[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11074-11075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04270]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Assessment Report of Ecological/Social/Economic Sustainability,
Conditions, and Trends for the Carson National Forest
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of initiating the assessment phase of the forest plan
revision for the Carson National Forest.
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SUMMARY: The Carson National Forest, located in northern New Mexico, is
initiating the forest plan revision process pursuant to the 2012
National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule (36 CFR Part 219).
This process results in a revised forest land management plan (forest
plan), which describes the strategic direction for management of forest
resources on the Carson National Forest over the next ten to fifteen
years. The first phase of the process, the assessment phase, is just
beginning. The public is invited to contribute information that can be
used in the development of the assessment (36 CFR Sec. 219.6). To
gather relevant information about conditions and trends in and around
the Carson National Forest, the Forest Service will be hosting a series
of public forums in late spring/early summer of 2014. Information about
public engagement opportunities during the assessment phase and the
entire plan revision process will be posted on the Carson National
Forest's Web site, which will be continuously updated as the planning
process progresses.
DATES: A draft of the assessment report for the revision of the Carson
National Forest's forest plan is anticipated to be posted on the
following Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/carsonforestplan in the
fall/early winter 2014. The final assessment is projected to be
completed in late winter 2014/2015.
Public forums and meetings associated with the development of the
assessment will be announced on the Web site cited above.
It is expected the notice of intent to initiate the forest plan
revision for the Carson National Forest will be published in the
Federal Register in spring 2015.
ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions concerning this notice should
be addressed to Carson National Forest, Attn: Plan Revision, 208 Cruz
Alta Road, Taos, New Mexico, 87571. Comments may also be sent via email
to [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Naranjo, Forest Planner, 575-
758-6221. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday
through Friday.
More information on the planning process can also be found on the
Carson National Forest Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/carsonforestplan.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of
1976 requires every National Forest System (NFS) unit to develop a
forest plan. On April 9, 2012, the Forest Service finalized its land
management planning rule (2012 Planning Rule), which describes
requirements for the planning process and the content of forest plans.
Forest plans describe the strategic direction for managing forest
resources over ten to fifteen years, and are adaptive and amendable as
conditions change over time.
Under the 2012 Planning Rule, the assessment of ecological, social,
and economic trends and conditions is the first phase of the planning
framework or process. The second phase is guided, in part, by the
National Environment Policy Act (NEPA). It includes the preparation of
a draft environmental impact statement and revised forest plan for
public review and comment, followed by a final environmental impact
statement and revised forest plan. The third phase of the process is
monitoring and feedback, which is ongoing over the life of the revised
forest plan.
This notice announces the start of the first phase of the planning
process, which is an assessment to rapidly evaluate existing
information about relevant ecological, economic, cultural, and social
conditions, trends, and sustainability and their relationship to the
Carson National Forest's current forest plan, within the context of the
broader landscape.
With this notice, the agency invites other governments, non-
governmental parties, and the public to contribute to the development
of the assessment. The intent of public participation in the
[[Page 11075]]
assessment phase is to gather as much relevant information as possible
to inform the plan revision process. Public involvement during this
point in the process can also provide opportunities for people to share
their concerns about existing conditions and trends and perceptions of
risks to social, economic, and ecological systems related to the
forest.
As public meetings, forums, and other opportunities for public
engagement are scheduled, public notifications will be made and posted
on the forest's Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/carsonforestplan and
information will be sent out to the forest's mailing list. If anyone is
interested in being on the forest's mailing list to receive these
notifications, please contact Kevin Naranjo, Forest Planner, at the
mailing address identified above, by sending an email to
[email protected], or by telephone 575-758-6221.
Responsible Official
The responsible official for revision of the Carson National
Forest's land management plan is Forest Supervisor Juan (Buck) Sanchez,
Carson National Forest, 208 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, New Mexico, 87571.
Dated: February 21, 2014.
Juan E. (Buck) Sanchez,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-04270 Filed 2-26-14; 8:45 am]
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