[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12139-12142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-05054]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Flathead National Forest, Montana; Revision of the Land 
Management Plan for the Flathead National Forest and an Amendment of 
the Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark, and Lolo National Forest Plans 
To Incorporate Relevant Direction From the Northern Continental Divide 
Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: As directed by the National Forest Management Act, the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, is preparing the Flathead 
National Forest's revised land management plan (forest plan) and an 
amendment to provide relevant direction from the Northern Continental 
Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy into the 
forest plans for the Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark and Lolo 
National Forests. The Forest Service will prepare a single 
environmental impact statement (EIS) for its revised forest plan and 
the amendment.
    This notice briefly describes the proposed action based on the need 
to change the existing plans, the nature of the decision to be made, 
and information concerning public participation. This notice also 
provides estimated dates for filing the EIS, the name and address of 
the responsible agency officials, and the individuals who can provide 
additional information. Finally, this notice identifies the applicable 
planning rule that will be used for completing the plan revision and 
amendment.
    The revised Flathead forest plan will supersede the existing forest 
plan that was approved by the Regional Forester in 1986, and amended 
more than 20 times since. The existing Flathead forest plan will remain 
in effect until the revised forest plan takes effect. The management 
direction pertaining to grizzly bear within the current forest plans of 
the Helena National Forest, approved by the Regional Forester in 1986; 
Kootenai National Forest, approved by the Regional Forester in

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2015; Lewis and Clark National Forest, approved by the Regional 
Forester in 1986; and Lolo National Forest, approved by the Regional 
Forester in 1986, as amended, will remain in effect until the proposed 
amendment takes effect.
    In response to this notice, we are asking for comments on the 
proposed action so we may refine the proposed action and identify 
possible alternatives to the proposed action.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the proposed action must be 
received by May 5, 2015. The draft EIS is expected in January 2016 and 
the final EIS is expected in June 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver written comments to the Flathead National 
Forest Supervisor's Office, Attn: Forest Plan Revision, 650 Wolfpack 
Way, Kalispell, Montana 59901. Comments may also be sent via email to 
[email protected] or via facsimile to (406) 758-5379. 
Further instructions for providing comments that will assist the 
planning team in reviewing comments can be found on the Flathead 
National Forest Web site www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/fpr.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Krueger, Forest Planner, Flathead 
National Forest, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, Montana 59901, (406) 758-
5243, or at [email protected]. Information regarding the 
Flathead NF plan revision is available on the Forest's Plan Revision 
Web site at: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/fpr; information about the 
amendment is available at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/gbamend.
    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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service is preparing the Flathead National Forest 
revised land management plan (forest plan) and an amendment to provide 
relevant direction from the North Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) 
Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy into the forest plans for the 
Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark and Lolo National Forests. The full 
proposed action for the Flathead National Forest's revised forest plan 
includes forest-wide, geographic area, and management area desired 
conditions, objectives, standards, guidelines, and the suitability of 
lands for specific multiple uses, including, for example, those lands 
suitable for timber production. The proposed action includes estimates 
of the long-term sustained yield and planned sale quantity for the 
forest. The proposed action includes a description of the plan area's 
distinctive roles and contributions within the broader landscape, the 
identification of priority restoration watersheds, and suitability of 
national forest lands to support a variety of proposed and possible 
actions that may occur on the plan area over the life of the plan. The 
proposed action also identifies a monitoring program. The proposed 
action includes 188,206 acres to be recommended to Congress for 
inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System and 22 rivers 
for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Need for Action

    The need for the proposed action is twofold: (1) Significant 
changes have occurred in conditions and demands since the Flathead's 
1986 Forest Plan and (2) to ensure the adequacy of regulatory 
mechanisms regarding habitat protection across the national forests in 
the NCDE in support of the de-listing of the grizzly bear. Several 
areas where changes are needed in the Flathead NF plan were brought to 
the forefront by the requirements of the 2012 Planning Rule for the 
National Forest System; findings from the development of the Assessment 
of the Flathead National Forest (a precursor document in the planning 
process that identified and evaluated the existing condition across the 
forest landscape); changes in conditions and demands since the 1986 
Forest Plan; and public concerns to date.
    The 2012 Planning Rule, which became effective May 9, 2012, 
requires inclusion of plan components, including standards or 
guidelines, that address social and economic sustainability, ecosystem 
services, and multiple uses integrated with the plan components for 
ecological sustainability and species diversity. Social and economic 
management direction is needed to provide people and communities with a 
range of social and economic benefits for present and future 
generations. As an example, since approval of the Flathead's 1986 
Forest Plan, the role of timber harvest in meeting ecosystem management 
and social and economic objectives has changed. The 2012 Planning Rule 
requires the Forest to undertake a process to identify lands within the 
plan area for timber production suitability, and from this process, the 
Forest will develop plan components for lands suitable for timber 
production and for lands where timber harvest is appropriate for 
purposes other than timber production. To meet the Planning Rule's 
requirement to provide for ecological sustainability, management 
direction is needed that addresses ecosystem diversity (including key 
ecosystem characteristics and their integrity), in light of changes in 
climate, fuels, vegetation management strategies, and future 
environmental conditions. Revised plan components are needed that focus 
on maintaining or restoring vegetation and ecosystems to provide for 
species diversity including threatened and endangered species, species 
of conservation concern, and species of public interest. Additionally, 
comprehensive management direction is needed to address suitability of 
certain areas for particular uses, address access and sustainable 
recreation, provide for the management of existing and anticipated 
uses, as well as protect resources. During the plan revision process, 
the 2012 Planning Rule requires the Forest Service to undertake 
processes to identify and evaluate lands that may be suitable for 
inclusion on the National Wilderness Preservation System and identify 
eligible rivers for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
System.
    Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, federal agencies are 
directed to use their authorities to seek to conserve endangered and 
threatened species. The Canada lynx was listed as a threatened species 
in 2000. Since that time, the Flathead Forest Plan has been amended 
with the Northern Rockies Lynx Management Direction (USDA FS 2007), the 
USFWS designated and updated Canada lynx critical habitat (USDI FWS 
2009, 2014), and the Lynx Conservation and Assessment Strategy has been 
updated (Lynx Biology Team 2013). Thus, the Forest Plan needs to 
integrate recent and relevant information for Canada lynx to its plan.
    Habitat conditions and management on the Flathead, Helena, 
Kootenai, Lewis and Clark, and Lolo National Forests have contributed 
importantly to the increased population size and improved status of the 
grizzly bear across the NCDE. Supporting a healthy, recovered grizzly 
bear population will depend on continued, effective management of the 
NCDE grizzly bear's habitat. In 2013, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service's announced the availability of a draft Grizzly Bear 
Conservation Strategy for the NCDE population for public review and 
input. When finalized, the Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy will 
become the post-delisting management plan for the

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NCDE grizzly bear population and its habitat. By providing relevant 
direction from the NCDE Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy into forest 
plans, the Forest Service will be able to demonstrate to the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service that adequate regulatory mechanisms exist on 
national forests within the NCDE to support a delisted grizzly bear 
population. Under the transition provisions of the 2012 Forest Planning 
Rule (36 CFR 219.17), an amendment to a plan that was approved or 
revised under a prior planning regulation, may be initiated under the 
provisions of the prior planning regulation for 3 years after May 9, 
2012, and may be completed and approved under those provisions (36 CFR 
219.17 (b)(2)). The proposal is to amend the Helena, Kootenai, Lewis 
and Clark and Lolo National Forest plans under the 1982 planning 
regulations in effect prior to November 9, 2000 (see 36 CFR parts 200 
to 299, Revised as of July 1, 2000). Thus, under the transition 
provisions of the 2012 Forest Planning Rule, the Forest Service has the 
opportunity to carry out the amendments concurrently with the Flathead 
forest plan revision. The Flathead planning team, in addition to 
conducting the plan revision, is coordinating the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) effort for the amendment with the 
Kootenai, Lolo, Lewis and Clark and Helena National Forests to ensure 
that adequate regulatory mechanisms for habitat protections specific to 
the de-listing of the grizzly bear is consistent on National Forest 
System lands throughout the NCDE. Finally, public participation through 
scoping may identify other needs for change that will be considered 
during the plan revision.

Public Involvment for the Flathead Plan Revision

    The Flathead National Forest began public participation when 
developing the Assessment of the Flathead National Forest. To 
facilitate local participation, the Forest contracted with the U.S. 
Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution in 2012 to develop a 
collaborative stakeholder engagement process. The Institute conducted 
assessments with Forest Service employees and a representative group of 
key stakeholders to determine their willingness to engage in a 
collaborative process convened by a neutral, third party. The Meridian 
Institute was selected to serve in that capacity and facilitated 
numerous topical work groups, an interagency group, and meetings to 
bring together all work groups and interested citizens. Also, as part 
of the public involvement process, the Forest Service led field trips 
and held open house sessions to discuss existing information and trends 
related to a variety of conditions found on the forest. The information 
acquired from the public involvement process was used to help develop 
the Flathead NF forest plan revision proposed action.

Responsible Officials

    The responsible official who will approve the Record of Decision 
for the Flathead NF revised forest plan is Sharon Labreque, Acting 
Forest Supervisor for the Flathead National Forest, 650 Wolfpack Way, 
Kalispell, MT 59901, (406) 758-5208. The responsible officials who will 
approve the Record of Decision for the Amendment are: William Avey, 
Forest Supervisor for the Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests 
Supervisor's Office, 2880 Skyway Drive, Helena, MT 59602, (406) 449-
5201; Christopher S. Savage, Forest Supervisor for the Kootenai 
National Forest, 31374 U.S. Highway 2, Libby, MT 59923-3022, (406) 293-
6211; and Timothy Garcia, Forest Supervisor for the Lolo National 
Forest, 24 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59803, (406) 329-3750.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    For the Flathead forest plan revision, the responsible official 
will decide whether the required plan components (desired conditions, 
objectives, standards, guidelines) are sufficient to promote the 
ecological integrity and sustainability of the Flathead National 
Forest's ecosystems, watersheds, and diverse plant and animal 
communities. In addition, the responsible official will decide if the 
plan provides sufficient management guidance to contribute to social 
and economic sustainability, to provide people and communities with 
ecosystem services and multiple uses including a range of social, 
economic, and ecological benefits for the present and into the future. 
Standards, guidelines, and other direction related to conservation of 
threatened and endangered species, (e.g., the Canada lynx, grizzly 
bear, bull trout, and water howellia) will be evaluated for the 
Flathead National Forest in the EIS.
    For the amendment component of the proposed action, the responsible 
officials will decide whether desired conditions, standards, 
guidelines, and monitoring requirements relevant to national forest 
grizzly bear habitat management in the NCDE are necessary and 
appropriate to amend the Helena, Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo 
forest plans. The Kootenai National Forest Plan spans two grizzly bear 
ecosystems and the Lolo National Forest Plan spans three. The proposed 
action applies only to the NCDE. No changes in forest plan direction 
are being considered within the Cabinet-Yaak or Bitterroot recovery 
areas.
    This proposed action is programmatic in nature and guides future 
implementation of site-specific projects. Additional NEPA compliance 
would be required for site-specific projects as part of a two-stage 
decision making process (Council of Environmental Quality regulations 
for implementing NEPA; 40 CFR 1508.23, 42 U.S.C. 4322(2)(C)), 36 CFR 
219.7(f)).

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the EIS. We are seeking your input to continue to 
develop the Flathead NF revised plan and for NCDE grizzly bear habitat 
management for the four amendment forests. In addition to requesting 
comments specific to the Flathead NF proposed action, we are also 
seeking comments regarding the potential list of species of 
conservation concern, the identified recommended wilderness acres and 
eligible wild and scenic rivers, as well as other significant issues.
    The following community meetings are planned to provide additional 
information and address questions related to the revision and amendment 
proposed action:
     March 17, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Flathead National Forest 
Supervisors Office, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, MT 59901.
     March 19, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Riverstone Family Lodge, 
6370 US Hwy 93N, Eureka, MT 59917.
     April 7, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Seeley Lake Community 
Center, Seely Lake, MT 59868.
     April 8, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Fort Missoula Pavilion, 
Missoula, MT 59804.
     April 9, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Superior Ranger Station 
Conference Room, Superior, MT 59872.
     April 14, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Lincoln Community Hall, 
404 Main St., Lincoln, MT 59639.
     April 15, 2015, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Stage Stop Inn, 1005 Main 
Ave. North, Choteau, MT 59422.
    Changes to the meeting schedule will be communicated on the 
Flathead Forest Plan revision Web page at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/fpr, as well as the amendment Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/gbamend.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such manner that they are useful to the

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agency's preparation of the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided 
prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate 
the reviewer's concerns and contentions. Comments received in response 
to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who 
comment, will be part of the public record for this proposed action.

Decision Will Be Subject to Objection

    Only those individuals and entities who have submitted substantive 
formal comments related to the Flathead NF plan revision and the four 
amendments during the opportunities provided for public comment 
(beginning with this NOI), will be eligible to file an objection (36 
CFR 219.53(a)). The decision to approve the revised forest plan for the 
Flathead National Forest and the amendment for the Helena, Lewis and 
Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests will be subject to the 
objection process identified in 36 CFR part 219 subpart B (219.50 to 
219.62).

Documents Available for Review

    The Flathead National Forest plan revision Web site 
(www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/fpr) provides the full text of the 
proposed action, describing preliminary desired conditions, objectives, 
standards, guidelines, and other plan content; the 2014 Assessment; 
summaries of the public meetings and public meeting materials; and 
public comments. The forest plan amendment component of the proposed 
action for the Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark, and Lolo National 
Forests is located at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/gbamend, which can 
be linked from the individual Forest's Web sites as well. The material 
available on these sites may be updated or revised at any time as part 
of the planning process.
    The 2012 Planning Rule is explained in more detail on the Forest 
Service's Web site at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/planningrule/home/?cid=stelprdb5359471. The draft NCDE Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy 
is currently available on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Web site 
at http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/grizzly/continentalindex.html.

    Dated: February 26, 2015.
Sharon Labreque,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Flathead NF.
[FR Doc. 2015-05054 Filed 3-5-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P