[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 74 (Thursday, April 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21175-21176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07965]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Revision of the Land Management Plan for the Chugach National 
Forest

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of approval of the Revised Land Management Plan for 
Chugach National Forest.

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SUMMARY: Jeff E. Schramm, the Forest Supervisor for the Chugach 
National Forest, Alaska Region, has signed the Record of Decision (ROD) 
for the Revised Land Management Plan (Land Management Plan) for the 
Chugach National Forest. The ROD documents the rationale for approving 
the Land Management Plan and is consistent with the Objection Review 
Official's response to objections and instructions.

DATES: The Revised Land Management Plan for the Chugach National Forest 
will become applicable May 18, 2020 (36 CFR 219.17(a)(1)). To view the 
final ROD, final environmental impact statement (FEIS), the Revised 
Land Management Plan, and other related documents, please visit the 
Chugach National Forest Revision project website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=40816. A legal notice of approval is 
also being published in Chugach National Forest's newspaper of record, 
the Anchorage Daily News. A copy of this legal notice will be posted on 
the website listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Fitz-Enz, Forest Planner, 
Chugach National Forest at 907-743-9595 or [email protected]. 
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. 
Written requests for information may be sent to the Chugach National 
Forest, ATTN. David Fitz-Enz, Chugach National Forest Supervisor's 
Office, 161 E 1st Ave., Door 8, Anchorage, AK 99501.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest encompasses 5.4 million acres in 
Southcentral Alaska and includes a 1.9-million-acre Wilderness Study 
Area (WSA). Inventoried roadless areas comprise 99% of the Chugach 
National Forest. Glaciers cover 30% of the Chugach National Forest and 
20% is forested. From its largely intact ecosystems, the Chugach 
National Forest plays a key role in supporting local economies with 
abundant populations of Pacific salmon and wildlife, forest products, 
fuelwood, diverse recreation opportunities, mining, subsistence, and 
clean air and water. Between its contributions to commercial salmon 
harvests, recreation opportunities, fishing, hunting, and special use 
authorizations, the Forest generates over 4,000 jobs, worth 
approximately $36 million to local economies annually.
    Since 2012, the Chugach National Forest has worked with Alaska 
Native Tribes, Alaska Native Corporations, the State of Alaska, local 
communities, and the public to develop a plan that supports local 
economies, reduces community wildfire risk, supports adaptive 
management, and prioritizes ecosystem health and resilience to 
stressors such as drought and climate variability. The Land Management 
Plan fosters collaborative relationships, facilitates special use 
permitting, assures access, emphasizes hazardous fuels management, 
maintains properly functioning watersheds, supports subsistence and 
traditional uses, identifies 1.4 million acres to recommend for 
inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System within the 
WSA, carries forward the 2002 National Wild and Scenic Rivers System 
recommendation, and provides for the viability and persistence of two 
species of conservation concern within the planning area.
    The Chugach National Forest released its FEIS, 2019 Land Management 
Plan, and draft ROD on August 30, 2019. The 60-day objection period 
ended on October 29, 2019. The Forest Service received 43 eligible 
objections. The Objection Review Official issued his written responses 
to the objection issues on January 27, 2020. The Regional Forester 
(Objection Review Official) provided the Forest Supervisor with 
instruction to add rationale in errata to the FEIS or final ROD, define 
and describe actions more clearly in the Land Management Plan and ROD, 
and remove and modify some plan components in the Land Management Plan.
    As instructed by the Objection Review Official, the Forest modified 
the FEIS (through errata in the ROD), the Land Management Plan, the 
ROD, and the planning record. All modifications are completed and are 
responsive to issues

[[Page 21176]]

the public identified, particularly issues identified by the State of 
Alaska, Alaska Native Tribes, and Alaska Native Corporations. 
Modifications include deleting, editing, and adding plan components and 
clarifying language in the FEIS, Land Management Plan, and ROD.
    The final ROD to approve the Revised Land Management Plan for 
Chugach National Forest has now been signed by the Responsible Official 
and is available at the website listed above.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for the revision of the Land Management 
Plan for the Chugach National Forest is Jeff E. Schramm, the Forest 
Supervisor, Chugach National Forest, 161 E 1st Ave., Door 8, Anchorage, 
AK 99501.

Allen Rowley,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2020-07965 Filed 4-15-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P