[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 22075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9555]
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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
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 76 / Wednesday, April 20, 2011 /
Notices
[[Page 22075]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Divide Ranger District, Rio Grande National Forest; CO; Black
Mesa Vegetation Management Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Divide Ranger District, Rio Grande National Forest,
proposes to salvage timber stands killed or infested by spruce beetles;
reduce fuel loading, particularly adjacent to private lands; cut
potential hazard trees along private property, roads, and other
infrastructure; and regenerate forested acres, as needed, to move
toward the long-term desired conditions described in the Forest Plan.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by May 20, 2011. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
in March 2012 and the final environmental impact statement is expected
in July 2012.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Diana McGinn, Team Leader, San Luis
Valley Public Land Center, 1803 W. Hwy. 160, Monte Vista, CO 81144.
Comments may also be sent via e-mail to [email protected], or via facsimile to 719-852-6250, with subject
Black Mesa Vegetation Management Project Public Comment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diana McGinn at 719-852-6241 or visit
the Forest Web site http://www.fs.usda.gov/riogrande under ``Land &
Resource Management'', then ``Projects'' on the left side of the Web
page.
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 the Black Mesa Vegetation Management
Project is move toward achieving long-term desired conditions described
in the Forest Plan for this area following extensive tree mortality
caused by epidemic levels of spruce beetles. Actions taken to meet
these goals would include: (1) Harvesting dead and dying trees to
provide wood products, while reducing the continuous extent of large
fuels, particularly around private lands; and (2) removing trees that
create a potential safety hazard in areas of concentrated public use or
that have the potential to damage public or private property as they
fall.
Proposed Action
The Rio Grande National Forest proposes to harvest and regenerate
timber stands killed by or infested with spruce beetles in an area
located approximately 15 miles west of Creede, Colorado. The project
would use the existing transportation system except for the
construction of approximately 3.6 miles of new temporary road. All new
roads or other roads currently closed would be rehabilitated and closed
following use. Tree planting would follow harvest operations in areas
with inadequate existing regeneration or where aspen sprouting is
unlikely, in order to maintain diverse forest cover over the long-term.
Responsible Official
Divide District Ranger/Field Office Manager at 13308 W. Hwy. 160,
Del Norte, CO, 81132.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
An environmental impact statement (EIS) that discloses the
environmental consequences of implementing the proposed action and
alternatives to the proposed action, including No Action, will be
prepared. A separate Record of Decision (ROD) will explain the
Responsible Official's decision regarding whether or not to implement
some level of timber harvest and other proposed activities on all,
part, or none of the area analyzed, given the consideration of
multiple-use goals and objectives.
Preliminary Issues
The effect of proposed activities on habitat structural needs of
the local population of Canada Lynx, a Threatened species, and their
primary prey, the snowshoe hare.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. The Forest
invites public comment and participation for this project by
publication of this notice. Comments are also invited by: publication
in the quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA); public notice
regarding this project in the newspaper of record, the Valley Courier;
letters to potentially interested individuals, Tribal governments,
elected officials, and State and other Federal Agencies. One or more
scoping meetings with adjacent landowners and other interested
individuals or agencies will be scheduled individually and/or announced
in the Valley Courier. Information will also be posted on the Rio
Grande National Forest Web site as this project progresses. Comments
received during these scoping efforts will be considered in this EIS.
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 environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the scoping 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, and 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 Agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent
environmental documents.
Dated: April 13, 2011.
Thomas Malecek,
District Ranger/Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 2011-9555 Filed 4-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P