Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 149 / Thursday, August 1, 1996 / Notices 40183

Frequency of Responses: Reporting: Room 416, BARC–W, Beltsville, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests; On occasion. Maryland 20705–2350. September 25, 1985 Total Burden Hours: 4. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cherokee National Forest; April 1, 1986 Jefferson National Forest; October 16, • Food and Consumer Service Andrew Watkins of the Office of Technology Transfer at the Beltsville 1985 Sumter National Forest; August 2, 1985 Title: Negative Quality Control address given above: telephone: 301/ Review Schedule—Status of Sample 504–6905. The agency invites written comments Selection and Completion—Statistical within the scope of the analysis SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Summary of Sample Disposition. described below. In addition, the agency Federal Government’s plant variety gives notice that an open and full Summary: As part of a Performance protection rights to this variety are Reporting System, each state agency is environmental analysis and decision- assigned to the United States of making process will occur on the required to provide a systematic means America, as represented by the of determining the accuracy of proposed actions so that interested and Secretary of Agriculture. It is in the affected people are aware of how they household eligibility and measuring the public interest to so License this extent to which households receive the may participate and contribute to the invention, for the University of Georgia final decision. food stamp allotment to which they are Research Foundation has submitted a DATES: The agency expects to file the entitled. complete and sufficient application for draft EISs (DEIS) with the Need and Use of the Information: The a license. The prospective exclusive information serves as an objective Environmental Protection Agency and license will be royalty-bearing and will make them available for public measure of program operations at the comply with the terms and conditions state level and is essential to the comment in January of 1998. The of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. The Agency expects to file the final EISs in determination of a state agency’s prospective exclusive license may be entitlement to an increased federal share December of 1998. Comments granted unless, within ninety days from concerning the scope of the analysis of its administrative costs or liability for the date of this published Notice, ARS sanctions. should be received by December 2, receives written evidence and argument 1996. Description of Respondents: State, which establishes that the grant of the ADDRESSES: Submit written comments Local or Tribal Government; Individuals license would not be consistent with the to Forest Supervisors of the appropriate or households; Federal Government. requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 Forest at the following addresses: Number of Respondents: 35,132. CFR 404.7. National Forests in Alabama, 946 Frequency of Responses: R.M. Parry, Jr., Recordkeeping; Reporting: Monthly; Chestnut, Montgomery, AL 36107– Assistant Administrator. Annually. 3010 Total Burden Hours: 107,135. [FR Doc. 96–19519 Filed 7–31–96; 8:45 am] Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests, Donald E. Hulcher, BILLING CODE 3410±03±M 508 Oak Street, NW, Gainesville, GA 30501 Deputy Departmental Clearance Officer. Cherokee National Forest, 2800 N. [FR Doc. 96–19552 Filed 7–31–96; 8:45 am] Forest Service Ocoee Street (P.O. Box 2010), BILLING CODE 3410±01±M Cleveland, TN 37320–2010 Revised Land and Resource Jefferson National Forest, 5162 Management Plans for the National Valleypointe Parkway, Roanoke, VA Agricultural Research Service Forests in Alabama, Chattahoochee/ 24019 Oconee National Forests, Cherokee Sumter National Forest, 4931 Broad Notice of Intent To Grant Exclusive National Forest, Jefferson National River Road, Columbia, SC 29210– License Forest, and the Sumter National Forest 4021 AGENCY: Agricultural Research Service, AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: USDA National Forests in Alabama: Planning ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare Team Leader—Rick Morgan—phone: ACTION: Notice of availability and intent Environmental Impact Statements to grant exclusive license. (334) 832–4470 (NOI). Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests: Planning Staff Officer—Caren SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a SUMMARY: Pursuant to 36 CFR 219.10(g), Federally owned cultivar of centipede Brisco—phone: (770) 536–0541 the Regional Forester for the Southern Cherokee National Forest: Planning Staff grass, ‘‘TifBlair,’’ is available for Region gives notice of the agency’s licensing and that the United States Officer—Keith Sandifer—phone: (615) intent to prepare Environmental Impact 476–9700 Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Statements (EIS) for the revisions of the Research Service, intends to grant an Jefferson National Forest: Planning Staff Forest Land and Resource Management Officer—Kenneth Landgraf—phone: exclusive license to the University of Plans (Forest Plans) for the above named Georgia Research Foundation. (540) 265–5100 National Forests. For the Jefferson Sumter National Forest: Planning Team Application for a Plant Variety National Forest, this notice revises their Leader—Tony White—phone: (803) Protection Certificate for this cultivar June 28, 1993 notice of intent to prepare 561–4000 has been filed with the Plant Variety an EIS to revise their Forest Plan. RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: The Regional Protection Office in the United States According to 36 CFR 219.10(g), forest Department of Agriculture. Forester for the Southern Region located plans are ordinarily revised on a 10–15 at 1720 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, DATES: Comments must be received on year cycle. Several amendments have Georgia 30367, is the responsible or before October 30, 1996. been made to each plan since it official. ADDRESSES: Send comments to: USDA- originated. The existing forest plans ARS-Office of Technology Transfer, were approved on the following dates: Affected Counties Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, National Forests in Alabama; March 10, This Notice of Intent affects the Baltimore Boulevard, Building 005, 1986 following Counties: 40184 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 149 / Thursday, August 1, 1996 / Notices

National Forests in Alabama: Bibb, consolidate and integrate ecological larger-scale analysis in the Southern Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, information for the Chattooga River Appalachian Assessment. Cleburne, Dallas, Hale, Perry, Talladega, Watershed which is located at the The Assessment supports the revision Tuscaloosa, Franklin, Lawrence, junction of North Carolina, South of the LRMPs by describing how the Winston, Covington, Escambia, and Carolina, and Georgia; and includes lands, resources, people and Macon; Alabama. three National Forests. management of the National Forests Chattahoochee-Oconee National Information from these analyses that interrelate within the larger context of Forests: Banks, Catoosa, Chattooga, cross State boundaries and involve the Southern Appalachian area. The Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, multiple National Forests, along with SAA, however, is not a ‘‘decision Gordon, Habersham, Lumpkin, Murray, the individual National Forests efforts to document’’ and it did not involve the Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, update their ‘’analysis of the National Environmental Policy Act Walker, White, Whitfield, Green, Jasper, management situation’’ (AMS), are now (NEPA) process. As broad-scale issues Jones, Monroe, Morgan, Oconee, being used by these National Forests to were identified at the sub-regional level Oglethorpe, and Putnam: Georgia. determine what decisions in their Land (Southern Appalachian Mountain area) Cherokee National Forest: Polk, and Resource Management Plans in the Assessment, the individual McMinn, Monroe, Greene, Cocke, (LRMP) should be re-analyzed or National Forest’s role in resolving these Unicoi, Sullivan, Washington, Johnson, changed in revising their LRMPs. broad-scale issues becomes a part of the and Carter; Tennessee. ‘‘need for change’’ at the Forest level. 2. The Southern Appalachian Jefferson National Forest: Letcher and Public involvement has been Assessment Pike; Kentucky—Monroe; West important throughout both of these Virginia—Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Recently the U.S. Forest Service has processes. Continuing public Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Giles, participated in the preparation of the involvement leading to formulation of Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Southern Appalachian Assessment alternatives for the forest plan revision Roanoke, Rockbridge, Scott, Smyth, (SAA). The Assessment culminated in a analysis efforts will now be conducted Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and final Summary Report and four through the ‘‘scoping’’ period that Wythe; Virginia. Technical Reports that are now follows the issuance of this Notice of Sumter National Forest: Abbeville, available to the public. It was prepared Intent. Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, by the U.S. Forest Service (the Southern 3. The Beginning of the Forest Plan Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Region of the National Forest System and the Southern Forest Experiment Revision Efforts for the National Forests Newberry, Oconee, Saluda, and Union; in Alabama, the Chattahoochee-Oconee, South Carolina. Station) in cooperation with the other Federal and state agencies that are the Cherokee, and the Sumter National SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: members of SAMBA (Southern Forests A. Background Information Appalachian Man and the Biosphere The National Forests in the Southern Cooperative). The Assessment included Appalachian area have applied several 1. An Ecological Approach to Planning National Forest system lands and efforts to begin their revisions. The main The general model for an ecological private lands in the George Washington/ objective thus far has been to do the approach to land management planning Jefferson, Nantahala-Pisgah, Cherokee, analysis leading to a proposal to change includes four iterative steps: assessment and Chattahoochee National Forests; forest management direction. A key part decision, implementations, and and parts of the Sumter and Talladega of that analysis, for significant portions monitoring. The first step involves National Forests. Also involved were of each of the forests, has been the SAA. assessment of the forest situation that the National Park Service lands in the On February 24, 1995, a Notice was characterize the biophysical and social Great Smoky Mountains National Park, placed in the Federal Register (Vol. 60, ecosystem components at appropriate Shenandoah National Park, and the Blue No. 37) that identified the relationships temporal and spatial scales. These Ridge Parkway. between the SAA and the Forest Plan provide a comprehensive description The Assessment facilitates an revisions of the National Forests in and evaluation of ecosystem structures, interagency ecological approach to Alabama, Chattahoochee-Oconee processes, functions, and social and management in the Southern National Forests, Cherokee National economic conditions that are critical to Appalachian area by collecting and Forest, and the Sumter National Forest. understanding the present conditions analyzing broad-scale biological, A February 24, 1995 Notice in the and projecting future trends. From this physical, social and economic data to Federal Register (Vol. 60, No. 37) information, decisions can be made to facilitate better, more ecologically based identified; (1) that the National Forests establish ‘‘desired future conditions’’, forest level resource analysis and in Alabama, Chattahoochee-Oconee set goals and objectives, make resource management decisions. The Assessment National Forests, Cherokee National allocations, establish standards and was organized around four ‘‘themes’’— Forest, and the Sumter National Forest guidelines, determine monitoring (1) Terrestrial (including Forest Health, were each preparing an Analysis of the requirements, and establish priorities. and Plant and Animal Resources); (2) Management Situation (AMS), and (2) Following the implementation of those Aquatic Resources; (3) Atmospheric the relationship between the Southern decisions, monitoring and evaluation Resources and (4) Social/Cultural/ Appalachian Assessment and those will determine if changes should be Economic Resources (which includes efforts. Since then, preparation of a made in the implementation, if there is the Human Dimension; Roadless Areas Draft AMSs has included updating a need for new decision, or if there is and Wilderness; Recreation; and Timber resource inventories, defining the a need to re-assess the situation. Supply and Demand). current situation, estimating supply In the Southern Appalachian area, a As the National Forests in the capabilities and resource demands, Southern Appalachian Assessment has Southern Appalachians were evaluating the results of monitoring, been completed. Also completed is the conducting their forest level efforts to determining the ‘‘Need for Change’’ (36 Chattooga Ecosystem Management describe their ‘‘Analysis of the CFR 219.12(e)(5)), review of previous Demonstration Project (Chattooga Management Situation’’ (AMS), they public comments, and public meetings Project) which was an effort to were also providing information for the or other outreach. These Draft AMSs are Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 149 / Thursday, August 1, 1996 / Notices 40185 now available for public review. and resources to various uses or publication of this NOI. The public Together with the results of the SAA, conditions by establishing management comments received during this they are the present basis of the issues/ areas and management prescriptions for comment period will be used to further Forest Plan decisions that will be the land and resources within the plan refine the preliminary issues that should examined during the plan revision area. The second stage is approval of be addressed, the forest plan decisions process. Additional topics will be project decisions. that need to be analyzed (the ‘‘proposed developed as needed to respond to Forest plans do not compel the agency actions’’/‘‘need for change’’), and to public comments received on this to undertake any site-specific projects; help define the range of alternatives that Notice of Intent during the 120-day rather, they establish overall goals and will be developed. public comment period. objectives (or desired resource For more information on how the In the past, a ‘‘Notice of Intent to conditions) that the individual National public can become involved during the Prepare an Environmental Impact Forest will strive to meet. Forest plans Scoping period, see Section 6 of this Statement’’ was issued prior to the also establish limitations on what NOI. development of the AMS. However, for actions may be authorized, and what these Forest Plan revisions, an effort conditions must be met, during project B. Purpose and Need for Action was made to first define the current decision-making. This Notice applies to each of the 5 situation and estimate an ‘‘initial need The primary decisions made in a Forest Plans. The need to revise these for change’’ in a Draft AMS prior to forest plan include: plans is driven by the changing issuing a Notice of Intent to Prepare an (1) Establishment of the forest-wide conditions identified in the SAA and in Environmental Impact Statement. We multiple-use goals and objectives (36 individual Forest assessments as well as hope this will lead to improved CFR 219.11(b)). the changing public values associated ‘‘scoping’’, which will help the public (2) Establishment of forest-wide with these National Forests. These provide more concise and specific management requirements (36 CFR conditions and values make it comments. This should make it possible 219.13 to 219.27). appropriate that all of these Southern to develop more responsive alternatives (3) Establishment of multiple-use Appalachian Forest Plan Revisions be to be analyzed in the Environmental prescriptions and associated standards done simultaneously. Impact Statements accompanying the and guidelines for each management The purpose for revision rests in the individual Revised Forest Plans. area (36 CFR 219.11(c)). requirements of the National Forest (4) Determination of land that is 4. Status of the Jefferson, George System Land and Resource Management suitable for the production of timber (16 Washington, and Nantahala-Pisgah Planning required by the National U.S.C. 1604(k) and 36 CFR 219.14). National Forests Forest Management Act and its (5) Establishment of allowable sale implementing regulations contained in The Jefferson National Forest quantity for timber within a time frame Chapter 36 of the Code of Federal previously issued a Notice of Intent to specified in the plan (36 CFR 219.16). Regulations, section 219. According to Prepare an Environmental Impact (6) Establishment of monitoring and 36 CFR 219.10(g), forest plans are Statement for its Revised LRMP on June evaluation requirements (36 CFR ordinarily revised on a 10–15 year cycle. 28, 1993. This NOI revises that earlier 219.11(d)). These five forests are all completing notice, and provides notification that (7) Recommendation of roadless areas these cycles. the planning process on the Jefferson as potential wilderness areas (36 CFR National Forest will now coincide with 219.17). C. Preliminary Issues the planning process and timelines for (8) Where applicable, designate those 1. Introduction the other National Forests in the lands administratively available for oil Southern Appalachians. and gas leasing; and when appropriate, Early in the process there are several Although the George Washington authorize the Bureau of Land sources of what are called ‘‘preliminary National Forest and the Nantahala- Management to offer specific lands for issues’’. These are issues stated so that Pisgah National Forests were part of the leasing. (36 CFR 228.102 (d) and (e)) the public, when learning about the Southern Appalachian Assessment, they The authorization of site-specific environmental analysis, can focus their are not beginning plan revisions at this activities within a plan area occurs needs and preferences on the forest plan time. The George Washington National through project decision-making, the decisions. One source of information Forest completed its Final Revised second stage of forest planning. Project leading to issue development has been Forest Plan on January 21, 1993, and the decision-making must comply with the Southern Appalachian Assessment. Nantahala-Pasgah National Forests NEPA procedures and must include a The Assessment has produced some completed a significant amendment, determination that the project is findings and preliminary issues of broad Amendment 5 to their Land and consistent with the forest plan. public interest which have implications Resource Management Plan on March that must be considered. This 6. The Role of Scoping in Revising the 18, 1994. However, as information from consideration may involve one or more Southern Appalachian Land and the Southern Appalachian Assessment or all Forests, depending on the issue. Resource Management Plans and the other National Forest planning In addition, the Forests, working with process are being analyzed, a need to This NOI includes a description of the their publics, have identified change these plans may be identified to preliminary Issues and ‘‘Proposed preliminary issues specific to their ensure consistency between the Actions’’ for the five National Forests in Forest. the Southern Appalachians that are National Forests in the Southern 2. Findings of the Southern revising their LRMPs. The ‘‘Proposed Appalachians. Appalachian Assessment Actions’’ are actions within one or more 5. The Role of Forest Plans of the plan decisions identified in the The Southern Appalachian National Forest System resource purpose and need. Assessment (SAA) provides key allocation and management decisions Scoping to receive public comments information concerning those portions are made in two stages. The first stage on the preliminary issues and proposed of the National Forests that are within is the forest plan, which allocates lands actions will begin following the the SAA area that will be used in plan 40186 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 149 / Thursday, August 1, 1996 / Notices revisions. The SAA teams compiled next 30 years in the Tennessee River the use of prescribed fire for numerous existing region-wide information on basin. purposes. resource status and trends, conditions, Preliminary issues or management Preliminary issue or management and impacts of various land opportunities: opportunity: management activities and resource —Protection for these aquatic species uses that apply to portions of each of the and maintenance of the water quality —Adverse effects of air pollution on five forests that are revising Forest supporting them. visibility, nitrogen oxide emissions, Plans. Several preliminary issues are —Management for trout in suitable and acid deposition. listed that are associated with the habitat areas. —Management’s increasing use of findings of the Assessment. The prescribed fire and particulate matter Human Induced Impacts on Aquatic findings include: in the atmosphere. Resources Aquatic Resources Although human activities that impair Social, Cultural, and Economics Water Quality and Quantity aquatic habitat have decreased, Effects on Local Communities population growth and concomitant The Southern Appalachian ecosystem land development have the potential to The combined natural resource sector is widely recognized as one of the most increase pressure on aquatic resources. (wood-products manufacturing, forestry, diverse in the temperate region. The More than 80 percent of the river miles mining, and tourism) provides nearly 10 headwaters of nine major rivers lie in most watersheds representing 75 percent of SAA area employment, 7 within the boundaries of the Southern percent of the river miles in the SAA percent of wages, and 12 percent of the Appalachians, making it a source of area are rated as fully supporting their industry output. The number of drinking water for much of the uses (fully supporting is a measure employees (including seasonal or part- Southeast. In addition, as a general which states that 90 percent of the time time) associated with tourism has finding, there has been a reduction in the stream meets water quality criteria). doubled between 1977 and 1991. water use in the Southern Appalachian Aquatic Resources within the SAA are Over 30,000 jobs are directly related area. affected by acid mine waste, National to recreation facilities on Federal land. Preliminary issues or management Pollutant Discharge Elimination System The counties with the greatest number opportunities: (NPDES) facilities, sedimentation (in of these jobs are located near the area’s —Protection, maintenance and certain localized situations), urban and two National Parks and the large improvement of water resources rural development, and industrial concentration of National Forests in within the SAA area in coordination facilities. western North Carolina. Counties with with multiple use management. Preliminary issue or management white-water rivers, such as the —Coordination of water quality (and opportunity: Chattooga, Nantahala, and Ocoee have quantity on some forests) needs with —How the National Forests will manage seen increases in recreation-related adjacent forests, land owners and human induced impacts to the aquatic employment. other agencies with water resources. management responsibilities. Preliminary issue or management —Insuring water quality and quantity Atmospheric Resource opportunity: needs for channel maintenance and —Resource allocation and its effect on Air Pollution biotic resources. local economies, including stabilizing The SAA found that visibility in the and helping the economies and social Stream Condition and Habitat Quality Southern Appalachians has decreased structure of local communities. The SAA aquatics report identified since the 1940’s as haziness has streams, water bodies, and riparian intensified due mainly to sulfates in the Societal Changes in the Southern habitat that were degraded to varied air. Improvements are expected; Appalachian Area extent. however, once the Clean Air Act Changes in the social pattern has Preliminary issue or management Amendments of 1990 are implemented. effects on the management of natural opportunity: It is expected that there will be a 50 resources in the region. Changing —Restoration of degraded streams, percent reduction in SO2 emissions relative values between commodity and habitat and riparian loss. nationwide. Acid deposition is also a non-commodity uses of forest resources problem in the region and headwater Protection of Aquatic Species and Southern Appalachian ecosystems streams are most susceptible to are cited by the SAA. While not Diversity of aquatic species across the acidification (see also, aquatic resource consistent across the Southern Southern Appalachian area is high, with discussion). In addition, nitrogen oxide Appalachian area, the population has a rich fauna of fish, molluscs, crayfish, emissions are expected to increase, increased 27.8 percent in the region and aquatic insects. Approximately 39 contributing to visibility impairment, between 1970 and 1990. For natural percent of the SAA area is in the range acid deposition, and ground level resource management, however, the for wild trout, consisting of 33,088 miles ozone, which can cause growth increase in the area’s population is less of potential wild trout streams. The reduction and physiological stress in significant than the economic three trout species within the SAA area trees. The greatest potential for growth development that accompanied the are vulnerable to stream acidification, loss due to the ozone concentration is in increase and the attitudes and cultural which is increasing, particularly in the the northern and southern ends of the attachment that exists here. northern part of the Assessment area Southern Appalachian area and and higher-elevation streams. The wherever sensitive hardwoods are Preliminary issue or management heritage program files indicate there are located at higher elevations. Particulate opportunity. 190 species that are endangered, matter in the air is a concern, while —The mix of natural resource goods and threatened, or of special concern within apparently not one that is increasing services from National Forest System the SAA area. Mussel populations may currently, especially while land lands that is sensitive to evolving experience additional declines over the managers are anticipating accelerating demographics, attitudes, and needs. Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 149 / Thursday, August 1, 1996 / Notices 40187

Wood products from public lands the effects on Forest Service species and 66 percent of the species The Federal share of timberland in management. with viability concern (globally ranked individual counties ranges up to 69 —Access to public lands. G1, G2, G3) in the Southern Appalachians. Examples of these rare percent. The decisions made by Federal Roadless and Wilderness agencies, therefore, can strongly communities are high elevation grassy A total of 752,654 acres of inventoried and heath balds, mountain longleaf pine influence local timber production and roadless areas were identified in the the economy in certain parts of the woodlands, granitic domes, high SAA National Forests ranging in size elevation rocky summits, and sphagnum region. from 2,035 acres to 27,293 acres and The National Forests hold a large and shrub bogs. representing 61 percent of all roadless Preliminary issue or management share of high-grade oak sawtimber. areas within the SAA area. opportunity: Since this is the kind of timber that is Preliminary issue or management in shortest supply and greatest demand, —Management of rare communities. opportunity: National Forest timber sales can affect Federally Listed Threatened and —Management of these and other areas the markets for high-quality oak. The Endangered (T&E) and Viability to meet wilderness, recreational, and terrain in National Forests is more Concern Species other resource demands. rugged and there are fewer roads, The Assessment looks at 51 Federally making the timber on these lands more Terrestrial—Plant and Animal listed T&E species (11 habitat expensive to harvest. Resources associations) and the needs of 366 Preliminary issue or management viability concern species (17 habitat opportunity: Current conditions and trends of forest landscapes associations). While not all of these —The role of the National Forests in species and habitats occur on National supplying forest products, and the The Southern Appalachian Forest system lands, the importance of association of these products to Assessment described current this listing lies in the fact that the Forest specific Desired Future Conditions on conditions and trends of forested Service manages habitat that is often key individual Forests. landscapes. These were applied to 9 to preservation and recovery of many forest classes and 4 successional classes. Recreation settings and use species. The Assessment found that currently Preliminary issue or management Only around 8 percent of the National Forests contain 17 percent of opportunity: Southern Appalachians, including the the region’s forests, 7 percent of the —Recovery and management of Great Smokey Mountain National Park, early successional habitats and 42 Federally listed T&E species and can be classified as having ‘‘remote’’ percent of the late successional habitats. Forest Service sensitive species. recreation settings. About two-thirds of Currently around 3 percent of these settings are on public lands. About National Forest system land is in early Game Species 18 percent of the Southern successional habitat. This is 4 percent The SAA provided population trends, Appalachians are highly developed below mid 1970s National Forest levels. current status, and some future forecasts settings with 2 percent in urban, 4 There were 10 species associates for 10 major game species. percent in suburban, and 12 percent in identified for this habitat. Forty-five Preliminary issue or management transition of emerging development percent of the National Forest System opportunity: settings. About 45 prevent of the area is lands in the SAA area are in late —The role of the National Forests in rural, and about 24 percent is natural- successional habitat. This represents an sustaining habitats to support the appearing forests. increase of 34 percent since 1970. major game species identified in the Congestion in recreation use tends to Preliminary issue or management SAA for public hunting and viewing. occur on the shores of lakes and opportunity: streams, because the settings are in high —Desired future conditions for the mix Black Bear Habitat demand. Due to limited sources of of these habitat conditions must be The SAA determined that National supply, settings and facilities for determined, as well as the larger Forests contain around 4 million acres mountain biking, horseback riding, off- landscape conditions (forested as of potentially suitable black bear highway vehicle driving, and white- opposed to agriculture). habitat, of which about 77 percent has water rafting often are congested. relatively low road density (less than 1.6 Old Growth forests A high proportion of recreation use on miles of road length per square mile) Federally owned land occurs at the Around 1.1 million acres of possible and 51 percent has less than 0.8 miles outer edges of the Appalachian chain. old-growth forest were identified in an per square mile. Habitat parameters As population centers grow, use initial inventory of SAA National include open road density, early patterns will creep toward the center of Forests. Patches identified vary from 1 successional habitats, late successional the mountain ranges. acre to 13,000 acres in size and across habitats capable of producing denning Wilderness and roadless areas a full range of vegetative communities. sites, and oak mast. Black bear have account for 4 percent of all land in the Preliminary issue or management experienced a moderate range Southern Appalachians. As population opportunity: expansion in some parts of the Southern increases and urban areas expand, there —Management of these areas, as well as Appalachians over the last 25 years. is concern that the wilderness resource other types of areas, and their spacial Preliminary issue or management will be affected by overuse. allocation to meet the biological, opportunity: Preliminary issues or management social, and cultural objectives —The Desired Future Condition of black opportunities: associated with this condition. bear habitat in the Southern —The mix of recreation settings on Appalachian National Forests. National Forest system lands and the Rare Communities management of each. The Assessment found that 31 rare Area-Sensitive Forest Bird Habitats —Increasing urbanization of lands communities are key to the conservation A total of 15.8 million acres of mid- adjacent to the National Forests and of 65 percent of the Federally listed T&E to late-successional deciduous forest 40188 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 149 / Thursday, August 1, 1996 / Notices habitat is contained in the SAA area. exotic pests, and how current and past Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests Approximately 66 percent of these acres management affecting the health and Timber management are suitable forest interior habitat. integrity of forest vegetation in the Road access management and resource Around 8.2 million acres are in forest Southern Appalachians. protection tracts greater than 5,000 acres in size. The SAA predicts that the European Trails These larger tracts have the potential to gypsy moth will spread as far south as Water quality and increasing forest use support all 16 area sensitive landbirds northern Georgia by the year 2020. Biological diversity and timber (primarily neotropical migrants). Habitat Other identified threats to forest harvesting fragmentation and edge effect were ecosystem health include dogwood Biological diversity, visual quality and considered. It is estimated that National anthracnose, butternut canker, beech hardwood harvesting Forests are currently providing 39 bark disease, southern pine beetle, and Pesticide use and biological and social percent of the acreage in these large asiatic gypsy moth. effects forest tracts in the SAA area. Taking Preliminary issue or management Balance between rural and urban public into account the conditions of the larger opportunity: demands landscape, the SAA estimated that —The role of fire in sustaining forest Cherokee National Forest around 90 percent of the habitat on ecosystems. National Forest system land is forest —Management of identified threats to Public road planning, development and interior. forest health. management Preliminary issue or management Timber resource management opportunity: 3. Preliminary Issues That May Be Outdoor recreation settings —Management of area-sensitive forest Common to the Five Forests Trail network management bird habitats. Preliminary issues from the SAA and Forest uses and water quality Forests have been identified that apply Management for biological diversity High Elevation Forest Habitats to one or more or all of the National Forest health and ecosystems and About 32 percent of the high elevation Forests in this Notice. Some of these timber harvesting montane spruce-fir/northern hardwood include aquatic resources, forest health, Management and scenic attractiveness— habitats in the Southern Appalachian inventoried roadless areas, scenery landscape patterns area are found on National Forest management, T&E and Sensitive Mix of management intensities across system land and 23 plant and animal species, terrestrial resources, and wood the landscape species are included in this habitat products. Public response to scoping Jefferson National Forest association. The Southern Appalachian will be used to develop the actual issues National Forests are facing possible and the forest or forests to which they Biological Diversity declines, caused by balsam woolly apply. Old growth adelgid and air pollution, in this rare Habitat fragmentation high elevation forest community. 4. Preliminary Issues on Individual Riparian areas/Aquatic ecosystems Preliminary issue or management National Forests Air quality opportunity: The Southern Appalachian area Special interest Areas Proposed, endangered, threatened, —Possible declines in high elevation National Forests have also developed and sensitive species forest habitats due to balsam wooly some preliminary issues locally. Since Wildlife and fish management adelgid. each National Forest must develop its own issues, the following lists will Tree health Wilderness and rivers Riparian Habitat appear in somewhat different formats. Wilderness The SAA looked at seeps, springs, and The forests will further refine these, Wild and Scenic Rivers streamside areas. A total 1.5 million incorporate the findings of the SAA and Mount Rogers National Recreation Area finally, determine the significant issues acres of these types are in forested Recreation opportunities cover. Of this, the SAA estimated that to carry forward into the NEPA analysis. Recreation opportunities National Forests contain around 219,000 The following issues are identified by Management practices acres of forested riparian habitat. The topics and more specific information is Timber management future quality of these habitats is available at the individual Forest by Fire management uncertain and may decline due to contacting the planners listed at the Grazing threats from hemlock wooly adelgid, an beginning of this Notice. Timber production exotic insect. National Forests in Alabama Transportation system Preliminary issue or management Access opportunity: Trails and associated facilities and their Off-highway vehicles —The Desired Future Conditions for management Minerals, oil and gas both terrestrial and aquatic riparian Wilderness area management Oil and gas habitats, including the specific Special area designations Minerals management of threats to these Forest cover types, old growth and Special Uses habitats from hemlock wooly adelgid. rotations Social and economic concerns Management tools to use in achieving Below cost timber sales Forest Vegetation Health desired future conditions Subsurface property rights The SAA addresses changes in forest Mix of goods and services from the Local community economies vegetation or soil productivity in Forest response to human-caused disturbances Longleaf restoration for RCW recovery Sumter National Forest or natural processes, potential effects of Habitat types Biodiversity presence and absence of fire, how the Fire management Variety of communities health of the forest ecosystem is being Road density Old growth affected by air pollution and native and Land acquisition and exchange Proposed threatened, endangered, and Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 149 / Thursday, August 1, 1996 / Notices 40189

sensitive species —Determine suitability of lands for —Provide guidance for increased Rare and underrepresented plan resource management; interpretative services and maps for communities —Determine timber allowable sale wilderness areas and trails; and Riparian areas quantity (i.e., Timber ASQ); —Provide management direction for Landscape patterns —Analyze and recommend rivers and regeneration and conversion to Role of fires in forest ecosystems streams for eligibility and/or address changing conditions/ Mineral development suitability for inclusion in the emphases. Protection of water and other resource National Wild and Scenic Rivers —Establish management guidelines for values System; the fisheries program to consider Recreation —Replace the current Visual where and when to install habitat Mix and emphasis of opportunities Management System with the new structures and to fertilize lakes. Chattooga Wild and Scenic River Scenery Management System and —Establish guidelines for addressing values Timber Management establish new visual objectives; noxious weeds and exotic species, Lands available for timber —Adjust the plan monitoring and especially where they impact management and evaluation requirements to address sensitive species or rare communities. Desired timber products the elements of the revised plans; —Determine if grazing should be —Identify any needed new special or continued on the Conecuh National D. Proposed Actions unique areas; Forest, and if it should be woods Each National Forest did an initial —Address management needs for all grazing or pasture grazing. analysis of its management situation forms of forest access; and Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests focusing on changes that have taken —Address the question of oil and gas place during the current ten-year leasing on the National Forest system —Establish Forest Plan goals and planning period. During the past decade lands. objectives, and management direction Forest Plan Amendments, annual for special forest products (medicinal 2. Proposed Actions That are Unique to herbs, craft material, etc.); monitoring, five year reviews of the Individual Forests implementing Forest Plans, and working —Incorporate management with the public have provided the In addition to those items listed in A., requirements of the Regional Forests with valuable information about above, there are a number of other Forester’s June 1995, decision and the changes that are needed in existing proposed actions that the individual U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Forest Plans. This initiates the forests have developed. The following Recovery Plan (when completed) for determination of the need to establish or lists are not complete; however, at this the red cockaded woodpecker which change management direction as point they contain many of the more apply to the Oconee National Forest. required under the NFMA regulations at specific actions that the forests have —General forest lands need different 36 CFR 219.12.(e)(5). From this determined to be important and that management emphasis across the information each Forest compiled a should be incorporated in the respective forests. Currently, the general forest preliminary list of subject areas, or plan revisions. Additional actions will area (MA–16) has the same goals and revision items, which will be used to be added and some may be deleted as objectives for all lands. This could be guide their plan revision. The proposed a result of scoping. true for other MA’s as well. —Clarify the use of timber harvesting to action is to develop or revalidate goals, National Forests in Alabama objectives, standards and guidelines, meet Forest Plan goals and objectives. and prescriptions. —Identify, maintain and/or restore the The revised Forest Plan should LLP/wiregrass community on the incorporate standards and guidelines 1. Proposals that are Common to all Conecuh National Forest where it is to assist the Districts in determining Five Forests appropriate to do so; those conditions and situations that When revising a forest plan, roadless —Address the 3–5 year burning rotation would enable a sale to be classified as areas of public lands within and on the sandy soil types found forest stewardship (timber purposes, adjacent to the forest shall be evaluated primarily on the Tuskegee and personal use, wildlife habitat, etc.) and considered for recommendation for Conecuh Districts and conflicts with —Add timber quality as a objective of wilderness areas 36 CFR 219.17(a). At ecosystem relationships; timber management. least every 10 years each forest must —Incorporate into the Forest Plan, —Adjust acres on which planned timber review the designation of lands not recovery plans for 9 T&E species; harvesting could occur due to suited for timber production (36 CFR —Incorporate conservation agreements reductions for resource protection 219.14(d). For these forests, the ten-year for sensitive species—as needed; such as: riparian areas, cultural review is being done in this revision —Incorporate the new RCW EIS into resources, Proposed, Endangered, and process so all alternatives will evaluate plan revision; Sensitive Species (PETS), and any existing suitability designations in light —Examine land ownership adjustment other factors which would effectively of current conditions. The following list needs across the Forest; reduce the suitable land base. includes additional items that are —Incorporate new management —Establish standards, guidelines, and shared by all of the five National Forests direction for over-used areas, monitoring requirements for single- listed in this Notice. especially wilderness areas and trails, tree selection. —Establish desired future condition(s), and encourage use of alternate —Update direction for timber harvest in goals, and objectives for resource trailheads and areas associated with riparian areas. management. the Sipsey Wilderness; —Establish recreational carrying —Establish, where appropriate, —Upgrade existing developed capacities. consistent management direction recreation sites to meet current —Establish management direction for across adjacent National Forest standards, and provide greater the Chattahoochee National Forest to boundaries. accessibility for people with restore appropriate streams to native —Establish new management areas; disabilities; brook trout. 40190 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 149 / Thursday, August 1, 1996 / Notices

—Establish management direction for National Forests in North Carolina to members of the public feel free to share rare communities identified in the establish goals, objectives, and information with the Forest Service and Southern Appalachian Assessment. desired future conditions for the its employees on a regular basis. All —Establish coordinated desired future Chattooga River Watershed. parts of this process will be structured conditions, goals, objectives and —Link land ownership adjustment to maintain this openess. direction for the Chattooga River priorities with desired future The Forest Service is seeking Watershed between the Sumter, the condition, goals, and objective information, comments, and assistance Chattahoochee-Oconee, and National establishment. from Federal, State, and local agencies, Forests in North Carolina. —Establish, where appropriate, and other individuals or organizations —Revise other management direction to consistent management direction who may be interested in or affected by incorporate new information about: across adjacent National Forest the proposed action. This input will be range management; transportation boundaries. utilized in the preparation of the draft systems; development of monitoring —Consider insect and disease in environmental impact statements. The and recovery plans for PETS; redesign development and evaluation of range of alternatives to be considered in shade protection guidelines for alternatives and effects. the EIS will be based on the aquatic habitat needs and establish —Consider historical Forest budget identification of significant public direction for woody debris and trends in alternative analysis. issues, management concerns, resource aquatic habitat management; review —Incorporate carrying capacity management opportunities, and plan and update air quality direction to (biological, physical, and social) of decisions specific to each of the clarify needs for Wilderness, non- the Chattooga River in establishment National Forests. Public participation Wilderness, problem areas, and of desired future condition, goals, and will be solicited by notifying in person relationship to State permitting objectives for the Wild and Scenic and/or by mail, known interested and process. River. affected publics. News releases will be Cherokee National Forest —Consider ecological classification in used to give the public general notice, developing management areas and and public scoping meetings will be —Identify special or unique areas, and desired future conditions. conducted on each National Forest. establish goals for management of —Develop desired future conditions Public participation will be sought such areas; that integrate coordinated resource —Establish guidelines for production of throughout the plan revision process goals and objectives that will facilitate and will be especially important at special forest products, and minerals. the development of multiple-use —Establish, where appropriate, several points along the way. The first projects. opportunity to comment will be during consistent management direction —Revise the monitoring and evaluation across adjacent National Forest the scoping process (40 CFR 1501.7). direction to include effectiveness Scoping includes: (1) Identifying boundaries. monitoring for Forest Plan goals, —Revise guidelines that respond to additional potential issues (other than objectives, and desired future threats from pests and noxious those previously described), (2) from conditions. these, identifying significant issues or species. —Develop two separate indicator lists —Clarify the use of timber harvesting those which have been covered by prior (mountains and piedmont) to and other planned human-caused environmental review, (4) exploring incorporate new PETS species that are disturbances to meet Forest Plan goals additional alternatives, and (5) readily monitored, forest interior and objectives. identifying potential environmental species, area-sensitive species, and effects of the proposed action and Jefferson National Forest species that may indicate effects at a alternatives (i.e., direct, indirect, and —Develop goals, objectives, standards landscape scale. cumulative effects). and guidelines for salvage of dead and E. Preliminary Alternatives As part of the first step in scoping, a dying timber where deemed series of public opportunities are appropriate. Determine and clearly The actual alternatives presented in scheduled to explain the public role in describe priorities for salvage; each forest’s draft EIS will portray a full the planning process and provide an —Consider the effects of long-term fire range of responses to issues which are opportunity for public input. Formats, suppression on ecosystems and the significant on the individual Forest. The times and places will vary. These are role of prescribed fire as a five separate draft EIS’s will examine determined by the individual forest to management tool; the effects of implementing strategies to meet the needs of their publics. For —Address the use and effects of achieve different desired future more specific information on times and livestock grazing to achieve multiple- conditions for each forest and will locations, please contact the Forests. use goals and objectives; develop possible management objectives These meetings will occur as follows: —Add direction to provide for new and opportunities that would move the Federal regulations and the 1987 forests toward desired conditions. A National Forest in Alabama Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform preferred alternative will be identified Proposed Locations and Dates: Act; in each draft EIS. Double Springs, Alabama; August 6, —Consider subsurface ownership when The range of alternatives presented in 1996 evaluating land allocations; and each DEIS will include one that Brent, Alabama; August 8, 1996 —Provide minimum management continues current management direction Heflin, Alabama; August 13, 1996 requirements and direction for special and others will also be provided to Talladega, Alabama; August 14, 1996 uses (e.g., linear rights-of-way, address the range of issues developed in Andalusia, Alabama; August 20, 1996 military exercises, electronic sites and the scoping process. Tuskegee, Alabama; August 22, 1996 commercial services.) F. Involving the Public Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests Sumter National Forest The objective in this process for Proposed Locations and Dates: —Coordinate with the Chattahoochee- public involvement is to create an Madison, Georgia; September 5, 1996 Oconee National Forest and the atmosphere of openess where all Gainesville, Georgia; September 7, Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 149 / Thursday, August 1, 1996 / Notices 40191

1996 important that those interested in this designations of Kankakee Grain Dalton, Georgia; September 10, 1996 proposed action participate by the close Inspection, Inc. (Kankakee), the of the 3 month comment period so that California Department of Food and Cherokee National Forest substantive comments and objections Agriculture (California) and the Proposed Locations and Dates: are made available to the Forest Service Washington Department of Agriculture Elizabethton, Tennessee; October 7, at a time when it can meaningfully (Washington) will end January 31, 1997, 1996 consider them and respond to them in according to the Act, and GIPSA is Greeneville, Tennessee; October 8, each FEIS. asking persons interested in providing 1996 To assist the Forest Service in official services in the Kankakee, Alcoa, Tennessee; October 10, 1996 identifying and considering issues and California, and Washington areas to Tellico Plains; October 15, 1996 concerns on the proposed actions, submit an application for designation. Ducktown, Tennessee; October 16, comments on each DEIS should be as DATES: Applications must be 1996 specific as possible. It is also helpful if postmarked or sent by telecopier (FAX) Cleveland, Tennessee; October 17, comments refer to specific pages or on or before September 2, 1996. 1996 chapters of the draft statement. ADDRESSES: Applications must be Nashville, Tennessee; October 21, Comments may also address the submitted to USDA, GIPSA, FGIS, Janet 1996 adequacy of the DEIS or the merits of M. Hart, Chief, Review Branch, the alternatives formulated and Jefferson National Forest Compliance Division, STOP 3604, 1400 discussed in the statements. Reviewers Independence Avenue, S.W., Proposed Location and Date: may wish to refer to the Council on Washington, DC 20250–3604. Mt. Rogers NRA, Jefferson National Environmental Quality Regulations for Telecopier (FAX) users may send Forest, Virginia; August 17, 1996 implementing the procedural provisions applications to the automatic telecopier of the National Environmental Policy Sumter National Forest machine at 202–690–2755, attention: Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing Proposed Locations and Dates: Janet M. Hart. If an application is these points. Columbia, South Carolina; August 22, After the comment periods end on submitted by telecopier, GIPSA reserves 1996 each DEIS, the comments will be the right to request an original Edgefield, South Carolina; August 26, analyzed, considered, and responded to application. All applications will be 1996 by the Forest Service in preparing each made available for public inspection at Newberry, South Carolina; September FEIS. The FEISs are scheduled to be this address located at 1400 10, 1996 completed in December, 1998. The Independence Avenue, S.W., during Walhalla, South Carolina; September responsible official will consider the regular business hours. 21, 1996 comments, responses, environmental FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: G. Release and Review of the EISs consequences discussed in each FEIS, Janet M. Hart, telephone 202–720–8525. and applicable laws, regulations, and Each Draft Environmental Impact SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Statement (DEIS) is expected to be filed policies in making a decision regarding action has been reviewed and with the Environmental Protection these revisions. The responsible official determined not to be a rule or regulation Agency (EPA) and to be available for will document the decision and reasons as defined in Executive Order 12866 public comment by January, 1998. At for the decision in a Record of Decision and Departmental Regulation 1512–1; that time, the EPA will publish a notice for each Forest Plan. Each decision will therefore, the Executive Order and of availability of each DEIS (one for each be subject to appeal in accordance with Departmental Regulation do not apply Forest’s DEIS) in the Federal Register. 36 CFR 217. to this action. The responsible official for each of the The comment period on each DEIS will Section 7(f)(1) of the Act authorizes Forest Plans is the Regional Forester, be 3 months from the date the EPA GIPSA’s Administrator to designate a Southern Region, 1720 Peachtree Road, publishes the notice of availability in qualified applicant to provide official NW., Atlanta, Georgia 30367. the Federal Register. services in a specified area after The Forest Service believes, at this Dated: July 25, 1996. determining that the applicant is better early stage, it is important to give Gloria Manning, able than any other applicant to provide reviewers notice of several court rulings Deputy Regional Forester, NRT. such official services. GIPSA related to public participation in the [FR Doc. 96–19429 Filed 7–31–96; 8:45 am] designated: Kankakee main office environmental review process. First, BILLING CODE 3410±11±M located in Bourbonnais, Illinois; reviewers of the DEIS must structure California main office located in their participation in the environmental Sacramento, California; and review of the proposal so that it is Grain Inspection, Packers and Washington, main office located in meaningful and alerts an agency to the Stockyards Administration Olympia, Washington, under the Act on reviewer’s position and contentions. February 1, 1994. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. Opportunity for Designation in the Section 7(g)(1) of the Act provides NRDC. 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, Kankakee (IL) Area and the States of that designations of official agencies environmental objections that could be California and Washington shall end not later than triennially and raised at the DEIS stage but that are not AGENCY: Grain Inspection, Packers and may be renewed according to the raised until after completion of the Final Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). criteria and procedures prescribed in Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) ACTION: Notice. Section 7(f) of the Act. The designations may be waived or dismissed by the of Kankakee, California, and courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 SUMMARY: The United States Grain Washington end on January 31, 1997. F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Standards Act, as amended (Act), Pursuant to Section 7(f)(2) of the Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 provides that official agency USGSA, the following geographic area, F.Supp.1334, 1338 (E.D.Wis.1980). designations will end not later than in the State of Illinois, is assigned to Because of these court rulings, it is very triennially and may be renewed. The Kankakee: