[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 237 (Monday, December 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 63498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30057]



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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 237 / Monday, December 11, 1995 / 
Notices  

[[Page 63498]]


DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Formulation of the Communications Strategy for the Revision of 
the Cibola National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

SUMMARY: The Cibola National Forest requests comment on the formulation 
of a communications strategy that will describe how the public and 
government entities may participate that will describe how the public 
and government entities may participate in the prerevision review and 
revision of the Cibola National Forest Plan on an ongoing basis. This 
is an invitation to the public and representatives of government 
entities to express their ideas and suggestions on ways that the Cibola 
National Forest can coordinate and disseminate information throughout 
the entire forest planning process.

DATES: This notice is effective the December 11, 1995. Comments must be 
submitted in writing on or before February 9, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct comments to: Jeanine A. Derby, Forest Supervisor, 
Cibola National Forest, 2113 Osuna Road NE, Suite A, Albuquerque, New 
Mexico 87110.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen Carter, Public Affairs Officer, Cibola National Forest at 505-
761-4650.

BACKGROUND: The Land and Resource Management Plan defines the long-term 
direction for managing the Cibola National Forest and the Kiowa, Rita 
Blanca, Black Kettle, and McClellan Creek National Grasslands. The 
Forest Plan will take an ecological approach to achieve multiple-use 
management of the National Forest and National Grasslands. It means 
that we must blend the needs of people and environmental values in such 
a way that the National Forest and Grasslands represent diverse, 
healthy, productive, and sustainable ecosystems. The present Cibola 
National Forest Plan was approved in 1985 and has been amended six 
times since then. Revision of a forest plan should occur about every 10 
years, but no later than 15 years, from the date of approval of the 
original plan or the latest plan revision. Briefly stated, the 
following steps are taken during a forest plan revision:
    (1) Prerevision review of the forest plan. The entire forest plan 
is reviewed to identify changed conditions and/or other new information 
which appear to indicate a need to change direction in the current 
plan.
    (2) Communications Strategy. The Forest Supervisor shall formulate 
a communications strategy that describes how the public and government 
entities may participate in the prerevision and revision of the forest 
plan on an ongoing basis.
    (3) Scoping. Upon completion of the prerevision review, the 
Regional Forester shall initiate the forest plan revision process by 
publishing a Notice of Intent to revise the forest plan and to prepare 
the draft environmental impact statement.
    (4) Based on analysis and public comments, a draft environmental 
impact statement is completed.
    (5) Based on analysis and public comments, a final environmental 
impact statement is completed with a revised forest plan.
    (6) Following public comments a revised forest plan is approved.
    The Communications Strategy is the tool used to guide the public 
participation process. The intent of the document is to list activities 
designed to foster ongoing participation by the public and government 
representatives during the entire planning process.
    We are seeking comments as to which ways are most useful in order 
to receive and disseminate information concerning the planning process. 
Examples that are presently used include, but are not limited to, the 
following:
    (1) Conduct public meetings, with adequate public notice to all 
interested persons, for the purpose of soliciting comments.
    (2) Initiate meeting and invite the public and specific interested 
parties for the purpose of explaining agency proposals.
    (3) Participate in one-on-one meetings to obtain individual views.
    (4) Produce news releases through television, radio, newspapers.
    (5) Write individual or group letters.
    A copy of the draft Communications Strategy is available at the 
Cibola National Forest Supervisor's Office, 2113 Osuna Road NE, Suite 
A, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87110, 505-761-4650.

    Dated: December 5, 1995.
Kenneth D. Knarr,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 95-30057 Filed 12-8-95; 8:45 am]
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