[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 221 (Monday, November 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73017-73018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25233]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Forest Service Manual (FSM) 3800, Zero Code; State and Private 
Forestry Landscape Scale Restoration Program

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States 
Forest Service (Agency), is issuing a proposed directive for the 
Agency's State and Private Forestry Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) 
Program. The Landscape Scale Restoration Program (LSR) is a USDA, 
Forest Service State and Private Forestry (S&PF) competitive grant 
program that promotes collaborative, science-based restoration of 
priority forest landscapes.

DATES: Comments must be received, in writing, on or before December 16, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically to https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?project=ORMS-2600. 
Written comments may be mailed to Steven Koehn, Director of Cooperative 
Forestry, State and Private Forestry, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20250-1124. All timely received comments, including 
names and addresses, will be placed in the record and will be available 
for public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments 
received at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ReadingRoom?project=ORMS-2600.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Haines, State and Private 
Forestry, National Program Specialist, 201 14th Street SW, Washington, 
DC 20250 (email: [email protected]; phone: 202-384-7192). 
Additional information about the Landscape Scale Restoration Program 
may be obtained on the internet at https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/private-land/landscape-scale-restoration.
    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 Standard Time, Monday through 
Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposed directive would set forth 
direction for the State and Private Forestry Landscape Scale 
Restoration Progam and would implement State and Private Forestry 
(S&PF) Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) Program as added by section 
8102 of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334 
(December 20, 2018)).
    This manual is a new addition to the 3000 State and Private 
Forestry series and sets forth policy, responsibilities, and 
programmatic direction for the Landscape Scale Restoration Program. The 
Forest Service is seeking public comment on all content within the 
proposed manual. Comment is also invited on the sufficiency of the 
proposed manual in meeting its stated objectives, ways to enhance the 
utility and clarity of information within the

[[Page 73018]]

manual, or ways to streamline processes outlined in the text.
    Forest Service National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures 
exclude from documentation in an environmental assessment or impact 
statement ``rules, regulations, or policies to establish servicewide 
administrative procedures, program processes, or instructions.'' 36 CFR 
220.6(d)(2). The Agency's conclusion is that these proposed directives 
fall within this category of actions and that no extraordinary 
circumstances exist as currently defined that require preparation of an 
environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement.
    The Forest Service has also determined that the changes to the 
manual formulate standards, criterion, or guidelines applicable to a 
Forest Service program and are therefore publishing the proposed manual 
for public comment in accordance with 36 CFR part 216. The Forest 
Service is seeking public comment on the proposed directives, including 
the sufficiency of the proposed directives in meeting its stated 
objectives, ways to enhance the utility and clarity of information 
within the direction, or ways to streamline processes outlined.
    After the public comment period closes, the Forest Service will 
consider timely comments that are within the scope of the proposed 
directives in the development of the final directives. 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.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.

John Crockett,
Associate Deputy Chief, State and Private Forestry.
[FR Doc. 2020-25233 Filed 11-13-20; 8:45 am]
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