[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16240-16241]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07809]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National 
Grassland; WY; Thunder Basin National Grassland Plan Amendment

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Thunder Basin National Grassland (Grassland) will prepare 
an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the 2020 Thunder Basin 
National Grassland Plan Amendment. The Grassland proposes to amend 
prairie dog management direction in the Land and Resource Management 
Plan, including changes to management area boundaries and changes to 
grassland-wide, geographic area, and management area plan components 
that pertain to prairie dogs, short-stature prairie habitat, and 
associated species management.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by May 20, 2019. The Draft EIS is expected in October 2019, and the 
Final EIS is expected May 2020.

ADDRESSES: Please submit comments via one of the following methods:
    1. Public participation portal (preferred): https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=55479.
    2. Mail: Thunder Basin Plan Amendment Comments, Thunder Basin 
National Grassland Supervisor's Office, 2468 Jackson St., Laramie, WY 
82070.
    All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are 
placed in the record and are available for public inspection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monique Nelson at 307-275-0956 or 
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: The Forest Service proposes to amend the 
Thunder Basin National Grassland Land and Resource Management Plan. 
Substantive requirements of the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219) that 
are likely to be directly related and therefore applicable to the 
amendment are 219.8(a) and (b), ecological and social and economic 
sustainability; 219.9, diversity of plant and animal communities; and 
219.10(a), integrated resource management for ecosystem services and 
multiple use.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of this project is to amend the Thunder Basin National 
Grassland Land and Resource Management Plan to better balance prairie 
dog colony conservation and control with other Grassland uses. 
Specifically, an amendment is needed to:
     Refocus management in Management Area 3.63, ``Black-footed 
ferret reintroduction Habitat,'' to emphasize rangelands with short-
stature vegetation that provide for multiple uses, including providing 
habitat for prairie dogs and associated species and providing livestock 
forage.
     Delineate more logical boundaries for Management Area 
3.63, for example by strategically using natural topographic and 
hydrologic barriers and incorporating boundary management zones.
     Increase the availability of management options for 
prairie dog colony conservation and control, including allowing lethal 
prairie dog control within Management Area 3.63.
     More effectively manage prairie dog colony encroachment 
from the National Grassland onto private and state land. Encroachment 
concerns include public health, agricultural production, and land 
values.
     Align with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department ``Wyoming 
Black-footed Ferret Management Plan'' (2018).
     Ensure management direction identifies habitat 
requirements needed to support viable populations of prairie dogs and 
associated species, such as mountain plover, burrowing owl, and swift 
fox, and that management would not preclude future reintroduction of 
black-footed ferret.

[[Page 16241]]

     Enhance engagement with partners for collaborative 
implementation of new plan direction.

Proposed Action

    A collaborative stakeholder group led by the Wyoming Department of 
Agriculture worked for several months in 2018 to develop 
recommendations for a proposed action. To meet the needs identified 
above and based on the recommendations of the collaborative workgroup, 
the Thunder Basin National Grassland proposes the following:
    1. Change the existing Thunder Basin National Grassland Management 
Area 3.63, ``Black-footed Ferret Reintroduction Habitat,'' to a new 
Management Area 3.67, ``Rangelands with Short-stature Vegetation 
Emphasis.''
    2. Draw the boundaries for Management Area 3.67 to strategically 
use natural barriers to prairie dog movement such as the Cheyenne River 
and Rochelle Hills and to reduce conflicts in prairie dog management.
    3. Eliminate use of the Black-tailed Prairie Dog Conservation 
Assessment and Management Strategy for the Thunder Basin National 
Grassland (2009, 2015), and amend the Thunder Basin National Grassland 
Land and Resource Management Plan to include all necessary direction 
for prairie dog management.
    4. Establish a minimum \1/4\ mile boundary management zone in 
Management Area 3.67 where the Grassland shares a border with private 
or State property, and allow landowners to request up to a \3/4\ mile 
boundary management zone for special circumstances. Within boundary 
management zones, lethal control of prairie dogs in cooperation with 
other landowners will be the priority.
    5. Where possible, adopt use of the Natural Resources Conservation 
Service's Ecological Site Descriptions in Management Area 3.67 as the 
basis to describe plant communities, evaluate current and desired 
conditions, and maintain or improve native vegetation and wildlife 
habitat.
    6. Within Management Area 3.67, manage active prairie dog colonies 
toward a target of 10,000 acres to support viable populations of 
associated species such as mountain plover, burrowing owl, and swift 
fox. Colonies would be distributed across the landscape and vary in 
size up to approximately 1,000 acres with an emphasis on colonies of 
100 to 400 acres. At least one complex in Management Area 3.67 would be 
managed for at least 1,500 acres of active prairie dog colonies.
    7. Allow use of a suite of tools for prairie dog management 
throughout Management Area 3.67, including but not limited to 
translocation, application of Deltamethrin (i.e., ``Delta dust'' or 
equivalent), fences, vegetative barriers, and rodenticides. Do not 
allow use of anticoagulant rodenticides.
    8. Allow recreational shooting in Management Area 3.67 with 
seasonal restrictions in place when necessary.
    9. Consider recommendations for prairie dog management from a 
third-party collaborative stakeholder group.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Forest Service will be the lead agency. The Wyoming Department 
of Agriculture, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Campbell County, 
Converse County, and Weston County have been identified as formal 
cooperating agencies at this time. Other federal, State, and local 
agencies; tribes; and other stakeholders that are interested in or 
affected by the proposed action are invited to participate in the 
scoping process. If eligible, they may request or be asked by the 
Forest Service to participate in the environmental analysis process as 
a cooperating agency.

Responsible Official

    Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National 
Grassland Supervisor Russell Bacon.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The responsible official will decide: (1) Whether or not to 
implement the plan amendment as described in the proposed action, (2) 
whether or not to implement the plan amendment as described in a future 
alternative analyzed in detail, (3) whether or not to implement a 
combination of alternatives analyzed in detail, (4) whether or not to 
adopt amended grassland-wide, geographic area, and management area 
direction consistent with the selected alternative(s), and (5) whether 
to take no action.

Scoping Process

    This Notice of Intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. The Forest 
Service is seeking information, comments, and assistance from Tribal 
Governments; Federal, State, and local agencies; and individuals and 
organizations interested in or affected. During the weeks of May 6 or 
May 13, 2019, the Forest Service will host one public meeting in 
Douglas, WY and one online publc webinar. Information about public 
meetings is posted online with a scoping document that includes 
detailed information on the proposed action, maps, and proposed amended 
plan direction (e.g., desired conditions, objectives, standards, and 
guidelines) at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=55479. Individuals may also provide 
comments and sign up to be on the electronic mailing list at that site.
    Comments that address specific environmental impacts that are of 
concern or modifications to the proposal will be most useful in the 
development of the environmental impact statement and plan amendment. 
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.
    The decision on this proposed plan amendment will be subject to the 
objection process for the planning process (36 CFR part 219, subpart 
B). Only those individuals and entities who submit substantive formal 
comments related to this proposed plan amendment during the 
opportunities for public comment as provided in 36 CFR part 219, 
subpart A may file an objection. The burden is on the objector to 
demonstrate compliance with requirements for objection (36 CFR 219.53).
    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.

    Dated: March 22, 2019.
Allen Rowley,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2019-07809 Filed 4-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P