Revision of the Land Management Plans for the Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests, 31083-31084 [2014-12515]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 104 / Friday, May 30, 2014 / Notices
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
considering petitions for determinations
of nonregulated status of GE organisms,
APHIS accepts written comments
regarding a petition once APHIS deems
it complete. In a notice 2 published in
the Federal Register on April 22, 2013,
(78 FR 23738–23740, Docket No.
APHIS–2013–0013), APHIS announced
the availability of the Monsanto
Company and Forage Genetics
International petition for public
comment. APHIS solicited comments on
the petition for 60 days ending on June
21, 2013, in order to help identify
potential environmental and
interrelated economic impacts that
APHIS may determine should be
considered in our evaluation of the
petition.
APHIS received 55 comments on the
petition. Issues raised during the
comment period included concerns
regarding potential impacts on human
and animal health and nontarget
organisms, herbicide use changes, and
herbicide-resistant weeds. APHIS has
evaluated the issues raised during the
comment period and, where
appropriate, has provided a discussion
of those issues in our draft
environmental assessment (EA).
After public comments are received
on a completed petition, APHIS
evaluates those comments and then
provides a second opportunity for
public involvement in our decisionmaking process. According to our public
input process (see footnote 1), the
second opportunity for public
involvement follows one of two
approaches, as described below.
If APHIS decides, based on its review
of the petition and its evaluation and
analysis of comments received during
the 60-day public comment period on
the petition, that the petition involves a
GE organism that raises no substantive
new issues, APHIS will follow
Approach 1 for public involvement.
Under Approach 1, APHIS announces in
the Federal Register the availability of
APHIS’ preliminary regulatory
determination along with its EA,
preliminary finding of no significant
impact (FONSI), and its plant pest risk
assessment (PPRA) for a 30-day public
review period. APHIS will evaluate any
information received related to the
APHIS–2011–0129) a notice describing our public
review process for soliciting public comments and
information when considering petitions for
determinations of nonregulated status for GE
organisms. To view the notice, go to https://
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2011-0129.
2 To view the notice, the petition, and the
comments we received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS2013-0013.
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18:23 May 29, 2014
Jkt 232001
petition and its supporting documents
during the 30-day public review period.
Alternatively, if APHIS decides, based
on its review of the petition and its
evaluation and analysis of comments
received during the 60-day public
comment period on the petition, that the
petition involves a new crop-trait GE
organism or raises substantive new
issues, APHIS will follow Approach 2.
Under Approach 2, APHIS first solicits
written comments from the public on a
draft EA and a PPRA for a 30-day
comment period through the
publication of a Federal Register notice.
Then, after reviewing and evaluating the
comments on the draft EA and the PPRA
and other information, APHIS will
revise the PPRA as necessary and
prepare a final EA and, based on the
final EA, a National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) decision document
(either a FONSI or a notice of intent to
prepare an environmental impact
statement). For this petition, we are
using Approach 2.
APHIS has prepared a PPRA to
determine if alfalfa event KK179 is
unlikely to pose a plant pest risk. In
section 403 of the Plant Protection Act,
‘‘plant pest’’ is defined as any living
stage of any of the following that can
directly or indirectly injure, cause
damage to, or cause disease in any plant
or plant product: A protozoan, a
nonhuman animal, a parasitic plant, a
bacterium, a fungus, a virus or viroid, an
infectious agent or other pathogen, or
any article similar to or allied with any
of the foregoing.
APHIS has also prepared a draft EA in
which we present two alternatives based
on our analysis of data submitted by the
Monsanto Company and Forage
Genetics International, a review of other
scientific data, field tests conducted
under APHIS oversight, and comments
received on the petition. APHIS is
considering the following alternatives:
(1) Take no action, i.e., APHIS would
not change the regulatory status of
alfalfa event KK179 and it would
continue to be a regulated article, or (2)
make a determination of nonregulated
status of alfalfa event KK179. APHIS’
preferred alternative is to make a
determination of nonregulatory status of
alfalfa event KK179.
The EA was prepared in accordance
with (1) NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.), (2) regulations of the
Council on Environmental Quality for
implementing the procedural provisions
of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), (3)
USDA regulations implementing NEPA
(7 CFR part 1b), and (4) APHIS’ NEPA
Implementing Procedures (7 CFR part
372).
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31083
In accordance with our process for
soliciting public input when
considering petitions for determinations
of nonregulated status of GE organisms,
we are publishing this notice to inform
the public that APHIS will accept
written comments on our draft EA and
our PPRA regarding the petition for a
determination of nonregulated status
from interested or affected persons for a
period of 30 days from the date of this
notice. Copies of the draft EA and the
PPRA, as well as the previously
published petition, are available as
indicated in the ADDRESSES and FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT sections
of this notice.
As indicated previously, after the
comment period closes, APHIS will
review all written comments received
during the comment period and any
other relevant information. After
reviewing and evaluating the comments
on the draft EA and the PPRA and other
information, APHIS will revise the
PPRA as necessary and prepare a final
EA. Based on the final EA, APHIS will
prepare a NEPA decision document
(either a FONSI or a notice of intent to
prepare an environmental impact
statement). If a FONSI is reached,
APHIS will furnish a response to the
petitioner, either approving or denying
the petition. APHIS will also publish a
notice in the Federal Register
announcing the regulatory status of the
GE organism and the availability of
APHIS’ final EA, PPRA, FONSI, and our
regulatory determination.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 7701–7772 and 7781–
7786; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 7 CFR 2.22, 2.80, and
371.3.
Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of
May 2014.
Kevin Shea,
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2014–12553 Filed 5–29–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Revision of the Land Management
Plans for the Helena and Lewis and
Clark National Forests
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of initiation of the
assessment phase of the land
management plan revision process for
the Helena and Lewis and Clark
National Forests.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Helena and Lewis and
Clark National Forests, located in
Montana, are initiating the forest
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM
30MYN1
31084
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 104 / Friday, May 30, 2014 / Notices
planning process pursuant to the 2012
Forest Planning Rule. One assessment
and one plan will be developed for both
Forests. This process results in a Forest
Land Management Plan which describes
the strategic direction for management
of forest resources for the next ten to
fifteen years on the Helena and Lewis
and Clark National Forests. The first
phase of the process, the assessment
phase, is beginning and interested
parties will be invited to contribute in
the development of the assessment (36
CFR 219.6). The Forests will host open
houses, exact dates and times will be
posted on the listed below. The
assessment is expected to be completed
in December 2014. The trends and
conditions identified in the assessment
will help inform the need for change.
With this notice, the Forests invite other
governments, non-governmental parties,
and the public to help us identify new
information on exisiting forest
conditions for consideration in the
assessement.
The assessment for the Helena
and Lewis and Clark National Forests is
expected to be completed by December
31, 2014 and will be posted on the
following Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/
goto/hlc/forestplanrevision.
From May 2014 through August 2014,
the public is invited to provide existing
resource information to the Forests to
include in the assessment. In early 2015,
the public will be invited to engage in
a collaborative process to develop a
proposed action. The Forests will then
initiate procedures pursuant to the
NEPA and prepare a revised a forest
plan.
DATES:
Written comments or
questions concerning this notice should
be addressed to Helena and Lewis and
Clark National Forests, Attn.: Plan
Revision, 2880 Skyway Dr., Helena,
Montana 59602.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin
Swiader, Forest Plan Revision Team
Leader, 406–495–3774. 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.
More information on the planning
process can also be found on the
following Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/
goto/hlc/forestplanrevision.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
National Forest Management Act
(NFMA) of 1976 requires that every
National Forest System (NFS) unit
develop a land management plan. On
April 9, 2012, the Forest Service
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:23 May 29, 2014
Jkt 232001
finalized its land management planning
rule (2012 Planning Rule), which
provides broad programmatic direction
to National Forests and National
Grasslands for developing and
implementing their land management
plans. Forest plans describe the strategic
direction for management of forest
resources for ten to fifteen years, and are
adaptive and amendable as conditions
change over time.
The first phase of the planning
process is the assessment phase. Under
the 2012 Planning Rule, the assessment
rapidly evaluates existing information
about relevant ecological, social, and
economic trends and conditions. The
second stage is guided, in part, by the
National Environment Policy Act
(NEPA) and includes the preparation of
an environmental impact statement and
revised Forest Plan for public review
and comment. The third stage of the
process is monitoring and feedback,
which is ongoing over the life of the
revised forest plans.
As public meetings, other
opportunities for public engagement,
and public comment opportunities are
identified, notifications will be posted
on the Forest Plan Revision Web site at
www.fs.usda.gov/goto/hlc/
forestplanrevision and information will
be sent out to the Forest’s mailing list.
If anyone is interested in being on the
Forests’ mailing list to receive these
notifications, please contact Erin
Swiader, Forest Plan Revision Team
Leader, at the mailing address identified
above, by sending an email to
hlcplanrevision@fs.fed.us, or by
telephone 406–495–3774.
The responsible official for the
revision of the land management plan
for the Helena and Lewis and Clark
National Forests is William Avey, Forest
Supervisor, Helena and Lewis and Clark
National Forests, 2880 Skyway Dr.,
Helena, Montana 59602.
Dated: May 23, 2014.
William Avey,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014–12515 Filed 5–29–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
El Dorado County Resource Advisory
Committee
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of meetings.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The El Dorado County
Resource Advisory Committee (RAC)
will meet in Placerville, California. The
SUMMARY:
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Sfmt 4703
committee is authorized under the
Secure Rural Schools and Community
Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110–
343) (the Act) and operates in
compliance with the Federal Advisory
Committee Act. The purpose of the
committee is to improve collaborative
relationships and to provide advice and
recommendations to the Forest Service
concerning projects and funding
consistent with the title II of the Act.
The meetings are open to the public.
The purpose of the meeting is to review
operational procedures, evaluate project
proposals, prioritize a list of projects for
funding in FY 2014, and vote to
recommend projects for funding.
DATES: The meetings will be held at 6
p.m. on the following dates:
• June 16, 2014
• June 23, 2014
All RAC meetings are subject to
cancellation. For status of meeting prior
to attendance, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
The meeting will be held at
the El Dorado Center of Folsom Lake
College, Community Room, 6699
Campus Drive, Placerville, California.
Written comments may be submitted
as described under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION. All comments, including
names and addresses when provided,
are placed in the record and are
available for public inspection and
copying. The public may inspect
comments received at Eldorado National
Forest (ENF) Supervisor’s Office. Please
call ahead to facilitate entry into the
building.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kristi Schroeder, RAC Coordinator, by
phone at 530–295–5610 or via email at
kschroeder@fs.fed.us.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.,
Eastern Standard Time, Monday
through Friday. Please make requests in
advance for sign language interpreting,
assistive listening devices or other
reasonable accommodation for access to
the facility or proceedings by contacting
the person listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Additional RAC information, including
the meeting agenda and the meeting
summary/minutes can be found at the
following Web site: www.fs.usda.gov/
eldorado. The agenda will include time
for people to make oral statements of
three minutes or less. Individuals
wishing to make an oral statement
should request in writing by June 11,
E:\FR\FM\30MYN1.SGM
30MYN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 104 (Friday, May 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31083-31084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12515]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Revision of the Land Management Plans for the Helena and Lewis
and Clark National Forests
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of initiation of the assessment phase of the land
management plan revision process for the Helena and Lewis and Clark
National Forests.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests, located in
Montana, are initiating the forest
[[Page 31084]]
planning process pursuant to the 2012 Forest Planning Rule. One
assessment and one plan will be developed for both Forests. This
process results in a Forest Land Management Plan which describes the
strategic direction for management of forest resources for the next ten
to fifteen years on the Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests.
The first phase of the process, the assessment phase, is beginning and
interested parties will be invited to contribute in the development of
the assessment (36 CFR 219.6). The Forests will host open houses, exact
dates and times will be posted on the listed below. The assessment is
expected to be completed in December 2014. The trends and conditions
identified in the assessment will help inform the need for change. With
this notice, the Forests invite other governments, non-governmental
parties, and the public to help us identify new information on
exisiting forest conditions for consideration in the assessement.
DATES: The assessment for the Helena and Lewis and Clark National
Forests is expected to be completed by December 31, 2014 and will be
posted on the following Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/hlc/forestplanrevision.
From May 2014 through August 2014, the public is invited to provide
existing resource information to the Forests to include in the
assessment. In early 2015, the public will be invited to engage in a
collaborative process to develop a proposed action. The Forests will
then initiate procedures pursuant to the NEPA and prepare a revised a
forest plan.
ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions concerning this notice should
be addressed to Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests, Attn.:
Plan Revision, 2880 Skyway Dr., Helena, Montana 59602.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Swiader, Forest Plan Revision
Team Leader, 406-495-3774. 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.
More information on the planning process can also be found on the
following Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/hlc/forestplanrevision.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of
1976 requires that every National Forest System (NFS) unit develop a
land management plan. On April 9, 2012, the Forest Service finalized
its land management planning rule (2012 Planning Rule), which provides
broad programmatic direction to National Forests and National
Grasslands for developing and implementing their land management plans.
Forest plans describe the strategic direction for management of forest
resources for ten to fifteen years, and are adaptive and amendable as
conditions change over time.
The first phase of the planning process is the assessment phase.
Under the 2012 Planning Rule, the assessment rapidly evaluates existing
information about relevant ecological, social, and economic trends and
conditions. The second stage is guided, in part, by the National
Environment Policy Act (NEPA) and includes the preparation of an
environmental impact statement and revised Forest Plan for public
review and comment. The third stage of the process is monitoring and
feedback, which is ongoing over the life of the revised forest plans.
As public meetings, other opportunities for public engagement, and
public comment opportunities are identified, notifications will be
posted on the Forest Plan Revision Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/hlc/forestplanrevision and information will be sent out to the Forest's
mailing list. If anyone is interested in being on the Forests' mailing
list to receive these notifications, please contact Erin Swiader,
Forest Plan Revision Team Leader, at the mailing address identified
above, by sending an email to hlcplanrevision@fs.fed.us, or by
telephone 406-495-3774.
The responsible official for the revision of the land management
plan for the Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests is William
Avey, Forest Supervisor, Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests,
2880 Skyway Dr., Helena, Montana 59602.
Dated: May 23, 2014.
William Avey,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-12515 Filed 5-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P