Allegheny National Forest
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Allegheny National Forest United States Department of Record of Decision Agriculture Forest Service For Final Environmental Impact Statement Allegheny and the National Forest March 2007 Land and Resource Management Plan This document is available in large print. Contact the Allegheny National Forest Supervisor’s Office 1-814-723-5150 TTY 1-814-726-2710 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Cover photo: Allegheny River Islands, R Hokans, photographer Record of Decision For Final Environmental Impact Statement and the Land and Resource Management Plan Allegheny National Forest March 2007 Elk, Forest, McKean, and Warren Counties, Pennsylvania Lead Agency: USDA Forest Service Responsible Official: Randy Moore, Regional Forester Eastern Region Office USDA Forest Service 626 East Wisconsin avenue Milwaukee, WI 53202 414-297-3765 Information Contact: William Connelly, Planning Officer Allegheny National Forest Supervisor’s Office 222 Liberty Street Warren, PA 16365 814-723-5150 This page intentionally left blank. Table of Contents Record of Decision Table of Contents Preface............................................................................................................................................ROD-2 Introduction....................................................................................................................................ROD-4 The Allegheny National Forest .................................................................................................................. ROD-5 A Vision for the Future .............................................................................................................................. ROD-6 Public Involvement ........................................................................................................................ROD-8 Open Houses, Workshops, and Public Involvement .................................................................................ROD-8 Need for Change and Plan Revision Issues................................................................................ROD-9 Alternatives ..................................................................................................................................ROD-10 Alternatives Considered in Detail ............................................................................................................ ROD-10 Alternatives Considered, but Eliminated From Detailed Study ............................................................... ROD-12 The Environmentally Preferred Alternative ............................................................................................. ROD-14 Decision and Rationale ...............................................................................................................ROD-15 Specially Designated Areas .................................................................................................................... ROD-16 Recreation ............................................................................................................................................... ROD-19 Forest Vegetation .................................................................................................................................... ROD-22 Forest Products ....................................................................................................................................... ROD-26 Habitat Diversity ...................................................................................................................................... ROD-27 Private Ownership of Oil, Gas and Minerals ........................................................................................... ROD-29 Why not Alternative A? ............................................................................................................................ ROD-30 Why not Alternative B? ............................................................................................................................ ROD-31 Why not Alternative D? ........................................................................................................................... ROD-31 Changes to the LRMP between the Draft and Final..................................................................ROD-32 Desired conditions, goals, and objectives ............................................................................................... ROD-32 Suitability Determinations, Standards & Guidelines ............................................................................... ROD-33 Management Area and Special Designations ......................................................................................... ROD-34 Monitoring and Evaluation Requirements ............................................................................................... ROD-35 Glossary .................................................................................................................................................. ROD-35 Consistency with Local Land Use Plans ...................................................................................ROD-35 Findings Related to Other National Policies, Law and Authorities.........................................ROD-36 Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation ...........................................................................ROD-41 Implementation Begins in 30 Days ......................................................................................................... ROD-41 Transition from the 1986 Plan to the LRMP ............................................................................................ ROD-41 Key Considerations in Plan Implementation ........................................................................................... ROD-42 Future Changes to the Plan .................................................................................................................... ROD-43 Administrative Appeal of My Decision ......................................................................................ROD-44 Contacts .......................................................................................................................................ROD-45 Allegheny National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan ROD-1 Table of Contents Photo courtesy of U.S. Forest Service ii Allegheny National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan Table of Contents Land and Resource Management Plan Table of Contents Introduction to the Forest Plan...................................................................................1 Decisions of a Forest Plan ..................................................................................................... 1 Other Elements of the Forest Plan ........................................................................................ 2 Other Sources of Management Direction for the ANF......................................................... 3 Guiding Future Projects, Program Plans, and Assessments............................................. 3 Transition in the Implementation of the Forest Plan........................................................... 3 Other Documents Related to the Forest Plan ...................................................................... 4 Transition to the New Planning Rule..................................................................................... 4 Changes to the Forest Plan.................................................................................................... 5 Organization and Format of the Forest Plan Document ..................................................... 5 Part 1—Vision...............................................................................................................7 Forest Niche Statement .......................................................................................................... 7 The ANF Niche....................................................................................................................... 7 A Vital Watershed .................................................................................................................. 7 A Home to Native Plants and Animals................................................................................... 8 A Place to Play....................................................................................................................... 8 Working Woodland................................................................................................................. 8 Research and Experimental Forest ....................................................................................... 9 Desired Condition ..................................................................................................................