[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 147 (Monday, August 2, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41910-41911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19631]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of additional public meetings related to the Sierra 
Nevada Forest Plan Amendment Environmental Impact Statement each month, 
September through December 1999.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Regions 4 and 5 
announce additional public meetings at the Sacramento, California 
office of the Sierra Nevada Framework Project on the first Wednesday of 
each month, September through December,

[[Page 41911]]

1999. Previously scheduled meetings included those held each month from 
May through July, 1999 and the upcoming meeting scheduled for August 4, 
1999, 1:00-3:00 p.m. The Forest Service scheduled these public meetings 
to inform interested people about its progress in the development of 
the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment Environmental Impact Statement 
and to provide information about other Sierra Nevada Framework 
activities.
    In response to continued public interest in the Sierra Nevada 
Framework Project activities, additional meetings are scheduled for the 
first Wednesday of each month, September through December 1999. Public 
meetings will be held at the Sierra Nevada Framework Project Office, 
801 I Street, Sacramento, California, 95814, Room 484 as follows:

Wednesday, September 1, 1999, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 6, 1999, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 3, 1999, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 1, 1999, 1:00-4:00 p.m.

    In response to public interest, the September public meeting will 
conclude with a discussion of the modeling design of fire behavior, 
fuel loading and fire effects.
    In addition to the public meetings, the USDA Forest Service Pacific 
Southwest Region and Research Station are convening ``science 
workshops'' in which the public is invited to hear diverse science 
perspectives on the condition and management of Sierra Nevada 
ecosystems. Along with hearing from scientists, the public will be 
provided an opportunity to dialogue with scientists about concerns and 
possible approaches to management practices in Sierra Nevada 
ecosystems.
    The first science workshop to discuss Sierra Nevada old-forest 
ecosystems is scheduled for August 24 and 25, 1999, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 
each day, in Freeborn Hall, University of California, Davis. Additional 
science workshops are tentatively planned for aquatic, riparian and 
meadow ecosystems, September, 1999, Fresno, California; and assessment 
of environmental consequences of proposed management activities, 
October, 1999, Reno, Nevada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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, 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 and the National Environmental Policy 
Act. 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 Inyo National Forest, and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management 
Unit. 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 locations 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 nearly 3500 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.

    Dated: July 26, 1999.
Kent P. Connaughton,
Deputy Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. 99-19631 Filed 7-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M