[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70758-70759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31315]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Revision of Timber Sale Contract Forms FS-2400-6 and FS-2400-6T

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Forest Service is proposing to revise its timber sale 
contracts, Form FS-2400-6 for scaled sale procedures and Form FS-2400-
6T

[[Page 70759]]

for tree measurement timber sale procedures. These proposed revisions 
will be the first substantive changes in the standard timber sale 
contract provisions in over 30 years. Contract provisions to implement 
laws and policies, formerly included as special provisions, are 
proposed to be consolidated into the standard provisions. A side-by-
side comparison of the proposed revised contracts and the existing 
contracts is available as provided in the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice. Comments received will be considered when the Forest Service 
prepares the final timber sale contracts.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before February 17, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments by mail to the Director of Forest and 
Rangeland Management, MAIL STOP 1105, Forest Service, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1105; via e-mail to 
[email protected]; or via facsimile to (202) 205-1045. These 
proposed timber sale contract forms are available for public review on 
the Forest Service World Wide Web/Internet site at http://www.fs.fed.us/forestmanagement/infocenter/newcontracts/index.shtml. 
Alternatively, the contracts can be reviewed in the office of the 
Director of Forest and Rangeland Management, Third Floor, Northwest 
Wing, Yates Building, 201 14th Street, SW., Washington, DC. All 
comments received in response to this notice, including names and 
addresses when provided, will become a matter of public record and are 
available for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect 
comments received at the same address where copies of the contracts can 
be reviewed. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to (202) 205-0893 to 
facilitate entry into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rex Baumback, Forest and Rangeland 
Management Staff, (202) 205-0855.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Timber sale contract Forms FS-2400-6 and FS-2400-6T are used by the 
Forest Service for the sale of all large, complex timber sales. Timber 
sale contract Form FS-2400-6 is used when timber is measured for 
payment after it is harvested, and timber sale contract Form FS-2400-6T 
is used when the basis for payment is measurement prior to sale. These 
contracts were originally brought into use in July 1970 and January 
1972, respectively, and were the result of extended discussions between 
the Federal Timber Purchasers Committee and the Forest Service. After 2 
years, these contracts were revised in September 1973 and October 1973, 
respectively, to incorporate modifications based upon experience gained 
and policy changes since their inception.
    From 1973 until July 2001, the requirements of new legislation and 
Forest Service policy were implemented in the contracts by issuing 
special provisions that replaced or added to the standard contract 
provisions. In July 2001, new versions of timber sale contract Forms 
FS-2400-6 and FS-2400-6T were issued. The July 2001 versions 
incorporated the special provisions that had been brought into use 
since 1973, but did not make any other changes that affect the rights 
and obligations of the Forest Service and timber sale purchasers.

Proposed Contract Revisions

    The Forest Service is proposing to revise timber sale contract 
Forms FS-2400-6 and FS-2400-6T to:
    1. Clarify the remedies available when contracts are suspended, 
modified, or terminated for environmental reasons.
    2. Incorporate special provisions that are applicable to all timber 
sales into the standard contract provisions.
    3. Correct inconsistencies and clarify ambiguous language that has 
accumulated by the addition of 30 years of special provisions to the 
timber sale contracts.
    4. Make organizational and editorial changes intended to eliminate 
duplicative and unnecessary provisions.
    5. Decrease the need in the existing contracts to make certain 
standard provisions inapplicable by replacing those provisions with the 
appropriate former special provisions.
    6. Provide for liquidated damages when the Forest Service 
unilaterally terminates or partially terminates a timber sale contract.
    7. Provide for a rate redetermination after a specified time when 
the Forest Service orders the delay or interruption of operations for 
specific reasons.
    A side-by-side comparison of the specific differences between the 
existing contracts and the proposed revised contracts is available 
electronically and in paper copy as provided in the ADDRESSES section 
of this notice. Comments received will be considered when the Forest 
Service prepares the final timber sale contracts. When the timber sale 
contracts are finalized, a subsequent notice will be published in the 
Federal Register.

    Dated: December 10, 2003.
Tom L. Thompson,
Acting Chief.
[FR Doc. 03-31315 Filed 12-18-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P