Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 46 / Wednesday, March 10, 2010 / Notices 11105

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE projects, approval of RAC project modified for completing the plan proposals, and other RAC business. The revision. Forest Service meeting is an open public forum. Some The revised land management plans RAC members may attend the meeting will supersede the current land Shasta County Resource Advisory by conference call, telephone, or management plans previously approved Committee electronically. by the Regional Forester in 1987 and as amended. The amended plans will AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lyle remain in effect until the revision takes ACTION: Notice of meeting. E. Powers, Acting Forest Supervisor and effect. Designated Federal Officer, at 208–756– SUMMARY: The Shasta County Resource 5557. DATES: Comments providing additional Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet at information for the plans will be used the USDA Service Center in Redding, Dated: March 2, 2010. to develop the draft revised forest plan California, on March 31, 2010, from 8:30 Frank V. Guzman, and EIS. This information would be a.m. to 12 noon. The purpose of this Forest Supervisor, Salmon-Challis National most useful if received by May 15, 2010. meeting is to discuss project updates Forest. The agency expects to complete a and proposals, information on [FR Doc. 2010–4955 Filed 3–8–10; 8:45 am] proposed plan and draft EIS by monitoring efforts, and a timeline for BILLING CODE 3410–11–M December 2010, and a final plan and the upcoming year. final EIS by December 2011. The dates, DATES: Wednesday, March 31 at 8:30 time, and location of any open houses DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE a.m. will be posted on the forests’ Web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/kipz. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at Forest Service ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the USDA Service Center, 3644 Avtech KIPZ, Attention: Forest Plan Revision Parkway, Redding, California 96002. Kootenai (KNF) and Idaho Panhandle National Forests (IPNF); Montana, Team, Idaho Panhandle National FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Idaho and Washington; Revised Land Forests, Forest Supervisors Office, 3815 Resource Advisory Committee and Resource Management Plans Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID Coordinator Ray Mooney at (530) 226– 83815. Comments may also be sent via 2494 or [email protected]. AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. e-mail: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: meeting is open to the public. Public environmental impact statement (EIS) Linda Clark, revision co-team leader input sessions will be provided and and revised land management plans Idaho Panhandle National Forests, 3815 individuals will have the opportunity to using the provisions of the National Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID address the Shasta County Resource Forest System land and resource 83815, 208 765–7417, [email protected] Advisory Committee. management planning rule in effect or Kathy Rodriguez, revision co-team Dated: March 10, 2010. prior to November 9, 2000, for the leader, Kootenai National Forest, Forest J. Sharon Heywood, Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National Supervisors Office, 31374 U.S. Highway Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National Forests located in Lincoln, Sanders, and 2, Libby, MT 59923–3022, 406–293– Forest. Flathead counties in Montana; Bonner, 6211, [email protected]. Information [FR Doc. 2010–4957 Filed 3–8–10; 8:45 am] Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone, on this revision is also available at KIPZ BILLING CODE M Benewah, Latah, and Clearwater revision Web site (http://www.fs.fed.us/ counties in Idaho; and Pend Oreille kipz). Individuals who use county in Washington. telecommunication devices for the deaf DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (TDD) may call the Federal Information SUMMARY: As directed by the National Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339 Forest Service Forest Management Act, the US Forest between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time Service is preparing the revised land Monday through Friday. Notice of Central Idaho Resource management plans for the Kootenai and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Advisory Committee Meeting Idaho Panhandle National Forests and will also prepare one Environmental Name and Address of the Responsible AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. Impact Statement (EIS) for the revised Official ACTION: Notice of meeting. plans unless, during the revision Leslie A.C. Weldon, Regional process, the need for two separate EISs SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authorities in Forester, 200 E. Broadway, Missoula, the Federal Advisory Committee Act is found to be warranted. The Kootenai MT 59807. and Idaho Panhandle National Forests (Pub. L. 92–463) and under the Secure Nature of the Decision To Be Made Rural Schools and Community Self comprise the Kootenai and Idaho Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 110– Panhandle Planning Zone (KIPZ). This The Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle 343), the Salmon-Challis National notice briefly describes where the National Forests are preparing an EIS to Forest’s Central Idaho Resource Forests are in this revision process and revise the current forest plans. The EIS Advisory Committee will conduct a information concerning public process is meant to inform the Regional business meeting which is open to the participation. It also provides estimated Forester so that she can decide which public. dates for filing the EIS and provides the alternative best meets the need to names and addresses of the responsible achieve quality land management under DATES: Tuesday, March 23, 2010, agency official and the individual who the sustainable multiple-use beginning at 4 p.m. can provide additional information. management concept to meet the ADDRESSES: Salmon-Challis N.F. South This notice also briefly describes the diverse needs of people while protecting Zone Office, Highway 93, Challis, Idaho. applicable planning rule and how work the forests’ resources, as required by the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Agenda done on the plan revision under the National Forest Management Act and topics will include review of RAC 2010 2008 planning rule will be used or the Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act.

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The revised forest plans describe the • The Content Analysis report As necessary or appropriate, the strategic intent of managing the prepared in 2004, summarized what the above listed material will be further Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National KIPZ had learned from people that adjusted as part of the planning process Forests into the next 10 to 15 years. The responded to the preliminary proposed using the provisions of the 1982 revised forest plans provide action, revision topics, and need for Planning Rule (Authority: 16 U.S.C. management direction in the form of change through the various public and 1600–1614; 36 CFR 219.35 (December goals (desired conditions), objectives, workgroup meetings, open houses, field 18, 2009) (74 FR 242)). suitability determinations, standards, trips, invited group presentations, and guidelines, and a monitoring plan. They meetings with Tribal partners, agency Proposed Action also make new special area partners, and elected officials up to that The proposed action will be recommendations for wilderness, time. developed using the information that research natural areas, and other special • The Analysis of the Management has been developed and summarized areas. Situation (AMS) and AMS Technical over the last 10 years including: Public Report completed in March 2003 forms comments, public working groups, Applicable Planning Rule the basis for need to change the current AMS, CER, and proposed plans. Using Preparation of the revised plans was forest plans and the proposed action for the information from public underway when the 2008 National the plan revision. involvement and content analysis on the Forest System land management • The Comprehensive Evaluation proposed plans, the revision team planning rule was enjoined on June 30, Report (CER) provided for public review worked on finalizing the plans from 2009, by the United States District Court and comment in 2006, built upon the 2007 to 2009. The Forests propose to for the Northern District of California AMS and documents the evaluation of review the work that has been (Citizens for Better Forestry v. United the 1987 Forest Plans and proposed completed to date to develop a proposed States Department of Agriculture, 632F. changes. The CER evaluates current action and range of alternatives. Supp. 2d 968 (N.D.Cal. June, 2009)). social, economic, and ecological On December 18, 2009, the conditions and trends that contribute to Revision Topics Carried Forward Department reinstated the previous sustainability. The CER, under the 2005 The Forests propose to carry forward planning rule, commonly known as the and 2008 Planning Rules, served as the the following Forestwide revision topics 2000 planning rule in the Federal principle document that supported the as published in the May 2006 Proposed Register (74 FR 242, pages 67059 need to establish, amend, or revise a Land Management Plans. These revision through 67075 [Friday, December 18, plan. The CER identifies factors that topics were identified in the 2003 AMS, 2009]). The 2000 planning rule was affect conditions and trends, and and updated in the CER under the 2005, amended in 2002 to allow the Forest includes information of what is causing and 2008 Planning Rules: Service to follow the procedures of the conditions to change, and describes the • Access and Recreation 1982 Forest System Land and Resource influence plan implementation would • Vegetation Management Planning Rule (1982 Rule). have on moving toward desired • Timber The Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle conditions. • Fire National Forests have elected to use the • The inventory and evaluation of • Wildlife provisions of the 1982 Planning Rule potential wilderness areas presented in • Watersheds (Water, Soil, and including the requirement to prepare an the Proposed Land Management Plans Riparian) and Aquatic Species ETS to complete their revised plans. and CER made available for public • Recommended Wilderness In late 2000, the KIPZ began working review and comment in May 2006, for The Forests propose to start with the on revision of their Land Management both forests, is consistent with Proposed LMPs and comments received Plans (LMPs) under the 1982 Planning appropriate provisions of the 1982 (under the 1982 and 2005 Planning Rule. In April 2002, a Notice of Intent planning Rule and will be brought Rules) to build Plans under the 1982 (NOT) was published in the Federal forward into this planning process. Planning Rule and proposed action in Register, announcing the revision of the • The Analysis of Public Comment the accompanying EIS. LMPs with a 12 month public comment report prepared in March 2007 Public Involvement period. Work continued on the LMPs synthesizes and summarizes the under the 1982, 2000, 2005, and 2008 comments and concerns heard during Extensive public involvement and Planning Rules. Results from public the comment period for the Proposed collaboration has occurred over the past involvement work conducted since Land Management Plans released in eight years. Informal discussions with 2002, were used as the revision May 2006. the public regarding needed changes to continued through June 2009. Proposed • Information developed by the the current forest plans began with a Plans were released in 2006, under the working groups (which included over series of public meetings in 2002. This 2005 Planning Rule. Since 2008, work 140 meetings) and discussions regarding input, along with science-based on the revision of the LMPs was Geographic Area (GA) desired evaluations, and inventory and conducted in accordance with all Forest conditions, the revision topics, monitoring was used to determine the Service directives applicable to the 2008 monitoring and other plan components need for change identified above. Planning Rule. (1982 Planning Rule) and over fifty Additional meetings, correspondence, Although the 2008 Planning Rule is meetings and discussions on the starting news releases, comment periods, and no longer in effect, information gathered option maps and potential changes to other tools have been utilized to gather prior to the court’s injunction is useful suggest to Forest Supervisors (2005 feedback from the public, forest for completing the revision of the plans Planning Rule) that went into the employees, tribal governments, federal using the provisions of the 1982 Proposed LMPs. and state agencies, and local Planning Rule. The KIPZ has concluded • There are additional background governments. that the following material developed reports, assessments, datasets, and The KIPZ hosted approximately thirty during the plan revision process to date public comment that will be used, some informational and comment meetings is appropriate for continued use in the of which can be found on the KIPZ Web within communities of Idaho, Montana, revision process: site. and Washington during the scoping

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process, which started in April 2002, the KIPZ Web site. The Draft Forest DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE with the Notice of Intent in the Federal Plans maps were used by the revision Register, and ended in May 2004. In team to complete the Proposed Land Forest Service addition to the public meetings, Management Plans. briefings and meetings were held with Revision of Land Management Plan for In May 2006, the Kootenai and Idaho the George Washington National the Tribes, Congressionals and other Panhandle National Forests prepared elected officials, other agencies, and Forest, Virginia and West Virginia and released Proposed Land interest groups. AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. Also during the scoping period, the Management Plans, with maps, for a 90- ACTION: KIPZ hosted approximately 140 day comment period (extended to 120 Notice of intent to prepare an workgroup meetings from August 2003 days). An Analysis of Public Comment environmental impact statement and to May 2004. These meetings were held report was prepared in March 2007, and revised land management plan using the in communities within the KIPZ zone posted on the KIPZ Web site (http:// provisions of the 1982 National Forest and the workgroups focused on the GAs www.fs.fed.us/kipz). The report System land and resource management surrounding each of these communities. synthesized the comments and concerns planning regulations for the George The purpose of these workgroup heard during the comment period for Washington National Forest. the Proposed Land Management Plans. meetings was to: (1) Share information Affected Area: Alleghany, Amherst, about the revision topics, (2) The KIPZ will continue regular and Augusta, Bath, Botetourt, Frederick, collaboratively discuss and develop meaningful consultation and Highland, Nelson, Page, Rockbridge, desired conditions for each of the collaboration with tribal nations, on a Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren revision topics within the workgroup’s government-to-government basis. The counties, Virginia and in Hampshire, GAs, and (3) gain an understanding of agency will work with tribal Hardy, Monroe and Pendleton counties, the issues and appreciation of others’ governments to address issues West Virginia. viewpoints. Workgroup meeting notes concerning Indian tribal self- SUMMARY: As directed by the National and desired condition statements can be government and sovereignty, natural Forest Management Act, the USDA found on the KIPZ Web site (http:// and cultural resources held in trust, Forest Service is preparing the George www.fs.fed.us/kipz). Indian tribal treaty and Executive order Washington National Forest (GWNF) This information was used in rights, and any issues that significantly revised land and resource management developing forestwide and GA desired or uniquely affect their communities. plan (Forest Plan) and an environmental conditions, other management direction impact statement (EIS) for this revised such as management area direction, and The KIPZ desires to continue plan. This notice briefly describes the the starting option map, which was used collaborative efforts with members of purpose and need for change, some at further workgroup meetings in the the public who are interested in proposed actions in response to the summer of 2005. management of the Forests, as well as In addition to these workgroup federal and state agencies, local need for change, preliminary issues, and meetings, briefings and meetings were governments, and private organizations. preliminary alternatives for the plan revision based on what has been held with the Tribes, Congressionals If you feel that we missed any and other elected officials, other identified from internal and external substantive issues or concerns from discussions since the revision of the agencies, and interest groups (upon those listed above as revision topics or request). Several elected officials, Forest Plan began in 2007. It also additional, different comments from provides information concerning public Congressional staffers, and other agency those provided on the Proposed LMPs, representatives participated in the participation, estimated dates for filing please e-mail, call or write to us. If you the EIS, the names and addresses of the workgroup meetings. do wish to comment, it is important that From July to September 2005, the responsible agency official, and the you provide comments at such times KIPZ hosted additional workgroup individuals who can provide additional and in such a way (clearly articulate meetings in the same communities information. Finally, this notice briefly your concerns) that they are useful to focusing on the same GAs. The purpose describes the applicable planning rule the Agency’s preparation of the revised of these workgroup meetings was to: (1) and how work done on the plan revision plan and the EIS. The submission of Share the starting option maps and under the 2008 planning rule will be discuss how they were developed, (2) timely and specific comments can affect used or modified for completing this validate the information on the maps, a reviewer’s ability to participate in plan revision. and (3) collaboratively discuss any subsequent administrative or judicial The revised Forest Plan will possible changes to the maps. In review. At this time, we anticipate using supersede the land and resource addition to these meetings, meetings the 2000 Planning Rule pre-decisional management plan previously approved were held with elected officials, the objection process (36 CFR 219.32) for by the Regional Forester on January 21, Tribes, and other groups. The comments administrative review. 1993 and as amended nine times from from all of these meetings resulted in Comments received in response to 1993 to 2002. Those amendments decisions made by the Forest this solicitation, including the names include: The availability of oil and gas Supervisors to change the starting and addresses of those who comment leasing in Laurel Fork Special option maps. Workgroup meeting notes will be part of the public record. Management Area; the designation of can be found on the KIPZ Web site Comments submitted anonymously will Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area; (http://www.fs.fed.us/kipz). be accepted and considered. the Biological Opinion for the Indiana In October 2005, Draft Forest Plans bat; and the helicopter application of Dated: March 2, 2010. maps were released with the intent to liming for the St. Mary’s River within provide information back to the public Leslie A.C. Weldon, the St. Mary’s Wilderness. The amended on how the starting option maps had Regional Forester, Forest Service Northern Plan will remain in effect until the changed. It did not initiate a comment Region. revision takes effect. period. The maps, along with the [FR Doc. 2010–4929 Filed 3–9–10; 8:45 am] DATES: Comments concerning the scope rationale for the changes, are posted on BILLING CODE 3410–11–M of this analysis as presented here and on

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