[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 230 (Tuesday, December 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75045-75046]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30371]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest and Ashley National Forest; 
Utah; High Uintas Wilderness Domestic Sheep Analysis

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: In 2007, the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, now the Uinta-
Wasatch-Cache National Forest (UWCNF), along with other forests in the 
Nation issued a number of decisions reissuing term grazing permits on 
range allotments using a provisional categorical exclusion (CE) 
authorized by Congress. In 2010, the United States Forest Service was 
sued for authorizing grazing on allotments using this CE authority. In 
December 2013, the Intermountain Region and the United States District 
Court for the District Court of Idaho agreed to the Range CE settlement 
agreement. This agreement stipulated that the UWCNF would issue a 
scoping notice by May 2014 on five domestic sheep allotments.
    These were Gilbert Peak, Hessie Lake-Henry's Fork, Red Castle, East 
Fork Blacks Fork, and the Middle Fork Blacks Fork allotments. In 
reviewing the management of these domestic sheep allotments it became 
apparent that the effects of grazing had to be considered for both the 
north and south slope of the Uinta Mountains because sheep trailed from 
the north slope of the Uinta Mountains to the south slope for the 
summer grazing season. Therefore, the analysis was then extended to 
include the Painter Basin, Tungsten, Oweep, Ottoson Basin, and Fall 
Creek sheep allotments on the Ashley National Forest, which are some of 
the domestic sheep allotments on the south slope of the Uinta 
Mountains.
    Since 2007, various species of terrestrial and aquatic animals as 
well as plants have been added to or removed from the Regional 
Forester's Sensitive Species (RFSS) list. The RFSS will be analyzed as 
part of the EIS.
    In May of 2014, scoping was initiated for this project; at that 
time, it was anticipated that the project would be completed as an 
Environmental Assessment. Since then, it has become apparent that there 
is a potential for significant impacts and that an Environmental Impact 
Statement is needed. This project will evaluate the effects of 
continued domestic sheep grazing on these 10 allotments. These 10 sheep 
allotments located on the north and south slopes of the Uinta Mountains 
and are located in the Ashley or Uinta-Wasatch-Cache NFs.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by December 31, 2015. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected around November, 2016 and the final environmental impact 
statement is expected around October, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to David Whittekiend, Uinta-Wasatch-
Cache National Forest Supervisor at 857 West South Jordan Parkway, 
South Jordan, UT 84095. Comments may also be sent via email to 
[email protected] or [email protected], 
or via facsimile to 801-253-8118.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Cowley, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, at the Uinta-Wasatch Cache Supervisor's Office (telephone: 801-
999-2177; email: [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:

Purpose and Need for Action

    In response to the requirements of the 2013 settlement, the UWC is 
required to reassess the effects of domestic sheep grazing on the 
Gilbert Peak, Hessie Lake-Henry's Fork, Red Castle, East Fork Blacks 
Fork, and the Middle Fork Blacks Fork allotments. As such there is a 
need to respond to the requirements of the 2013 settlement. Since the 
Ashley NF neighbors those allotments to the south (Painter Basin, 
Tungsten, Oweep, Ottoson Basin, and Fall Creek), and domestic sheep 
utilize both the north and south slopes of the High Uintas, it was 
determined that an analysis of all 10 allotments was needed.
    With the addition of new species to the RFSS,\1\ the Forest Service 
must design and manage projects when they are initiated and implemented 
to account for impacts to those species.\2\

[[Page 75046]]

As such there is a need to evaluate and better understand the impacts 
of sheep grazing on recently designated RFSS. There is also a need to 
better understand the effects of domestic sheep grazing on the 
surrounding physical environment and the social environment. The 
overall purpose of this project is to evaluate the effects of domestic 
sheep grazing in these allotments and determine the impacts on the 
physical and social aspects of the project area.
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    \1\ RFSS are ``those plant and animal species identified by a 
regional forester for which population viability is a concern . . 
.'' (FSM 2670.5).
    \2\ Forest Service Manual 2670.32 required that the Forests 
``Avoid or minimize impacts to species whose viability has been 
identified as a concern.'' The Forests are also required to 
``Analyze, if impacts cannot be avoided, the significance of 
potential adverse effects on the population or its habitat within 
the area of concern and on the species as a whole. (The line 
officer, with project approval authority, makes the decision to 
allow or disallow impact, but the decision must not result in loss 
of species viability or create significant trends toward federal 
listing.)''
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Proposed Action

    The Forest Service will evaluate the 10 sheep allotments on the UWC 
and Ashley NFs: Those allotments are Gilbert Peak, Hessie Lake-Henry's 
Fork, Red Castle, East Fork Blacks Fork, and the Middle Fork Blacks 
Fork on the UWCNF, and Painter Basin, Tungsten, Oweep, Ottoson Basin, 
and Fall Creek on the Ashley NF.
    Based on current information both Forests are proposing to 
authorize grazing on five allotments on the UWCNF and five allotments 
on the Ashley NF. Livestock grazing would be authorized using Forest 
Plan direction to meet or move toward the desired conditions identified 
in the Forest Plans. The Forests are also proposing to continue to use 
the sheep driveway that allows for sheep that graze the listed 
allotments
    The project will evaluate multiple resources for impacts to include 
range, wilderness, recreation, hydrology, wildlife, fisheries and 
aquatic organisms, plants, soils, as well as potential impacts to 
economics and society.
    The project analysis area is located in Uinta County, Wyoming and 
Duchesne and Summit Counties, Utah on the Evanston-Mountain View and 
Duchesne/Roosevelt Ranger Districts. The project area is located 
approximately 40 miles north-northwest of Duchesne, Utah, and about 40 
miles southeast of Evanston, Wyoming. The project area encompasses 
about 160,000 acres and is located in the Uinta Mountains on both the 
north and south facing slopes of the central ridgeline.
    The Forest Service will begin the environmental analysis in 2015, 
and the project is anticipated to end in late 2017.

Possible Alternatives

    At this time, there are two alternatives that are being considered. 
The first is the proposed action described above. The second is the 
``No-Action'' alternative which would not authorize grazing on the 
allotments. During the course of the project analysis, it is possible 
additional alternatives will be analyzed that may result from public 
participation or from staff participation, or from both.

Responsible Official

    There are two Responsible Officials for this project: The Uinta 
Wasatch Cache Forest Supervisor and the Ashley Forest Supervisor.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made includes whether or not sheep grazing will 
continue on these allotments, and whether or not a site specific Forest 
Plan amendment could be needed.

Preliminary Issues

    Preliminary issues that have been identified include impacts to 
Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, wilderness, socioeconomics, recreation, 
soils, hydrology, and vegetation. Additional issues may arise from the 
public during the comment process.

Scoping Process

    Scoping for this project was initiated in May of 2014. At that time 
a scoping package was sent to interested parties, tribes, and 
organizations. The proposed action has not changed from that original 
scoping letter, with the exception that the Forests have decided to 
prepare an environmental impact statement instead of an environemental 
assessment.
    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. Following this 
Notice of Intent, it is anticipated that a second scoping letter 
describing the nature of the project will be sent to interested parties 
and organziations in the fall of 2015. There will also be opportunities 
to comment when the draft EIS is released. Additionally, public 
meetings are being considered as well, and would occur after a scoping 
letter was sent out.
    The Forest Service is looking for comments identifing issues or 
concerns with regards to sheep grazing on these allotments. Comments 
that clearly and concisely articulate a percieved problem, and how to 
find a solution to that problem are most helpful.
    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.

    November 20, 2015.
David C. Whittekiend,
Forest Supervisor, Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest,
    Dated: November 20, 2015.
John R. Erickson,
Forest Supervisor, Ashley National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2015-30371 Filed 11-30-15; 8:45 am]
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