[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 23 (Thursday, February 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5983-5984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02104]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Assessment Report of Ecological, Economic and Social Conditions, 
Trends and Sustainability for the Custer Gallatin National Forest, 
Carbon, Carter, Gallatin, Madison, Meagher, Park, Powder River, 
Rosebud, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Counties, Montana, and Harding 
County, South Dakota

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of initiating the assessment phase of the forest plan 
revision for the Custer Gallatin National Forest.

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SUMMARY: The Custer Gallatin National Forest, located in southern 
Montana and northwest South Dakota, is initiating the first phase of 
the forest planning process pursuant to the 2012 National Forest System 
Land Management Planning rule (36 CFR part 219). This process will 
result in a revised forest land management plan (Forest Plan) which 
describes the strategic direction for management of forest resources on 
the Custer Gallatin National Forest for the next ten to fifteen years. 
The planning process encompasses three-stages: assessment, plan 
revision, and monitoring. The first stage of the planning process 
involves assessing ecological, social, and economic conditions of the 
planning area, which is documented in an assessment report.
    The Forest is inviting the public to contribute in the development 
of the Assessment. The Forest will be hosting public forums near the 
end of February into early March 2016 with a second set of meetings 
forthcoming in June 2016. We will invite the public to share 
information relevant to the assessment including existing information, 
current trends, and local knowledge. Public engagement opportunities 
associated with the development of the Assessment will be announced on 
the Web site cited below.

DATES: From January 2016 through August 2016, the public is invited to 
participate in the development of the Assessment. The draft assessment 
report for the Custer Gallatin National Forest is

[[Page 5984]]

being initiated and is expected to be available in August 2016 on the 
Forest Web site at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/land/custergallatin/landmanagement.
    Following completion of the assessment, the Forest will initiate 
procedures pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to 
prepare and evaluate a revised forest plan.

ADDRESSES: Written correspondence can be sent to Custer Gallatin 
National Forest, P.O. Box 130, Bozeman, MT 59771, or sent via email to 
[email protected]. All correspondence, including names and 
addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for 
public inspection and copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Virginia Kelly, Forest Plan Revision 
Team Leader at 406-587-6704. 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 time), Monday through Friday.
    More information on the planning process can also be found on the 
Custer Gallatin National Forest Planning Web site at http://www.fs.usda.gov/land/custergallatin/landmanagement.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Forest Management Act (NFMA) of 
1976 requires that every National Forest System (NFS) unit develop a 
land management plan (LMP). On April 9, 2012, the Forest Service 
finalized its land management planning rule (2012 Planning Rule, 36 CFR 
part 291), which describes requirements for the planning process and 
the content of the land management plans. Forest plans describe the 
strategic direction for management of forest resources for ten to 
fifteen years, and are adaptive and amendable as conditions change over 
time. Pursuant to the 2012 Forest Planning Rule (36 CFR part 219), the 
planning process encompasses three-stages: assessment, plan revision, 
and monitoring. The first stage of the planning process involves 
assessing social, economic, and ecological conditions of the planning 
area, which is documented in an assessment report. This notice 
announces the start of the initial stage of the planning process, which 
is the development of the assessment report.
    The second stage, formal plan revision, involves the development of 
our Forest Plan in conjunction with the preparation of an Environmental 
Impact Statement under the NEPA. Once the plan revision is completed, 
it will be subject to the objection procedures of 36 CFR part 219, 
subpart B, before it can be approved. The third stage of the planning 
process is the monitoring and evaluation of the revised plan, which is 
ongoing over the life of the revised plan.
    The assessment rapidly evaluates existing information about 
relevant ecological, economic, cultural and social conditions, trends, 
and sustainability and their relationship to land management plans 
within the context of the broader landscape. This information builds a 
common understanding prior to entering formal plan revision. The 
development of the assessment will include public engagement.
    With this notice, the Custer Gallatin National Forest invites other 
governments, non-governmental parties, and the public to contribute in 
assessment development. The intent of public engagement during 
development of the assessment is to identify as much relevant 
information as possible to inform the upcoming plan revision process. 
We encourage contributors to share material about existing conditions, 
trends, and perceptions of social, economic, and ecological systems 
relevant to the planning process. The assessment also supports the 
development of relationships with key stakeholders that will be used 
throughout the plan revision process
    As public meetings, other opportunities for public engagement, and 
public review and comment opportunities 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 
http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/custergallatin/ 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 Virginia Kelly at the address identified above, or by sending 
an email [email protected].

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for the revision of the land management 
plan for the Custer Gallatin National Forest is Mary Erickson, Forest 
Supervisor, Custer Gallatin National Forest.

    Dated: January 29, 2016.
Mary Erickson,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2016-02104 Filed 2-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-11-P