[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 96 (Thursday, May 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 28902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9980]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Bitterroot, Flathead and Lolo National Forests Land and Resource 
Management Plan Revision

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Adjustment.

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SUMMARY: 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, Montana, and Idaho County, Idaho. A Notice of Intent to 
prepare an environmental impact statement to revise Land and Resource 
Management Plans was published in the Federal Register of January 20, 
2004 (69 FR 2699). The Western Montana Planning Zone is adjusting the 
forest plan revision process from compliance with the 1982 land and 
resource management planning regulations to compliance with new 
regulations published in the Federal Register of January 5, 2005 (70 FR 
1062).
    Public Involvement: Scheduled meetings and details of other public 
involvement opportunities will be posted on the Western Montana 
Planning zone Web site, at http://www.fs.fed.us/rl/wmpz/. To get on the 
mailing list contact Claudia Narcisco at (406) 329-3795, or e-mail, 
[email protected]. People currently on the mailing list will remain.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Kramer, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, Lolo National Forest, Fort Missoula, Bldg., 24, Missoula, MT 
59084, (406) 392-3848 or e-mail, [email protected]; or see the Web site 
at http://www.fs.fed.us/rl/wmpz/.
    Responsible Officials: David Bull, Supervisor, Bitterroot National 
Forest, 1801 North 1st St., Hamilton, MT 59840. Catherine Barbouletos, 
Supervisor, Flathead National Forest, 1935 Third Ave., Kalispell, Mt 
59901. Deborah Austin, Supervisor, Lolo National Forest, Building 24, 
Fort Missoula, Missoula, MT 59804.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice of Intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement to revise Land and Resource Management 
Plans was published in the Federal Register of January 20, 2004 (69 FR 
2699). The Western Montana Planning zone is adjusting the forest plan 
revision process from compliance with the 1982 planning regulations, to 
compliance with new regulations published in the Federal Register of 
January 5, 2005 (70 FR 1062).
    This adjustment will result in the following:
    1. The Responsible Official(s) will be each Forest Supervisor.
    2. Each National Forest will establish an Environmental Management 
System prior to completion of the revised forest plans.
    3. The emphasis on public involvement will shift from public 
comment on a broad range of alternative plans, to iterative public-
Forest Service collaboration on a single option to arrive at a broadly 
supported plan for each Forest.
    Public collaboration will begin in late spring of 2005, with each 
Forest using some combination of the following methods: (1) Posting 
draft desired conditions and supporting maps on the Web site; (2) open 
houses; (3) invited presentations; (4) newsletters; and (5) on-going 
collaborative dialogue in community-based working groups. The initial 
focal points of the collaborative process will be: (1) Desired 
conditions; (2) suitability of areas for various purposes; and (3) 
objectives to help move toward the desired conditions. This phase of 
collaboration is expected to be completed by fall of 2005.
    Time Schedule: The remaining forest plan revision schedule will be 
approximately as follows:
     Fall 2005: Release proposed forest plans and start 90-day 
public comment period.
     Summer 2006: Release final forest plans and start 30-day 
public objection period.
     Fall 2006: Issue final decision and start plan 
implementation.
    The web site provides additional information regarding the decision 
to transition to the new planning regulations, discussion of plan 
revision elements already completed before making this transition, and 
other details.

    Dated: May 12, 2005.
David T. Bull,
Supervisor, Bitterroot National Forest.

    Dated: May 12, 2005.
Catherine Barbouletos,
Supervisor, Flathead National Forest.

    Dated: May 12, 2005.
Deborah L. R. Austin.
Supervisor, Lolo National Forest.
[FR Doc. 05-9980 Filed 5-18-05; 8:45 am]
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