Notices. Extension of approval of an information collection; comment request
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BILLING CODE 6116-01-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. 04-100-1] Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA. ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment request. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations governing the introduction of certain genetically engineered organisms and products.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before December 6, 2004. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • EDOCKET: Go to *http://www.epa.gov/feddocket* to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once you have entered EDOCKET, click on the “View Open APHIS Dockets” link to locate this document. • Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 04-100-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 04-100-1. • E-mail: Address your comment to *regulations@aphis.usda.gov* . Your comment must be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in your message and “Docket No. 04-100-1” on the subject line. • Agency Web Site:
Go to *http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/cominst.html* for a form you can use to submit an e-mail comment through the APHIS Web site. *Reading Room:* You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call
(202)690-2817 before coming. Other Information: You may view APHIS documents published in the **Federal Register** and related information, including the names of groups and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, on the Internet at *http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html* . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the regulations governing the introduction of genetically engineered organisms and products, contact Mr. Steven M. Bennett, Management Analyst, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 147, Riverdale, MD 20737;
(301)734-5672. For copies of more detailed information on the information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS' Information Collection Coordinator, at
(301)734-7477. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: *Title:* 7 CFR Part 340; Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering. *OMB Number:* 0579-0085. *Type of Request:* Extension of approval of an information collection. *Abstract:* Under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701-7772), the Secretary of Agriculture may prohibit or restrict the importation, entry, or movement in interstate commerce of any plant, plant product, biological control organism, noxious weed, article, or means of conveyance, if the Secretary determines that the prohibition or restriction is necessary to prevent the introduction or the dissemination of a plant pest into the United States. Under that authority, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture administers regulations in 7 CFR part 340, “Introduction of Organisms and Products Altered or Produced Through Genetic Engineering Which Are Plant Pests or Which There Is Reason to Believe Are Plant Pests.” The regulations require that persons who wish to introduce organisms or products provide certain information through our permitting and notification process. This information includes, among other things, a complete description of the organism or product, the safeguards that will be used in preventing escape, the destination of field test locations, and field test results that describe any unusual or harmful occurrences. We use this information to evaluate the plant pest risk posed by the genetically engineered organisms and products. We are asking the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)to approve our use of these information collection activities for an additional 3 years. The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public (as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. These comments will help us:
(1)Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
(2)Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
(3)Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(4)Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; *e.g.* , permitting electronic submission of responses. *Estimate of burden:* The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.9133 hours per response. *Respondents:* U.S. importers and shippers of genetically engineered organisms and products and agricultural companies that produce or test genetically engineered organisms or products or that engage in product research and development. *Estimated annual number of respondents:* 375. *Estimated annual number of responses per respondent:* 7.8133. *Estimated annual number of responses:* 2,930. *Estimated total annual burden on respondents:* 2,676 hours. (Due to averaging, the total annual burden hours may not equal the product of the annual number of responses multiplied by the reporting burden per response.) All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record. Done in Washington, DC, this 30th day of September 2004. Elizabeth E. Gaston, Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. [FR Doc. E4-2523 Filed 10-5-04; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-34-P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Southwestern Region, Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas and Oklahoma: Proposed Forest Plan Amendment to the Land and Resource Management Plan for Natural Gas Resource Development and Leasing Decision on Jicarilla Ranger District, Carson National Forest, Rio Arriba County, NM; Additional Filings AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Revised notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service initially published a Notice of Intent in the **Federal Register** (67 FR 52706-52709, August 13, 2002) for the Proposed Surface Management of Natural Gas Resource Development Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS)project on the Jicarilla Ranger District, Carson National Forest. The Draft EIS
(DEIS)for this project was released in October 2003. Based on public comments received on the DEIS, the Carson Forest Supervisor determined there was a need to clarify the Purpose and Need for Action and to modify the Proposed Action. This EIS prepared under this Notice of Intent will replace the DEIS that was previously prepared. The USDA Forest Service will prepare an EIS on a proposal to amend the Forest's Land and Resource Management Plan (hereafter called Forest Plan) to incorporate standards and guidelines for surface management of natural gas resource development on the Jicarilla Ranger District. Additionally, the amendment would include the designation of five geographical areas as “Areas of Resource Concerns” that recognize the unique characteristics of each area and would provide area direction on how to manage these areas. The amendment would incorporate a decision on whether to offer for lease a specified 2,502 acres for which an Expression of Interest has been received, and if offered, with what stipulations. Finally, the proposal would determine if future unleashed acres would be offered for leasing and if leased, identify the appropriate surface protection stipulations to be added to the lease. DATES: Submit comments on or before November 5, 2004. The Draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)and to be available for public review during the winter of 2005. At that time, EPA will publish a Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS in the **Federal Register** . The comment period on the Draft EIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA publishes the Notice of Availability in the **Federal Register** . The Final EIS is scheduled to be completed in early summer of 2005. ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to the Carson National Forest, ATTN: Jicarilla Gas Development EIS, 208 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571. E-mail comments may be sent to *comments-southwestern-carson@fs.fed.us.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Seesholtz, Forest Planner, Carson National Forest, at
(505)758-6210. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information presented in this notice is included to help the reviewer determine if they are interested in or potentially affected by the proposed action. Background The Jicarilla Ranger District is located in the northwest portion of New Mexico within the San Juan Basin, about 50 miles east of Farmington. The district encompasses over 159,000 acres (including over 6,000 acres of private land) and was incorporated as a part of the Carson National Forest in 1910. During the 1940s and 1950s, exploration for oil and gas began in the San Juan Basin, and subsequently a highly successful natural gas industry developed. Today, natural gas production is the prevalent use on the Jicarilla Ranger District. Currently ninety-eight percent of the Jicarilla Ranger District is leased for mineral development. Purpose and Need for Action The mission of the Forest Service, and specifically the Carson National Forest, in relation to minerals management is two-fold:
(1)Support, facilitate, and administer the orderly exploration, development, and production of minerals and energy resources on National Forest System Lands to help meet the present and future needs of the Nation; while,
(2)Simultaneously protecting the environment and conserving the natural resource legacy (National Energy Policy, 3-1). On the Jicarilla Ranger District this mission is accomplished in a variety of means depending upon the status of existing mineral rights and associated leases. The Reasonable Foreseeable Development Scenario for the San Juan Basin (Engler *et al.* 2001) projects the Forest could receive requests to drill almost 700 new wells on the Jicarilla Ranger District over the next 20 years. The most recent estimates provided by industry indicate a possibility of up to 800 new wells. This would result in an increase in well density and the potential to nearly double the number of well pads. The Forest has identified issues and concerns where additional guidance is needed to protect surface resources during the development and production of fluid minerals. There is a need to amend the forest plan to provide additional standard and guidelines for the protection of surface resources in regards to leasing and the orderly development of future oil and gas production. The Forest has identified five geographical areas within the Jicarilla Ranger District that exhibit unique environmental characteristics and would need area-specific standards and guidelines to protect the mixture of resource values associated with each area. There is a need to complete a leasing analysis that would identify stipulations and conditions that would be applied to all new leases, including those that are pending, currently unleased, and any existing leases that become available in the future for leasing. There is a need to make a lease decision on 2,502 acres for which the Carson National Forest has received and expression of interest. There is a need to complete a cumulative effects analysis that encompasses the existing and future development of oil & gas resources on the Jicarilla Ranger District. Desired Condition Since most of the Jicarilla Ranger District is currently leased, the desired condition for the Jicarilla Ranger District recognizes the leaseholders' existing rights to drill for, extract, remove and market gas products. With consideration of lease holder rights, the desired condition for the Jicarilla Ranger District is to
(1)provide the access needed to reach gas resources and meet energy needs of the Nation, while
(2)productivity of the land for other uses is sustained,
(3)biodiversity is supported,
(4)cultural resources are protected and preserved,
(5)long-term health of the ecosystem is maintained and,
(6)minimizing negative impacts to the quality of experience for Forest users, due to oil and gas development. Specifically, the Forest wants to reduce the impact from the development of oil and gas operations, as much as possible, on surface resources. Proposed Action The Forest Service proposes to amend the Forest Plan to provide additional guidance for oil & gas development on the Jicarilla Ranger District.
(A)On existing leases these guidelines would be applied, as applicable, through Conditions of Approval of the Surface Use Plan of Operations.
(B)For new leases these guidelines would be applied through stipulations attached to the new lease and through Conditions of Approval.
(C)The Proposed Action would encourage the use of unconventional drilling techniques, such as directional drilling, co-location, and twining, to reduce the impact to surface resources.
(D)The Proposed Action would recognize Bancos Canyon, La Jara Canyon, Valencia Canyon, Vaqueros Canyon, and Fierro Canyon and Mesa as Areas of Resource Concern. In these areas the feasibility of unconventional drilling techniques would be required as part of the common plan of development. A detailed description of the Proposed action can be accessed via the Internet at *www.fs.fed.us/r3/carson/* . Scoping Process Scoping is a process that identifies the significant issues to be analyzed in depth in the environmental impact statement. Public meetings were held during the formulation of the original Draft EIS. The results from the previous public involvement have helped define the new proposed action and purpose & need. No additional formal meetings are scheduled at this time. The Forest is willing to host a public meeting or a field tour if interest is expressed. Preliminary Issues and Alternatives The Forest Service has developed the proposed action to meet the purpose and need for action with the best information available—it is not a decision. This proposal is intended to facilitate public involvement in identifying pertinent issues, developing meaningful alternatives, and analyzing relevant effects. Lead and Cooperating Agencies USDA Forest Service, Carson National Forest will serve as the lead agency for this analysis. USDI Bureau of Land Management, Farmington Field Office will be considered a cooperating agency on the analysis. Responsible Official The Forest Supervisor, Carson National Forest, is the Responsible Official. Nature of Decision To Be Made The Forest Supervisor, as Responsible Official, may decide to:
(1)Select the proposed action,
(2)select one of the alternatives,
(3)select one of the alternatives after modifying the alternative with additional mitigating measures or combinations of activities from other alternatives, or
(4)select the no action alternative and take no action at this time. Comment Requested The Forest Service would like to know of any issues, concerns, and suggestions you may have about this proposal. Comments should be as fully formed as possible to assist us in the analysis. If you have any questions, or if something is unclear, contact David Seesholtz at 505.758.6210 before submitting your comments. Although comments are welcome at any time, they will be most effective if received by November 5, 2004. Send comments to: Carson National Forest, ATTN: Jicarilla Gas Development EIS, 208 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, NM 87571. Alternately, e-mail your comments to *comments-southwestern-carson@fs.fed.us.* *Reviewer's Obligation:* Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and address 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 will not have standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 36 CFR parts 215 or 217. 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 aware that, under 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 seven days. 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 the gancy to the reviewer's position and contentions. *Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp.* v. *NRDC,* 435 U.S. 519, 533 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the draft environmental impact 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 Cir. 1986) and *Wisconsin Heritages, Inc.* v. *Harris* , 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wisc. 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. *Authorization:* National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321-4346); Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); U.S. Department of Agriculture NEPA Policies and Procedures (7 CFR part 1b). Dated: September 29, 2004. Martin D. Chavez, Forest Supervisor, Carson National Forest. [FR Doc. 04-22442 Filed 10-5-04; 8:45 am]
Connections8 off-index
8 references not yet in our index
- 7 CFR 340
- 7 USC 7701-7772
- 7 CFR 1.27(d)
- 435 U.S. 519
- 803 F.2d 1016
- 490 F. Supp. 1334
- 42 USC 4321-4346
- 7 CFR 1
Citation graph
cites case law
Notices
Extension of approval of an information collection; comment request
SCOTUS435 U.S. 519
F. App'x803 F.2d 1016
F. Supp.490 F. Supp. 1334
Cite7 CFR 340
Cite7 USC 7701-7772
Cites 8 · showing 5Cited by 0 across 0 sources