[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 217 (Friday, November 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66213-66214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26309]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement 
and Record of Decision for the Southern Rockies Lynx Amendment

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) and the National Forest Management Act, (NFMA), the USDA Forest 
Service announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) for the Southern Rockies 
Lynx Amendment and the opening of the administrative appeal period.

DATES: The management direction will become effective 7 days after the 
date of publication of the legal notice published in the Denver Post, 
the newspaper of record. Administrative appeals must be postmarked or 
received within 45 days of the date the legal notice is published in 
the Denver Post.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS and ROD are available upon request from 
the Rocky Mountain Regional Office, 740 Simms St., Golden, Colorado 
80401 or via the internet on the following Web site http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/lynx/index.html.
    This decision is subject to review through the administrative 
appeals process pursuant to 36 CFR 217.3. Any appeals must be 
postmarked or received by the Appeal Reviewing Officer within 45 days 
of the date the legal notices are published in the Denver Post, the 
newspaper of record. Any notice of appeal must be fully consistent with 
36 CFR 217.9. Addresses for submitting appeals can be founding the 
Record of Decision.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martha Delporte, Regional Planner, 
[email protected], telephone 303-275-5381; or Nancy Warren, Regional 
Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species Program leader, 
[email protected], telephone 303-275-5064.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this project is to amend 
eight Land and Resource Management Plans (``Plans'') to incorporate 
management direction that will conserve and promote the recovery of the 
Canada lynx on National Forest System lands, while preserving the 
overall multiple-use direction in existing Plans. The Plans to be 
amended are: Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests 1997 Revised Plan 
(Colorado); Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests 1983 
Plan (Colorado); Pike-San Isabel National Forests 1984 Plan (Colorado); 
Rio Grande National Forest 1996 Revised Plan (Colorado); San Juan 
National Forest 1983 Plan (Colorado); White River National Forest 2002 
Revised Plan (Colorado); Routt National Forest 1997 Revised Plan 
(Colorado); and Medicine Bow National Forests 2003 Revised Plan 
(Wyoming).
    The State of Colorado's Department of Natural Resources is a 
cooperating agency on this project because of their special expertise 
on the status of lynx and the Colorado lynx reintroduction project.
    The DEIS (Notice of Availability published Jan. 30, 2004) and 
Supplemental DEIS (Notice of Availability published Nov. 24, 2006) 
presented analysis of four alternatives. Five alternatives were 
analyzed in the FEIS. The responsible official determined that 
Alternative F-modified best meets the purpose and need, responds to 
primary issues and public comments, and meets the agency's 
responsibilities.
    Under Sec.  219.14(b) of Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, 
Part 219--Planning, Subpart A--National Forest System Land Management 
Planning (36 CFR part 219, subpart A) otherwise known as the 2008 
planning rule, this amendment has been approved using the provisions of 
the 1982 planning rule (See 36 CFR parts 200 to 299, Revised as of July 
1, 2000). This plan amendment is appropriate, using the 1982 rule 
provisions, as allowed by 2008 rule, at 219.14 (b)(3), which says that 
during the transition, ``plan amendments may continue using the 
provisions of the planning regulation in

[[Page 66214]]

effect before November 9, 2000'' and further says that if the 
provisions of the 1982 rule are used, the responsible official may 
``elect to use the administrative appeal and review procedures'' at 36 
CFR part 217 (See 36 CFR 219.14(b)(3)(iii)). The applicable appeal 
regulation states that ``[I]mplementation of any decision subject to 
appeal pursuant to this part shall not occur for 7 calendar days 
following publication of the legal notice of the decision as required 
in this part.'' (36 CFR 217.10(a)). Therefore, the approved Southern 
Rockies Lynx Amendment is effective 7 calendar days following 
publication of the legal notice of this decision in the Newspaper of 
Record, the Denver Post.

Antoine L. Dixon,
Deputy Regional Forester, Resources.
[FR Doc. E8-26309 Filed 11-6-08; 8:45 am]
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