[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 17404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7897]


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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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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 62 / Friday, March 30, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 17404]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Analysis of Beaver Park Project Area, Black Hills National 
Forest, South Dakota

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Cancellation of notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: This notice cancels the Notice of Intent to analyze the Beaver 
Park Project Area on the Black Hills National Forest, published in the 
Federal Register on November 9, 1999 (64 Fed. Reg. 61063-61064), 
pursuant to Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations section 1501.7. The 
project was cancelled as a result of the settlement of Civil Action No. 
99-N-2173, Biodiversity Associates vs. Lyle Laverty et al., United 
States District Court for the District of Colorado.

ADDRESSES: Northern Hills Ranger District, Black Hills National Forest, 
2014 N. Main St., Spearfish, SD 57783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Natvig, Project Interdisciplinary 
Team Leader, at (605) 642-4622.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 1, 1999, a Record of Decision was 
signed implementing the selected alternative in the Veteran Boulder 
Environmental Impact Statement in the Beaver Park Roadless Area. A 
separate project was proposed later the same year to address a growing 
mountain pine beetle epidemic in the Beaver Park area. A Notice of 
Intent to analyze the effects of the proposed actions was published in 
the Federal Register on November 9, 1999.
    On November 10, 1999, Biodiversity Associates filed a lawsuit 
against Lyle Laverty et al. regarding the March 1, 1999 Record of 
Decision on the Veteran/Boulder project. An agreement to settle this 
lawsuit was reached on September 6, 2000. As part of the settlement, 
the Forest Service agreed not to approve any decision to ``log, or 
construct or reconstruct vehicle routes, or construct or reconstruct 
skid trails, or otherwise undertake any activity involving the 
disturbance of soil or the cutting or damaging of trees, nor will it 
undertake sale ``prep'' work (e.g., tree marking), within the Beaver 
Park Roadless Area until after a decision by the Regional Forester to 
adopt the Phase II Forest Plan amendment'' (Biodiversity Associates v. 
Laverty, p. 2).
    This language effectively prevents the actions proposed under the 
Beaver Park Project from occurring until such time as an amendment to 
the Black Hills National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan is 
prepared and signed, as described in the settlement agreement. 
Therefore, the Notice of Intent for the Beaver Park Project is being 
withdrawn.

    Dated: February 28, 2001.
John C. Twiss,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 01-7897 Filed 3-29-01; 8:45 am]
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