[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 15 (Monday, January 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 4088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1333]
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Notices
Federal Register
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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
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 15 / Monday, January 24, 2011 /
Notices
[[Page 4088]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: The Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Sheep Experiment
Station (USSES), Dubois, Idaho is proposing sheep grazing and
associated activities to achieve its research goals and objectives (to
develop integrated methods for increasing production efficiency of
sheep and to simultaneously improve the sustainability of rangeland
ecosystems).
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by March 10, 2011. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
June 2011 and the final environmental impact statement is expected
March 2012.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Dr. Andrew C. Hammond,
Director, USDA, ARS, Pacific West Area, ATTN: USSES Grazing Project
2010 Scoping. E-mail comments to: [email protected] (preferred). Written
comments may be sent to: 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sue Wingate at [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:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of the proposed action is to achieve the research goals
and objectives (to develop integrated methods for increasing production
efficiency of sheep and simultaneously to improve the sustainability of
rangeland ecosystems) of the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Sheep
Experiment Station in Dubois, Idaho.
Proposed Action/No New Action Alternative
To achieve those goals and objectives, the Sheep Station is
proposing to continue historic (approximately 92 years) sheep grazing
and associated activities currently occurring on Agricultural Research
Service lands, U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management
allotments, and a Department of Energy feed lot. The proposed action
would maintain the status quo and would be considered a ``no new
federal action'' alternative.
In addition to grazing sheep on an annual rotation across
Agricultural Research Service lands at the U.S. Sheep Experiment
Station in Dubois, Idaho and nearby Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management allotments, the following activities would occur:
Sheep trail and driveway use and maintenance.
Maintenance and continuation of stock water operations.
Camp tending--use of sheep herder camps and summer range
camps.
Maintenance and repair of existing permanent fence.
Maintenance and repair of existing roads and fire breaks.
Range improvement--prescribed burning and seeding.
Cattle and horse grazing.
Predator avoidance and abatement.
Integrated pest management for noxious weeds.
Detailed information can be found in the Scoping Information document
posted on the ARS Web site at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=53-64-00-00 under ``News and Events''.
Possible Alternatives
Four alternatives to the proposed action may be considered:
No grazing. Under this alternative no grazing would occur;
any sheep kept by the Station would be permanently housed at the
Department of Energy feed lot.
No grazing would occur on the East Summer, West Summer,
and Humphrey Pastures as well as on the following Forest Service
allotments: East Beaver and Meyers Creek.
No grazing would occur on the East Summer Range as well as
on the Forest Service Meyers Creek allotment.
No grazing would occur on the Forest Service Snakey and
Kelly allotments and the Bureau of Land Management Bernice allotment.
Responsible Official
Andrew C. Hammond, Agricultural Research Service Pacific West Area
Director.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
With respect to the operations at the Agricultural Research Service
U.S. Sheep Experiment Station, Dubois, Idaho, the responsible official
will determine:
Which actions, if any, will be approved, and
What additional mitigation measures and monitoring
requirements may be needed to protect resources.
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 at such times
and in such a way 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. The submission of timely and specific
comments can affect a reviewer's ability to participate in subsequent
judicial review.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will become 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.
Dated: November 22, 2010.
Edward B. Knipling,
Administrator, ARS.
[FR Doc. 2011-1333 Filed 1-21-11; 8:45 am]
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