[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 163 (Friday, August 22, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 50746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-20989]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Land and Resource Management 
Plan Revision. Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in Beaverhead, 
Butte-Silver Bow; Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Granite, Jefferson, Powell, 
Madison and Gallatin Counties, MT

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National 
Forest, will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
document the analysis and disclose the environmental impacts of the 
proposed action to revise and combine Land and Resource Management 
Plans for the Beaverhead and Deerlodge National Forests. The proposal 
seeks to integrate resource management and incorporate larger place-
based management areas. A Notice of Intent was published May 3, 2002, 
in the Federal Register, Vol. 67, No. 86, p. 22396. This is a revision 
of that notice in order to provide a detailed proposed action for 
public review and comment.

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: The public is invited to comment on the Proposed 
Action or meet with Marty Gardner at any point in time during the 90-
day comment period beginning on August 22, 2003. Contact Marty at (406) 
683-3680 or e-mail [email protected], to schedule a meeting. To get on 
the mailing list contact Jack Degolia (406) 683-3984, or e-mail 
[email protected].

DATES: Initial comments concerning the proposed action should be 
received in writing, no later than 90 days from the publication of this 
notice of intent.

ADDRESSES: Please send comments to Herrera Environmental Consultants, 
101 E. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802. Comments may also be 
electronically submitted to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marty Gardner, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, 420 Barrett, Dillon, MT 
59725, phone (406) 683-3860, or e-mail [email protected].
    Responsible Official: Bradley E. Powell, Regional Forest, Northern 
Region, 200 E. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59807

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are revising the original Notice of 
Intent (Federal Register, Vol. 67, No. 86, page 22396, May 3, 2002), in 
order to provide a detailed proposed action for public review and 
comment. We are coordinating efforts with the Bureau of Land 
Management, Tribes, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as well as County 
Commissioners. In order to generate meaningful dialogue with the public 
we hope to meet with any interested groups or individuals upon request. 
To request a presentation for meetings at any time during the analysis 
and prior to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement call Marty 
Gardner at (406) 683-3860 or e-mail [email protected]. We plan no 
formal public hearings at this time.
    To assist the Forest Service with identification and consideration 
of issues and concerns regarding the proposed action, comments should 
be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to 
specific pages or sections of the proposed action. Reviewers may wish 
to refer to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for 
implementation of procedural provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3.
    Additional public comment will be accepted after publication of the 
DEIS anticipated by December 2004. The Environmental Protection Agency 
will publish the Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement in the Federal Register. The Forest will also publish 
a legal notice of availability in the Montana Standard Newspaper, 
Butte, Montana. The comment period on the Draft EIS will begin the day 
after the legal notice is published. The Final EIS and Decision are 
expected late in 2005.

    Dated: August 6, 2003.
Bradley E. Powell,
Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. 03-20989 Filed 8-21-03; 8:45 am]
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