Notice2022-00700
Big Piney Ranger District and Greys River Ranger District; Bridger-Teton National Forest; Wyoming, Dell Creek and Forest Park Elk Feedgrounds: Long-Term Special Use Permits
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 14, 2022
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForest Service
Abstract
The Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Dell Creek and Forest Park Feedgrounds: Long-Term Special Use Permit project. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission (WGFC) has applied for continued use of facilities on National Forest System lands to conduct their elk management activities, including providing hay to wintering elk at Dell Creek and Forest Park feedgrounds between mid-November and the end of April. The Dell Creek feedground is in the Big Piney Ranger District on Dell Creek Road (Forest Service Road 30600) about 4 miles east of Highway 191/189, in Bondurant, Wyoming, and has been maintained by the WGFC under a Forest Service special use permit since 1975. The Forest Park feedground is in the Greys River Ranger District along the Greys River Road (Forest Service Road 10138) about 33 miles from Alpine, Wyoming, and has been maintained by the WGFC under a Forest Service special use permit since 1979. The Forest Service action is to determine whether to authorize the requested long-term use and if so, under what conditions.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 10 (Friday, January 14, 2022)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 10 (Friday, January 14, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2404-2405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-00700]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Big Piney Ranger District and Greys River Ranger District;
Bridger-Teton National Forest; Wyoming, Dell Creek and Forest Park Elk
Feedgrounds: Long-Term Special Use Permits
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) is preparing an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Dell Creek and Forest Park
Feedgrounds: Long-Term Special Use Permit project. The Wyoming Game and
Fish Commission (WGFC) has applied for continued use of facilities on
National Forest System lands to conduct their elk management
activities, including providing hay to wintering elk at Dell Creek and
Forest Park feedgrounds between mid-November and the end of April. The
Dell Creek feedground is in the Big Piney Ranger District on Dell Creek
Road (Forest Service Road 30600) about 4 miles east of Highway 191/189,
in Bondurant, Wyoming, and has been maintained by the WGFC under a
Forest Service special use permit since 1975. The Forest Park
feedground is in the Greys River Ranger District along the Greys River
Road (Forest Service Road 10138) about 33 miles from Alpine, Wyoming,
and has been maintained by the WGFC under a Forest Service special use
permit since 1979. The Forest Service action is to determine whether to
authorize the requested long-term use and if so, under what conditions.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by February 14, 2022. The draft environmental impact statement is
expected January 2023 and the final environmental impact statement is
expected January 2024.
ADDRESSES: Scoping comments can be submitted electronically through the
project web page or directly to <a href="https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=60949">https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=60949</a>. Comments may also be mailed to P.O.
Box 1888, Jackson, WY 83001, or sent via facsimile to 307-739-5010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Visit the project web page at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60949">https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=60949</a> for current information. A
public meeting will be held virtually during the comment period to
share information about the project. For additional information contact
Mary Cernicek, Planning and Public Affairs Staff Officer by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5835392a21763b3d2a36313b3d33182d2b3c39763f372e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1875796a61367b7d6a76717b7d73586d6b7c79367f776e">[email protected]</span></a> or by phone at 307-739-5564 or cellphone 307-
413-2481. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf/
hard-of-hearing (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-
800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including
holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The Forest Service received a request from the WGFC to continue to
use facilities at Dell Creek and Forest Park feedgrounds to conduct
their elk winter feeding and related management activities. Under 36
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 251.50, authorization is required for
this type of special use of National Forest System lands. The purpose
of the WGFC's proposal is to prevent conflicts with nearby livestock
operations including reduce the risk of
[[Page 2405]]
brucellosis transmission, maintain elk population objectives pursuant
to the interests of their constituents and without excessive winter elk
mortality, and prevent vehicle collisions on Highway 191. The purpose
of the federal action is to decide whether to approve the WGFC's
request and, if so, under what conditions to continue to permit the
use. As part of the federal action, the Forest Service must ensure that
the decision complies with the BTNF Land and Resource Management Plan
(Forest Plan), Forest Service regulations and policies, and other
applicable direction. Pertinent direction in the Forest Plan includes
but is not limited to: An objective to ``[p]rovide suitable and
adequate habitat to support the game and fish populations established
by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, as agreed to by the Forest
Service'' (Objective 2.1(a)); and to ``[h]elp re-establish historic elk
migration routes to provide increased viewing and hunting opportunities
for outfitters and clients'' (Objective 1.1(g)). The need for the
federal action is to respond to the WGFC's application as required
under 36 CFR 251.50. In addition, the need for the federal action is to
address any gaps between desired and existing conditions at Dell Creek
and Forest Park feedgrounds associated with disease (including
brucellosis and chronic wasting disease), elk habitat, recreation
opportunities (hunting and wildlife viewing), and the condition of
soil, vegetation, riparian areas, and associated fish and wildlife.
Proposed Action
The WGFC's proposal is to continue long-term use (20 years) of the
Dell Creek feedground (35 acres), Forest Park feedgound (100 acres),
and existing facilities for their winter elk management program. Hay
would be distributed from horse-drawn sleighs daily between November
15th and April 30th, depending on winter conditions. The WGFC would
maintain and operate existing facilities necessary for their ongoing
winter elk management activities including: Hay storage sheds, fenced
stackyard, corrals, elk traps, fencing, 0.25 mile of road, bridge,
cabin, spring development, water well and portable tack shed. No new
construction would be permitted. Winter elk management activities would
include, but are not limited to, feeding, capturing, collaring,
vaccinating and testing elk, and removing seropositive elk from the
population.
Preliminary Alternatives
Three preliminary alternatives, in addition to the proposed action,
have been identified. (1) No Special Use Authorization Alternative: Use
of National Forest System lands for WGFC's winter elk management
activities would not be permitted at Dell Creek and Forest Park
feedgrounds. WGFC would remove the existing facilities and re-
habilitate impacts at both locations. (2) Phase-Out Alternative: Use of
National Forest System lands for WGFC's winter elk management
activities would be permitted at Dell Creek and Forest Park feedgrounds
for less than 20 years. The number of days elk would be fed would
decrease over time. Upon expiration of the permit, use of National
Forest System lands for WGFC's winter elk management activities would
be terminated and WGFC would remove the existing facilities and re-
habilitate impacts at both locations. (3) Emergency Feeding Only
Alternative: Use of National Forest System lands for WGFC's winter elk
management activities would be permitted at Dell Creek and Forest Park
feedgrounds for emergency use only. Upon expiration of the permit, use
of National Forest System lands for WGFC's winter elk management
activities would be terminated and WGFC would remove the existing
facilities and re-habilitate impacts at both locations. Alternatives
will be developed based on comments received and issues identified.
Expected Impacts
The effect of the Forest Service authorizing the WGFC's occupancy
of Dell Creek and Forest Park feedgrounds and use of associated
facilities would be that the WGFC utilizes these feedgrounds to
implement their elk management program. Under the WGFC's elk management
program, supplemental winter feeding increases over-winter elk survival
by maintaining body condition. Winter feeding of elk reduces
transmission of diseases to livestock, such as brucellosis, by reducing
commingling of wintering elk and livestock. The continuation of
feedground operations may increase elk mortality by increasing the
prevalence of chronic wasting disease in the elk herds that use the
feedgrounds. Conversely, terminating elk winter feeding may reduce elk
winter survival. A decrease in the health and population size of elk
herds would negatively impact hunting and wildlife viewing
opportunities.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
Forest Service is the lead agency and Wyoming Game and Fish
Department, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Geological
Survey are cooperating agencies.
Responsible Official
The responsible official is the Forest Supervisor of the Bridger-
Teton National Forest, Patricia O'Connor.
Scoping Comments and the Objection Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. In this process
the Agency is requesting comments on potential alternatives and
impacts, and identification of any relevant information, studies or
analyses of any kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the
human environment.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. Commenting during
scoping and any other designated opportunity to comment provided by the
Responsible Official will also establish standing to object once the
notice of the final EIS and draft Record of Decision has been published
in the newspaper of record. Comments received in response to this
solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will
be part of the public record for this proposed action. Comments
submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered, however, they
will not be used to establish standing for the objection process.
Permits Required
A Forest Service special use permit would be required to authorize
WGFC's use of facilities at Dell Creek and Forest Park feedgrounds to
conduct their elk winter feeding and related management activities.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Forest Service is to decide whether to reauthorize the WGFC
long-term use of Dell Creek and Forest Park feedgrounds and associated
facilities to conduct their elk management activities, and if so, under
what conditions.
Dated: January 7, 2022.
Barnie Gyant,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2022-00700 Filed 1-13-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 14, 2022.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.