Department of Agriculture August 16, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Forest Service is proposing to move its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing procedures from Forest Service Manual (FSM) 1950 and Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 1909.15 to 36 Code of Federal Regulations, part 220 (36 CFR 220). The Agency also proposes to clarify existing NEPA procedures and add new procedures to incorporate Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) guidance and to better align Agency NEPA procedures with Agency decision processes. Agency explanatory guidance interpreting CEQ and Agency procedures in regulation will remain in FSH 1909.15. Agency NEPA authority, objectives, policy, and responsibilities will remain in FSM 1950. This rule would meet 40 CFR 1507.3 by placing Agency-implementing procedures in their proper regulatory position. Maintaining Agency explanatory guidance in directives would facilitate timely Agency responses to new ideas, new information, procedural interpretations, training needs, and editorial changes to assist field units when implementing the NEPA process. Finally, the proposed changes to the Forest Service NEPA procedures are intended to provide an environmental analysis process that fits better with modern thinking on decisionmaking, collaboration, and adaptive management to meet the intent of NEPA through establishing incremental alternative development, and adaptive management principles.

Colville National Forest's Resource Advisory Committee will meet twice in September, in Colville, Washington. The purpose of these meetings is to review and provide recommendations for Title II projects to be funded by the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self- Determination Act, more commonly known as Payments to Counties, in Fiscal Year 2008.

The Wenatchee-Okanogan Resource Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 29, and Monday, September 10 at the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forest Headquarters Office, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA. These meetings will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m. On August 29, 2007, committee members will review Okanogan County and Yakima County projects, and on September 10, 2007 committee members will review Chelan County and Kittitas County projects for Resource Advisory Committee consideration under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000. All Wenatchee- Okanogan Resource Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public. Interested citizens are welcomed to attend.

The Glenn/Colusa County Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Willows, California. Agenda items covered include: (1) Introductions, (2) Approve Minutes, (3) Public Comment, (4) Finalize Voting on Projects, (5) General Discussion, (6) Next Agenda.