AGENCY:

Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice of adjustment to Federal Register Notice of Vol. 69, No. 46, p. 10974, March 9, 2004, and transition to the 2005 Planning Rule at 36 CFR 219 ( Federal Register Vol. 70, No.3/January 5, 2005, p. 1023).

Authority: 36 CFR 219.14(e).

SUMMARY:

The Responsible Officials (Forest Supervisors) for the Colville National Forest and the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests will exercise their option to adjust the land management plan revision process from compliance with the 1982 planning regulations, to conformance with new planning regulations adopted in January ( printed page 68395) 2005. This adjustment will have the following effects:

1. The new rule redefines forest plans to be more strategic and flexible to better facilitate adaptive management and public collaboration.

2. The new rule focuses more on the goals of ecological, social, and economic sustainability and less on prescriptive means of producing goods and services.

3. The Responsible Official who will approve the final plan will now be the Forest Supervisor instead of the Regional Forester.

4. The Colville National Forest and the Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests will establish an environmental management system (per ISO 14001:2004(E)) prior to completion of the revised forest plan.

5. Upon completion of final rulemaking, the planning and decision-making process may be categorically excluded from analysis and documentation in an environmental impact statement and record of decision (see draft rule at Federal Register Vol. 70, No. 3, January 5, 2005, p. 1062).

6. The emphasis on public involvement will shift from public comment on a range of alternative plans, to a collaborative process intended to yield a single, broadly supported plan.

7. Administrative review has changed from a post-decision appeals process to a pre-decision objection process.

DATES:

Transition to the 2005 Planning Rule is effective immediately upon publication of this notice in the Federal Register .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Margaret Hartzell, Plan Revision Team Leader, Colville, Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, (509) 826-3275 or e-mail: mhartzell@fs.fed.us; or view our Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/​r6/​colville/​cow, or mail: Forest Plans Revision Team, 1240 Second Avenue South, Okanogan, WA 98840.

Responsible Officials: James L. Boynton, Forest Supervisor, Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA 98801 and Rick Brazell, Colville National Forest, 765 South Main, Colville, WA 99114.