[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 215 (Wednesday, November 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59765-59767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24222]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Caribou-Targhee National Forest; Idaho; Caribou-Targhee National 
Forest and Curlew National Grassland Integrated Weed Management 
Analysis

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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

SUMMARY: The Caribou-Targhee National Forest will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for invasive plant management. 
Invasive plants are a major threat to the biological diversity and 
ecological integrity within and outside the Caribou-Targhee National 
Forest and the Curlew National Grassland (Forests). The Forests propose 
to implement adaptive and integrated invasive plan management on 
current and potential infested areas forest-wide. A clear and 
comprehensive integrated invasive plant management strategy would allow 
for the implementation of timely and effective invasive plant 
management and prevention projects and programs on the Forests. In the 
absence of an aggressive invasive plant management program, the number, 
density, and distribution of invasive plants on both Forests is 
expected to increase.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by December 23, 2019. The draft EIS is expected in May 2020 and the 
final EIS is expected in November 2020.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Caribou-Targhee National Forest, 
1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401. Comments may also be sent 
via email to [email protected] or via 
facsimile to (208) 557-5827.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heidi Heyrend at (208) 557-5791 or 
[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: Invasive plants create many adverse 
environmental effects, including, but not limited to: Displacement of 
native plants; reduction in functionality of habitat for wildlife; loss 
of threatened, endangered, and sensitive species; increased soil 
erosion and reduced water quality; alteration of physical and 
biological properties of soil, including reduced soil productivity; 
changes to the intensity and frequency of fires, and loss of 
recreational opportunities. Within the 2.9 million acres of the 
Caribou-Targhee National Forest and Curlew National Grassland, less 
than two percent are 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 Forests, degrading desired plant 
communities

[[Page 59766]]

and the values provided by those communities. Forest lands are also 
threatened by invasive plants that have not been found on the Forests 
but are known to occur on adjacent lands. Infestations can be 
prevented, eliminated, or controlled through the use of specific 
management practices.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The overall purpose of the proposed action is to reduce the 
negative effects of invasive plants on the structure and function of 
native plant communities and on other natural resource values. The 
proposal is in response to an underlying need to implement policy and 
direction provided at the national, regional, state, and forest levels 
(Executive Order 13112--Invasive Species, 2004 National Invasive 
Species Strategy and Implementation Plan, 2008-2012 National Invasive 
Species Management Plan, 2009 Intermountain Region Invasive Species 
Management Strategy, 2005 Idaho Strategic Plan for Managing Noxious and 
Invasive Weeds, and the amended Land and Resource Management Plans for 
the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and Curlew National Grassland).
    The need for the proposed action is multifaceted. Forest resources 
are negatively impacted by existing and expanding invasive plant 
species populations. These species are known to out-compete native 
plants, which can result in reduced productivity and biodiversity, 
habitat loss, and associated economic impacts. A timely response to new 
infestations, new invasive plant species, and landscape scale 
disturbances is needed. On the Forests, landscape-level tree mortality 
and disturbance from insects and wildfires have increased and are 
likely to continue to increase the potential for invasive plant 
infestations.
    Existing decisions for invasive plant management on the Forests do 
not address new species or provide priorities for managing new 
infestations. Updating these decisions would allow the Forests to 
satisfy the need to incorporate early detection and rapid response into 
the invasive plant management program. Invasive plant infestations 
already exist throughout the Forests and without management will likely 
increase in density and distribution. Active and adaptive integrated 
management is necessary to contain invasive plants within existing 
boundaries, reduce infestation densities, and retard the establishment 
of new infestations. Control efforts would 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 that 
have the best likelihood of success of control. New analysis and 
planning is needed to make available the most current tools and guide 
their best use.
    Rehabilitation of degraded landscapes 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.

Proposed Action

    The Forests propose to implement adaptive and integrated invasive 
plant management on current and potential infested areas forest-wide, 
including the Jedidiah Smith Wilderness Area and the Winegar Hole 
Wilderness Area. Management activities would include inventory and 
assessment designed to support early detection and rapid response, 
control methods, implementation and effectiveness monitoring, and 
rehabilitation.
    Activities would be implemented with federal, state, and local 
partners where opportunities exist. 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 proposed action includes the use of ground-based and aerial 
herbicide applications, manual and mechanical treatments, aquatic 
treatments, biological treatments, and combinations of these 
treatments. 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, mechanical techniques, 
such as mowing and pulling; cultural practices, such as the use of 
certified noxious weed-free hay; biological control agents, such as 
pathogens, insects, and controlled grazing; and herbicides that target 
specific invasive plant species. Control methods could be employed 
alone or in combination. Treatment methods would be based on the 
extent, location, type, and character of an infestation and would be 
implemented using project design features. Management priority would be 
based on factors such as number and size of known infestations, 
proximity to vectors or susceptible habitat, and ability to outcompete 
desirable plant species. The priority of species to be treated would 
vary based on these factors and could change over time. These 
priorities would be used to guide selection of specific management 
activities for particular infestations.
    Rehabilitation activities would be designed and implemented based 
on the conditions found in and around infested areas. Both active 
revegetation and passive revegetation (allowing plants on site to fill 
in a treated area) would be considered. Rehabilitation techniques would 
be assessed and implemented in order to promote native plant 
communities that are resistant to infestation by invasive plants.

Possible Alternatives

    The No Action/Current Management Alternative would continue current 
weed management programs, treatments, and levels of effort for 
controlling weeds on both Forests. Because of limited ability to 
respond rapidly to new treatment areas and updated methods, it is 
anticipated that continuation of the current weed treatment program 
would not keep pace with the spread of weeds on both Forests. New weed 
invaders would continue to establish populations that would likely 
increase in size. Under this Alternative, it would likely not be 
possible to be consistent with management direction in all of the 
management areas on both Forests or to implement effectiveness 
monitoring and adaptive management as prescribed in the amended Land 
and Resource Management Plans.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official will be the Forest Supervisor for the 
Caribou-Targhee National Forest and the Curlew National Grassland.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The responsible official will decide whether or not to treat 
invasive plants on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and the Curlew 
National Grassland, including the Jedidiah Smith Wilderness Area 
(123,451 acres) and the Winegar Hole Wilderness Area (10,721 acres), 
and if so, what methods and treatments will be used.

Permits or Licenses Required

    Applicators must be licensed Idaho professional herbicide 
applicators per Idaho Department of Agriculture Rules Governing 
Pesticide Use and Application (Idaho Code Sec.  22-3404).

[[Page 59767]]

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the EIS. Comments that would be most useful are 
those concerning developing or refining the proposed action, and in 
particular, are site-specific concerns and those 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. 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 for this project will be subject to the objection 
process at 36 CFR 218 subparts A and B. Only individuals or entities 
who submit timely and specific written comments concerning the project 
during this or another designated public comment period established by 
the responsible official will be eligible to file on objection.

    Dated: October 16, 2019.
Allen Rowley,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2019-24222 Filed 11-5-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P