[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 145 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 43839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15063]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Administrative Procedures for Processing Appeals Under 36 CFR, 
Part 215, for Projects or Activities Implementing Land and Resource 
Management Plans on National Forest System Lands

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of issuance of agency directive.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service is amending Forest Service Handbook 1509.12 
to provide guidance to employees for processing appeals covered under 
Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, part 215, involving projects or 
activities implementing land and resource management plans on National 
Forest System lands. The handbook provides direction on the authority, 
objectives, policies, and responsibilities of line officers and 
direction to field personnel on how to set up a notice and comment 
period, receive and record comments, provide information on decision 
notification, calculate appeal filing and time periods, process and 
dispose of an appeal, and instructions regarding the content and 
management of appeal records. This amendment is issued as amendment 
number 1509.12-2005-1 to FSH 1509.12.

DATES: This amendment is effective July 29, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Amendment 1509.12-2005-1 is available electronically from 
the Forest Service via the World Wide Web/Internet at http://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives. Single paper copies of the amendment are 
also available by contacting Dennis Roy, Ecosystem Management 
Coordination Staff, Mail Stop 1104, Forest Service, 1400 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-1104 (telephone 202-205-2869).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Roy, Ecosystem Management 
Coordination Staff (202-205-2869).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposed rule and request for public 
comment to amend the rule adopted in 1994 for 36 CFR part 215 was 
published December 18, 2002. Its purpose was to clarify certain 
provisions and reduce complexity in the 1994 rule, improve efficiency 
of processing appeals, encourage early and effective public 
participation in the environmental analysis of projects and activities, 
and to ensure consistency with the provisions of the statutory 
authority. Approximately 25,000 comment letters were received. All 
comments were considered in development of a final appeal rule at 36 
CFR part 215 and published in the Federal Register on June 4, 2003 (68 
FR 33582). The final appeal rule included changes to address emergency 
situations; notice and comment procedures and time periods; substantive 
comments; who may appeal; Deciding Officers; content of an appeal; and 
the formal disposition process. This amendment to FSH 1509.12 describes 
administrative procedures for implementing provisions of the final 
rule.

    Dated: June 28, 2005.
Christopher Pyron,
Acting Chief.
[FR Doc. 05-15063 Filed 7-28-05; 8:45 am]
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