[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 246 (Friday, December 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75648-75649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30838]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-220-12-1020-JA-VEIS]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To 
Evaluate the Use of Three New Herbicides on Public Lands in 17 Western 
States

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Washington, 
DC, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
evaluate the use of aminopyralid, fluroxypyr, and rimsulfuron 
herbicides as part of the its vegetation treatment programs on public 
lands in 17 Western States. By this notice, the BLM is announcing the 
beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and 
identify issues.

DATES: Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until February 
19, 2013. For inclusion in the Draft EIS, all comments must be received 
prior to the close of the scoping period, or 15 days after the last 
public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will hold three public 
scoping meetings: On January 7, 2013, in Worland, Wyoming; January 9, 
2013, in Reno, Nevada; and January 10, 2013, in Albuquerque, New 
Mexico. The times and locations of the meetings can be found in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. The BLM will provide 
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of 
the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit scoping comments related to the EIS for the 
use of aminopyralid, fluroxypyr, and rimsulfuron on BLM Public Lands in 
17 Western States by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://blm.gov/3vkd.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 206-623-3793.
     Mail: AECOM, Attn. Stuart Paulus, 710 Second Avenue, Suite 
1000, Seattle, WA 98104.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM 
Washington Office, 20 M Street SE., Room 2134, Washington, DC 20003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Gina Ramos, Senior Weeds 
Specialist, telephone 202-912-7226 or Stuart Paulus, Project Manager, 
telephone 206-403-4287. Persons who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 to contact the referenced individual during normal 
business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to 
leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive 
a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This national programmatic EIS proposes to 
add aminopyralid, fluroxypyr, and rimsulfuron to the BLM's approved 
list of herbicides for (1) Controlling noxious weeds and other invasive 
species; and (2) Conserving and restoring native vegetation, 
watersheds, and fish and wildlife habitat. The EIS will evaluate the 
use of the three new herbicides as part of the BLM's vegetation 
treatment programs on public lands in 17 Western States. The analysis 
area will include all surface estate public lands administered

[[Page 75649]]

by the BLM in the following Western States: Alaska, Arizona, 
California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, North and South 
Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and 
Wyoming. The purpose of the proposed action is to expand the BLM's 
vegetation treatment program to allow herbicide treatments with 
aminopyralid, fluroxypyr, and rimsulfuron. This action would increase 
the number of active ingredients approved for use, and would give the 
BLM increased flexibility and options when designing herbicide 
treatments.
    The BLM has initially identified the following issues for analysis 
in this programmatic EIS: Effects of herbicides and inert ingredients 
used in herbicide formulations on human, vegetation, fish and wildlife, 
livestock, and wild horse and burro health; water quality; Native 
American resources and resource use; and the cumulative use of these 
and other herbicides by the BLM and other landowners in the Western 
U.S.
    The BLM will follow NEPA public participation requirements to 
assist the agency in satisfying public involvement requirements under 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 
470(f)) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d) (3). The information about historic 
and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by the 
proposed action will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating 
impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 
of the NHPA. The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-
to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate 
in the scoping process. If eligible, you may request, or be requested 
by the BLM, to participate in the development of the environmental 
analysis as a cooperating agency.
    The BLM will hold the following scoping meetings to seek public 
comments to identify any issues surrounding the agency's proposal to 
prepare the EIS:

January 7, 2013--7 p.m., Worland Community Center Complex, 1200 
Culbertson Ave., Worland, Wyoming;
January 9, 2013--7 p.m., Hyatt Place, 1790 East Plumb Lane, Reno, 
Nevada; and
January 10, 2013--7 p.m., BLM Albuquerque District Office, 435 Montano 
Rd. NE., Albuquerque, New Mexico.

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may 
request in your comment that your personal identifying information be 
withheld from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able 
to do so.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7.

Edwin Roberson,
Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning.
[FR Doc. 2012-30838 Filed 12-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P