[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 45761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18577]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Wallowa-Whitman National Forest; Oregon; Notice of Intent To 
Prepare a Supplement to the 2012 Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for Snow Basin Vegetation Management Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare a Supplement to the Snow 
Basin Vegetation Management Project Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to address the environmental impact of the project on 
elk and elk habitat, as directed by the United States Court of Appeals 
for the Ninth Circuit in League of Wilderness Defenders/Blue Mountains 
Biodiversity Project v. Connaughton, 752 F.3d 755, 767 (9th Cir. 2014). 
Specifically, the court held that `plaintiffs are likely to prevail on 
their claim that a supplemental EIS must be completed to show the 
environmental impact of the Snow Basin project on elk and their habitat 
now that the [Travel Management Plan] has been withdrawn.' Id. at 761.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dea Nelson, Environmental Coordinator, 
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, PO Box 907, Baker City, OR 97814; or, 
541-523-1216; or, [email protected].
    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: In March 2012, the Final EIS for the Snow 
Basin Vegetation Management Project was completed. A Record of Decision 
was signed on March 19, 2012. These documents, which include 
descriptions of the purpose and need for the project and the proposed 
action, can be found at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/SnowBasin. The 
supplemental EIS will provide additional information to clarify the 
impacts on elk of the Snow Basin project without considering the travel 
management plan decision, which was withdrawn in April 2012. A draft 
supplemental EIS is estimated to be available in November 2014, and the 
final in February 2015.

Responsible Official

    Wallowa-Whitman Forest Supervisor.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Responsible Official will decide whether or not to incorporate 
the supplemental information into the FEIS. The Responsible Official 
will also document the decision and reasons for the decision in a new 
record of decision consistent with the scope of the supplement. This 
decision will be subject to Forest Service predecisional objection 
procedures (36 CFR part 218, Subparts A and B).

Scoping Process

    Scoping is not required for supplements to environmental impact 
statements (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4)). Scoping was conducted for the 
original EIS. The supplement will be subject to notice and comment. A 
draft supplemental EIS will be published and made available for review 
and comment for 45 days, following direction at 36 CFR part 218 Sec.  
218.22 and Sec.  218.24.

    Dated: July 29, 2014.
John Laurence,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-18577 Filed 8-5-14; 8:45 am]
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