60234 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 198 / Friday, October 10, 2008 / Notices 

operations authorized by general mining 

laws. 

Proposed Action 

The Forest Service proposes to 

authorize VANE Minerals, Inc. to 

perform exploratory drilling at the 25 

drill sites proposed. This Proposed 

Action would constitute exploratory 

drilling only. No mining extraction or 

transporting of uranium minerals for 

processing would be contemplated or 

permitted by this proposal. 

Public Involvement 

This notice of intent initiates the 

scoping process which guides the 

development of the environmental 

impact statement. The Forest received 

several comments during the categorical 

exclusion analysis in 2007 which will 

be considered in this analysis. The 

Forest Service encourages the public to 

express issues, concerns, and 

suggestions they may have about this 

proposed action. Comments should be 

directly related to issues associated with 

the proposed action, rather than general 

advocacy of or opposition to the project, 

to best assist us in the NEPA analysis. 

Although comments are welcome at any 

time during this NEPA analysis, they 

will be most useful to us if they are 

received within 30 days following the 

publication of this notice. 

Responsible Official 

The Forest Supervisor for the Kaibab 

National Forest of the Southwestern 

Region of the USDA Forest Service is 

the Responsible Official. 

Nature of Decision To Be Made 

The decision to be made is what plan 

of operations to approve for exploration, 

including any requirements for surface 

resource protection. VANE Minerals, 

Inc. has a statutory right to explore for 

locatable minerals under the 1872 

Mining Law. 

Early Notice of Importance of Public 

Participation in Subsequent 

Environmental Review 

A draft environmental impact 

statement will be prepared for comment. 

The comment period on the draft 

environmental impact statement will be 

45 days from the date the 

Environmental Protection Agency 

publishes the notice of availability in 

the Federal Register. The Forest Service 

believes, at this early state, it is 

important to give 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, 553 

(1978). Also, environmental objections 

that could be raised at the draft 

environmental impact statement stage 

but that are not raised until after the 

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, 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 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, including the 

names and addresses of those who 

comment, will be considered part of the 

public record on 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: October 2, 2008. 

Michael P. Williams, 

Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. E8–23993 Filed 10–9–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Notice of Meeting; Federal Lands 

Recreation Enhancement Act (Title VIII, 

Pub. L. 108–447) 

AGENCY: Black Hills National Forest, 

Rocky Mountain Region. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Black Hills National 

Forest Advisory Board, acting in its 

capacity as the Black Hills National 

Forest Recreation Resource Advisory 

Committee (RRAC), will meet in Rapid 

City, SD. The purpose of the meeting is 

for the Committee to consider 

recommending special recreation permit 

fees to use the Black Hills National 

Forest’s designated, motorized, offhighway vehicle trail system. Fees 

would include a $20.00 weekly permit, 

a $40.00 annual permit, and a $100.00 

commercial vehicle annual permit. The 

fees would be established pursuant to 

Public Law 108–447 (H.R. 48 118), 

September 8, 2004, Consolidated 

Appropriations Act, 2005, Title VillFederal Lands Recreation Enhancement 

Act, Section 803 Recreation Fee 

Authority, (h) Special Recreation Permit 

Fee. 

DATES: The meeting(s) will tentatively 

be held October 15 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

This meeting will only be held if a 

quorum of the Committee is present. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center; 

LaCroix Hall, in Rapid City, South 

Dakota. Details will be published prior 

to the meeting on the Black Hills 

National Forest Web site at http:// 

www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills, and in the 

news media. Send written comments to 

Craig Bobzien, Designated Federal 

Official, 1019 N. 5th St., Custer, SD, 

57730 or e-mail twillems@fs.fed.us. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom 

Willems, Black Hills National Forest 

Travel Planner at 605–673–9217 or 

twillems@fs.fed.us. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting is open to the public. There 

will be time on the agenda for timed 

verbal comments (at the discretion of 

the Chair) and the Chair may ask for 

comments from the public at any time 

during the meeting. People wishing to 

speak at the meeting are asked to sign 

in at the door with a name and contact 

information. Public comments will be 

taken based first-come, first-served. The 

public may provide written comments 

to the Committee staff. Check for the 

status of the meeting, the final agenda, 

and a special recreation permit fee 

proposal at: http://wwwfs.fed.us/r2/ 

blackhills. The Recreation RAC is 

authorized by the Federal Land 

Recreation Enhancement Act, which 

was signed into law by President Bush 

in December 2004. 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 198 / Friday, October 10, 2008 / Notices 60235 

Dated: September 25, 2008. 

Craig Bobzien, 

Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest, 

DFO, Black Hills National Forest Recreation 

Resource Advisory Committee. 

[FR Doc. E8–23994 Filed 10–9–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Notice of New Fee Site; Federal Lands 

Recreation Enhancement Act (Title VIII, 

Pub. L. 108–447) 

AGENCY: Chattahoochee-Oconee 

National Forests, USDA Forest Service. 

ACTION: Notice of New Fee Site. 

SUMMARY: The Chattahoochee-Oconee 

National Forests is planning to charge a 

$5 per site per night fee for overnight 

camping at Hickey Gap Campground. 

The fees listed are only proposed and 

will be determined upon further 

analysis and public comment. This 

campground has five campsites and has 

been available for camping use prior to 

this date. Campgrounds on the 

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests 

have shown that people appreciate and 

enjoy the availability of outdoor 

camping facilities. Funds from the 

campground will be used for the 

continued operation and maintenance of 

Hickey Gap Campground. 

DATES: Hickey Gap Campground will 

start charging fees in March, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: Forest Supervisor, 

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, 

1755 Cleveland Highway, Gainesville, 

GA 30501. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Karen McKenzie, Public Affairs Officer, 

770–297–3061. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement 

Act (Title VII, Pub. L. 108–447) directed 

the Secretary of Agriculture to publish 

a six month advance notice in the 

Federal Register whenever new 

recreation fee areas are established. This 

new fee will be reviewed by a 

Recreation Resource Advisory 

Committee prior to a final decision and 

implementation. 

The Chattahoochee-Oconee National 

Forests currently has thirty-five other 

campgrounds. These campgrounds have 

a total of 675 campsites; 23 

campgrounds are operated by 

concessionaires. A business analysis of 

Hickey Gap Campground has shown 

that people desire having this sort of 

recreation experience on the 

Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. 

A market analysis indicates that the $5 

per site per night fee is both reasonable 

and acceptable for this sort of unique 

recreation experience. 

Dated: October 6, 2008. 

Paul L. Bradley, 

Acting Forest Supervisor, ChattahoocheeOconee National Forests. 

[FR Doc. E8–24131 Filed 10–9–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Opal Creek Scenic Recreation Area 

(SRA) Advisory Council 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Willamette National 

Forest is seeking nominees for six 

positions on the Opal Creek Advisory 

Council. The Council was originally 

established in June 2000 with 13 

members. About half of the current 

members will remain on the Council to 

provide continuity for new members. 

The Advisory Council makes 

recommendations to the Detroit District 

Ranger on matters relating to the 

management of the Opal Creek Scenic 

Recreation Area (SRA). 

The Advisory Council is composed of 

a diverse group of citizens, which 

allows for sharing of technical 

knowledge and personal experience. 

Members represent interests including, 

but not limited to: Timber industry; 

environmental organizations; mining 

industry; SRA land in-holders within 

the Opal Creek Wilderness and SRA; 

economic development interests; and 

Indian tribes. Other members serving on 

the Council as required by the Act 

represent Marion County, communities 

within a 25 mile radius of the SRA, 

State of Oregon, and City of Salem. 

Positions to be filled are from timber 

industry, SRA in-holders, 

environmental organizations, mining 

industry and two at-large members. 

Examples of ‘‘at-large’’ members who 

may be interested in serving on this 

Council include recreation interests, 

adjacent landowner, educators and 

researchers. 

Nominees must be United States 

citizens, at least 18 years old. 

Willamette officials will recommend 

nominees’ appointments to the 

Secretary of Agriculture based on 

criteria which includes long-time 

familiarity with the Opal Creek SRA, 

knowledge and understanding of other 

cultures, ability to actively participate 

in diverse team settings, and respect and 

credibility in local communities. 

Nominations are due November 12, 

2008. People interested in more 

information or a nomination packet 

should contact the Detroit Ranger 

District at 503–854-3366. The 

nomination packet can also be 

downloaded from the Opal Creek 

Advisory Council section of the 

Willamette National Forest Web site: 

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/ 

manage/opalcreek/advisory

council.html. 

Dated: October 6, 2008. 

Dallas Emch, 

Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. E8–24132 Filed 10–9–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service 

Notice of Meeting of the Agricultural 

Air Quality Task Force 

AGENCY: Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Agricultural Air Quality 

Task Force (AAQTF) will meet to 

continue discussions on air quality 

issues relating to agriculture. 

DATES: The meeting will convene on 

Thursday, November 6, 2008, from 9 

a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday, November 

7, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A 

public comment period will be held on 

November 6, 2008, at 3:15 p.m. 

Individuals making oral presentations 

should register in person at the meeting 

site and must bring 50 copies of 

materials they would like to distribute. 

Written materials for AAQTF’s 

consideration prior to the meeting must 

be received by Michele Laur (address 

given below) no later than October 24, 

2008. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Doubletree Hotel located at 300 

Army Navy Drive, Arlington, Virginia, 

22202–2891; Tel: (703) 416–4100; Fax: 

(703) 416–4126. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: 

Questions and comments should be 

directed to Michele Laur, Designated 

Federal Officer. Ms. Laur may be 

contacted at USDA NRCS, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., Room 

6165–S, Washington, DC 20250; 

telephone: (202) 720–1858: e-mail: 

michele.laur@wdc.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of 

this meeting is given under the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 

2. Additional information concerning 

mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES