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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No.

166 / Monday, August 28, 2006 / Notices 50883

address listed under FOR FURTHER Tongass Land and Resource Bay, west of False Bay and Chatham
INFORMATION CONTACT. You may also file Management Plan (Forest Plan) criteria Strait, and south of Icy Strait, along
written comments at the time of the for old growth reserves, a non- National Forest System Road #8530; it
meeting. Please refer to Docket No. significant Forest Plan amendment to lies within the Iyouktug and Suntaheen
APHIS–2006–0136 when submitting change the boundaries of the small old- Creek valleys and includes Whitestone
your comments. growth habitat reserves (OGRs) will be Harbor. The project area is in
part of the Proposed Action. Townships 43–44 South, and Ranges
Parking and Security Procedures 62–64 East, Copper River Meridian.
DATES: Opportunities for comment are
Please note that a fee of $2.25 is available throughout the analysis Purpose and Need
required to enter the parking lot at the process. Those interested in receiving a
USDA Center. The machine accepts $1 scoping package should contact us at The purpose and need for the
bills and quarters. the address below. Comments Iyouktug Timber Sales project is to: (1)
Upon entering the building, visitors concerning this stage of the project will Maintain and promote wood production
should inform security personnel that be most helpful if received by October from suitable timber lands, providing a
they are attending the Advisory 2, 2006. Additional opportunities for supply of wood to meet society’s needs;
Committee Meeting on Foreign Animal comment will be provided after release (2) Seek to provide a stable supply of
and Poultry Diseases, and contact the of the Draft EIS, which is expected to be timber from the Tongass National Forest
APHIS Veterinary Services Emergency published September 2007. A 45-day which meets the annual planning-cycle
Management office at (301) 734–8073 comment period will begin the date the market demand, while managing these
from the lobby telephone to be ushered Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lands for sustained long-term yields,
to the meeting. Photo identification is publishes the Notice of Availability in consistent with sound multiple-use and
required. Visitor badges must be worn at the Federal Register. The final sustained-yield objectives; (3) Seek to
all times while inside the building. environmental impact statement and provide a long-term, stable supply of
decision are expected December 2007. timber for local sawmills and timber
Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of
operators; and (4) Provide a diversity of
August 2006. ADDRESSES: Send or hand deliver
opportunities for resource uses that
Kevin Shea, written comments to: IDT Leader, Sitka
contribute to the local and regional
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Ranger District, Tongass National
economies of Southeast Alaska to
Health Inspection Service. Forest, Attn: Iyouktug Timber Sales EIS,
support a wide range of natural resource
[FR Doc. E6–14220 Filed 8–25–06; 8:45 am] 204 Siginaka Way, Sitka, AK 99835.
employment opportunities within
Send written e-mail comments to:
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P Southeast Alaska’s communities. The
comments-alaska-tongass-
Iyouktug Timber Sales Proposed Action
hoonah@fs.fed.us with ‘‘Iyouktug EIS’’
is consistent with the 1997 Tongass
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE in the subject line. In all
Forest Plan.
correspondence, include your name,
Forest Service address, and organization name if you Proposed Action
are commenting as a representative of The Proposed Action for the Iyouktug
Iyouktug Timber Sales, Hoonah Ranger an organization. project area is to harvest an estimated 57
District, Tongass National Forest FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: million board feet (MMBF) of timber
AGENCY:Forest Service, USDA. Chris Budke, Acting District Ranger, from approximately 4,430 acres of
ACTION:Notice of Intent to Prepare an Hoonah Ranger District, P.O. Box 135, forested land while meeting Forest Plan
Environmental Impact Statement. Hoonah, AK 99829, phone (907) 945– standards. The timber would be offered
3631 or Hans von Rekowski, Team through various small sales, and one or
SUMMARY: The Department of Leader, Sitka Ranger District, 204 more large sales over a 10-year period
Agriculture, Forest Service will prepare Siginaka Way, Sitka, AK 99835, phone following the Record of Decision (ROD).
an Environmental Impact Statement (907) 747–4217. It is anticipated that 1 to 5 MMBF
(EIS) on a proposal to harvest timber in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This EIS (averaging 3 MMBF) of timber harvested
the Iyouktug valley on Chicagof Island, will tier to the EIS for the 1997 Tongass through ground-based logging systems
Hoonah Ranger District of the Tongass Land and Resource Management Plan would be offered annually as small
National Forest. The Proposed Action is (Forest Plan) that provides overall sales. The large sale(s) would be
to harvest an estimated 57 million board guidance, goals, objectives, standards, composed primarily of units harvested
feet (MMBF) of timber from guidelines, and management area through helicopter logging. The larger
approximately 4,430 acres of forested direction to achieve the desired timber sale(s) would be offered
land through various small sales, and condition for the project area. concurrently with the small sales.
one or more larger sales, offered over a The project area is administered by Timber harvest would occur on an
10-year period. Approximately 5 miles the Hoonah Ranger District of the estimated 4,430 acres of the 9,290 acres
of National Forest System road would Tongass National Forest, Hoonah, within the entire timber unit pool. Some
be constructed, and 12 miles of Alaska and occurs in Value Comparison areas in the timber unit pool are not
temporary road would be constructed; Units (VCU) 2080, 2090, and 2100 as being considered for timber harvest in
temporary road would be closed after designated by the Forest Plan. The this Proposed Action; however, when
timber management activities have been project area includes approximately other alternatives are developed, we
completed. The Proposed Action would 40,650 acres. The Iyouktug project area may propose harvest in some of the
include harvest of approximately 2,050 is located northwest of Iyoukeen other units in the pool. The Proposed
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acres and construction of approximately Peninsula on the northeastern part of Action includes approximately 2,680
3 miles of National Forest System road Chichagof Island about 12 air miles east- acres of helicopter and 1,750 acres of
and 6 miles of temporary road in southeast of Hoonah, Alaska, 30 air ground-based shovel and cable yarding
inventoried roadless areas. The existing miles west of Juneau, Alaska, and 15 air systems. Areas suitable for ground-
Long Island log transfer facility will be miles northeast of Tenakee Springs. The based logging would be harvested either
used as needed. In order to meet project area lies north of Freshwater even-aged (clearcut) or uneven-aged

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50884 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 166 / Monday, August 28, 2006 / Notices

(group or single tree selection) harvest during the analysis. This Notice of on the Draft Environmental Impact
prescriptions depending on terrain, tree intent (NOI) and the project scoping Statement.
species, economics, or environmental letter initiate the scoping process that The Forest Service believes that at
concerns. Helicopter would be uneven- guides the development of the this early scoping stage, it is important
aged harvest with no more than 40% of Environmental Impact Statement. The to inform reviewers of several court
the harvest-unit volume removed. All Forest Service will be seeking rulings related to public participation in
timber harvest will use silvicultural information, comments and suggestions the environmental review process. First,
prescriptions suited to meet the from Tribal Governments, Federal, reviewers of draft environmental impact
standards and guidelines of the Tongass State, and local agencies, as well as statements must structure their
Forest Plan. individuals and organizations that may participation in the environmental
The Proposed Action includes be interested in, or affected by, the review of the proposal so that it is
construction of approximately 5 miles of Proposed Action. This process will meaningful and alerts an agency to the
National Forest System road and 12 determine the scope of the project and reviewer’s position and contentions.
miles of temporary road; it would also significant issues to be analyzed in Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v.
include reconstruction of 3 miles of depth in the Environmental Impact NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also,
existing road. The existing Long Island Statement. A scoping letter has recently environmental objections that could be
Log Transfer Facility (LTF) will be been mailed to interested people and raised at the Draft Environmental
utilized for these sales, if needed. organizations; the scoping letter is Impact Statement stage but that are not
Harvest activities are proposed to available upon request. The letter briefly raised until after completion of the Final
occur only on land allocated to the describes the project and project area, Environmental Impact Statement may
Timber Production Land Use the purpose and need for the project, the be waived or dismissed by the courts.
Designation (LUD); the other LUDs in Proposed Action, and invites public City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F. 2d 1016,
the project area are Scenic Viewshed comment. An open house meeting will 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin
and Old-growth Habitat. be held in Hoonah, Alaska on Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp.
The Iyouktug project area includes September 6, 2006, at the Hoonah 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of
two small old-growth habitat reserves Ranger District Office. The meeting will these court rulings, it is very important
(OGRs) and a portion of a large OGR as be announced in local newspapers and that those interested in this Proposed
designated in the Forest Plan. The small on local radio stations. Action participate by the close of the 45-
OGRs are located in Value Comparison Through the scoping process the day comment period so that comments
Units (VCUs) 2080, 2090, and 2100; the Interdisciplinary Planning Team will and objections are made available to the
portion of the large OGR is a VCU 2100. review comments received during the Forest Service at a time during which
To meet Forest Plan criteria for old- scoping period to determine which the agency can meaningfully consider
growth reserves, changes to the small issues are significant and within the them and respond to them in the Final
OGR boundaries will be proposed as scope of this project. The team will Environmental Impact Statement.
part of this project. A non-significant develop a range of alternatives to To assist the Forest Service in
Forest Plan amendment will be required address the significant issues. One of identifying and considering issues and
to address these changes. these will be the ‘‘No Action’’ concerns on the Proposed Action,
Harvest is proposed in unroaded areas alternative, in which no additional comments on the Draft Environmental
including parts of three inventoried timber harvest or road construction is Impact Statement should be as specific
roadless areas. Approximately 25,590 proposed. Other alternatives will as possible. It is also helpful if
acres of the Iyouktug project area are in consider various levels and locations of comments refer to specific pages or
three inventoried roadless areas; the timber harvest in response to issues and chapters of the draft statement.
Proposed Action would include harvest non-timber objectives. The team will Comments may also address the
of approximately 2,050 acres and then prepare a Draft Environmental adequacy of the DEIS or the merits of
construction of approximately 3 miles of Impact Statement (DEIS) that will the alternatives formulated and
National Forest System road and 6 miles display the alternatives and the direct, discussed in the statement. Reviewers
of temporary road in inventoried indirect, and cumulative effects of each may wish to refer to the Council on
roadless areas. alternative. Non-significant issues or Environmental Quality regulations for
those issues that have been covered by implementing the procedural provisions
Preliminary Issues a previous environmental review will be of the National Environmental Policy
Tentative issues identified for discussed briefly and documented in Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing
analysis in this EIS relate to the location the EIS or project planning record. these points. Comments received,
and design of small Old-Growth Habitat The DEIS is expected to be filed with including the names and addresses of
Reserves and connectivity, subsistence the Environmental Protection Agency those who comment, will be considered
use, economics, and timber harvest in (EPA) by September 2007. The comment part of the public record on this
roadless areas. Resource concerns that period on the DEIS will be 45 days from proposal and will be available for public
will be considered and discussed in the the date the EPA publishes the Notice inspection.
analysis include heritage resources, of Availability in the Federal Register. Comments submitted anonymously
fisheries, karst features, steep slopes, In addition to commenting on the will be accepted and considered;
threatened, endangered, and sensitive Proposed Action and the DEIS when it however, those who submit anonymous
species, scenery, and the potential for is released, agencies and other comments will not have standing to
cumulative watershed impacts in the interested persons or groups are invited appeal the subsequent decision under
project area. to write to or speak with Forest Service 36 CFR part 215. Additionally, pursuant
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officials at any time during the planning to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may
Public Participation process. Subsistence hearings, as request that the agency withhold a
Public participation has been an provided for in Title VIII, section 810 of submission from the public record by
integral component of the analysis the Alaska National Interest Lands showing how the Freedom of
process and will continue to be Conservation Act (ANILCA), will be Information Act (FOIA) permits such
especially important at several points conducted during the comment period confidentiality. Persons requesting such

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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 166 / Monday, August 28, 2006 / Notices 50885

confidentiality should be aware that, Nature of the Decision To Be Made the Committee may file written
under the FOIA, confidentiality may be The responsible official will decide statements with the Committee staff
granted in only very limited whether or not to authorize timber before or after the meeting. Public input
circumstances, such as to protect trade harvest within the Iyouktug project area, sessions will be provided and
secrets. The Forest Service will inform and if so, how this timber would be individuals who made written requests
persons requesting confidentiality of the harvested. The responsible official by September 6, 2006, will have the
agency’s decision regarding their would also determine the location of opportunity to address the Committee at
request, and where the request is OGR boundaries. The Responsible those sessions.
denied, the agency will return the Official will consider the comments, Dated: August 19, 2006.
submission and notify the requester that responses, and disclosure of Elaine J. Zieroth,
the comments may be resubmitted with environmental consequences displayed Forest Supervisor, Apache-Sitgreaves
or without the name and address within in the FEIS, and applicable laws, National Forests.
seven days. regulations, and policies in making a [FR Doc. 06–7194 Filed 8–25–06; 8:45 am]
Permits or Licenses Required decision. The Responsible Official will BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
state the decision and the rationale for
The permits listed below are required the decision in the Record of Decision
to implement the project, if the Long (ROD).
Island LTF is used. These permits are DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
current and are held by Huna Totem (Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Corporation. The Forest Service has a Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section International Trade Administration
21)
cost-share agreement with the Huna A–570–863
Totem Corporation to utilize the LTF Dated: August 21, 2006.
under the following permits: Forrest Cole, Honey from the People’s Republic of
Forest Supervisor. China: Notice of Extension of Time
1. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [FR Doc. 06–7198 Filed 8–25–06; 8:45 am] Limit for Final Results of 2004/2005
—Approval of discharge of dredged or BILLING CODE 3410–11–M New Shipper Reviews
fill material into the waters of the
AGENCY: Import Administration,
United States under Section 404 of
International Trade Administration,
the Clean Water Act; DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Department of Commerce.
—Approval of the construction of
Forest Service EFFECTIVE DATE: August 28, 2006.
structures or work in navigable waters
of the United States under section 10 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Eastern Arizona Counties Resource Kristina Boughton or Bobby Wong, AD/
of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899;
Advisory Committee CVD Operations, Office 9, Import
2. U.S. Environmental Protection Administration, International Trade
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
Agency Administration, U.S. Department of
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
—Storm water discharge permit/ Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
National Pollutant Discharge SUMMARY: The Eastern Arizona Counties Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230;
Elimination System review under Resource Advisory Committee will meet telephone: (202) 482–8173 or (202) 482–
section 402 of the Clean Water Act in Overgaard, Arizona. The purpose of 0409, respectively.
(402); the meeting is to evaluate project SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
—Review Spill Prevention Control and proposals for possible funding in
Background
Countermeasure Plan; accordance with Pub. L. 106–393 (the
Secure Rural Schools and Community On June 7, 2006, the Department of
3. State of Alaska, Department of Self-Determination Act). Commerce (the Department) published
Environmental Conservation in the Federal Register the preliminary
DATES: The meeting will be held
—Certification of Compliance with September 22, 2006 starting at 11 a.m. results of these new shipper reviews.
Alaska Water Quality Standards (401 ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in
Honey from the People’s Republic of
Certification); the fellowship room at the First China: Intent to Rescind and
—Solid Waste Disposal Permit; Southern Baptist Church, 2727 Church Preliminary Results of Antidumping
Lane, Overgaard, Arizona 85933. Send Duty New Shipper Reviews, 71 FR 32923
4. State of Alaska, Department of (June 7, 2006).
Natural Resources (DNR) written comments to Robert Dyson,
Eastern Arizona Counties Resource Extension of Time Limits for Final
—Authorization for occupancy and use Advisory Committee, c/o Forest Service,
of tidelands and submerged lands. In Results
USDA, P.O. Box 640, Springerville, Section 751(a)(2)(B)(iv) of the Tariff
addition to the above permits, the Arizona 85938 or electronically to
Forest Service is required to obtain Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), and
rdyson@fs.fed.us. 19 CFR 351.214(i)(1) require the
concurrence from the State of Alaska,
Office of Project Management & FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Department to issue the preliminary
Permitting (in the Department of Robert Dyson, Public Affairs Officer, results of a new shipper review within
Natural Resources) on a coastal zone Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests 180 days after the date on which the
consistency determination to proceed (928) 333–4301. new shipper review was initiated and
with the Proposed Action. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final results of a review within 90 days
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meeting is open to the public. after the date on which the preliminary
Responsible Official Committee discussion is limited to results were issued. The Department
The Forest Supervisor, Tongass Forest Service staff, project proponents, may, however, extend the deadline for
National Forest, Federal Building, 648 and Committee members. However, completion of the final results of a new
Mission Street, Ketchikan, Alaska persons who wish to bring Pub. L. 106– shipper review to 150 days if it
99901, is the responsible official. 393 related matters to the attention of determines that the case is

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