[Federal Register: October 28, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 209)]
[Notices]
[Page 63942]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28oc08-31]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 63942]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Superior National Forest, LaCroix and Kawishiwi Ranger Districts;
Minnesota; Echo Trail Area Forest Management Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a supplement to the Final
Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: The Superior National Forest will prepare a supplement to the
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Echo Trail Area
Forest Management Project. The supplement will address water quality
and watershed health conditions potentially affected by the project.
The project is located on the LaCroix Ranger District, Cook, Minnesota,
and Kawishiwi Ranger District, Ely, Minnesota.
DATES: A 45-day comment period will be provided for the draft
supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement. The draft
supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected
during the fall 2008 or winter of 2008-2009 and the final Supplement to
the Final Environmental Impact Statement is expected during the spring
of 2009.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Nancy S. Larson, LaCroix District
Ranger, Echo Trail SEIS, 320 Hwy 53 North, Cook, MN 55723. Send
electronic comments to comments-eastern-superior-la_-croix@fs.fed.us
and fax comments to (218) 666-0022.
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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Booth, Project Coordinator, 320
Hwy 53 North, Cook, MN 55723; telephone (218) 666-0020.
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:
Background
The supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement will
address issues raised in the Memorandum Opinion and Order for Sierra
Club, et al. v. Kimbell (Case No. 07-3160) issued September 15, 2008 by
the United States District Court, District of Minnesota. The opinion
vacated the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EEIS) and required
that it be amended to further address water quality and watershed
health. The original FEIS and Record of Decision (ROD) are available on
the Superior National Forest Web site (http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/
superior/projects) or by calling the Project Coordinator.
The Echo Trail Area Forest Management Project is intended to
implement the 2004 Superior National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan by moving the project area toward desired conditions
for vegetation and landscape ecosystems, including, for example, forest
age class, vegetation composition, tree species and structure
diversity. The proposed action and alternatives include a range of
forest vegetation and transportation system management options to
address significant issues, which include impacts to wildlife habitat,
roadless areas and recreation in and outside the Boundary Waters Canoe
Area Wilderness.
The purpose and need for action, proposed action, issues,
alternatives, effects and nature of the decision are fully described in
the original FETS and ROD.
Responsible Officials
Nancy S. Larson, LaCroix District Ranger, 320 Hwy 53 North, Cook,
MN 55723, and Mark E. VanEvery, Kawishiwi District Ranger, 1393 Highway
169, Ely, MN 55731.
Scoping Process
Scoping for the Echo Trail Area Forest Management Project was
conducted as described in section 1.10 of the Echo Trail Area Forest
Management Project FEIS. Scoping need not be repeated for a supplement
to the FEIS (see 40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4)). Comments on the draft supplement
to the Final Environmental Impact Statement will be solicited as
described below in Comment Requested.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the process which guides
development of a Supplement to the Echo Trail Area Forest Management
Project Final Environmental Impact Statement. Written comments will be
solicited through notification of individuals, organizations and
agencies on the mailing list for the original FEIS.
A draft supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement will
be prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft supplement
will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of
the supplement to the FEIS.
Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's concerns
and contentions. The submission of timely and specific comments can
affect a reviewer's ability to participate in subsequent administrative
or judicial review.
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, anonymous comments will not provide
the respondent with standing to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review.
Date: October 21, 2008.
Nancy S. Larson,
LaCroix District Ranger.
Dated: October 21, 2008.
Mark E. Vanevery,
Kawishiwi District Ranger.
[FR Doc. E8-25594 Filed 10-27-08; 8:45 am]
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