[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 122 (Thursday, June 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36500-36501]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15618]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Assessment of Ecological/Social/Cultural/Economic Sustainability, 
Conditions, and Trends for the Lincoln National Forest

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of initiating the assessment phase of the Lincoln 
National Forest land management plan revision.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Lincoln National Forest, located in southern New Mexico, 
is initiating the forest planning process pursuant to the 2012 Forest 
Planning Rule. This process results in a Forest Land Management Plan 
which describes the strategic direction for management of forest 
resources for the next ten to fifteen years on the Lincoln National 
Forest. The first phase of the process, the assessment phase, is 
beginning, and interested parties are invited to contribute in the 
development of the assessment (36 CFR 219.6). The trends and conditions 
identified in the assessment will help in identifying the current 
plan's need for change and aid in the development of plan components. 
The Forest hosted a series of Community Conversations with stakeholders 
in March 2015. Additional public participation opportunities are 
forthcoming to discuss the assessment process. Information on these 
opportunities and all future public participation opportunities will be 
made available on the Lincoln Plan Revision Web site (see link below).

DATES: A draft of the assessment report for the Lincoln National Forest 
is expected to be completed by early summer 2016 and will be posted on 
the following Web site, www.fs.usda.gov/goto/lincolnforestplan.
    The Lincoln National Forest is currently inviting the public to 
engage in a collaborative process to identify relevant information and 
local knowledge to be considered for the assessment. Once the 
assessment is completed, the Forest will initiate procedures pursuant 
to the 2012 Planning Rule and the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) to prepare a forest plan revision.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions concerning this notice should 
be addressed to: Lincoln National Forest, Attn: Sabrina Flores, 3463 
Las Palomas, Alamogordo, NM 88310.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sabrina Flores, Forest Planner, 575-
434-7200. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-
877-8339 between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. 
More information on the planning process can also be found on the 
Lincoln National Forest Web site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/lincolnforestplan.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 
1976 requires that every National Forest System (NFS) unit develop a 
land management plan. On April 9, 2012, the Forest Service finalized 
its land management planning rule (2012 Planning Rule), which provides 
broad programmatic direction to National Forests and National 
Grasslands for developing and implementing their land management plans. 
Forest plans describe the strategic direction for management of forest 
resources for fifteen years, and are adaptive and amendable as 
conditions change over time.
    Under the 2012 Planning Rule, the assessment of ecological, social, 
cultural, and economic trends and conditions is the first stage of the 
planning process. The second stage is a plan development and decision 
process guided, in part, by the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) 
and includes the preparation of a draft environmental impact statement 
and revised Forest Plan for public review and comment, and the 
preparation of the final environmental impact statement and revised 
Forest Plan, subject to the objection process 36 CFR part 219 Subpart B 
prior to final plan approval. The third stage of the process is 
monitoring and feedback, which is ongoing over the life of the revised 
forest plans.
    With this notice, the agency invites other governments, non-
governmental parties, and the public to contribute to the development 
of the assessment report. The assessment will rapidly evaluate existing 
information about relevant ecological, economic, cultural and social 
conditions, trends, and sustainability within the context of the 
broader landscape. It will help inform the planning process through the 
use of Best Available Scientific Information, while also taking into 
account other forms of knowledge, such as local information, national 
perspectives, and native knowledge. Lastly, the assessment provides 
information that will help to identify the need to change the existing 
1986 plan. Public engagement as part of the assessment phase supports 
the development of relationships of key stakeholders throughout the 
plan revision process, and is an essential step to understanding 
current conditions, available data, and feedback needed to support a 
strategic, efficient planning process.
    As public meetings, public review and comment periods and other

[[Page 36501]]

opportunities for public engagement are identified to assist with the 
development of the forest plan revision, public announcements will be 
made. Notifications will be posted on the Forest's Web site at 
www.fs.usda.gov/goto/lincolnforestplan and information will be sent out 
to the Forest's mailing list. If anyone is interested in being on the 
Forest's mailing list to receive these notifications, please contact 
Sabrina Flores, Forest Planner, at the mailing address identified 
above, or by sending an email to [email protected]. In 
compliance with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), please be 
advised that all information provided with your comments will become 
part of the public record and will be available for public inspection. 
This includes your name and all contact information provided.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for the revision of the land management 
plan for the Lincoln National Forest is Travis Moseley, Forest 
Supervisor, Lincoln National Forest, 3463 Las Palomas, Alamogordo, NM 
88310.

    Dated: June 15, 2015.
Travis G. Moseley,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2015-15618 Filed 6-24-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P