[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 234 (Thursday, December 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73186-73187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29075]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 234 / Thursday, December 5, 2013 / 
Notices  

[[Page 73186]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Wallowa-Whitman National Forests, Oregon; Lower Imnaha Rangeland 
Analysis

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA

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

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    Authority:  36 CFR 220.5(b).

SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement to authorize the approval of grazing livestock within the 
lower Imnaha area, including allotments within the Lightning Creek, 
Tulley Creek, Cow Creek, and a portion of the Snake River watersheds of 
the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area of the Wallowa-Whitman 
National Forest.
    The Lower Imnaha Rangeland Analysis (LIRA) has previously been 
initiated through a scoping letter for environmental analysis for 
livestock grazing. The scoping letter was sent on August 26, 2011 to 
159 individuals, organizations, and agencies which included tribal 
representatives, grazing permittees, state and federal resource 
management agencies, special interest organizations, and interested 
publics. As a result of scoping, a concern was brought forward 
regarding impacts to Silene spaldingii or Spalding's catchfly, a 
threatened species, which indicated the need for the LIRA to be 
analyzed in an environmental impact statement (EIS) instead of the 
environmental assessment (EA) that was indicated in the scoping letter. 
Since the proposed action has not changed since the scoping letter was 
released, a new scoping period will not be initiated. All scoping 
comments received during the 2011 30-day scoping period will be 
considered in the EIS.

DATES: The draft environmental impact statement is expected June 2014 
and the final environmental impact statement and draft record of 
decision are expected September 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments and suggestions to Area Ranger Kris 
Stein, Hells Canyon National Recreation, Wallowa-Whitman National 
Forest, PO Box 905, Joseph, OR 97846. Comments may also be sent via 
email to comments-pacificnorthwest-wallowa-whitman-hellscanyonnra@fs.fed.us.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie McCormack, Interdisciplinary 
Team Leader, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, Wallowa Mountains Office, 
PO Box 905, Joseph, OR 97846, Phone: (541) 263-1645.
    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 this project is to implement the direction of the 
Wallowa-Whitman Forest Plan,\1\ HCNRA CMP (Comprehensive Management 
Plan) FEIS,\2\ and the Acts of Congress to provide grazing on National 
Forest System lands. This analysis is being prepared to determine if 
the Forest Service should continue to authorize livestock grazing in 
the four allotments identified of this project.
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    \1\ USDA Forest Service. (1990). Land and Resources Management 
Plan for the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Wallowa-Whitman 
National Forest, Baker City, Oregon.
    \2\ USDA Forest Service. (2003). Hells Canyon National 
Recreation Area Comprehensive Management Plan FEIS. Wallowa-Whitman 
National Forest. Baker City, Oregon.
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    The needs associated with this project are (1) to comply with with 
the Rescission Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-19, Section 504), (2) to be 
consistent with other multiple use goals and objectives provided by 
Congress, (3) to continue contributing to the economic and social well-
being of communities that depend on range resources for their 
livelihood by providing opportunities for economic diversity and 
promoting stability (FSM 2202.14).

Proposed Action

    The LIRA area is located approximately 35 miles northeast of the 
town of Enterprise, Oregon, and primarily includes the Imnaha River 
watershed and associated watersheds downstream of the Imnaha River 
Bridge ``Cow Creek Bridge'', and watersheds from Deep Creek to the 
mouth of the Imnaha River. The decision area will encompass 45,625 
acres, including four allotments: Cow Creek, Lone Pine, Rhodes Creek, 
and Toomey, all of which are in Wallowa County, Oregon. This EIS will 
analyze and authorize the continued use of this area for cattle grazing 
through Allotment Management Plans.

Responsible Official

    The Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Ranger, Kris Stein 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 
continued grazing in the LIRA project 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. 
There is one primary concern:
    The concern is with Spalding's catchfly, in regard to potential 
direct and indirect effects to the plant by livestock grazing. Through 
surveys conducted within the project area, this species has been found 
in several isolated patches, all of which are in fescue (Festuca)--type 
vegetation habitat on relatively steep north facing slopes. The direct 
effect would be livestock consuming the plant. However, livestock are 
grazing these areas when the species is dormant, and grazing of the 
plant is not a concern. The indirect effect to Spalding's catchfly is 
of more concern, and would require more detailed analysis because these 
plants are primarily growing in north facing areas, the soils tend to 
be deeper, and with grazing in wet conditions, there is a higher 
likelihood of hoof-shear causing damage to the crown of the Spalding's 
catchfly. The second indirect effect of concern is soil sloughing and

[[Page 73187]]

hoof sheer on steeper slopes, and primarily in north-facing areas as 
the sloughing and hoof shear which could be contributing to a slow-
moving erosion process in which soil is slowly being displaced and 
moving down the hillsides.
    There are no preliminary concerns for the listed fish species and 
designated critical habitat of listed fish species within or adjacent 
to this allotment.
    Based on these two preliminary issues and their potential for 
significant impacts, an EIS fits the scope of this analysis rather than 
an EA.

New 218 Objection Period

    The new regulations, found at 36 CFR 218, provide an opportunity 
for individuals, organizations and tribal entities to file an objection 
to a project before the final decision is signed (36 CFR 218.5). This 
allows interested individuals, organizations and tribal entities to 
advise the responsible official about concerns regarding the final 
decision before the decision is made. When the final EIS and draft 
Record of Decision are released for public review, the public will have 
45 days in which to review the documents and, if desired, file an 
objection to the Record of Decision.

    Dated: November 26, 2013.
Thomas Montoya,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2013-29075 Filed 12-4-13; 8:45 am]
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