[Federal Register: October 5, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 193)]
[Notices]
[Page 57065]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05oc07-70]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WO-220-05-1020-JA-VEIS]
Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Final
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Vegetation Treatments
Using Herbicides on Bureau of Land Management Lands in 17 Western
States
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby
gives notice that the Record of Decision for the Final Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement (FPEIS) for vegetation treatments using
herbicides on public lands administered by BLM in 17 western states,
including Alaska, is available. The BLM is the lead Federal agency for
the preparation of this FPEIS, in compliance with the requirements of
NEPA. The decision selects for use the four herbicides identified in
Alternative B of the FPEIS. These herbicides are: Diquat, diflufenzopyr
(in formulation with dicamba), fluridone, and imazapic. The BLM also
selects for continued use the following 14 Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) registered active ingredients: 2,4-D, bromacil,
chlorsulfuron, clopyralid, dicamba, diuron, glyphosate, hexazinone,
imazapyr, metsulfuron methyl, picloram, sulfometuron methyl,
tebuthiuron, and triclopyr. The BLM does not select for use the
following six-herbicide active ingredients: 2,4-DP, asulam, atrazine,
fosamine, mefluidide, and simazine. As part of the Proposed Action and
this decision, the BLM also adopts the protocol for identifying,
evaluating and approving herbicides. The Record of Decision identifies
best management practices, standard operating procedures and mitigation
measures for all vegetation treatment projects involving the use of
herbicides.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Record of Decision are available in hard copy
or CD upon request from Brian Amme, Nevada State Office, P.O. Box
12000, 1340 Financial Blvd., Reno, NV 89520, or via the Internet at the
BLM National Web site http://www.blm.gov/. The Record of Decision is
available for review in either hard copy or on compact disks (CDs) at
all BLM State, District, and Field Office public rooms.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Amme, Project Manager at (775)
861-6645 or e-mail: brian_amme@blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This national, FPEIS provides a
comprehensive analysis of BLM's use of chemical herbicides in its
various vegetation treatment programs related to hazardous fuels
reduction; noxious weed, invasive terrestrial and aquatic plant species
management; resource rehabilitation following catastrophic fires, and
other disturbances. The FPEIS addresses human health and ecological
risk for use of chemical herbicides on public lands and provides a
cumulative impact analysis of the use of chemical herbicides in
conjunction with other treatment methods. The decision area includes
public lands administered by 11 BLM state offices: Alaska, Arizona,
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana (North Dakota/South Dakota), New
Mexico (Oklahoma/Texas/Nebraska), Nevada, Oregon (Washington), Utah and
Wyoming.
The BLM issued a Notice of Availability November 10, 2005, of BLM's
Draft Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement and Draft Programmatic Environmental Report. The BLM
held ten public hearings in late 2005, and extended the public comment
period an additional 30 days to February 10, 2006.
The BLM responded to over 5,500 individual public comments during
the Draft Programmatic EIS public review period. Comment responses and
resultant changes in the impact analysis are documented in this FPEIS
and Environmental Report per requirements under 40 CFR 1503.4.
Additional information and analysis is included in the FPEIS addressing
comments related to degradates, use of Polyoxyethylene-amine (POEA) OEA
and R-11 surfactants and risks associated with endocrine disrupting
chemicals. In addition, the FPEIS contains Subsistence analysis
required under Section 801(a) of the Alaska National Interest Lands
Conservation Act (ANILCA). This decision was approved by the Department
of the Interior, Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management;
therefore, no administrative review through the Interior Board of Land
Appeals pursuant to 43 CFR 4.5 will be available on the decisions made
by this Record of Decision.
Todd S. Christensen,
Acting Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning.
[FR Doc. E7-19699 Filed 10-4-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P