[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 130 (Friday, July 8, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40780-40781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-14535]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Final Record of Decision for the Carson National Forest

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of approval of the Revised Land Management Plan for the 
Carson National Forest.

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SUMMARY: James Duran, the Forest Supervisor for the Carson National 
Forest, Southwestern Region, signed the final record of decision (ROD) 
for the Revised Land Management Plan (LMP) for the Carson National 
Forest Land. The final ROD documents the rationale for approving the 
LMP and is consistent with the Reviewing Officer's responses to 
objections and instructions.

DATES: The revised LMP for the Carson National Forest will become 
effective 30 days after the publication of this notice of approval in 
the Federal Register (36 CFR 219.17(a)(1)).

ADDRESSES: To view the signed final ROD, final environmental impact 
statement (FEIS), the revised LMP, and other related documents, please 
visit the Carson National Forest website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/carson/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprdb5443166.
    A legal notice of approval is also being published in the newspaper 
of record, The Taos News. A copy of this legal notice will be posted on 
the Carson National Forest's website shown above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Rich, Forest Planner, Carson 
National Forest, at [email protected] or 575-758-6277.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf and hard 
of hearing (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-
8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays. 
Written requests for information may be sent to Carson National Forest, 
Attn: Carson National Forest Plan Revision, 208 Cruz Alta Rd., Taos, NM 
87571.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Carson National Forest covers six ranger 
districts across nearly 1.5 million acres of National Forest System 
land in the northern New Mexico counties of Taos, Rio Arriba, Colfax, 
and Mora. The LMP was developed pursuant to the 2012 Forest Service 
Planning Rule (36 CFR 219) and will replace the 1986 Land Management 
Plan. The LMP describes desired conditions, objectives, standards, 
guidelines, and land suitability for project and activity decision-
making and will guide all resource management activities on the Forest. 
The Carson National Forest plays an important role supporting and 
partnering with communities in northern New Mexico and throughout the 
southwestern United States by providing economic benefits including 
fuelwood gathering, livestock grazing, and abundant recreational 
opportunities. The development of the LMP was shaped by the best 
available scientific information, current laws, and public input.
    The Carson National Forest initiated plan revision in 2014 and 
engaged the public frequently throughout the process. This engagement 
effort has included conventional public meetings, information sharing 
via social media, and collaborative work sessions with cooperating 
agencies. The Forest invited State, local and Tribal governments, and 
other federal agencies from around the region to participate in the 
process to revise the LMP. The Carson National Forest engaged in 
government-to-government consultation with 16 tribes during LMP 
revision, ensuring tribal-related plan direction accurately reflects 
the Carson National Forest's trust responsibilities and government-to-
government relationship with tribes. A cooperating agency working group 
met regularly throughout the plan revision effort. During the 90-day 
comment period in 2019 for the draft LMP and draft EIS, the Carson 
National Forest received 5,740 letters, which helped refine the 
preferred alternative and

[[Page 40781]]

augment plan content based on response to comments.
    A draft ROD, LMP, and FEIS were released in September 2021, 
initiating a 60-day objection filing period that closed November 2, 
2021. The Carson National Forest received 16 eligible objections. 
Through a comprehensive review of each objection, a variety of issues 
were identified. Following the objection review, the Reviewing Officer 
held objection resolution meetings with objectors and interested 
persons. Based on these meetings, the Reviewing Officer issued a 
written response on May 24, 2022. The instructions from the Reviewing 
Officer were addressed in the final ROD, LMP, and FEIS.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official for approving the LMP is James Duran, 
Forest Supervisor, Carson National Forest. The Responsible Official 
approving the list of species of conservation concern is Michiko 
Martin, Regional Forester, Southwestern Region.

    Dated: June 30, 2022.
Deborah Hollen,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2022-14535 Filed 7-7-22; 8:45 am]
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