[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 77 (Thursday, April 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19745-19746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10062]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision of the Notice of Intent for the Sierra Nevada Forest 
Plan Amendment Environmental Impact Statement. The Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, Regions 4 and 5 announce the adjustment to 
the schedule for the development of new management direction in Sierra 
Nevada national forest, supported by an environmental impact statement. 
Previous schedules published in the Federal Register on July 10, 1998 
and November 20, 1998 announced a completion date of July 31, 1999.

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SUMMARY: The previous Federal Register notice of November 20, 1998 
called for publication of the draft environmental impact statement in 
late February, 1999. The schedule is being adjusted to allow the Forest 
Service more time to integrate relevant natural resource science 
findings and to better integrate public concerns into alternatives to 
be displayed in the draft environmental impact statement. The 
adjustment in schedule will result in a more meaningful and useful 
draft environmental impact statement for public review and comment. The 
adjustment in schedule changes the estimated publication of the draft 
environmental impact statement to late spring or early summer of 1999. 
The Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) will amend national forest plans for the Humboldt-Toiyabe, Modoc, 
Lassen, Plumas, Tahoe, Eldorado, Stanislaus, Sierra, Sequoia, and Inyou 
National Forests, and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. The EIS 
will address five problem areas described in the Notice of Intent 
published in the November 20, 1998 Federal Register: old forest 
ecosystems; aquatic, riparian, and meadow ecosystems; fire and fuels; 
noxious weeds; and, lower westside hardwood forest ecosystems.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please see the USDA Forest Service 
Region 5 World Wide Web site www.r5.fs.fed.us or contact Dr. Kent 
Connaughton, USDA Forest Service, Sierra Nevada Framework Project, Room 
419, 801 ``I'' Street, Sacramento, CA 95814; phone number 916-492-7554; 
TTY via PacBell relay (800) 735-2929.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region and the Pacific 
Southwest Research Station are integrating new science into management 
of the national forests of California. The effort is called the Sierra 
Nevada Framework Project. One objective of the Framework Project is to 
amend forest plans in conformance with the National Forest Management 
Act

[[Page 19746]]

and the National Environmental Policy Act. Other activities of the 
Framework Project involve improving long-term cooperation and 
coordination among the Forest Service, tribes, local governments, state 
and federal agencies.
    On November 20, 1998, the Region published a Notice of Intent in 
the Federal Register identifying five problem areas to address in an 
Environmental Impact Statement: old forest ecosystems; aquatic, 
riparian and meadow ecosystems; fire and fuels management; noxious 
weeds; and, lower westside hardwood ecosystems. Prior to drafting the 
Notice of Intent, the Pacific Southwest Region and Pacific Southwest 
Research Station reviewed recent science and gathered public comment 
and related information during a series of 37 community workshops 
throughout the Sierra and other towns in California and Nevada. 
Publication of the Notice of Intent initiated a 60-day opportunity for 
public comment, including 27 additional community workshops. To date, 
the Forest Service has received 3000 comments via letters, postcards, 
and e-mail. Response to these comments is integrated into the 
alternatives being developed to address the five problem areas.
    In response to the significant public interest in the development 
of alternatives, the Forest Service is making available summary 
descriptions of alternatives that may appear in the draft EIS. The 
Forest Service is not soliciting public comment on these preliminary 
drafts, but is making them available so people may be better prepared 
to comment on the draft EIS when it is published.
    At present, several alternatives are being developed by the Forest 
Service. These alternatives reflect extensive public comment and 
suggestions, as well as recent scientific information. To view 
summaries of these draft alternatives, please see the USDA Forest 
Service Region 5 World Wide Web site www.r5.fs.fed.us or contact USDA 
Forest Service, Sierra Nevada Framework Project, 801 I Street, Room 
419, Sacramento, CA, 95814 to receive a copy by mail.
    The Forest Service is convening public meetings to inform 
interested people about its progress in the development of the 
environmental impact statement. Meetings will be held in the Sierra 
Nevada Framework Project Office, 801 I Street, Sacramento, California, 
95814 Room 484 as follows:
    Tuesday, May 11, 1999, 1-3 pm
    Wednesday, June 2, 1999, 1-3 pm
    Wednesday, July 7, 1999, 1-3 pm
    Wednesday, August 4, 1999, 1-3 pm

    Dated: April 9, 1999.
Kent P. Connaughton,
Deputy Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. 99-10062 Filed 4-21-99; 8:45 am]
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