[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 2699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1088]


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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. 69, No. 12 / Tuesday, January 20, 2004 / 
Notices  

[[Page 2699]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Bitterroot, Flathead and Lolo National Forests Land and Resource 
Management Plan Revision. Bitterroot, Flathead and Lolo National 
Forests Here Referred to as the Western Montana Planning Zone in 
Ravalli, Missoula, Mineral, Sanders, Lake, Flathead, Lincoln, Lewis and 
Clark, Granite, and Powell Counties, MT, and Idaho County, ID

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Bitterroot, Flathead, and Lolo National Forests will 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to document the 
analysis and disclose the potential environmental impacts of 
implementing the actions proposed in revision of the Land and Resource 
Management Plans for the Bitterroot, Flathead and Lolo National 
Forests. The proposal seeks to update forest plans and respond to six 
major needs for change. A Notice of Intent was published May 10, 2002, 
in the Federal Register, Vol. 67, No. 91, p. 31761. This is a revision 
of that notice in order to provide a detailed proposed action for 
public review and comment. The proposed action can be viewed at http://www.fs.fed.us/rl/wmpz/.
    Public Involvement: The public is invited to comment on the 
Proposed Action at any point during the 90-day comment period beginning 
on January 23, 2004 and ending on April 22, 2004. To get on the mailing 
list contact Amy Lehtola at phone number (406) 363-7191, 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: Western Montana Planning Zone 
Revision Team, Lolo National Forest, Building 24, Fort Missoula, 
Missoula, MT 59804. Written comments may also be electronically 
submitted to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Kramer, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, Lolo National Forest, Fort Missoula, Bldg. 24, Missoula, MT 
59804, phone number (406) 329-3848 or e-mail [email protected].
    Responsible Official: Bradley E. Powell, Regional Forester, 
Northern Region, 200 E. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59807.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are revising the original Notice of 
Intent, [Federal Register, Vol. 67, No. 91, page 31761, May 10, 2002] 
in order to provide a proposed action for public review and comment. 
The proposed action focuses on six major revision topics identified in 
the Analysis of the Management Situation (AMS): (1) Access Management, 
(2) Ecosystem Management, (3) Forest and Private Land Interface, (4) 
Forest Products, (5) Recreation and Outfitter Guide Management, and (6) 
Recommended Wilderness and Roadless Areas. The proposed action will 
also address management of dams in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. 
Proposed actions relating to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, 
jointly managed by the Flathead, Lolo, Lewis and Clark, and Helena 
National Forests, may also be included under this analysis. The 
Analysis of the Management Situation and other supporting documents can 
be viewed at http://www.fs.fed.us/rl/wmpz/. We are coordinating efforts 
with Tribal and other governments, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as well as with 
County Commissioners. The following public meetings have been scheduled 
to aid people in understanding the proposal:

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             Date                      Time                                    Place
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 17, 2004.............  6 to 8 p.m.......  Holiday Inn Parkside, Missoula, Montana.
February 18, 2004.............  7 to 9 p.m.......  Community Center, Seeley Lake, Montana.
February 19, 2004.............  6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Superior High School, Superior, Montana.
February 23, 2004.............  6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Frenchtown High School, Ninemile, Montana.
February 25, 2004.............  6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Fairgrounds, Sanders County, Plains, Montana.
February 26, 2004.............  1 to 8 p.m.......  West Coast Hotel, Kalispell, Montana.
March 1, 2004.................  TBA *............  Stevensville, Montana.
March 2, 2004.................  TBA *............  Hamilton, Montana.
March 3, 2004.................  TBA *............  Darby, Montana.
March 4, 2004.................  TBA *............  Sula/West Fork, Montana.
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TBA *: Meeting time and location to be announced.

    To assist the Forest Service with identification and consideration 
of issues and concerns regarding the proposed action, comments should 
be in writing and 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 March 2005. The Final EIS and Records of Decision 
for the Revised Forest Plans are expected in 2006.

    Dated: January 13, 2004.
Bradley E. Powell,
Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. 04-1088 Filed 1-16-04; 8:45 am]
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