[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 156 (Monday, August 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50119-50120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-17447]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management


Request for Information (RFI) on Federal Old-Growth and Mature 
Forests

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA); Bureau of Land Management, 
Interior (DOI).

ACTION: Request for information; Extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On July 15, 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture 
(USDA), United States Forest Service (Forest Service), and the United 
States Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM), published in the Federal Register a document entitled ``Request 
for Information (RFI) on Federal Old-growth and Mature Forests'' and 
invited public comments to inform the response to Executive Order 
Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Communities, and Local Economies 
which requires USDA and DOI to define old-growth and mature forests on 
Federal lands; complete an inventory and make it publicly available; 
coordinate conservation and wildfire risk reduction activities; 
identify threats to mature and old-growth forests; develop policies to 
address threats; develop Agency-specific reforestation goals by 2030; 
develop climate-informed reforestation plans; and develop 
recommendations for community-led local and regional economic 
development opportunities. In response to requests by prospective 
commenters that they would benefit from additional time to adequately 
consider and respond to the RFI, USDA Forest Service and DOI Bureau of 
Land Management have determined that an extension of the comment period 
until August 30, 2022, is appropriate.

DATES: The end of the comment period for the document entitled 
``Request for Information (RFI) on Federal Old-growth and Mature 
Forests'' published July 15, 2022 (87 FR 42493), is extended from 
August 15, 2022, until August 30, 2022.

ADDRESSES: A webinar was held on Microsoft Teams web conferencing 
software on July 21, 2022. The webinar was recorded. Webinar 
presentation materials and the webinar recording, along with other 
information about this effort are posted to: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/old-growth-forests. Written comments concerning this 
notice may be submitted electronically to: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?project=NP-3239.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jamie Barbour, Assistant Director, 
Ecosystem Management Coordination, (503) 708-9138, 
[email protected]. (Please include the words ``Old Growth'' in the 
subject line of emails concerning this notice). 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the July 15, 2022 RFI (87 FR 
42493) is to inform the public and gather feedback on potential future 
implementation efforts associated with provisions of Executive Order 
(E.O.) 14072: Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Communities, and 
Local Economies, issued April 22, 2022. The information received 
through the RFI

[[Page 50120]]

will help to inform the response to E.O. 14072 Section 2(b) 
specifically, which calls on the Secretaries of Agriculture and the 
Interior, within one year, to define, identify, and complete an 
inventory of old-growth and mature forests on Federal lands, accounting 
for regional and ecological variations, as appropriate, and making the 
inventory publicly available. The document stated that the comment 
period would close on August 15, 2022. The USDA Forest Service and DOI 
Bureau of Land Management have received requests by prospective 
commenters to extend the comment period. An extension of the comment 
period will provide additional opportunity for the public to consider 
the RFI and prepare comments to address the questions posed therein. 
Therefore, USDA Forest Service and DOI Bureau of Land Management are 
extending the comment period for the RFI from August 15, 2022, until 
August 30, 2022.

Christopher French,
Deputy Chief, National Forest System, Forest Service.
Tracy Stone-Manning,
Director, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2022-17447 Filed 8-12-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4311-15-P