Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 33 / Thursday, February 19, 2015 / Notices 8847 

regeneration harvest. There would be up 

to 57 miles of temporary road utilized 

for the project with approximately 20 

miles of this occurring over existing 

road prisms. Road maintenance or 

reconstruction of existing system roads 

to meet forestry best management 

practices would be necessary to 

implement the proposed action. No new 

permanent roads will be constructed. 

Temporary roads not on the forest road 

system that are utilized will be 

obliterated (stabilized and or restored to 

natural contours) upon completion of 

treatment operations. Roads identified 

in the 2007 Travel Management Record 

of Decision that were removed from the 

road system (decommissioned) would 

be physically stabilized or re-contoured 

as needed to meet the resource 

objectives of travel management. Sitespecific amendments to the Lewis and 

Clark National Forest Plan standards 

pertaining to elk hiding cover, elk 

winter range, and elk thermal cover may 

be necessary in order to meet the 

project’s purpose and need. To address 

potential impacts of proposed 

management activities on cheatgrass 

(Bromus tectorum) in meeting the 

project objectives, the proposal includes 

an integrated management approach to 

control the establishment and spread of 

this invasive grass species. The use of 

applicable EPA approved selective 

herbicides and or biological controls 

would be utilized in units having 

prescribed burning as the treatment 

action. Approximately 42 percent 

(29,498 acres) of the total project area is 

located within the Castles Mountains 

Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA). 

Proposed treatment activities on 

approximately 6,262 acres are planned 

within the IRA. A combination of noncommercial vegetation treatments and 

prescribed fire techniques are proposed. 

Under the proposal, road maintenance 

may occur but no road construction, 

reconstruction of system or temporary 

roads are planned within the IRA. The 

location of this project area is those 

sections of the Castle Mountains within 

the National Forest Boundary; 

Township 8 and 9 N, Range 8, 9 and 10 

E. Principle Meridian, Meagher County, 

Montana. 

Responsible Official 

Helena and Lewis & Clark National 

Forests Forest Supervisor. 

Nature of Decision To Be Made 

The decisions to be made include: 

Whether to implement the proposed 

action or an alternative to the proposed 

action, what monitoring requirements 

would be appropriate to evaluate the 

implementation of this project, the 

timing of the project and whether a 

forest plan site specific amendment 

(exemption) would be necessary as a 

result of the decision for this project. 

Scoping Process 

This notice of intent initiates the 

scoping process, which guides the 

development of the environmental 

impact statement. In February 2015, a 

scoping notice (flyer) will be mailed to 

interested and affected parties directing 

them to the project’s information which 

will be posted to the Lewis and Clark 

National Forest’s projects Web page 

(http://www.fs.usda.gov/lcnf/). The Web 

page will contain detailed project 

information, including when public 

meetings will be scheduled, project 

proposal maps, and other pertinent 

project information. 

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 

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 the 

administrative objection process or any 

judicial review. 

Dated: February 11, 2015. 

Robin Strathy, 

Deputy Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. 2015–03466 Filed 2–18–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

Information Collection Activity; 

Comment Request 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 

U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended), the 

Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites 

comments on this information 

collection for which RUS intends to 

request approval from the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB). 

DATES: Comments on this notice must be 

received by April 20, 2015. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director & 

Funds Control Officer, Program 

Development and Regulatory Analysis, 

USDA Rural Development, 1400 

Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, 

Room 5164 South Building, 

Washington, DC 20250–1522. 

Telephone: (202) 690–4492. FAX: (202) 

720–8435. Email: Thomas.Dickson@

wdc.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office 

of Management and Budget’s (OMB) 

regulation (5 CFR part 1320) 

implementing provisions of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. 

L. 104–13) requires that interested 

members of the public and affected 

agencies have an opportunity to 

comment on information collection and 

recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR 

1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an 

information collection that RUS is 

submitting to OMB for extension. 

Comments are invited on: (a) Whether 

the proposed collection of information 

is necessary for the proper performance 

of the functions of the Agency, 

including whether the information will 

have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of 

the Agency’s estimate of the burden of 

the proposed collection of information 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions used; (c) 

ways to enhance the quality, utility and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 

burden of the collection of information 

on those who are to respond, including 

through the use of appropriate 

automated, electronic, mechanical, or 

other technological collection 

techniques or other forms of information 

technology. Comments may be sent to: 

Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director, 

Program Development and Regulatory 

Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, 1400 

Independence Ave. SW., STOP 1522, 

Room 5164 South Building, 

Washington, DC 20250–1522. 

Telephone: (202) 690–4492, FAX: (202) 

720–8435. Email: Thomas.Dickson@

wdc.usda.gov. 

Title: Substantially Underserved Trust 

Areas. 

OMB Control Number: 0572–0147. 

Type of Request: Revision of a 

currently approved information 

collection. 

Abstract: The RUS provides loan, loan 

guarantee and grant programs for rural 

electric, water and waste, and 

telecommunications and broadband 

infrastructure. The SUTA initiative 

gives the Secretary of Agriculture 

certain discretionary authorities relating 

to financial assistance terms and 

conditions that can enhance the 

financing possibilities in areas that are 

underserved by certain RUS electric, 

water and waste, and 

telecommunications and broadband 

programs. The data covered by this 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
8848 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 33 / Thursday, February 19, 2015 / Notices 

collection of information are those 

materials necessary to allow the agency 

to determine applicant and community 

eligibility and an explanation and 

documentation of the high need for the 

benefits of the SUTA provisions. 

Program specific application materials, 

which funds are being applied for, are 

covered by the information collection 

package for the specific RUS program. 

Estimate of Burden: Public reporting 

burden for this collection of information 

is estimated to average 2 hours per 

response. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 2. 

Estimated Number of Responses per 

Respondent: 1. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 4. 

Copies of this information collection 

can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal, 

Program Development and Regulatory 

Analysis, at (202) 720–7853, FAX: (202) 

720–8435. Email: MaryPat.Daskal@

wdc.usda.gov. 

All responses to this notice will be 

summarized and included in the request 

for OMB approval. All comments will 

also become a matter of public record. 

Dated: February 10, 2015. 

Jasper Schneider, 

Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–03349 Filed 2–18–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Rural Utilities Service 

Basin Electric Power Cooperative: 

Notice of Extension of Public 

Comment Period for an Environmental 

Assessment 

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Extension of Public 

Comment Period for an Environmental 

Assessment. 

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service 

(RUS) is extending the public comment 

period for an Environmental 

Assessment (EA) related to a proposed 

project by Basin Electric Power 

Cooperative (Basin Electric). The 

Western Area Power Administration 

(Western) and the Bureau of Indian 

Affairs (BIA) are cooperating agencies in 

preparation of the EA. The proposed Big 

Bend to Witten Transmission Line 

Project (proposed action) consists of an 

approximately 70-mile long 230–kV 

single-circuit transmission line, a new 

Western switchyard called Lower Brule 

Switchyard, an addition to the existing 

Witten Substation, and approximately 

two miles of 230–kV double-circuit 

transmission line between Big Bend 

Dam and the new Lower Brule 

Switchyard. Communications facilities 

including a microwave relay tower and 

associated building will also be 

constructed at the Lower Brule 

Switchyard and Witten Substation. A 

portion of the proposed transmission 

line crosses Indian trust lands of the 

Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, and the 

agencies have closely cooperated with 

the Tribe in preparation of the EA. Basin 

Electric is requesting RUS financial 

assistance for the proposed action. To 

ensure that parties interested in the 

proposed action are provided adequate 

opportunity for comment, notices are 

being reissued and the public comment 

period is being extended for 30 days. 

DATES: A Notice of Availability of the 

Environmental Assessment was 

published in the Federal Register on 

January 28, 2015. Written comments on 

this notice must now be received on or 

before March 30, 2015. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To 

obtain copies of the EA or for further 

information, contact Richard Fristik, 

Senior Environmental Protection 

Specialist, USDA, Rural Utilities 

Service, 1400 Independence Avenue 

SW., Stop 1571, Washington, DC 20250– 

1571, telephone: (202) 720–5093, or 

email: richard.fristik@wdc.usda.gov; or, 

or Kevin L. Solie, Basin Electric Power 

Cooperative, Inc., 1717 East Interstate 

Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503–0564, 

telephone: (701) 355–5495, or email: 

ksolie@bepc.com. A copy of the EA may 

be viewed on line at the Agency’s Web 

site: http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/ 

UWPBigBendtoWitten_EA_Nov_2014

_Final.pdf and at the following 

locations: 

Rural Utilities Service, 1400 

Independence Avenue SW., Room 

2240, Washington, DC 20250 

Basin Electric Power Cooperative, 

1717 East Interstate Ave., Bismarck, 

ND 58503–0564 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

network transmission system in South 

Dakota is not able to accommodate 

projected load growth in the next 

several years. This transmission line is 

proposed to strengthen the transmission 

network, improve transmission system 

reliability, and to help meet future 

demand for electricity and economic 

development in the region. In addition 

to increasing load serving ability for 

both Rosebud and West Central Electric 

Cooperatives, the Project would provide 

additional access to the regional high 

voltage transmission system. The 

proposed Big Bend to Witten line would 

enhance system reliability by providing 

an additional connection to the ‘‘grid’’ 

roughly midpoint along this east-west 

line. If a portion of the Fort Randall to 

Martin 115–kV line would be damaged 

by a storm, the Big Bend to Witten line 

could provide power to the undamaged 

segments of the line. The proposed line 

also would provide a tap point for West 

Central near Reliance, which would 

enhance the reliability and stability of 

the West Central system. The tap point 

near Reliance would provide an 

additional power line to the Lower 

Brule Sioux Indian Reservation, which 

currently has only one older line, and 

would provide reliability and stability 

to power on the Reservation. In 

addition, future wind generation 

facilities may be able to interconnect to 

the proposed line to convey power to 

West Central’s markets. Lastly, the 

Project lends itself to additional buildout in support of Western’s long-range 

plan for a 230-kV system in southern 

South Dakota, and it would provide an 

increase in the load serving capacity 

such that the delivery needs of the 

projected network load can be met in a 

reliable manner. 

Basin Electric is seeking financing 

from RUS for its ownership of the 

proposed project. Before making a 

decision to provide financing, RUS is 

required to conduct an environmental 

review under NEPA in accordance with 

RUS’s Environmental Policies and 

Procedures (7 CFR part 1794). AECOM, 

an environmental consultant, prepared 

an EA for RUS that describes the project 

and assesses the proposed project’s 

environmental impacts. RUS has 

conducted an independent evaluation of 

the EA and believes that it accurately 

assesses the impacts of the proposed 

project. No significant impacts are 

expected as a result of the construction 

of the project. 

Any final action by RUS related to the 

proposed action will be subject to, and 

contingent upon, compliance with all 

relevant Federal, State, and local 

environmental laws and regulations and 

completion of the environmental review 

requirements as prescribed in RUS’s 

Environmental Policies and Procedures 

at 7 CFR part 1794. 

Richard Fristik, 

Acting Director, Engineering and 

Environmental Staff, Rural Utilities Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–03385 Filed 2–18–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 


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