Seed Orchard Pest Management Program in the Oconto River Seed Orchard, Nicolet National Forest, Oconto County, WI

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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