82 FR 9973 - Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Colorado; Delay of Effective Date

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 26 (February 9, 2017)

This document delays the effective date of a final rule titled, ``Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in Colorado,'' that was published in the Federal Register on December 19, 2016 reinstating the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception to the Colorado Roadless Rule.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 26 (Thursday, February 9, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9973-9974]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02625]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

36 CFR Part 294

RIN 0596-AD26


Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in 
Colorado; Delay of Effective Date

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective date.

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SUMMARY: This document delays the effective date of a final rule 
titled, ``Roadless Area Conservation; National Forest System Lands in 
Colorado,'' that was published in the Federal Register

[[Page 9974]]

on December 19, 2016 reinstating the North Fork Coal Mining Area 
exception to the Colorado Roadless Rule.

DATES: The effective date of the rule amending 36 CFR part 294 
published in the Federal Register at 81 FR 91811 on December 19, 2016, 
is delayed until April 17, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jason Robertson; Deputy Director; 
Recreation, Lands, and Minerals; Rocky Mountain Regional Office, U.S. 
Forest Service, at 303-275-5470. Individuals using telecommunication 
devices for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Services at 
1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through 
Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 20, 2017, the Assistant to the 
President and Chief of Staff (``Chief of Staff'') issued a memorandum, 
published in the Federal Register on January 24, 2017 (82 FR 8346), 
outlining the President's plan for managing the Federal regulatory 
process at the outset of the new Administration. In implementation of 
one of the measures directed by that memorandum, the United States 
Department of Agriculture (``USDA'') hereby temporarily postpones the 
effective date of its final rule titled, ``Roadless Area Conservation; 
National Forest System Lands in Colorado,'' that was published in the 
Federal Register at 81 FR 91811 on December 19, 2016, reinstating the 
North Fork Coal Mining Area exception to the Colorado Roadless Rule.
    The Colorado Roadless Rule is a State-specific rule that 
establishes management direction for the conservation of roadless area 
values and characteristics across approximately 4.2 million acres of 
land located within the State of Colorado in Roadless Areas on National 
Forest System (NFS) lands. The North Fork Coal Mining Area exception to 
the Colorado Roadless Rule provides for the construction of temporary 
roads, if needed, for coal exploration and coal-related surface 
activities in the 19,700-acre area defined as the North Fork Coal 
Mining Area. In addition, the final rule makes an administrative 
correction to Colorado Roadless Area boundaries associated with the 
North Fork Coal Mining Area based on updated information. The 
correction adds an additional 200 acres to the roadless area. These 
boundary corrections address changes identified by new road survey 
information. The temporary 60-day delay in effective date is necessary 
to give USDA officials the opportunity for further review and 
consideration of new regulations, consistent with the Chief of Staff's 
memorandum of January 20, 2017.
    To the extent that 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(A) applies to this action, it is 
exempt from notice and comment for good cause and the reasons cited 
above. USDA finds that notice and solicitation of comment regarding the 
brief extension of the effective date for the final regulation are 
impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). USDA believes that affected entities 
need to be informed as soon as possible of the extension and its length 
in order to plan and adjust their implementation process accordingly.

    Dated: February 2, 2017.
Daniel J. Jiron,
Acting Deputy Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment.
[FR Doc. 2017-02625 Filed 2-8-17; 8:45 am]
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