[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 199 (Monday, October 16, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53580-53581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25497]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Seed Orchard Pest Management Program in the Oconto River Seed
Orchard, Nicolet National Forest, Oconto County, WI
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, will prepare a
draft and final environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposed
action to develop an integrated pest management program at the Oconto
River Seed Orchard near White Lake, Wisconsin. The Forest Service
invites written comments on the scope of the analysis. In addition, the
Forest Service gives notice of the environmental analysis and
decisionmaking process that will occur on the proposed action so that
interested and affected people are aware of how they may participate
and contribute to the final decision.
DATE: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received
in writing, on or before November 15, 1995, to ensure timely
consideration.
ADDRESS: Send written comments to: Seed Orchard EIS Project, Oconto
River Seed Orchard, 18100 Saul's Spring Road, White Lake, WI 54491.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Sery, Oconto River Seed Orchard
Manager, (715) 276-7400.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Oconto River Seed Orchard is managed for
the production of Jack pine, white pine, red pine, white spruce, black
spruce, and tamarack seed. The seed is used to produce seedlings for
the National Forests in the Lake States region. The primary objective
of the orchard is to produce seed of high quality and sufficient
quantity to meet Forest Service needs. A portion of the seed orchard is
under management of a special use permit for the production of
agricultural crops and seed. Use of current pest management technology
and products is necessary in order to achieve these goals.
The Forest Service will conduct an environmental analysis to
determine what type of integrated pest management program will be used
at the Oconto River Seed Orchard near White Lake, Wisconsin, to produce
seed for the National Forests in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota,
and to protect agricultural investments. The pest management practices
that will be analyzed include, but are not limited to, control of
unwanted vegetation by mechanical and chemical methods; control of
diseases using sanitation and biological control organisms; control of
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insect pests with biological and chemical insecticides, and use of
sanitation; and control of animal pests through mechanical and
preventative measures.
In preparing the environmental impact statement, the Forest Service
will identify and consider a range of alternative pest management
programs. One alternative will be no action. Another alternative will
be a pest management program without the use of chemical pesticides.
Other alternatives will be pest management programs comprised of
various combinations of control methods.
Public participation will be especially important at several points
during the analysis. The first point is during the scoping process (40
CFR 1501.7), which includes:
1. Defining the scope of the analysis and nature of the decision
to be made.
2. Identifying the issues and determining the significant issues
for consideration and analysis within the environmental impact
statement.
3. Defining the proper make-up of the interdisciplinary team.
4. Exploring possible alternatives.
5. Identifying potential environmental effects.
6. Determining potential cooperating agencies.
7. Identifying groups or individuals interested or affected by
the decision.
The Forest Service will be seeking information, comments, and
assistance from Federal, State, and local agencies and other
individuals or organizations interested in or affected by the proposed
action.
Public participation will be solicited by notifying in person and/
or by mail known interested and affected publics and key contacts of
the scope of the analysis. In addition, news releases will be used to
give the public general notice. One public meeting was already held at
the Oconto River Seed Orchard on September 21 and others can be held as
needed. Input from interested people and organizations will be used in
preparation of the draft environmental impact statement.
The preliminary issues identified are: (1) The effect of seed
orchard pesticides on human health and the environment; (2) the impact
of pest management activities on threatened and endangered species and
non-target organisms; (3) the effect of pest management activities on
the surrounding community's lifestyle; and (4) the effectiveness of
pest control methods.
The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be filed
with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for
public review by August of 1996. At that time, EPA will publish a
notice of availability of the draft environmental impact statement in
the Federal Register.
The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will
be 45 days from the date the EPA's notice of availability appears in
the Federal Register.
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
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 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 Circuit, 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 comment period so that
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at the 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 of Environmental Regulations for implementing the
procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40
CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Following the comment period on the draft environmental impact
statement, comments will be analyzed, considered, and responded to by
the Forest Service in preparing the final environmental impact
statement. The final environmental impact statement is scheduled to be
completed by February of 1997.
The responsible official will consider the comments and responses;
environmental consequences discussed in the environmental impact
statement; and applicable laws, regulations, and policies in making a
decision regarding this proposal. The decision and reasons for the
decision will be documented in the Record of Decision. That decision
will be subject to appeal in accordance with 36 CFR part 217.
Jack G. Troyer, Forest Supervisor, Nicolet National Forest, in
Wisconsin, is the responsible official.
Dated: October 2, 1995.
Jack G. Troyer,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 95-25497 Filed 10-13-95; 8:45 am]
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