Notice2022-11904
Notice of Intent To Issue Forest Order Closing Hyalite Canyon on the Custer Gallatin National Forest to Recreational Shooting
Primary source
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Published
June 3, 2022
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForest Service
Abstract
The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is giving notice of its intent to issue a forest order closing the Hyalite drainage on the Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana to recreational shooting in advance of the public comment period for the proposed closure. At the end of the period of advance notice, the Forest Service will solicit public comments, as specified in this notice, on the proposed forest order.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 107 (Friday, June 3, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 107 (Friday, June 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33704-33705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11904]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Notice of Intent To Issue Forest Order Closing Hyalite Canyon on
the Custer Gallatin National Forest to Recreational Shooting
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is giving
notice of its intent to issue a forest order closing the Hyalite
drainage on the Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana to
recreational shooting in advance of the public comment period for the
proposed closure. At the end of the period of advance notice, the
Forest Service will solicit public comments, as specified in this
notice, on the proposed forest order.
DATES: Advance notice of the opportunity to provide public comment on
the proposed recreational shooting order is being provided until June
10, 2022. Beginning on June 10, 2022, the Forest Service will accept
comments on the proposed forest order for 60 days. The notice of
opportunity for public comment will be posted on the Custer Gallatin
National Forest web page at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/custergallatin/alerts-notices">https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/custergallatin/alerts-notices</a> and at the Forest Service's website at
<a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies">www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies</a>.
ADDRESSES: The proposed forest order and the justification for the
proposed forest order are available on the Custer Gallatin National
Forest web page: <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/custergallatin/alerts-notices">https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/custergallatin/alerts-notices</a> and at the Forest Service's website at <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies">www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies</a> or can be viewed at the Bozeman Ranger
District Office, Custer Gallatin National Forest, 3710 Fallon Street,
Suite C, Bozeman, MT 59718. Please call ahead to ensure access: 406-
522-2520.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Corey Lewellen, District Ranger, 406-
522-2531, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b3d0dcc1d6ca9ddfd6c4d6dfdfd6ddf3c6c0d7d29dd4dcc5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d3b0bca1b6aafdbfb6a4b6bfbfb6bd93a6a0b7b2fdb4bca5">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals who use
telecommunications devices for the deaf and hard of hearing (TDD) may
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day,
every day of the year, including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Advance Notice and Public Comment Procedures
Section 4103 of the John D. Dingell, Jr., Conservation, Management,
and Recreation Act (Pub. L. 116-9) requires that the Secretary of
Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, provide
public notice and comment before permanently or temporarily closing any
National Forest System lands to hunting, fishing, or recreational
shooting. Section 4103 applies to the proposed forest order closing the
Hyalite canyon area to recreational shooting, with the exception of
hunting under Montana state law. The public notice and comment process
in section 4103(b)(2) requires the Secretary to publish an advance
notice of intent, in the Federal Register, of the proposed closure in
advance of the public comment period for the closure. This notice meets
the requirement to publish a notice of intent in the Federal Register
in advance of the public comment period. Following the notice of
intent, section 4103(b)(2) requires an opportunity for public comment.
Because the proposed forest order would permanently close the Hyalite
canyon area to recreational shooting, the public comment period must be
not less than 60 days. Beginning on June 10, 2022, the Forest Service
will accept public comments on the proposed order for 60 days. The
notice of opportunity for public comment will be posted on the Custer
Gallatin National Forest web page at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/custergallatin/alerts-notices">https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/custergallatin/alerts-notices</a> and at the Forest Service's website at
<a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies">www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies</a>.
Section 4103(b)(2) requires the Forest Service to respond to public
comments received on the proposed order before issuing a final order,
including an explanation of how any significant issues raised by the
comments were resolved and, if applicable, how resolution of those
issues affected the proposed order or the justification for the
proposed order. The response to comments on the proposed order,
justification for the final order, and the issuance of the final forest
order will all be posted on the Custer Gallatin National Forest web
page at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/custergallatin/alerts-notices">https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/custergallatin/alerts-notices</a>
and at the Forest Service's website at <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies">www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies</a>.
II. Background and Need for Forest Order
This proposed permanent recreational shooting closure is needed to
ensure public safety in the Hyalite watershed. This proposed, permanent
recreational shooting closure will replace the existing, emergency
shooting closure order implemented on April 21, 2022. This recent
emergency closure order replaced the previous emergency shooting
closure order that was issued on April 21, 2021 and expired on April
20, 2022. Both emergency orders followed direction in FSH 5309.11,
Chapter 30, Section 34.21. The current emergency shooting closure order
will be rescinded when the permanent closure is approved and fully
implemented. This watershed is the most heavily used drainage on
National Forest System lands in the state of Montana. The Hyalite
watershed experiences exceptionally high numbers of recreational
visitors. In 2016, the canyon received more than 40,000 visitors per
month in the summer and over 20,000 visitors per month in the winter.
Current visitor monitoring indicates use has increased over the last 5
years to more than 60,000 visitors per month in the summer and over
30,000 visitors per month in the winter. Within the 34,000-acre
proposed closure area, there are 475 developed sites, 185 dispersed
camping sites, about 70 miles of trail and 65 miles of roads. The
narrow geography of this glaciated valley, the density of roads and
trails, developed and undeveloped sites, and the volume of people who
recreate in this area make it unsafe for unmanaged recreational target
shooting.
The proposed forest order, map, and the justification for the
forest order are available on the Custer Gallatin National Forest web
page at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/custergallatin/alerts-notices">https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/custergallatin/alerts-notices</a>
and at the Forest Service's
[[Page 33705]]
website at <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies">www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies</a>.
Dated: May 24, 2022.
Tina Johna Terrell,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2022-11904 Filed 6-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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