[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 132 (Friday, July 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37314-37315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18387]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Sierra Nevada Conservation Planning for National Forests in
California
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Announcing the beginning of a planning process that will: (1)
Examine existing management direction for the National Forests in the
Sierra Nevada in light of new scientific information, and (2) develop
new management direction where necessary, supported by an environmental
impact statement to be completed by July 31, 1999. After an initial
public involvement period, the Agency will amend this notice with a
Notice of Intent that will more fully describe an Agency proposed
action.
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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, is
beginning a planning process to ensure that new scientific information
is adequately considered in management direction contained in the
Pacific Southwest Regional Guide and the ten Forest Plans for the
National Forests in the Sierra Nevada. The Pacific Southwest Regional
Forester, in consultation with the Director of the Pacific Southwest
Research Station, anticipates (1) having a completed and peer reviewed
report that synthesizes new scientific information of rangewide urgency
to the National Forests in the Sierra Nevada by late-July, 1998; (2)
having completed an examination of current management direction in
light of the new scientific information and the identification of
weaknesses in current management direction along with possible changes
that could be made in management direction to rectify those weaknesses
by the end of July, 1998; (3) providing a 60-
[[Page 37315]]
day opportunity for the public to comment on the new scientific
information, the identified weaknesses in current management direction,
and possible changes that could be made in management direction to
rectify those weaknesses by mid-October, 1998; and (4) by October 31,
1998, issue a Notice of Intent, which will amend this Notice, to fully
articulate the Agency's proposed action to change management direction
in the Pacific Southwest Regional Guide and the Forest Plans for the
ten National Forests in the Sierra Nevada. Publication of the Notice of
Intent will initiate a 60-day public comment period wherein the public
will be asked to provide any additional information they feel the
Forest Service may still not have at that time, and to submit any
issues regarding potential effects of the proposed action. More
specific information regarding the proposal, decision-making process,
and schedule for completion will be included in the Notice of Intent.
ADDRESS: Send written comments to Dick Andrews, Regional Environmental
Coordinator, Ecosystem Planning, Room 859A, 630 Sansome Street, San
Francisco, CA 94111.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dick Andrews, Regional Environmental
Coordinator, Ecosystem Planning, (415) 705-2557.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This announcement is being published by the
Forest Service in an effort to ensure an open and inclusive public
process is employed in gathering information that may be used to
formulate a proposed action and articulate the purpose and need for
amending the management direction specified in the Pacific Southwest
Regional Guide and the Forest Plans for the Eldorado, Inyo, Lassen,
Modoc, Plumas, Sequoia, Sierra, Stanislaus, and Tahoe National Forests
and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
In preparation for this planning process, the USDA Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Research Station is reviewing recently developed
scientific information relevant to the Sierra Nevada. A report
summarizing this work is currently in draft and may be viewed at the
Research Station's internet website, www.psw.fs.fed.us/sierra/. By mid-
July additional information about the planning process and
opportunities for public involvement will be available through the
Pacific Southwest Region's internet website, www.r5.fs.fed.us/.
Date: July 6, 1998.
G. Lynn Sprague,
Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. 98-18387 Filed 7-9-98; 8:45 am]
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