Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 130 / Monday, July 9, 2007 / Notices 37183 

Toiyabe National Forest Schedule of 

Proposed Actions since April of 2005. In 

2005 the Forest Service received 

scoping responses, including letters 

from the Nevada Division of 

Environmental Protection, Nevada 

Historic Preservation Office, Nevada 

Department of Wildlife and Western 

Watersheds Projects. Comments were 

also received from Elko County 

Commissioners and Elko County Roads 

Department. Relevant responses were 

used to synthesize and develop issues. 

There are currently no scoping meetings 

planned for the EIS. 

Preliminary Issues 

The following are the significant 

issues identified through the analysis 

conducted to date. We are asking you to 

help us further refine the existing 

issues, as well as identify other issues 

or concerns relevant to the Proposed 

Action. 

Water Quality—Drilling and 

associated activities could result in (1) 

Cross contamination of aquifers by 

providing conduits; (2) impacts to 

existing engineered mine features 

(embankments); (3) interactions and 

effects to water quality; and (4) 

increased sedimentation and erosion 

from ground disturbing activities. 

Water Quantity and Flows—Drilling 

through geologic structures can 

intercept aquifers and alter groundwater 

flow. 

Wildlife—Exploration activities have 

the potential to disrupt seasonal use by 

a variety of wildlife species (mule deer, 

sage grouse, various raptors and other 

species) in and around the project area, 

and to affect quality and quantity of 

habitat for these species. 

Special Status Species (Wildlife)—

Proposed surface disturbance and 

human activity associated with 

exploration activities may cause shortand long-term adverse effects to habitats 

used by Northern goshawk, sage-grouse, 

neo-tropical migratory birds, pygmy 

rabbit, and several species of bats with 

potential to occur in the Project area. 

Special Status Species (Aquatics and 

Fisheries)—Increased sediment from 

disturbance by the proposed exploration 

could adversely affect threatened 

Lahontan cutthroat trout and Columbia 

spotted frog (candidate species), which 

inhabit the North Fork Humboldt River. 

Recreation—Exploration activities 

and effects including noise, increased 

traffic on the access road, and road 

maintenance could affect recreation 

opportunities and the quality of the 

recreational experience. 

Livestock—Surface disturbance would 

alter the vegetation, which has the 

potential to change the carrying capacity 

within the pasture in both the shortterm and long-term. 

Vegetation—Surface disturbance may 

(1) Affect specific plant communities, 

such as aspen, riparian vegetation and 

sub-alpine fir; (2) promote the spread 

and establishment of noxious weeds, 

such as hoary cress and Canada thistle, 

and other non-native invasive species, 

and (3) affect sensitive plants). 

Other issues that will also be 

addressed in the analysis include the 

potential impacts this project may have 

on the McAffee Peak Inventoried 

Roadless Area which is partly within 

the project area. As proposed a small 

amount of exploration activities would 

be within this roadless area. 

Approximately 12 drill sites and less 

than 1,000 feet to the drill road are 

located slightly within or on the 

northern boundary of the McAffee Peak 

Inventoried Roadless Area. The portion 

of the roadless area impacted is a small 

‘‘finger’’ that was created through a 

mapping error in 1998/1999 when the 

latest inventory for roadless areas was 

adopted. This is the inventory that was 

made part of the 2001 Roadless Area 

Conservation Rule. This finger in 

question has reclaimed mining and 

exploration roads within its boundaries 

and lacks roadless characteristics. This 

type of activity fits within an exemption 

category for allowing road construction 

within the IRA tied to outstanding or 

existing valid rights. Because no portion 

of the project area within or adjacent to 

the McAffee IRA exhibits roadless 

characteristics, effects of the Proposed 

Action upon the McAffee IRA have not 

been identified as a significant issue. 

Comment Requested 

This NOI continues the scoping 

process which will guide the 

development of the Environmental 

Impact Statement. The public is invited 

to submit scoping comments, stating 

concerns and issues relevant to the 

proposed project. These comments will 

be used to help establish the scope of 

study and analysis for the EIS. 

Early Notice of Importance of Public 

Participation in Subsequent 

Environmental Review 

A draft EIS will be prepared for 

comment. The comment period on the 

draft EIS will be 45 days from the date 

that the Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) publishes the notice of 

availability (NOA) in the Federal 

Register. 

The Forest Service believes that, at 

this early stage, it is important to give 

reviewers notice of several court rulings 

related to public participation in the 

environmental review process. First, 

reviewers of draft EISs must structure 

their participation in the environmental 

review of the proposal so that it is 

meaningful and alerts an agency to the 

reviewer’s position and contentions 

[Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. 

v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)]. 

Also, environmental objections that 

could have been raised at the draft EIS 

stage but that are not raised until after 

completion of the final EIS may be 

waived or dismissed by the courts [City 

of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 

1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin 

Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 

1334, 1338 (e.D. Wis. 1980)]. Because of 

these court rulings, it is very important 

that those interested in this Proposed 

Action participate by the close of the 45 

day comment period so that comments 

and objections are made available to the 

Forest Service at a time when it can 

consider them and respond to them in 

a meaningful manner within the final 

EIS. 

To assist the Forest Service in 

identifying and considering issues and 

concerns regarding the Proposed Action, 

comments on the draft EIS should be as 

specific as possible. It is also helpful if 

the comments refer to specific pages, 

sections, or chapters of the draft 

document. Comments may also address 

the adequacy of the draft EIS or the 

merits of the alternatives formulated 

and discussed in the document. 

Reviewers may wish to refer to the 

Council on Environmental Quality 

(CEQ) Regulations for implementing the 

procedural provisions of the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) at 40 

CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points. 

Comments received, including the 

names and addresses of those who 

comment, will be considered part of the 

public record of this proposal and will 

be available for public inspection 

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; 

Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 

21) 

Dated: June 27, 2007. 

Edward C. Monnig, 

Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. 07–3307 Filed 7–6–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Glenn/Colusa County Resource 

Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Glenn/Colusa County 

Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) 


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37184 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 130 / Monday, July 9, 2007 / Notices 

will meet in Willows, California. 

Agenda items covered include: (1) 

Introductions, (2) Approve Minutes, (3) 

Public Comment, (4) Project Proposals/ 

Possible Action, (5) Status of Funding, 

(6) Reports on Completed Projects, (7) 

General Discussion, (8) Next Agenda. 

DATES: The meeting will be held on July 

23, 2007, from 1:30 p.m. and end at 

approximately 4:30 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Mendocino National Forest 

Supervisor’s Office, 825 N. Humboldt 

Ave., Willows, CA 95988. Individuals 

who wish to speak or propose agenda 

items send their names and proposals to 

Eduardo Olmedo, DFO, 825 N. 

Humboldt Ave., Willows, CA 95988. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Bobbin Gaddini, Committee 

Coordinator, USDA, Mendocino 

National Forest, Grindstone Ranger 

District, P.O. Box 164, Elk Creek, CA 

95939. (530) 968–1815; e-mail 

ggaddini@fs.fed.us. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting will be open to the public. 

Committee discussion is limited to 

Forest Service staff and Committee 

members. However, persons who wish 

to bring matters to the attention of the 

Committee will file written statements 

with the Committee staff before or after 

the meeting. Public input sessions are 

provided and individuals who made 

written requests by July 19, 2007 have 

the opportunity to address the 

committee at those sessions. 

Dated: June 27, 2007. 

Eduardo Olmedo, 

Designated Federal Official. 

[FR Doc. 07–3308 Filed 7–6–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service 

Rehabilitation of Multiple Purpose Dam 

No. 3 of the Muddy Fork of the Illinois 

River Watershed, Washington County, 

Arkansas 

AGENCY: Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of a Finding of No 

Significant Impact. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) 

of the National Environmental Policy 

Act of 1969; the Council on 

Environmental Quality Regulations (40 

CFR Part 1500); and the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service 

Regulations (7 CFR Part 650); the 

Natural Resources Conservation Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives 

notice that an environmental impact 

statement is not being prepared for the 

rehabilitation of Multiple Purpose Dam 

No. 3 of the Muddy Fork of the Illinois 

River Watershed, Washington County, 

Arkansas. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kalven L. Trice, State Conservationist, 

Natural Resources Conservation Service, 

Rm. 3416 Federal Building, 700 West 

Capital Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201–

3225, Telephone (501) 301–3100. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

environmental assessment of this 

federally assisted action indicates that 

the project will not cause significant 

local, regional, or national impacts on 

the environment. As a result of these 

findings, Kalven L. Trice, State 

Conservationist, has determined that the 

preparation and review of an 

environmental impact statement is not 

needed for this project. 

The project will rehabilitate Multiple 

Purpose Dam (MPD) No. 3 to maintain 

the present level of flood control, fish 

habitat and recreational benefits and 

comply with the current dam safety and 

performance standards. Local 

Sponsoring Organizations for the 

rehabilitation of MPD No. 3 are the 

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission 

and Washington County Conservation 

District. 

Rehabilitation of MPD No. 3 will 

require the dam to be modified to meet 

current performance and safety 

standards for a high hazard dam. The 

modification will consist of: 

• The existing principal spillway 

inlet and conduit are adequate. The 

principal spillway crest will be 

maintained at Elevation 1169.3, the 

current permanent pool elevation. 

• Increasing spillway capacity by the 

addition of a 100-foot wide RCC 

structural spillway over the top of dam 

to supplement the existing 110-foot 

wide vegetated auxiliary spillway, with 

the crest elevation of both spillways set 

at Elevation 1175.3 feet, the current 

elevation for the vegetated spillway. 

• Raising the top of dam and dike 

(located northwest of the pool area) 

from Elevation 1179.0 feet to Elevation 

1181.9 feet to safely pass the 6-hour to 

72-hour duration Probable Maximum 

Precipitation (PMP) storms. 

All disturbed areas will be planted to 

plants that have wildlife values. The 

proposed work will not affect any prime 

farmland, endangered or threatened 

species, wetlands, or cultural resources. 

Federal assistance will be provided 

under authority of the Small Watershed 

Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000 

(Section 313, Pub. L. 106–472). Total 

project cost is estimated to be 

$1,429,900, of which $1,019,600 will be 

paid from the Small Watershed 

Rehabilitation funds and $410,300 from 

local funds. 

The notice of a Finding of No 

Significant Impact (FONSI) has been 

forwarded to the Environmental 

Protection Agency and to various 

Federal, State, and local agencies and 

interested parties. A limited number of 

copies of the FONSI are available to fill 

single copy requests at the above 

address. Basic data developed during 

the environmental assessment are on 

file and may be reviewed by contacting 

Kalven L. Trice, State Conservationist. 

No administrative action on 

implementation of the proposal will be 

taken until August 8, 2007. 

Dated: June 28, 2007. 

Kalven L. Trice, 

State Conservationist. 

[FR Doc. E7–13226 Filed 7–6–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–16–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service 

Notice of Proposed Changes to the 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service’s National Handbook of 

Conservation Practices 

AGENCY: Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. 

Department of Agriculture. 

ACTION: Notice of availability of 

proposed changes in the NRCS National 

Handbook of Conservation Practices for 

public review and comment. 

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the 

intention of NRCS to issue a series of 

new or revised conservation practice 

standards in its National Handbook of 

Conservation Practices. These standards 

include: ‘‘Agrichemical Handling 

Facility (Code 309)’’ (This is a new 

standard), and ‘‘Fence (Code 382)’’ (This 

is an existing standard that has been 

updated). NRCS State Conservationists 

who choose to adopt these practices for 

use within their States will incorporate 

them into Section IV of their respective 

electronic Field Office Technical Guides 

(eFOTG). These practices may be used 

in conservation systems that treat highly 

erodible land or on land determined to 

be a wetland. 

EFFECTIVE DATES: Comments will be 

received for a 30-day period 

commencing with this date of 

publication. Final versions of these new 

or revised conservation practice 

standards will be adopted after the close 


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