[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 196 (Tuesday, October 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62758-62759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26220]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Wallowa-Whitman and Umatilla National Forests, Oregon Granite 
Creek Watershed Mining Plans

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement to authorize the approval of mining Plans of Operation in the 
Granite Creek Watershed Mining Plans analysis area on the Whitman 
Ranger District of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, and the North 
Fork John Day Ranger District of the Umatilla National Forest.
    Both forests had previously initiated environmental analyses for 
proposed mining Plans in the portions of the Granite Creek Watershed 
under their administration. As issues identified by each forest were 
similar, it became clear that combining the analysis into one EIS would 
be the most efficient way to complete the task.

DATES: Written comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be 
received by November 10, 2011. The draft environmental impact statement 
is expected July 2012 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected November 2012.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions to Jeff Tomac, Whitman 
District Ranger, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, PO Box 947, Baker 
City, OR 97814. Comments may also be sent via e-mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sophia Millar, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Wallowa Mountains Office, PO 
Box 905, Joseph, OR 97846, Phone: (541) 426-5540.
    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

    The purpose of and need for this action is to authorize the 
approval of proposed Plans of Operations (Plans) submitted by the 
operations, as specified in 36 CFR 228.4(a), pending receipt of 401 
certifications as deemed necessary by the Oregon Department of 
Environmental Quality.

Proposed Action

    The Granite Creek Watershed Mining Plans analysis area is located 
on the Whitman Ranger District of the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, 
approximately 45 miles west of Baker City, Oregon, and on the North 
Fork John Day Ranger District of the Umatilla National Forest, 
approximately 45 miles south of Ukiah, Oregon. The decision area will 
cover 30 proposed mining Plans of Operation within the Granite Creek 
Watershed, an area of approximately 94,479 acres of National Forest 
System lands, in Baker and Grant Counties. Typically, each project will 
disturb and reclaim an area of approximately 1-2 acres annually.
    This EIS will analyze and authorize the approval of 30 proposed 
mining Plans (17 on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, 11 on the 
Umatilla National Forest, and 2 overlapping both forests), and evaluate 
and propose additional operational requirements for some or all of 
these Plans. Authorization of Plan approvals will occur after receipt 
of 401 certification, as deemed necessary by the Oregon Department of 
Environmental Quality.

Responsible Official

    The Whitman District Ranger, Jeff Tomac, will be the responsible 
official for making the decision and providing direction for the 
analysis.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The responsible official will decide whether or not to authorize 
the approval

[[Page 62759]]

of mining Plans within the Granite Creek Watershed Mining Plans 
analsyis area. The responsible official will also decide whether or not 
to select the proposed action as stated or modified, or to select an 
alternative to it, any mitigation measures needed, and any monitoring 
that may be required.

Preliminary Issues

    The interdisciplinary team has conducted field surveys and data 
research to identify preliminary issues of concern with this proposal. 
The primary concern is the potential for sediment or heavy metal 
discharges into streams from mining operations, potentially impacting 
water quality, fish and fish habitat (pools and temperature).
    Within the Granite Creek Watershed, under section 303(d) of the 
Clean Water Act, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) 
has listed Beaver Creek and Clear Creek as water quality limited for 
temperature, and Bull Run Creek and Granite Creek as water quality 
limited for temperature and sediment. Fish species listed as threatened 
under the Endangered Species Act occurring within the watershed include 
bull trout and middle Columbia River steelhead trout. Based on these 
preliminary issues and the level of activity proposed at some sites, 
there is the potential for significant impacts to some resources, 
therefore an EIS fits the scope of this analysis rather than an 
Environmental Assessment (EA).

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. Public 
participation is especially important at several points during the 
development of the EIS. The Forest Service is seeking information, 
comments, and coordination with Federal, State, and local agencies, and 
tribal governments, individuals or organizations who may be interested 
in or affected by the proposed action. The most useful comments to 
developing or refining the proposed action would be site-specific 
concerns and those that pertain to authorizing mining activities within 
the Granite Creek Watershed Mining Plans analysis area that meets the 
Purpose of and Need for Action.
    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 addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action and will be available for public inspection.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted 
and considered, however those who only submit anonymous comments 
will not have standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 
CFR part 215.

    Dated: October 2, 2011.
Jeff Tomac,
Whitman District Ranger Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2011-26220 Filed 10-7-11; 8:45 am]
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