80 FR 36500 - Assessment of Ecological/Social/Cultural/Economic Sustainability, Conditions, and Trends for the Lincoln National Forest

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 122 (June 25, 2015)

Page Range		36500-36501
FR Document		2015-15618

The Lincoln National Forest, located in southern New Mexico, is initiating the forest planning process pursuant to the 2012 Forest Planning Rule. This process results in a Forest Land Management Plan which describes the strategic direction for management of forest resources for the next ten to fifteen years on the Lincoln National Forest. The first phase of the process, the assessment phase, is beginning, and interested parties are invited to contribute in the development of the assessment (36 CFR 219.6). The trends and conditions identified in the assessment will help in identifying the current plan's need for change and aid in the development of plan components. The Forest hosted a series of Community Conversations with stakeholders in March 2015. Additional public participation opportunities are forthcoming to discuss the assessment process. Information on these opportunities and all future public participation opportunities will be made available on the Lincoln Plan Revision Web site (see link below).

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 122 (Thursday, June 25, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 122 (Thursday, June 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36500-36501]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15618]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Assessment of Ecological/Social/Cultural/Economic Sustainability, 
Conditions, and Trends for the Lincoln National Forest

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of initiating the assessment phase of the Lincoln 
National Forest land management plan revision.

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SUMMARY: The Lincoln National Forest, located in southern New Mexico, 
is initiating the forest planning process pursuant to the 2012 Forest 
Planning Rule. This process results in a Forest Land Management Plan 
which describes the strategic direction for management of forest 
resources for the next ten to fifteen years on the Lincoln National 
Forest. The first phase of the process, the assessment phase, is 
beginning, and interested parties are invited to contribute in the 
development of the assessment (36 CFR 219.6). The trends and conditions 
identified in the assessment will help in identifying the current 
plan's need for change and aid in the development of plan components. 
The Forest hosted a series of Community Conversations with stakeholders 
in March 2015. Additional public participation opportunities are 
forthcoming to discuss the assessment process. Information on these 
opportunities and all future public participation opportunities will be 
made available on the Lincoln Plan Revision Web site (see link below).

DATES: A draft of the assessment report for the Lincoln National Forest 
is expected to be completed by early summer 2016 and will be posted on 
the following Web site, www.fs.usda.gov/goto/lincolnforestplan.
    The Lincoln National Forest is currently inviting the public to 
engage in a collaborative process to identify relevant information and 
local knowledge to be considered for the assessment. Once the 
assessment is completed, the Forest will initiate procedures pursuant 
to the 2012 Planning Rule and the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) to prepare a forest plan revision.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions concerning this notice should 
be addressed to: Lincoln National Forest, Attn: Sabrina Flores, 3463 
Las Palomas, Alamogordo, NM 88310.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sabrina Flores, Forest Planner, 575-
434-7200. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. 
More information on the planning process can also be found on the 
Lincoln National Forest Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/lincolnforestplan.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 
1976 requires that every National Forest System (NFS) unit develop a 
land management plan. On April 9, 2012, the Forest Service finalized 
its land management planning rule (2012 Planning Rule), which provides 
broad programmatic direction to National Forests and National 
Grasslands for developing and implementing their land management plans. 
Forest plans describe the strategic direction for management of forest 
resources for fifteen years, and are adaptive and amendable as 
conditions change over time.
    Under the 2012 Planning Rule, the assessment of ecological, social, 
cultural, and economic trends and conditions is the first stage of the 
planning process. The second stage is a plan development and decision 
process guided, in part, by the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) 
and includes the preparation of a draft environmental impact statement 
and revised Forest Plan for public review and comment, and the 
preparation of the final environmental impact statement and revised 
Forest Plan, subject to the objection process 36 CFR part 219 Subpart B 
prior to final plan approval. The third stage of the process is 
monitoring and feedback, which is ongoing over the life of the revised 
forest plans.
    With this notice, the agency invites other governments, non-
governmental parties, and the public to contribute to the development 
of the assessment report. The assessment will rapidly evaluate existing 
information about relevant ecological, economic, cultural and social 
conditions, trends, and sustainability within the context of the 
broader landscape. It will help inform the planning process through the 
use of Best Available Scientific Information, while also taking into 
account other forms of knowledge, such as local information, national 
perspectives, and native knowledge. Lastly, the assessment provides 
information that will help to identify the need to change the existing 
1986 plan. Public engagement as part of the assessment phase supports 
the development of relationships of key stakeholders throughout the 
plan revision process, and is an essential step to understanding 
current conditions, available data, and feedback needed to support a 
strategic, efficient planning process.
    As public meetings, public review and comment periods and other

[[Page 36501]]

opportunities for public engagement are identified to assist with the 
development of the forest plan revision, public announcements will be 
made. Notifications will be posted on the Forest's Web site at 
www.fs.usda.gov/goto/lincolnforestplan and information will be sent out 
to the Forest's mailing list. If anyone is interested in being on the 
Forest's mailing list to receive these notifications, please contact 
Sabrina Flores, Forest Planner, at the mailing address identified 
above, or by sending an email to [email protected]. In 
compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), please be 
advised that all information provided with your comments will become 
part of the public record and will be available for public inspection. 
This includes your name and all contact information provided.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for the revision of the land management 
plan for the Lincoln National Forest is Travis Moseley, Forest 
Supervisor, Lincoln National Forest, 3463 Las Palomas, Alamogordo, NM 
88310.

    Dated: June 15, 2015.
Travis G. Moseley,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2015-15618 Filed 6-24-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 122 / Thursday, June 25, 2015 / Notices 36501

opportunities for public engagement are expected in November 2015, and the offered. There has been an increase in
identified to assist with the final environmental impact statement is the fleet of small to mid-size cruise
development of the forest plan revision, expected in March 2016. ships desiring to guide on the Tongass,
public announcements will be made. ADDRESSES: Comments can be submitted and the demand for guided big game
Notifications will be posted on the via the project Web site at http:// hunting continues to grow. Also, the
Forest’s Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/ go.usa.gov/Pzi. Click on the link traditionally low-use seasons (April–
goto/lincolnforestplan and information ‘‘Commment on Project’’ to submit May; September–October) are seeing
will be sent out to the Forest’s mailing comments and attach documents. increased use, with additional interest
list. If anyone is interested in being on Comments may also be sent via email to for commercial use in the winter use
the Forest’s mailing list to receive these comments-alaska-tongass-sitka@ season (January–March). Six of the use
notifications, please contact Sabrina fs.fed.us or sent via fax to 907–772– areas defined in the 2004 Shoreline
Flores, Forest Planner, at the mailing 5996. Send written comments to Carey decision are at 80 percent or more of
address identified above, or by sending Case, Shoreline II Project Leader, their allocation during one or more
an email to lnf_fpr_comments@fs.fed.us. Petersburg Ranger District, 12 North seasons, and operators are dispersing to
In compliance with the Freedom of Nordic Drive, Petersburg, AK 99833. areas traditionally less used. At some
Information Act (FOIA), please be FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
locations, outfitters and guides have
advised that all information provided Carey Case, Shoreline II Team Leader by requested to operate beyond the 1⁄2-mile
with your comments will become part of phone, 907–772–5906, email, ccase@ zone. There is a need to revisit the
the public record and will be available fs.fed.us or by mail at 12 North Nordic decision to better align with current
for public inspection. This includes Drive, Petersburg, AK 99833. Additional market demand for non-motorized
your name and all contact information information about the project and commercial recreation services.
provided. Also, in 2008, the Forest Service
project area is available on the Internet
updated the national directives for
Responsible Official at http://go.usa.gov/Pzi Individuals who
outfitting and guiding. These updates
use telecommunication devices for the
The responsible official for the simplified procedures and clarified
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal policies for priority use permits
revision of the land management plan Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
for the Lincoln National Forest is Travis governing performance, inspections,
800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 and allocation of use. Additionally, data
Moseley, Forest Supervisor, Lincoln p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through
National Forest, 3463 Las Palomas, gathered recently through monitoring
Friday. and reported use by guides shows that
Alamogordo, NM 88310.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: some information used in the 2001
Dated: June 15, 2015.
Purpose and Need for Action Visitor Capacity Analysis required
Travis G. Moseley,
updating based on information gathered
Forest Supervisor. The purpose of this action is to through Forest Service monitoring and
[FR Doc. 2015–15618 Filed 6–24–15; 8:45 am] manage outfitters and guides on the reported use by guides.
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P Tongass National Forest marine
shoreline zone consistent with the 2008 Proposed Action
Tongass Land and Resource The Forest Service is proposing to
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Management Plan (Forest Plan). A allocate a portion of the overall visitor
decision is needed to determine new capacity to outfitter and guide use. The
Forest Service outfitter and guide use allocations for 2014 Shoreline II Project Visitor
the project area. This is necessary to Capacity Analysis (located at http://
Tongass National Forest; Alaska;
balance commercial and non- go.usa.gov/Pzi) establishes the total
Shoreline II Outfitter/Guide
commercial recreational opportunities visitor capacity for the project area.
Environmental Impact Statement
and to provide and maintain high Visitor capacity and the proposed
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. quality recreation experiences without allocations are described in terms of
ACTION: Corrected Notice of Intent to degrading forest resources. service days. A service day is defined as
prepare an environmental impact This action is needed to meet Forest a day, or any part of a day, for which
statement. Plan goals and objectives for recreation, an outfitter or guide provides service to
tourism, and to support local and a client on National Forest System
SUMMARY: A Notice of Intent (NOI) was regional economies. In addition, the (NFS) lands. Service days were
first published for this proposal in the 2004 Shoreline ROD required a review calculated and allocated to 48
Federal Register (79 FR 81210) on June after 5 years to determine whether to geographic units defined as Use Areas.
16, 2014. This NOI is being published continue implementing the decision, or The Forest Service proposes to
due to the length of time that has passed to supplement it. A 5-year review was allocate up to 80,463 service days of the
since the first NOI was published, due never conducted; this environmental total visitor capacity of 636,448 service
to changes made to the Purpose and analysis is intended to fulfill the role of days within the project area to outfitter
Need and Proposed Action in response that review. This environmental and guide use. These allocations are
to public input received during the analysis will replace the Shoreline ROD proposed by season and Use Area. The
initial scoping period, and a new with a new Environmental Impact Forest Service proposes to allocate
Decision Maker for the DEIS and FEIS. Statement and Record of Decision. guided brown bear hunts in the Alaska
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

DATES: Comments received during the Since the Shoreline ROD was Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G)
initial scoping period in 2014 will be completed in 2004, demand for non- Unit 4 Game Management Unit based on
considered in the preparation of this motorized recreation commercial the recommended number of hunts in
EIS. New or additional comments must services that originate in the marine the Alaska Board of Game Brown Bear
be received by 45 days from date of shoreline zone has increased. The need Management Strategy (BBMS, 2000).
publication of this Corrected NOI in the for recreation commercial services has The number of hunts will be allocated
Federal Register. The draft expanded both in terms of number of by ADF&G Guide Use Area to the spring
environmental impact statement is visitors, and the types of services being and fall seasons proportionally based on

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 14:17:21
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 14:17:21

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of initiating the assessment phase of the Lincoln National Forest land management plan revision.
Dates		A draft of the assessment report for the Lincoln National Forest is expected to be completed by early summer 2016 and will be posted on the following Web site, www.fs.usda.gov/goto/lincolnforestplan.
Contact		Sabrina Flores, Forest Planner, 575- 434-7200. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800- 877-8339 between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. More information on the planning process can also be found on the Lincoln National Forest Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ lincolnforestplan.
FR Citation		80 FR 36500

80 FR 36500 - Assessment of Ecological/Social/Cultural/Economic Sustainability, Conditions, and Trends for the Lincoln National Forest

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREForest Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 122 (June 25, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service