[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 25, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8500-8501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3936]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Plan Revision for Uwharrie National Forest, NC

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of adjustment for resuming the land management plan 
revision process and Notice of commencement of the 90-day comment 
period for the Uwharrie National Forest Proposed Land Management Plan 
(hereafter referred to as the Proposed Plan).

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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service is resuming preparation of the 
Uwharrie National Forest (UNF) revised land management plan as directed 
by the National Forest Management Act (NFMA). 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.
    Under the 2005 Rule the planning process had proceeded to the point 
of generating a Proposed Plan for public comment. A 90-day comment 
period for the Proposed Plan was initiated on February 15, 2007 but was 
not completed due to enjoinment of the 2005 Planning Rule on March 30, 
2007. This notice serves to initiate a new 90-day public comment period 
on the Proposed Plan.
    This notice provides:
    1. Information on how to view and/or obtain copies of the Proposed 
Plan and the Comprehensive Evaluation Report.
    2. Information on how the public can comment on the Proposed Plan, 
when those comments are due and, how comments can be submitted.
    3. Who to contact for more information.

DATES: This notice is effective on February 25, 2009. Comments on the 
Proposed Plan must be received within 90 days after publication of this 
notice.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: Uwharrie Plan Revision, National 
Forests in North Carolina, 160-A Zillicoa Street, Asheville, NC 28801. 
Electronic mail should include ``Proposed Uwharrie Plan Revision'' in 
the subject line and be sent to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Bemer, Interdisciplinary Team 
Leader, National Forests in North Carolina, 160A Zillicoa Street, 
Asheville, NC 28801, 828-257-4862. More information on the UNF and 
Proposed Plan revision process is available at: http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/uwharrie_plan/.

Documents Available for Review

    The following documents are available for review. They are 
available either online at: http://www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc/uwharrie_plan/ or hardcopies are available by sending a request to [email protected] or by contacting the address shown 
above.
    1. Uwharrie National Forest Proposed Land Management Plan.
    2. Comprehensive Evaluation Report, which includes the following 
separate documents:
     Terrestrial Ecosystem Sustainability
     Aquatic Ecosystem Sustainability
     Social Economic Sustainability and Social/Economic 
Overview
    3. Timber Resource Analysis.

Comment Requested

    The Forest Service is seeking comments from individuals, 
organizations, and federal, state, and local governments and agencies 
on the Uwharric National Forest Proposed Land Management Plan. Comments 
on the Proposed Plan should be submitted within 90-days beginning 
February 25,

[[Page 8501]]

2009. Comments previously submitted in 2007 will be considered and need 
not be resubmitted.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Notification of initiation of plan revision process for the 
Uwharric National Forest land management plan was provided in the 
Federal Register on November 18, 2005. 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 Uwharrie National Forest 
land 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)).
    Prior to injunction of the 2005 planning rule the Uwharrie National 
Forest had developed a Comprehensive Evaluation Report using relevant 
scientific information; undertaken a series of collaborative meetings 
with interested parties to develop plan components; and prepared a 
Proposed Plan. These planning process steps are the same as what is 
required under the 2008 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 Uwharrie National 
Forest is resuming its plan revision process by initiating a 90-day 
public comment period on the Proposed Plan.

Responsible Official

    The Forest Supervisor, National Forests in North Carolina, is the 
Responsible Official (36 CFR 219.2(b)(1)).

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

    Dated: February 17, 2009.
Marisue Hilliard,
Forest Supervisor, National Forests in North Carolina.
 [FR Doc. E9-3936 Filed 2-24-09; 8:45 am]
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