[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 213 (Monday, November 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 65962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26289]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Revision of the Land Management Plan for the Flathead National 
Forest

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Flathead National Forest, located in Montana, is 
initiating the forest planning process pursuant to the 2012 Forest 
Planning Rule. This process results in a Forest Land Management Plan 
which describes the strategic direction for management of forest 
resources for the next ten to fifteen years on the Flathead National 
Forest. The first phase of the process, the assessment phase, has begun 
and interested parties have been invited to contribute in the 
development of the assessment (36 CFR 219.6). The Forest has posted 
preliminary assessment information to its Web site as well as hosted 
field tours and an open house. The assessment is expected to be 
completed in December 2013. The trends and conditions identified in the 
assessment will help in identifying the need for plan components. The 
Forest is inviting the public to help us identify the appropriate plan 
components that will become a proposed action for the land management 
plan revision.

DATES: The assessment for the Flathead National Forest is expected to 
be completed by December 31, 2013 and will be posted on the following 
Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/forestplanrevision.
    From October 2013 through June 2014, the public is invited to 
engage in a collaborative process to identify appropriate plan 
components to be considered for the proposed action. The Forest will 
then initiate procedures pursuant to the NEPA and prepare a forest plan 
revision.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions concerning this notice should 
be addressed to Flathead National Forest, Attn.: Plan Revision, 650 
Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, Montana, 59901.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Krueger, Planning Team Leader, 
406-758-5243. 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.
    More information on the planning process can also be found on the 
Flathead National Forest Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/forestplanrevision.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 
1976 requires that every National Forest System (NFS) unit develop a 
land management plan. On April 9, 2012, the Forest Service finalized 
its land management planning rule (2012 Planning Rule), which provides 
broad programmatic direction to National Forests and National 
Grasslands for developing and implementing their land management plans. 
Forest plans describe the strategic direction for management of forest 
resources for ten to fifteen years, and are adaptive and amendable as 
conditions change over time.
    Under the 2012 Planning Rule, the assessment of ecological, social, 
and economic trends and conditions is the first stage of the planning 
process. The second stage is a development and decision process guided, 
in part, by the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) and includes the 
preparation of a draft environmental impact statement and revised 
Forest Plan for public review and comment, and the preparation of the 
final environmental impact statement and revised Forest Plan. The third 
stage of the process is monitoring and feedback, which is ongoing over 
the life of the revised forest plans.
    With this notice, the agency invites other governments, non-
governmental parties, and the public to contribute to the development 
of the proposed action. The intent of public engagement during 
development of the proposed action is to identify the appropriate plan 
components that the Forest Service should consider in developing its 
land management plan. We encourage contributors to share material about 
desired conditions, standards and guidelines, land suitability 
determinations, management area designations, and plan monitoring. 
Collaboration in the development of the proposed action supports the 
development of relationships of key stakeholders throughout the plan 
development process and is an essential step to understanding current 
conditions, available data, and feedback needed to support a strategic, 
efficient planning process.
    As public meetings, other opportunities for public engagement, and 
public review and comment opportunities 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/flathead/forestplanrevision 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 Joe Krueger, Planning Team Leader, at the mailing 
address identified above, by sending an email to 
[email protected], or by telephone 406-758-5243.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for the revision of the land management 
plan for the Flathead National Forest is Chip Weber, Forest Supervisor, 
Flathead National Forest, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901.

    Dated: October 28, 2013.
Chip Weber,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2013-26289 Filed 11-1-13; 8:45 am]
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