[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 110 (Monday, June 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 34374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-14334]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

RIN 0596-AB95


Forest Land Enhancement Program

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of issuance of interim directive; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In conjunction with an interim final rule published elsewhere 
in the same separate part of today's Federal Register, the Forest 
Service is issuing an interim directive to provide guidance to Forest 
Service employees for managing the Forest Land Enhancement Program 
(FLEP), which was authorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment 
Act of 2002 (the 2002 Farm Bill). This interim directive is issued to 
the Forest Service Manual (FSM) Title 3300, Forestry Incentives, 
Chapter 3310, Cost-Sharing as ID 3310-2003-1. Comments received in 
response to this notice will be considered in development of the final 
directive.

DATES: This interim directive (ID 3310-2003-1) is effective on June 9, 
2003. Comments must be received in writing by August 8, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Hal E. Brockman, Forest Service, 
Cooperative Forestry Staff, Mail Stop 1123, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20250-1123; via electronic mail to 
[email protected]; or via facsimile to FLEP ID Comments at (202) 205-
1271. The agency cannot confirm receipt of comments. A toll free number 
is available, 1-866-585-8540, for callers to record voice mail messages 
(up to 3 minutes long) with their comments on the interim directive. 
This toll free number will be active 24 hours a day during the comment 
period. Public comments submitted by voice mail will be transcribed for 
the public record. All comments, including names and addresses when 
provided, are placed in the record and are available for public 
inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received on 
this interim directive during regular business hours at the office of 
the Cooperative Forestry Staff, 4th Floor SE., Yates Building, 201 14th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 
(202) 205-1389 to facilitate entry into the building.
    A copy of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, 
sections 8001 and 8002 (Pub. L. 107-171), and other information on this 
program can be found on the World Wide Web/Internet at http://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/flep.htm. A copy of the interim directive (ID 
3310-2003-1) is available electronically at http://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hal E. Brockman, Cooperative Forestry 
Staff, (202) 205-1694.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is adopting an interim final 
rule to establish a new subpart C in part 230 of Title 36 of the Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR) that sets forth requirements for the 
management and operation of the new Forest Land Enhancement Program 
(FLEP), which was authorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment 
Act of 2002 (the 2002 Farm Bill). The notice setting out this interim 
final rule and requesting comment can be found elsewhere in this part 
of today's Federal Register. The FLEP interim final rule is intended to 
improve the long-term sustainability of nonindustrial private forest 
lands in the United States by assisting landowners, through State 
Foresters, in more actively managing their forest lands and related 
resources through the use of State, Federal, and private sector 
resource management expertise, financial assistance, and educational 
programs. In conjunction with this interim final rule, the agency is 
issuing an interim directive to Forest Service Manual Chapter 3310 (ID 
3310-2003-1) to provide additional guidance to Forest Service employees 
in the administration of the FLEP. This interim directive is available 
electronically on the World Wide Web/Internet at the Web site address 
provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Comments received on 
the interim directive will be used in the development of the final 
directive.

    Dated: April 11, 2003.
Dale N. Bosworth,
Chief.
[FR Doc. 03-14334 Filed 6-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P