Final Record of Decision for the National Forests in North Carolina, 10283-10284 [2023-03353]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2023 / Notices
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
requested regarding; whether the
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility; the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of burden including
the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; ways to enhance the
quality, utility and clarity of the
information to be collected; and ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of
information on those who are to
respond, including through the use of
appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Comments regarding this information
collection received by March 20, 2023
will be considered. Written comments
and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be
submitted within 30 days of the
publication of this notice on the
following website www.reginfo.gov/
public/do/PRAMain. Find this
particular information collection by
selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day
Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or
by using the search function.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor a collection of information
unless the collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB control
number and the agency informs
potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such
persons are not required to respond to
the collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
Title: Animal Welfare.
OMB Control Number: 0579–0036.
Summary of Collection:
Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA,
7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.), the Secretary of
Agriculture is authorized to promulgate
standards and other requirements
governing the humane handling, care,
treatment, and transportation of certain
animals by dealers, exhibitors, operators
of auction sales, research facilities,
carriers and intermediate handlers. The
Secretary has delegated responsibility
for administering the AWA to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service
(APHIS), Animal Care.
Definitions, regulations, and
standards established under the AWA
are contained in 9 CFR parts 1, 2, and
3 (referred to below as the regulations).
Part 1 contains definitions for terms
used in parts 2 and 3. Part 2 provides
administrative requirements and sets
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Jkt 259001
forth institutional responsibilities for
regulated parties, including licensing
requirements for dealers, exhibitors, and
operators of auction sales. Dealers,
exhibitors, and operators of auction
sales are required to comply in all
respects with the regulations and
standards (9 CFR 2.100(a)) and to allow
APHIS officials access to their place of
business, facilities, animals, and records
to inspect for compliance (9 CFR 2.126).
Part 3 provides standards for the
humane handling, care, treatment, and
transportation of covered animals. Part
3 consists of subparts A through E,
which contain specific standards for
dogs and cats, guinea pigs and hamsters,
rabbits, nonhuman primates, and
marine mammals, respectively, and
subpart F, which sets forth general
standards for warmblooded animals not
otherwise specified in part 3.
Need and Use of the Information
Administering the AWA requires the
use of several information collection
activities such as license applications
and renewals, which now include a
request to identify whether the business
mailing address is a personal residence
or not a personal residence; registration
applications and updates; annual
reports; acknowledgement of regulations
and standards; inspections; requests;
notifications; agreements; plans; written
program of veterinary care and health
records; itineraries; applications and
permits; records of acquisition,
disposition, or transport of animals;
official identification; variances;
protocols; health certificates;
complaints; marking requirements; and
recordkeeping. The information is used
to provide APHIS with the data
necessary to review and evaluate
program compliance by regulated
facilities, and provide a workable
system to administer the requirements
of the AWA and intent of Congress
without resorting to more detailed and
stringent regulations and standards that
could be more burdensome to regulated
facilities.
Description of Respondents:
Individuals or Households; Businesses
or Other For-Profit Entities; Not-ForProfit Institutions; State, Local, and
Tribal Governments; Foreign Federal
Governments.
Number of Respondents: 45,295.
Frequency of Responses:
Recordkeeping; Reporting; Third Party
Disclosure: On occasion.
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10283
Total Burden Hours: 330,408.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2023–03453 Filed 2–16–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Final Record of Decision for the
National Forests in North Carolina
Forest Service, Agriculture
(USDA).
ACTION: Notice of approval of the revised
Land Management Plan for the
Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests.
AGENCY:
James Melonas, the Forest
Supervisor for the National Forests in
North Carolina, Southern Region, signed
the Final Record of Decision (ROD) for
the revised Nantahala and Pisgah
National Forests Land Management Plan
(LMP). The final ROD documents the
rationale for approving the revised LMP
and is consistent with the Reviewing
Officer’s responses to objections and
instructions.
DATES: The revised LMP for the
Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests
will become effective 30 days after the
publication of this notice of approval in
the Federal Register (36 CFR
219.17(a)(1)).
ADDRESSES: To view the final ROD,
Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS), the revised LMP, and other
related documents, please visit the
National Forests in North Carolina
website at: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/nfsnc/
nprevision. A legal notice of approval is
also being published in the newspaper
of record, Asheville Citizen Times. A
copy of this legal notice will be posted
on the National Forests in North
Carolina website as listed in ADDRESSES.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michelle Aldridge, Forest Planner,
Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests,
by telephone 828–257–4200, or via
email at michelle.aldridge@usda.gov.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
or hard of hearing (TDD) may call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800–877–
8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the
year, including holidays. Written
requests for information may be sent to
National Forests in North Carolina,
Attn: Forest Plan Revision, 160 Zillicoa
Street, Ste. A; Asheville, NC 28801.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests
span six ranger districts and
SUMMARY:
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10284
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 33 / Friday, February 17, 2023 / Notices
approximately 1.04 million acres across
18 counties in Western North Carolina.
The Forests have a combined LMP. The
LMP was developed pursuant to the
2012 Forest Service Planning Rule (36
CFR 219) and will replace the current
LMP, which was significantly amended
in 1994 following its 1987 release. The
revised LMP describes desired
conditions, objectives, standards,
guidelines, and land suitability for
project and activity decision-making
and will guide all resource management
activities on the Forests.
The Nantahala and Pisgah National
Forests lie within one of the oldest
mountain ranges in the world and are a
global hotspot for biodiversity, with a
rich diversity of ecosystems, unique
habitats, and rare species. The
Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests
are among the most visited in the
National Forest System with nationally
recognized scenic and recreation
destinations that are among the region’s
greatest economic assets. The Pisgah
Forest is also home to the birthplace of
scientific forestry in America.
The Nantahala and Pisgah National
Forests initiated LMP revision in 2013.
During revision, the Forests engaged
with federal, state, and local
governments; 18 counties; three regional
councils of government; local
congressional staff; scientists; numerous
interest and industry groups;
individuals; and three collaborative
groups that serve as liaisons to broader
communities of interests. The design of
public and government involvement
was dynamic, allowing opportunities to
both inform and accept feedback on the
planning process as well as specific
elements of the LMP. Public
participants had opportunities to engage
through more than 49 traditional public
meetings, as well as through virtual
meetings, facilitated phone calls, social
media, email, and postal mail. The
Forests engaged in government-togovernment consultation with 12
federally recognized tribes. The revised
LMP honors and redeems the Forests’
trust responsibility to tribes, recognizes
tribes and tribal members as partners in
stewarding the national forests, and
values traditional ecological knowledge
and places of tribal significance. The
development of the LMP was shaped by
the best available scientific information,
current laws, and public and
government input.
A 135-day public comment period on
the draft LMP and associated Draft EIS
was initiated on February 14, 2020.
Comments were used to refine the
preferred alternative and augment LMP.
A draft ROD, LMP, and FEIS were
released in January 2022, initiating a 60-
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Jkt 259001
day objection filing period that closed
March 22, 2022. The Forest Service
received 825 eligible objections.
Following the objection review, the
Reviewing Officer held objection
resolution meetings with objectors and
interested persons. Based on these
meetings, the Reviewing Officer issued
a written response on January 19, 2023.
The instructions from the Reviewing
Officer were addressed in the ROD,
LMP, and FEIS.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Bureau of Land Management is a
cooperating agency per their legal
jurisdiction over the federal mineral
estate underlying the Nantahala and
Pisgah National Forests and provides
information and special expertise
related to subsurface mineral resources.
Responsible Official
The Responsible Official for
approving the revised LMP is James E.
Melonas, Forest Supervisor, National
Forests in North Carolina. The
Responsible Official approving the list
of species of conservation concern is
Ken Arney, Regional Forester, Southern
Region.
Dated: February 9, 2023.
Troy Heithecker,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
System.
[FR Doc. 2023–03353 Filed 2–16–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest;
Washington; Forest Plan Amendment
for Planning and Management of
Domestic Sheep and Goat Grazing
Within the Range of Bighorn Sheep;
Correction
Forest Service, Agriculture
(USDA).
ACTION: Correction to notice of intent to
prepare an environmental impact
statement.
AGENCY:
The USDA Forest Service
published a notice of intent (NOI) to
prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) in the Federal Register
on May 17, 2019 (84 FR 22432). The
NOI served as the scoping document for
the Forest Plan Amendment for
Planning and Management of Domestic
Sheep and Goat Grazing Within the
Range of Bighorn Sheep for the
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
(Forest). After the initial 2019 scoping
effort, the Forest determined the need to
SUMMARY:
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update the NOI with new dates for the
draft EIS and final EIS, new contact
information, revised need for action,
revised proposed action, preliminary
alternatives, and nature of the decision
to be made.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by
April 3, 2023. The draft EIS is expected
December 2023 and the final EIS is
expected December 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to:
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest,
Domestic Sheep EIS, 215 Melody Lane,
Wenatchee, Washington 98801. Written
comments can be submitted in person at
the above address during regular
business hours between 8:00 a.m. and
4:30 p.m., Pacific Time, Monday
through Friday. Comments may also be
submitted online at https://
www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=53257
or via facsimile to 509–664–9280.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stacy Lundgren, Environmental
Coordinator, via email at
stacy.lundgren@usda.gov. Individuals
who use telecommunication devices for
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339,
24 hours a day, every day of the year,
including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose for this action remains
the same as described in the 2019 NOI
found here: https://www.govinfo.gov/
content/pkg/FR-2019-05-17/pdf/201910266.pdf. The need has been revised to
address new concerns related to existing
allotment management plans.
To address these concerns, the Forest
needs to amend both the Okanogan and
Wenatchee Forest Plans to identify
which existing grazing allotments are
suitable or unsuitable for domestic
sheep and goat grazing. The Forest also
needs to identify potential site-specific
grazing opportunities which could be
made available to existing sheep
permittees on the Forest. In contrast to
the 2019 NOI, the proposed plan
amendments and allotment analyses
will not address grazing allotments on
the Tonasket Ranger District, as that
unit is now administered by the Colville
National Forest.
Proposed Action
The revised proposed action would:
(1) amend the Okanogan and Wenatchee
Forest Plans to provide guidance for
where domestic livestock grazing might
be feasible and appropriate; and (2)
develop site-specific allotment
management plans for grazing of
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10283-10284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03353]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Final Record of Decision for the National Forests in North
Carolina
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of approval of the revised Land Management Plan for the
Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: James Melonas, the Forest Supervisor for the National Forests
in North Carolina, Southern Region, signed the Final Record of Decision
(ROD) for the revised Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests Land
Management Plan (LMP). The final ROD documents the rationale for
approving the revised LMP and is consistent with the Reviewing
Officer's responses to objections and instructions.
DATES: The revised LMP for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests
will become effective 30 days after the publication of this notice of
approval in the Federal Register (36 CFR 219.17(a)(1)).
ADDRESSES: To view the final ROD, Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS), the revised LMP, and other related documents, please visit the
National Forests in North Carolina website at: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/nfsnc/nprevision. A legal notice of approval is also being published in
the newspaper of record, Asheville Citizen Times. A copy of this legal
notice will be posted on the National Forests in North Carolina website
as listed in ADDRESSES.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Aldridge, Forest Planner,
Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, by telephone 828-257-4200, or
via email at [email protected].
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf or hard
of hearing (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800-877-
8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.
Written requests for information may be sent to National Forests in
North Carolina, Attn: Forest Plan Revision, 160 Zillicoa Street, Ste.
A; Asheville, NC 28801.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests
span six ranger districts and
[[Page 10284]]
approximately 1.04 million acres across 18 counties in Western North
Carolina. The Forests have a combined LMP. The LMP was developed
pursuant to the 2012 Forest Service Planning Rule (36 CFR 219) and will
replace the current LMP, which was significantly amended in 1994
following its 1987 release. The revised LMP describes desired
conditions, objectives, standards, guidelines, and land suitability for
project and activity decision-making and will guide all resource
management activities on the Forests.
The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests lie within one of the
oldest mountain ranges in the world and are a global hotspot for
biodiversity, with a rich diversity of ecosystems, unique habitats, and
rare species. The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are among the
most visited in the National Forest System with nationally recognized
scenic and recreation destinations that are among the region's greatest
economic assets. The Pisgah Forest is also home to the birthplace of
scientific forestry in America.
The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests initiated LMP revision in
2013. During revision, the Forests engaged with federal, state, and
local governments; 18 counties; three regional councils of government;
local congressional staff; scientists; numerous interest and industry
groups; individuals; and three collaborative groups that serve as
liaisons to broader communities of interests. The design of public and
government involvement was dynamic, allowing opportunities to both
inform and accept feedback on the planning process as well as specific
elements of the LMP. Public participants had opportunities to engage
through more than 49 traditional public meetings, as well as through
virtual meetings, facilitated phone calls, social media, email, and
postal mail. The Forests engaged in government-to-government
consultation with 12 federally recognized tribes. The revised LMP
honors and redeems the Forests' trust responsibility to tribes,
recognizes tribes and tribal members as partners in stewarding the
national forests, and values traditional ecological knowledge and
places of tribal significance. The development of the LMP was shaped by
the best available scientific information, current laws, and public and
government input.
A 135-day public comment period on the draft LMP and associated
Draft EIS was initiated on February 14, 2020. Comments were used to
refine the preferred alternative and augment LMP. A draft ROD, LMP, and
FEIS were released in January 2022, initiating a 60-day objection
filing period that closed March 22, 2022. The Forest Service received
825 eligible objections. Following the objection review, the Reviewing
Officer held objection resolution meetings with objectors and
interested persons. Based on these meetings, the Reviewing Officer
issued a written response on January 19, 2023. The instructions from
the Reviewing Officer were addressed in the ROD, LMP, and FEIS.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Bureau of Land Management is a cooperating agency per their
legal jurisdiction over the federal mineral estate underlying the
Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests and provides information and
special expertise related to subsurface mineral resources.
Responsible Official
The Responsible Official for approving the revised LMP is James E.
Melonas, Forest Supervisor, National Forests in North Carolina. The
Responsible Official approving the list of species of conservation
concern is Ken Arney, Regional Forester, Southern Region.
Dated: February 9, 2023.
Troy Heithecker,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2023-03353 Filed 2-16-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
