[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 28, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 4174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1799]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Stewardship End Result Contracting

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, DOI.

ACTION: Notice of Guidance Issuance.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is issuing guidance to its 
field offices on stewardship end result contracting (commonly referred 
to as ``stewardship contracting'') projects. This guidance provides 
internal administrative direction to guide BLM employees in 
collaborative planning, implementing, and monitoring of stewardship 
contracting projects.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This guidance is effective on January 28, 2004.

ADDRESSES: This guidance is available electronically at http://www.blm.gov/nhp/spotlight/forest_initiative/stewardship_contracting/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Ceperley, Renewable Resources 
and Planning, Bureau of Land Management at (202) 452-5029; or Scott 
Lieurance, Renewable Resources and Planning, Bureau of Land Management 
at (202) 452-0316. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 27, 2003, the BLM and the Forest 
Service adopted jointly developed interim guidelines for implementation 
of the stewardship contracting provisions as authorized by section 323 
of Public Law 108-7, the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003 
(16 U.S.C. 2104 note). The Forest Service and BLM published a joint 
Federal Register notice with request for comment on the interim 
guidelines on June 27, 2003 (68 FR 38285). The agencies received sixty-
two (62) responses in the form of letters, faxes, and e-mail messages 
regarding the Federal Register notice of the interim guidelines on 
stewardship contracting. The comments came from private citizens, 
elected officials, and groups and individuals representing businesses, 
private organizations, and Federal agencies. Comments ranged from full 
support of the interim guidelines to the recommendation that the BLM 
should not use much of the authority set out in 16 U.S.C. 2104 note. 
The Bureau considered all comments in drafting the BLM guidance for 
stewardship contracting, and made changes in response to the comments. 
The BLM is issuing the guidance in Instruction Memorandum 2004-081. 
This represents the culmination of the BLM's internal and public 
reviews of stewardship contracting policy.

    Dated: January 16, 2004.
James M. Hughes,
Deputy Director for Policy.
[FR Doc. 04-1799 Filed 1-27-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P