[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 244 (Friday, December 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 82432-82433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27945]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Forest Service Manual 2200, Chapters Zero, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 
70; Forest Service Handbook 2209.13, Chapters 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 
70, 80 and 90; and Forest Service Handbook 2209.16, Chapter 10; 
Rangeland Management; Public Notice and Comment for Changes to Forest 
Service Directives

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Issuance of proposed directives; notice of availability for 
public comment.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United 
States Forest Service (Forest Service), is publishing for public 
comment proposed revisions to directives governing rangeland 
management, grazing permit administration, and grazing allotment 
administration.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing by February 16, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically to https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?project=ORMS-2514. 
Written comments may be mailed to U.S. Forest Service, Director, Forest 
Management, Range Management and Vegetation Ecology, 201 14th Street 
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.ecosystemmanagement.org/Public/ReadingRoom?project=ORMS-2514.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Myra Black, Program Manager, Forest 
Management, Range Management and Vegetation Ecology, at 202-650-7365, 
or by electronic mail to [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 directives proposed for revision are the 
primary source of administrative direction to Forest Service employees 
regarding the rangeland management program and have been in place for 
approximately 30 years. The proposed revisions would make the 
directives easier to use, current, and consistent with recent 
legislation. The updates would provide greater management flexibility 
and would enhance the clarity of policies and procedures

[[Page 82433]]

applicable to the rangeland management program.
    The proposed directives would update Forest Service Manual 2200, 
Rangeland Management, Chapters Zero, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 70; Forest 
Service Handbook (FSH) 2209.13, Grazing Permit Administration, Chapters 
10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 and 90; and FSH 2209.16, Allotment 
Administration, Chapter 10. Some of the proposed revisions to the 
directives formulate standards, criteria, or guidelines applicable to 
the rangeland management program and are therefore subject to public 
notice and comment per 36 CFR part 216. Other proposed revisions do not 
require public notice and comment under 36 CFR part 216 because they do 
not formulate standards, criteria, and guidelines applicable to the 
rangeland management program. Examples include revisions to conform to 
recent legislation and clarifying changes such as modifying 
terminology. These proposed revisions are interspersed throughout the 
chapters and are not specifically identified in the directives posted 
on the Agency's website. The Forest Service is publishing all of the 
proposed revisions for public comment. 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 proposed directives and additional information on the proposed 
directives can be found at https://www.fs.fed.us/rangeland-management/directives.shtml. The additional information describes the purpose of 
the directives and why they are being updated and includes documents 
that will assist with review of the proposed directives and a schedule 
of informational webinars on the proposed directives.
    After the public comment period closes, the Forest Service will 
consider timely and relevant comments in the development of the final 
directives. A notice of the final directives, including a response to 
timely and relevant 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 Johna Terrell,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2020-27945 Filed 12-17-20; 8:45 am]
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