[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12139-12142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05054]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Flathead National Forest, Montana; Revision of the Land
Management Plan for the Flathead National Forest and an Amendment of
the Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark, and Lolo National Forest Plans
To Incorporate Relevant Direction From the Northern Continental Divide
Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: As directed by the National Forest Management Act, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, is preparing the Flathead
National Forest's revised land management plan (forest plan) and an
amendment to provide relevant direction from the Northern Continental
Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy into the
forest plans for the Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark and Lolo
National Forests. The Forest Service will prepare a single
environmental impact statement (EIS) for its revised forest plan and
the amendment.
This notice briefly describes the proposed action based on the need
to change the existing plans, the nature of the decision to be made,
and information concerning public participation. This notice also
provides estimated dates for filing the EIS, the name and address of
the responsible agency officials, and the individuals who can provide
additional information. Finally, this notice identifies the applicable
planning rule that will be used for completing the plan revision and
amendment.
The revised Flathead forest plan will supersede the existing forest
plan that was approved by the Regional Forester in 1986, and amended
more than 20 times since. The existing Flathead forest plan will remain
in effect until the revised forest plan takes effect. The management
direction pertaining to grizzly bear within the current forest plans of
the Helena National Forest, approved by the Regional Forester in 1986;
Kootenai National Forest, approved by the Regional Forester in
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2015; Lewis and Clark National Forest, approved by the Regional
Forester in 1986; and Lolo National Forest, approved by the Regional
Forester in 1986, as amended, will remain in effect until the proposed
amendment takes effect.
In response to this notice, we are asking for comments on the
proposed action so we may refine the proposed action and identify
possible alternatives to the proposed action.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the proposed action must be
received by May 5, 2015. The draft EIS is expected in January 2016 and
the final EIS is expected in June 2017.
ADDRESSES: Send or deliver written comments to the Flathead National
Forest Supervisor's Office, Attn: Forest Plan Revision, 650 Wolfpack
Way, Kalispell, Montana 59901. Comments may also be sent via email to
[email protected] or via facsimile to (406) 758-5379.
Further instructions for providing comments that will assist the
planning team in reviewing comments can be found on the Flathead
National Forest Web site www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/fpr.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Krueger, Forest Planner, Flathead
National Forest, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, Montana 59901, (406) 758-
5243, or at [email protected]. Information regarding the
Flathead NF plan revision is available on the Forest's Plan Revision
Web site at: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/fpr; information about the
amendment is available at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/gbamend.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Action
The Forest Service is preparing the Flathead National Forest
revised land management plan (forest plan) and an amendment to provide
relevant direction from the North Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE)
Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy into the forest plans for the
Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark and Lolo National Forests. The full
proposed action for the Flathead National Forest's revised forest plan
includes forest-wide, geographic area, and management area desired
conditions, objectives, standards, guidelines, and the suitability of
lands for specific multiple uses, including, for example, those lands
suitable for timber production. The proposed action includes estimates
of the long-term sustained yield and planned sale quantity for the
forest. The proposed action includes a description of the plan area's
distinctive roles and contributions within the broader landscape, the
identification of priority restoration watersheds, and suitability of
national forest lands to support a variety of proposed and possible
actions that may occur on the plan area over the life of the plan. The
proposed action also identifies a monitoring program. The proposed
action includes 188,206 acres to be recommended to Congress for
inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System and 22 rivers
for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.
Need for Action
The need for the proposed action is twofold: (1) Significant
changes have occurred in conditions and demands since the Flathead's
1986 Forest Plan and (2) to ensure the adequacy of regulatory
mechanisms regarding habitat protection across the national forests in
the NCDE in support of the de-listing of the grizzly bear. Several
areas where changes are needed in the Flathead NF plan were brought to
the forefront by the requirements of the 2012 Planning Rule for the
National Forest System; findings from the development of the Assessment
of the Flathead National Forest (a precursor document in the planning
process that identified and evaluated the existing condition across the
forest landscape); changes in conditions and demands since the 1986
Forest Plan; and public concerns to date.
The 2012 Planning Rule, which became effective May 9, 2012,
requires inclusion of plan components, including standards or
guidelines, that address social and economic sustainability, ecosystem
services, and multiple uses integrated with the plan components for
ecological sustainability and species diversity. Social and economic
management direction is needed to provide people and communities with a
range of social and economic benefits for present and future
generations. As an example, since approval of the Flathead's 1986
Forest Plan, the role of timber harvest in meeting ecosystem management
and social and economic objectives has changed. The 2012 Planning Rule
requires the Forest to undertake a process to identify lands within the
plan area for timber production suitability, and from this process, the
Forest will develop plan components for lands suitable for timber
production and for lands where timber harvest is appropriate for
purposes other than timber production. To meet the Planning Rule's
requirement to provide for ecological sustainability, management
direction is needed that addresses ecosystem diversity (including key
ecosystem characteristics and their integrity), in light of changes in
climate, fuels, vegetation management strategies, and future
environmental conditions. Revised plan components are needed that focus
on maintaining or restoring vegetation and ecosystems to provide for
species diversity including threatened and endangered species, species
of conservation concern, and species of public interest. Additionally,
comprehensive management direction is needed to address suitability of
certain areas for particular uses, address access and sustainable
recreation, provide for the management of existing and anticipated
uses, as well as protect resources. During the plan revision process,
the 2012 Planning Rule requires the Forest Service to undertake
processes to identify and evaluate lands that may be suitable for
inclusion on the National Wilderness Preservation System and identify
eligible rivers for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
System.
Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, federal agencies are
directed to use their authorities to seek to conserve endangered and
threatened species. The Canada lynx was listed as a threatened species
in 2000. Since that time, the Flathead Forest Plan has been amended
with the Northern Rockies Lynx Management Direction (USDA FS 2007), the
USFWS designated and updated Canada lynx critical habitat (USDI FWS
2009, 2014), and the Lynx Conservation and Assessment Strategy has been
updated (Lynx Biology Team 2013). Thus, the Forest Plan needs to
integrate recent and relevant information for Canada lynx to its plan.
Habitat conditions and management on the Flathead, Helena,
Kootenai, Lewis and Clark, and Lolo National Forests have contributed
importantly to the increased population size and improved status of the
grizzly bear across the NCDE. Supporting a healthy, recovered grizzly
bear population will depend on continued, effective management of the
NCDE grizzly bear's habitat. In 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service's announced the availability of a draft Grizzly Bear
Conservation Strategy for the NCDE population for public review and
input. When finalized, the Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy will
become the post-delisting management plan for the
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NCDE grizzly bear population and its habitat. By providing relevant
direction from the NCDE Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy into forest
plans, the Forest Service will be able to demonstrate to the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service that adequate regulatory mechanisms exist on
national forests within the NCDE to support a delisted grizzly bear
population. Under the transition provisions of the 2012 Forest Planning
Rule (36 CFR 219.17), an amendment to a plan that was approved or
revised under a prior planning regulation, may be initiated under the
provisions of the prior planning regulation for 3 years after May 9,
2012, and may be completed and approved under those provisions (36 CFR
219.17 (b)(2)). The proposal is to amend the Helena, Kootenai, Lewis
and Clark and Lolo National Forest plans under the 1982 planning
regulations in effect prior to November 9, 2000 (see 36 CFR parts 200
to 299, Revised as of July 1, 2000). Thus, under the transition
provisions of the 2012 Forest Planning Rule, the Forest Service has the
opportunity to carry out the amendments concurrently with the Flathead
forest plan revision. The Flathead planning team, in addition to
conducting the plan revision, is coordinating the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) effort for the amendment with the
Kootenai, Lolo, Lewis and Clark and Helena National Forests to ensure
that adequate regulatory mechanisms for habitat protections specific to
the de-listing of the grizzly bear is consistent on National Forest
System lands throughout the NCDE. Finally, public participation through
scoping may identify other needs for change that will be considered
during the plan revision.
Public Involvment for the Flathead Plan Revision
The Flathead National Forest began public participation when
developing the Assessment of the Flathead National Forest. To
facilitate local participation, the Forest contracted with the U.S.
Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution in 2012 to develop a
collaborative stakeholder engagement process. The Institute conducted
assessments with Forest Service employees and a representative group of
key stakeholders to determine their willingness to engage in a
collaborative process convened by a neutral, third party. The Meridian
Institute was selected to serve in that capacity and facilitated
numerous topical work groups, an interagency group, and meetings to
bring together all work groups and interested citizens. Also, as part
of the public involvement process, the Forest Service led field trips
and held open house sessions to discuss existing information and trends
related to a variety of conditions found on the forest. The information
acquired from the public involvement process was used to help develop
the Flathead NF forest plan revision proposed action.
Responsible Officials
The responsible official who will approve the Record of Decision
for the Flathead NF revised forest plan is Sharon Labreque, Acting
Forest Supervisor for the Flathead National Forest, 650 Wolfpack Way,
Kalispell, MT 59901, (406) 758-5208. The responsible officials who will
approve the Record of Decision for the Amendment are: William Avey,
Forest Supervisor for the Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests
Supervisor's Office, 2880 Skyway Drive, Helena, MT 59602, (406) 449-
5201; Christopher S. Savage, Forest Supervisor for the Kootenai
National Forest, 31374 U.S. Highway 2, Libby, MT 59923-3022, (406) 293-
6211; and Timothy Garcia, Forest Supervisor for the Lolo National
Forest, 24 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59803, (406) 329-3750.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
For the Flathead forest plan revision, the responsible official
will decide whether the required plan components (desired conditions,
objectives, standards, guidelines) are sufficient to promote the
ecological integrity and sustainability of the Flathead National
Forest's ecosystems, watersheds, and diverse plant and animal
communities. In addition, the responsible official will decide if the
plan provides sufficient management guidance to contribute to social
and economic sustainability, to provide people and communities with
ecosystem services and multiple uses including a range of social,
economic, and ecological benefits for the present and into the future.
Standards, guidelines, and other direction related to conservation of
threatened and endangered species, (e.g., the Canada lynx, grizzly
bear, bull trout, and water howellia) will be evaluated for the
Flathead National Forest in the EIS.
For the amendment component of the proposed action, the responsible
officials will decide whether desired conditions, standards,
guidelines, and monitoring requirements relevant to national forest
grizzly bear habitat management in the NCDE are necessary and
appropriate to amend the Helena, Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo
forest plans. The Kootenai National Forest Plan spans two grizzly bear
ecosystems and the Lolo National Forest Plan spans three. The proposed
action applies only to the NCDE. No changes in forest plan direction
are being considered within the Cabinet-Yaak or Bitterroot recovery
areas.
This proposed action is programmatic in nature and guides future
implementation of site-specific projects. Additional NEPA compliance
would be required for site-specific projects as part of a two-stage
decision making process (Council of Environmental Quality regulations
for implementing NEPA; 40 CFR 1508.23, 42 U.S.C. 4322(2)(C)), 36 CFR
219.7(f)).
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the EIS. We are seeking your input to continue to
develop the Flathead NF revised plan and for NCDE grizzly bear habitat
management for the four amendment forests. In addition to requesting
comments specific to the Flathead NF proposed action, we are also
seeking comments regarding the potential list of species of
conservation concern, the identified recommended wilderness acres and
eligible wild and scenic rivers, as well as other significant issues.
The following community meetings are planned to provide additional
information and address questions related to the revision and amendment
proposed action:
March 17, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Flathead National Forest
Supervisors Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901.
March 19, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Riverstone Family Lodge,
6370 US Hwy 93N, Eureka, MT 59917.
April 7, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Seeley Lake Community
Center, Seely Lake, MT 59868.
April 8, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Fort Missoula Pavilion,
Missoula, MT 59804.
April 9, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Superior Ranger Station
Conference Room, Superior, MT 59872.
April 14, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Lincoln Community Hall,
404 Main St., Lincoln, MT 59639.
April 15, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Stage Stop Inn, 1005 Main
Ave. North, Choteau, MT 59422.
Changes to the meeting schedule will be communicated on the
Flathead Forest Plan revision Web page at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/fpr, as well as the amendment Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/gbamend.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the
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agency's preparation of the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided
prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate
the reviewer's concerns and contentions. Comments received in response
to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who
comment, will be part of the public record for this proposed action.
Decision Will Be Subject to Objection
Only those individuals and entities who have submitted substantive
formal comments related to the Flathead NF plan revision and the four
amendments during the opportunities provided for public comment
(beginning with this NOI), will be eligible to file an objection (36
CFR 219.53(a)). The decision to approve the revised forest plan for the
Flathead National Forest and the amendment for the Helena, Lewis and
Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests will be subject to the
objection process identified in 36 CFR part 219 subpart B (219.50 to
219.62).
Documents Available for Review
The Flathead National Forest plan revision Web site
(www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/fpr) provides the full text of the
proposed action, describing preliminary desired conditions, objectives,
standards, guidelines, and other plan content; the 2014 Assessment;
summaries of the public meetings and public meeting materials; and
public comments. The forest plan amendment component of the proposed
action for the Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark, and Lolo National
Forests is located at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/gbamend, which can
be linked from the individual Forest's Web sites as well. The material
available on these sites may be updated or revised at any time as part
of the planning process.
The 2012 Planning Rule is explained in more detail on the Forest
Service's Web site at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/planningrule/home/?cid=stelprdb5359471. The draft NCDE Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy
is currently available on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Web site
at http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/grizzly/continentalindex.html.
Dated: February 26, 2015.
Sharon Labreque,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Flathead NF.
[FR Doc. 2015-05054 Filed 3-5-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P