[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46701-46702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20045]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Madison Ranger District;
Montana; Strawberry to Cascade Allotment Management Plans
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service will
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Strawberry to
Cascade allotment management plans (AMPs). The proposed project would
revise grazing management on the Barnett, Black Butte, Coal Creek,
Cottonwood, Fossil-Hellroaring, Lyon-Wolverine, Poison Basin, and Upper
Ruby allotments (sheep grazing portions) in the Gravelly Mountain Range
on the Madison Ranger District of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National
Forest (B-D NF).
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by October 15, 2018. The draft EIS is expected to be published March
2019
[[Page 46702]]
and the final EIS is expected to be published October 2019.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Dale Olson, District Ranger,
Madison Ranger District, 5 Forest Service Road, Ennis, MT 59729.
Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected] or via facsimile to 406-682-4233. For all forms of
comment, make sure to include your name, physical address, phone
number, and a subject title of ``Strawberry to Cascade AMPs.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale Olson, District Ranger, Madison
Ranger District, 5 Forest Service Road, Ennis, MT 59729. Phone: 406-
682-4253. 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
The purpose and need for this EIS is to revise grazing management,
as necessary, on the Barnett, Black Butte, Coal Creek, Cottonwood,
Fossil-Hellroaring, Lyon-Wolverine, Poison Basin, and Upper Ruby
allotments sheep grazing portions to ensure consistency with all law,
regulation and policy, including direction from the Rescissions Act of
1995 [Pub. L. 104-19]. Section 504(a) of the Rescissions Act; and, the
2004 Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-108) Section 325, require the
Secretary of Agriculture to schedule when national forests will
complete environmental analysis and documentation required under the
National Environmental Policy Act for all grazing allotments.
Proposed Action
The proposed action would authorize domestic livestock (sheep)
grazing on eight allotments and proposes no change to existing grazing
management.
Possible Alternatives
A `no grazing' alternative will be analyzed in detail in addition
to the proposed action.
Responsible Official
The responsible official will be the Madison District Ranger.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The decision to be made is whether or not to implement the proposed
action, another alternative, or a combination of the alternatives.
Preliminary Issues
Issues of concern are the effects of domestic sheep grazing on the
wild Bighorn Sheep populations found on the B-D NF. There is concern
that domestic sheep grazing is a disease transmission risk to the wild
Bighorn sheep. Additional issues will be identified through scoping.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments in a manner
that are useful to the agency's preparation of the environmental impact
statement. 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.
Dated: August 23, 2018.
Chris French,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-20045 Filed 9-13-18; 8:45 am]
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