[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 104 (Friday, May 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31083-31084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12515]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Revision of the Land Management Plans for the Helena and Lewis 
and Clark National Forests

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of initiation of the assessment phase of the land 
management plan revision process for the Helena and Lewis and Clark 
National Forests.

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SUMMARY: The Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests, located in 
Montana, are initiating the forest

[[Page 31084]]

planning process pursuant to the 2012 Forest Planning Rule. One 
assessment and one plan will be developed for both Forests. 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 Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests. 
The first phase of the process, the assessment phase, is beginning and 
interested parties will be invited to contribute in the development of 
the assessment (36 CFR 219.6). The Forests will host open houses, exact 
dates and times will be posted on the listed below. The assessment is 
expected to be completed in December 2014. The trends and conditions 
identified in the assessment will help inform the need for change. With 
this notice, the Forests invite other governments, non-governmental 
parties, and the public to help us identify new information on 
exisiting forest conditions for consideration in the assessement.

DATES: The assessment for the Helena and Lewis and Clark National 
Forests is expected to be completed by December 31, 2014 and will be 
posted on the following Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/hlc/forestplanrevision.
    From May 2014 through August 2014, the public is invited to provide 
existing resource information to the Forests to include in the 
assessment. In early 2015, the public will be invited to engage in a 
collaborative process to develop a proposed action. The Forests will 
then initiate procedures pursuant to the NEPA and prepare a revised a 
forest plan.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions concerning this notice should 
be addressed to Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests, Attn.: 
Plan Revision, 2880 Skyway Dr., Helena, Montana 59602.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Swiader, Forest Plan Revision 
Team Leader, 406-495-3774. 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 
following Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/hlc/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.
    The first phase of the planning process is the assessment phase. 
Under the 2012 Planning Rule, the assessment rapidly evaluates existing 
information about relevant ecological, social, and economic trends and 
conditions. The second stage is guided, in part, by the National 
Environment Policy Act (NEPA) and includes the preparation of an 
environmental impact statement and revised Forest Plan for public 
review and comment. The third stage of the process is monitoring and 
feedback, which is ongoing over the life of the revised forest plans.
    As public meetings, other opportunities for public engagement, and 
public comment opportunities are identified, notifications will be 
posted on the Forest Plan Revision Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/hlc/forestplanrevision and information will be sent out to the Forest's 
mailing list. If anyone is interested in being on the Forests' mailing 
list to receive these notifications, please contact Erin Swiader, 
Forest Plan Revision Team Leader, at the mailing address identified 
above, by sending an email to [email protected], or by 
telephone 406-495-3774.
    The responsible official for the revision of the land management 
plan for the Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests is William 
Avey, Forest Supervisor, Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests, 
2880 Skyway Dr., Helena, Montana 59602.

    Dated: May 23, 2014.
William Avey,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-12515 Filed 5-29-14; 8:45 am]
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