[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 159 (Monday, August 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 50002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17661]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 159 / Monday, August 17, 2020 / 
Notices  

[[Page 50002]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Forest Service Handbook 5309.11, Chapter 30 Law Enforcement: 
Public Notice and Comment for Closures of National Forest System Lands 
to Hunting, Fishing, or Recreational Shooting

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of availability for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Forest 
Service (Forest Service), is issuing directives implementing the public 
notice and comment requirements for issuance of orders that temporarily 
or permanently close National Forest System lands to hunting, fishing, 
or recreational shooting, except in an emergency.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing by September 16, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The proposed directive may be reviewed at and comments may 
be submitted electronically to https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?project=ORMS-2312. Written comments may be mailed 
to Jamie Schwartz, National Program Manager, Shooting Sports, 
Recreation, Heritage, and Volunteer Resources, 201 14th Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20024. All timely received comments, including names and 
addresses, will be placed in the record and will be available for 
public inspection at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ReadingRoom?project=ORMS-2312.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie Schwartz, National Program 
Manager, Shooting Sports, 202-205-1589 or [email protected]. 
Individuals using telecommunication devices for the deaf may call the 
Federal Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service has determined that the 
definition of emergency contained in this proposed directive formulates 
a standard, criteria, or guideline applicable to Forest Service 
programs and is therefore subject to public notice and comment under 36 
CFR 216. Newly enacted section 4103 of the John D. Dingell, Jr., 
Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, Public Law 116-9, Title 
IV (section 4103), requires the Forest Service to provide advance 
notice of an opportunity for public comment as well as an opportunity 
for public comment before permanently or temporarily closing any 
National Forest Service lands to hunting, fishing, or recreational 
shooting, except in an emergency. The Forest Service is issuing 
directives in Law Enforcement and Investigations Handbook 5309.11, 
Chapter 30, that re-designate existing section 34 as section 35 and add 
a new section 34 to implement section 4103. New section 34 defines the 
term ``emergency'' for purposes of section 4103. The Forest Service has 
determined that the definition of ``emergency'' contained in the 
directives formulates a standard, criterion, or guideline applicable to 
a Forest Service program and is therefore publishing that definition 
for public comment under 36 CFR part 216. The Forest Service is seeking 
public comment only on the definition of ``emergency''. The Forest 
Service has determined that the remaining provisions in the directive 
do not formulate standards, criteria, or guidelines applicable to a 
Forest Service program and therefore are not subject to the notice and 
comment requirements under 36 CFR 216.
    After the public comment period closes, the Forest Service will 
consider timely comments that are within the scope of the proposed 
definition of emergency in the development of the final directive. A 
notice of the final directive, including a response to timely comments, 
will be posted on the Forest Service's web page at https://www.fs.fed.us/about-agency/regulations-policies/comment-on-directives.

Tina Johnna Terrell,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2020-17661 Filed 8-14-20; 8:45 am]
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