[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 150 (Friday, August 4, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39927-39928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19228]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service


Inland Native Fish Strategy

ACTION: Notice of decision on the Inland Native Fish Strategy 
Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact.

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SUMMARY: In the March 14, 1995, Federal Register (Vol. 60, No. 49, pp. 
13697-13698), notice was given that the Forest Service, in cooperation 
with the Bureau of Land Management and US Fish and Wildlife Service, 
was gathering information in order to prepare an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for a proposal to protect habitat and populations of 
native inland fish.
    On July 28, 1995, the Regional Foresters for the Northern, 
Intermountain, and Pacific Northwest regions of the Forest Service 
announced their decision on the Inland Native Fish Strategy. Based on 
public comment analysis and internal review, they have decided, with 
the support of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, to select Alternative 
D as described in the Environmental Assessment for the Inland Native 
Fish Strategy.
    The Inland Native Fish Strategy covers approximately 25 million 
acres of National Forest System lands in eastern Washington and Oregon, 
Idaho, western Montana, and portions of Nevada. The Environmental 
Assessment for the strategy was distributed to the public in June for a 
30-day review. A series of public hearings were held to allow ample 
opportunity for the public to share their concerns. All comments have 
been considered and incorporated into the decision.
    This decision notice reflects the final decision of the Forest 
Service. The decision may be appealed in accordance with the provisions 
identified in the Decision Notice. Copies of the Decision Notice and 
Finding of No Significant Impact are currently being printed, and will 
be distributed to the public near the end of August. At that time, 
legal ads will be published in designated newspapers announcing the 
availability of the document and the start of the appeal period.
    In addition to the Inland Native Fish Strategy effort, the Forest 
Service is pursuing a cooperative effort with the various states to 
assure a coordinated multi-agency effort to address inland native fish 
issues. A proposal was sent to the Governors of Idaho and Montana on 
June 23, 1995 to develop conservation strategies that could be used to 
replace this interim management direction with longer term direction 
working through the Upper Columbia River Basin EIS. Similar proposals 
will be made to the Governors of Oregon and Washington. As part of this 
cooperative effort, the Forest Service will actively seek participation 
of local state fish and game personnel in the development of watershed 
analysis efforts.
    Through review of the public comment, the Forest Service recognizes 
that the selection of Alternative D will concern many people who felt 
this alternative provided either too much or not enough protection. 
Both Alternatives C and E have features that are attractive for longer-
term reduction of risk to habitat. The Regional Foresters have directed 
Inland Native Fish Strategy Team Leader David Wright to develop a 
strategy to apply the concepts and philosophy of those two alternatives 
on a limited test basis. 

[[Page 39928]]
Alternative D will be implemented for all of the areas outside the test 
watersheds. Application of Alternative D will provide the short-term 
reduction of risk we desire, while this test of Alternatives C and E 
will allow the Forest Service to develop the information needed to 
provide better long-term direction.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions about the Decision Notice, Finding of No Significant Impact, 
and Environmental Assessment should be directed to David Wright, Team 
Leader for the Inland Native Fish Strategy, USDA Forest Service, 3815 
Schreiber Way, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814. Phone: (208) 765-7223.

    Dated: July 28, 1995.
David J. Wright,
Inland Native Fish Team Leader, USDA Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 95-19228 Filed 8-3-95; 8:45 am]
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