Revision of Land Management Plan, Dixie and Fishlake National Forests, Located in Southwest Utah., 44884-44885 [05-15424]

Download as PDF 44884 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 149 / Thursday, August 4, 2005 / Notices additional treatments could be done to maintain satisfactory conditions. • Reduce fuels to levels consistent with Forest Plan guidelines on acreage outside of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). • Conduct prescribed burning to reduce hazardous fuels on 24,141 treated acres and 9,149 non-treated acres. • Maintain 56 miles of fuelbreaks (2,140 acres—included in thinning acres above) by removing all limbs lower than 5 feet and by removing most trees less than 9″ diameter (except in limited areas to be managed for trees less than 9″ in diameter). • Close or re-close all roads within the project area except: Hwy 98A, Hwy 67, Forest Roads: 461, two short roads to J.L. Lookout Tower, roads in Jacob Lake Campground & Group Area, ADOT yard access road, 2098, 2284, 2333, 2366, 246, 246E, 246L, 246LA, 246T, 247, 248, 248A to bottom of canyon, 249, 249E, 257, 257G, 260, 264, 264H, 279, 279A, 280, 282, 282A, 282F, 3709, 3726, 3730, 3847, 3878, 3894, 3911, 3917A, 3989, 461, 461B, 461G, 461I, 461N, 462, 482, 482G, 482M, 487, 487A, 579, 579A, 603, 603E, 628, 628C, 634, 636, 639, 800, 800B, 800K, 8116, 9603, 9303M, 9604, 9607N, D155, D202, D261, D282, D284, D627, D447, D475, D476, D674, D679, D684, D688, D689, and D738. Possible Alternatives The District considered an alternative to the proposed action on November 14, 2001. This alternative limits vegetative manipulation to ponderosa pine trees, 12 inches d.b.h. and less with no hazard tree removal. Responsible Official Michael R. Williams—800 6th Street, Williams, AZ 86046–2899. Nature of Decision To Be Made Given the purpose and need, the Kaibab National Forest, Forest Supervisor will review the proposed action, the other alternatives, and their impacts to the resources in order to make the following decisions: (1) Whether or not the Jacob Ryan Vegetation Management project will proceed as proposed in the Proposed Action. (2) Whether or not the Jacob Ryan Vegetation Management project will proceed as described in one of the alternatives to the Proposed Action. (3) Which mitigation measures are necessary to reduce project effects. Scoping Process The proposal was first listed in the October 2000 Schedule of Proposed VerDate jul<14>2003 16:23 Aug 03, 2005 Jkt 205001 Actions. In addition, as part of the public involvement process, the District initiated discussions with key stakeholders with the objective of collaboratively defining old growth characteristics and identifying potential treatment activities that could be ‘‘tested’’ within old growth vegetation as part of the Jacob Ryan Vegetation Management project in the summer of 1998. After receiving public comments, we clarified the proposal. Preliminary Issues The Forest identified 3 significant issues during scoping. These issues are: (1) Managing only 20% of the Plateau for old growth will result in the lost opportunity to develop additional old growth. (2) The proposed WUI treatment area is too large, and will remove more trees than necessary for the protection needed. (3) Livestock grazing in the Jacob Ryan area may affect the ability to reach the ecosystem goal of meadow restoration. Comment Requested This notice of intent initiates the Environmental Impact Statement Process for the Jacob Ryan Vegetation Management project. Early Notice of Important of Public Participation in Subsequent Environmental Review: A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability 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 Cir. 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 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 action participate by the close of the 45day comment period so 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 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 on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points. Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal and will be available for public inspection. (Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 21) Dated: July 27, 2005. Jill Leonard, District Ranger. [FR Doc. 05–15400 Filed 8–3–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Revision of Land Management Plan, Dixie and Fishlake National Forests, Located in Southwest Utah. Forest Service, USDA. Notice of adjustment to Federal Register Notice of Vol. 67, No. 90, p. 31178, May 9, 2002, and Vol. 67, No. 91, p. 31761, May 10, 2002, and transition to the 2005 Planning Rule at 36 CFR 219 (FR Vol. 70, No. 3./January 5, 2005, 1023). AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Dixie and Fishlake National Forests will exercise their option to adjust the land management plan revision process from compliance with the 1982 planning regulations, to conform with new planning regulations adopted in January 2005. This adjustment will have the following effects: 1. The new rule redefines forest plans to be more strategic and flexible to E:\FR\FM\04AUN1.SGM 04AUN1 44885 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 149 / Thursday, August 4, 2005 / Notices better facilitate adaptive management and public collaboration. 2. The new rule focuses more on the goals of ecological, social, and economic sustainability and less on prescriptive means of producing goods and services. 3. The Responsible Official who will approve the final plan will now be the Forest Supervisor instead of the Regional Forester. 4. The forests will establish an environmental management system (per ISO 14001:2004(E)) prior to completion of the revised forest plan. 5. The emphasis of public involvement will be a collaborative effort between the public and the Forest Service to incorporate the most desirable management options into a single broadly supported management direction package that will become the Forest Plan. 6. Administrative review will change from a post-decision appeals process to a predecision objection process. Public Involvement: There has been a great deal of public participation and collaborative work on this planning process over the past few years, including more than 75 public meetings. Results of this work and a preliminary proposed action are available for review and comment. Current information and details of public participation opportunities are posted on our Web site: https:// www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie/projects/FParea/ HomePage.htm. Contact Ellen Row at (435) 896–9233, or email at, ellenrow@fs.fed.us to be placed on our mailing list. ADDRESSES: Mailing address: Dixie and Fishlake Forest Plan Revision, 115 E 900 North, Richfield UT, 84701. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Fay, Planning Team Leader, Fishlake National Forest, (435) 896– 9233 or email: ffay@fs.fed.us; or view our Web site at https://www.fs.fed.us/r4/ dixie/projects/FParea/HomePage.htm. DATES: Transition is effective immediately upon publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Responsible Officials: Robert A. Russell, Forest Supervisor, Cedar City, Dixie National Forest, 1789 N. Wedgewood Lane, Cedar City UT, 84720. Mary C. Erickson, Forest Supervisor, Richfield, Fishlake National Forest, 115 E 900 North, Richfield UT, 84701. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Dixie and Fishlake National Forests are separate administrative units with separate forest plans. However, due to similar ecology, interested publics, and financial resources, the two forest plans are being revised with a single planning VerDate jul<14>2003 16:23 Aug 03, 2005 Jkt 205001 team. In May of 2002, the forests formally initiated a land management plan revision process with publication of a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for plan revision. The forests began an extensive public participation and collaboration process. The planning team has been working on comprehensive analyses of conditions and trends for the ecological, social and economic components of the plan area and related scales of analysis. The first phase of public participation was focused primarily on development of ‘‘vision’’ statements, desired conditions, management issues, and suitable land uses to be incorporated into the preliminary proposed action. Over sixty community meetings were conducted in this effort. During the second phase, the planning team met with the public to review the content of the preliminary proposal and to get feedback as to its desirability and feasibility. The review and feedback phase is ongoing. The planning team will draft a summary of findings from the analyses of ecological, social, and economic conditions in the form of a Comprehensive Evaluation Report. Many of these analyses have already been developed with and reviewed by public participants. We are still accepting feedback on the preliminary proposed action and the analyses. We will use these comments to further modify the plan proposal. The planning team will take additional collaborative steps to finish the draft plan components and to identify potential options. Remaining work includes drafting a summary of condition and trend analyses, plan components for formal review and comment, a monitoring program, and an environmental management system. This is an open planning process with numerous opportunities for the public to obtain information, provide comment, or participate in collaborative stakeholder activities. The focal points of future collaborative work will be: (1) Review and adjustment of the preliminary proposed action (2) identification and development of management objectives to assist in attaining or maintaining desired conditions, (3) formulation of guidelines to serve as operational controls to help ensure projects move toward or maintain desired conditions, and (4) development of the plan monitoring framework and environmental management system to guide adaptive management. We expect to complete this phase of collaboration by early Fall of 2005. Our remaining forest plan PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 revision schedule will be approximately as follows: Release of Draft Forest Plan and start of 90-day public comment period. Release of Final Plans and start of 30-day objection period. Final decision and start of plan implementation. Winter 2005–06 Summer 2006 Fall 2006 Please see our website to review proposed management direction in progress and other details. Dated: July 25, 2005. Robert A. Russell, Forest Supervisor, Dixie National Forest. Dated: July 22, 2005. Mary C. Erickson, Forest Supervisor, Fishlake National Forest. [FR Doc. 05–15424 Filed 8–3–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–ES–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Plumas County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Plumas County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will hold a meeting on August 5, 2005, in Portola, CA. The primary purpose of the meeting is to review Plumas National Forest Supervisor Cycle 5 project funding decisions, in addition to presentations on national RAC survey findings and various recreation topics. RAC project funding recommendations were made at a prior meeting on June 8. A short field trip will follow. DATES AND ADDRESSES: The August 5, 2005 meeting will take place from 9–12 at the Eastern Plumas Hospital Education Center, 500 1st Street, Portola, CA. Additionally, a short field trip to the Plumas Eureka Estates thinning project will take place from 1– 2:30, convening at the Beckwourth Ranger District office at 23 Mohawk Highway Road, Blairsden, CA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Anne Schramel Taylor, Forest Coordinator, USDA, Plumas National Forest, P.O. Box 11500/159 Lawrence Street, Quincy, CA 95971; (530) 283– 7850; or by e-mail eataylor@fs.fed.us. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Agenda items for the August 5 meeting include: (1) Review Forest Supervisor Cycle 5 funding decisions; (2) Review Corridor project, discuss, and make a recommendation, (3) Presentation: national RAC survey findings, (4) E:\FR\FM\04AUN1.SGM 04AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 149 (Thursday, August 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44884-44885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15424]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Revision of Land Management Plan, Dixie and Fishlake National 
Forests, Located in Southwest Utah.

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION:  Notice of adjustment to Federal Register Notice of Vol. 67, 
No. 90, p. 31178, May 9, 2002, and Vol. 67, No. 91, p. 31761, May 10, 
2002, and transition to the 2005 Planning Rule at 36 CFR 219 (FR Vol. 
70, No. 3./January 5, 2005, 1023).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Dixie and Fishlake National Forests will exercise their 
option to adjust the land management plan revision process from 
compliance with the 1982 planning regulations, to conform with new 
planning regulations adopted in January 2005.
    This adjustment will have the following effects:
    1. The new rule redefines forest plans to be more strategic and 
flexible to

[[Page 44885]]

better facilitate adaptive management and public collaboration.
    2. The new rule focuses more on the goals of ecological, social, 
and economic sustainability and less on prescriptive means of producing 
goods and services.
    3. The Responsible Official who will approve the final plan will 
now be the Forest Supervisor instead of the Regional Forester.
    4. The forests will establish an environmental management system 
(per ISO 14001:2004(E)) prior to completion of the revised forest plan.
    5. The emphasis of public involvement will be a collaborative 
effort between the public and the Forest Service to incorporate the 
most desirable management options into a single broadly supported 
management direction package that will become the Forest Plan.
    6. Administrative review will change from a post-decision appeals 
process to a predecision objection process.
    Public Involvement:
    There has been a great deal of public participation and 
collaborative work on this planning process over the past few years, 
including more than 75 public meetings. Results of this work and a 
preliminary proposed action are available for review and comment. 
Current information and details of public participation opportunities 
are posted on our Web site: https://www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie/projects/
FParea/HomePage.htm. Contact Ellen Row at (435) 896-9233, or email at, 
ellenrow@fs.fed.us to be placed on our mailing list.

ADDRESSES: Mailing address: Dixie and Fishlake Forest Plan Revision, 
115 E 900 North, Richfield UT, 84701.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Fay, Planning Team Leader, 
Fishlake National Forest, (435) 896-9233 or email: ffay@fs.fed.us; or 
view our Web site at https://www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie/projects/FParea/
HomePage.htm.

DATES: Transition is effective immediately upon publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register.
    Responsible Officials: Robert A. Russell, Forest Supervisor, Cedar 
City, Dixie National Forest, 1789 N. Wedgewood Lane, Cedar City UT, 
84720. Mary C. Erickson, Forest Supervisor, Richfield, Fishlake 
National Forest, 115 E 900 North, Richfield UT, 84701.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Dixie and Fishlake National Forests are 
separate administrative units with separate forest plans. However, due 
to similar ecology, interested publics, and financial resources, the 
two forest plans are being revised with a single planning team. In May 
of 2002, the forests formally initiated a land management plan revision 
process with publication of a notice of intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement for plan revision. The forests began an 
extensive public participation and collaboration process. The planning 
team has been working on comprehensive analyses of conditions and 
trends for the ecological, social and economic components of the plan 
area and related scales of analysis.
    The first phase of public participation was focused primarily on 
development of ``vision'' statements, desired conditions, management 
issues, and suitable land uses to be incorporated into the preliminary 
proposed action. Over sixty community meetings were conducted in this 
effort. During the second phase, the planning team met with the public 
to review the content of the preliminary proposal and to get feedback 
as to its desirability and feasibility. The review and feedback phase 
is ongoing. The planning team will draft a summary of findings from the 
analyses of ecological, social, and economic conditions in the form of 
a Comprehensive Evaluation Report. Many of these analyses have already 
been developed with and reviewed by public participants. We are still 
accepting feedback on the preliminary proposed action and the analyses. 
We will use these comments to further modify the plan proposal. The 
planning team will take additional collaborative steps to finish the 
draft plan components and to identify potential options. Remaining work 
includes drafting a summary of condition and trend analyses, plan 
components for formal review and comment, a monitoring program, and an 
environmental management system.
    This is an open planning process with numerous opportunities for 
the public to obtain information, provide comment, or participate in 
collaborative stakeholder activities. The focal points of future 
collaborative work will be: (1) Review and adjustment of the 
preliminary proposed action (2) identification and development of 
management objectives to assist in attaining or maintaining desired 
conditions, (3) formulation of guidelines to serve as operational 
controls to help ensure projects move toward or maintain desired 
conditions, and (4) development of the plan monitoring framework and 
environmental management system to guide adaptive management. We expect 
to complete this phase of collaboration by early Fall of 2005. Our 
remaining forest plan revision schedule will be approximately as 
follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Release of Draft Forest Plan and start of   Winter 2005-06
 90-day public comment period.
Release of Final Plans and start of 30-day  Summer 2006
 objection period.
Final decision and start of plan            Fall 2006
 implementation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Please see our website to review proposed management direction in 
progress and other details.

    Dated: July 25, 2005.
Robert A. Russell,
Forest Supervisor, Dixie National Forest.
    Dated: July 22, 2005.
Mary C. Erickson,
Forest Supervisor, Fishlake National Forest.
[FR Doc. 05-15424 Filed 8-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-ES-M

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.