[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47469-47471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18309]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Manti-La Sal National Forest; Utah; Revision of the Manti-La Sal 
National Forest Land Management Plan

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is revising the Land Management Plan 
(LMP) for the Manti-La Sal National Forest and preparing an 
environmental impact statement (EIS). This notice describes the 
documents available for review and how to obtain them; summarizes the 
need for change to the existing LMP; identifies where a preliminary 
draft LMP (detailed proposed action) can be obtained; provides 
information concerning public participation and collaboration, 
including the process for submitting comments; provides an estimated 
schedule for the planning process, including the time available for 
comments; and includes the names and addresses of agency contacts who 
can provide additional information.

DATES: Comments concerning the preliminary need for change and the 
proposed action will be most useful in the development of the revised 
LMP and draft EIS if received by October 25, 2021. The draft revised 
LMP and draft EIS are expected summer 2022, and the final revised LMP 
and final EIS are expected summer 2023.

ADDRESSES: Visit the Manti-La Sal National Forest's planning website 
at: www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning for 
instructions on submitting comments using a webform, the preferred 
approach. Written comments can also be sent to Manti-La Sal National 
Forest, Attn: Forest Plan, 599 West Price River Drive, Price, UT 84501, 
via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to (435) 637-
4940.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Autumn Ela, Forest Planner, Manti-La 
Sal National Forest, 599 West Price River Drive, Price, Utah 84501, 
435-210-1608 or [email protected].
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the hearing-
impaired (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, Monday 
through Friday. More information on the planning process, including 
access to the preliminary draft proposed plan, the preliminary need for 
change, the Wild and Scenic River Eligibility Report, and the 
Wilderness Evaluation Report may be found at www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Manti-La Sal National Forest is preparing an EIS to revise the 
existing LMP. The EIS process is meant to inform the forest supervisor 
so he can decide which alternative best maintains and restores 
terrestrial and aquatic resources while providing ecosystem services 
and multiple uses on National Forest System lands as required by the 
National Forest Management Act and the Multiple Use Sustained Yield 
Act.
    The revised LMP will describe the strategic intent of managing the 
Manti-La Sal National Forest for the next 10 to 15 years and will 
address the identified need for change to the existing LMP. The revised 
LMP will provide management direction in the form of desired 
conditions, objectives,

[[Page 47470]]

standards, guidelines, and suitability of lands.
    Identifying the types of decisions that will not be made within the 
revised LMP is important. The revised LMP will represent decisions that 
are strategic in natures but will not make site-specific project 
decisions and will not dictate the day-to-day administrative activities 
needed to carry on the Forest Service's internal operations. Although 
the authorization of project-level activities will be based on the 
guidance and direction contained in the revised LMP, analysis will 
occur through subsequent project-specific National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) analysis and decision-making.
    The revised LMP will provide broad, strategic guidance designed to 
supplement, not replace, overarching laws and regulations. Though 
strategic guidance will be provided, no decisions will be made 
regarding the management of individual roads or trails, such as those 
that might be associated with a travel management plan under 36 CFR 
212. Some issues (e.g., hunting regulations), although important, are 
beyond the authority or control of the National Forest System and will 
not be considered. No decision regarding oil and gas leasing 
availability will be made, though standards will be brought forward or 
developed that would serve as mitigation should an availability 
decision be necessary in the future.

Purpose and Need and Preliminary Need for Change

    According to the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), LMPs are to 
be revised on a 10- to 15-year cycle. The purpose and need for revising 
the current LMP is (1) the LMP is over 35 years old, (2) since the LMP 
was approved in 1986, there have been changes in economic, social, and 
ecological conditions, new policies and priorities, and new information 
based on monitoring and scientific research, and (3) to address the 
identified need for change to the existing LMP (summarized below). 
Extensive public and employee involvement and science-based evaluations 
have helped to identify the need for change to the existing LMP.
    The complete description of the preliminary need for change is 
available for review on the plan revision website at: www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning. The needs for change have been 
organized into four topics:

1. Legal and Regulatory Environment

    There is a need to change the current LMP to bring it into 
compliance with the law, regulation, and policy. Examples include the 
need to revise the plan every 15 years (NFMA 16 U.S.C. 1604(i)); there 
is a need to identify lands not suitable for timber production (NFMA 16 
U.S.C. 1604(k)); there is a need to inform the LMP with the best 
available scientific information (2012 Planning Rule at 219.3).

2. Resource Management Themes

    There is a need to change the current LMP to address numerous 
resource management themes identified by monitoring; by trends 
described in the assessment; and by public, cooperating agency, and 
tribal comments. Seven themes were identified: (1) Recreation 
Management; (2) Access and Transportation Infrastructure; (3) Watershed 
Health; (4) Forest Vegetation Management; (5) Rangeland Health; (6) 
Terrestrial and Aquatic Species Habitats; and (7) Energy and Minerals 
Management.

3. Social and Environmental Conditions

    There is a need to change the current LMP to address social and 
environmental conditions that have the potential to affect the National 
Forest. These items may not be under the agency's direct control but 
may influence our ability to effectively carry out our mission. Six 
conditions have been identified: (1) Areas of Tribal Importance: 
Maintain Tribal partnerships to protect traditional properties and 
uses; (2) Climate: Monitor effect of changing conditions on critical 
resources; (3) Cultural and Historic Resources: Avoid destabilizing and 
destroying sites by surveying and monitoring; (4) Invasive Species: 
Mitigate establishment and spread through treatment and monitoring; (5) 
Wildfire: Protect human health and safety while managing natural fire; 
and (6) Wildlife: Provide conditions to maintain populations while 
managing for multiple uses.

4. Topics the New LMP Will Not Cover

    A revised LMP does not commit the Manti-La Sal National Forest to 
any site-specific action, does not it change boundaries set by 
legislation or rulemaking, and does not affect valid existing rights.
    The preliminary need to change information has led to development 
of the ``Proposal to Revise the Land Management Plan.'' Public review 
and comments on these documents will help the Manti-La Sal National 
Forest's responsible official and planning team refine the need to 
change the LMP and develop a proposed revised LMP that will be analyzed 
in a draft EIS.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action is to revise the current LMP to address the 
above-identified needs for change to the existing LMP. Alternatives to 
the proposed action will be developed to address the significant issues 
that will be identified through scoping. In response to the above needs 
for change, a preliminary draft LMP has been developed. This more fully 
developed description of the proposed action is available for review 
at: www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Manti-La Sal National Forest is the lead agency for the 
environmental analysis process during the revision of the LMP. The 
following entities have been formally identified as cooperating 
agencies: Carbon, Grand, Juab, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, and Utah 
counties in Utah; Montrose County in Colorado; the State of Utah Public 
Lands Policy Coordination Office; Juab, Price River, San Juan, Sanpete, 
San Rafael, and Sevier Conservation Districts; Town of Castle Valley; 
cities of Monticello and Blanding; and the National Park Service. No 
formal agreements exist with Native American Tribes, but they are 
treated like cooperators because of their sovereign status.

Responsible Official

    Ryan Nehl, Forest Supervisor, Manti-La Sal National Forest

Scoping Comments and the Objection Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides 
the development of the EIS. Written comments received in response to 
this notice will be analyzed to complete the identification of the need 
for change to the existing LMP, further develop the proposed action 
(preliminary draft LMP) and identify potential significant issues. 
Significant issues will, in turn, form the basis for developing 
alternatives to the proposed action.
    Reviewers should provide comments at such times and in such a 
manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of the 
environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments are best provided 
prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate 
the reviewer's concerns and contentions. Comments received in response 
to this notice, including the names and addresses of persons and 
organizations who comment, will be part of the public record. Comments 
submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered, however, they

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will not be used to establish standing for the objection process. 
Additionally, anonymous comments will not provide the Manti-La Sal 
National Forest with the ability to provide the respondent with 
subsequent environmental documents.
    For information on when public meetings will be scheduled for 
refining the proposed action and identifying possible alternatives to 
the proposed action, refer to the website: www.fs.usda.gov/main/mantilasal/landmanagement/planning.
    The decision to approve the revised LMP for the Manti-La Sal 
National Forest will be subject to the objection process identified in 
36 CFR 219 subpart B (219.50 to 219.62). According to 36 CFR 219.53(a), 
parties eligible to file an objection are individuals and entities who 
have submitted substantive formal comments related to plan revision 
during the opportunities provided for public comment during the 
planning process. The burden is on the objector to demonstrate 
compliance with requirements for objections (36 CFR 219.53).

Applicable Planning Rule

    Preparation of the revised LMP for the Manti-La Sal National Forest 
began with the publication of a notice of assessment initiation in the 
Federal Register on July 29, 2016 (81 FR 49925) and was initiated under 
the planning procedures contained in the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 219 
(2012)).

    Dated: August 20, 2021.
Barnie Gyant,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2021-18309 Filed 8-24-21; 8:45 am]
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