Notice2022-17269
Notice of Intent To Publish for Public Comment a Proposed Permanent Seasonal Order Closing Management Area 3.67 of the Thunder Basin National Grassland to Prairie Dog Hunting
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Published
August 11, 2022
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForest Service
Abstract
The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is giving notice of its intent to publish for public comment a proposed permanent seasonal order closing Management Area 3.67 in the Douglas Ranger District of the Thunder Basin National Grassland, which covers approximately 42,000 acres in Campbell, Converse, and Weston Counties, Wyoming, from February 1 to August 15 to prairie dog hunting in advance of the public comment period for the proposed order. At the end of the advance notice period, the Forest Service will solicit public comments, as specified in this notice, on the proposed order.
Full Text
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 154 (Thursday, August 11, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49578-49579]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17269]
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Notices
Federal Register
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or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 154 / Thursday, August 11, 2022 /
Notices
[[Page 49578]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
RIN 0596-AD36
Notice of Intent To Publish for Public Comment a Proposed
Permanent Seasonal Order Closing Management Area 3.67 of the Thunder
Basin National Grassland to Prairie Dog Hunting
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
SUMMARY: The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is giving
notice of its intent to publish for public comment a proposed permanent
seasonal order closing Management Area 3.67 in the Douglas Ranger
District of the Thunder Basin National Grassland, which covers
approximately 42,000 acres in Campbell, Converse, and Weston Counties,
Wyoming, from February 1 to August 15 to prairie dog hunting in advance
of the public comment period for the proposed order. At the end of the
advance notice period, the Forest Service will solicit public comments,
as specified in this notice, on the proposed order.
DATES: Advance notice of the opportunity to provide public comment on a
proposed permanent seasonal order prohibiting prairie dog hunting in
Management Area 3.67 in the Douglas Ranger District of the Thunder
Basin National Grassland (Grassland) is being provided until August 18,
2022. Beginning on August 18, 2022, the Forest Service will accept
comments on the proposed order for 60 days. The notice of opportunity
for public comment will be posted on the Medicine Bow-Routt National
Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland website at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbr/alerts-notices">https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbr/alerts-notices</a> and on 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 order and its justification are available on
the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National
Grassland website at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbr/alerts-notices">https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbr/alerts-notices</a>
and on 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 Douglas Ranger District,
2250 East Richards Street, Douglas, WY 82633-8922. Please call ahead at
307-358-4690 to ensure access.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob Robertson, Douglas District
Ranger, 307-358-4690, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4d3f222f283f39633f222f283f393e22230d383e292c632a223b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bdcfd2dfd8cfc993cfd2dfd8cfc9ced2d3fdc8ced9dc93dad2cb">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals who use
telecommunications devices for the hearing-impaired (TDD) may call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every day
of the year, including holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Advance Notice and Public Comment Procedures
Section 4103 of the John D. Dingell, Jr., Conservation, Management,
and Recreation Act (Dingell Act) (Pub L. 116-9, Title IV (Sportsmen's
Access and Related Matters)) requires that the Secretary of
Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, provide
public notice and opportunity to comment before permanently or
temporarily closing any National Forest System lands to hunting,
fishing, or recreational shooting. Section 4103 of the Dingell Act
applies to the proposed permanent seasonal order prohibiting prairie
dog hunting in Management Area 3.67 in the Douglas Ranger District of
the Thunder Basin National Grassland from February 1 to August 15. The
public notice and comment process in section 4103(b)(2) of the Dingell
Act requires the Secretary to publish in the Federal Register an
advance notice of intent of a proposed permanent or temporary hunting,
fishing, or recreational shooting order in advance of the public
comment period for the proposed order. This notice meets the
requirement to publish a notice of intent in the Federal Register in
advance of the public comment period for the proposed order. Following
the notice period, section 4103(b)(2) of the Dingell Act requires an
opportunity for public comment on the proposed order. The public
comment period must be at least 60 days for a proposed permanent order.
Beginning on August 18, 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 Medicine Bow-Routt National
Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland website at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbr/alerts-notices">https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbr/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) of the Dingell Act 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 order will all be posted on the Forest Service's website at
<a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbr/alerts-notices">https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbr/alerts-notices</a> and <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies">www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies</a>.
Background and Need for the Proposed Permanent Order
The proposed order would implement the land management plan
direction in the Thunder Basin National Grassland 2020 Plan Amendment.
The shooting of black-tailed prairie dogs is a common recreational
activity on the Grassland. Grassland land management direction for
Management Area 3.67 provides for maintenance of short-stature
vegetation communities, including prairie dog colony ecosystems. The
proposed permanent seasonal order would prohibit prairie dog hunting in
Management Area 3.67 from February 1 to August 15 to protect at-risk
animal species associated with black-tailed prairie dog colonies during
breeding, nesting, and brood-rearing seasons. Grassland land management
direction does not limit prairie dog hunting at any other locations or
times on the Grassland.
The proposed permanent seasonal order, map of the area covered by
the proposed order, and justification for the proposed order are
available on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin
National Grassland website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/
[[Page 49579]]
alerts/mbr/alerts-notices and on 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>.
Dated: August 5, 2022.
Deborah Hollen,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2022-17269 Filed 8-10-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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