[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 228 (Friday, November 27, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 65573]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31609]
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Notices
Federal Register
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This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
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Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 228 / Friday, November 27, 1998 /
Notices
[[Page 65573]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Tongass National Forest Timber Demand Considerations; Alaska
Agency
Forest Service, USDA.
Action
Notice of availability; request for comments.
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Summary
The Tongass Timber Reform Act of 1990 requires the Secretary to seek to provide a supply of timber that meets the annual market demand for timber from the Tongass as well as the market demand for timber from the Tongass for each planning cycle. The draft procedures for considering market demand in planning annual timber sale offerings are now available for public review and comment.
Dates
Comments must be received in writing on or before January 11, 1999.
Addresses
Single copies of the draft procedures may be obtained by writing the Regional Forester, Alaska Region, Forest Service, USDA, PO Box 21628, Juneau, Alaska 99802-1628. Send written comments on the draft procedures to the same address. The document is also posted on the internet at ww.fs.fed.us/r10/issues.htm.
For Further Information Contact
Frederick L. Norbury or Kathleen S. Morse, Ecosystem Planning and Budgeting Staff, Alaska Region, Forest Service, USDA, PO Box 21628, Juneau, Alaska 99802-1728, (907) 586-8886/8809.
Supplementary Information
The draft procedures estimate the volume of timber likely to be purchased from the Tongass National Forest in the coming year based on observations of industry behavior in prior years. The industry draws its annual raw material supply from an accumulated inventory of timber volume under contract, sometimes called the ``buffer stock''. This inventory must be large enough to keep mills operating at a steady rate while new sales are prepared for offer and harvest. Historically, the Forest Service has attempted to allow the industry to hold the equivalent of two to three years worth of raw material as volume under contract. The draft procedures essentially suggest a similar approach but defined this inventory requirement in more analytical terms. The draft procedures assume that, at a minimum, the industry will want to maintain its existing timber inventory and will purchase timber to replace that harvested in a given year. If the existing timber inventory is lower than the desired, the industry may want to purchase more timber than is processed in order to build up inventory. By comparing the current inventory with an estimate of the desired inventory and factoring in projected annual harvest, the Forest Service can develop a range of expected timber purchases for any given year. The volume offered will be adjusted to fall within the most current estimate.
Dated: November 20, 1998. James A. Caplan, Acting Regional Forester, Alaska Region. [FR Doc. 98-31609 Filed 11-25-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M