[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 74 (Monday, April 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17947-17948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-8999]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Revised Land and Resource Management Plan; Kaibab National 
Forest; Arizona

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Initiation to revise the Kaibab National Forest Land 
and Resource Management Plan.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service is revising the Kaibab National Forest's 
Land and Resource Management Plan (hereafter referred to as the forest 
plan). This notice describes the documents available for review and how 
to obtain them; summarizes the need to change the forest plan; provides 
information concerning public participation and collaboration, 
including the process for submitting comments; provides an estimated 
schedule for the planning process, including the time available for 
comments; and includes names and addresses for agency officials who can 
provide additional information.

DATES: Revision formally begins with the publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. Many public comments regarding forest plan 
revision have already been received at public meetings and through e-
mail, phone calls, and letters. Comments on the need for change and 
Comprehensive Evaluation Report (CER) will be of most value to the 
Forest Service if received by June 15, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Kaibab National Forest, Attention: 
Forest Plan Revision Team, 800 S. 6th St., Williams, Arizona 86046; via 
e-mail to [email protected]; or via facsimile to 
(928) 635-8208, with ``Forest Plan Revision'' in the subject line.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ariel Leonard, Assistant Forest 
Planner at (928) 635-8283 or e-mail: [email protected]. Individuals 
who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the 
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 
a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Documents Available for Review

    The Comprehensive Evaluation Report (CER) evaluated how management 
under the current forest plan is affecting the current conditions and 
trends related to sustainability. It was developed by integrating 
information from the Ecological and the Socio-Economic Sustainability 
Reports. The CER considered the key findings from these two reports and 
used them to identify where the conditions and trends indicated a need 
for change in the current forest plan. These documents are available 
for review and are located on the forest's Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/plan-revision/or by request.

Need for Change

    The CER and subsequent Management Review identified four priority 
topics that will serve to focus the scope of this plan revision. These 
topics reflect the priority needs and potential changes in program 
direction that will be emphasized in the development of forest plan 
components:
    1. Modify stand structure and density towards reference conditions 
and restore historic fire regimes. The multiple ecological, social, and 
economic benefits of reducing the risk of uncharacteristic fires made 
this a primary area of focus. Specific tasks include identifying 
desired conditions for forested ecosystems on the Kaibab National 
Forest (KNF) consistent with the regionally-developed desired 
conditions and setting treatment objectives for wildland-urban 
interface (WUI) and non-WUI areas.
    2. Protect and regenerate aspen. The important role that aspen 
plays in providing local habitat diversity and scenery, combined with 
the widespread aspen decline in the Southwest, made the protection and 
regeneration of aspen a priority. Aspen will be addressed within the 
context of the desired conditions where it occurs.
    3. Protect seeps, springs, ephemeral wetlands, and North Canyon 
Creek. The current forest plan offers little guidance for managing 
these rare and ecologically important resources. Actions to protect 
these natural waters are relatively inexpensive, easy to accomplish, 
and provide important ecological and social benefits.
    4. Restore grasslands by reducing tree encroachment in grasslands 
and meadows. Grasslands are much less abundant than they were 
historically, which reduces the amount of available habitat for 
grassland-associated species. The subalpine/montane grasslands on the 
North Kaibab Ranger District are linear and as a result are at a higher 
risk of loss because trees encroach more quickly. There is a need to 
develop desired conditions and set objectives for all grassland 
ecosystems on the KNF. Currently, these are lacking in the existing 
forest plan.
    There are other topics that need to be addressed with this plan 
revision. In addition to the priority needs for change topics above, 
the plan revision process will develop consistent, efficient, and 
scientifically-based plan components to provide direction for:
     Management response in the years immediately following 
large disturbance events.
     Managing energy corridors, renewable energy development 
requests, mining exploration and development, travel management 
implementation, special-use management, and special forest products 
collection.
     Managing for a balanced range of recreation opportunities, 
within the limits of the administrative and resource capacity.
    Additionally, the Forest Service will review the results of the 
Wilderness Needs Assessment and the eligibility of Kanab Creek as a 
Wild and Scenic River. Where necessary, further evaluation will be 
conducted to consider and recommend potential wilderness, and to 
develop plan components in support of Wilderness management. Other 
needs for change have been and will continue to be identified. These 
may be addressed in the proposed plan, or incorporated into the plan in 
the future as amendments. Forest plans are intended to be adaptive, and 
an update to the CER will be prepared at least every five years. This 
iterative process facilitates the incorporation of new information and 
needs for change into the forest plan.

Public Participation and Opportunity to Comment

    The revision process is designed to provide continued opportunities 
for public collaboration and open participation in the development of 
the revised forest plan. Additional information on the process, 
documents being produced, and public participation opportunities can be 
found on the Kaibab National Forest plan revision Web site at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/planrevision/. The Forest Service is seeking 
public comments on the need for change

[[Page 17948]]

identified in the CER. Substantive comments received prior to by June 
15, 2009 will be of the most value in evaluating public response to the 
adequacy of the need for change topics outlined in the report and for 
developing the initial proposed draft plan. It is important to 
participate in the plan revision process as only those parties who 
participate in the planning process through the submission of written 
comments may submit an objection later in the proposed plan development 
process pursuant to 36 CFR 219.13(a). Comments received during the 
planning process, including names and addresses of those who commented 
will be part of the public record available for public inspection. The 
Responsible Official shall accept and consider comments submitted 
anonymously.

Estimated Schedule

    The forest plan revision process for the Kaibab National Forest 
officially begins with the publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register. Public meetings will be held following release of the initial 
proposed draft plan, which is scheduled for July 2009. The dates, 
times, and locations of these meetings will be posted on the forest's 
Web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai/plan-revision/. A more refined 
draft of the proposed forest plan will be available for predecisional 
review in the fall of 2009, with approval of the final plan scheduled 
to occur in September 2010.

Responsible Official

    The Forest Supervisor of the Kaibab National Forest, Michael R. 
Williams, is the Responsible Official (36 CFR 219.2(b)(1)).

(Authority: 36 CFR 219.9(b)(2)(i), 73 FR 21509, April 21, 2008)

    Dated: April 14, 2009.
Michael R. Williams,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9-8999 Filed 4-17-09; 8:45 am]
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