82 FR 59579 - Revision of the Land Management Plan for the Flathead National Forest and Amending the Land Management Plans of the Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 240 (December 15, 2017)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 240 (December 15, 2017)
| Page Range | 59579-59580 | |
| FR Document | 2017-26952 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 240 (Friday, December 15, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 59579-59580] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-26952] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Revision of the Land Management Plan for the Flathead National Forest and Amending the Land Management Plans of the Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of opportunity to object to the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan and to forest plan amendments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Forest Service is revising the Flathead National Forest's Land and Resource Management Plan (forest plan). The Forest Service is concurrently amending the forest plans of the Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests to incorporate habitat management direction for the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) grizzly bear population. The Flathead National Forest is proposing to incorporate the NCDE grizzly bear habitat management direction as part of its plan revision process. The Forest Service has prepared a single Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for its revised forest plan and the forest plan amendments, a draft Record of Decision (ROD) for the revised forest plan, and a draft ROD for the forest plan amendments. This notice is to inform the public that a 60-day period is being initiated where individuals or entities with specific concerns on the Flathead National Forest's Revised Land Management Plan and the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy forest plan amendments for the Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests and its associated FEIS may file objections for Forest Service review prior to the approval of the Revised Land Management Plan and forest plan amendments. This is also an opportunity to object to the Regional Forester's list of species of conservation concern for the Flathead National Forest. DATES: The FEIS, Flathead National Forest revised forest plan, other supporting documentation, and the draft RODs are available for review starting December 1, 2017 on the forest plan revision web page: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/fpr; on the forest plan amendments web page: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/gba; and the Northern Region species of conservation concern web page: http://bit.ly/NorthernRegion-SCC. ADDRESSES: The following address should be used for objections submitted by regular mail, private carrier, or hand delivery: Objection Reviewing Officer, USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, 26 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays. Please be explicit as to whether the objection is for the Flathead Forest Plan, the NCDE Grizzly Bear Forest Plan Amendments, or the Flathead Species of Conservation Concern. Objections can be faxed to the Objection Reviewing Officer at (406) 329-3411. The fax coversheet must include a subject line with ``Flathead Forest Plan Objection,'' ``NCDE Grizzly Bear Forest Plan Amendments,'' or ``Flathead Species of Conservation Concern'' and should specify the number of pages being submitted. Electronic objections must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer via email to [email protected], with ``Flathead Forest Plan Objection,'' ``NCDE Grizzly Bear Forest Plan Amendments,'' or ``Flathead Species of Conservation Concern'' in the subject line. Electronic submissions must be submitted in a format that is readable with optical character recognition software (e.g. Word, PDF, Rich Text) and be searchable. An automated response should confirm your electronic objection has been received. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Leader, Joe Krueger, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901, (406) 758-5243. Additional information concerning the draft RODs may be obtained on the internet at the websites listed in the ADDRESSES section of this document. 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: A legal notice of the initiation of the 60- day objection period is being published in the Flathead, Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests' newspapers of record: Daily Interlake, Great Falls Tribune, Missoulian, and Helena Independent. The date of the publication of the legal notices will determine the actual date of initiation of the 60-day objection period. A copy of the legal notices published in the newspapers of record will be posted on the websites listed above. The decisions to approve the revised forest plan for the Flathead National Forest, the NCDE Grizzly Bear Forest Plan Amendments, and the Regional Forester's list of species of conservation concern will be subject to the objection process identified in 36 CFR part 219 subpart B (219.50 to 219.62). An objection must include the following (36 CFR 219.54(c)): (1) The objector's name and address along with a telephone number or email address if available. In cases where no identifiable name is attached to an objection, the Forest Service will attempt to verify the identity of the objector to confirm objection eligibility; (2) Signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection); (3) Identification of the lead objector, when multiple names are listed on an objection. The Forest Service will communicate to all parties to an objection through the lead objector. Verification of the identity of the lead objector must also be provided if requested; (4) The name of the plan revision or forest plan amendment being objected [[Page 59580]] to, and the name and title of the responsible official; (5) A statement of the issues and/or parts of the plan revision to which the objection applies; (6) A concise statement explaining the objection and suggesting how the proposed plan decision may be improved. If the objector believes that the plan revision is inconsistent with law, regulation, or policy, an explanation should be included; (7) A statement that demonstrates the link between the objector's prior substantive formal comments and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the opportunities for formal comment; and (8) All documents referenced in the objection (a bibliography is not sufficient), except that the following need not be provided: a. All or any part of a Federal law or regulation, b. Forest Service Directive System documents and land management plans or other published Forest Service documents, c. Documents referenced by the Forest Service in the planning documentation related to the proposal subject to objection, and d. Formal comments previously provided to the Forest Service by the objector during the plan revision comment period. Responsible Official The responsible official who will approve the ROD for the Flathead National Forest revised forest plan is Chip Weber, Forest Supervisor for the Flathead National Forest, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901, (406) 758-5208. The Regional Forester is the reviewing officer for the revised plan since the Forest Supervisor is the deciding official (36 CFR 219.56(e)(2)). The Flathead National Forest will provide the Regional Forester with public comments received on species of conservation concern (SCC). The Regional Forester will consider comments received and respond to them in the FEIS and ROD. The decision to approve the SCC list will be subject to a separate objection process. The Chief of the Forest Service is the reviewing officer for SCC identification since the Regional Forester is the deciding official (36 CFR 219.56(e)(2)). Information about species of conservation concern is available at http://bit.ly/NorthRegion-SCC. Dated: November 16, 2017. Jeanne M. Higgins, Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System. [FR Doc. 2017-26952 Filed 12-14-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 240 / Friday, December 15, 2017 / Notices 59579
parental status, income derived from a prepared a single Final Environmental subject line. Electronic submissions
public assistance program, or political Impact Statement (FEIS) for its revised must be submitted in a format that is
beliefs, exclude from participation in, forest plan and the forest plan readable with optical character
deny the benefits of, or subject to amendments, a draft Record of Decision recognition software (e.g. Word, PDF,
discrimination any person in the United (ROD) for the revised forest plan, and a Rich Text) and be searchable. An
States under any program or activity draft ROD for the forest plan automated response should confirm
conducted by the USDA. amendments. your electronic objection has been
This notice is to inform the public received.
How To File a Complaint of that a 60-day period is being initiated
Discrimination FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
where individuals or entities with
Project Leader, Joe Krueger, 650
To file a complaint of discrimination, specific concerns on the Flathead
Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901,
complete the USDA Program National Forest’s Revised Land
(406) 758–5243. Additional information
Discrimination Complaint Form, which Management Plan and the Northern
concerning the draft RODs may be
may be accessed online at http:// Continental Divide Ecosystem Grizzly
obtained on the internet at the websites
www.ocio.usda.gov/sites/default/files/ Bear Conservation Strategy forest plan
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this
docs/2012/Complain_combined_6_8_ amendments for the Helena-Lewis and
document.
12.pdf, or write a letter signed by you Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National
Individuals who use
or your authorized representative. Forests and its associated FEIS may file
telecommunication devices for the deaf
Send your completed complaint form objections for Forest Service review
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
or letter to USDA by mail, fax, or email: prior to the approval of the Revised
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Land Management Plan and forest plan
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.,
Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 amendments. This is also an
Eastern Standard Time, Monday
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, opportunity to object to the Regional
through Friday.
DC 20250–9410, Fax: (202) 690–7442, Forester’s list of species of conservation
Email: program.intake@usda.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A legal
concern for the Flathead National
Persons with disabilities who require Forest. notice of the initiation of the 60-day
alternative means for communication objection period is being published in
DATES: The FEIS, Flathead National the Flathead, Helena-Lewis and Clark,
(Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.), Forest revised forest plan, other
should contact USDA’s TARGET Center Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests’
supporting documentation, and the draft newspapers of record: Daily Interlake,
at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). RODs are available for review starting Great Falls Tribune, Missoulian, and
Done at Washington, DC, on December 12, December 1, 2017 on the forest plan Helena Independent. The date of the
2017. revision web page: www.fs.usda.gov/ publication of the legal notices will
Paul Kiecker, goto/flathead/fpr; on the forest plan determine the actual date of initiation of
Acting Administrator. amendments web page: the 60-day objection period. A copy of
[FR Doc. 2017–27097 Filed 12–14–17; 8:45 am] www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/gba; and the legal notices published in the
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P the Northern Region species of newspapers of record will be posted on
conservation concern web page: http:// the websites listed above.
bit.ly/NorthernRegion-SCC. The decisions to approve the revised
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ADDRESSES: The following address forest plan for the Flathead National
should be used for objections submitted Forest, the NCDE Grizzly Bear Forest
Forest Service by regular mail, private carrier, or hand Plan Amendments, and the Regional
delivery: Objection Reviewing Officer, Forester’s list of species of conservation
Revision of the Land Management Plan
USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, concern will be subject to the objection
for the Flathead National Forest and
26 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT process identified in 36 CFR part 219
Amending the Land Management Plans
59804. Office hours are Monday through subpart B (219.50 to 219.62). An
of the Helena-Lewis and Clark,
Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding objection must include the following (36
Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests
Federal holidays. Please be explicit as to CFR 219.54(c)):
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. whether the objection is for the Flathead (1) The objector’s name and address
ACTION: Notice of opportunity to object Forest Plan, the NCDE Grizzly Bear along with a telephone number or email
to the Revised Land and Resource Forest Plan Amendments, or the address if available. In cases where no
Management Plan and to forest plan Flathead Species of Conservation identifiable name is attached to an
amendments. Concern. objection, the Forest Service will
Objections can be faxed to the attempt to verify the identity of the
SUMMARY: The Forest Service is revising Objection Reviewing Officer at (406) objector to confirm objection eligibility;
the Flathead National Forest’s Land and 329–3411. The fax coversheet must (2) Signature or other verification of
Resource Management Plan (forest include a subject line with ‘‘Flathead authorship upon request (a scanned
plan). The Forest Service is Forest Plan Objection,’’ ‘‘NCDE Grizzly signature for electronic mail may be
concurrently amending the forest plans Bear Forest Plan Amendments,’’ or filed with the objection);
of the Helena-Lewis and Clark, ‘‘Flathead Species of Conservation (3) Identification of the lead objector,
Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests to Concern’’ and should specify the when multiple names are listed on an
incorporate habitat management number of pages being submitted.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
objection. The Forest Service will
direction for the Northern Continental Electronic objections must be submitted communicate to all parties to an
Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) grizzly bear to the Objection Reviewing Officer via objection through the lead objector.
population. The Flathead National email to appeals-northern-regional- Verification of the identity of the lead
Forest is proposing to incorporate the office@fs.fed.us, with ‘‘Flathead Forest objector must also be provided if
NCDE grizzly bear habitat management Plan Objection,’’ ‘‘NCDE Grizzly Bear requested;
direction as part of its plan revision Forest Plan Amendments,’’ or ‘‘Flathead (4) The name of the plan revision or
process. The Forest Service has Species of Conservation Concern’’ in the forest plan amendment being objected
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![59580 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 240 / Friday, December 15, 2017 / Notices
to, and the name and title of the Dated: November 16, 2017. (202) 690–2388 or at ombofficer@
responsible official; Jeanne M. Higgins, nass.usda.gov.
(5) A statement of the issues and/or Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
parts of the plan revision to which the Forest System. Title: Objective Yield Surveys.
objection applies; [FR Doc. 2017–26952 Filed 12–14–17; 8:45 am] OMB Control Number: 0535–0088.
(6) A concise statement explaining the
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P Expiration Date of Approval: July 31,
objection and suggesting how the 2018.
proposed plan decision may be Type of Request: To revise and extend
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE a currently approved information
improved. If the objector believes that
the plan revision is inconsistent with collection for a period of three years.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
law, regulation, or policy, an Abstract: The primary objective of the
explanation should be included; Notice of Intent To Request Revision National Agricultural Statistics Service
and Extension of a Currently Approved (NASS) is to collect, prepare and issue
(7) A statement that demonstrates the State and national estimates of crop and
link between the objector’s prior Information Collection
livestock production, prices and
substantive formal comments and the AGENCY: National Agricultural Statistics disposition as well as economic
content of the objection, unless the Service, USDA. statistics, farm numbers, land values,
objection concerns an issue that arose ACTION: Notice and request for on-farm pesticide usage, pest crop
after the opportunities for formal comments. management practices, as well as the
comment; and Census of Agriculture. The field crops
(8) All documents referenced in the SUMMARY: In accordance with the Objective Yield Surveys objectively
objection (a bibliography is not Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this predict yields for corn, cotton, potatoes,
sufficient), except that the following notice announces the intention of the soybeans, and wheat. Sample fields are
need not be provided: National Agricultural Statistics Service randomly selected for these crops, plots
(NASS) to request revision and are laid out, and periodic counts and
a. All or any part of a Federal law or extension of a currently approved
regulation, measurements are taken and then used
information collection, the Field Crops to forecast production during the
b. Forest Service Directive System Objective Yield Surveys. Revision to growing season. Production forecasts are
documents and land management plans burden hours will be needed due to published in USDA Crop Production
or other published Forest Service changes in the size of the target reports.
documents, population, sampling design, and/or In this approval request, NASS will be
c. Documents referenced by the Forest questionnaire length. In this renewal the including a new group of fruit and nut
Service in the planning documentation program will be expanded to include objective yield surveys. These surveys
related to the proposal subject to several fruit and nut commodities into will be conducted under cooperative
objection, and the Objective Yield program. The title of agreements with several State
this renewal will be changed to Departments of Agriculture. The
d. Formal comments previously ‘‘Objective Yield Surveys.’’
provided to the Forest Service by the individual States will be reimbursing
DATES: Comments on this notice must be NASS for the costs associated with these
objector during the plan revision
received by February 13, 2018 to be additional surveys. The surveys will
comment period.
assured of consideration. include: California citrus, almonds and
Responsible Official ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, walnuts; Florida citrus; and Oregon
identified by docket number 0535–0088, hazelnuts.
The responsible official who will by any of the following methods: The increased burden hours and
approve the ROD for the Flathead • Email: ombofficer@nass.usda.gov. sample sizes reported below include
National Forest revised forest plan is Include docket number above in the these additional surveys.
Chip Weber, Forest Supervisor for the subject line of the message. Authority: These data will be
Flathead National Forest, 650 Wolfpack • eFax: (855) 838–6382. collected under the authority of 7 U.S.C.
Way, Kalispell, MT 59901, (406) 758– • Mail: Mail any paper, disk, or CD– 2204(a). Individually identifiable data
5208. ROM submissions to: David Hancock, collected under this authority are
The Regional Forester is the reviewing NASS Clearance Officer, U.S. governed by Section 1770 of the Food
officer for the revised plan since the Department of Agriculture, Room 5336 Security Act of 1985 as amended, 7
Forest Supervisor is the deciding official South Building, 1400 Independence U.S.C. 2276, which requires USDA to
(36 CFR 219.56(e)(2)). The Flathead Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250– afford strict confidentiality to non-
National Forest will provide the 2024. aggregated data provided by
Regional Forester with public comments • Hand Delivery/Courier: Hand respondents. This Notice is submitted in
received on species of conservation deliver to: David Hancock, NASS accordance with the Paperwork
concern (SCC). The Regional Forester Clearance Officer, U.S. Department of Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–
will consider comments received and Agriculture, Room 5336 South Building, 13 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) and Office
respond to them in the FEIS and ROD. 1400 Independence Avenue SW, of Management and Budget regulations
The decision to approve the SCC list Washington, DC 20250–2024. at 5 CFR part 1320.
will be subject to a separate objection FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: NASS also complies with OMB
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
process. The Chief of the Forest Service Renee Picanso, Associate Administrator, Implementation Guidance,
is the reviewing officer for SCC National Agricultural Statistics Service, ‘‘Implementation Guidance for Title V
identification since the Regional U.S. Department of Agriculture, (202) of the E-Government Act, Confidential
Forester is the deciding official (36 CFR 720–2707. Copies of this information Information Protection and Statistical
219.56(e)(2)). Information about species collection and related instructions can Efficiency Act of 2002 (CIPSEA),’’
of conservation concern is available at be obtained without charge from David Federal Register, Vol. 72, No. 115, June
http://bit.ly/NorthRegion-SCC. Hancock, NASS Clearance Officer, at 15, 2007, p. 33362.
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Document Created: 2017-12-15 03:37:38
Document Modified: 2017-12-15 03:37:38
| 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 opportunity to object to the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan and to forest plan amendments. | |
| Dates | The FEIS, Flathead National Forest revised forest plan, other supporting documentation, and the draft RODs are available for review starting December 1, 2017 on the forest plan revision web page: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/fpr; on the forest plan amendments web page: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/gba; and the Northern Region species of conservation concern web page: http://bit.ly/NorthernRegion- SCC. | |
| Contact | Project Leader, Joe Krueger, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901, (406) 758-5243. Additional information concerning the draft RODs may be obtained on the internet | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 59579 |
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