[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4552-4553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01772]


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 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
 appearing in this section.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 19 / Friday, January 28, 2022 / 
Notices  

[[Page 4552]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Directive Publication Notice

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides 
direction to employees through issuances in its Directive System, 
comprised of the Forest Service Manual and Forest Service Handbooks. 
The Agency must provide public notice of and opportunity to comment on 
any directives that formulate standards, criteria, or guidelines 
applicable to Forest Service programs. Once per quarter, the Agency 
provides advance notice of proposed and interim directives that will be 
made available for public comment during the next three months and 
notice of final directives issued in the last three months.

DATES: This notice identifies proposed and interim directives that will 
be published for public comment between January 1, 2022, and March 31, 
2022; proposed and interim directives that were previously published 
for public comment but not yet finalized and issued; and final 
directives that have been issued since October 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Questions or comments may be provided by email to 
[email protected] or in writing to 201 14th Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20250, Attn: Directives and Regulations staff, Mailstop 
1132.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Goode at 202-740-6286 or 
[email protected].
    Individuals who use telecommunications devices for the deaf or hard 
of hearing (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800-877-
8339 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.
    You may register to receive email alerts at https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed and Interim Directives

    Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1612(a) and 36 CFR part 216, Public 
Notice and Comment for Standards, Criteria and Guidance Applicable to 
Forest Service Programs, the Forest Service publishes for public 
comment Agency directives that formulate standards, criteria, and 
guidelines applicable to Forest Service programs. Agency procedures for 
providing public notice and opportunity to comment are specified in 
Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 1109.12, Chapter 30, Providing Public 
Notice and Opportunity to Comment on Directives.
    The following proposed directive is planned for publication for 
public comment from January 1, 2022, to March 31, 2022:

Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2300, Chapter 55--Climbing Management

    The primary method of public outreach for this proposed directive 
is publication on the Forest Service website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies, publication in the 
Federal Register, use of the GovDelivery email service, and other 
Agency communications resources, which may include a press release, 
blog post, or social media.

Previously Published Directives That Have Not Been Finalized

    The following proposed and interim directives have been published 
for public comment but have not yet been finalized:

    1. FSM 2200, Rangeland Management, Chapters Zero Code; 2210, 
Rangeland Management Planning; 2220, Management of Rangelands 
(Reserved); 2230, Grazing Permit System; 2240, Rangeland 
Improvements; 2250, Rangeland Management Cooperation; and 2270, 
Information Management and Reports; FSH 2209.13, Grazing Permit 
Administration Handbook, Chapters 10, Term Grazing Permits; 20, 
Grazing Agreements; 30, Temporary Grazing and Livestock Use Permits; 
40, Livestock Use Permits; 50, Tribal Treaty Authorizations and 
Special Use Permits; 60, Records; 70, Compensation for Permittee 
Interests in Rangeland Improvements; 80, Grazing Fees; and 90, 
Rangeland Management Decision Making; and Forest Service Handbook 
2209.16, Allotment Management Handbook, Chapter 10, Allotment 
Management and Administration.
    2. Interim FSM 2719, Special Use Authorizations Involving 
Storage and Use of Explosives and Magazine Security, and FSH 
2709.11, Special Uses Handbook, Chapter 50, Standard Forms and 
Supplemental Clauses.
    3. FSM 7700, Travel Management, Chapters Zero and 10, Travel 
Planning.
    4. FSM 3800, Landscape Scale Restoration Program.
    5. FSM 2700, Special Uses Management, Chapter 40, Vegetation 
Management Pilot Projects, and FSH 2709.11, Special Uses Handbook, 
Chapter 50, Standard Forms and Supplemental Clauses.
    6. FSH 2709.11, Special Uses Handbook, Chapter 80, Operating 
Plans and Agreements for Powerline Facilities.
    7. FSM 2400, Timber Management, Chapter 2420, Timber Appraisal; 
FSH 2409.19, Renewable Resources Handbook, Chapters 10, Knutson-
Vandenberg Sale Area Program Management Handbook; 20, Knutson-
Vandenberg Forest and Regional Program Management; 60, Stewardship 
Contracting; and 80, Good Neighbor Authority.
    8. Region 10 Supplement to FSM 2720, Special Uses; Management of 
Strictly Point-To-Point Commercial Transportation Under Special Use 
Authorization to National Forest System Lands within the Visitor 
Center Subunit of Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area.

Final Directives That Have Been Issued Since October 1, 2021

    1. FSM 2400, Timber Management, Chapters Zero, 2430, Commercial 
Timber Sales; 2440, Designating, Cruising, Scaling, and 
Accountability; 2450, Timber Sale Contract Administration; and 2460, 
Uses of Timber Other Than Commercial Timber Sales; FSH 2409.15, 
Timber Sale Administration, Chapters Zero, 10, Fundamentals of 
Timber Sale Contracting; 30, Change in Status of Contracts; 50, 
Specified Transportation Facilities; and 70, Contract Claims and 
Disputes; FSH 2409.18a, Timber Sale Debarment and Suspension 
Procedures, Chapters Zero, 10, Non-procurement Debarment and 
Suspension; and 20, Debarment and Export Violations. Fifty-five FSM 
and FSH chapters were identified for revision in the Forest Products 
Modernization initiative, a strategic effort to align Agency 
culture, policies, and procedures with current and future forest 
restoration needs, that increase the pace and scale of restoration, 
improve forest conditions and the efficiency of forest products 
delivery. The chapters were divided into three batches to address 
the large quantity of documents. The first batch includes these 13 
directives which have been revised to better align with current 
legislation, policies, and practices. Many of these directives had 
not been updated since the 1990s. These 13 directives, all subject 
to public comment, were designated as non-significant by the Office 
of Management and

[[Page 4553]]

Budget. The 30-day comment period for these directives began October 
15, 2020, and closed November 15, 2020. A total of 269 comments were 
received and can be viewed at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ReadingRoom?project=ORMS-2688. The final directives were 
issued October 29, 2021, and can be viewed at the following 
websites:

    https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsm/2400/wo_2400_Amend%202021-1-508.docx.
    https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsm/2400/wo_2430_Amend%202021-2-508.docx.
    https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsm/2400/wo_2440_Amend%202021-3-508.docx.
    https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsm/2400/wo_2450_Amend%202021-4-508.docx.
    https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsm/2400/wo_2460_Amend%202021-5-508.docx.
    https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/2409.15/wo_2409.15_Zero_Amend%202021-5-508x.docx.
    https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/2409.15/wo_2409.15_10_Amend%202021-1-508.docx.
    https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/2409.15/wo_2409.15_30_Amend%202021-2-508.docx.
    https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/2409.15/wo_2409.15_50_Amend%202021-3-508.docx.
    https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/2409.15/wo_2409.15_70_Amend%202021-4-508.docx.
    https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/2409.18a/wo_2409.18a_0_Amend%202021-1-508.docx.
    https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/2409.18a/wo_2409.18a_10_Amend%202021-2-508.docx.
    https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/2409.18a/wo_2409.18a_20_Amend%202021-3-508.docx.

    2. FSH 5509.11, Chapter 20, Section 21, Small Tracts Act 
Adjustments. The Forest Service revised this directive to implement 
the Small Tracts Act, as required by the 2018 Farm Bill. These 
revisions implement the intent of the 2018 Farm Bill and related 
regulatory changes that updated land values established in the 
original Small Tracts Act, which dates to 1983, increasing the value 
of lands the Agency can sell or exchange to keep up with increasing 
land values. Proceeds generated from eligible sales made under the 
Small Tracts Act may be deposited in a Sisk Act account, allowing 
the Agency to acquire lands that improve the health and productivity 
of National Forests while simultaneously disposing small, 
problematic parcels. The 30-day comment period for this directive 
began June 4, 2021, and closed July 6, 2021. Four comments were 
received, three from members of the public and one from a State 
government, which can be viewed at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ReadingRoom?project=ORMS-2755. The final 
directive was issued November 19, 2021, and can be viewed at https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/5509.11/FSH%205509.11,%2020_Amend%202021-1.docx.
    3. FSM 1820, Public Lands Corps and Resource Assistants Program. 
The Forest Service has updated the Public Lands Corps and Resource 
Assistants Program, which utilizes partnerships to employ America's 
youth, young adults, emerging professionals, and others in paid work 
on public lands, research, and natural resources projects. Upon 
meeting certain requirements, participants achieve eligibility for 
pathways to federal employment. The proposal reflects changes in 
legislation and policy and incorporates new requirements, 
streamlined administration, programming, and reporting, and improves 
customer service. The 30-day comment period for this directive began 
June 4, 2021, and closed July 6, 2021. Six comments were received, 
which can be viewed at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ReadingRoom?project=ORMS-2661. The final directive was issued 
December 7, 2021, and can be viewed at https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsm/1800/wo_1820_Amend%202021-1.docx.

    Dated: January 25, 2022.
Ann Goode,
Branch Chief, Directives and Regulations, Strategic Planning, Budget, & 
Accountability.
[FR Doc. 2022-01772 Filed 1-27-22; 8:45 am]
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