82 FR 17629 - Revision of the Land Management Plan for the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 69 (April 12, 2017)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 69 (April 12, 2017)
| Page Range | 17629-17630 | |
| FR Document | 2017-07407 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 12, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 17629-17630] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-07407] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Revision of the Land Management Plan for the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of initiating the assessment phase of the land management plan revision for the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, located in central and east Texas, is initiating the first phase of the forest planning process pursuant to the 2012 National Forest System land management planning rule. This process will result in a revised land management plan (Forest Plan) which describes the strategic direction for management of forest and grassland resources on the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas for the next ten to fifteen years. The planning process encompasses three stages: Assessment, plan revision, and monitoring. The first phase of the process, the assessment phase, is beginning on the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas and involves assessing ecological, social, and economic conditions of the planning area, which is documented in an assessment report. The Forest is inviting the public to contribute to the development of the assessment. The Forest will be hosting public forums where the public will be invited to share information relevant to the assessment, including existing information, current trends, and local knowledge. DATES: Public meetings associated with the development of the assessment will be announced on the Forest's Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/texas/planrevision and sent to individuals and organizations on the Forest's mailing list. A draft of the assessment report for the revision of National Forests and Grasslands land management plan is anticipated to be available by March 2018. Following completion of the assessment, the Forest will initiate procedures pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to prepare and evaluate a revised land management plan. ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions concerning this notice should be addressed to National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Attn: Forest Plan, 2221 N. Raguet St., Lufkin, Texas 75904. Comments or questions may also be sent via email to [email protected]. All correspondence, including names and addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Theresa Mathis, Forest Planner, National Forests and Grasslands in Texas at 936-639-8586. More information on the plan revision process can be found on the Forest's Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/texas/planrevision. If you have questions or would like to sign up to be on the Forest's mailing list, send an email to [email protected] or call the Forest Plan Revision number 936-639-8586. 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. 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 [[Page 17630]] finalized its land management planning rule (2012 Planning Rule, 36 CFR 219), which describes requirements for the planning process and the content of land management plans. Forest plans describe the strategic direction for management of forest and grassland resources for ten to fifteen years, and are adaptive and amendable as conditions change over time. Pursuant to the 2012 Forest Planning Rule (36 CFR 219), the planning process encompasses three-stages: Assessment, plan revision, and monitoring. The first stage of the planning process involves assessing social, economic, and ecological conditions of the planning area, which is documented in an assessment report. This notice announces the start of the initial stage of the planning process, which is the development of the assessment report. The second stage, formal plan revision, involves the development of the Forest Plan in conjunction with the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement under the NEPA. Once the plan revision is completed, it will be subject to the objection procedures of 36 CFR 219, subpart B, before it can be approved. The third stage of the planning process is the monitoring and evaluation of the revised plan, which is ongoing over the life of the revised plan. The assessment is a rapid evaluation of the existing information about the relevant ecological, economic, cultural and social conditions, trends, and sustainability and their relationship to land management plans within the context of the broader landscape. This information builds a common understanding prior to entering formal plan revision. The development of the assessment will include public engagement. With this notice, the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas invite other governments, non-governmental parties, and the public to contribute to the development of the assessment. The intent of public engagement during development of the assessment is to identify as much relevant information as possible to inform the upcoming plan revision process. We encourage contributors to share material about existing conditions, trends, and perceptions of social, economic, and ecological systems relevant to the planning process. The assessment also supports the development of relationships with key stakeholders that will be used throughout the plan revision process. As public meetings, other opportunities for public engagement, and public review and comment opportunities 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/texas/planrevision 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 Theresa Mathis, Forest Planner, at the address or phone number identified above, or by sending an email to [email protected]. Responsible Official The responsible official for the revision of the land management plan for the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas is William E. Taylor, Jr., Forest Supervisor, National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, 2221 N. Raguet St., Lufkin, Texas 75904. Dated: March 15, 2017. Jeanne M. Higgins, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System. [FR Doc. 2017-07407 Filed 4-11-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 69 / Wednesday, April 12, 2017 / Notices 17629
the Forest Supervisor for the lands that would allow WB XPress to encompasses three stages: Assessment,
Monongahela National Forest. cross the MNF. All comments must be plan revision, and monitoring. The first
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: submitted to the FERC, the Lead Federal phase of the process, the assessment
Additional information about the Agency, within 30 days following the phase, is beginning on the National
projects is available from the FERC’s date of publication of the FERC Notice Forests and Grasslands in Texas and
Office of External Affairs at 866–208– of Availability for their EA in the involves assessing ecological, social,
FERC (3372), or on the FERC Web site Federal Register. Refer to Docket CP16– and economic conditions of the
(www.ferc.gov). On the FERC’s Web site, 38–000 in all correspondence to ensure planning area, which is documented in
go to ‘‘Documents & Filings,’’ click on that your comments are correctly filed an assessment report.
the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link, click on ‘‘General in the record. You may submit The Forest is inviting the public to
Search’’ and enter the docket number comments to the FERC using one of the contribute to the development of the
CP16–38. Be sure you have selected an methods listed in the ADDRESSES section assessment. The Forest will be hosting
appropriate date range. For assistance, above. Only those who submit timely public forums where the public will be
please contact FERC Online Support at and specific written comments invited to share information relevant to
FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, or toll free regarding the proposed project during a the assessment, including existing
at 866–208–3676, or for TTY, contact public comment period are eligible to information, current trends, and local
202–502–8659. The eLibrary link also file an objection with the FS. Before knowledge.
provides access to the texts of formal including your address, phone number, DATES: Public meetings associated with
documents issues by the FERC such as email address, or other personal the development of the assessment will
orders, notices, and rulemakings. For identifying information in your be announced on the Forest’s Web site
additional information about comments, you should be aware that the at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/texas/
authorizing project activities on NFS entire text of your comments—including planrevision and sent to individuals and
lands, contact Clyde Thompson at (304) your personal identifying information— organizations on the Forest’s mailing
636–1800. would be publicly available through the list. A draft of the assessment report for
FERC eLibrary system if you file your the revision of National Forests and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This NOA
comments with the Secretary of the Grasslands land management plan is
is specific to the FS and provides notice
FERC. anticipated to be available by March
that the agency has participated as a Responsible Official for FS
cooperating agency with FERC in the 2018. Following completion of the
Authorization of Use to Issue a Special assessment, the Forest will initiate
preparation of the WB XPress Project Use Permit: The Regional Forester
EA. The WB XPress route would cross procedures pursuant to the National
Eastern Region is the Responsible Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to
about 11.4 miles of NFS lands managed Official.
by the Monongahela National Forest, in prepare and evaluate a revised land
Randolph and Pendleton counties, West Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6. management plan.
Virginia. Dated: March 28, 2017. ADDRESSES: Written comments or
The FERC is the NEPA Lead Federal Glenn P. Casamassa, questions concerning this notice should
Agency for the environmental analysis Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
be addressed to National Forests and
of the construction and operation of the System. Grasslands in Texas, Attn: Forest Plan,
proposed WB XPress Project. The FS is 2221 N. Raguet St., Lufkin, Texas 75904.
[FR Doc. 2017–07042 Filed 4–11–17; 8:45 am]
the federal agency responsible for Comments or questions may also be sent
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
authorizing this use and issuing special via email to TexasPlanRev@fs.fed.us.
use permits for natural gas pipelines All correspondence, including names
across NFS lands under its jurisdiction. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE and addresses when provided, are
Before issuing a Special Use permit placed in the record and are available
(SUP) to construct, operate, maintain, Forest Service for public inspection and copying.
and eventually decommission a natural FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
gas transmission pipeline that crosses Revision of the Land Management Plan Theresa Mathis, Forest Planner,
NFS lands, the FS would include any for the National Forests and National Forests and Grasslands in
specific stipulations applicable to lands, Grasslands in Texas Texas at 936–639–8586. More
facilities, water bodies, and easements AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. information on the plan revision process
for inclusion in the SUP. can be found on the Forest’s Web site at
ACTION:Notice of initiating the
The FERC’s EA includes the www.fs.usda.gov/goto/texas/
assessment phase of the land
consideration of a USFS authorization planrevision. If you have questions or
management plan revision for the
across NFS lands. The USFS intends to would like to sign up to be on the
National Forests and Grasslands in
adopt FERC’s EA for agency decisions if Forest’s mailing list, send an email to
Texas.
the analysis provides sufficient TexasPlanRev@fs.fed.us or call the
evidence to support the agency’s SUMMARY: The National Forests and Forest Plan Revision number 936–639–
decisions and the agency is satisfied Grasslands in Texas, located in central 8586. Individuals who use
that agency comments and suggestions and east Texas, is initiating the first telecommunication devices for the deaf
have been addressed. phase of the forest planning process (TDD) may call the Federal Information
The FS will prepare separate Decision pursuant to the 2012 National Forest Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
Notice (DN) for the authorization System land management planning rule. between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
decision after issuance of the FERC EA. This process will result in a revised (Eastern time), Monday through Friday.
The FS decision to authorize WB XPress land management plan (Forest Plan) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
will be subject to FS predecisional which describes the strategic direction National Forest Management Act
administrative review procedures for management of forest and grassland (NFMA) of 1976 requires that every
established in 36 CFR 218. The FS is resources on the National Forests and National Forest System (NFS) unit
requesting public comments on the Grasslands in Texas for the next ten to develop a land management plan. On
authorization of WB XPress on NFS fifteen years. The planning process April 9, 2012, the Forest Service
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![17630 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 69 / Wednesday, April 12, 2017 / Notices
finalized its land management planning with the development of the forest plan the 75 largest metropolitan areas (MAs).
rule (2012 Planning Rule, 36 CFR 219), revision, public announcements will be Private and public sector organizations
which describes requirements for the made, notifications will be posted on use these rates extensively to gauge and
planning process and the content of the Forest’s Web site at analyze the housing market with regard
land management plans. Forest plans www.fs.usda.gov/goto/texas/ to supply, cost, and affordability at
describe the strategic direction for planrevision and information will be various points in time.
management of forest and grassland sent out to the Forest’s mailing list. If
resources for ten to fifteen years, and are In addition, the rental vacancy rate is
anyone is interested in being on the
adaptive and amendable as conditions Forest’s mailing list to receive these a component of the index of leading
change over time. Pursuant to the 2012 notifications, please contact Theresa economic indicators published by the
Forest Planning Rule (36 CFR 219), the Mathis, Forest Planner, at the address or Department of Commerce.
planning process encompasses three- phone number identified above, or by Policy analysts, program managers,
stages: Assessment, plan revision, and sending an email to TexasPlanRev@ budget analysts, and congressional staff
monitoring. The first stage of the fs.fed.us. use these data to advise the executive
planning process involves assessing and legislative branches of government
social, economic, and ecological Responsible Official
with respect to the number and
conditions of the planning area, which The responsible official for the characteristics of units available for
is documented in an assessment report. revision of the land management plan occupancy and the suitability of
This notice announces the start of the for the National Forests and Grasslands housing initiatives. Several other
initial stage of the planning process, in Texas is William E. Taylor, Jr., Forest
government agencies use these data on
which is the development of the Supervisor, National Forests and
a continuing basis in calculating
assessment report. Grasslands in Texas, 2221 N. Raguet St.,
The second stage, formal plan consumer expenditures for housing as a
Lufkin, Texas 75904.
revision, involves the development of component of the gross national
Dated: March 15, 2017. product; to project mortgage demands;
the Forest Plan in conjunction with the
Jeanne M. Higgins, and to measure the adequacy of the
preparation of an Environmental Impact
Statement under the NEPA. Once the Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest supply of rental and homeowner units.
System. In addition, investment firms use the
plan revision is completed, it will be
subject to the objection procedures of 36 [FR Doc. 2017–07407 Filed 4–11–17; 8:45 am] HVS data to analyze market trends and
CFR 219, subpart B, before it can be BILLING CODE 3411–15–P for economic forecasting.
approved. The third stage of the Affected Public: Individuals who have
planning process is the monitoring and knowledge of the vacant sample unit
evaluation of the revised plan, which is DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
(e.g., landlord, rental agents, neighbors).
ongoing over the life of the revised plan.
The assessment is a rapid evaluation Submission for OMB Review; Frequency: Monthly.
of the existing information about the Comment Request Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
relevant ecological, economic, cultural The Department of Commerce will Legal Authority: 13 U.S.C. 182 and 29
and social conditions, trends, and submit to the Office of Management and U.S.C. 1–9.
sustainability and their relationship to Budget (OMB) for clearance the
land management plans within the This information collection request
following proposal for collection of
context of the broader landscape. This information under the provisions of the may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
information builds a common Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Follow the instructions to view
understanding prior to entering formal chapter 35). Department of Commerce collections
plan revision. The development of the AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau. currently under review by OMB.
assessment will include public Title: Current Population Survey, Written comments and
engagement. Housing Vacancy Survey.
With this notice, the National Forests recommendations for the proposed
OMB Control Number: 0607–0179. information collection should be sent
and Grasslands in Texas invite other Form Number(s): There are no forms
governments, non-governmental parties, within 30 days of publication of this
for data collection. We conduct all
and the public to contribute to the notice to OIRA_Submission@omb.
interviews on computers.
development of the assessment. The Type of Request: Regular Submission. eop.gov or fax to (202)395–5806.
intent of public engagement during Number of Respondents: 84,000. Sheleen Dumas,
development of the assessment is to Average Hours per Response: 3
Departmental PRA Lead, Office of the Chief
identify as much relevant information as minutes. Information Officer.
possible to inform the upcoming plan Burden Hours: 4200.
[FR Doc. 2017–07289 Filed 4–11–17; 8:45 am]
revision process. We encourage Needs and Uses: Collection of the
contributors to share material about HVS in conjunction with the Current BILLING CODE 3510–07–P
existing conditions, trends, and Population Survey began in 1956, and
perceptions of social, economic, and serves a broad array of data users. We
ecological systems relevant to the conduct the HVS interviews with
planning process. The assessment also landlords or other knowledgeable
supports the development of people concerning vacant housing units
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
relationships with key stakeholders that identified in the monthly CPS sample
will be used throughout the plan and meeting certain criteria. The HVS
revision process. provides the only quarterly statistics on
As public meetings, other rental vacancy rates and
opportunities for public engagement, homeownership rates for the United
and public review and comment States, the four census regions, the 50
opportunities are identified to assist states and the District of Columbia, and
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Document Created: 2017-04-12 00:22:50
Document Modified: 2017-04-12 00:22:50
| 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 land management plan revision for the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas. | |
| Dates | Public meetings associated with the development of the assessment will be announced on the Forest's Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/texas/planrevision and sent to individuals and organizations on the Forest's mailing list. A draft of the assessment report for the revision of National Forests and Grasslands land management plan is anticipated to be available by March 2018. Following completion of the assessment, the Forest will initiate procedures pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to prepare and evaluate a revised land management plan. | |
| Contact | Theresa Mathis, Forest Planner, National Forests and Grasslands in Texas at 936-639-8586. More information on the plan revision process can be found on the Forest's Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/texas/planrevision. If you have questions or would like to sign up to be on the Forest's mailing list, send an email to [email protected] or call the Forest Plan Revision number 936-639-8586. 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. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 17629 |
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