[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65290-65292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27985]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the Hoosier
National Forest; Brown, Crawford, Dubois, Jackson, Lawrence, Martin,
Monroe, Orange, and Perry Counties, Indiana
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare environmental impact statement
(EIS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service intends to prepare an environmental
impact statement for revising the Hoosier National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 1604(f)(5)
and USDA Forest Service National Forest System Land and Resource
Management Planning regulations. The revised Forest Plan will supersede
the current Forest Plan, which the regional forester approved September
17, 1985, and has been amended 4 times. This notice describes the focus
areas of change, the estimated dates for filing the EIS, the
information concerning public participation, and the names and
addresses of the responsible agency official and the individual who can
provide additional information.
DATES: We need to receive your comments on this Notice of Intent in
writing by January 31, 2001. The Draft EIS should be available for
public review by December 2003. The Final EIS and revised Forest Plan
should be completed by December 2004.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: NOI-FP Revision, Hoosier National
Forest, 811 Constitution Avenue, Bedford, IN 47421, or direct
electronic mail to: ``r9 hoosier website''@fs.fed.us. ATTN: Forest Plan
Revision
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Regis Terney, Forest Planner, at 812-
275-5987. TDD 812-275-7817; or direct electronic mail to: ``r9 hoosier
website''@fs.fed.us, or access the forest web page at www.fs.fed.us/r9/
hoosier
Responsible Official: Robert T. Jacobs, Regional Forester, Eastern
Region, 310 W. Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Regional Forester for the Eastern Region
gives notice of the agency's intent to prepare an EIS to revise the
Hoosier National Forest Plan. The Regional Forester approved the
original Hoosier National Forest Plan in September 1985. In April 1991,
the Regional Forester approved a significant amendment that
substantially replaced the 1985 Forest Plan. This plan guides the
overall management of the Hoosier National Forest. We make six primary
decisions in the Forest Plan:
1. Forest-wide multiple-use goals and objectives
2. Forest-wide management requirements
3. Management area direction
4. Lands suited and not suited for resource use and production (timber
management etc.)
5. Monitoring and evaluation requirements
6. Recommendations to Congress (such as wilderness), if any
By the requirements of the National Forest Management Act, national
forests must revise the Forest Plan at least every 15 years (U.S.C.
1604[f][5]). At this time, there are two reasons to revise the 1991
Forest Plan: (1) It is nearly 15 years since the Regional Forester
approved the original plan, and (2)
[[Page 65291]]
agency goals and objectives, along with other national guidance for
strategic plans and programs, have changed. The agency Government
Performance and Results Act Strategic Plan (2000) has shifted the
course of agency program emphasis to sustainability.
In many south-central Indiana communities, people expect important
products from managed forests such as: timber for wood products,
minerals, and game species for hunting. People also value the
opportunities forests provide for enjoying recreation, solitude, and
scenic beauty. The Hoosier National Forest is integral to the sense of
place for communities across south-central Indiana. When making
decisions in the revised plan, we would examine economic and social
impacts to local communities and at a broader regional level, as well
as biological impacts.
We propose to narrow the scope of revising the Forest Plan,
focusing on topics identified as being most critically in need of
change. These were identified through public comment and through
monitoring and evaluation:
Plan Goals: We propose changing the major plan goals to:
Conservation of Endangered and Threatened Species Habitat;
Maintain and Restore Sustainable Ecosystems;
Maintain and Restore Watershed Health;
Protect our Cultural Heritage;
Provide for a Visually Pleasing Landscape;
Provide Recreation Use in Harmony with Natural
Communities;
Provide a Useable Landbase; and,
Provide for Human and Community Development.
We propose to add the goal of conservation of endangered species
and threatened species habitat to further demonstrate our commitment to
the Endangered Species Act of 1973. We propose to change our current
goal of protect and manage ecosystems to maintain and restore
sustainable ecosystems to adapt to the sustainable forest management
strategy of the USDA Forest Service Natural Resource Agenda. We propose
to add the goal to maintain and restore watershed health. We believe it
is important to reaffirm the historic mission of the Hoosier National
Forest for watershed protection and restoration.
Revision Topics:
1. Watershed Health
2. Ecosystem Sustainability
3. Recreation Management
4. Roadless Area Inventory and Evaluation
5. Wild and Scenic, and Recreational River Recommendations
6. Scenery Management
Additional detail on the Revision Topics is available on request,
in the form of the document titled ``Need for Change, Description of
Proposal for Revising the Forest Plan of the Hoosier National Forest''.
You are encouraged to review this additional document before commenting
on the Notice of Intent. You may request the additional information by
calling the phone number listed above, by writing or e-mailing to the
address listed in this notice, or by accessing the forest web page at
www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier.
We propose the following direction or actions:
Identify desired conditions for healthy watersheds and
riparian areas;
Add direction to protect and restore watershed health;
Update riparian guidance;
Add desired conditions to sustain a wide range of habitat
to provide for population viability of plant and animal populations and
existing biotic communities within the capability of the Hoosier
National Forest;
Add in ecosystem approach that focuses on ecosystem
integrity to complement the focus on population viability in assessment
and management;
Complete a population viability assessment;
Maintain our current policy to allow a full range of
vegetative management practices in Management Area 2.8;
Revise the management indicator list consistent with
planning regulations;
Evaluate the potential Research Natural Areas using
ecosystem-based selection criteria;
Maintain our current policy precluding Off-Road Vehicle
use on the forest (all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and four-wheel-
drive trucks);
Update the forest roadless inventory consistent with
Forest Service policy;
Follow the national framework to implement roadless areas
initiative;
Replace the Visual Quality Objectives with the Scenery
Management System; and,
Update the monitoring plan.
Proposed New Planning Regulations
The Department of Agriculture expects to publish the final planning
rule during the fall of 2000. The proposed rule directs how to conduct
forest planning. Given the information in the draft rule and the
projected timelines, the Hoosier National Forest Plan revision is
expected to be finished under the new planning rule. When the new
planning rule is published we will evaluate the changes in analysis
standards and we will likely publish an amended notice of intent.
Range of Alternatives
We will consider a range of alternatives when revising the Forest
Plan. The alternatives will address different options to resolve issues
over the focus areas of change listed above and to fulfill the purpose
and need. A ``no-action alternative'' is required, meaning that
management would continue under the existing Forest Plan. Alternatives
will provide different ways to address and respond to issues identified
during the scoping process.
The alternatives will display different mixes of recreation
opportunities and experiences. We will examine alternatives that
address the public's concerns for less timber harvest, for greater
timber harvest, and meeting currently planned harvest levels. The
alternatives will display different mixes of wildlife habitats across
the forest. The mix will vary by the objectives of the particular
alternative, though each alternative will contain the habitat necessary
to maintain viable populations of plant and animal species. Management
of roadless areas will vary by the objectives of any particular
alternative, physical criteria for evaluating each individual roadless
area, and public input.
We may make other minor changes, particularly in the guidance
chapter of the Forest Plan, to reflect changes made when addressing the
above revision topics. The USDA Forest Service proposal does not
include any substantial changes to management area allocations. In
1991, we decided the basic philosophy of providing for plant and animal
communities guides our forest management activities. As a result, we
would not revisit this decision but would carry forward the 1991 plan
amendment framework for biological diversity conservation.
We are committed to participate in statewide land management
planning and the use of State watershed assessment results and
coordination efforts, such as best management practices development for
forest management. We would consider technical guidelines developed
through these processes when developing guidance and will use the
results of watershed assessments.
Inviting Public Participation
We are now soliciting comments and suggestions from federal
agencies, state and local governments, individuals, and organizations
on the scope of the analysis to be included in the draft
[[Page 65292]]
environmental impact statement for the revised Forest Plan (40 CFR
1501.7). Comments should focus on (1) the proposal for revising the
Forest Plan (2) possible alternatives for addressing issues associated
with the proposal and (3) also identify any possible impacts associated
with the proposal based on an individual's civil rights (race, color,
national origin, age, religion, gender, disability, political beliefs,
sexual orientation, marital or family status). We will encourage public
participation in the environmental analysis and decision-making
process.
In fall 2000, we would release our notice of intent and proposal.
We will have many types of public involvement including: 60-day formal
comment period, public meetings, written comments, website and e-mail.
In the years 2001 and 2002, we would work on alternative
development and issue validation. We will have many types of public
involvement including: public workshops, collaborative meetings,
written comments, website, and e-mail.
In the years 2002 and 2003 we would release our proposed revised
Forest Plan and a draft environmental impact statement. We will have
many types of public involvement including 90-day formal comment
period, public meetings, and written comments.
During 2004, we would release the decision, final revised Forest
Plan, final environmental impact statement, and record of decision. We
will have informational meetings to explain the decision on final
Forest Plan.
The Forest Service will host a series of public meetings to (1)
establish multiple opportunities for the public to generate ideas,
concerns, and alternatives, (2) present and clarify proposed changes to
the Forest Plan; (3) describe ways that individuals can respond to this
Notice of Intent; and (4) accept comments from the public on this
proposal for revising the Forest Plan.
We will provide the public with general notices on opportunities to
participate through mailings, news releases, public meetings, and
website (www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier). In addition to formal opportunities
for public comment, we will consider comments received at any time
throughout the revision process.
Below is the schedule of initial meetings based on publication of
this NOI. We intend to have the most meetings in the first 30 days to
give the public time to gather information, participate in meetings and
then formulate comments before the close of the 60-day comment period.
Additional meetings will be scheduled as needed.
December 4, 2000--Senior Community Center at 1369 Blue Bluff Road in
Martinsville, IN, 6 pm to 9 pm (EST)
December 7, 2000--Best Western Old Capital Inn, on State Road 135 (exit
105 off of I-64) in Corydon, Indiana, 6 pm to 9 pm (EST)
Availability of Public Comment: Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment,
will be considered part of the public record on this proposed action
and will be available for public inspection. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, those who submit
anonymous comments will not have standing to appeal the subsequent
decisions under 36 CFR parts 215 or 217.
Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any persons may request
the agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing
how the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) permits such confidentiality.
Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that under FOIA
confidentiality may be granted in only very limited circumstances, such
as to protect trade secrets.
The Forest Service will inform the requester of the agency's
decision regarding the request for confidentiality and where the
requester is denied, the agency will return the submission and notify
the requester that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name
and address within 90 days.
Release and Review of the Draft EIS: The DEIS is expected to be
filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to be
available for public comment in 2003. At that time, the EPA will
publish a notice of availability in the Federal Register. The comment
period on the DEIS will be 90 days from the date the EPA publishes the
notice of availability in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, that it is
important to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to
public participation in the environmental review process. First,
reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Poser Corp. v. NRDS, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d
1016, 1022 (9th cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings it
is very important that those interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 90-day comment period so that
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to
them in the final environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be specific as possible. It is
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer
to the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations (http://ceq.eh.doe.gov.nepa/nepanet.htm) for implementing the procedural
provision of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in
addressing these points.
Dated: October 26, 2000.
Robert T. Jacobs,
Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. 00-27985 Filed 10-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M.