[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 42695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17695]



[[Page 42695]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Suspension of Public Comment Period and Notice of Intent To 
Prepare Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement: North Fork 
Eagle Creek Wells Special Use Authorization

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Suspension of comment period/corrected notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, Lincoln National Forest, is 
suspending the public comment period for a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the North Fork Eagle Creek Wells Special Use 
Authorization. As a result of the Little Bear Fire occurring in the 
project area, a supplemental DEIS will be prepared considering changed 
circumstances. The supplemental DEIS will disclose potential impacts of 
a proposed action to authorize, under a new special use permit, the 
operation of four municipal supply water wells located on National 
Forest System (NFS) land in the North Fork Eagle Creek drainage. The 
new permit would be authorized for up to 20 years, with stipulations 
for frequent review and verification of the permit terms and 
conditions. These could occur as often as every year but would occur at 
least every 5 to 10 years. The new authorization would add terms and 
conditions to the permit reflecting adaptive management strategies, 
which respond both to the purpose and need for action as well as to 
mitigate potential adverse impacts to surface water and groundwater 
resources from well operations. The Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) published a notice of availability (NOA) of the DEIS in the 
Federal Register on May 25, 2012 [77-31355; EIS No. 20120161]. The NOA 
provided for a public comment period ending on July 9, 2012.

DATES: Due to extenuating circumstances caused by the Little Bear 
wildland fire, a supplemental DEIS will be prepared considering changed 
circumstances in the project area. At this time there is no formal 
notice and comment period that will provide the commenter appeal 
rights, but comments on these changed circumstances are encouraged to 
aid completion of the supplemental DEIS and will be most beneficial if 
received by September 7, 2012. Comments from all parties received or 
postmarked after September 7, 2012 will be considered to the extent 
practicable. Once completed, the DEIS and supplemental DEIS will be 
released for a formal 45-day public comment period and notice of the 
comment period will be advertised.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the DEIS are available for public review at the 
following locations:
    * Lincoln National Forest Supervisor's Office: 3463 Las Palomas 
Road, Alamogordo, New Mexico.
    * Smokey Bear Ranger District: 901 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, New 
Mexico.

Written comments are best submitted electronically by accessing http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php?project=9603. To electronically 
comment, select `Comment on Project' in the `Get Connected' box on the 
right side of Web page.
    Written comments may also be submitted to: Robert G. Trujillo, 
Forest Supervisor, Lincoln National Forest, 3463 Las Palomas Rd, 
Alamogordo, NM 88310, or facsimile 575-434-7218. Oral comments can be 
provided at the Responsible Official's office during normal business 
hours (8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays), 
via telephone 575-434-7200, or in person.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debbie McGlothlin, Environmental 
Coordinator, TEAMS Enterprise Unit, at 559-920-4952.

    Dated: July 16, 2012.
Robert G. Trujillo,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2012-17695 Filed 7-19-12; 8:45 am]
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