[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 44738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18219]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 148 / Friday, August 1, 2014 / 
Notices  

[[Page 44738]]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

RIN 0596-AC51


Extension of Comment Period on the Proposed Directive on 
Groundwater Resource Management, Forest Service Manual 2560

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of proposed directive; Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service published a notice in the Federal Register 
on May 6, 2014, initiating a 90-day comment period on the Proposed 
Directive on Groundwater Resource Management, Forest Service Manual 
2560. The closing date for that 90-day comment period is August 4, 
2014. The Agency is extending the comment period; therefore, the 
comment period has been extended to September 3, 2014.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 3, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send comments electronically by following the instructions 
at the Federal eRulemaking portal at http://www.regulation.gov. 
Comments may also be submitted by electronic mail to [email protected] 
or by mail to Groundwater Directive Comments, USDA Forest Service, 
Attn: Rob Harper--WFWARP, 201 14th Street SW., Washington, DC 20250. If 
comments are sent electronically, the public is requested not to send 
duplicate comments by mail. Please confine comments to issues pertinent 
to the proposed directive; explain the reasons for any recommended 
changes; and, where possible, refer to the specific wording being 
addressed. All comments, including names and addresses when provided, 
will be placed in the record and will be available for public 
inspection and copying. The public may inspect the comments received on 
the proposed directive at the USDA Forest Service Headquarters, located 
in the Yates Federal Building at 201 14th Street SW., Washington, DC, 
on regular business days between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Those wishing 
to inspect the comments are encouraged to call ahead at (202) 205-0967 
to facilitate entry into the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Troy Thompson, Watershed, Fish, 
Wildlife, Air and Rare Plants Staff and Minerals and Geology Management 
Staff, (414) 297-3622. Individuals who use telecommunication devices 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 
(800) 877-8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, 
Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service proposes to amend its 
internal Agency directives for Watershed and Air Management to 
establish direction for management of groundwater resources on National 
Forest System (NFS) lands as an integral component of watershed 
management. Specifically, the proposed amendment would provide 
direction on the consideration of groundwater resources in agency 
activities, approvals, and authorizations; encourage source water 
protection and water conservation; establish procedures for reviewing 
new proposals for groundwater withdrawals on NFS lands; require the 
evaluation of potential impacts from groundwater withdrawals on NFS 
resources; and provide for measurement and reporting for some larger 
groundwater withdrawals. This proposed amendment would supplement 
existing special uses and minerals and geology directives to address 
issues of groundwater resource management and would help ensure 
consistent and adequate analyses for evaluating potential uses of NFS 
lands that could affect groundwater resources. Public comment is 
invited and will be considered in development of the final directive. 
The Forest Service wants to ensure that there is sufficient time for 
potentially affected parties, including States, to comment. Thus the 
Agency is providing an extended comment period for the proposed 
directive.
    In addition, the Forest Service may host meetings and/or webinars 
as needed on the proposed directive to present information and answer 
questions on the proposed policy and the comment process during the 
comment period. Specific information regarding the dates and times of 
the webinar will be announced by news release and at the following Web 
site: http://www.fs.fed.us/geology/groundwater. A recording of the 
webinar may also be posted on the Web site.
    Reviewers may obtain a copy of the proposed directive from the 
Forest Service Minerals and Geology Management Staff Web site, http://www.fs.fed.us/geology/groundwater, or from the Regulations.gov Web 
site, http://www.regulations.gov.

    Dated: July 29, 2014.
Thomas L. Tidwell,
Chief, Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-18219 Filed 7-31-14; 8:45 am]
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