[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30101-30102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13792]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Revision of the Land Management Plans for the Malheur, Umatilla, 
and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho 
States

AGENCY: USDA Forest Service.

ACTION: Notice of the opportunity to object to the Revised Land 
Management Plans for the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman 
National Forests.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service has prepared Revised Land Management 
Plans (Forest Plans) for the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman 
National Forests (also termed the Blue Mountains Forests). The Forest 
Service has also prepared a single Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS) and a combined Draft Record of Decision. This notice is to 
inform the public that a 60-day objections period is being initiated 
for individuals or entities who have submitted substantive formal 
comments related to the revision of the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-
Whitman Forest Plans during the opportunities for public comment 
provided during the planning process for that decision. Objections must 
be based on previously submitted substantive formal comments attributed 
to the objector unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after 
the opportunities for formal comment.

DATES: The Revised Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman Forest Plans, 
FEIS, Draft Record of Decision, and other supporting documentation are 
available on the following web page: http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/BlueMountainsPlanRevision.
    A legal notice of the initiation of the 60-day objection period is 
being published in The Oregonian, which is the newspaper of record for 
Regional Forester decisions in the Pacific Northwest Region of the 
Forest Service. The 60-day objection period will begin the day 
following the date of the publication of the legal notice in The 
Oregonian. A copy of the legal notice will be posted on web page listed 
above.

ADDRESSES: Electronic objections must be submitted to the Objection 
Reviewing Officer via email to [email protected], with a 
subject line stating: ``Objection regarding the Revised Blue Mountains 
Forest Plans.'' Electronic submissions must be submitted in a format 
(Word, PDF, or Rich Text) that is readable and searchable with optical 
character recognition software.
    Faxed objections must be sent and addressed to ``Chris French, 
Objection Reviewing Officer'' at (202) 649-1172 and must include a 
subject line stating: ``Objection regarding the Revised Blue Mountains 
Forest Plans.'' The fax coversheet should specify the number of pages 
being submitted.
    Hardcopy objections may be submitted by regular mail, private 
carrier, or hand delivery to the following address: USDA Forest 
Service, Attn: Chris French, Objection Reviewing Officer, 1400 
Independence Ave. SW, EMC-PEEARS, Mailstop 1104, Washington, DC 20250. 
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
excluding Federal holidays. Hardcopy submissions must include a subject 
line on page one stating: ``Objection regarding the Revised Blue 
Mountains Forest Plans.''
    Individuals who need to use telecommunication devices for the deaf 
(TDD) to transmit objections 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Team Leader, Peter Fargo, 1550 Dewey 
Ave., Suite A, Baker City, OR 97814, (541) 523-1231.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The decision to approve the Revised Malheur, 
Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman Forest Plans will be subject to the 
objection process identified in 36 CFR part 219 subpart B (219.50 to 
219.62). Individuals and entities who have submitted substantive formal 
comments related to the revision of the Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-
Whitman Forest Plans during the opportunities for public comment, as 
provided in 36 CFR part 219 subpart A, during the planning process for 
that decision may file an objection. Objections must be based on 
previously submitted substantive formal comments attributed to the 
objector unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the 
opportunities for formal comment. The burden is on the objector to 
demonstrate compliance with requirements for objection. All objections 
must be filed, in writing, with the reviewing officer for the Revised 
Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman Forest Plans. Objections 
received in response to this solicitation, including names and 
addresses of those who object, will be considered part of the public 
record on these proposed actions and will be available for public 
inspection. At a minimum, an objection must include the following (36 
CFR 219.54(c)):
    (1) The objector's name and address along with a telephone number 
or email address if available. In cases where no identifiable name is 
attached to an objection, the Forest Service will attempt to verify the 
identity of the objector to confirm objection eligibility;
    (2) Signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a 
scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection);
    (3) Identification of the lead objector, when multiple names are 
listed on an objection. The Forest Service will communicate to all 
parties to an objection through the lead objector. Verification of the 
identity of the lead objector must also be provided if requested;
    (4) The name of the Plan Revision(s) being objected to, and the 
name and title of the responsible official;
    (5) A statement of the issues and/or parts of the Plan Revision(s) 
to which the objection applies;
    (6) A concise statement explaining the objection and suggesting how 
the proposed plan decision may be improved. If the objector believes 
that the plan revision is inconsistent with law, regulation, or policy, 
an explanation should be included;
    (7) A statement that demonstrates the link between the objector's 
prior substantive formal comments and the content of the objection, 
unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the 
opportunities for formal comment; and
    (8) All documents referenced in the objection (a bibliography is 
not sufficient), except that the following need not be provided:
    a. All or any part of a Federal law or regulation,
    b. Forest Service Directive System documents and land management 
Plans or other published Forest Service documents,
    c. Documents referenced by the Forest Service in the planning 
documentation related to the proposal subject to objection, and
    d. Formal comments previously provided to the Forest Service by the 
objector during the plan revision comment period.
    Prior to the issuance of the reviewing officer's written response, 
either the reviewing officer or the objector may request to meet to 
discuss issues raised in the objection. Interested persons who wish to 
participate in meetings to discuss issues raised by objectors must have 
previously submitted substantive formal comments related to the 
objection issues. Interested persons

[[Page 30102]]

must file a request to participate as an interested person within 10 
days after legal notice of objections received has been published. 
Requests must be sent to the same email or address identified for 
filing objections, above, and the interested person must identify the 
specific issues they have interest in discussing. During the objection 
meeting, interested persons will be able to participate in discussions 
related to issues on the agenda that they have listed in their request 
to be an interested person.

Responsible Official

    The Regional Forester for the Pacific Northwest Region (1220 SW 3rd 
Avenue, Portland, OR 97204, (503) 808-2200) is the responsible official 
who will approve the final Records of Decision for the Revised Malheur, 
Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman Forest Plans.

Reviewing Officer

    The Associate Deputy Chief for the National Forest System is the 
delegated reviewing officer for the Chief of the Forest Service (36 CFR 
219.56(e)(2)).

    Dated: May 30, 2018.
Chris French,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-13792 Filed 6-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P