[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 11, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33436-33438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13627]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

36 CFR Part 294


Idaho Roadless Rule

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service is 
modifying the boundaries for the Big Creek, Grandmother Mountain, 
Pinchot Butte, Roland Point, and Wonderful Peak Idaho Roadless Areas on 
the Idaho Panhandle National Forests to include lands acquired within 
and/or adjacent to these roadless areas. In addition, the Forest 
Service is correcting mapping errors involving Forest Plan Special 
Areas in the Salmo-Priest and Upper Priest Idaho Roadless Areas. The 
Forest Service is also making an administrative correction to add the 
Buckhorn Ridge Idaho Roadless Area to the list under the Kootenai 
National Forest. These modifications and corrections are pursuant to 
Forest Service regulations.

DATES: This final rule is effective June 11, 2014.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Davy, Idaho Roadless Coordinator, 
USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, 200 E. Broadway, Missoula, MT 
5980; (406) 329-3314. Additional information concerning these 
administrative corrections and modifications, including the corrected 
maps, may be obtained on the Internet at http://roadless.fs.fed.us. 
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 Standard Time, Monday through 
Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The following modifications and corrections will update five 
roadless areas due to land exchanges that occurred after the Idaho 
Roadless Rule was finalized, correct two roadless area mapping errors 
associated with Forest Plan Special Areas, and correct the list at 36 
CFR 294.29 because an area had been inappropriately shown as only 
located on the Idaho Panhandle National Forest instead of split between 
the Idaho Panhandle and Kootenai National Forests. The Idaho Roadless 
Rule authorizes administrative corrections to the maps of lands 
identified in 36 CFR 294.22(c), including but not limited to, 
adjustment that remedy clerical errors, typographical errors, mapping 
errors, or improvements in mapping technology. Pursuant to 36 CFR 
294.27(b), the Chief of the Forest Service may issue administrative 
corrections after a 30-day public notice and opportunity to comment. 
The Final Rule also authorizes modifications that add to, remove from, 
or modify the designations and management classifications listed in 36 
CFR 294.29 based on changed circumstances or public need. The Chief of 
the Forest Service may issue modifications after a 45-day public notice 
and opportunity to comment.

[[Page 33437]]

    The Forest Service published a proposed rule in the Federal 
Register on April 19, 2013 (78 FR 23522) for a 45-day public comment 
period. The Forest Service presented the corrections and modifications 
to the State of Idaho's Roadless Rule Advisory Commission on April 5, 
2012 and the Governor of Idaho has recommended the Forest Service 
proceed with the modifications.

Comments on the Proposal

    The Forest Service received two comments on the proposed 
modifications and corrections.
    The first respondent was opposed to the expansion of the five Idaho 
Roadless Areas. This respondent did not feel the expansion would better 
the country, state, counties, and cities.
    Response: The modifications to the five Idaho Roadless Areas adds 
1,464 acres to the existing 9.3 million acres of roadless areas in 
Idaho. The additions are necessary because of land exchanges that 
occurred since the Idaho Roadless Rule was finalized. All the acres are 
either surrounded by existing Idaho Roadless Areas or are adjacent to 
an existing Idaho Roadless Area. Adding these lands to existing or 
adjacent roadless areas will result in a consistent management 
approach. The Idaho Roadless Rule represents a compromise that balances 
the nationally recognized need for conservation of roadless areas with 
being more responsive to local communities and citizens.
    The second respondent agreed with the modifications and 
administrative corrections to Big Creek, Pinchot Butte, Roland Point, 
Wonderful Peak, Salmo-Priest, and Upper Priest Idaho Roadless Areas, 
but did not agree with two of the five modifications to Grandmother 
Mountain. Two of the parcels are adjacent to lands classified as 
Wildland Recreation and lands classified as Backcountry/Restoration. 
The respondent believes the acquired lands should be classified as 
Wildland Recreation, not Backcountry/Restoration.
    Response: The Forest Service believes the Backcountry/Restoration 
is the more appropriate management classification for these parcels for 
two reasons. First, the majority of the parcels border existing Idaho 
Roadless Areas classified as Backcountry Restoration. A smaller portion 
of the parcels that border existing Idaho Roadless Areas classified as 
Wildland Recreation. Second, the respondent is a member of the State of 
Idaho's Roadless Rule Advisory Commission and supported the 
Commission's April 23, 2012 letter to the Governor of Idaho supporting 
the proposed modifications.

Modifications Due to Lands Acquired Through Land Exchanges

    The Forest Service is modifying the following Idaho Roadless Areas 
due to acquisition of lands through land exchanges that occurred since 
the Idaho Roadless Rule was finalized in the fall of 2008. These 
modifications will update the maps with correct ownership and 
management classifications.
    Big Creek Idaho Roadless Area #143. Two parcels of land, 158 acres, 
are added to the Big Creek roadless area and are classified as 
Backcountry Restoration. These modifications occur in T46N, R2E, 
section 11; and T47N, R2E, section 35, Boise Meridian and were part of 
the Spooky Butte Land Exchange.
    Grandmother Mountain Idaho Roadless Area #148. Five parcels of 
land, 1,107 acres, are added to Grandmother Mountain roadless area and 
are classified as Backcountry Restoration. These modifications occur in 
T43N, R3E, section 26; and T43N, R4E, sections 5, 7, 17, and 31, Boise 
Meridian and were part of the Grandmother Mountain Land Exchange and an 
unnamed land exchange with a single party.
    Pinchot Butte Idaho Roadless Area #149. One parcel of land, 80 
acres, is added to Pinchot Butte roadless area and is classified as 
Backcountry Restoration. Bureau of Land Management lands surround this 
parcel on three sides and are also roadless. These modifications occur 
in T43N, R4E, section 33, Boise Meridian and were part of the 
Grandmother Mountain Land Exchange.
    Roland Point Idaho Roadless Area #146. One parcel of land, 60 
acres, is added to Roland Point roadless area and will be classified as 
Backcountry Restoration. These modifications occur in T47N, R6E, 
sections 29, 31, and 32, Boise Meridian and were part of the Lucky 
Swede Land Exchange.
    Wonderful Peak Idaho Roadless Area #152. One parcel of land, 59 
acres, is added to Wonderful Peak roadless area and will be classified 
as Backcountry Restoration. These modifications occur in T47N, R6E, 
sections 19 and 20, Boise Meridian and were part of the Olson Wondeful 
Land Exchange.

Technical Correction to Theme Classifications

    Salmo-Priest Idaho Roadless Area #981. The Idaho Roadless Rule is 
modified to correct a mapping error. A small portion (65 acres) of the 
Salmo- Priest Idaho Roadless Area is changed from a Forest Plan Special 
Area to Wild Land Recreation. This change reflects the width of the 
eligible Wild and Scenic River (Hughes Fork) located in this section. 
These modifications occur in T63N, R5W, sections 5 and 6; T64N, R5W, 
sections 20, 28 and 29, Boise Meridian.
    Upper Priest Idaho Roadless Area #123. The Idaho Roadless Rule is 
modified to correct a mapping error. A small portion (112 acres) of the 
Upper Priest Roadless Area is changed from Backcountry/Restoration to a 
Forest Plan Special Area. This change reflects the width of the 
eligible Wild and Scenic River (Hughes Fork) located in this section. 
These proposed modifications occur in T62N, R4W, sections 6, 7 and 8; 
T62N, R5W, section 1; T63N, R5W, sections 12, 13, 16, 21, 28, 33, and 
34, Boise Meridian.

List of Subjects in 36 CFR Part 294

    National Forests, Navigation (air), Recreation areas, State 
petitions for inventoried roadless area management.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Forest Service 
amends part 294 of Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations as 
follows:

PART 294--SPECIAL AREAS

0
1. The authority citation for part 294 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  16 U.S.C. 472, 529, 551, 1608, 1613; 23 U.S.C. 201, 
205.

Subpart C--Idaho Roadless Area Management

0
2. Amend the table in Sec.  294.29 by adding a new entry for the 
Kootenai National Forest to read as follows:


Sec.  294.29  List of designated Idaho Roadless Areas.

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              Forest               Idaho roadless area            WLR        Primitive        BCR          GFRG          SAHTS         FPSA
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Kootenai.........................  Buckhorn Ridge.....          661   ............  ............            X   ............  ............  ............
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[[Page 33438]]

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     Dated: June 6, 2014.
Thomas L. Tidwell,
Chief, Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-13627 Filed 6-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P