[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 93 (Monday, May 15, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 25884]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-11883]



      
 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 93 / Monday, May 15, 1995 / Notices  

[[Page 25884]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Southwestern Region: Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas and Oklahoma 
Amendment of National Forest Plans in the Southwestern Region to 
Include Guidelines for Management of Habitat for the Mexican Spotted 
Owl and Northern Goshawk

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revised Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Southwestern Region of the Forest Service published a 
revised notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
in the Federal Register (Vol. 60, No. 53, pages 14719-14720) on March 
20, 1995. This revised notice was issued to change a notice of intent 
to prepare an environmental impact statement that appeared in the 
Federal Register (Vol. 57, No. 122, pages 28171-28172) on June 24, 
1992. Several factors affecting the management of the Mexican spotted 
owl and northern goshawk now make it necessary to further revise the 
notice of intent.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: The Regional Forester, Southwestern Region, is 
the responsible official for decisions that affect Southwestern Region 
Forest Land and Resource Management Plans.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Director of Ecosystems Management Planning, Southwestern Regional 
Office, (505) 842-3210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The original environmental impact statement 
(EIS) process was initiated to amend Southwestern Region Forest Plans 
to include guidelines for management of the Mexican spotted owl and 
northern goshawk. This process did not include the Kaibab National 
Forest. A draft environmental impact statement for this process was 
circulated in December, 1994.
    Concurrent to this process, a separate timber analysis and forest 
plan amendment process was being conducted for the Kaibab National 
Forest. A notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
for this process was filed in the Federal Register (Vol. 56, No. 37, 
pages 7659-7660) on February 25, 1991. A draft environmental impact 
statement was circulated for comment in July, 1994.
    Public comments received from both environmental impact statement 
processes requested that the two separate procedures be combined. The 
revised notice of intent published on March 20, 1995, stated the intent 
of combining both environmental impact statements into a single 
process. This most recent revised notice of intent does not affect the 
decision to combine the two previous EIS efforts. Comments received 
from review of both draft environmental impact statements will be 
considered.
    The notice of intent published on March 20, 1995, also gave notice 
that a new draft environmental impact statement would be issued in 
January, 1996, with a final environmental impact statement released in 
fall of 1996. Several factors have caused the Regional Forester to 
reconsider this time schedule. The U.S. Department of Interior, Fish 
and Wildlife Service (USDI-FWS) intends to finalize the Recovery Plan 
for the Mexican Spotted Owl in fall of 1995. The accelerated Forest 
Service planning schedule will facilitate better coordination with the 
USDI-FWS on Mexican spotted owl management.
    The Regional Forester has decided that more permanent management 
direction for northern goshawks should be in place as soon as possible. 
Recent Federal Court rulings have necessitated changes in forest 
planning and endangered species consultation processes with respect to 
the proposed amendment of Southwestern Region Land and Resource 
Management Plans. Present management guidelines for northern goshawk 
management shall continue in effect until permanent direction in forest 
plans is finalized.
    This notice serves to document the intent of the Regional Forester 
to issue a final environmental impact statement in September, 1995. The 
Record of Decision will be delayed until October, 1995, to allow a 
minimum of 30 days for the public to review and comment on the final 
environmental impact statement and to coordinate the Regional Forester 
decision with the final Mexican Spotted Owl Recovery Plan.
    In the short period of time between now and the Regional Forester 
decision of October, 1995, the Regional Forester has directed continued 
protection of the Mexican spotted owl and northern goshawk in all 
project level ground disturbing activities. The Regional Forester 
intends for consultation with USDI-FWS to continue for all management 
activities that may affect the Mexican spotted owl.

    Dated: May 9, 1995.
John R. Kirkpatrick,
Deputy Regional Forester, Southwestern Region.
[FR Doc. 95-11883 Filed 5-12-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M