[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 171 (Thursday, September 4, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52628-52629]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21092]


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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 was August 4, 
2014. The agency extended the comment period and published a notice in 
the Federal Register on August 1, 2014, extending the comment period to 
September 3, 2015. The Agency is extending the comment period; 
therefore, the comment period has been extended to October 3, 2014.

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

ADDRESSES: Send comments electronically by following the

[[Page 52629]]

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: Christopher Carlson, Watershed, Fish, 
Wildlife, Air and Rare Plants Staff and Minerals and Geology Management 
Staff, 202-205-1481. 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: August 29, 2014.
Thomas L. Tidwell,
Chief, Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-21092 Filed 9-3-14; 8:45 am]
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