82 FR 16021 - Revision of the Land Management Plan for the Francis Marion National Forest

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 61 (March 31, 2017)

John Richard ``Rick'' Lint, the Forest Supervisor for the Francis Marion National Forest, Southern Region, signed the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Revised Land Management Plan (Forest Plan) for the Francis Marion National Forest. The Final ROD documents the rationale for approving the Forest Plan and is consistent with the Reviewing Officers' responses to objections and instructions.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 61 (Friday, March 31, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16021-16022]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06387]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Revision of the Land Management Plan for the Francis Marion 
National Forest

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of approval of the Revised Land Management Plan for the 
Francis Marion National Forest.

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[[Page 16022]]

SUMMARY: John Richard ``Rick'' Lint, the Forest Supervisor for the 
Francis Marion National Forest, Southern Region, signed the Record of 
Decision (ROD) for the Revised Land Management Plan (Forest Plan) for 
the Francis Marion National Forest. The Final ROD documents the 
rationale for approving the Forest Plan and is consistent with the 
Reviewing Officers' responses to objections and instructions.

DATES: The Revised Land Managmenent Plan for the Francis Marion 
National Forest will become effective 30 days after the publication of 
this notice of approval in the Federal Register (36 CFR 219.17(a)(1)). 
To view the final ROD, final environmental impact statement (FEIS), the 
revised land management plan, and other related documents, please visit 
the Francis Marion National Forest Web site at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/scnfs/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprdb5393142.
    A legal notice of approval is also being published in the Francis 
Marion and Sumter National Forests newspaper of record, The State. A 
copy of this legal notice will be posted on the Web site described 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information about the revised 
land management plan for the Francis Marion Nation Forest can obtained 
by contacting Mary Morrison, Forest Planner, Francis Marion National 
Forest at 803-561-4000. 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 
time), Monday through Friday. Written requests for information may be 
sent to Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, Attn: FM Plan 
Revision, 4931 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29212.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Francis Marion National Forest covers 
nearly 260,000 acres in Berkeley and Charleston Counties, South 
Carolina. The revised land management plan, which was developed 
pursuant to the 2012 Forest Planning Rule (36 CFR 219), will replace 
the land management plan approved in 1996. This 2017 land management 
plan establishes a strong commitment to an all-lands approach and 
emphasizes the restoration of longleaf pine, maintaining habitats for 
at-risk plants and animals, and providing social opportunities and 
economic benefits to both forest visitors and local communities in 
coastal South Carolina. The plan components were developed using best 
available scientific information and the consideration of fiscal 
capability.
    A draft record of decision, revised land management plan and final 
environmental impact statement were released in August 2016, which was 
subject to a pre-decisional objection period. One objection was 
received and the two Reviewing Officers responses to the objection 
issues were signed by the Associate Deputy Chief (as Reviewing Officer 
for the Chief) and the Regional Forester in December 2016. The 
instructions from the Reviewing Officers were incorporated into an 
updated revised land management plan and final environmental impact 
statement, and these documents were released to the public in January 
2017. The changes that were made as a result of the objection 
resolution include providing additional standards and direction to the 
revised plan concerning the management of at-risk species, and 
clarifications on the evaluation of ecological sustainability were 
added to the final environmental impact statement. The Final Record of 
Decision to approve the revised land management plan for the Francis 
Marion National Forest has now been signed, and is available at the Web 
site described above.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for the revision of the land management 
plan for the Francis Marion National Forest is John Richard ``Rick'' 
Lint, Forest Supervisor, Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, 
4931 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29212.

    Dated: March 15, 2017.
Jeanne M. Higgins,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2017-06387 Filed 3-30-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P