[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 59232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29436]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Withdrawal of the Regional Guide for the Intermountain Region and 
the Transfer of Select Decisions Therein to Specific Forest Plans

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Regional Forester for the Intermountain Region of the USDA 
Forest Service is withdrawing the Regional Guide and transferring 
selected decisions therein to specific Forest Plans. The Regional 
Forester is transferring the direction related to maximum size openings 
for even-aged timber management to those Forests that did not 
specifically address this requirement in their Forest Plan or that 
address it by referencing the Regional Guide Direction. Current 
planning regulations direct that the Regional Forester must withdraw 
the Regional Guide within 1 year of November 9, 2000. When a Regional 
Guide is withdrawn, Forest Service policy mandates that the Regional 
Forester must identify the decisions in the Regional Guide that are to 
be transferred to a regional supplement to the Forest Service directive 
system or to one or more forest. This action complies with that 
direction. A review of the relevant Forest Plans indicates that the 
Humboldt, Sawtooth, Toiyabe and Uinta National Forests are affected.

DATES: This action is effective November 9, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Davis, (801) 625-5275.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The current regulations governing land and 
resource management planning (36 CFR part 219) direct Regional 
Foresters to withdraw their Regional Guide within 1 year of November 9, 
2000. In addition, when a Regional Guide is withdrawn, the Regional 
Forester must identify the decisions in the Regional Guide that are to 
be transferred to a regional supplement of the Forest Service directive 
system (36 CFR 200.4) or to one or more plans and give notice in the 
Federal Register of these actions. A review of the management direction 
contained in the Intermountain Regional Guide indicates that, except 
for one area, either direction is already incorporated into Forest 
Plans, is superceded by Forest Service directives or policy, or the 
direction is obsolete. The one specific area identified for retention 
and transfer is the direction for maximum size for created openings by 
even-aged timber harvest (page 3-21 of the Regional Guide). I have 
determined that this direction should be transferred to those Forests 
that did not explicitly address it in their Forest Plan or that address 
it by referencing the Regional Guide--the Humboldt, Sawtooth, Toiyabe 
and Uinta National Forests. This direction will be in effect until the 
Forest has completed revision of their Forest Plan. Transferring this 
direction continues the limitation on the size of harvest openings to 
40-acres or less without a 60-day public review and Regional Forester 
approval that is currently in the Regional Guide and complies with 36 
CFR 219.35(e).

    Dated: November 5, 2001.
Jack A. Blackwell,
Regional Forester, Intermountain Region.
[FR Doc. 01-29436 Filed 11-26-01; 8:45 am]
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