[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 3 (Thursday, January 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-143]


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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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 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 3 / Thursday, January 4, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 751]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment for Amendment 
No. 21 to the Hiawatha National Forest Land and Resource Management 
Plan; Alger County, Michigan

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: On December 5, 2000, Hiawatha National Forest Supervisor, 
Clyde N. Thompson (Responsible Official) announced his preferred 
alternative for a Draft Environmental Assessment that would amend the 
1986 Hiawatha National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest 
Plan) in a 30-day pre-decision period. This amendment updates the 
standards and guidelines for Grand Island Research Natural Area (GI-
RNA), creates a new Management Area 8.1.2 specific to GI-RNA and 
updates the GI-RNA Establishment Record. This notice is provided 
pursuant to National Forest System Land and Resource Management 
Planning regulations (36 CFR 219.35, 65 FR 67579, November 9, 2000). 
Copies of the Draft Environmental Assessment are available upon 
request.

DATES: On December 5, 2000, Hiawatha National Forest Supervisor, Clyde 
N. Thompson (Responsible Official) announced his preferred alternative 
for a Draft Environmental Assessment that would amend the 1986 Hiawatha 
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). A 
legal notice was published in the Escanaba Daily Press, Escanaba, 
Michigan newspaper in accordance with 36 CFR 217.8(a)(2) on December 5, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Send requests for documents to: Forest Supervisor, Hiawatha 
National Forest, 2727 North Lincoln Road, Escanaba, MI 49829.
    Alternatively, direct electronic mail to: [email protected] ATTN: 
GI-RNA Amendment.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patty Beyer, Project Coordinator, at 
906-228-9681. TDD 906-789-3337; or direct electronic mail to: 
[email protected], or access the forest web page at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hiawatha.
    Responsible Official: Clyde N. Thompson, Forest Supervisor, 2727 
North Lincoln Rd., Escanaba, Michigan, 49829.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Forest Plan Amendment No. 21 
describes site-specific standards and guidelines that allow for 
existing recreation use while reducing resource impacts to the GI-RNA. 
These standards and guidelines offer protection of soils, watershed, 
botanical communities, old growth, Great Lakes shoreline and heritage 
resources. The preferred alternative maintains the historic use 
patterns of Grand Island within the GI-RNA. This is non-significant 
amendment.
    Public involvement was an important part of the decision making 
process for this proposal. On December 9, 1999 a public scoping letter 
was sent to over 700 interested parties and a notice was published in 
the local newspaper. A second round of public involvement occurred with 
the issuance of the pre-decisional environmental assessment on December 
1, 2000. We published a legal notice notifying the public of the 
availability of the EA for review in the Escanaba Daily Press, 
Escanaba, Michigan on December 5, 2000. A 30-day comment period follows 
release of the pre-decisional EA on December 5, 2000 for review (until 
January 5, 2001). A final decision is expected in January 2001.
    This decision will be subject to appeal pursuant to USDA Forest 
Service regulations 36 CFR 217.3. Any written appeal must be postmarked 
or submitted to the Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, Eastern 
Region, 310 West Wisconsin Ave., Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI 53203, within 
45 days of the date the legal notice will be published in the Escanaba 
Daily Press, Escanaba, Michigan in accordance with 36 CFR 217.8(a)(2). 
The appeal period begins the day following the legal notice publication 
in the Escanaba Daily Press. Appeals must meet the content requirements 
of 36 CFR 217.9. The Forest Service is an equal opportunity 
organization.

    Dated: December 18, 2000.
Clyde N. Thompson,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 01-143 Filed 1-3-01; 8:45 am]
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