[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 167 (Friday, August 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52245-52247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20834]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Superior National Forest, Minnesota; School Trust Land Exchange

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The purpose and need for the land exchange is: the Superior 
National Forest would acquire land inside the Boundary Waters Canoe 
Area Wilderness (BWCAW) from the Minnesota School Trust with 
outstanding wilderness/scenic/recreational opportunities, which will 
consolidate ownership and eliminate the risk of development or uses 
incompatible with wilderness values and management. The federal land 
located outside the BWCAW conveyed to the Minnesota School Trust would 
allow the State to manage lands outside the wilderness to generate 
revenue to

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benefit the Minnesota public school system.
    In February 2015, a scoping process for this project was initiated 
by the Forest Supervisor. The scoping period lasted until May 15, 2015 
and included notification to a wide range of interested persons, 
adjacent landowners, state, local and tribal government, and 
organizations. In addition, five open houses were held in the project 
area and Saint Paul, MN. Over 1,600 comment letters were received from 
interested persons, adjacent landowners, state, local and tribal 
government, and organizations. Upon review of scoping comments, the 
Forest Supervisor decided to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).
    While further scoping comments will be accepted, it is anticipated 
that the scoping comments already received have thoroughly described 
the range of issues of interest to the public, agencies, organizations 
and governments. Scoping comments already received during the February-
May 2015 scoping period are being considered, are part of the project 
record, and will provide standing to object per requirements of 36 CFR 
218.

DATES: Any additional comments concerning the scope of the analysis 
must be received by September 30, 2015. The Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement is expected January 2016, and the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement is expected September 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Brenda Halter, Forest Supervisor, 
RE: School Trust Land Exchange EIS, at 8901 Grand Avenue Place, Duluth, 
MN 55808. Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected] or via facsimile to (218) 626-4398.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Taylor, Forest Environmental 
Coordinator, at (218) 626-4368 or [email protected]. Go to 
www.fs.usda.gov/goto/superior/projects and navigate to the School Trust 
Land Exchange Web page for the scoping information on this project. The 
scoping information on the Web page is the same as that available 
during the February-May 2015 scoping period.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

Inside the BWCAW

    The Superior National Forest would acquire land with outstanding 
wilderness/scenic/recreational opportunities, which will consolidate 
ownership and eliminate the risk of development or uses incompatible 
with wilderness values and management. This exchange is part of the 
long term strategy for acquiring all county and state lands in the 
BWCAW to resolve the long standing issue of wilderness restrictions 
limiting use of nonfederal lands. The acquisition of these lands is 
considered Priority 1 under Forest Plan Guideline G-LA-2 (p. 2-51).

Outside the BWCAW

    The exchange would meet Forest Plan Land Adjustment Goal G-LA-5 (p. 
2-52) for acquisition of Minnesota State School Trust Lands in the 
BWCAW through land exchange. This exchange has the potential to reduce 
and/or eliminate over 30 complex special use permits/easements reducing 
the cost of special use permit administration on the Forest. The 
authorized activities would continue but would be managed by the State. 
This would meet the intent of Forest Plan Guideline G-LA-3(e) (p. 2-
52).
    The conveyance of Federal land would reduce boundary management and 
landline costs. Federal parcels proposed for exchange were specifically 
identified to consolidate federal and state ownership patterns. This 
would meet the intent of Forest Plan Guideline G-LA-3(d) (p. 2-52).
    The land conveyed would allow the State to actively manage lands 
outside the wilderness to generate revenue to benefit the MN public 
school system. The State would manage the conveyed land to provide for 
a wide variety of goods, uses and services similar to management under 
federal ownership. This would meet the intent of Forest Plan Guideline 
G-LA-3(b) (p. 2-52).

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service proposes to exchange federal lands of equal 
value from a pool of approximately 39,075 acres for approximately 
30,000 acres of State lands. The final acres to be exchanged would 
reflect equal market values based on an appraisal compliant with 
federal standards. The possibility that all of the federal land will be 
necessary or that the federal land list will be inadequate is 
relatively low.
    The Forest Service would also transfer authority and administration 
of special use permits located within the federal parcels to the 
Minnesota DNR. Many of these permits and easements involve both short 
and long-term authorizations for roads and trails, phone lines, 
electrical lines, fiber optics, and a county canister transfer station. 
These permits are located across the Forest and are administered by 
five ranger districts.
    The State Constitution requires the State to reserve mineral rights 
in an exchange of School Trust lands. (Minn. Const. Art. XI Section 
10.) The United States would reserve mineral rights on the 150 parcels 
where federal minerals occur.

Preliminary Issues

    Consideration of issues raised in scoping comments will be 
documented in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Possible Alternatives

    Consideration of alternatives raised in scoping comments will be 
documented in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Responsible Official

    Forest Supervisor, Superior National Forest.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made is whether to exchange federal lands of 
equal value from a pool of approximately 39,075 acres for approximately 
30,000 acres of State lands. The decision will include:
    1. What actions would be used to address the purpose and need;
    2. Where and when those actions would take place;
    3. Any other actions that would be required.

Scoping Process

    In February 2015, a scoping process for this project was initiated 
by the Forest Supervisor. The scoping period lasted until May 15, 2015 
and included notification to a wide range of interested persons, 
adjacent landowners, state, local and tribal government, and 
organizations. In addition, five open houses were held in the project 
area and Saint Paul, MN. Over 1,600 comment letters were received from 
interested persons, adjacent landowners, state, local and tribal 
government, and organizations. Upon review of scoping comments, the 
Forest Supervisor decided to prepare an EIS.
    While further scoping comments will be accepted, it is anticipated 
that the scoping comments already received have thoroughly described 
the range of issues of interest to the public, agencies, organizations 
and governments. Scoping comments already received during the February-
May 2015 scoping period are being considered, are part of the project 
record, and will provide standing to object per requirements of 36 CFR 
218.
    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

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considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide the Agency 
with the ability to provide the respondsent with notification of 
subsequent environmental documents.
    The School Trust Land Exchange decision is subject to objections 
following Forest Service regulations at 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and B. 
Only individuals or organizations who submit timely and specific 
written comments as defined at 36 CFR 218.2 regarding the proposed 
project during a public comment period established by the Responsible 
Official are eligible to file an objection to the School Trust Land 
Exchange. Scoping comments already received during the February-May 
2015 scoping period provide commenters with standing to object per 
requirements of 36 CFR 218.2. The opportunity to object will be 
provided when a draft decision on the project is published.

    Dated: August 10, 2015.
Brenda Halter,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2015-20834 Filed 8-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-11-P