/cultural resources.

2B Salt River Canyon Wilderness--Globe Ranger District/5A Sierra Ancha 
Wilderness--Pleasant Valley Ranger District

    Wildland fire would be managed to protect, maintain, and enhance 
Federal lands in a cost effective manner consistent with wilderness 
resource objectives. Wildfire may be used to play, as nearly as 
possible, its natural role in wilderness while also reducing unnatural 
fuel hazards as identified in Forest Service Manual and approved 
Wilderness Implementation Plan.

Responsible Officials

    Richard Reitz, Globe District Ranger and Kelly Jardine, Tonto Basin 
District Ranger.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Service would evaluate the proposed action and 
alternatives to the proposed action. After reviewing the proposed 
action, the alternatives, the environmental analysis, and considering 
public comment, the two District Rangers would reach a decision that is 
in accordance with the purpose and need of this project. The decision 
would include a description of activities that would be implemented.

Preliminary Issues

    Multiple uses considered within the Salt River Corridor is an issue 
with Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive species, recreation, and 
riparian resources.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.
    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.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and

[[Page 31935]]

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.

    Dated: May 25, 2011.
Richard Reitz,
Globe District Ranger.

    Dated: May 25, 2011.
Kelly Jardine,
Tonto Basin District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2011-13640 Filed 6-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P