SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Advance Notice and Public Comment Procedures

Section 4103 of the John D. Dingell, Jr., Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Dingell Act) (Pub L. 116-9, Title IV (Sportsmen's Access and Related Matters)) requires that the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, provide public notice and opportunity to comment before permanently or temporarily closing any National Forest System lands to hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting. Section 4103 of the Dingell Act applies to the proposed permanent seasonal order prohibiting prairie dog hunting in Management Area 3.67 in the Douglas Ranger District of the Thunder Basin National Grassland from February 1 to August 15. The public notice and comment process in section 4103(b)(2) of the Dingell Act requires the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register an advance notice of intent of a proposed permanent or temporary hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting order in advance of the public comment period for the proposed order. This notice meets the requirement to publish a notice of intent in the Federal Register in advance of the public comment period for the proposed order. Following the notice period, section 4103(b)(2) of the Dingell Act requires an opportunity for public comment on the proposed order. The public comment period must be at least 60 days for a proposed permanent order. Beginning on August 18, 2022, the Forest Service will accept public comments on the proposed order for 60 days. The notice of opportunity for public comment will be posted on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/​alerts/​mbr/​alerts-notices and at the Forest Service's website at www.fs.usda.gov/​about-agency/​regulations-policies.

Section 4103(b)(2) of the Dingell Act requires the Forest Service to respond to public comments received on the proposed order before issuing a final order, including an explanation of how any significant issues raised by the comments were resolved and, if applicable, how resolution of those issues affected the proposed order or the justification for the proposed order. The response to comments on the proposed order, justification for the final order, and the issuance of the final order will all be posted on the Forest Service's website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/​alerts/​mbr/​alerts-notices and www.fs.usda.gov/​about-agency/​regulations-policies.

Background and Need for the Proposed Permanent Order

The proposed order would implement the land management plan direction in the Thunder Basin National Grassland 2020 Plan Amendment. The shooting of black-tailed prairie dogs is a common recreational activity on the Grassland. Grassland land management direction for Management Area 3.67 provides for maintenance of short-stature vegetation communities, including prairie dog colony ecosystems. The proposed permanent seasonal order would prohibit prairie dog hunting in Management Area 3.67 from February 1 to August 15 to protect at-risk animal species associated with black-tailed prairie dog colonies during breeding, nesting, and brood-rearing seasons. Grassland land management direction does not limit prairie dog hunting at any other locations or times on the Grassland.

The proposed permanent seasonal order, map of the area covered by the proposed order, and justification for the proposed order are available on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/​ ( printed page 49579) alerts/​mbr/​alerts-notices and on the Forest Service's website at www.fs.usda.gov/​about-agency/​regulations-policies.

87 FR 49578