Revision of the Land Management Plan for the Lolo National Forest, 6088-6089 [2024-01896]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6088-6089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01896]


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Notices
                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 21 / Wednesday, January 31, 2024 / 
Notices

[[Page 6088]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Revision of the Land Management Plan for the Lolo National Forest

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

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

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service is 
revising the land management plan for the Lolo National Forest and 
preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS). This notice 
announces the Forest Service's intent to prepare an EIS and initiates 
the scoping period on the proposed action. This notice describes the 
documents available for review and how to obtain them; summarizes the 
need for change to the existing land management plan; provides 
information concerning public participation and collaboration, 
including the process for submitting comments; provides an estimated 
schedule for the planning process, including the time available for 
comments; and how to obtain additional information.

DATES: Comments concerning the preliminary need for change and the 
proposed action must be received by April 1, 2024. The draft EIS and 
draft revised land management plan are expected in December 2024. The 
final EIS, final revised land management plan, and draft record of 
decision (ROD) are expected in 2026.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments or inquiries to: Lolo National Forest 
Supervisor's Office, Attn: Amanda Milburn--Lolo Plan Revision, 24 Fort 
Missoula Rd, Missoula, MT 59804. Commenters are encouraged to submit 
comments electronically on the Lolo Plan Revision website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/lolo/planrevision; or via email to 
[email protected]. All correspondence, including names and 
addresses, will be part of the public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amanda Milburn, Plan Revision Team 
Leader, 406-438-6640; email at [email protected]. Individuals who 
use telecommunication devices for the deaf and hard of hearing (TDD) 
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a 
day, every day of the year, including holidays. If members of the 
public are interested in learning more, please visit the website listed 
above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 1976 requires that the 
Forest Service develop a land management plan, often called a forest 
plan, for every National Forest. Land management plans provide the 
strategic direction for management of forest resources. The current 
Lolo land management plan was adopted in 1986. The purpose and need for 
revising the current land management plan are (1) the land management 
plan is 38 years old, (2) since the land management plan was approved 
in 1986, there have been changes in economic, social, and ecological 
conditions, new policies and priorities, and new information based on 
monitoring and scientific research, and (3) to address the preliminary 
identified need for change to the existing land management plan. The 
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Assessment and Initiate the Plan 
Revision Process pursuant to the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219) was 
published in the Federal Register on March 16, 2023. A Draft Assessment 
was posted for comment on June 9, 2023, and based on public comments 
received, the assessment was revised and posted on September 8, 2023, 
along with a Draft Preliminary Need to Change (https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/lolo/planrevision). Overall, there is a need for land management 
plan direction that is strategic and identifies desired conditions with 
objectives for how resources should be managed; that eliminates 
redundancies with existing laws, regulations, and policy; and that 
incorporates the best available scientific information.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action is to revise the 1986 Lolo National Forest land 
management plan to address the identified need for change. In response 
to the preliminary need for change, a preliminary Draft Land Management 
Plan has been developed that includes desired conditions, goals, 
objectives, standards, guidelines, suitability of lands for specific 
multiple uses, lands that could be recommended to Congress for 
inclusion into the National Wilderness Preservation System, and the 
identification of rivers eligible for inclusion into the National Wild 
and Scenic Rivers system. It can be found on the Lolo National Forest 
Plan Revision website along with the Preliminary Need to Change 
(https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/lolo/planrevision).

Expected Impacts

    The revised land management plan will not authorize any projects or 
actions but will guide future decision-making on the Lolo National 
Forest. In accordance with the 2012 Planning Rule, the revised land 
management plan will provide for sustainability, diversity of plant and 
animal communities, and multiple uses. It will inform the purpose and 
need for future actions, guide the design of projects, and will also 
include a plan monitoring program that will guide the development of 
biennial land management plan monitoring reports.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Forest Service is the lead agency for this proposed action. 
Cooperating agencies thus far include the Confederated Salish and 
Kootenai Tribes, Mineral County, Montana Department of Natural 
Resources and Conservation, and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, 
and Parks.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official is Carolyn Upton, Forest Supervisor, Lolo 
National Forest Supervisor's Office, 24 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, 
MT 59804, 406-329-3750.

Scoping Comments and the Objection Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which will 
guide the development of the EIS. Written comments received in response 
to this notice will be analyzed to complete the

[[Page 6089]]

identification of the Need to Change the existing land management plan, 
further develop the proposed action (Preliminary Draft Land Management 
Plan) and identify potential significant issues. Significant issues 
will, in turn, form the basis for developing alternatives to the 
proposed action. The Forest Service will host public forums during the 
scoping period. Engagement opportunities will be posted on the Lolo 
National Forest Plan Revision website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/lolo/planrevision. Information will also be shared through electronic 
mailing lists, social media, and local media outlets.
    It is important that reviewers provide comments at such times and 
in such a manner that they are useful to the Forest Service's 
preparation of the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to 
the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the 
reviewer's concerns and contentions. Commenting during scoping and any 
other designated opportunity to comment provided by the Responsible 
Official will also establish standing to object once the final EIS and 
Draft Record of Decision have been published. 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, they will not establish standing for the objection process.
    The decision to approve the revised land management plan for the 
Lolo National Forest will be subject to the objection process 
identified in 36 CFR part 219 Subpart B (219.50 to 219.62). According 
to 36 CFR 219.53(a), those who may file an objection are individuals 
and entities who have submitted substantive formal comments related to 
land management plan revision during the opportunities provided for 
public comment. The burden is on the objector to demonstrate compliance 
with requirements for objections (36 CFR 219.53).

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Lolo National Forest is preparing an EIS to revise its land 
management plan. The EIS process is meant to inform the Forest 
Supervisor so they can decide which alternative best maintains and 
restores National Forest System terrestrial and aquatic resources while 
providing ecosystem services and multiple uses, as required by the 
National Forest Management Act and the Multiple Use Sustained Yield 
Act. The revised land management plan will describe the strategic 
intent of managing the Forest for the next 10 to 15 years and will 
address the identified need for change to the existing land management 
plan.
    The revised land management plan will supplement, not replace, 
overarching laws and regulations. The authorization of project level 
activities will be based on the guidance and direction contained in the 
revised land management plan but will occur through subsequent project-
specific National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis and 
decision-making. No decisions will be made regarding the management of 
individual roads or trails such as those that might be associated with 
a Travel Management plan under 36 CFR part 212. No decision regarding 
oil and gas leasing availability will be made.

    Dated: December 5, 2023.
Troy Heithecker,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2024-01896 Filed 1-30-24; 8:45 am]
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