First Phase of the Forest Planning Process for the Bio-Region, 5165 [2013-01254]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 16 / Thursday, January 24, 2013 / Notices at https://www.grants.gov. For information on how to use Grants.Gov, please consult https://www.grants.gov/ GetRegistered. Applications must be received by February 7, 2013. Cooperative Agreements will be sent by the AMS to participating State Departments of Agriculture via express mail. The Cooperative Agreement must have the original signature of an official who has authority to apply for Federal assistance. The signed cooperative agreement must be sent by express mail or courier service and received by the NOP at the address under the ADDRESSES section of this Notice by February 7, 2013. The AMA Organic Certification CostShare Program is listed in the ‘‘Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance’’ under number 10.171. Subject agencies must adhere to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination in all Federally-assisted programs. Additional information on the AMA Organic Certification Cost-Share Program can be found on the NOP’s Web site at https://www.ams.usda.gov/ NOPCostSharing. Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1524. Dated: January 18, 2013. David R. Shipman, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2013–01409 Filed 1–23–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–02–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service First Phase of the Forest Planning Process for the Bio-Region U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, California. ACTION: Notice of Intent to initiating the first phase of the forest planning process for the Bio-Region. AGENCY: Come gather ’round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You’ll be drenched to the bone If your time to you is worth savin’ Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone For the times, they are a-changin’. Bob Dylan, The Times They Are Achangin’ © 1963, 1964, 1991, 1992. The Pacific Southwest Region is initiating the first phase of the forest planning process pursuant to the 2012 Forest Planning Rule which will describe the strategic direction for management of forest resources for the erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:12 Jan 23, 2013 Jkt 229001 next ten to fifteen years. This notice communicates that the informal phase of the Bio-Regional Assessment has begun. The Bio-Regional Assessment Report will be completed in July 2013. The Forest-level Assessment Reports for the three early adopter Forests which will tier from the Bio-Regional Assessment Report and will be completed in December, 2013. The formal revision process will begin in 2014. DATES: U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region 5, Attn.: Ecosystem Planning, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, California, 94592. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald L. Pugh, Deputy Director, Ecosystem Planning, 707–562–8951. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ADDRESSES: Purpose and Need for Action The Pacific Southwest Region of the United States, United States Department of Agriculture, along with the Sierra, Inyo, and Sequoia National Forests, are initiating the first phase of the forest planning process pursuant to the 2012 Forest Planning Rule. Forest plans describe the strategic direction for management of forest resources for the next ten to fifteen years, and are adaptive and amendable as conditions change over time. This initial phase includes the assessment of resource condition and trend at the bioregional and forest scales. Although not required by the new Planning Rule, the Region will complete a Bio-Regional Assessment to help provide a landscape scale perspective to the required forest assessments. An assessment is the first step in revising forest plans. Under the 2012 Planning Rule, the planning process is continuous and includes three stages extending over the life of the Revised Forest Plan. The first stage is the assessment of resources, and occurs in the first year. The second stage is the formal process required by the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) and includes the preparation of Draft Environmental Impact Statements and Revised Forest Plan for public review and comment, and the preparation of the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Revised Forest Plan. We expect the second stage to take two years. The third stage of the process is monitoring and feedback, which is PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5165 ongoing over the life of the revised forest plans. We are committed to collaboration and to strengthening public engagement throughout the process. Collaboration and communication plans are being developed with the help of stakeholders at the regional and forest levels. Each plan is unique to the needs of the people and communities being served. The goal is not complete agreement; we seek common context and understanding. Regional and forest specialists have begun collecting information to describe existing resource conditions and trends. The Bio-Regional Assessment Report will be completed in July 2013. Responsible Official Regional Forester Randy Moore, Pacific Southwest Region, U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Nature of Decision To Be Made Region-wide conditions and trends will be addressed in the Bio-Regional Assessment to help provide a landscape scale context for the Sierra Nevada, southern Cascades, and the Modoc Plateau. The bio-regional Assessment Report will be completed in July 2013. Scoping Process At this phase of forest plan revision there is no formal Scoping Process; however, we are committed to collaboration and to strengthening public engagement throughout the process. A collaboration and communication plan that was developed with the help of stakeholders is in place. For information on current events, meetings, workshops, important dates and how to participate in forest plan revision, visit the Pacific Southwest Region 5 Web site: https:// www.fs.usda.gov/r5/; and Our Forest Place: https://ourforestplace.ning.com/. Dated: January 9, 2013. Randy Moore, Regional Forester. [FR Doc. 2013–01254 Filed 1–23–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Ashley Resource Advisory Committee Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: The Ashley Resource Advisory Committee will meet in Vernal, Utah. The committee is meeting SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\24JAN1.SGM 24JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 5165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01254]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


First Phase of the Forest Planning Process for the Bio-Region

AGENCY: U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, California.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to initiating the first phase of the forest 
planning process for the Bio-Region.

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

SUMMARY: Come gather 'round people
    Wherever you roam
    And admit that the waters
    Around you have grown
    And accept it that soon
    You'll be drenched to the bone
    If your time to you is worth savin'
    Then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone
    For the times, they are a-changin'.

Bob Dylan, The Times They Are A-changin' (copyright) 1963, 
1964, 1991, 1992.

    The Pacific Southwest Region is initiating the first phase of the 
forest planning process pursuant to the 2012 Forest Planning Rule which 
will describe the strategic direction for management of forest 
resources for the next ten to fifteen years. This notice communicates 
that the informal phase of the Bio-Regional Assessment has begun.

DATES: The Bio-Regional Assessment Report will be completed in July 
2013. The Forest-level Assessment Reports for the three early adopter 
Forests which will tier from the Bio-Regional Assessment Report and 
will be completed in December, 2013. The formal revision process will 
begin in 2014.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region 5, Attn.: 
Ecosystem Planning, 1323 Club Drive, Vallejo, California, 94592.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ronald L. Pugh, Deputy Director, 
Ecosystem Planning, 707-562-8951. Individuals who use telecommunication 
devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 
Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Pacific Southwest Region of the United States, United States 
Department of Agriculture, along with the Sierra, Inyo, and Sequoia 
National Forests, are initiating the first phase of the forest planning 
process pursuant to the 2012 Forest Planning Rule. Forest plans 
describe the strategic direction for management of forest resources for 
the next ten to fifteen years, and are adaptive and amendable as 
conditions change over time. This initial phase includes the assessment 
of resource condition and trend at the bioregional and forest scales. 
Although not required by the new Planning Rule, the Region will 
complete a Bio-Regional Assessment to help provide a landscape scale 
perspective to the required forest assessments. An assessment is the 
first step in revising forest plans.
    Under the 2012 Planning Rule, the planning process is continuous 
and includes three stages extending over the life of the Revised Forest 
Plan. The first stage is the assessment of resources, and occurs in the 
first year. The second stage is the formal process required by the 
National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) and includes the preparation of 
Draft Environmental Impact Statements and Revised Forest Plan for 
public review and comment, and the preparation of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement and Revised Forest Plan. We expect the 
second stage to take two years. The third stage of the process is 
monitoring and feedback, which is ongoing over the life of the revised 
forest plans.
    We are committed to collaboration and to strengthening public 
engagement throughout the process. Collaboration and communication 
plans are being developed with the help of stakeholders at the regional 
and forest levels. Each plan is unique to the needs of the people and 
communities being served. The goal is not complete agreement; we seek 
common context and understanding.
    Regional and forest specialists have begun collecting information 
to describe existing resource conditions and trends. The Bio-Regional 
Assessment Report will be completed in July 2013.

Responsible Official

    Regional Forester Randy Moore, Pacific Southwest Region, U.S.D.A. 
Forest Service.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Region-wide conditions and trends will be addressed in the Bio-
Regional Assessment to help provide a landscape scale context for the 
Sierra Nevada, southern Cascades, and the Modoc Plateau. The bio-
regional Assessment Report will be completed in July 2013.

Scoping Process

    At this phase of forest plan revision there is no formal Scoping 
Process; however, we are committed to collaboration and to 
strengthening public engagement throughout the process. A collaboration 
and communication plan that was developed with the help of stakeholders 
is in place.
    For information on current events, meetings, workshops, important 
dates and how to participate in forest plan revision, visit the Pacific 
Southwest Region 5 Web site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r5/; and Our Forest 
Place: https://ourforestplace.ning.com/.

    Dated: January 9, 2013.
Randy Moore,
Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. 2013-01254 Filed 1-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.