Final Records of Decision for the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests, 34126 [2023-11347]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Page 34126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11347]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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Federal Register / Vol. 88 , No. 102 / Friday, May 26, 2023 / 
Notices

[[Page 34126]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Final Records of Decision for the Sequoia and Sierra National 
Forests

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of approval of the revised land management plans for the 
Sequoia and Sierra National Forests.

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SUMMARY: Teresa Benson, the Forest Supervisor for the Sequoia National 
Forest, Pacific Southwest Region, and Dean Gould, the Forest Supervisor 
for the Sierra National Forest, Pacific Southwest Region, signed final 
records of decision (RODs) for revised land management plans for the 
Sequoia and Sierra National Forests, respectively. The final RODs 
document the rationale for approving the revised land management plans 
and are consistent with the Reviewing Officer's response to objections 
and instructions.

DATES: The revised land management plans for the Sequoia and Sierra 
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 records of decision, final environmental 
impact statement (FEIS), revised land management plans, and other 
related documents, please visit the Sequoia and Sierra National Forests 
Plan Revision project website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=3375. A legal notice of approval is also being published in 
the Sequoia National Forest's newspaper of record, the Porterville 
Recorder, and the Sierra National Forest's newspaper of record, the 
Fresno Bee. A copy of this legal notice will be posted on the website 
listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bobbie Miller, Plan Revision Team 
Leader, Email: [email protected] or Phone: (530) 643-6226.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf and 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The revised land management plans were 
developed pursuant to the 2012 Forest Service Planning Rule (36 CFR 
219) and will replace the 1988 Sequoia National Forest Land Management 
Plan and 1990 Mediated Settlement Agreement, and the 1992 Sierra 
National Forest Land Management Plan. The revised plans describe 
desired conditions, objectives, standards, and guidelines that will 
guide future projects and management activities on the forests and will 
become effective 30 days after the publication of this notice of 
approval in the Federal Register (36 CFR 219.17(a)(1)). The Forest 
Service initiated plan revision for these two national forests in 2013 
and developed the revised plans through extensive collaboration and 
consultation with Tribes, interested public, and other stakeholders.
    The revised plans will help sustain forest and watershed health and 
productivity by addressing tree mortality, restoring forest conditions, 
facilitating use of fire to achieve desired conditions, and providing 
for sustainable recreation. The plans provide management direction that 
applies the best available science for conserving at-risk species like 
the Pacific fisher and California spotted owl. The revised land 
management plans, FEIS, and draft RODs were released in June 2022, 
initiating a 60-day objection filing period. The Forest Service 
received 27 eligible objections. The Reviewing Officer, Deputy Regional 
Forester Jody Holzworth, reviewed each of the objections, met with 
objectors and interested parties at an objection resolution meeting, 
and issued a written response to the objections on December 16, 2022. 
In her written response, the Reviewing Officer included instructions 
for the Responsible Officials to implement prior to signing final 
decisions.
    The forests updated the FEIS, revised land management plans, RODs, 
and planning record as needed, consistent with instructions from the 
Objection Reviewing Officer. The final RODs to approve the revised land 
management plans for the Sequoia and Sierra and National Forests have 
now been signed by the Responsible Officials and are available at the 
website listed above.
    Responsible Official: The Responsible Official for approving the 
Sequoia National Forest revised land management plan is Forest 
Supervisor Teresa Benson. The Responsible Official for approving the 
Sierra National Forest revised land management plan is Forest 
Supervisor Dean Gould. The Responsible Official approving the list of 
species of conservation concern is Jacqueline Emanuel, Associate Deputy 
Chief, National Forest System.

    Dated: May 19, 2023.
Jacqueline Emanuel,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2023-11347 Filed 5-25-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P