[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64909-64910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25708]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Southwestern Region: Invasive Plant Control Project, Carson and 
Santa Fe National Forests, New Mexico

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; correction.

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SUMMARY: On December 15, 2000, the USDA Forest Service published a 
notice of intent (NOI) in the Federal Register (65 FR 78464) to prepare 
an environmental impact statement (EIS) for controlling invasive plants 
in the Carson and Santa Fe National Forests. The agency published a 
notice of availability (NOA) for the Draft EIS in the Federal Register 
(69 FR 42722) on July 16, 2004. A record of decision was signed on 
September 12, 2005 and an NOA was subsequently published in the Federal 
Register (70 FR 69967) on November 18, 2005. Members of the public 
appealed the decision before the Regional Forester of the Southwestern 
Region, who reviewed the decision in accordance with 36 CFR 215.7. The 
Regional Forester's decision, issued on February 23, 2006, reversed the 
Responsible Officials' decision on the project, with the following 
instructions:
    (1) Complete the analysis of effects on the Management Indicator 
Species population trend for ptarmigan.
    (2) Strengthen the disclosure of cumulative effects to wildlife 
species.
    (3) Address the concern about the use of picloram in municipal 
watersheds.
    On September 10, 2009, the USDA Forest Service published a 
corrected NOI in the Federal Register (74 FR 46562). The NOI listed the 
date of completion and distribution for the draft supplemental 
environmental impact statement (DSEIS) as being December 2009.

DATES: Revised dates: It is estimated the DSEIS will be completed and 
available for review no later than March 31, 2014. A 45-day comment 
period will follow. The Forest Service estimates the final supplemental 
environmental impact statement (FSEIS) and draft records of decision 
(each forest is preparing its own record of decision) will be released 
in July 2014. Pursuant to 36 CFR 218, a 45-day objection period will 
follow. The final records of decision are expected to be released no 
later than December 2014.

ADDRESSES: The DSEIS will be posted on these Web sites:
    Carson National Forest: http://www.fs.usda.gov/land/carson/landmanagement
    Santa Fe National Forest: http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/santafe/landmanagement
    A limited number of paper copies will be available upon request 
from either forest: Carson Forest Supervisor's Office, 208 Cruz Alta 
Road, Taos, NM 87571, Attn: Planning; or Santa Fe National Forest 
Supervisor's Office, 11 Forest Lane, Santa Fe, NM 87508, Attn: Julie 
Bain. The address to which to send comments will be published with the 
DSEIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Bain, Forest Environmental 
Coordinator, Santa Fe National Forest Supervisor's Office, 11 Forest 
Lane, Santa Fe, NM 87508, (505) 438-5443, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An SEIS is needed to update certain elements 
of the analysis and correct deficiencies identified in the 2005 
Invasive Plant Control Project Final Environmental Impact Statement and 
records of decision. The DSEIS will document the analysis of effects 
for the same range of alternatives as the 2005 final EIS. The proposed 
action, which includes the use of herbicides to control invasive 
species, remains the preferred alternative. The Forest Supervisors of 
the Carson and Santa Fe National Forests are the responsible officials. 
Each responsible

[[Page 64910]]

official will decide whether the project will be implemented on their 
respective national forest and each will prepare a separate record of 
decision.
    Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent Environmental 
Review: The comment period for the DSEIS will be 45 days in duration 
and commence the day after the NOA is published in the Federal 
Register. Legal notices announcing the availability of the DSEIS will 
also be published in the newspapers of record, the Albuquerque Journal 
and The Taos News, and posted on the Forests' Web sites. This project 
implements the land management plans and is not authorized under the 
Healthy Forest Restoration Act, and is therefore subject to subparts A 
and B of 36 CFR part 218. Objections to the draft records of decision 
will be accepted only from those who have previously submitted specific 
written comments regarding the proposed project during the designated 
opportunity for public comment in accordance with 36 CFR 218.5(a). 
Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted 
timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project. 
Issues raised based on new information arising after the opportunity to 
comment will be considered as well.

    Dated: October 21, 2013.
Joseph Norrell,
Deputy Forest Supervisor, Santa Fe National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2013-25708 Filed 10-29-13; 8:45 am]
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