Tongass National Forest; Alaska; Forest Plan Amendment, 30074-30075 [2014-12061]

Download as PDF sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 30074 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 101 / Tuesday, May 27, 2014 / Notices For participants who cannot make it to the listening session in person, remote participation will be available: • Dial 1–800–981–3173 and enter Conference ID: 5173. We invite all participants to submit comments by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments; or • Orally at the listening session; please also provide a written copy of your comments online as specified. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Primary program point of contact is Chad Maisel, Phone: 202–720–4581, Email: chad.maisel@osec.usda.gov. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact the USDA Target Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 7, 2014, the 2014 Farm Bill (Pub. L. 113–79) was signed into law. The Secretary of Agriculture and the respective USDA agencies, including Rural Development, are working to implement the provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill as expeditiously as possible to meet the needs of stakeholders. To plan and implement the newly authorized Strategic Economic and Community Development priority funding, it is important to engage with our stakeholders to learn and understand their comments, concerns, or requests. Rural Development will hold the Strategic Economic and Community Development priority funding listening session on Thursday, June 5, 2014, to receive oral comments from stakeholders and the public. Oral comments received from this listening session will be documented and/or recorded. All attendees of this listening session who submit oral comments are requested to submit a written copy to help Rural Development accurately capture public input. (See the ADDRESSES section above for information about submitting written comments.) In addition, stakeholders and the public who do not wish to attend or speak at the listening session are invited to submit written comments, which must be received by June 12, 2014, via regulations.gov, as described above. At the listening session, the focus is for Rural Development to hear from the public; this is not a discussion with Rural Development officials or a question and answer session. As noted above, the purpose is to receive public input that Rural Development can VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:12 May 23, 2014 Jkt 232001 consider in order to implement the Strategic Economic and Community Development provision of the 2014 Farm Bill. Rural Development is interested in receiving input on all aspects on the implementation of this provision, including, but not limited to, defining ‘‘multi-jurisdictional’’ and ‘‘strategic economic and community development plan’’ and application requirements for applicants seeking funding under this provision. Date: Thursday, June 5, 2014. Time: 1:00 p.m.—4:00 p.m. Location information: USDA headquarters, in the Whitten Building, Room 108–A, 14th Street and Jefferson Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20250. The listening session will begin with brief opening remarks from USDA leadership in Rural Development. Individual speakers providing oral comments are requested to be succinct (no more than 5 min) as we do not know at this time how many participants there will be. As noted above, we request that speakers providing oral comments also provide a written copy of their comments. (See the ADDRESSES section above for information about submitting written comments.) All stakeholders and interested members of the public are welcome to register to provide oral comments; however, if necessary due to time constraints, a limited number will be selected on a first come, first serve basis. Instructions for Attending the Listening Session Space for attendance at the listening session is limited. Due to USDA headquarters security and space requirements, all persons wishing to attend the listening session in person or via phone must send an email to chad.maisel@osec.usda.gov by June 3, 2014, to register. Registrations will be accepted until maximum capacity is reached. To register, provide the following information: • First Name • Last Name • Organization • Title • Email • Phone Number • City • State Upon arrival at the USDA Whitten Building, registered persons must provide valid photo identification in order to enter the building; visitors need to enter the Whitten Building on the mall side. Please allow extra time to get through security. Additional information about the listening session, agenda, directions to get to the listening PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 session, and how to provide comments is available at the USDA Farm Bill Web site https://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/ usda/usdahome?navid=farmbill. All written comments received will be publicly available on www.regulations.gov. If you require special accommodations, such as a sign language interpreter, use the contact information above. The listening session location is accessible to persons with disabilities. Dated: May 22, 2014. Doug O’Brien, Acting Under Secretary, Rural Development. [FR Doc. 2014–12332 Filed 5–23–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–XY–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Tongass National Forest; Alaska; Forest Plan Amendment Forest Service, USDA. Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: ACTION: The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) that evaluates an amendment to the 2008 Tongass National Forest Plan. The Record of Decision will consider and identify changes, if any, to the current 2008 Forest Plan. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by June 26, 2014. The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be mailed by August 2015, which will begin a 90-day public comment period. Public meetings and subsistence hearings will be scheduled during the 90-day comment period. The Record of Decision is expected to be signed by August 2016. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest, Attn: Forest Plan Amendment, 648 Mission Street Ketchikan, AK 99901. Comments may also be sent via email to: comments-alaska-tongass@ fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to (907) 772– 5895. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information is available on the Tongass Forest Plan Internet site at https://www.fs.usda.gov/land/tongass/ landmanagement. General and specific comments on the amendment can be submitted online at this Internet site. Questions about the project can be also directed to Rick Abt, Operations and Planning Staff Officer, (Telephone 907– 228–6289, or email rabt@fs.fed.us). SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\27MYN1.SGM 27MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 101 / Tuesday, May 27, 2014 / Notices Written inquiries can be directed to: Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest, Attn: Forest Plan Amendment, 648 Mission Street Ketchikan, AK 99901. 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: On July 2, 2013, Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack issued Memorandum 1044–009, Addressing Sustainable Forestry in Southeast Alaska. The Memorandum expresses the Secretary’s intent to transition the Tongass National Forest to a more ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable forest management program: To conserve the Tongass National Forest under the principles of the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960, Tongass Timber Reform Act and other relevant statutes, we must speed the transition away from oldgrowth timber harvesting and towards a forest industry that utilizes second growth— or young growth—forests. Moreover, we must do this in a way that preserves a viable timber industry that provides jobs and opportunities for residents of Southeast Alaska. . . USDA’s goal is to effectuate this transition over the next 10 to 15 years, so that at the end of this period the vast majority of timber sold by the Tongass will be young growth. The Secretary’s Memorandum also asks the Forest Service to take several steps needed to achieve this goal, including: sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Strongly consider whether to pursue an amendment to the Tongass Forest Plan. Such an amendment would evaluate which lands will be available for timber harvest, especially young growth timber stands, which lands should be excluded, and additional opportunities to promote and speed transition to young growth management. The Forest Service has also recently completed a 5-year review of the Tongass National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). Based on that review and the Secretary’s Memorandum, the Forest Service has determined that the Forest Plan needs to be changed to accomplish the transition to a timber sale program on the Tongass based primarily on young growth management within the next 10 to 15 years, while maintaining a viable timber industry and increasing the use of young growth, as specified by the Secretary in Memorandum 1044– 009. The Forest Service is initiating the process to amend the Forest Plan under the forest planning regulations found at 36 CFR part 219. As called for in the VerDate Mar<15>2010 19:12 May 23, 2014 Jkt 232001 30075 Secretary’s Memorandum, the Forest Service is establishing an advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide advice on how to expedite the transition to young growth management, which may include advice on how to amend the Forest Plan. changes made to the Tongass Forest Plan will affect the overall integrity of the Plan’s conservation strategy. Purpose and Need for Action The Forest Service is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to describe the effects of making proposed changes to the Tongass Forest Plan to accomplish the transition to young growth management as provided in the Secretary’s Memorandum. The Forest Service will evaluate which lands should be available for timber harvest, especially young growth timber stands, and any proposed changes to standards and guidelines and other management direction to promote and speed the transition to young growth management while maintaining a viable timber industry in Southeast Alaska. It will also evaluate other changes suggested in the 5-year review. Nature of Decision To Be Made Proposed Action The Forest Service proposes to amend the Tongass Forest Plan, using the 2012 Planning Rule, as needed to accomplish the transition to young growth management over the next 10 to 15 years while retaining the expertise and infrastructure of a viable timber industry in Southeast Alaska, as outlined by the Secretary in Memorandum 1044–009. The amendment process will address: Identifying areas suitable and not suitable for timber harvest to achieve the transition to young growth management; whether the Tongass needs to be able to harvest young growth forest stands before they reach their maximum rate of growth; what changes in management direction should be made to promote young growth management; whether the inventory of roadless areas should be updated, which may require additional rulemaking; whether changes are needed to provide for development of hydropower; updating the upper limit on the quantity of timber that may be sold from the Tongass to reflect other changes made; and how to modify the monitoring provisions of the Plan as required by the 2012 Planning Rule, including identifying focal species to monitor instead of management indicator species as required by the former planning regulations. The amendment process may address other topics relevant to promoting and speeding the transition to young growth management. It is not expected that PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 Responsible Official The Forest Supervisor of the Tongass National Forest is the Responsible Official for this amendment. The Responsible Official will decide what changes to make to the Tongass Forest Plan to accomplish the transition to young-growth management as directed by the Secretary in Memorandum 1044–009. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. A variety of methods will be used to notify and involve the public. One of the primary methods for communicating with the public will be through a Forest Planning Web site. This site will include a variety of information about the Forest Plan Amendment process, including descriptions of the planning process, work products and evaluation reports, newsletters, draft and final EIS, and other key documents. The posting of work products and evaluation reports throughout the process will be accompanied by a request for public comment and a defined public comment period. In this way, public participation will be an ongoing process and public input through comments will influence the process as it evolves. The Web site will also provide electronic methods for providing comments (email or direct online entry) and may be used for public open houses or hearings. 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. 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: May 15, 2014. Forrest Cole, Tongass Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2014–12061 Filed 5–23–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P E:\FR\FM\27MYN1.SGM 27MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 27, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30074-30075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12061]


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

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Tongass National Forest; Alaska; Forest Plan Amendment

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) that evaluates an amendment to the 
2008 Tongass National Forest Plan. The Record of Decision will consider 
and identify changes, if any, to the current 2008 Forest Plan.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by June 26, 2014. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
to be mailed by August 2015, which will begin a 90-day public comment 
period. Public meetings and subsistence hearings will be scheduled 
during the 90-day comment period. The Record of Decision is expected to 
be signed by August 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Forest Supervisor, Tongass 
National Forest, Attn: Forest Plan Amendment, 648 Mission Street 
Ketchikan, AK 99901. Comments may also be sent via email to: comments-alaska-tongass@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to (907) 772-5895.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information is available on 
the Tongass Forest Plan Internet site at https://www.fs.usda.gov/land/tongass/landmanagement. General and specific comments on the amendment 
can be submitted online at this Internet site. Questions about the 
project can be also directed to Rick Abt, Operations and Planning Staff 
Officer, (Telephone 907-228-6289, or email rabt@fs.fed.us).

[[Page 30075]]

Written inquiries can be directed to: Forest Supervisor, Tongass 
National Forest, Attn: Forest Plan Amendment, 648 Mission Street 
Ketchikan, AK 99901.
    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: On July 2, 2013, Secretary of Agriculture 
Thomas Vilsack issued Memorandum 1044-009, Addressing Sustainable 
Forestry in Southeast Alaska. The Memorandum expresses the Secretary's 
intent to transition the Tongass National Forest to a more 
ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable forest management 
program:

    To conserve the Tongass National Forest under the principles of 
the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960, Tongass Timber Reform 
Act and other relevant statutes, we must speed the transition away 
from old-growth timber harvesting and towards a forest industry that 
utilizes second growth--or young growth--forests. Moreover, we must 
do this in a way that preserves a viable timber industry that 
provides jobs and opportunities for residents of Southeast Alaska. . 
. USDA's goal is to effectuate this transition over the next 10 to 
15 years, so that at the end of this period the vast majority of 
timber sold by the Tongass will be young growth.

    The Secretary's Memorandum also asks the Forest Service to take 
several steps needed to achieve this goal, including:

    Strongly consider whether to pursue an amendment to the Tongass 
Forest Plan. Such an amendment would evaluate which lands will be 
available for timber harvest, especially young growth timber stands, 
which lands should be excluded, and additional opportunities to 
promote and speed transition to young growth management.

    The Forest Service has also recently completed a 5-year review of 
the Tongass National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest 
Plan). Based on that review and the Secretary's Memorandum, the Forest 
Service has determined that the Forest Plan needs to be changed to 
accomplish the transition to a timber sale program on the Tongass based 
primarily on young growth management within the next 10 to 15 years, 
while maintaining a viable timber industry and increasing the use of 
young growth, as specified by the Secretary in Memorandum 1044-009. The 
Forest Service is initiating the process to amend the Forest Plan under 
the forest planning regulations found at 36 CFR part 219. As called for 
in the Secretary's Memorandum, the Forest Service is establishing an 
advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide 
advice on how to expedite the transition to young growth management, 
which may include advice on how to amend the Forest Plan.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Forest Service is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) to describe the effects of making proposed changes to the Tongass 
Forest Plan to accomplish the transition to young growth management as 
provided in the Secretary's Memorandum. The Forest Service will 
evaluate which lands should be available for timber harvest, especially 
young growth timber stands, and any proposed changes to standards and 
guidelines and other management direction to promote and speed the 
transition to young growth management while maintaining a viable timber 
industry in Southeast Alaska. It will also evaluate other changes 
suggested in the 5-year review.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service proposes to amend the Tongass Forest Plan, using 
the 2012 Planning Rule, as needed to accomplish the transition to young 
growth management over the next 10 to 15 years while retaining the 
expertise and infrastructure of a viable timber industry in Southeast 
Alaska, as outlined by the Secretary in Memorandum 1044-009. The 
amendment process will address: Identifying areas suitable and not 
suitable for timber harvest to achieve the transition to young growth 
management; whether the Tongass needs to be able to harvest young 
growth forest stands before they reach their maximum rate of growth; 
what changes in management direction should be made to promote young 
growth management; whether the inventory of roadless areas should be 
updated, which may require additional rulemaking; whether changes are 
needed to provide for development of hydropower; updating the upper 
limit on the quantity of timber that may be sold from the Tongass to 
reflect other changes made; and how to modify the monitoring provisions 
of the Plan as required by the 2012 Planning Rule, including 
identifying focal species to monitor instead of management indicator 
species as required by the former planning regulations. The amendment 
process may address other topics relevant to promoting and speeding the 
transition to young growth management. It is not expected that changes 
made to the Tongass Forest Plan will affect the overall integrity of 
the Plan's conservation strategy.

Responsible Official

    The Forest Supervisor of the Tongass National Forest is the 
Responsible Official for this amendment.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Responsible Official will decide what changes to make to the 
Tongass Forest Plan to accomplish the transition to young-growth 
management as directed by the Secretary in Memorandum 1044-009.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. A variety of 
methods will be used to notify and involve the public. One of the 
primary methods for communicating with the public will be through a 
Forest Planning Web site. This site will include a variety of 
information about the Forest Plan Amendment process, including 
descriptions of the planning process, work products and evaluation 
reports, newsletters, draft and final EIS, and other key documents. The 
posting of work products and evaluation reports throughout the process 
will be accompanied by a request for public comment and a defined 
public comment period. In this way, public participation will be an 
ongoing process and public input through comments will influence the 
process as it evolves. The Web site will also provide electronic 
methods for providing comments (email or direct on-line entry) and may 
be used for public open houses or hearings. 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.
    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: May 15, 2014.
Forrest Cole,
Tongass Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-12061 Filed 5-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
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