[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 92 (Thursday, May 13, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25821-25822]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12048]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

36 CFR Part 254


Landownership Adjustment; Land Exchanges

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule; technical amendment.

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SUMMARY: This technical amendment corrects an oversight that occurred 
when regulations pertaining to land exchanges were adopted in 1994. The 
final land exchange rule failed to correctly conform the citations for 
administrative appeal regulations applicable to appealing land exchange 
decisions. This technical amendment corrects that oversight, making it 
clear that the appeal procedures to be followed are those in 36 CFR 
part 215, not part 217.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective May 13, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Greg Smith, Lands Staff, MAIL STOP 1124, Forest Service, USDA, PO Box 
96090, Washington, DC 20090-6090, 202-205-1769.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 8, 1994, the Department adopted a 
final rule (59 FR 10854) at 36 CFR part 254 revising procedures for 
Forest Service land exchange activities as authorized by the Federal 
Land Exchange Facilitation Act of August 20, 1988. When the Forest 
Service published the proposed land exchange rule in 1991, the 
applicable appeal regulations were at 36 CFR parts 251 and 217. At that 
time, part 217 covered appeals of both plan and project level 
decisions. However in 1993, the Department adopted new appeal 
regulations at 36 CFR part 215 (58 FR 58904) and simultaneously revised 
the appeal rules at 36 CFR part 217 to apply solely to National Forest 
Land and Resource Management Plan decisions. When the Department 
proceeded to the final land exchange rule, the citations to the appeal 
regulation inadvertently was not changed to conform to the 1993 appeal 
rules.
    Decisions pertaining to specific land exchanges are not National 
Forest Land and Resource Management Plan decisions and, therefore, have 
not been appealable under 36 CFR part 217 since 1993 pursuant to 
section 322 of the Department of the Interior and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1612 note). Instead, these land 
exchange decision concern projects or activities that implement land 
and resource management plans and therefore are subject to appeal under 
CFR part 215. This rule corrects the citations in 36 CFR part 254 at 
Sec. 254.4(g), Sec. 254.13(b), and Sec. 254.14(b)(6).
    This oversight was discovered only recently, and the agency is 
moving to correct this citation error as quickly as possible to avoid 
any further confusion.

[[Page 25822]]

Compliance With Administrative Procedure Act

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act, 
the Forest Service had determined that good cause exists for adopting 
this final rule without prior notice and comment opportunity. This rule 
is a technical amendment. The need for this rule arises from the 
agency's inadvertent failure to conform cross references in land 
exchange regulations at 36 CFR part 254 in a 1994 final rule to changes 
in administrative appeal regulations at 36 CFR parts 215 and 217 
adopted in 1993. This conforming amendment does not alter the agency's 
practice with regard to administrative appeals of land exchange 
decisions. The agency has been routinely processing appeals of land 
exchange decisions under 36 CFR part 215, since land exchange decisions 
are project-level decisions, not land and resource management plan 
decisions. Because this rulemaking does not make any substantive 
changes to regulations for land exchanges, does not limit appeal rights 
for decision related to land exchange activities, and merely conforms a 
cross reference to the appeal regulations that are actually in use, 
notice and comment on this rule prior to adoption is unnecessary.

Regulatory Impact

    This rule is a technical amendment to correct a reference to 
another rule. As such, it has no substantive effect, since by the terms 
of the appeal rules at 36 CFR part 217, only land and resource 
management plan decision are subject to that rule. Additionally, 
despite the cross-reference error in part 254, the agency has been 
processing land exchange appeals under part 215 since 1993. As noted in 
the preamble, land exchange decisions are not plan decisions. For these 
reasons, this technical amendment is not subject toreview under USDA 
procedures and Exchange Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review. 
Accordingly, this rule is not subject to Office of Management and 
Budget review under Executive Order 12866. Furthermore, this rule is 
exempt from further analysis under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
1995; Executive Order 12778, Civil Justice Reform; Executive Order 
12530, Takings Implications; the Regulatory Flexibility Act; or the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

List of Subjects in 36 CFR Part 254

    Community facilities and national forests.

    Therefore, for the reasons set forth in the preamble, part 254 of 
Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 254--[Amended]

    1. The authority citation for part 254 continues to read:

    Authority: 7 U.S.C. 428a(a) and 1011; 16 U.S.C. 484a, 486, 516, 
551, and 555a; 43 U.S.C. 1701, 1715, and 1740; and other applicable 
laws.

    2. Revise paragraph (g) of Sec. 254.4 to read as follows:


Sec. 254.4  Agreement to initiate an exchange.

* * * * *
    (g) The withdrawal from an exchange proposal by an authorized 
officer at any time prior to the notice of decision, pursuant to 
Sec. 254.13 of this subpart, is not appealable under 36 CFR part 215 or 
36 CFR part 251, subpart C.
    3, Revise paragraph (b) of Sec. 254.13 to read as follows:


Sec. 254.13  Approval of exchanges; notice of decision.

* * * * *
    (b) For a period of 45 days after the date of publication of a 
notice of the availability of a decision to approve or disapprove an 
exchange proposal, the decision shall be subject to appeal as provided 
under 36 CFR part 215 or, for eligible parties, under 36 CFR part 251, 
subpart C.
    4. Revise paragraph (b)(6) of Sec. 254.14 to read as follows:


Sec. 254.14  Exchange agreement.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (6) In the event of an appeal under 36 CFR part 215 or 36 CFR part 
251, subpart C, a decision to approve an exchange proposal pursuant to 
Sec. 254.13 of this subpart is upheld; and
* * * * *
    Dated: April 2, 1999.
Sandra Key,
Acting Associate Chief.
[FR Doc. 99-12048 Filed 5-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M