[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 61062-61063] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-29256] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Utah Northern Goshawk Project AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Intermountain Region of the Forest Service is announcing the availability of the predecisional Environmental Assessment for the Utah Northern Goshawk project. Pursuant to the National Forest Management Act (36 CFR 219.19), the Intermountain Region of the Forest Service is proposing to modify or delete current programmatic direction and add new direction in response to new information concerning management of habitat for the northern goshawk and its prey. This action will amend the management direction established in the current land and resource management plans for the Ashley, Dixie, Fishlake, Manti-LaSal, Uinta, and Wasatch-Cache National Forests. The direction will be in the form of goals, objectives, standards, guidelines, and monitoring requirements. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Hauser, 801/625-5897; e-mail: goshawks3/[email protected]. RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: Jack Blackwell, Intermountain Regional Forester, 324 25th Street, Ogden, UT 84401. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Intermountain Region of the Forest Service filed a notice in the Federal Register (Vol. 63, No. 172, pages 47224-47225) on September 4, 1998 stating that the Forest Service, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management and the USDI, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), was reviewing the latest Utah state-wide information relating to the sustainability of habitat for the northern goshawk (Northern Goshawk in Utah: Habitat Assessment and Recommendations (Graham et al. 1999) and the USDI, FWS 12-month finding on a petition to list the northern [[Page 61063]] goshawk (FR, June 29, 1998, Vol. 63, No. 124, pages 35183-35184). This notice stated that the Intermountain Region was proposing to amend regional direction, Regional Guide, and/or Forest Plans to incorporate interim direction in the form of goals and objectives, desired habitat conditions, standards and guidelines, and monitoring requirements developed in response to new scientific information concerning the management of forested habitat for the northern goshawk and its prey in Utah. A notice was filed in the Federal Register (Vol. 64, No. 24, pages 5758-5764) on February 5, 1999 stating that the scoping phase of public involvement for the Utah Northern Goshawk Habitat Management Project was beginning. That notice described the proposed management direction (in the form of goals, standards and guidelines, and monitoring requirements) and a desired habitat condition statement giving a portrayal of land conditions expected to result from the implementation of the proposed management direction over time. This is a programmatic environmental assessment that examines six alternatives which address issues identified through the scoping and public involvement phases of the project. The Environmental Assessment is available electronically on the Project's website at www.fs.fed.us/ r4/goshawk. DATES: Written comments should be sent to the Utah Northern Goshawk project by January 10, 2000. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: USDA Forest Service, Utah Northern Goshawk Project Team, c/o Uinta NF, P.O. Box 1428, Provo, UT 84601, or on-line at: www.fs.fed.us/r4/goshawk, or e-mail to: goshawk3/ [email protected]. Dated: November 9, 1999. Christopher L. Pyron, Deputy Regional Forester, Intermountain Region. [FR Doc. 99-29256 Filed 11-8-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M