00-15771. Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment Draft Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY:

Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice of public meetings related to the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Public meetings will provide information on the document, opportunities for discussion, dialogue and consideration of how the alternatives address the five problem areas, including old forest ecosystems and associated species; aquatic, riparian and meadow ecosystems; fire and fuels management; noxious weeds; and lower westside hardwood ecosystems. Meetings will take place in cities near Sierra Nevada forests, as well as Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay area, and Sacramento. The meeting schedule is attached.

SUMMARY:

The Draft EIS to amend Sierra Nevada Forest Plans was released on May 2, 2000 and is open for public comment until August 11, 2000. The Sierra Nevada Framework for Conservation and Collaboration is an effort by the USDA Forest Service to better integrate the latest science and a collaborative approach into national forest management. The EIS will allow the forest service to update forest plans for the 11 national forests in the Sierra Nevada and Modoc Plateau. The Draft EIS proposes 7 action alternatives to address five problem areas.

Requesting Copies of the DEIS and Submitting Comments

The DEIS is available in 4 formats: a printed summary (40 pages); a printed 3-volume set of the full draft EIS, appendices and maps (1500 pages); compact disk (CD); or downloadable at www.r5.fed.us/​sncf. To request hardcopies or a CD, write (Subject: SNFP Request): USDA Forest Service—CAET, Sierra Nevada Framework Project, PO Box 7669, 200 E. Broadway, Room 301, Missoula Mt 59807. Email: [e-mail]. Fax: [phone].

Review and Comments on the DEIS may be sent to the above address (Subject: SNFP Comments)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Please see the USDA Forest Service, World Wide Web site www.r5.fs.fed.us/​sncf or contact USDA Forest Service, Sierra Nevada Framework Project, Room 419, 801 I Street, Sacramento, Ca 95814; phone number 916-492-7554; TTY via PacBell relay [phone].

The Following Is the Current List of Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment DEIS Public Meetings

[Revised June 12, 2000]

Date	Time	Location	Address	Contact	Meeting Format
June 20, 2000	1:30 pm	Madera CA	Madera County Board of Supervisors, 209 W. Yosemite		Board of Supervisors.
June 21, 2000	7:00-9:00 pm	El Dorado CA	Union Mine High School Cafeteria, 6530 Koki Lane	Contact: Frank Mosbacher [phone]	Info/comment.
June 22, 2000	6:30-9:00 pm	Oakhurst CA	Oakhurst Community Center Building Road 425B	Contact: Sue Exline [phone]	Information.
June 24, 2000	9:00 am-1:00 pm	Los Angeles CA	LA River Center, 570 W Ave 26, Ste 100	Contact: SNFP [phone]	Info/comment.
June 24, 2000	9:00-11:00 am	Sonora CA	Sonora Oaks Best Western, Hess Ave. and Hwy 108	Contact: John Maschi, [phone]	Information.
June 27, 2000	2:00 pm	Fresno CA	Fesno County Board of Supervisors, 2281 Tulare St		Board of Supervisors.
June 29, 2000	6:30-9:00 pm	Prather CA	Pineridge/Kings River District Office, Hwy 168	Contact: Sue Exline [phone]	Information.
July 10, 2000	3:00-9:30 pm	Porterville CA	Veteran's Building 190 W. Olive Ave	Contact: Julie Allen, [phone] ext. 1160	Info/comment.
July 11, 2000	5:00-9:00 pm	Chester, CA	Wildwood Center, 366 Meadowbrook Loop	Contact: Carrie Christman [phone]	Info/comment.
July 12, 2000	6:30-9:00 pm	Alturas CA	USDA Conference Room	Contact: Nancy Gardner [phone]	Comment.
July 12, 2000	5:00-9:00 pm	Susanville	Lassen Nat'l Forest Supervisor's Office, 2550 Riverside Dr	Carrie Christman [phone]	Info/comment.
July 13, 2000	5:00-9:00 pm	Fall River Mills CA	Hat Creek Ranger District Conference Room	Carrie Christman [phone]	Info/comment.
July 13, 2000	5:00-9:30 pm	Lake Isabella CA	Kern River Veteran's Hall/Senior Center 6405 Lake Isabella Blvd	Contact: Julie Allen, [phone] ext. 1160	Info/comment.
July 17, 2000	6:30-9:00 pm	Bishop CA	Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church	Contact: Nancy Upham [phone]	Info/comment.
July 24, 2000	1:00-3:00 pm	Carson City NV	Library	Contact: Christie Kalkowski [phone]	Comment.
July 24, 2000	6:00-8:00 pm	Minden NV	Western Nevada Community College	Contact: Christie Kalkowski [phone]	Comment.
July 25, 2000	6:30-9:00 pm	Mammoth Lakes CA	Community Center	Contact: Nancy Upham [phone]	Info/comment.
July 25, 2000	6:00-8:00 pm	Markleeville CA	Turtle Rock Co. Park	Contact: Christie Kalkowski [phone]	Comment.
July 25, 2000	6:30-9:00 pm	Oakhurst CA	Oakhurst Community Center Bulding, Road 425B	Contact: Sue Exline [phone] [e-mail]	Comment.
July 26, 2000	6:30-9:00 pm	Clovis CA	Veterans Memorial Building, 5th and Hughes-Veterans Room	Contact: Sue Exline [phone] [e-mail]	Comment.
July 26, 2000	6:00-8:00 pm	Bridgeport CA	Memorial Hall 100 Sinclair St	Contact: Christie Kalkowski [phone]	Info/comment.
July 27, 2000	6:00-8:00 pm	Reno NV	McKinley Arts & Cultural Center	Contact: Christie Kalkowski [phone]	Comment.
July 27, 2000	6:30-9:00 pm	Prather CA	Pineridge/Kings River District Office, Hwy 168	Contact: Sue Exline [phone]	Comment.
July 29, 2000	9:00am-1:00 pm	Sacramento CA	Convention Center, 1400 J St	Contact: Gail Wright, [phone]	Reporting on public comment.
July TBA		San Francisco Bay Area			Info/comment.

Kent P. Connaughton,

Sierra Nevada Framework Project Director.