SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Colville National Forest covers 1.1 million acres across three counties in northeast Washington, contributing jobs and income for the local population. The revised land management plan, which was developed pursuant to the 1982 Planning Rule, will replace the land management plan approved in 1988. The revised land management plan provides for:

• Increased timber harvest to support the robust forest products industry and local communities while sustaining and restoring important ecosystems;
• A framework to promote partnerships and cooperative agreements to get more work accomplished on the ground; and
• A community-based approach to managing livestock grazing, recommending new wilderness areas, and providing access to forest resources.

A draft ROD, revised land management plan, and FEIS were released in September 2018, and were subject to a pre-decisional objection period. Twenty eligible objections were received. The primary objection issues were the:

• Amount, location, and management of recommended wilderness. Most objectors requested that the acres of recommended wilderness be reduced, while others requested the recommendation of additional acres;
• Potential of plan components related to aquatic ecosystems and wildlife to affect livestock grazing, and the number of acres of capable and suitable lands for livestock grazing;
• Importance of timber harvest, grazing, and mining to the local communities; and
• Inadequacy of the Wild and Scenic Rivers eligibility review.

The Responsible Official has completed review of the Reviewing Officer's instructions regarding objections, and has worked with the Colville National Forest in preparing the final planning documents for publication. The final ROD to approve the revised land management plan for the Colville National Forest has now been signed by the Responsible Official, and is available at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/​detail/​colville/​landmanagement/​planning/​?cid=​stelprd3824594.

Responsible Official

The responsible official for the revision of the land management plan for the Colville National Forest is Glenn Casamassa, Regional Forester, Pacific Northwest Region, 1220 SE 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97204.

84 FR 56412