54040 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 200 / Friday, October 17, 1997 / Notices

reviewers notice of several court rulings

related to public participation in the

environmental review process. First,

reviewers of draft environmental impact

statements 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, 533 (1978). Also,

environmental objections that could be

revised at the draft environmental

impact statement stage but that are not

raised until after completion of the final

environmental impact statement may be

waived or dismissed by the courts. City

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

1022 (9th Circ 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 substantive

comments and objections are made

available to the Forest Service at a time

when it can meaningfully consider them

and respond to them in the final

environmental impact statement.

To assist the Forest Service in

identifying and considering issues and

concerns on the proposed action,

comments on the draft environmental

impact statement should be as specific

as possible. It is also helpful if

comments refer to specific pages or

chapters of the draft environmental

impact statement. Comments may also

address the adequacy of the draft

environmental impact statement or the

merits of the alternatives formulated

and discussed in the statement.

Reviewers may wish to refer to the

Council on Environmental Quality

Regulations for implementing the

procedural provisions of the National

Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR

1503.3 in addressing these points.

Comments received in response to

this solicitation, including names and

addresses of those who comment, will

be considered part of the public record

on this proposed action and will be

available for public inspection.

Comments submitted anonymously will

be accepted and considered; however,

those who submit anonymous

comments will not have standing to

appeal the subsequent decision under

36 CFR Parts 215 or 217. Additionally,

pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person

may request the agency to withhold a

submission from the public record by

showing how the Freedom of

Information Act (FOIA) permits such

confidentiality. Persons requesting such

confidentiality should be aware that,

under the FOIA, confidentiality may be

granted in only very limited

circumstances, such as to protect trade

secrets. The Forest Service will inform

the requester of the agency’s decision

regarding the request for confidentiality,

and where the request is denied, the

agency will return the submission and

notify the requester that the comments

may be resubmitted with or without

name and address within 15 days.

Dated: October 9, 1997.

Jack A. Blackwell,

Deputy Regional Forester, Intermountain

Region, USDA Forest Service.

[FR Doc. 97–27569 Filed 10–16–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Use of Certified Forage To Prevent the

Spread of Noxious Weeds on National

Forest System Lands in Montana

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice: adoption of final policy.

SUMMARY: The Regional Forester for the

Northern Region of the Forest Service

has adopted a final policy which

prohibits the use of hay, grain, straw,

cubes or pelletized feed on National

Forest System lands in Montana unless

it is certified as free of noxious weeds

or noxious weed seeds. This

requirement will affect such users as

recreationists using pack and saddle

stock, ranchers operating under Forest

Service grazing permits, outfitters and

guides operating under Forest Service

permits, and contractors who use straw

or hay for reseeding or erosion control

purposes on National Forest Systemadministered lands in Montana. This

proposal has been developed in

coordination with the State of Montana

and Bureau of Land Management

Montana State Office, which is

publishing a similar decision in a

separate notice in this same part of

today’s Federal Register. The intended

effect is to coordinate prevention of the

spread of undesirable weeds on federal

lands in Montana.

DATES: Effective immediately.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

James Olivarez, Forest and Rangeland

Staff, Northern Region, Forest Service,

(406) 329–3621.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant

to 36 CFR 261.50, the Regional Forester

is issuing orders to close or restrict uses

on National Forest System lands. As

adopted, this requirement to close

National Forest System lands to users

who do not use a certified weed-free

forage or similar products results in a

standard closure order applicable to all

National Forest System lands in

Montana. The Northern Regional

Forester has been implementing a

similar policy on a forest-by-forest basis

in Montana since 1989. The Montana

State Office of the Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) is adopting a

similar standard requirement for all

public lands under its jurisdiction. The

BLM decision appears in a separate

notice in this part of today’s Federal

Register.

Response to Public Comments

There was one written comment

received. It was in support of this policy

implementation via a closure order.

The text of the Special Closure Order

shall be published in newspapers across

the State of Montana, as well as direct

notification by mail of interested and

effected groups and individuals.

Dated; October 9, 1997.

Hal Salwasser,

Regional Forester.

[FR Doc. 97–27574 Filed 10–16–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

U.S. ARCTIC RESEARCH

COMMISSION

Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the U.S.

Arctic Research Commission will hold

its 49th Meeting in Arlington, VA on

November 3 and 4, 1997. On Monday,

November 3, the Commission will

conduct an invitation only program

review. This review will concentrate on

three topics:

(1) Global Change in the Arctic.

(2) Arctic Native Environmental Health

Issues.

(3) Petroleum Exploitation in the Arctic.

On Tuesday, November 4 the

Commission will hold a Business

Session. Agenda items include:

(1) Call to order and approval of the

Agenda.

(2) Approval of the minutes of the 48th

Meeting.

(3) Reports of Congressional Liaisons.

(4) Agency Reports.

Any person planning to attend the

Tuesday meeting who requires special

accessibility features and/or auxiliary

aids, such as sign language interpreters

must inform the Commission in advance

of those needs.

Contact Person for More Information:

Dr. Garrett W. Brass, Executive Director,