81_FR_41639 81 FR 41516 - Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board

81 FR 41516 - Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 123 (June 27, 2016)

Page Range41516-41517
FR Document2016-15127

The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), intends to re- establish the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board (Board). In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the Board is being re-established to continue obtaining advice and recommendations on a broad range of forest issues such as forest plan revisions or amendments, forest health including fire management and mountain pine beetle infestations, travel management, forest monitoring and evaluation, recreation fees, and site-specific projects having forest wide implications.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 123 (Monday, June 27, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 123 (Monday, June 27, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41516-41517]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15127]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to re-establish the Black Hills National 
Forest Advisory Board.

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SUMMARY: The U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), intends to re-
establish the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board (Board). In 
accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(FACA), the Board is being re-established to continue obtaining advice 
and recommendations on a broad range of forest issues such as forest 
plan revisions or amendments, forest health including fire management 
and mountain pine beetle infestations, travel management, forest 
monitoring and evaluation, recreation fees, and site-specific projects 
having forest wide implications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Jacobson, Board Coordinator, 
USDA, Black Hills National Forest, by telephone: 605-673-9216, by fax: 
605-673-9208, or by email: [email protected].
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through 
Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board is a non-scientific program 
advisory board established by the Secretary of Agriculture in 2003 to 
provide advice and counsel to the U. S. Forest Service, Black Hills 
National Forest, in the wake of increasingly severe and intense wild 
fires and mountain pine beetle epidemics.
    The purpose of the Board is to provide advice and recommendations 
on a broad range of forest issues such as forest plan revisions or 
amendments, travel management, forest monitoring and evaluation, and 
site-specific projects having forest-wide implications. The Board also 
serves to meet the needs of the Recreation Enhancement Act of 2005 as a 
Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC) for the Black Hills of 
South Dakota. The Board provides timely advice and recommendations to 
the regional forester through the forest supervisor regarding 
programmatic forest issues and project-level issues that have forest-
wide implications for the Black Hills National Forest.
    The Board meets approximately ten times a year, with one month 
being a field trip, held in August and focusing on both current issues 
and the educational value of seeing management strategies and outcomes 
on the ground. This Board has been established as a truly credible 
entity and a trusted voice on forest management issues and is doing 
often astonishing work in helping to develop informed consent for 
forest management.
    For years, the demands made on the Black Hills National Forest have 
resulted in conflicts among interest groups resulting in both forest-
wide and site-specific programs being delayed due to appeals and 
litigation. The Board provides a forum to resolve these issues to allow 
for the Black Hills National Forest to move forward in its management 
activities. The Board is believed to be one of the few groups with 
broad enough scope to address all of the issues and include all of the 
jurisdictional boundaries.

Significant Contributions

    The Board's most significant accomplishments include:
    1. A 2004 report on the Black Hills Fuels Reduction Plan, a 
priority following the major fires including the 86,000 acre Jasper 
Fire in 2000;
    2. A 2004 initial Off-Highway Vehicle Travel Management 
Subcommittee report;
    3. A report on their findings regarding the thesis, direction, and 
assumptions of Phase II of our Forest Plan produced in 2005;
    4. The Invasive Species Subcommittee Report in 2005 covering 
recommendations to better stop invasive species from infiltrating the 
Forest;
    5. A final Travel Management Subcommittee Report in 2006 in which 
the Board made 11 recommendations regarding characteristics of a 
designated motor vehicle trail system, the basis for our initial work 
to prepare our Motor Vehicle Use Map in 2010-2011;
    6. The Board's annual work to attract funding through grants based 
on the Collaborative Landscape Forest Restoration Program (CFLRP), a 
program of the Secretary of Agriculture CFLR Program to encourage the 
collaborative, science-based ecosystem restoration of priority forest 
landscapes;
    7. A letter to the Secretary and the Chief of the Forest Service to 
work, restore and maintain open space for wildlife habitat and 
recreation needs like snowmobile trails; and
    8. The annual reports to the Secretary detailing the Board's 
activities, issues, and accomplishments.
    The Board is deemed to be among the most effective public 
involvement strategies in the Forest Service and continues to lead by 
example for Federal, State, and local government agencies working to 
coordinate and cooperate in the Black Hills of South Dakota and 
Wyoming.

Background

    Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. II), 
the Secretary of Agriculture intends to re-establish the Black Hills 
National Forest Advisory Board. The Board provides advice and 
recommendations on a broad range of forest planning issues and, in 
accordance with the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (Pub. L. 
108-447 (REA)), more specifically will provide advice and 
recommendations on Black Hills National Forest recreation fee issues 
(serving as the RRAC for the Black Hills National Forest). The Board 
membership consists of individuals representing commodity interests, 
amenity interests, and State and local government.
    The Board has been determined to be in the public interest in 
connection with the duties and responsibilities of the Black Hills 
National Forest. National forest management requires improved 
coordination among the interests and governmental entities responsible 
for land management decisions and the public that the agency serves.

Advisory Committee Organization

    The Board consists of 16 members that are representative of the 
following interests (this membership is similar to the membership 
outlined by the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination 
Act for Resource Advisory Committees (16 U.S.C. 500, et seq.)):
    1. Economic development;
    2. Developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or 
commercial recreation;
    3. Energy and mineral development;
    4. Commercial timber industry;

[[Page 41517]]

    5. Permittee (grazing or other land use within the Black Hills 
area);
    6. Nationally recognized environmental organizations;
    7. Regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations;
    8. Dispersed recreation;
    9. Archeology or history;
    10. Nationally or regionally recognized sportsmen's groups, such as 
anglers or hunters;
    11. South Dakota State-elected offices;
    12. Wyoming State-elected offices;
    13. South Dakota or Wyoming county-or local-elected officials;
    14. Tribal government elected or- appointed officials;
    15. South Dakota State natural resource agency official; and
    16. Wyoming State natural resource agency official.
    The members of the Board will elect and determine the 
responsibilities of the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson. In the 
absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson will act in the 
Chairperson's stead. The Forest Supervisor of the Black Hills National 
Forest serves as the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) under sections 
10(e) and (f) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. II).
    Members will serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for 
travel expenses while performing duties on behalf of the Board, subject 
to approval by the DFO.
    Equal opportunity practices are followed in all appointments to the 
Board in accordance with USDA policies. To ensure that the 
recommendations of the Board have been taken into account the needs of 
diverse groups served by USDA, the membership shall include to the 
extent practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent 
the needs of all racial and ethnic groups, women and men, and persons 
with disabilities.

    Dated: June 20, 2016.
 Gregory L. Parham,
Assistant Secretary for Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-15127 Filed 6-24-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

41516 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 123 / Monday, June 27, 2016 / Notices recommendation made by a Recreation on a broad range of forest issues such as 6. The Board’s annual work to attract Resource Advisory Committee prior to a forest plan revisions or amendments, funding through grants based on the final decision and implementation. travel management, forest monitoring Collaborative Landscape Forest Visitors wanting to reserve Castle and evaluation, and site-specific Restoration Program (CFLRP), a program Rock, Rocky Bend or Hebo Kitchen projects having forest-wide of the Secretary of Agriculture CFLR group sites would need to do so through implications. The Board also serves to Program to encourage the collaborative, the national reservation system at meet the needs of the Recreation science-based ecosystem restoration of www.recreation.gov or by calling 1–877– Enhancement Act of 2005 as a priority forest landscapes; 444–6777 when it becomes available. Recreation Resource Advisory 7. A letter to the Secretary and the Dated: June 17, 2016. Committee (RRAC) for the Black Hills of Chief of the Forest Service to work, Jeremiah C. Ingersoll, South Dakota. The Board provides restore and maintain open space for Forest Supervisor. timely advice and recommendations to wildlife habitat and recreation needs the regional forester through the forest like snowmobile trails; and [FR Doc. 2016–15156 Filed 6–24–16; 8:45 am] supervisor regarding programmatic 8. The annual reports to the Secretary BILLING CODE 3410–11–P forest issues and project-level issues detailing the Board’s activities, issues, that have forest-wide implications for and accomplishments. the Black Hills National Forest. The Board is deemed to be among the DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE The Board meets approximately ten most effective public involvement Forest Service times a year, with one month being a strategies in the Forest Service and field trip, held in August and focusing continues to lead by example for Black Hills National Forest Advisory on both current issues and the Federal, State, and local government Board educational value of seeing management agencies working to coordinate and strategies and outcomes on the ground. cooperate in the Black Hills of South AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. This Board has been established as a Dakota and Wyoming. ACTION: Notice of intent to re-establish truly credible entity and a trusted voice the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Background on forest management issues and is Board. doing often astonishing work in helping Pursuant to the Federal Advisory SUMMARY: The U. S. Department of to develop informed consent for forest Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. II), the Agriculture (USDA), intends to re- management. Secretary of Agriculture intends to re- establish the Black Hills National Forest For years, the demands made on the establish the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board (Board). In accordance Black Hills National Forest have Advisory Board. The Board provides with the provisions of the Federal resulted in conflicts among interest advice and recommendations on a broad Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the groups resulting in both forest-wide and range of forest planning issues and, in Board is being re-established to site-specific programs being delayed accordance with the Federal Lands continue obtaining advice and due to appeals and litigation. The Board Recreation Enhancement Act (Pub. L. recommendations on a broad range of provides a forum to resolve these issues 108–447 (REA)), more specifically will forest issues such as forest plan to allow for the Black Hills National provide advice and recommendations revisions or amendments, forest health Forest to move forward in its on Black Hills National Forest including fire management and management activities. The Board is recreation fee issues (serving as the mountain pine beetle infestations, travel believed to be one of the few groups RRAC for the Black Hills National management, forest monitoring and with broad enough scope to address all Forest). The Board membership consists evaluation, recreation fees, and site- of the issues and include all of the of individuals representing commodity specific projects having forest wide jurisdictional boundaries. interests, amenity interests, and State implications. and local government. Significant Contributions The Board has been determined to be FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Board’s most significant in the public interest in connection with Scott Jacobson, Board Coordinator, accomplishments include: the duties and responsibilities of the USDA, Black Hills National Forest, by 1. A 2004 report on the Black Hills Black Hills National Forest. National telephone: 605–673–9216, by fax: 605– Fuels Reduction Plan, a priority forest management requires improved 673–9208, or by email: sjjacobson@ following the major fires including the coordination among the interests and fs.fed.us. 86,000 acre Jasper Fire in 2000; governmental entities responsible for Individuals who use 2. A 2004 initial Off-Highway Vehicle land management decisions and the telecommunication devices for the deaf Travel Management Subcommittee public that the agency serves. (TDD) may call the Federal Information report; Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 3. A report on their findings regarding Advisory Committee Organization between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., the thesis, direction, and assumptions of The Board consists of 16 members Eastern Standard Time, Monday Phase II of our Forest Plan produced in that are representative of the following through Friday. 2005; interests (this membership is similar to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Board 4. The Invasive Species Subcommittee the membership outlined by the Secure is a non-scientific program advisory Report in 2005 covering Rural Schools and Community Self board established by the Secretary of recommendations to better stop invasive Determination Act for Resource Agriculture in 2003 to provide advice species from infiltrating the Forest; mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES Advisory Committees (16 U.S.C. 500, et and counsel to the U. S. Forest Service, 5. A final Travel Management seq.)): Black Hills National Forest, in the wake Subcommittee Report in 2006 in which 1. Economic development; of increasingly severe and intense wild the Board made 11 recommendations 2. Developed outdoor recreation, off- fires and mountain pine beetle regarding characteristics of a designated highway vehicle users, or commercial epidemics. motor vehicle trail system, the basis for recreation; The purpose of the Board is to our initial work to prepare our Motor 3. Energy and mineral development; provide advice and recommendations Vehicle Use Map in 2010–2011; 4. Commercial timber industry; VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:52 Jun 24, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\27JNN1.SGM 27JNN1

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 123 / Monday, June 27, 2016 / Notices 41517 5. Permittee (grazing or other land use SUMMARY: The Apache-Sitgreaves, This project is needed to: Increase within the Black Hills area); Coconino, and Tonto National Forests forest resiliency and sustainability, 6. Nationally recognized are proposing to conduct restoration reduce risk of undesirable fire effects, environmental organizations; activities within 1.24 million acres of improve terrestrial and aquatic species 7. Regionally or locally recognized ponderosa pine ecosystem over habitat, improve the condition and environmental organizations; approximately 10 years. Treatment areas function of streams and springs, restore 8. Dispersed recreation; are located on the Black Mesa, and woody riparian vegetation, preserve 9. Archeology or history; Lakeside Ranger Districts of the Apache- cultural resources, and support 10. Nationally or regionally Sitgreaves National Forest, the Mogollon sustainable forest products industries. recognized sportsmen’s groups, such as and Red Rock Ranger Districts of the Proposed Action anglers or hunters; Coconino National Forest, and the 11. South Dakota State-elected offices; Payson and Pleasant Valley Ranger To meet the purpose and need for the 12. Wyoming State-elected offices; Districts of the Tonto National Forest. Rim Country Project and move the 13. South Dakota or Wyoming county- Project treatments would occur in the project area toward desired conditions, or local-elected officials; vicinity of Happy Jack, Payson, Young, the Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, and 14. Tribal government elected or- Heber-Overgaard, Show Low, and Tonto National Forests propose appointed officials; Pinetop-Lakeside, Arizona. The mechanical thinning, prescribed fire, 15. South Dakota State natural objective of this project is to re-establish and other restoration activities resource agency official; and forest structure, pattern, and throughout the project area that would 16. Wyoming State natural resource composition, which will lead to make the forest more resilient to natural agency official. increased forest resilience and function. disturbances such as fire, insects and The members of the Board will elect Resiliency increases the ability of disease, and climate change. Restoration and determine the responsibilities of the ponderosa pine forests to survive activities are needed to maintain or Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson. natural disturbances such as insects and restore forest structure and pattern, In the absence of the Chairperson, the disease, fire, and climate change. desired fire regimes, and watershed and Vice-Chairperson will act in the ecosystem function in ponderosa pine, DATES: Comments concerning the Chairperson’s stead. The Forest ponderosa pine-Gambel oak, ponderosa proposed action in this notice must be pine-evergreen oak, frequent fire mixed Supervisor of the Black Hills National received by August 11, 2016. The draft conifer (dry mixed conifer), aspen, and Forest serves as the Designated Federal environmental impact statement is grassland cover types, moving them Officer (DFO) under sections 10(e) and expected in July 2017 and the final toward conditions within the natural (f) of the Federal Advisory Committee environmental impact statement is range of variation. Facilitative Act (5 U.S.C. App. II). expected in September 2018. operations may be needed in other cover Members will serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed ADDRESSES: Send written comments to types (such as pinyon juniper) to enable for travel expenses while performing Coconino National Forest, Attention: or complete treatments in target cover duties on behalf of the Board, subject to 4FRI, 1824 S. Thompson Street, types, by reducing uncharacteristic fire approval by the DFO. Flagstaff, Arizona 86001. Comments risk, reducing ground disturbance from Equal opportunity practices are may also be sent via email to fireline construction, or improving followed in all appointments to the 4FRI_comments@fs.fed.us, or via operability. Restoration activities Board in accordance with USDA facsimile to (928) 527–3620. proposed for the Rim Country project policies. To ensure that the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: area include: recommendations of the Board have Annette Fredette, 4FRI Planning • Mechanically thin trees and/or been taken into account the needs of Coordinator, at 928–226–4684, or implement prescribed fire on diverse groups served by USDA, the 4FRI_comments@fs.fed.us. approximately 952,330 acres. membership shall include to the extent Individuals who use Æ Mechanically thin trees and practicable, individuals with telecommunication devices for the deaf implement prescribed fire on demonstrated ability to represent the (TDD) may call the Federal Information approximately 1,260 acres in the Long needs of all racial and ethnic groups, Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 Valley Experimental Forest (in women and men, and persons with between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern coordination with the Rocky Mountain disabilities. Time, Monday through Friday. Research Station). Æ Implement prescribed fire alone on Dated: June 20, 2016. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: approximately 45,290 acres. Gregory L. Parham, Æ Mechanically thin and/or Purpose of and Need for Action Assistant Secretary for Administration. implement prescribed fire on [FR Doc. 2016–15127 Filed 6–24–16; 8:45 am] The purpose of the Rim Country approximately 68,360 acres of Mexican BILLING CODE 3411–15–P Project is to reestablish and restore spotted owl (MSO) protected activity forest structure and pattern, forest centers (PACs), approximately 128,800 health, and vegetation composition and acres of MSO recovery habitat, and DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE diversity in ponderosa pine ecosystems approximately 500,940 acres of northern to conditions within the natural range of goshawk habitat. Forest Service variation, thus moving the project area Æ Mechanically thin trees and/or toward the desired conditions. The implement prescribed fire to restore mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES Four Forest Restoration Initiative, Rim outcome of improving structure and approximately 40,760 acres of Country Apache-Sitgreaves, Coconino, function is increased system resiliency. grasslands and meadows (includes and Tonto National Forests Resiliency increases the ability of an 21,550 acres of grassland cover type). AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ecosystem to survive natural Æ Conduct facilitative operations disturbances such as fire, insects and (thin and/or burn) on up to 157,270 ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an disease, and climate change without acres of non-target cover types to environmental impact statement. changing its inherent function. support treatments in target cover types. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:52 Jun 24, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\27JNN1.SGM 27JNN1


Document Created: 2016-06-25 02:06:50
Document Modified: 2016-06-25 02:06:50
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of intent to re-establish the Black Hills National Forest Advisory Board.
ContactScott Jacobson, Board Coordinator, USDA, Black Hills National Forest, by telephone: 605-673-9216, by fax: 605-673-9208, or by email: [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 41516 
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