[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 2096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00538]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Final Record of Decisions for Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle 
National Forest Land Management Plans

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of plan approval for the Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle 
National Forests.

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SUMMARY: Regional Forester Faye Krueger signed the final Record of 
Decisions (RODs) for the Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National Forests 
revised Land Management Plans (Plans) on January 5, 2015. The Final 
RODs document the Regional Forester's decision and rationale for 
approving the revised Plans.

DATES: The effective date of the Plans is February 17, 2015. To view 
the final RODs, FEIS and revised Plans please visit the Kootenai 
National Forest Web site at http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/kootenai or 
Idaho Panhandle National Forest Web site at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/ipnf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information about the Kootenai 
National Forest's revised Plan can be obtained from Chris Savage during 
normal office hours (weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time) at 
the Kootenai National Forest Supervisor's Office (Address: Kootenai 
National Forest, 31374 US Highway 2, Libby, MT 59923-3022); Phone/
voicemail: (406) 293-6211.
    Further information about the Idaho Panhandle National Forests' 
revised Plan can be obtained from Mary Farnsworth during normal office 
hours (weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time) at the Idaho 
Panhandle National Forests Supervisor's Office (Address: Idaho 
Panhandle National Forests, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur D'Alene, ID 
83815); Phone/voicemail: (208) 765-7369.
    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: The revised Plans describe desired 
conditions, include objectives, standards and guidelines, and identify 
lands suitable for various uses. The Plans will guide project and 
activity decision making and all resource management activities on the 
Forests for the next 15 years. They are part of the long-range resource 
planning framework established by the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 
Resources Planning of 1974 (RPA), the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), and the 2012 Revision of the USDA Forest 
Service Strategic Plan.
    The development of the revised Forest Plans spanned more than 13 
years and was shaped by the best available science, current laws, 
public input from numerous public meetings and open houses, and more 
than 100 community-based work group sessions. These open meetings 
identified the core values of local communities regarding natural 
resource management and highlighted the many points of agreement that 
exist among diverse participants. Our national forests face many new 
challenges including increasing demands for multiple uses, increasing 
population pressures and development of neighboring lands. The revised 
Plans lay the foundation to address and balance the economic, 
ecological and social needs of forest stakeholders, while continuing 
the legacy of protecting water and restoring forest health. The Plans 
are designed to facilitate management that will: Supply clean water, 
provide economic opportunities for local communities, restore and 
maintain ecosystems, improve the resistance and resiliency of the 
forest vegetation to undesirable disturbances and potential climate 
change effects, offer a diversity of recreation opportunities including 
remote settings, and utilize best available science.

    Dated: January 8, 2015.
Faye Krueger,
Regional Forester.
[FR Doc. 2015-00538 Filed 1-14-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P