[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 42 (Friday, March 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8963-8965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04306]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; Nevada; Humboldt-Toiyabe 
Integrated Invasive Plant Treatment Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is preparing an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the effects of 
controlling and eradicating non-native invasive plants and restoring 
native vegetation on national forest lands in Nevada. The EIS will 
analyze actions to be implemented on known infested areas, as well as 
on infested areas that may be discovered over the next 15 years using a 
variety of tools, methods, and products.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
in writing by April 16, 2018. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
is expected in September 2018, and the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement is expected in May 2019.

ADDRESSES: Electronic comments are encouraged. Electronic comments 
should be submitted through the comment section at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53031. Mail comments to Humboldt-
Toiyabe National Forest: Attn: Integrated Invasive Plant Treatment EIS, 
1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, Nevada 89431.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information concerning 
this project, please contact James Winfrey, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, at 775-355-5308 or [email protected]. 
Information about

[[Page 8964]]

this EIS will be posted on the internet at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53031. This website will be used to post all public 
documents during the environmental review process and announce 
opportunities for public participation and comment.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Invasive plants have been identified as a 
major threat to the biological diversity and ecological integrity in 
and near the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (HTNF). Invasive plants 
displace native plants; reduce habitat and forage for wildlife and 
livestock; diminish populations of threatened, endangered, and 
sensitive species; alter soil properties and productivity; change the 
intensity and frequency of wildfires; and impact recreation 
opportunities.
    The HTNF encompasses approximately 5.6 million acres across the 
state of Nevada, with land in Carson, Clark, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, 
Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Washoe, and White Pine 
counties. There are approximately 28,500 acres identified as being 
infested with invasive, non-native, and/or State-listed noxious weeds. 
These invasive plant infestations have a high potential to expand on 
lands within and adjacent to the HTNF, degrading desired plant 
communities and the values provided by those communities.
    Forestlands are also threatened by ``potential invaders,'' invasive 
plants that have not been found on the HTNF but are known to occur in 
adjacent lands, counties, or states. Infestations can be controlled and 
eradicated, and native vegetation can be restored, through the use of 
specific management practices. A clear and comprehensive integrated 
invasive plan management strategy would allow for the implementation of 
timely and effective invasive plant management and prevention for 
projects and programs on the HTNF. In the absence of an aggressive 
invasive plant management program, the number, density, and 
distribution of invasive plants on the forest will continue to 
increase.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of this analysis is to update current management to 
provide for integrated and timely management of invasive species, now 
and in the future, with the goal of promoting healthy and thriving 
native plant communities across the HTNF. The proposal is in response 
to an underlying need to implement management direction as described in 
the Regulatory Framework section below.
    The need for comprehensive and aggressive management of invasive 
plant species is multifaceted:
    Invasive plants are diminishing the natural resource values of the 
forest: Forest resources are negatively impacted by existing and 
expanding invasive plant infestations. Invasive species are known to 
out-compete native plants, which can reduce productivity and 
biodiversity, cause habitat loss, and have economic impacts.
    There must be a timely response to new infestations, new invasive 
plant species, and landscape-scale disturbances: On the HTNF, invasive 
plants are spread by use of transportation systems, livestock grazing, 
and off-road fire suppression activities. They are also spread by wild 
animals, wind, and water. Wildland fires are frequent on HTNF lands, 
and afterwards the burned areas typically become more densely infested 
with invasive plants such as cheatgrass and non-native thistles. The 
forest needs the flexibility to treat expanded and/or newly identified 
infestations in a timely manner, based on local site conditions and 
identified Forest priorities.
    Existing and future invasive plant populations in the HTNF require 
active and adaptive management: Invasive plant infestations already 
exist throughout the HTNF, and without management they will increase in 
density and distribution. Active and adaptive integrated pest 
management is necessary to contain invasive plants within existing 
boundaries, reduce infestation densities, and retard the establishment 
of new infestations. Control efforts should be focused on infestations 
that can realize the greatest resource benefits: those with the highest 
risk of spread, those that have not become established, and those with 
the best likelihood of control success.
    Rehabilitation and restoration of infested areas can inhibit the 
spread and establishment of invasive plants: Appropriate rehabilitation 
efforts are a critical component of a fully functional invasive plant 
management program. The goals of rehabilitating degraded areas may 
include preventing new infestations, preventing the reoccurrence of 
eradicated infestations, and/or reducing the density and spread of 
existing infestations. Post-fire rehabilitation efforts may incorporate 
one or more of the established control techniques outlined in the 
proposed action.
    Federal, State, and Forest Service laws, regulation, policy and 
direction relating to invasive plant management must be implemented and 
followed: Implementing invasive species laws and policies requires 
aggressive invasive plant management. This analysis would identify the 
strategies that the HTNF would use to comply with laws and policies 
pertaining to invasive plant management.

Proposed Action

    The HTNF proposes to implement adaptive and integrated invasive 
plant treatments on current and future infested areas using tools and 
products currently available, and those that may become available in 
the next 15 years. Activities would be implemented with partners at the 
federal, state, and local level where opportunities exist. To provide 
for ``Early Detection Rapid Response'' (EDRR), the Forest would design 
a plan that allows treatment of invasive plant infestations located 
outside of currently identified infested areas. Infestations outside of 
currently identified areas may include new sites that arise in the 
future, or sites that currently exist, but have not been identified in 
Forest inventories to date. The intent of EDRR is to allow timely 
control, so that new infestations can be treated when they are small, 
preventing establishment and spread, while reducing the costs and 
potential side effects of treatment.
    Proposed control methods would be based on integrated pest 
management principles and methods known to be effective for each target 
species. They include, but are not limited to, manual mechanical 
techniques, such as mowing and pulling; biological control agents, such 
as pathogens, insects, and controlled grazing; prescribed fire; and 
herbicides (including aerial and ground-based application methods) that 
target specific invasive plant species. Restoration actions include 
planting, seeding, and fertilizing using a variety of equipment and 
methods. Control, eradication, and restoration methods could be 
employed alone or in combination to achieve the most effective results. 
Treatments over a number of years may be necessary to achieve control, 
eradication, and restoration goals.
    Treatment methods would be based on the extent, location, type, and 
character of an infestation and would be implemented using project 
design features developed to reduce or eliminate potential adverse 
effects.
    Restoration activities would be designed and implemented based on 
the conditions found in and around infested areas. Both active and 
passive (allowing plants on site to fill in a treated area) 
revegetation would be considered. Restoration techniques would be 
assessed and implemented in order to

[[Page 8965]]

promote native plant communities that are resistant to infestation by 
invasive plants.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Forest Service will be the lead federal agency in accordance 
with 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1501.5(b) and is responsible 
for the preparation of the EIS. The Forest Service is in the process of 
inviting other federal, state, and local agencies to participate as 
cooperating agencies. At this time, these include the Bureau of Land 
Management, Natural Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Nevada Departments of Wildlife, Nevada Department of 
Agriculture and local Conservation Districts. Scoping will determine if 
any other cooperating agencies are needed.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for this EIS is William A. Dunkelberger, 
Forest Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Supervisor's 
Office, 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, Nevada 89431.

Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Supervisor will decide whether to treat invasive plants 
and conduct restoration activities on the Nevada portion of the HTNF, 
and if so, what methods and strategies (including adaptive management 
and EDRR) will be used to contain, control, or eradicate invasive 
plants.

Permits or Licenses Required

    A permit from the State of Nevada would be required prior to use of 
prescribed fire. Pesticide applicators would be certified as required 
by the Nevada Department of Agriculture, and all other permits required 
by regulatory agencies would be obtained prior to implementation.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the EIS. The Forest Service will be seeking 
information, comments, and assistance from federal, state, and local 
agencies, American Indian Tribes, as well as other individuals and 
organizations that may be interested in, or affected by, the proposed 
project. Comments on the proposed project should be in writing and 
should be specific to the proposed action, describing as clearly and 
completely as possible any issues or concerns the commenter has with 
the proposal. Comments received, including the names and addresses of 
those who comment, will become part of the public record for this EIS, 
and will be available on request for public inspection (see 40 CFR 
1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 21). For 
full consideration, scientific articles or other items cited in support 
of comments should be submitted in their entirety by the commenter. 
Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; 
however, anonymous comments will not provide the Agency with the 
ability to provide the respondent with subsequent environmental 
documents.
    Comments that would be most useful are those concerning developing 
or refining the proposed action, site specific concerns, and those 
concerns that can help us develop treatments that would be responsive 
to our goal to control, contain, or eradicate invasive plants.
    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 EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of 
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's 
concerns and contentions. Public meetings are anticipated to be held 
following publication of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

    Dated: January 9, 2018.
Chris French,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-04306 Filed 3-1-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P