[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 144 (Friday, July 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41288-41289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14665]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Availability (NOA) Record of Decision (ROD) for the 
Final Supplement to the 2004 Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement To Remove or Modify the Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure 
Standards and Guidelines

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of record of decision.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the National Forest Management Act 
(NFMA, 16 U.S.C. 1600-1614 et seq.), the Forest Service announces the 
decision to amend selected portions of the 1994 Record of Decision for 
the Northwest Forest Plan. Specifically, the ROD amends 19 Land and 
Resource Management Plans for National Forests within the range of the 
northern spotted owl in western Washington and Oregon and northwestern 
California. The United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM), is expected to concurrently announce a similar 
decision amending their respective Resource Management Plans.
    The Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure Standards and Guidelines 
added conservation measures for rare and little known species to BLM 
and Forest Service (Northwest Forest Plan) requirements for providing 
for late-successional and old-growth forest related species. These 
Standards and Guidelines were frustrating the Agencies' ability to meet 
the other resource management goals set forth in the Northwest Forest 
Plan (timber harvest, hazardous fuels treatment, ecosystem 
restoration). Although the Survey and Manage Standards and Guidelines 
are removed with this decision, conservation of rare and little known 
species will continue to be accomplished through the other elements of 
the Northwest Forest Plan and the Agency's Special Status Species 
Program. This ROD also complies with a Settlement Agreement between the 
Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior and Douglas Timber 
Operators and American Forest Resource Council.

DATES: Effective Date: This decision is effective July 24, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The ROD is now available on the Internet at http://www.reo.gov/s-m2006. Requests to receive copies of the ROD should be 
sent to Carol Hughes, USDA Forest Service-NR, P.O. Box 3623, Portland, 
OR 97208-3623, or submit e-mail to [email protected]. Printed copies 
will be available after August 10th at National Forest offices in 
western Washington and Oregon and northwestern California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Christensen, Group Leader, 
Wildlife, Fisheries, Watershed, Soils and Range, USDA Forest Service-
NR, P.O. Box 3623, Portland, Oregon 97208; telephone (503) 808-2922.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In June 2007, the BLM and Forest Service 
(the Agencies) released a Final Supplement to the 2004 FSEIS to Remove 
or Modify the Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure Standards and 
Guidelines. The Final Supplement presented the entire 2004 analysis, 
updated for new information and supplemented to include:

--Responses to three deficiencies identified in August 2005, by the 
U.S. District Court of the Western District of Washington, and;
--An additional alternative to respond to implications of a November 
2006, decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit 
relative to the red tree vole on the BLM's Cow Catcher and Cottonsnake 
Timber Sales in Oregon.

    The analysis covered 337 species of fungi, bryophytes, lichens, 
mollusks, vascular plants, and vertebrates and 4 arthropod groups. The 
analysis showed, when compared to the No-Action Alternatives, 53 
species would have insufficient habitat in all or a portion of their 
Northwest Forest Plan range to support stable populations. However, the 
analysis points out these species are generally either secure in other 
areas of their range, or State Heritage programs do not rate them 
imperiled enough to qualify for the two Agencies' Special Status 
Species Programs. The analysis also shows the selected alternative 
improves the Agencies' ability to achieve other Northwest Forest Plan 
objectives.
    Readers should note this decision was signed by the Under Secretary 
of Agriculture for Natural Resources and the Environment. Therefore, no 
administrative review (``appeal'') through the Forest Service will be 
available on the Record of Decision under 36 CFR part 217.
    Reference to previously published Federal Register documents: 71 FR 
38601, July 7, 2006; 71 FR 38641, July 7, 2006; 72 FR 546, Jan. 5, 
2007; 72 FR 31821, June 8, 2007; 72 FR 33737, June 19, 2007.


[[Page 41289]]


    Dated: July 24, 2007.
Mark Rey,
Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment.
[FR Doc. E7-14665 Filed 7-26-07; 8:45 am]
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