Notice2021-18309
Manti-La Sal National Forest; Utah; Revision of the Manti-La Sal National Forest Land Management Plan
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 25, 2021
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForest Service
Abstract
The USDA Forest Service is revising the Land Management Plan (LMP) for the Manti-La Sal National Forest and preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS). This notice describes the documents available for review and how to obtain them; summarizes the need for change to the existing LMP; identifies where a preliminary draft LMP (detailed proposed action) can be obtained; provides information concerning public participation and collaboration, including the process for submitting comments; provides an estimated schedule for the planning process, including the time available for comments; and includes the names and addresses of agency contacts who can provide additional information.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 162 (Wednesday, August 25, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47469-47471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18309]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Manti-La Sal National Forest; Utah; Revision of the Manti-La Sal
National Forest Land Management Plan
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is revising the Land Management Plan
(LMP) for the Manti-La Sal National Forest and preparing an
environmental impact statement (EIS). This notice describes the
documents available for review and how to obtain them; summarizes the
need for change to the existing LMP; identifies where a preliminary
draft LMP (detailed proposed action) can be obtained; provides
information concerning public participation and collaboration,
including the process for submitting comments; provides an estimated
schedule for the planning process, including the time available for
comments; and includes the names and addresses of agency contacts who
can provide additional information.
DATES: Comments concerning the preliminary need for change and the
proposed action will be most useful in the development of the revised
LMP and draft EIS if received by October 25, 2021. The draft revised
LMP and draft EIS are expected summer 2022, and the final revised LMP
and final EIS are expected summer 2023.
ADDRESSES: Visit the Manti-La Sal National Forest's planning website
at: <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning">www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning</a> for
instructions on submitting comments using a webform, the preferred
approach. Written comments can also be sent to Manti-La Sal National
Forest, Attn: Forest Plan, 599 West Price River Drive, Price, UT 84501,
via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#83eeefede5f3efe2edf1e6f5eaf0eaecedc3f6f0e7e2ade4ecf5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="81ecedefe7f1ede0eff3e4f7e8f2e8eeefc1f4f2e5e0afe6eef7">[email protected]</span></a>, or via facsimile to (435) 637-
4940.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Autumn Ela, Forest Planner, Manti-La
Sal National Forest, 599 West Price River Drive, Price, Utah 84501,
435-210-1608 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4e2f3b3a3b2320602b222f0e3b3d2a2f60292138"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="84e5f1f0f1e9eaaae1e8e5c4f1f7e0e5aae3ebf2">[email protected]</span></a>.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the hearing-
impaired (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, Monday
through Friday. More information on the planning process, including
access to the preliminary draft proposed plan, the preliminary need for
change, the Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Report, and the
Wilderness Evaluation Report may be found at <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning">www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Manti-La Sal National Forest is preparing an EIS to revise the
existing LMP. The EIS process is meant to inform the forest supervisor
so he can decide which alternative best maintains and restores
terrestrial and aquatic resources while providing ecosystem services
and multiple uses on National Forest System lands as required by the
National Forest Management Act and the Multiple Use Sustained Yield
Act.
The revised LMP will describe the strategic intent of managing the
Manti-La Sal National Forest for the next 10 to 15 years and will
address the identified need for change to the existing LMP. The revised
LMP will provide management direction in the form of desired
conditions, objectives,
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standards, guidelines, and suitability of lands.
Identifying the types of decisions that will not be made within the
revised LMP is important. The revised LMP will represent decisions that
are strategic in natures but will not make site-specific project
decisions and will not dictate the day-to-day administrative activities
needed to carry on the Forest Service's internal operations. Although
the authorization of project-level activities will be based on the
guidance and direction contained in the revised LMP, analysis will
occur through subsequent project-specific National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) analysis and decision-making.
The revised LMP will provide broad, strategic guidance designed to
supplement, not replace, overarching laws and regulations. Though
strategic guidance will be provided, no decisions will be made
regarding the management of individual roads or trails, such as those
that might be associated with a travel management plan under 36 CFR
212. Some issues (e.g., hunting regulations), although important, are
beyond the authority or control of the National Forest System and will
not be considered. No decision regarding oil and gas leasing
availability will be made, though standards will be brought forward or
developed that would serve as mitigation should an availability
decision be necessary in the future.
Purpose and Need and Preliminary Need for Change
According to the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), LMPs are to
be revised on a 10- to 15-year cycle. The purpose and need for revising
the current LMP is (1) the LMP is over 35 years old, (2) since the LMP
was approved in 1986, there have been changes in economic, social, and
ecological conditions, new policies and priorities, and new information
based on monitoring and scientific research, and (3) to address the
identified need for change to the existing LMP (summarized below).
Extensive public and employee involvement and science-based evaluations
have helped to identify the need for change to the existing LMP.
The complete description of the preliminary need for change is
available for review on the plan revision website at: <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning">www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning</a>. The needs for change have been
organized into four topics:
1. Legal and Regulatory Environment
There is a need to change the current LMP to bring it into
compliance with the law, regulation, and policy. Examples include the
need to revise the plan every 15 years (NFMA 16 U.S.C. 1604(i)); there
is a need to identify lands not suitable for timber production (NFMA 16
U.S.C. 1604(k)); there is a need to inform the LMP with the best
available scientific information (2012 Planning Rule at 219.3).
2. Resource Management Themes
There is a need to change the current LMP to address numerous
resource management themes identified by monitoring; by trends
described in the assessment; and by public, cooperating agency, and
tribal comments. Seven themes were identified: (1) Recreation
Management; (2) Access and Transportation Infrastructure; (3) Watershed
Health; (4) Forest Vegetation Management; (5) Rangeland Health; (6)
Terrestrial and Aquatic Species Habitats; and (7) Energy and Minerals
Management.
3. Social and Environmental Conditions
There is a need to change the current LMP to address social and
environmental conditions that have the potential to affect the National
Forest. These items may not be under the agency's direct control but
may influence our ability to effectively carry out our mission. Six
conditions have been identified: (1) Areas of Tribal Importance:
Maintain Tribal partnerships to protect traditional properties and
uses; (2) Climate: Monitor effect of changing conditions on critical
resources; (3) Cultural and Historic Resources: Avoid destabilizing and
destroying sites by surveying and monitoring; (4) Invasive Species:
Mitigate establishment and spread through treatment and monitoring; (5)
Wildfire: Protect human health and safety while managing natural fire;
and (6) Wildlife: Provide conditions to maintain populations while
managing for multiple uses.
4. Topics the New LMP Will Not Cover
A revised LMP does not commit the Manti-La Sal National Forest to
any site-specific action, does not it change boundaries set by
legislation or rulemaking, and does not affect valid existing rights.
The preliminary need to change information has led to development
of the ``Proposal to Revise the Land Management Plan.'' Public review
and comments on these documents will help the Manti-La Sal National
Forest's responsible official and planning team refine the need to
change the LMP and develop a proposed revised LMP that will be analyzed
in a draft EIS.
Proposed Action
The proposed action is to revise the current LMP to address the
above-identified needs for change to the existing LMP. Alternatives to
the proposed action will be developed to address the significant issues
that will be identified through scoping. In response to the above needs
for change, a preliminary draft LMP has been developed. This more fully
developed description of the proposed action is available for review
at: <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning">www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning</a>.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Manti-La Sal National Forest is the lead agency for the
environmental analysis process during the revision of the LMP. The
following entities have been formally identified as cooperating
agencies: Carbon, Grand, Juab, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, and Utah
counties in Utah; Montrose County in Colorado; the State of Utah Public
Lands Policy Coordination Office; Juab, Price River, San Juan, Sanpete,
San Rafael, and Sevier Conservation Districts; Town of Castle Valley;
cities of Monticello and Blanding; and the National Park Service. No
formal agreements exist with Native American Tribes, but they are
treated like cooperators because of their sovereign status.
Responsible Official
Ryan Nehl, Forest Supervisor, Manti-La Sal National Forest
Scoping Comments and the Objection Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the EIS. Written comments received in response to
this notice will be analyzed to complete the identification of the need
for change to the existing LMP, further develop the proposed action
(preliminary draft LMP) and identify potential significant issues.
Significant issues will, in turn, form the basis for developing
alternatives to the proposed action.
Reviewers should provide comments at such times and in such a
manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of the
environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments are best 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 notice, including the names and addresses of persons and
organizations who comment, will be part of the public record. Comments
submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered, however, they
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will not be used to establish standing for the objection process.
Additionally, anonymous comments will not provide the Manti-La Sal
National Forest with the ability to provide the respondent with
subsequent environmental documents.
For information on when public meetings will be scheduled for
refining the proposed action and identifying possible alternatives to
the proposed action, refer to the website: <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning">www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning</a>.
The decision to approve the revised LMP for the Manti-La Sal
National Forest will be subject to the objection process identified in
36 CFR 219 subpart B (219.50 to 219.62). According to 36 CFR 219.53(a),
parties eligible to file an objection are individuals and entities who
have submitted substantive formal comments related to plan revision
during the opportunities provided for public comment during the
planning process. The burden is on the objector to demonstrate
compliance with requirements for objections (36 CFR 219.53).
Applicable Planning Rule
Preparation of the revised LMP for the Manti-La Sal National Forest
began with the publication of a notice of assessment initiation in the
Federal Register on July 29, 2016 (81 FR 49925) and was initiated under
the planning procedures contained in the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219
(2012)).
Dated: August 20, 2021.
Barnie Gyant,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2021-18309 Filed 8-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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