81 FR 86689 - Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Montana; Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Plan Revision

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 231 (December 1, 2016)

As directed by the National Forest Management Act, the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, is preparing the Helena- Lewis and Clark National Forest's revised land management plan (forest plan). The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for its revised forest plan. This notice briefly describes the proposed action based on the need to change the existing plans, the nature of the decision to be made, and information concerning public participation. This notice also provides estimated dates for filing the EIS, the name and address of the responsible agency officials, and the individuals who can provide additional information. Finally, this notice identifies the applicable planning rule that will be used for completing the plan revision. The revised Helena-Lewis and Clark Forest Plan will supersede the existing Helena National Forest and Lewis and Clark National Forest plans that were approved by the Regional Forester in 1986. The existing forest plans will remain in effect until the revised forest plan takes effect. In response to this notice, we are asking for comments on the proposed action so we may refine it and identify possible alternatives.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 231 (Thursday, December 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 86689-86690]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28838]


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                                                Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 231 / Thursday, December 1, 2016 / 
Notices

[[Page 86689]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Montana; Helena-Lewis and 
Clark National Forest Plan Revision

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: As directed by the National Forest Management Act, the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, is preparing the Helena-
Lewis and Clark National Forest's revised land management plan (forest 
plan). The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) for its revised forest plan.
    This notice briefly describes the proposed action based on the need 
to change the existing plans, the nature of the decision to be made, 
and information concerning public participation. This notice also 
provides estimated dates for filing the EIS, the name and address of 
the responsible agency officials, and the individuals who can provide 
additional information. Finally, this notice identifies the applicable 
planning rule that will be used for completing the plan revision.
    The revised Helena-Lewis and Clark Forest Plan will supersede the 
existing Helena National Forest and Lewis and Clark National Forest 
plans that were approved by the Regional Forester in 1986. The existing 
forest plans will remain in effect until the revised forest plan takes 
effect.
    In response to this notice, we are asking for comments on the 
proposed action so we may refine it and identify possible alternatives.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by March 30, 2017. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
November 2017 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
August 2018.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent via email to https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?Project=44589, or via facsimile to 
406-449-5436. Written comments may be mailed or delivered to the 
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Supervisor's Office, Attn: 
Forest Plan Revision, 2880 Skyway Dr., Helena, Montana 59602.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deb Entwistle, Acting Revision Team 
Leader, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, 2880 Skyway Dr., 
Helena, Montana 59602, (406) 449-5201.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Plan 
Revision is to have an integrated set of plan direction to provide for 
social, economic, and ecological sustainability and multiple uses of 
the Helena-Lewis and Clark lands and resources. The plan sets forth the 
overall context for informed decision making by evaluating and 
integrating social, economic, and ecological considerations relevant to 
management of the forest.
    The need for the proposed action is due to the significant changes 
that have occurred in conditions and demands since the Helena National 
Forest and the Lewis and Clark National Forest plans were signed in 
1986. In addition, the Helena National Forest and the Lewis and Clark 
National Forest were recently administratively combined. The 
consolidation of the two forests was approved by the Under Secretary 
for Natural Resources and the Environment on December 11, 2015.
    Several areas where changes are needed in the Helena-Lewis and 
Clark National Forest Plan were brought to the forefront by the 
requirements of the 2012 Planning Rule for the National Forest System; 
findings from the development of the Assessment of the Helena-Lewis and 
Clark National Forest (a precursor document in the planning process 
that identified and evaluated the existing condition across the forest 
landscape); changes in conditions and demands since the 1986 forest 
plans; and public concerns to date.
    The 2012 Planning Rule, which became effective May 9, 2012, 
requires inclusion of plan components, including standards or 
guidelines, that address social and economic sustainability, ecosystem 
services, and multiple uses integrated with the plan components for 
ecological sustainability and species diversity. Social and economic 
management direction is needed to provide people and communities with a 
range of social and economic benefits for present and future 
generations. As an example, since approval of the Helena National 
Forest Plan in 1986 and the Lewis and Clark National Forest Plan in 
1986, the role of timber harvest in meeting ecosystem management and 
social and economic objectives has changed. The 2012 Planning Rule 
requires forests to undertake a process to identify lands within the 
plan area for timber production suitability, and from this process, the 
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest will develop plan components for 
lands suitable for timber production and for lands where timber harvest 
is appropriate for purposes other than timber production. To meet the 
Planning Rule's requirement to provide for ecological sustainability, 
management direction is needed that addresses ecosystem diversity 
(including key ecosystem characteristics and their integrity), in light 
of changes in climate, fuels, vegetation management strategies, and 
future environmental conditions. Revised plan components are needed 
that focus on maintaining or restoring vegetation and ecosystems to 
provide for species diversity including threatened and endangered 
species, species of conservation concern, and species of public 
interest. Additionally, comprehensive management direction is needed to 
address suitability of certain areas for particular uses, address 
access and sustainable recreation, provide for the management of 
existing and anticipated uses, as well as protect resources. During the 
plan revision process, the 2012 Planning Rule requires the Forest 
Service to undertake processes to identify and evaluate lands that may 
be suitable for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation

[[Page 86690]]

System and identify eligible rivers for inclusion into the National 
Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
    Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, federal agencies are 
directed to use their authorities to seek to conserve endangered and 
threatened species. The Canada lynx was listed as a threatened species 
in 2000. Since that time, the Helena and the Lewis and Clark National 
Forest plans have been amended with the Northern Rockies Lynx 
Management Direction (USDA FS 2007), the USFWS designated and updated 
Canada lynx critical habitat (USDI FWS 2009, 2014), and the Lynx 
Conservation and Assessment Strategy has been updated (Lynx Biology 
Team 2013). Thus, the Forest Plan needs to integrate recent and 
relevant information for Canada lynx to its plan.
    In 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the 
availability of a draft Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy for the 
Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem population for public review and 
input. When finalized, the Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy will 
become the post-delisting management plan for the Northern Continental 
Divide Ecosystem grizzly bear population and its habitat. By providing 
relevant direction from the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem 
Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy into the forest plans, the Forest 
Service will be able to demonstrate to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service that adequate regulatory mechanisms exist on national forests 
within the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem to support a delisted 
grizzly bear population.
    Finally, public participation through scoping may identify other 
issues or concerns that will be considered during the plan revision.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service is preparing the Helena-Lewis and Clark National 
Forest revised land management plan (forest plan). The full proposed 
action for the revised forest plan includes forestwide and geographic 
area desired conditions, goals, objectives, standards, guidelines, and 
the suitability of lands for specific multiple uses, and includes lands 
that could be recommended to Congress for inclusion into the National 
Wilderness Preservation System and the identification of rivers 
eligible for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. 
The proposed action includes a description of the plan area's 
distinctive roles and contributions within the broader landscape, the 
identification of priority restoration watersheds, and suitability of 
national forest lands to support a variety of proposed and possible 
actions that may occur on the plan area over the life of the plan. The 
proposed action also identifies a monitoring program. The proposed 
action and appendices can be found on the Helena-Lewis and Clark 
National Forest Revision Web site (www.fs.usda.gov/goto/hlc/forestplanrevision).

Responsible Official

    The responsible official who will approve the Record of Decision 
for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest revised forest plan is 
William Avey, Forest Supervisor for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National 
Forest, 2880 Skyway Dr., Helena, MT 59602, (406) 449-5201.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    For the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest plan revision, the 
responsible official will decide whether the required plan components 
(desired conditions, goals, objectives, standards, guidelines) are 
sufficient to promote the ecological integrity and sustainability of 
the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest's ecosystems, watersheds, 
and diverse plant and animal communities. In addition, the responsible 
official will decide if the plan provides sufficient management 
guidance to contribute to social and economic sustainability, to 
provide people and communities with ecosystem services and multiple 
uses including a range of social, economic, and ecological benefits for 
the present and into the future. Standards, guidelines, and other 
direction related to conservation of threatened and endangered species 
will be evaluated for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in the 
EIS.
    This proposed action is programmatic in nature and guides future 
implementation of site-specific projects. Additional NEPA compliance 
would be required for site-specific projects as part of a two-stage 
decision making process (Council of Environmental Quality regulations 
for implementing NEPA; 40 CFR 1508.23, 42 U.S.C. 4322(2)(C)), 36 CFR 
219.7(f)).

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. We are seeking 
your input to continue to develop the Helena-Lewis and Clark National 
Forest revised plan.
    Community meetings will be held to provide additional information 
and address questions related to the revision proposed action. Dates 
and locations are as follows:
 January 23, Lincoln Community Center, 5-7 p.m.
 January 24, Helena Radission Colonial Hotel, 4-7 p.m.
 January 25, Townsend Library, 5-7 p.m.
 January 26, White Sulpher Springs High School Library, 5-7 
p.m.
 January 30, Harlowton Library, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
 January 30, Stanford City Hall, 5-7 p.m.
 January 31, Great Falls Civic Center, 4-7 p.m.
 February 1, Browning Holiday Inn, 5-7 p.m.
 February 2, Choteau Stage Stop Inn, 5-7 p.m.

Any changes to the meeting schedule will be communicated on the Helena-
Lewis and Clark National Forest Plan revision Web page at 
www.fs.usda.gov/goto/hlc/forestplanrevision.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of 
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be 
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly 
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. Further 
instructions for providing comments that will assist the planning team 
in reviewing comments can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/hlc/forestplanrevision.
    Only those individuals and entities who have submitted substantive 
formal comments related to the Helena-Lewis and Clark NF plan revision 
during the opportunities provided for public comment during the 
planning process will be eligible to file an objection (36 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) 219.53(a)). The decision to approve the 
revised forest plan for the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest will 
be subject to the objection process identified in 36 CFR part 219 
Subpart B (219.50 to 219.62).
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered, however, anonymous comments will not provide 
the Agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent 
environmental documents.

    Dated: November 23, 2016.
William Avey,
Forest Supervisor, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2016-28838 Filed 11-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P