[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 101 (Friday, May 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30044-30045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-11499]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Plan Revision for Shoshone National Forest, WY

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of adjustment for resuming the land management plan 
revision process.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is resuming preparation of the 
Shoshone National Forest revised land management plan as directed by 
the National Forest Management Act. Preparation of the revised plan was 
halted when the 2005 Forest Service planning rule was enjoined. A new 
planning rule (36 CFR part 219) was implemented on April 21 2008 
allowing the planning process to be resumed. This notice resumes the 
plan revision process under the new planning rule.

DATES: Resumption is effective upon publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryan Armel, Planning Staff Officer, 
Shoshone National Forest, 808 Meadow

[[Page 30045]]

Lane Avenue, Cody, Wyoming, 82414, telephone 307.578.5134, or 
[email protected]. Information on this revision is also available at the 
Shoshone National Forest Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/shoshone/projects/planning/revision/revision_index.shtml.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notification of initiation of the plan 
revision process for the 1986 Shoshone National Forest Land and 
Resource Management Plan was provided in the Federal Register on 
September 20, 2005 (Federal Register Vol. 70, No. 181). The plan 
revision was initiated under the planning procedures contained in the 
2005 Forest Service planning rule (36 CFR part 219 (2005)). On March 
30, 2007, the federal district court for the Northern District of 
California enjoined the Forest Service from implementing and using the 
2005 planning rule until the agency provided notice and comment and 
conducted an assessment of the rule's effects on the environment and 
completed consultation under the Endangered Species Act. Revision of 
the Shoshone National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan under 
the (36 CFR part 219 (2005)) rule was suspended in response to the 
injunction. On April 21, 2008 the Forest Service adopted a new planning 
rule. This rule (36 CFR part 219 (2008)) was adopted following 
completion of an environmental impact statement and consultation under 
the Endangered Species Act. This new planning rule explicitly allows 
the resumption of plan revisions started under the previous rule (36 
CFR part 219 (2005)) based on a finding that the revision process 
conforms to the new planning rule (36 CFR 219.14(b)(3)(ii)).
    From 2005 until 2007, the Shoshone National Forest prepared draft 
documents including an ecosystem sustainability analysis, comprehensive 
evaluation report, and draft plan components. The development and 
content of those documents and components are consistent with the 2008 
planning rule. Beginning in May 2005 and prior to injunction of the 
2005 planning rule, the Shoshone National Forest conducted public and 
cooperator meetings in five local communities, including approximately 
52 public meetings, 13 Government Cooperators Work Group meetings, 2 
field trips, and 1 revision fair. Draft documents, reports, and 
assessments were made available to the public for informal review and 
comment throughout the process. Public collaboration processes that 
occurred are consistent with the 2008 planning rule. Results from 
collaboration will be used as the revision process resumes. The 
remainder of the revision process will be conducted in accordance with 
all Forest Service directives applicable to the 2008 planning rule.
    Based on the discussions above, I find that the planning actions 
taken prior to April 21, 2008 conform to the planning process of the 
2008 planning rule and for that reason the plan revision process does 
not need to be restarted. The Shoshone National Forest is resuming its 
plan revision process by scheduling public meetings to explain how the 
Shoshone's revision process will adjust to the 2008 Planning Rule, 
distribute pre-release versions of the draft proposed plan, and present 
a timeline for the remainder of the revision process.

    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1600-1614; 36 CFR 219.14.

    Dated: May 16, 2008.
Rebecca Aus,
Forest Supervisor, Shoshone National Forest.
 [FR Doc. E8-11499 Filed 5-22-08; 8:45 am]
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