[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 59 (Monday, March 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17136-17137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06857]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

RIN 0596-AD27


Mitigation of Adverse Impacts

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Request for information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service, is 
developing Agency policy concerning mitigation of adverse impacts. The 
Agency is hosting a webinar for all interested members of the public to 
share information concerning its goals and objectives for the 
mitigation policy, and the anticipated timeline for developing the 
policy. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide 
feedback.

DATES: A webinar will be held for interested members of the general 
public on Wednesday, April 6, 2016, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Eastern 
Daylight Time/10:00-11:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

ADDRESSES:  The webinar will be held via Adobe Connect web conferencing 
software. To access the presentation, enter the following URL into any 
Flash-enabled web browser: https://usfs.adobeconnect.com/emc-faca/. 
Audio-only access is available toll-free by calling (888) 844-9904 and 
entering the following access code: 4941314.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Carlson, Acting Mitigation 
Coordinator, Ecosystem Management Coordination (202) 205-1481, 
[email protected]. Individuals who use telecommunication devices 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service 
(FIRS) at (800) 877-8339 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern 
Daylight Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this RFI is to inform the 
public about and gather input on the Agency's forthcoming policy on 
mitigating adverse impacts. The webinar is open to the public. The 
agenda will include time for participants to ask clarifying questions 
and provide input in writing during the webinar. Written input 
following the webinar must be sent to Mitigation Policy Input, USDA 
Forest Service, Ecosystem Management Coordination, 201 14th Street Mail 
Stop 1104, Washington, DC 20250-1104; or by email at 
[email protected].
    The November 3, 2015 Presidential Memorandum: Mitigating Impacts on 
Natural Resources from Development and Encouraging Related Private 
Investment directs the Forest Service ``to avoid and then minimize 
harmful effects to land, water, wildlife, and other ecological 
resources (natural resources) caused by land- or water-disturbing 
activities, and to ensure that any remaining harmful effects are 
effectively addressed, consistent with existing mission and legal 
authorities.'' To that end, the Memorandum instructs the Agency to 
``adopt a clear and consistent approach for avoidance and minimization 
of, and compensatory mitigation for, the impacts of their activities 
and the projects they approve'' through directives and a regulation.
    The Memorandum will be implemented by the Forest Service initially 
through an agency regulation addressing adverse impacts on natural 
resources through avoiding and minimizing impact, and then compensating 
for those impacts that do occur to important or sensitive resources. 
The objective of these efforts

[[Page 17137]]

is to ensure clarity, improved transparency, and consistency for 
proposed activities affecting landscapes. Those efforts include 
improving information sharing and mitigation support tools by working 
with other Federal agencies, States, Tribes, and partners to identify 
and share information in order to define natural resources baselines 
and monitor the effectiveness of mitigation actions.

    Dated: March 21, 2016.
Brian Ferebee,
Associate Deputy Chief of National Forest System, U.S. Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-06857 Filed 3-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P