[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 8, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 44995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-6784]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

RIN 0596-AC22


Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period for Predator Damage 
Management in Wilderness Areas

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of extension of public comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service is extending the public comment period an 
additional 30 days for the notice of proposed directives published in 
the Federal Register of June 7, 2006 (FR Doc. E6-8839, on pages 32915-
32918) concerning predator damage management in wilderness areas. 
Guidance to Forest officers in the management of predator damage in 
wilderness areas is contained in the Forest Service Manual (FSM) Title 
2300, Recreation, Wilderness, and Related Resources Management and FSM 
2600, Wildlife, Fish, and Sensitive Plant Habitat Management. These 
proposed directives would conform agency direction regarding predator 
damage with provisions in an interdepartmental Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) between the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service, Wildlife Services Division and the USDA Forest Service. The 
MOU, first entered into in 1993, was renewed in 1998, and again in 
2004, with minor revisions. Comments received in response to this 
notice will be considered in development of the final directives for 
predator damage management on National Forest System lands, including 
wilderness.

DATES: The comment period has been extended from August 7, 2006, to 
September 7, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Forest Service, USDA, Attn: 
Director, Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers Resources, 201 14th 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20250; by electronic mail to [email protected]; 
or by fax to (202) 205-1145. Comments may also be submitted by 
following the instructions at the Federal e-Rulemaking portal, http://www.regulations.gov. If comments are sent by electronic mail or by fax, 
the public is requested not to send duplicate written comments via 
regular mail. Please confine written comments to issues pertinent to 
the proposed directives; explain the reasons for any recommended 
changes; and, where possible, reference the specific section or 
paragraph being addressed. The Forest Service may not include in the 
administrative record for the proposed directives those comments it 
receives after the comment period closes (see DATES) or comments 
delivered to an address other than those listed in this ADDRESSES 
section.
    All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are 
placed in the record and are available for public inspection and 
copying. The public may inspect comments received on these proposed 
directives in the Office of the Director, Wilderness and Wild and 
Scenic Rivers Staff, Forest Service, USDA, 4th Floor-Central, Sidney R. 
Yates Federal Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, 
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on business days. Those 
wishing to inspect comments are encouraged to call ahead to (202) 205-
1706 to facilitate entry into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Don Fisher, Wilderness Program, (202) 
205-1414, Forest Service, USDA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service published a document in 
the Federal Register of June 7, 2006, in FR Doc. E6-8839, on pages 
32915-32918, concerning predator damage management in wilderness areas 
for a 60-day comment period. This notice announces a 30-day extension 
of the comment period. This extension is necessary to provide the 
public with an opportunity to review and comment on the notice of 
proposed directives.

    Dated: August 3, 2006.
Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 06-6784 Filed 8-3-06; 5:07 pm]
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