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 appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

41223

Vol. 63, No. 148

Monday, August 3, 1998

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Double Sec Timber Sale and

Vegetation Management, Philipsburg

Ranger District, Beaverhead-Deerlodge

National Forest, Granite and Deer

Lodge Counties, MT

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare

environmental impact statement.

SUMMARY: The Forest Service will

prepare an environmental impact

statement (EIS) to document the

analysis and disclose the environmental

impact of proposed actions to manage

the vegetation through timber harvest

and prescribed burning in the Flint

Creek, North Flint Creek, and upper

Warm Springs drainages. The timber

harvest proposal includes road

construction and regenerating new

stands of trees. The project area is

located approximately 10 miles south of

Philipsburg, Montana.

The Forest Service intends to harvest

11.5 million board feet of timber using

a variety of harvest methods on

approximately 1,250 acres of Forest

land. The proposal includes

construction of 4.5 miles of permanent

roads and 4.5 miles of temporary roads.

Additionally, the proposal includes

mechanical and prescribed fire

treatments to control conifer

encroachment on 843 acres.

Travel management, both motorized

and non-motorized, will be analyzed to

determine the effects to wildlife and

may result in changes in public access.

DATES: Initial comments concerning the

scope of the analysis should be received

in writing no later than September 14,

1998.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to

Deborah L.R. Austin, Forest Supervisor,

c/o Bob Gilman, District Ranger,

Philipsburg Ranger District, PO Box H,

Philipsburg, Montana 59858.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ed Casey, Interdisciplinary Team

Leader, Philipsburg Ranger District, PO

Box H, Philipsburg, MT, 59858; or

phone: (406) 859–3211.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

environmental analysis was initiated for

this area in the spring of 1997. At that

time it was thought that an

environmental assessment would be

adequate to make an informed decision.

New information concerning potential

significant effects to lynx, which is

proposed for listing under the ESA as a

threatened species, due to overharvest

and habitat modification has led to the

decision to prepare an environmental

impact statement.

The proposed action would harvest

approximately 11.5 million board feet

from 1,250 acres. Harvest would occur

in the Dry Creek, Blodgett Gulch,

Travelers Home Creek, Sawmill Creek,

and North Fork Flint Creek

subwatersheds. Silvicultural methods

include precommercial thinning,

commercial thinning, shelterwood, seed

tree, salvage, clearcut, clearcut with

reserve, and partial overstory removal.

Approximately 4.5 miles of permanent

roads would be constructed to access

harvest units and to provide future

access for protection and management

of the area. In addition, 4.5 miles of

temporary roads would provide short

term access to harvest units.

Public participation is important to

the analysis. Part of the goal of public

involvement is to identify additional

issues and to refine the general,

tentative issues. To date, over 900 letters

were sent to interested people, adjacent

landowners, organizations, business, as

well as Federal, State, County, and

Tribal organizations. A field trip was

held during the summer of 1997.

Preliminary issues identified in scoping

include effects to wildlife habitats,

visual quality, recreation, and adjacent

private land. Potential alternatives may

harvest less timber, or emphasize

harvest in other areas. Implementation

of the proposed action or alternatives

may require forest plan amendments for

elk management, visual quality

standards, or timber size class

standards.

People may visit with Forest Service

officials at any time during the analysis

and prior to the decision. Two periods

are specifically designated for

comments on the analysis: (1) during

the scoping process and (2) during the

draft EIS comment period.

During the scoping process, the Forest

Service is seeking additional

information and comments from

Federal, State, and local agencies and

other individuals or organizations who

may be interested in or affected by the

proposed action. The United States Fish

and Wildlife Service will be consulted

concerning effects to threatened and

endangered species. The agency invites

written comments and suggestions on

this action, particularly in terms of

identification of issues and alternative

development.

The draft EIS should be available for

review in February, 1999. The final EIS

is scheduled for completion in May,

1999.

The comment period on the draft EIS

will be 45 days from the date the

Environmental Protection Agency

publishes the notice of availability in

the Federal Register.

The Forest Service believes it is

important to give reviewers notice at

this early stage 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 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 be

raised at the draft environmental impact

statement stage but 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 Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin

Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 400 F. Supp.

1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of

these court rulings, it is very important

those interested in this proposed action

participate by the close of the 45-day

comment period so 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
41224 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 148 / Monday, August 3, 1998 / Notices

as possible. It is also helpful if

comments refer to specific pages or

chapters of the draft 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.

The Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest

Supervisor is the responsible official

who will make the decision. She will

decide on this proposal after

considering comments and responses,

environmental consequences discussed

in the Final EIS, and applicable laws,

regulations, and policies. The decision

and reasons for the decision will be

documented in a Record of Decision.

Dated: July 22, 1998.

Thomas W. Heintz,

Acting Forest Supervisor, BeaverheadDeerlodge National Forest.

[FR Doc. 98–20567 Filed 7–31–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grain Inspection, Packers and

Stockyards Administration

Opportunity for Designation in the

Alton (IL), Columbus (OH), and Farwell

(TX) Areas, and Request for Comments

on the Alton, Columbus, and Farwell

Agencies

AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and

Stockyards Administration (GIPSA).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The United States Grain

Standards Act, as amended (Act),

provides that official agency

designations will end not later than

triennially and may be renewed. The

designations of Alton Grain Inspection

Department (Alton), Columbus Grain

Inspection, Inc. (Columbus), and

Farwell Grain Inspection, Inc. (Farwell),

will end January 31, 1999, according to

the Act. GIPSA is asking persons

interested in providing official services

in the Alton, Columbus, and Farwell

areas to submit an application for

designation. GIPSA is also asking for

comments on the services provided by

Alton, Columbus, and Farwell.

DATES: Applications must be

postmarked or sent by telecopier (FAX)

on or before September 1, 1998.

Comments are due by October 31, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Applications and comments

must be submitted to USDA, GIPSA,

Janet M. Hart, Chief, Review Branch,

Compliance Division, STOP 3604, Room

1647–S, 1400 Independence Avenue,

SW, Washington, DC 20250–3604.

Applications and comments may be

submitted by FAX on 202–690–2755. If

an application is submitted by FAX,

GIPSA reserves the right to request an

original application. All applications

and comments will be made available

for public inspection at this address

located at 1400 Independence Avenue,

SW, during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Janet M. Hart, at 202–720–8525.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

Action has been reviewed and

determined not to be a rule or regulation

as defined in Executive Order 12866

and Departmental Regulation 1512–1;

therefore, the Executive Order and

Departmental Regulation do not apply

to this Action.

Section 7(f)(1) of the Act authorizes

GIPSA’s Administrator to designate a

qualified applicant to provide official

services in a specified area after

determining that the applicant is better

able than any other applicant to provide

such official services. GIPSA designated

Alton, main office located in St. Paul,

Missouri, Columbus, main office located

in Circleville, Ohio, and Farwell, main

office located in Farwell, Texas, to

provide official inspection services

under the Act on February 1, 1996.

Section 7(g)(1) of the Act provides

that designations of official agencies

shall end not later than triennially and

may be renewed according to the

criteria and procedures prescribed in

Section 7(f) of the Act. The designations

of Alton, Columbus, and Farwell end on

January 31, 1999, according to the Act.

Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Act,

the following geographic area, in the

State of Illinois, is assigned to Alton.

Calhoun, Jersey, and Madison (West

of State Route 4 and North of Interstate

70 and 270) Counties.

Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Act,

the following geographic area, in the

States of Michigan and Ohio, is assigned

to Columbus.

In Ohio: Bounded on the North by the

northern Lucas County line east to Lake

Erie; the Lake Erie shoreline east to the

Ohio-Pennsylvania State line;

Bounded on the East by the OhioPennsylvania State line south to the

Ohio River;

Bounded on the South by the Ohio

River south-southwest to the western

Scioto County line; and

Bounded on the West by the western

Scioto County line north to State Route

73; State Route 73 northwest to U.S.

Route 22; U.S. Route 22 west to U.S.

Route 68; U.S. Route 68 north to Clark

County; the northern Clark County line

west to State Route 560; State Route 560

north to State Route 296; State Route

296 west to Interstate 75; Interstate 75

north to State Route 47; State Route 47

northeast to U.S. Route 68 (including all

of Sidney, Ohio); U.S. Route 68 north to

U.S. Route 30; U.S. Route 30 east to

State Route 19; State Route 19 north to

Seneca County; the southern Seneca

County line west to State Route 53; State

Route 53 north to Sandusky County; the

southern Sandusky County line west to

State Route 590; State Route 590 north

to Ottawa County; the southern and

western Ottawa and Lucas County lines.

In Michigan: those sections of

Jackson, Lenawee, and Monroe Counties

which are east of State Route 127 and

south of State Route 50.

Columbus’ assigned geographic area

does not include the export port

locations inside Columbus’ area which

are serviced by GIPSA.

Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Act,

the following geographic area, in the

States of Arizona, New Mexico and

Texas, is assigned to Farwell.

Maricopa, Pinal, and Yuma Counties,

Arizona.

Bernalillo, Chaves, Curry, DeBaca,

Eddy, Guadalupe, Lea, Quay, Roosevelt,

San Miguel, Santa Fe, Torrance, and

Union Counties, New Mexico.

Bailey, Cochran, Deaf Smith (west of

State Route 214), Hockley, Lamb (south

of a line bounded by U.S. Route 70, FM

303, U.S. Route 84, and FM 37), and

Parmer Counties, Texas.

Interested persons, including Alton,

Columbus, and Farwell are hereby given

the opportunity to apply for designation

to provide official services in the

geographic areas specified above under

the provisions of Section 7(f) of the Act

and section 800.196(d) of the

regulations issued thereunder.

Designation in the Alton, Columbus,

and Farwell areas is for the period

beginning February 1, 1999, and ending

January 31, 2002. Persons wishing to

apply for designation should contact the

Compliance Division at the address

listed above for forms and information.

GIPSA also is publishing this notice

to provide interested persons the

opportunity to present comments on the

Alton, Columbus, and Farwell official

agencies. Commentors are encouraged to

submit pertinent data concerning the

Alton, Columbus, and Farwell official

agencies including information on the

timeliness, cost, quality, and scope of

services provided. All comments must

be submitted to the Compliance

Division at the above address.

Applications, comments, and other

available information will be considered