Plan Revision for Kaibab National Forest; Coconino, Yavapai, and Mojave Counties; AZ, 21221-21223 [2010-9425]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 78 (Friday, April 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21221-21223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9425]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Plan Revision for Kaibab National Forest; Coconino, Yavapai, and 
Mojave Counties; AZ

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to revise the forest plan.

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SUMMARY: As directed by the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), the 
USDA Forest Service is revising the Kaibab National Forest Land 
Management Plan (forest plan) and will also prepare an environmental 
impact statement (EIS) for the revised forest plan. This notice briefly 
describes the nature of the decision to be made, the proposed action 
and need for change, and information concerning public participation. 
It also provides estimated dates for filing the EIS and the names and 
addresses of the responsible agency official and the individuals who 
can provide additional information. Finally, this notice briefly 
describes the applicable planning rule and how work done on the plan 
revision under the 2008 planning rule will be used or modified for 
completing this plan revision.
    The revised Kaibab National Forest Land Management Plan will 
supersede the forest plan approved by the Regional Forester on April 
15, 1988, amended eight times from 1988 to 2009. Two of the eight 
amendments were site specific, involving the reclassification of 
suitable timberlands to non-forest lands. The other six amendments were 
programmatic; two clarified procedures, one incorporated direction for 
the Regional amendment of Forest plans (goshawk, spotted owl, and old 
growth), one incorporated direction for wildfire use, one adopted the 
Recreation Opportunity Spectrum and Scenery Management System for the 
Tusayan and Williams Ranger Districts, and one incorporated direction 
for the treatment of noxious and invasive weeds. This amended forest 
plan will remain in effect until the revised forest plan takes effect.

DATES: Comments concerning the need for change provided in this notice 
will be most useful in the development of the draft revised plan and 
draft environmental impact statement if received by June 1, 2010. The 
agency expects to release a draft revised plan and draft environmental 
impact statement for formal comment by fall 2010 and a final revised 
plan and final environmental impact statement by summer 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Kaibab National Forest, Attention: 
Forest Plan Revision Team, 800 S. 6th St., Williams, Arizona 86046. 
Comments may also be sent via e-mail to southwestern-kaibab@fs.fed.us 
or via facsimile to (928) 635-8208, with ``Forest Plan Revision'' in 
the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ariel Leonard, Forest Planner, Kaibab 
National Forest at (928) 635-8283 or e-mail: aleonard@fs.fed.us. 
Information on this revision is also available at the Kaibab National 
Forest revision Web site at https://fs.usda.gov/goto/kaibab/plan_revision or by request. Individuals who use telecommunication devices 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service 
(FIRS) at 800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time Monday 
through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Name and Address of the Responsible Official

    The responsible official is Corbin Newman, Regional Forester, 
Southwestern Region, 333 Broadway SE., Albuquerque, NM 87102.

Nature of the Decision To Be Made

    The EIS process is meant to inform the Regional Forester so that he 
can decide which forest plan alternative best meets the need to achieve 
quality land management under the sustainable multiple-use management 
concept, meet the diverse needs of people, and conserve the National 
Forest's resources, as required by the NFMA and the Multiple Use 
Sustained Yield Act (MUSYA). The new forest plan will describe the 
strategic intent of managing the Kaibab National Forest into the next 
10 to 15 years and will address the need for change described below. 
The new forest plan will provide management direction in the form of 
goals (desired conditions), objectives, suitability determinations, 
standards, guidelines, and a monitoring plan, including the 
identification of management indicator species (MIS). It may also make 
new special area recommendations for wilderness, or other special 
areas.
    As important as the decisions to be made is the identification of 
the types of decisions that will not be made within the revised forest 
plan. The authorization of project-level activities on the forests is 
not a decision made in the forest plan but occurs through subsequent 
project specific decision-making. The designation of routes, trails, 
and areas for motorized vehicle travel are not considered during plan 
revision, but are being addressed in concurrent, but separate, 
environmental assessments for motorized travel management planning on 
the Williams, Tusayan, and North Kaibab Ranger Districts. Some issues 
(e.g., hard rock mining on public domain lands), although important, 
are beyond the authority or control of the Kaibab National Forest and 
will not be considered. In addition, some issues, such as restoring 
cottonwood willow riparian forests, may not be undertaken at this time, 
but addressed later as future forest plan amendments.

Need for Change and Proposed Action

    Since the forest plan was approved in 1988, there has been a shift 
in management emphasis from outputs to outcomes, new scientific 
information and understanding, and changes in economic, social, and 
ecological conditions. The Analysis of the Management Situation (AMS) 
and subsequent management reviews identified four priority needs that 
will serve to focus the scope of this plan revision. These topics 
reflect the priority needs for change and potential changes in program 
direction that will be emphasized in the development of the revised 
forest plan:
    1. Modify stand structure and density of forested ecosystems 
towards reference conditions and restore historic fire regimes. The 
multiple ecological, social, and economic benefits of reducing the risk 
of uncharacteristic fires made this a primary area of focus. The 
revised Forest Plan will define desired characteristics including: 
Species composition; structural characteristics such as spacing tree 
groups and tree density; and disturbance patterns such as frequency, 
severity, intensity, and size and fire. It will also describe the 
strategies in the form of objectives, guidelines that will define the 
``when'', ``where'', and ``how'' to achieve the desired conditions. 
Objectives will focus on restoration activities such as thinning and 
burning in high priority areas. Guidelines and standards will serve to 
provide direction to focus and

[[Page 21222]]

constrain vegetation management activities.
    2. Protect and regenerate aspen. The protection and regeneration of 
aspen is a priority because of the important role aspen plays in 
providing local habitat diversity and scenery. Aspen stands are 
currently in decline throughout most of the southwest. On the Williams 
Ranger District, most aspen stands are generally unhealthy because they 
are being overtopped by conifers and there has been little to no 
recruitment of young trees due to heavy browsing by Rocky Mountain elk. 
The revised Forest Plan will define desired characteristics for aspen 
including regeneration, recruitment, structural composition, understory 
plants, and disturbance processes. Strategies for achieving desired 
conditions will focus on thinning encroaching conifers, protection from 
browse, and the reintroduction of fire.
    3. Protect natural waters. The Kaibab National Forest is one of the 
driest Forests in the Nation. With the exception of one perennial 
stream that is less than 2 miles in length, most of the natural waters 
are small springs and ephemeral wetlands. The current forest plan 
offers little guidance for managing these rare and ecologically 
important resources. Natural waters are centers of high biological 
diversity, have traditional cultural significance, and are popular 
recreation destinations. The revised forest plan will provide desired 
conditions and include strategies to restore and protect natural 
waters. This work is relatively inexpensive and would provide important 
ecological and social benefits.
    4. Restore grasslands by reducing tree encroachment in grasslands 
and meadows. Tree encroachment into grasslands has reduced the amount 
of grasslands significantly over the past 100 years. This reduction has 
reduced the amount and quality of available habitat for grassland-
associated species. The montane/subalpine grasslands on the North 
Kaibab Ranger District are at a higher risk of loss because they are 
linear and encroachment occurs more quickly. Desired conditions for 
grasslands will include desired natural patterns of abundance, 
composition, and distribution. Strategies will focus on reducing tree 
density, restoring fire to the ecosystem, and modifying fences that 
would improve habitat connectivity for pronghorn antelope.
    In addition to the priority needs for change topics above, this 
forest plan revision process will develop consistent, efficient, and 
scientifically-based plan components to provide direction for: (1) A 
balanced range of recreation opportunities within the limits of the 
administrative and resource capacity; (2) management response in the 
years immediately following large disturbance events; (3) energy 
corridors and renewable energy development requests; (4) mining 
exploration and development; (5) special-use management; and (6) 
special forest products collection. Additionally, the Forest will 
review the results of the Wilderness Needs Assessment and the 
eligibility of Kanab Creek Wild and Scenic River. Other needs for 
change have been and will continue to be identified. These may be 
addressed in the proposed forest plan, or incorporated in the future as 
amendments.

Public Involvement

    Extensive public involvement and collaboration has already taken 
place. The Kaibab National Forest has hosted multiple general public 
meetings in Williams, Tusayan, Flagstaff, Phoenix, Fredonia (all in 
Arizona) and in Kanab, Utah, as well as focused meetings on ecological 
sustainability and special areas. There was also a series of 
facilitated collaborative stakeholder meetings, supported by spatial 
modeling and analysis that were designed to identify high-priority 
treatment areas and provide guidance for restoring fire adapted 
ecosystems. The Kaibab National Forest also hosted five topic-based 
``collaborwriting'' sessions and an on-line discussion forum that 
focused on drafting desired conditions and guidance for grasslands, 
springs/wetlands, aspen, mixed conifer forests, and recreation. 
Consultation and collaboration with American Indian Tribes has been 
ongoing, with multiple government to government meetings with the Hopi, 
Navajo, Hualapai, Havasupai, Zuni, and Kaibab-Paiute Tribes. The Kaibab 
forest plan revision was also a topic at several multitribe and Navajo 
Chapters meetings.
    Based on the collaborative process and other input received to 
date, a working draft of the Kaibab National Forest Land Management 
Plan has been prepared and is available at https://fs.usda.gov/goto/kaibab/draft_plan for review and comment. The working draft is meant 
to provide a foundation for continued collaborative discussion and 
feedback before the proposed action/preferred alternative has been 
finalized. The information received in response to this notice of 
intent will be used to make additions and modifications needed to 
finalize the proposed forest plan, identify issues and potential 
alternatives, and guide the analysis of environmental effects.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of 
the revised forest plan and EIS. Therefore, comments on the proposed 
action and need for change will be most valuable if received by June 1, 
2010, and should clearly articulate the reviewer's concerns.
    Following the preparation of the draft environmental impact 
statement (DEIS) and Notice of Availability later this fall, there will 
be a formal notice and comment period.
    The submission of timely and specific comments can affect a 
reviewer's ability to participate in subsequent administrative or 
judicial review. At this time, we anticipate using the 2000 planning 
rule pre-decisional objection process (36 CFR 219.32) for 
administrative review.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including the 
names and addresses of those who comment will be part of the public 
record. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered.

Applicable Planning Rule

    Preparation of the revised plan was underway when the 2008 National 
Forest System land management planning rule was enjoined on June 30, 
2009, by the United States District Court for the Northern District of 
California (Citizens for Better Forestry v. United States Department of 
Agriculture, 632 F. Supp. 2d 968 (N.D. Cal. June 30, 2009)). On 
December 18, 2009, the Department reinstated the previous planning 
rule, commonly known as the 2000 planning rule in the Federal Register 
(Federal Register, Volume 74, No. 242, Friday, December 18, 2009, pages 
67059 thru 67075). The transition provisions of the reinstated rule (36 
CFR 219.35 and appendices A and B) allow use of the provisions of the 
National Forest System land and resource management planning rule in 
effect prior to the effective date of the 2000 Rule (November 9, 2000), 
commonly called the 1982 planning rule, to amend or revise plans. The 
Kaibab National Forest has elected to use the provisions of the 1982 
planning rule, including the requirement to prepare an EIS, to complete 
its plan revision.
    The Kaibab National Forest Plan revision was initiated with a 
Notice of Initiation in the Federal Register on April 20, 2009 (Vol. 
74, No. 74, pages 17947-17948). Although the 2008 planning rule is no 
longer in effect, information gathered prior to the court's injunction 
is useful for completing the plan revision using the provisions of the

[[Page 21223]]

1982 planning rule. The Kaibab National Forest has concluded that most 
of the materials developed for the plan revision process to date are 
appropriate for continued use in the revision process. The following 
foundation documents are available at: https://fs.usda.gov/goto/kaibab/plan_rev_docs.
     The Comprehensive Evaluation Report (CER) that was signed 
April 14, 2010, after substantial public collaboration forms the basis 
for need to change the existing Forest Plan and the proposed action for 
the plan revision.
     The CER supplementary document, which supplemented the CER 
with additional information to conform to the Analysis of Management 
Situation (AMS) need for change provisions of the 1982 planning rule, 
dated April 16, 2010.
     The Ecological Sustainability Report (ESR), completed in 
December 2008, will continue to be used as a reference in the planning 
process as appropriate to those items in conformance with the 2000 
planning rule transition language and 1982 planning rule provisions. It 
primarily contains scientific information that is not affected by the 
change of planning rule. This information will be updated with any new 
available information.
     The Social and Economic Sustainability Report completed in 
August 2008 is not affected by the change in planning rule and will 
continue to be used as a reference in the planning process. This 
information will be updated with new information as it is available.
    Additional background reports, assessments, and information will be 
used, some of which is available on the Kaibab National Forest at: 
https://fs.usda.gov/goto/kaibab/plan_revision.
    As necessary or appropriate, the material listed above will be 
further adjusted as part of the planning process using the provisions 
of the 1982 planning rule.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1600-1614; 36 CFR 219.35 (74 FR 67073-
67074).

    Dated: April 16, 2010.
Michael R. Williams,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2010-9425 Filed 4-22-10; 8:45 am]
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