Pest Management Program at the R5 Genetic Resource Center, Chico in the Pacific Southwest Region, California, in Butte County

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 (IPM) program at the R5

Genetic Resource Center, Chico which is administered by the Mendocino

National Forest. The Forest Service began an analysis for the nursery

portion of the site in 1989; however, the project was canceled in the

May 1, 1995 Federal Register Notice. The scope of the current proposed

action includes the nursery and seed orchard operations, arboretums,

and research areas. The administrative site is approximately 209 acres

in size, and the analysis area is approximately 121 acres. Areas on the

administrative site which are excluded from this analysis are the

office buildings and work areas, residential buildings, boundary fence

lines, Comanche Creek wildlife and recreation area, intermittent stream

area in the northern portion of the site, the diversion channel, and

other small wildlife habitat areas. The excluded area is estimated to

be approximately 88 acres in size. 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.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received

in writing by July 1, 1996, to ensure timely consideration.

ADDRESS: Send written comments to: Lynne Hartman, Director, USDA Forest

Service, R5 Genetic Resource Center, Chico, 2741 Cramer Lane, Chico, CA

95928.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Hank Switzer, Horticulturist, R5 Genetic Resource Center, Chico, CA

95928, (916) 895-1176.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The scope of the analysis will consist of a

container nursery, approximately one acre in size, which has the

capacity to grow 1.2 million seedlings a year, and 120 acres that are

in production as seed orchards for restoration of forest ecosystems or

arboretums that are active in growing plant material for a variety of

biological, chemical and clinical research programs. Other areas on the

site such as the administrative buildings, residential buildings, and

the recreational and wildlife areas are not within the scope of this

analysis.

The Forest Service will conduct an environmental analysis to

determine what type of pest management program will be used at the

center. 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, biological

control organisms, and fungicides; control of insect pests with

biological and chemical insecticides, and use of sanitation; and

control of animal pests through mechanical, chemical, and preventative

measures.

In preparing the environmental impact statement, the Forest Service

will identify and consider a range of alternative pest management

programs including an alternative that will be based on the principles

of integrated pest management as required by the Forest Service Manual.

The ``no action'' alternative will be described as the continuation of

current pest management practices.

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 personal notification of

known interested and affected publics. In addition, news releases will

be used to keep the public informed. Input from interested people and

organizations will be used in preparation of the draft environmental

impact statement.

The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be filed

with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for

public review by September 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. It is very important that those interested in the

proposed action participate at that time. To be most helpful, comments

on the draft environmental impact statement should be as specific as

possible and may address the adequacy of the statement or the merits of

the alternatives discussed (see Council on Environmental Quality

Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National

Environmental Policy Act 40 CFR 1503.3)

In addition, Federal court decisions have established that

reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must structure their

participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is

meaningfull and alerts an agency to the reviewers' position and

contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,

553 (1978). Environmental objections that

[[Page 27045]]

could have been raised at the draft stage may be waived if not raised

until after completion of the final environmental impact statement.

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). The reason for this is to ensure that substantive comments and

objections are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it

can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the final.

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 July 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.

Daniel K. Chisholm, Forest Supervisor, Mendocino National Forest,

is the responsible official.

Dated May 22, 1996.

Daniel K. Chisholm,

Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 96-13517 Filed 5-29-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-11-M