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[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 203 (Friday, October 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61244-61246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20672]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Ochoco and Deschutes National Forests; OR; Invasive Plant 
Treatment Project.

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revised notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: On February 23, 2004 the original Notice of Intent to prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement to ``* * * document and disclose the 
potential environmental effets of proposed invasive plant treatment 
activities on the Ochoco and Deshutes National Forests.'' appear in the 
Federal Register. The original Notice Intent appeared in Federal 
Register Volume 69, No. 35/February 23, 2004 on page 8174. Due to the 
extensive length of time between that publication in the Federal 
Register and the initiation of the analysis for this project, a Revised 
Notice of Intent is being published. Comments need not be re-submitted 
if they were submitted in 2004 for this proposed action.
    The USDA Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to document and disclose the potential environmental 
effects of proposed invasive plant treatment activities on the 
Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National Forest and the Crooked River 
National Grassland. This project evaluates site-specific treatments of 
invasive plants; including manual, mechanical, cultural, biological and 
herbicide treatment methods as well as the use of prescribed fire. 
Forest Plan direction, including amendments identified in the Pacific 
Northwest Region Invasive Plant Program Environmental Imact Statement, 
will be incorporated into all alternatives, including the Proposed 
Action.

DATES: A Draft EIS is expected to be available in January, 2005, and 
the final EIS in April, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments (i.e., letter or fax) to Lorri 
Health, Invasive Plant EIS Team Leader, Deschutes National Forest, SW., 
1001 Emkay Drive, Bend, OR. Fax number is 541-383-5531. Submit email 
comments to: [email protected].

[[Page 61245]]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions or need more 
information about this project, contact Lorri Heath, Invasive Plant EIS 
Team Leader, Deschutes National Forest, 1001 SW Emkay Drive, Bend, OR 
97702 (541-383-5738). Maps of the proposed treatment sites are 
available at the Deschutes NF Supervisor Office, Ochoco NF Supervisor 
Office, Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger District Office, Crescent Ranger District 
Office, Sisters Ranger District Office, Lookout Mountain Ranger 
District Office, Paulina Ranger District Office and the Crooked River 
National Grassland Office, Location and contact information for these 
offices can be obtained from Lorri Heath, Invasive Plant EIS Team 
Leader, Deschutes National Forest, 1001 SW., Emkay Drive, Bend, OR 
97702 (541-383-5738).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    Approximately 60,000 acres of the total 3 million acres of forest 
and grasslands on the Ochoco National Forest, Deschutes National 
Forests and Crooked River National Grassland are degraded by 
infestations of invasive, non-native plants. These infestations have 
been identified on approximately 2,000 individual locations or sites. 
These infestations have a high potential to expand and further degrade 
forests and grasslands. Infested areas represent potential seed sources 
for further invasion onto neighboring lands.
    Invasive plants create a host of adverse environmental effects 
which are harmful to native ecosystem processes. Examples of these 
effects include: Displacement of native plants; reduction in 
functionality of habitat and forage for wildlife and livestock; loss of 
threatened, endangered, and sensitive species; increased soil erosion 
and reduced water quality; alteration of physical and biological 
properties of soil, including reduced soil productivity; changes to the 
intensity and frequently of wildfires; budget impacts that limit or 
reduce land management opportunities due to high costs or dollars spent 
for controlling invasive plants; and loss of recreational 
opportunities. Without action, invasive plant populations will continue 
to grow; compromising our ability to manage for healthy functioning 
ecosystems.

Proposed Action

    The USDA Forest Service; Deschutes National Forest, Ochoco National 
Forest, and Crooked River National Grassland propose to treat areas 
currently identified with invasive plant infestations and to provide 
timely treatments for expanded and newly identified invasive plant 
sites. Treatments, depending upon the species of invasive plants and 
site characteristics, would include the use of prescribed fire; manual, 
and mechanical, cultural, chemical and biological control methods. The 
proposed treatments would enhance our ability to protect native 
ecosystems from invasive, non-native plants. Some of the infested areas 
are small in size, while others are extensive.
    Invasive plant treatments are proposed on approximately 12,000 
acres that are known to be infested by invasive plants. The Proposed 
Action will also analyze treatments for the likely expansion of these 
existing sites, and for new (unidentified) invasive plant sites in 
areas most susceptible to new introductions.
    Treatment methods are based upon information such as the biology of 
a particular invasive plant species, invasive plant site location, site 
type, and size of the infestation. Long-term site goals would be 
established for infested areas. Site goals are based upon treatment 
options, monitoring and revegetation potential. Prescriptions are based 
upon Integrated Pest Management principles. Integrated Pest Management 
(IPM) is a process by which one selects and applies a combination of 
management techniques (Example: Prevention then manual or mechanical 
treatments, followed by biological treatments) that, together, control 
a particular invasive plant species or infestation efficiently and 
effectively. IPM seeks to combine two or more management techniques 
which interact to provide better control than any one of the actions 
might provide along. It is typically species-specific, site-specific 
and designed to be practical; with minimum risk to non-target species 
or the surrounding environment, including wildlife species and human 
health.
    Invasive plant treatments are proposed on approximately 12,000 
acres that are known to be infested by invasive plants. The Proposed 
Action will also analyze treatments for the likely expansion of these 
existing sites, and for new (unidentified) invasive plant sites in 
areas most susceptible to new introductions. In addition to the known 
12,000 acres of invasive plants, an estimated additional 960 acres 
(based on 8% rate of spread) of expanded and new sites will be treated 
per year for the life of this plan. Actual annual treatment acres 
associated with these future sites would likely vary because of 
variations in invasive plant spread and occurrence of new invasive 
plant introductions. Actual annual treatment will likely decline over 
the life of this plan because of the effectiveness of these treatment 
actions.
    Based upon currently known sites with weed infestations, the 
Proposed Action includes approximately 100 acres of biological control 
treatment, approximately 500 acres of herbicide only treatment, 
approximately 6,000 acres of herbicides plus manual treatments, 
approximately 1,000 acres of manual only treatment, approximately 500 
acres of cultural plus herbicide treatments, approximately 700 acres of 
manual plus mechanical treatments, approximately 100 acres of 
mechanical plus herbicide treatments and approximately 2,500 acres of 
prescribed fire treatments.

Proposed Scoping

    Public participation is an important part of this analysis. The 
Forest Service is seeking information, comments, and assistance from 
Federal, State and local agencies; Native American Tribes; and other 
individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected by 
the proposed action. Comments submitted during the scoping process 
should be in writing. They should be specified to the action being 
proposed and should describe as clearly and completely as possible any 
issues that commenter has with the proposal. This input will be used in 
preparation of the Draft EIS.
    In addition to inviting public comments, the public may visit 
Forest Service officials familiar with this project, at any time during 
the analysis and prior to the decision. To facilitate public 
participation, additional opportunities may include: a scoping letter, 
public meetings and/or field trips. Dates of meetings and field trips 
are yet to be determined.

Comments

    The Forest Service believes, 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 
the draft EIS must structure their participation in the environmental 
review of the proposal so that it is meaningful, and alerts any agency 
to the reviewer's position and contentions (Vermont Yankee Nuclear 
Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519.553 (1978)). Also, environmental 
objectives that could be raised at the draft EIS stage but that are not 
raised until after the 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 Heritage, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 
1334 (E.D.Wis. 1980)). Because of these court rulings, it is very 
important that

[[Page 61246]]

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 EIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on 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 or chapters of the draft statement. Comments may also 
address the adequacy of the draft EIS or merits of alternatives 
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer 
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing 
the procedural provision of the National Environmental Policy Act (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 may not have 
standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR part 215. 
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 award 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 a 
specified number of days.
    Comments on the draft EIS will be analyzed, considered, and 
responded to by the Forest Service in preparing the final EIS. The 
final EIS is scheduled to be completed in April 2006. There will be two 
responsible officials for this multi-Forest EIS. Duties of the 
Responsible Official will be shared between Leslie Weldon, Forest 
Supervisor of the Deschutes National Forest, and Larry Timchak, Forest 
Supervisor of the Ochoco National Forest. They will consider comments, 
responses, and environmental consequences discussed in the final EIS, 
and applicable laws, regulations, and policies in making a decision 
regarding this proposed action. The responsible officials will document 
the decision and rationale for the decision in the Record of Decision. 
It will be subject to Forest Service Appeal Regulations (36 CFR part 
215).

    Dated: September 26, 2005.
Leslie Weldon,
Supervisor, Deschutes National Forest.

    Dated: September 27, 2005.
K.J. Silverman,
Acting Supervisor, Ochoco National Forest & Crooked River National 
Grasslands.
[FR Doc. 05-20672 Filed 10-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
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