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

10662

Vol. 66, No. 33

Friday, February 16, 2001

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Lolo National Forest Big Game Winter

Range and Burned Area Weed

Management Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revised Notice: intent to

prepare an environment impact

statement (EIS).

SUMMARY: This is a revision of a Notice

of Intent originally published in the

Federal Register on July 30, 1998. The

original notice stated the Forest Service

would prepare an environmental impact

statement to address noxious weeds and

big game winter range habitat

degradation of 21 critical, low elevation,

winter ranges covering approximately

20,120 acres on the Lolo National

Forest. Within these 20,120 acres we are

considering treating weeds on a

maximum of 14,010 acres. This revision

proposes analyzing weed management

options on an additional 67,300 acres of

Lolo National Forest lands that burned

in the wildfires of 2000. Within these

67,300 acres, we are considering treating

weeds on a maximum of 7,650 acres.

The reason we are expanding this EIS is

because of the anticipated increase in

invasive weeds due to loss of canopy

and competitive vegetation and

increased ground disturbance from the

wildfires of 2000. The issues identified

in the July 30, 1998 Federal Register

notice have been amended as follows:

1. Recognizing that invasive weeds

are spreading rapidly in Western

Montana, what effect will invasive

weeds have on elk, deer and bighorn

sheep big game winter ranges, other

wildlife, native grasses and wildflower

communities and threatened,

endangered or sensitive species?

2. How would actions taken to control

invasive weeds, including the use of

herbicides, biological agents, prevention

measures, and mechanical treatments

affect elk, deer and bighorn sheep big

game winter ranges, other wildlife,

native grasses and wildflower

communities, threatened, endangered or

sensitive plants, fish and water quality?

3. What are the potential effects of

herbicides used to control invasive

weeds on human health?

4. Fire suppression has changed forest

communities. How would prescribed

fire affect elk, deer and bighorn sheep

big game winter ranges, other wildlife,

native grasses and wildflowers,

threatened, endangered or sensitive

species and other resources?

5. What are the fire escape, air quality,

and human health risks associated with

prescribed fire?

6. As a result of the wildfires of 2000,

burned areas have increased bare soil,

reduced overstory shade and less

competitive vegetation. How have these

changes affected the vulnerability of the

burned areas to invasive weeds?

7. How can we mitigate invasive weed

spread in the burned areas and how

urgent is such mitigation?

8. What are the comparative costs of

implementing different restoration

activities?

DATES: Comments concerning this

revision should be received on or before

March 19, 2001. Person who have

already commented on the original

winter range project in the July 30, 1998

Notice of Intent do not need to resubmit

those comments.

ADDRESSES: The responsible official is

Deborah L. R. Austin, Forest Supervisor,

Lolo National Forest, Supervisor’s

Office, Building 24A Fort Missoula,

Missoula, MT. 59804. Phone (406) 329–

3797.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andy Kulla, Resource Assistant,

Missoula Ranger District, at (406) 329–

3962. Please direct written comments to

Andy Kulla at the Missoula Ranger

District; Building 24A, Fort Missoula,

Missoula, MT 59804.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Further

information about the proposal can be

found in the original Notice of Intent.

Another formal opportunity to comment

will be provided following completion

of the Draft Environmental Impact

Statement (DEIS). The DEIS will be

available for public review by spring or

summer of 2001. The Final

Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)

will be filed by the summer or fall of

2001. The responsible official will make

a decision on this proposal after

considering comments and responses,

environmental consequences discussed

in the FEIS and applicable laws,

regulations and policies. The decision

and reasons for the decision will be

documented in a Record of Decision.

Dated: February 17, 2001.

Deborah L. R. Austin,

Forest Supervisor, Lolo National Forest.

[FR Doc. 01–3971 Filed 2–15–01; 8:45 am]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Deschutes Provincial Interagency

Executive Committee (PIEC), Advisory

Committee

AGENCY: Forest Service.

ACTION: Notice of Meeting.

SUMMARY: The Deschutes PIEC Advisory

Committee will meet on February 22,

2001 at the Jefferson County Firehall

located at the corner of Adam and ‘‘J’’

Street off of Highway 97 in Madras,

Oregon. A business meeting will begin

at 9 am and finish at 4:30 pm. Agenda

items will include Legislation to

Counties, Update on ICBEMP, Upper

Deschutes Resource Management Plan,

Monitoring Reports, Info Sharing and a

Public Forum from 4 pm till 4:30 pm.

All Deschutes Province Advisory

Committee Meetings are open to the

public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mollie Chaudet, Province Liaison,

USDA, Bend-Ft. Rock Ranger District,

1230 N.E. 3rd., Bend, OR 97701, Phone

(541) 416–6872.

Dated: February 12, 2001.

Leslie A.C. Weldon,

Deschutes National Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 01–3989 Filed 2–15–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M