[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 174 (Friday, September 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45411-45412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19468]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Revision of the Land Management Plan for the Colville National 
Forest in Washington State

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of the opportunity to object to the Revised Land 
Management Plan for the Colville National Forest.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service has prepared a Revised Land Management 
Plan (Forest Plan) for the Colville National Forest. The Forest Service 
has also prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and a 
Draft Record of Decision (ROD). This notice is to inform the public 
that a 60-day objection period is being initiated for individuals or 
entities who have submitted substantive formal comments related to the 
revision of the Forest Plan 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 Forest Plan, FEIS, Draft ROD, and other supporting 
documentation are available on the following web page: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/colville/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprd3824594.
    A legal notice of the initiation of the 60-day objection period is 
being published in The Seattle Times, which is the newspaper of record 
for Regional Forester decisions in the Pacific Northwest Region of the 
Forest Service in the state of Washington. The 60-day objection period 
will begin the day following the date of the publication of the legal 
notice in The Seattle Times. A copy of the legal notice will be posted 
on the 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 Colville Forest 
Plan.'' Electronic submissions must be submitted in a format (Word, 
PDF, or Rich Text) that is readable and searchable with optical 
character recognition software.

[[Page 45412]]

    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 Colville 
Plan.'' 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 Colville 
Forest Plan.''
    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: Holly Hutchinson, Team Leader, 765 S 
Main St., Colville, WA 99114, phone: (509) 684-7201.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The decision to approve the Revised Forest 
Plan 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 
Forest Plan 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 the requirements for objection. All objections must be filed, in 
writing, with the reviewing officer for the Revised Forest Plan. 
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 document(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 
document(s) to which the objection applies;
    (6) A concise statement explaining the objection and suggesting how 
the proposed Forest 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 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 ROD for the Revised Forest Plan.

Reviewing Officer

    Chris French, Associate Deputy Chief, is the delegated reviewing 
officer for the Chief of the Forest Service (36 CFR 219.56(e)(2)).

     Dated: August 29, 2018.
Chris French,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-19468 Filed 9-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P