[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21892-21893]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-08850]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Colville National Forest, LeClerc Creek Cattle Grazing Allotment

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Colville National Forest is proposing to reauthorize 
livestock grazing in the LeClerc Creek Cattle and Horse Grazing 
Allotment (hereafter referred to as the allotment). The allotment 
contains land identified as suitable for domestic livestock grazing in 
the Colville National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest 
Plan). The focus of this project is to analyze management of the 
existing allotment. This analysis complies with Section 504 of the 1995 
Rescissions Bill (Pub. L. 104-19). The Act requires new permits be 
issued unless there are significant environmental concerns.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by May 19, 2014. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
June 2014 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
January 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Newport/Sullivan Ranger District, 
315 N. Warren Ave. Newport, WA 99156. Comments may also be sent via 
email to [email protected], or via facsimile 
to 509-447-7301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Paduani at 509-447-7361 or 
[email protected]. Electronic comments must be part of an 
email message or as an attachment in MS Word format (.doc or .docx), 
Rich Text Format (.rtf), Plain Text (.txt), or Portable Document Format 
(.pdf).
    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:

Project Location

    The analysis area encompasses 23,413 acres of land within the 
LeClerc Creek sub watershed. Primary access is via Fourth of July (FR 
1932), East Branch LeClerc (FR 1934), Middle Branch LeC!erc (FR 1935), 
and West Branch LeC!erc (FR 1933) roads.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The focus of this project is to analyze management of the existing 
grazing allotment permit. Analysis included as part of this 
environmental impact statement would:
     Comply with Section 504 of the 1995 Rescissions Bill (Pub. 
L. 104-19);
     Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960; Forest and 
Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974; Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976; and the National Forest Management Act of 
1976.
     It is Forest Service policy to make forage available to 
qualified livestock operators from lands suitable for grazing 
consistent with land management plans (CFR 222.2(c); and Forest Service 
Manual [FSM] 2203.1).
     The need for the proposed action is that a qualified 
applicant would like to continue livestock grazing on this allotment. 
Management proposals would move the existing condition toward 
compliance with the Riparian Management Objectives prescribed in the 
Inland Native Fish Strategy (USDA, 1995), which would also indirectly 
lead to moving the state listed stream reach toward State Water Quality 
standards for temperature. There is also a need to determine what 
improvements are needed within the allotment, where they are needed, 
and how to implement the proposals. This includes improving allotment 
management conditions (e.g., improvement of riparian conditions in some 
areas, review of allotment boundaries, and improve forage quality and 
quantity).
    The current condition will be evaluated against Forest Plan 
management objectives and desired future conditions as described by the 
Forest Plan, Regional Forester's Forest Plan Amendment 2, the 
Inland Native Fish Strategy Environmental Assessment (INFISH EA) (June 
1995).

Proposed Action

    The proposed action would include:
     Maintain the current authorization of 535 Animal Unit 
Months (AUM);
     Change the turn-on date for the allotment from June 1 to 
June 15. The end of the normal use period would be extended from 
October 1 to October 15;
     Allotment boundary adjustment;
     Removal of the Fourth of July pasture and associated 
improvements from the allotment;
     Installation of new fence and improvement of existing 
fence;
     Installation and maintenance of cattle guards;
     Installation of upland water developments, or other water 
systems;
     Establish a riparian exclosure;
     Reroute public access to the holding pen at Hanlon Meadow;
     Improve and develop hardened cattle crossings to reduce 
damage;
     Establish a deferred rotation grazing strategy; and
     Establish designated riparian monitoring areas.

Possible Alternatives

    In addition to the Proposed Action and any alternative that is 
developed following the scoping effort, the project interdisciplinary 
team will analyze the effects of:

[[Page 21893]]

Alternative A--No Change

    This alternative would authorize grazing under the existing 
management plan. There would be no change to existing allotment or 
pasture boundaries, season of use, and permitted number of cow/calf 
pairs (101). No new improvements would be installed, with the exception 
of a riparian exclosure on the lower Middle Branch LeClerc Creek that 
was planned and approved prior to this project. Other planned 
management activities would continue. The relocation of the 1935-117 
road would still be relocated via the 1935-116 road.

Alternative B--No Action

    Alternative B is the ``No Grazing'' alternative. The Council for 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) require that a ``no action'' 
alternative be developed as a benchmark from which the agency can 
evaluate the proposed action. No action in grazing management planning 
is synonymous with ``no grazing'' and means that livestock grazing 
would not be authorized within the project area. (USDA-PS 2005a).
    Under this alternative, livestock grazing would be discontinued on 
the LeClerc Creek Allotment and the allotment would be closed. The 
existing Term Grazing Permit would be cancelled pursuant to Forest 
Service Handbook (FSH) 2209.13 part 16.24 which references Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) chapter 36, part 222.4(a)(l). 36 CFR 
222.4(a)(l) and states ``except in an emergency, no permit shall be 
cancelled without 2 years' prior notification.'' The requirement is 2 
calendar years (January 1-December 31) notification. The authority to 
cancel the current Term Grazing Permit lies with the Regional Forester 
and is delegated to the Forest Supervisor as described in Forest 
Service Manual (FSM) 2204.2 and 2204.3.
    Additionally, no range improvements or resource protection projects 
would be implemented. Current Forest-wide programs such as noxious weed 
management and road maintenance would continue. Range improvements 
including fences, water systems, and corrals would remain on the 
allotment but would no longer be the responsibility of the permittee to 
maintain. Existing range improvements would be removed as needed 
pending available funding and project requirements. It is the desire of 
the Forest Service to have all range improvements removed within a 10-
year time frame but this is subject to change. The Forest Service would 
attempt to maintain homestead meadows within the project area. The 
1935-117 road would be obliterated and decommissioned.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official will be the District Ranger, Gayne Sears, 
Newport/Sullivan Lake Ranger District, Colville National Forest, 315 N 
Warren Ave., Newport, WA 99156.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    An environmental analysis will evaluate site-specific issues, 
consider management alternatives and analyze the potential effects of 
the proposed action and alternatives. An environmental impact statement 
will provide the Responsible Official with the information needed to 
decide whether to adopt and implement the proposed action, or an 
alternative to the proposed action, or take no action to reauthorize 
livestock grazing in the LeClerc Creek Cattle and Horse Grazing 
Allotment. This EIS will tier to the Colville National Forest Land and 
Resource Management Plan and its subsequent amendments, which provide 
overall guidance for land management activities Colville National 
Forest.

Preliminary Issues

     Water quality and stream health compliance with INFISH 
habitat guidelines, Washington Department of Ecology water quality 
standards, and the Clean Water Act;
     Management of riparian conditions to provide for the 
continued sustainability of aquatic species;
     Protect soil resources -reduce or minimize compaction, 
sedimentation, displacement and erosion;
     Ability of the permittee to manage pastures that are 
physically separated;
     Maintenance of extensive fencing within the allotment;
     Protection of Cultural Resources; and
     Protection of Endangered Species and their habitat.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent continues the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. Public comments 
about this proposal are requested in order to assist in identifying 
issues, and determining how to best manage the resources, and focus the 
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, anonymous comments will not provide 
the agency with the ability to provide the commenter with subsequent 
environmental documents.

    Dated: April 11, 2014.
Gayne Sears,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2014-08850 Filed 4-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P