[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 11251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4471]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Southwestern Region, Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, and West 
Oklahoma Amendment of Land and Resource Management Plans in the 
Southwestern Region

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Cancellation of notice of intent to prepare an environmental 
impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Southwestern Region of the Forest Service planned to 
prepare an environmental impact statement on a proposal to amend 
National Forest land and resource management plans to incorporate 
standards and guidelines for management of habitat for American 
peregrine falcon, Little Colorado River spinedace, loach minnow, 
spikedace, Apache trout, Chihuahua chub, Gila trout, Gila top minnow, 
razorback sucker, southwest willow flycatcher, cactus ferruginous pygmy 
owl, Sonora tiger salamander, New Mexico ridgenose rattlesnake, and 
Pima pineapple cactus. The amendment would have added new standards and 
guidelines to existing direction for the protection of federally listed 
threatened and endangered species.
    The Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
was published in the Federal Register on Monday, June 1, 1998 (63 FR 
29692-29695). A Revised Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement was published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, 
September 28, 1999 (64 FR 52274). Since that time, considerable 
analysis has gone into reviewing the adequacy of Forest Plans with 
respect to protection of Federally listed threatened and endangered 
species. We found that existing direction in the eleven Forest Plans 
provides adequate protection for the species considered in the 
consultation. Forest Plans currently allow Forest Supervisors and 
District Rangers the discretion to apply appropriate protection 
measures for Federally listed threatened and endangered species when 
designing site-specific projects. Site-specific projects are subject to 
consultation as required by Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, 
further ensuring the adequacy of protective measures for Federally 
listed threatened and endangered species.
    For these reasons, I hereby cancel the referenced Notices of Intent 
to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director of Ecosystem Analysis and 
Planning, 517 Gold Ave. SW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, (505) 842-
3251.

    Dated: February 16, 2001.
James T. Gladen,
Deputy Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. 01-4471 Filed 2-22-01; 8:45 am]
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