[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55102-55103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18689]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming, Revised Land and Resource 
Management Plan

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

[[Page 55103]]


ACTION: Notice of initiation to revise the Shoshone National Forest 
Land and Resource Management Plan.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will revise the Land and Resource 
Management Plan (hereafter referred to as the Forest Plan) for the 
Shoshone National Forest. This notice describes documents available for 
review and how to obtain them; summarizes the need to change the Forest 
Plan; provides information concerning public participation; and 
includes the names and addresses of agency officials who can provide 
additional information.

DATES: To be most beneficial to the planning process your comments on 
need for change should be submitted by October 21, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Forest Plan Revision, Shoshone 
National Forest, 808 Meadow Lane Avenue, Cody, WY 82414-4549. E-mail 
address: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Armel at (307) 578-1234, or 
Susan Douglas at (307) 578-1214, or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Documents Available for Review

    Two documents are available for review to assist the public in 
commenting on the need for change. The Forest Plan Comprehensive 
Evaluation Report, Version 1.0, describes the current social, economic, 
and ecological conditions and trends for management of the Shoshone 
National Forest. The Need for Change Evaluation report, Version 1.0, 
describes the results of public input on need for change. The document 
has four sections. The first section discusses the preliminary need for 
change. The document has four sections. The first section discusses the 
preliminary need for change topics that were suggested. The second 
section identifies topics that do not require a change in current 
management direction, but need to be updated in the revised plan. The 
third section identifies a number of topics that need to be considered 
during the process of developing the revised forest plan. The fourth 
section identifies those topics that were suggested but will not be 
addressed in the plan revision. The Need for Change Evaluation report 
includes items identified by the public. Forest Service personnel, and 
local governments in May, June, and July. The documents are available 
at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/shoshone/projects/planning/revision_index.shtml or by request.

Need for Change Evaluation

    From discussions internally and with the public, the forest 
planning team identified a set of preliminary need for change 
questions. More information on these items and other comments are 
documented in the Need for Change Evaluation report. After further need 
for change discussions with the public through October, the Forest 
Supervisor will decide what need for change items will be addressed in 
the forest plan revision.

Preliminary Need for Change Topics

    1. How should hazardous fuels, fire use, fire, and wildland urban 
interface areas be managed?
    2. How should the spread of invasive plants be managed?
    3. What areas of the Forest are suitable for the extraction of 
leasable, locatable, and salable minerals?
    4. What special uses are suitable for the Forest, and how should 
they be managed?
    5. What types of recreation opportunities should the Forest 
provide? In what areas are the opportunities suitable?
    6. What areas of the Forest should have roaded access to fulfill 
the needs of Forest users and managers?
    7. What management direction is appropriate for roadless areas and 
other special areas? What rivers, streams, or segments of rivers or 
streams are eligible for Wild and Scenic Rivers designation? What 
roadless areas should be recommended for wilderness designation?
    8. What areas of the Forest are suitable for timber harvest? What 
timber harvest methods should be available? What types of timber 
products should be available?
    9. What vegetation conditions and types of habitats should the 
Forest provide? What management direction, if any, should be included 
in the revised plan for large scale insect infestations?
    10. What management direction should the plan contain for 
contributing to sustainable populations of native fish and wildlife 
species on the Forest?
    11. Should the acres designated suitable for domestic livestock 
grazing be reevaluated?
    12. Should management direction specific to highway corridors be 
included in the revised forest plan? If yes, what is the direction?
    13. Should the direction in the current Forest plan for increasing 
water yield be retained?

Comment Requested

    The Forest Service is seeking information and comments from 
individuals, organizations, Native American Tribes, and Federal, State, 
and local governments and agencies on the need for change in Forest 
Plan direction. The Forest Service is asking for comment on the topics 
identified in the Need for Change Evaluation report and for other 
topics that individuals, organizations, tribes, and governments and 
agencies feel should be addressed during the revision process. If you 
submitted comments previously and feel they are addressed in the Need 
for Change Evaluation report, you do not need to resubmit your 
comments.

Planning Process Schedule

    The revision process for the Shoshone National Forest officially 
begins in September 2005 with the publication of this notice of 
initiation in theFederal Register. A draft revised forest plan will be 
published in April 2007. The final revised forest plan will be issued 
for pre-decisional review in April 2008. Final plan approval is planned 
for September 2008.

Responsible Official

    Rebecca Aus, Shoshone National Forest Supervisor at 808 Meadow Lane 
Ave, Cody, WY 82414-4549.

Public Participation

    The revision process is designed to provide opportunities for 
public collaboration and open participation in the development of the 
revised forest plan. Additional information on the process, the 
documents being produced, and public opportunities to participate can 
be found on the Shoshone National Forest's planning Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/shoshone/projects/planning/revision/revision_index.shtml.

(Authority: 36 CFR part 219)

    Dated: September 13, 2005.
Rebecca Aus,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 05-18689 Filed 9-19-05; 8:45 am]
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