[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 210 (Monday, October 31, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67130-67132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-28056]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Bridger-Teton National Forest; Big Piney Ranger District; 
Wyoming; Environmental Impact Statement for the Sherman Cattle & Horse 
Allotment Grazing Authorization and Management Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, will prepare an 
environmental impact statement to analyze the effects of domestic 
livestock grazing in the Sherman Cattle & Horse Allotment. This action 
was originally listed as a proposal (to be analyzed under an 
environmental assessment) on the Bridger-Teton National Forest Schedule 
of Proposed Actions on January 1, 2010. However, during development of 
the environmental assessment, it was determined that analysis and 
disclosure under an environmental impact statement would be more 
appropriate. The analysis contained in the environmental impact 
statement will be used by the Responsible Official to decide whether 
livestock grazing can be authorized within the allotment, and if so, 
under what conditions. The Sherman Cattle and Horse Allotment is 
located in western Wyoming, about 35 miles northwest of Big Piney, 
Wyoming, and is situated on the east side of the northern end of the 
Wyoming Range. The entire 17,370 acre allotment lies within Sublette 
County and within the boundaries of the Big Piney Ranger District.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by November 30, 2011. All comments that were received during the 
previous analysis period will be considered in the current analysis. 
The draft environmental impact statement is expected in April of 2012 
and the final environmental impact statement is expected in August of 
2012.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to District Ranger, Big Piney Ranger

[[Page 67131]]

District, P.O. Box 218, Big Piney, Wyoming 83113. Comments may also be 
sent via e-mail to [email protected] (on the 
subject line put ``Sherman Grazing Allotment''), or via facsimile to 
(307) 276-5203.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chad Hayward, Big Piney Ranger 
District, (307) 276-5817, [email protected], or Anita DeLong, Big 
Piney Ranger District, (307) 413-9650, [email protected], and see 
ADDRESSES above. 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

    The need for this analysis is to determine if continued 
authorization of livestock grazing on the Sherman C&H Allotment at 
current levels is appropriate, and to determine if current livestock 
management practices are sufficient for achieving and maintaining 
compliance with the 1990 Bridger-Teton Land and Resource Management 
Plan (Forest Plan) direction and Forest Service grazing management 
policies, and other applicable laws and regulations. The purpose of the 
proposal is to manage livestock grazing in a manner that allows the 
health of the land to be sustained and that meets the goals and 
objectives of the Forest Plan.
    National Forest System lands provide an important source of 
livestock forage during portions of the year. Forest Plans provide for 
allocation of livestock grazing to meet Forest Plan objectives. 
Reauthorization is needed on these allotments because:
     Where consistent with other multiple use goals and 
objectives there is Congressional intent to allow grazing on suitable 
lands (Multiple Use-Sustained Yield Act of 1960, Forest and Rangeland 
Renewable Resource Planning Act of 1974, Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976, National Forest Management Act of 1976).
     The Sherman Cattle & Horse Allotment lies within the 
Management Area 24--Horse Creek--on the Bridger-Teton National Forest. 
The following Desired Future Conditions (DFCs) describe the land 
management direction intended to accomplish goals and objectives. 
Approximately eighty-six percent of the Sherman Cattle & Horse 
Allotment is located within an area designated by the Forest Plan as 
having a DFC of 1B (Substantial Commodity Resource Development with 
Moderate Accommodation of Other Resources). Management emphasis 
includes livestock production. Approximately nine percent of the 
project area is within the DFC 10 (Simultaneous Development of 
Resources, Opportunities for Human Experiences and Support for Big-game 
and a Wide Variety of Wildlife Species. Approximately five percent of 
the project area is within the DFC 12 (Backcountry Big-game Hunting, 
Dispersed Recreation, and Wildlife Security Areas).
     Federal regulation (36 CFR 222.2(c)) states that National 
Forest System lands would be allocated for livestock grazing and 
allotment management plans would be prepared consistent with forest 
plans.
    Continued domestic livestock grazing must be consistent with the 
goals, objectives and guidelines of the Forest Plan. The allotment 
management plan needs to be revised to update and/or refine desired 
rangeland conditions and develop management strategies to meet them. 
This analysis complies with the schedule specified by the Rescission 
Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-19) to complete NEPA analyses on allotments 
where such analysis is needed to authorize permitted livestock grazing 
activity.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action is to authorize continued livestock grazing on 
the Sherman Cattle & Horse Allotment consistent with goals, objectives, 
standards and guidelines, management prescriptions, and monitoring 
requirements specified in the Forest Plan, and in compliance with the 
Rescission Act of 1995. The Proposed Action is designed to (1) 
contribute towards Forest Plan objective 1.1(h) which states ``provide 
forage for about 260,000 AUMs of livestock grazing annually'', and (2) 
achieve Goal 4.7 which states ``[g]razing use of the National Forest 
sustains or improves overall range, soils, water, wildlife, and 
recreation values or experiences.'' Project-specific allowable-use 
standards would be implemented and include more stringent forage 
utilization standards than outlined in the Forest Plan. The Proposed 
Action also includes a streambank alteration standard consistent with 
the Forest Plan. In addition, grizzly bear conservation measures would 
be implemented to (1) minimize grizzly bear/livestock conflicts and 
associated management actions, and (2) minimize food and other types of 
habituation and bear/human conflicts. Updated direction would be 
incorporated into the allotment management plan to guide livestock 
grazing management within the allotment. Livestock grazing management 
strategies in the Proposed Action were developed in accordance with the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 36 CFR 222.1(b)(2), which describes 
allotment management planning provisions.
    Under the Proposed Action, a maximum livestock forage allocation of 
2,332 AUM, or equivalent livestock numbers and season of use, would be 
permitted. Current permitted numbers are 858 cow/calf pairs with a 
season of use from July 6th to September 20th. These would be 
maintained under the Proposed Action. The allotment contains two 
pastures. Under the Proposed Action, the allotment would be grazed by 
livestock under a Deferred Rotation Grazing System. This rotation was 
required by the 1990 Allotment Management Plan and would continue to be 
implemented under the Proposed Action.

Responsible Official

    District Ranger, Big Piney Ranger District, P.O. Box 218, Big 
Piney, Wyoming 83113.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The District Ranger will (1) decide whether to authorize continued 
livestock grazing on the Sherman Cattle & Horse Allotment, and (2) 
decide, if livestock grazing is authorized, under what management 
strategies livestock grazing will be implemented.

Preliminary Issues

    The following preliminary issues were identified by the public and 
the Forest Service in the previous environmental analysis process.
    Issue 1--Effects of livestock grazing on riparian and aquatic 
function.
    Issue 2--Effects of livestock grazing on Threatened, Endangered, 
Experimental, and Candidate Species, Forest Service Sensitive Species, 
Forest Plan Management Indicator Species and migratory birds.
    Issue 3--Effects of livestock grazing on vegetation composition and 
ground cover.
    Issue 4--Effects of livestock grazing on soil quality.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent continues the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. A scoping letter 
was mailed to those listed on the Big Piney Ranger District general 
mailing list. The mailing list included private landowners, term 
grazing permit holders, special interest groups, interested members of 
the public, and

[[Page 67132]]

local, State, and Federal agencies. The letter described the purpose 
and need for action and the proposed action. Additionally, the letter 
solicited public participation in the process, specifically the 
submission of comments, concerns, and recommendations regarding 
management of the allotment. Term grazing permit holders, or their 
representatives, were contacted shortly after the project was initiated 
to solicit their input concerning management of the allotment.
    All submitted comments, including those previously submitted, will 
be used to prepare the new draft environmental impact statement. News 
releases will be prepared to give the public general notice concerning 
the progress of this project analysis.
    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. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered, however.

    Dated: October 25, 2011.
Eric J. Winthers,
Acting District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2011-28056 Filed 10-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P