[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 132 (Friday, July 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37314-37315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18387]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Sierra Nevada Conservation Planning for National Forests in 
California

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Announcing the beginning of a planning process that will: (1) 
Examine existing management direction for the National Forests in the 
Sierra Nevada in light of new scientific information, and (2) develop 
new management direction where necessary, supported by an environmental 
impact statement to be completed by July 31, 1999. After an initial 
public involvement period, the Agency will amend this notice with a 
Notice of Intent that will more fully describe an Agency proposed 
action.

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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, is 
beginning a planning process to ensure that new scientific information 
is adequately considered in management direction contained in the 
Pacific Southwest Regional Guide and the ten Forest Plans for the 
National Forests in the Sierra Nevada. The Pacific Southwest Regional 
Forester, in consultation with the Director of the Pacific Southwest 
Research Station, anticipates (1) having a completed and peer reviewed 
report that synthesizes new scientific information of rangewide urgency 
to the National Forests in the Sierra Nevada by late-July, 1998; (2) 
having completed an examination of current management direction in 
light of the new scientific information and the identification of 
weaknesses in current management direction along with possible changes 
that could be made in management direction to rectify those weaknesses 
by the end of July, 1998; (3) providing a 60-

[[Page 37315]]

day opportunity for the public to comment on the new scientific 
information, the identified weaknesses in current management direction, 
and possible changes that could be made in management direction to 
rectify those weaknesses by mid-October, 1998; and (4) by October 31, 
1998, issue a Notice of Intent, which will amend this Notice, to fully 
articulate the Agency's proposed action to change management direction 
in the Pacific Southwest Regional Guide and the Forest Plans for the 
ten National Forests in the Sierra Nevada. Publication of the Notice of 
Intent will initiate a 60-day public comment period wherein the public 
will be asked to provide any additional information they feel the 
Forest Service may still not have at that time, and to submit any 
issues regarding potential effects of the proposed action. More 
specific information regarding the proposal, decision-making process, 
and schedule for completion will be included in the Notice of Intent.

ADDRESS: Send written comments to Dick Andrews, Regional Environmental 
Coordinator, Ecosystem Planning, Room 859A, 630 Sansome Street, San 
Francisco, CA 94111.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dick Andrews, Regional Environmental 
Coordinator, Ecosystem Planning, (415) 705-2557.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This announcement is being published by the 
Forest Service in an effort to ensure an open and inclusive public 
process is employed in gathering information that may be used to 
formulate a proposed action and articulate the purpose and need for 
amending the management direction specified in the Pacific Southwest 
Regional Guide and the Forest Plans for the Eldorado, Inyo, Lassen, 
Modoc, Plumas, Sequoia, Sierra, Stanislaus, and Tahoe National Forests 
and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
    In preparation for this planning process, the USDA Forest Service 
Pacific Southwest Research Station is reviewing recently developed 
scientific information relevant to the Sierra Nevada. A report 
summarizing this work is currently in draft and may be viewed at the 
Research Station's internet website, www.psw.fs.fed.us/sierra/. By mid-
July additional information about the planning process and 
opportunities for public involvement will be available through the 
Pacific Southwest Region's internet website, www.r5.fs.fed.us/.

    Date: July 6, 1998.
G. Lynn Sprague,
Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. 98-18387 Filed 7-9-98; 8:45 am]
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