[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 10, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15354-15355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07072]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Manti-La Sal National Forest; Utah; Monument Management Plan for 
the Bears Ears National Monument Shash J[aacute]a Unit

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to ensure that all persons and 
entities interested in Forest Service activities are aware of the 
Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) January 16, 2018 Notice of Intent 
(NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) (83 FR 2181). 
The BLM is preparing Monument Management Plans (MMPs) for the Indian 
Creek Unit and the Shash J[aacute]a Unit of the Bears Ears National 
Monument. The Shash J[aacute]a Unit includes National Forest System 
lands, under management and decision-making authority of the Forest 
Service and managed under the land management plan for the Manti-La Sal 
National Forest (Forest Plan). The Forest Service and BLM will jointly 
prepare the MMP for the Shash J[aacute]a Unit. The BLM will prepare a 
single EIS to satisfy the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
requirements for the planning process for both units. The BLM is the 
lead agency for the preparation of the EIS, and the Forest Service is 
participating as a cooperating agency. The Forest Service intends to 
use the BLM's EIS to make its decision for the part of the Shash 
J[aacute]a Unit MMP it administers. That decision may include approving 
a Forest Plan amendment, if analysis leads the Forest Service to 
conclude that an amendment is necessary or appropriate. In the event 
that the Forest Service determines that it intends to amend the Forest 
Plan, this notice also identifies the Forest Service planning rule 
provisions likely to be directly related and, therefore, applicable to 
the Forest Plan amendment. The notice also identifies the applicable 
administrative review process for the Forest Plan amendment.

DATES: Consistent with the January 16, 2018, BLM Notice of Intent, 
comments on issues as part of the public scoping process for the EIS 
may be submitted in writing prior to March 19, 2018, or 15 days after 
the last BLM public scoping meeting, whichever is later. The date(s)

[[Page 15355]]

and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced by the BLM at 
least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers, and the BLM 
website at: https://www.blm.gov/utah.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues, MMP criteria, and 
identified Forest Service planning rule provisions likely to be 
directly related to a possible Forest Plan amendment related to this 
planning effort by any of the following methods:
     Website: Bears Ears National Monument: https://goo.gl/uLrEae.
     Mail: 365 North Main, P.O. Box 7, Monticello, UT 84535.
    Documents pertinent to this planning effort may be examined at the 
BLM Canyon Country District or Monticello Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to add 
your name to the mailing list, contact:
     Lance Porter, District Manager, BLM--telephone (435) 259-
2100; address 365 North Main, P.O. Box 7, Monticello, UT 84535; email 
[email protected].
    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: 

Purpose and Need for Forest Service Action

    As described in the BLM's NOI, the purpose of the proposed action 
is to establish management plans for the Indian Creek Unit and the 
Shash J[aacute]a Unit of the Bears Ears National Monument. The need for 
the proposed action is to comply with the Presidential Proclamation 
9558, which designated the Bears Ears National Monument and required 
developing MMPs (82 FR 1139). The area to which the MMPs will apply is 
as modified by Presidential Proclamation 9681 (82 FR 58081).
    As further described in the BLM's NOI, the BLM and Forest Service 
will jointly prepare the proposed MMP for the Shash J[aacute]a Unit. 
The Forest Service is responsible for management of National Forest 
System lands within the Shash J[aacute]a Unit. For the Forest Service, 
the proposed action may include amendment of the Manti-La Sal Forest 
Plan if analysis leads the Forest Service to conclude that the Forest 
Plan should be amended.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies for the Environmental Impact Statement

    The BLM is the lead agency for the preparation of the EIS, and the 
Forest Service is participating as a cooperating agency for the EIS.

Responsible Official

    The Forest Service responsible official is the Manti-La Sal Forest 
Supervisor.

Nature of the Forest Service Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Service decision to be made is approval of that portion 
of the Shash J[aacute]a Unit MMP applicable to National Forest System 
lands and approval of a Forest Plan amendment, if analysis leads the 
Forest Service to conclude that an amendment is necessary and 
appropriate.
    This notice does not commit the Forest Service to amending the 
Forest Plan. This notice does not preclude the Forest Service from 
changing the Forest Plan through administrative change nor from 
including changes to the Forest Plan made necessary or appropriate by 
the MMP through the current effort of revising the Forest Plan. 
Furthermore, this notice does not preclude the Forest Service from 
including in the MMP project and site-specific activities applicable to 
National Forest System lands. Any Forest Service decision on project 
and site-specific activities must be supported by appropriate Forest 
Service NEPA analysis.
    In the event that the Forest Service determines that it intends to 
amend the Forest Plan, we hereby give notice that substantive 
requirements of the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219) likely to be 
directly related and, therefore, applicable to the Forest Plan 
amendment are 36 CFR 219.8 (b) (1), (5), and (6), regarding social and 
economic sustainability; 36 CFR 219.10 (a)(1), (4), (5), (7), (8), and 
(10), regarding integrated resource management for multiple use; and 36 
CFR 219.10 (b)(1)(ii), (iii), and (vi), regarding cultural and historic 
resources, areas of tribal importance, and management of designated 
areas.

Administrative Review

    If the Forest Service determines that it intends to amend the 
Forest Plan with the MMP, we will use the BLM's administrative review 
procedures, as provided by the 2012 Planning Rule, at 36 CFR 219.59 
(b). The review procedures would include a joint response from BLM and 
the Forest Service to those who file for administrative review.
    If changes to the Forest Plan associated with the MMP would be made 
as part of the current process for the revision of the Forest Plan, 
those changes would be part of the proposed revised Forest Plan and 
subject to the normal administrative review process of the Forest 
Service planning rule for the approval of the revised Forest Plan, 36 
CFR 219, subpart B. The NOI for the revision of the Forest Plan is 
expected in fall of 2018.
    If any project or site-specific decision is to be made in the MMP, 
such decision would be subject to the Forest Service project-level 
administrative review process at 36 CFR 218.

    Dated: March 14, 2018.
Chris French,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-07072 Filed 4-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P