[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59913-59914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23761]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Revision of the Land Management Plan for the Francis Marion 
National Forest

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of initiating the development of a land management plan 
revision for the Francis Marion National Forest.

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SUMMARY: The Francis Marion National Forest, located in South Carolina, 
is initiating the development of a land management plan revision 
(forest plan) for the Francis Marion National Forest (NF). A Draft 
Assessment is being posted to our Web site. We are inviting the public 
to help us develop a preliminary ``need for change'' and a proposed 
action for the land management plan revision.

DATES: A draft of the Assessment report for the revision of the Francis 
Marion NF land management plan will be posted on the following Web site 
at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/scnfs/fmplan by October 11, 2013.
    Public meetings associated with the development of the preliminary 
``need for change'' and a proposed action will be announced on the Web 
site cited above.
    It is anticipated that the Notice of Intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (which will accompany the land 
management plan revision for the Francis Marion NF), will be published 
in the Federal Register around January to February 2014.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions concerning this notice should 
be addressed to U.S. Forest Service, Francis Marion and Sumter National 
Forests, 4931 Broad River Road, Columbia, South Carolina, 29212. 
Comments or questions may also be sent

[[Page 59914]]

via email to [email protected]. All 
correspondence, including names and addresses when provided, are placed 
in the record and are available for public inspection and copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary W. Morrison, Forest Planner, 803-
561-4000. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. (Eastern time), Monday through 
Friday.
    More information on the planning process can also be found on the 
Francis Marion National Forest Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/scnfs/fmplan.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the 2012 Forest Planning Rule 
(36 CFR Part 219), the planning process encompases three-stages: 
assessment, plan revision, and monitoring. The first stage of the 
planning process involves assessing social, economic, and ecological 
conditions of the planning area, which is documented in an assessment 
report. A draft of the assessment report for the Francis Marion NF is 
being completed and will be available by October 11, 2013 on the Forest 
Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/scnfs/fmplan.
    This notice announces the start of the second stage of the planning 
process, which is the development of the land management plan revision. 
The first task of plan revision is to develop a preliminary ``need for 
change'', which identifies the need to change management direction in 
current plans due to changing conditions or other monitoring 
information. The next task is to develop a proposed action, which is a 
proposal on how to respond to needs for changes. We are inviting the 
public to help us develop our preliminary ``need for change'' and a 
proposed action.
    A proposed action will initiate our compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act. A Notice of Intent to prepare an 
environmental impact statement for the land mangement plan revision, 
which will include a description of the preliminary need for change and 
a description of the proposed action, will be published around January 
to February 2014 in the Federal Register.
    Forest plans developed under the National Forest Management Act 
(NFMA) of 1976 describe the strategic direction for management of 
forest resources for ten to fifteen years, and are adaptive and 
amendable as conditions changes over time. The Forest Plan for the 
Francis Marion NF was approved in 1995. On October 17, 2012, a public 
announcement was made that the Francis Marion NF was beginning to work 
on the Assessment for revising their Forest Plan. This notice announces 
the start of the second stage of the planning process, the development 
of the land management plan revision. Once the plan revision is 
completed, it will be subject to the objection procedures of 36 CFR 
Part 219, Subpart B, before it can be approved. The third stage of the 
planning process is the monitoring and evaluation of the revised plan, 
which is ongoing over the life of the revised plan.
    As public meetings, other opportunities for public engagement, and 
public review and comment opportunties are identified to assist with 
the development of the forest plan revision, public announcements will 
be made, notifications will be posted on the Forest's Web site at 
www.fs.usda.gov/goto/scnfs/fmplan and information will be sent out to 
the Forest's mailing list. If anyone is interested in being on the 
Forest's mailing list to receive these notifications, please contact 
Mary Morrison, the Forest Planner, at the address identified above, or 
by sending an email to [email protected].

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for the revision of the land management 
plan for the Francis Marion National Forest is Rick Lint, Forest 
Supervisor, Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests, 4931 Broad 
River Road, Columbia, South Carolina 29212.

    Dated: September 20, 2013.
John Richard Lint,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2013-23761 Filed 9-27-13; 8:45 am]
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