60-Day notice (pdf.) pub. in Fed. Reg.

Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 75 / Thursday, April 18, 2019 / Notices

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• Enhance engagement with partners
for collaborative implementation of new
plan direction.
Proposed Action
A collaborative stakeholder group led
by the Wyoming Department of
Agriculture worked for several months
in 2018 to develop recommendations for
a proposed action. To meet the needs
identified above and based on the
recommendations of the collaborative
workgroup, the Thunder Basin National
Grassland proposes the following:
1. Change the existing Thunder Basin
National Grassland Management Area
3.63, ‘‘Black-footed Ferret
Reintroduction Habitat,’’ to a new
Management Area 3.67, ‘‘Rangelands
with Short-stature Vegetation
Emphasis.’’
2. Draw the boundaries for
Management Area 3.67 to strategically
use natural barriers to prairie dog
movement such as the Cheyenne River
and Rochelle Hills and to reduce
conflicts in prairie dog management.
3. Eliminate use of the Black-tailed
Prairie Dog Conservation Assessment
and Management Strategy for the
Thunder Basin National Grassland
(2009, 2015), and amend the Thunder
Basin National Grassland Land and
Resource Management Plan to include
all necessary direction for prairie dog
management.
4. Establish a minimum 1⁄4 mile
boundary management zone in
Management Area 3.67 where the
Grassland shares a border with private
or State property, and allow landowners
to request up to a 3⁄4 mile boundary
management zone for special
circumstances. Within boundary
management zones, lethal control of
prairie dogs in cooperation with other
landowners will be the priority.
5. Where possible, adopt use of the
Natural Resources Conservation
Service’s Ecological Site Descriptions in
Management Area 3.67 as the basis to
describe plant communities, evaluate
current and desired conditions, and
maintain or improve native vegetation
and wildlife habitat.
6. Within Management Area 3.67,
manage active prairie dog colonies
toward a target of 10,000 acres to
support viable populations of associated
species such as mountain plover,
burrowing owl, and swift fox. Colonies
would be distributed across the
landscape and vary in size up to
approximately 1,000 acres with an
emphasis on colonies of 100 to 400
acres. At least one complex in
Management Area 3.67 would be
managed for at least 1,500 acres of
active prairie dog colonies.

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7. Allow use of a suite of tools for
prairie dog management throughout
Management Area 3.67, including but
not limited to translocation, application
of Deltamethrin (i.e., ‘‘Delta dust’’ or
equivalent), fences, vegetative barriers,
and rodenticides. Do not allow use of
anticoagulant rodenticides.
8. Allow recreational shooting in
Management Area 3.67 with seasonal
restrictions in place when necessary.
9. Consider recommendations for
prairie dog management from a thirdparty collaborative stakeholder group.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Forest Service will be the lead
agency. The Wyoming Department of
Agriculture, Wyoming Game and Fish
Department, Campbell County,
Converse County, and Weston County
have been identified as formal
cooperating agencies at this time. Other
federal, State, and local agencies; tribes;
and other stakeholders that are
interested in or affected by the proposed
action are invited to participate in the
scoping process. If eligible, they may
request or be asked by the Forest Service
to participate in the environmental
analysis process as a cooperating
agency.
Responsible Official
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests
and Thunder Basin National Grassland
Supervisor Russell Bacon.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The responsible official will decide:
(1) Whether or not to implement the
plan amendment as described in the
proposed action, (2) whether or not to
implement the plan amendment as
described in a future alternative
analyzed in detail, (3) whether or not to
implement a combination of alternatives
analyzed in detail, (4) whether or not to
adopt amended grassland-wide,
geographic area, and management area
direction consistent with the selected
alternative(s), and (5) whether to take no
action.
Scoping Process
This Notice of Intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. The Forest Service is
seeking information, comments, and
assistance from Tribal Governments;
Federal, State, and local agencies; and
individuals and organizations interested
in or affected. During the weeks of May
6 or May 13, 2019, the Forest Service
will host one public meeting in Douglas,
WY and one online publc webinar.
Information about public meetings is
posted online with a scoping document

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that includes detailed information on
the proposed action, maps, and
proposed amended plan direction (e.g.,
desired conditions, objectives,
standards, and guidelines) at: http://
www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_
exp.php?project=55479. Individuals
may also provide comments and sign up
to be on the electronic mailing list at
that site.
Comments that address specific
environmental impacts that are of
concern or modifications to the proposal
will be most useful in the development
of the environmental impact statement
and plan amendment. 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.
The decision on this proposed plan
amendment will be subject to the
objection process for the planning
process (36 CFR part 219, subpart B).
Only those individuals and entities who
submit substantive formal comments
related to this proposed plan
amendment during the opportunities for
public comment as provided in 36 CFR
part 219, subpart A may file an
objection. The burden is on the objector
to demonstrate compliance with
requirements for objection (36 CFR
219.53).
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.
Dated: March 22, 2019.
Allen Rowley,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National
Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2019–07809 Filed 4–17–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Information Collection Activity;
Comment Request
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice and request for
comments.

AGENCY:
ACTION:

In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
United States Department of
Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Utilities
Service (RUS) invites comments on this
information collection for which the
Agency intends to request approval
from the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB).

SUMMARY:

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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 75 / Thursday, April 18, 2019 / Notices

Comments on this notice must be
received by June 17, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Dickson, Rural Development
Innovation Center—Regulatory Team,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522,
Washington, DC 20250, Telephone:
202–690–4492, email: thomas.dickson@
usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office
of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR part 1320)
implementing provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
L. 104–13) requires that interested
members of the public and affected
agencies have an opportunity to
comment on information collection and
recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an
information collection that RUS is
submitting to OMB as a revision to an
existing collection. Comments are
invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the Agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
Agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information
technology. Comments may be sent to:
Thomas Dickson, Rural Development
Innovation Center—Regulatory Team,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522,
Washington, DC 20250, Telephone:
202–690–4492, email: thomas.dickson@
usda.gov.
Title: Operating Reports for
Telecommunications and Broadband
Borrowers.
OMB Control Number: 0572–0031.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Abstract: Rural Utilities Service
(RUS), an agency delivering the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
utilities programs, is a credit agency.
RUS makes mortgage loans and loan
guarantees to finance electric,
broadband, telecommunications, and
water and waste facilities in rural areas.
In addition to providing loans and loan
guarantees, one of the Agency’s main
objectives is to safeguard loan security

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DATES:

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until the loan is repaid. This collection
of information covers the
Telecommunications Operating Report,
the Broadband Operating Report, and
RUS Form 674, ‘‘Certificate of Authority
to Submit or Grant Access to Data.’’ The
data collected via the
Telecommunications Operating Report
is collected through the USDA Data
Collection System. The data collected
via the Broadband Operating Report is
collected through the USDA Broadband
Collection and Analysis System. The
data collected via the
Telecommunication and Broadband
Operating reports is required by the loan
contract and provides Rural
Development with vital financial
information necessary to ensure the
maintenance of the security for the
Government’s loans, and statistical data
to enable the Agency to ensure the
provision of quality telecommunications
and broadband services as mandated by
the Rural Electrification Act (RE Act) of
1936. The data collected through the
operating reports provides financial
information to ensure loan security
consistent with due diligence and is
essential to protect loan security. The
data collected via RUS Form 674
provides information to the Agency to
allow Rural Development Electric,
Telecommunications and Broadband
program Borrowers to file electronic
Operating Reports with the Agency
using the USDA Data Collection System.
RUS Form 674, accompanied by a Board
Resolution, identifies the name and
USDA eAuthentication ID for a certifier
and security administrator who will
have access to the USDA Data
Collection System for purposes of filing
electronic Operating Reports. The
information collected on the RUS Form
674 is submitted in hard copy by
Borrowers only when revisions are
required or, in the case of a first time
Borrower, when initially submitting the
data.
Estimate of Burden: Public reporting
for this collection of information is
estimated to average 4.7 hours per
response.
Respondents: Business or other forprofits and not-for-profit Institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
580.
Estimated Number of Responses per
Respondent: 2.26.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 6296 hours.
Copies of this information collection
can be obtained from MaryPat Daskal,
Rural Development Innovation Center—
Regulations Team, Telephone: (202)
720–7853, Email: MaryPat.Daskal@
usda.gov. All responses to this notice
will be summarized and included in the

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request for OMB approval. All
comments will also become a matter of
public record.
Chad Rupe,
Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service.
[FR Doc. 2019–07806 Filed 4–17–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Information Collection Activity;
Comment Request
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice and request for
comments.

AGENCY:
ACTION:

In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Rural Utilities Service (RUS) invites
comments on this information
collection for which RUS intends to
request approval from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB).
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by June 17, 2019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas Dickson, Rural Development
Innovation Center—Regulatory Team,
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1522,
Washington, DC 20250, Telephone:
202–690–4492, email: thomas.dickson@
usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office
of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR 1320) implementing
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13) requires
that interested members of the public
and affected agencies have an
opportunity to comment on information
collection and recordkeeping activities
(see 5 CFR 1320.8(d)). This notice
identifies an information collection that
RUS is submitting to OMB for
extension.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information will
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of
the Agency’s estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on those who are to respond, including
through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or
other technological collection
SUMMARY:

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