[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 225 (Friday, November 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69521-69522]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27682]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[AAK6006201 134A2100DD AOR3B30.999900]


Intent To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Proposed Integrated Resource Management Plan for the Colville 
Reservation in Okanogan and Ferry Counties, WA

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA), in cooperation with the Confederated Tribes of the 
Colville Reservation (Tribes), intends to gather information necessary 
to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (Programmatic 
EIS) for the proposed Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) for 
the Colville Reservation in Okanogan and Ferry Counties, Washington. 
This notice also announces public scoping meetings to identify 
potential issues and content for inclusion in the Programmatic EIS.

DATES: The dates and locations of public scoping meetings will be 
published in the Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, the Statesman 
Examiner, the Star, and the Tribal Tribune. Additional information will 
also be posted at the Tribes' Web site: www.colvilletribes.com. Written 
comments must arrive within 30 days following the public scoping 
meetings.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, email, hand carry or fax 
to: Dr. BJ Howerton, Environmental Services Manager, BIA Northwest 
Regional Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-4169, Phone: 
(503) 231-6749, Fax: (503) 231-2275, Email: [email protected]; or 
Debra Wulff, BIA Superintendent, Colville Agency, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, P.O. Box 111, Nespelem, WA 99155-0111, Phone: (509) 634-2316, 
Fax: (509) 634-2355, Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. BJ Howerton at (503) 231-6749 or 
[email protected] or Debra Wulff at (509) 634-2316 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is the preparation of an 
IRMP for the Colville Reservation and the BIA approval of long-term 
natural resource planning goals and objectives for the Colville 
Reservation. The Tribes may use the Programmatic EIS for tiered, 
project-specific environmental assessments to cover specific actions as 
the IRMP is implemented.
    The Tribes have managed their natural resources under the goals and 
objectives of an IRMP from 2000 to 2014. The new IRMP will replace the 
expiring plan. The Programmatic EIS will consider a proposed strategy 
in the IRMP that enhances the existing plan, where timber harvesting 
and livestock grazing levels remain at the existing levels with 
improved scheduling based on more accurate mapping data, open ground 
modeling and current forest inventory data. The strategy would include 
improved management practices to reduce erosion from forest roads, 
increase enforcement of livestock rotation requirements, and provide a 
formal project review process to ensure compliance with the IRMP and 
tribal resource codes.
    Other alternative forest management strategies to be considered 
include: (1) A forest restoration strategy to emphasize thinning 
through the forest to return to historic conditions with a reduced 
harvest level, (2) an accelerated harvest strategy intended to maximize 
revenue to the Tribes, and (3) a No Forest Management strategy that 
would end timber harvesting.
    Rangeland management alternatives include: (1) A strategy to rest 
and rotate range units on a yearly basis, (2) a strategy to increase 
livestock grazing by allowing additional grazing by off-reservation 
cattle ranchers, and (3) a strategy to eliminate livestock grazing 
altogether.
    No Action or continuation of the current IRMP goals and objectives 
will also be considered along with any additional strategies or 
alternatives that may be developed as a result of public scoping.
    Significant issues to be covered during the scoping process may 
include, but will not be limited to air quality, geology and soils, 
surface and groundwater resources, wildlife habitat, threatened and 
endangered species, cultural resources, socioeconomic conditions, land 
use, aesthetics, and Indian trust resources.

[[Page 69522]]

Directions for Submitting Public Comments

    Please include your name, return address, and the caption 
``Programmatic EIS, Colville Reservation IRMP'' on the first page of 
any written comments you submit. You may also submit comments at the 
public scoping meetings.
    The public scoping meetings will be held to seek comments from the 
Tribal Business Council, resource managers, agency representatives, and 
community members concerning the planning and environmental issues 
surrounding the use of natural resources of the Colville Reservation. 
The meetings will be held at various Colville Reservation communities 
and notices will be published in Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, the 
Statesman Examiner, the Star, and the Tribal Tribune. Additional 
information will also be posted at the Tribe's Web site: 
www.colvilletribes.com.

Public Availability of Comments

    Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be 
available for public review at the BIA address shown in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice, during regular business hours, Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. 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 can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so.

Authority

    This notice is published in accordance with sections 1503.1 of the 
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 
1508) and Sec. 46.305 of the Department of the Interior Regulations (43 
CFR Part 46), implementing the procedural requirements of NEPA, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and is in the exercise of authority 
delegated to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs, by part 209 of 
the Departmental Manual.

    Dated: November 10, 2014.
Kevin Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-27682 Filed 11-20-14; 8:45 am]
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