[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 25478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12732]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Revised Forest Legacy Program Guidelines
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (CFAA)
authorizes a Forest Legacy Program, the purpose of which is to identify
and protect environmentally important private forest lands that may be
threatened by conversion to non-forest uses. The Federal Agricultural
Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 amended the CFAA to provide for
Optional State Grants to States requesting funding support to carry out
the Program. The Forest Service hereby gives notice of the availability
of revised guidelines for implementing the revisions to the Forest
Legacy Program in Fiscal Year 1996 and requests comments.
DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before June 20, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Director, Cooperative Forestry
Staff, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, D.C. 20090-
6090, via FAX at (202) 205-1271, or via the INTERNET (ASCII only) at /
oul=w01c@mhs-fswa.attmail.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Single copies of the guidelines for implementing the Forest Legacy
Program may be obtained by writing the Director, Cooperative Forestry
Staff, Forest Service, USDA, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, D.C. 20090-
6090, via FAX at (202) 205-1271, or by calling (202) 205-1389.
Information may also be requested by E-Mail (ASCII only) at /s=cf/
[email protected]=fswa.attmail.com.
Questions about the revised Forest Legacy Program Guidelines may be
addressed to Ted Beauvais, Cooperative Forestry Staff, at (202) 205-
1190.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1217 of Title XII of the Food,
Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act of 1990 (104 Stat. 3526) and
the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 authorize
the Secretary of Agriculture to provide a Federal grant to a designated
State agency for carrying out the Forest Legacy Program. The purpose of
the Federal grant is to provide Optional State Grants to States for the
acquisition of environmentally important private lands and interests in
the lands with title to the land vested in the State. Under section
7(a) of the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act (16 U.S.C. 2103c(c)),
the Secretary of Agriculture continues to have authority to acquire
from willing landowners, environmentally important forest lands and
interests therein for Federal acquisition.
The revised Forest Legacy Program guidelines are divided into three
parts:
Part 1--General Program Guidelines: Program direction applicable to
all aspects of the Forest Legacy Program.
Part 2--Federal Acquisition Program Guidelines: Program direction
applicable to States and Forest Service units selecting the Federal
acquisition and ownership process, where ownership of lands or
interests in lands is vested in the United States.
Part 3--State Grant Program Guidelines: Program direction
applicable to States and Forest Service units where the State has
elected the State grant option and acquisitions result in State
ownership.
The guidelines are for the use of agencies, State Forest
Stewardship Coordinating Committees, and the Forest Service in
implementing the Forest Legacy Program nationwide.
The revised implementation guidelines are available for review and
comment by the Governors through State forestry agencies and to land
trusts, conservation organizations, forest industry groups, landowners,
and other organizations interested in the Forest Legacy Program. Those
entities currently on the Forest Legacy Program mailing list maintained
by the Forest Service will receive direct notice of the revised
guidelines.
Dated: May 15, 1996.
Jerry A. Sesco,
Acting Chief.
[FR Doc. 96-12732 Filed 5-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
