[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 33 (Friday, February 17, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10283-10284]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-03353]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Final Record of Decision for the National Forests in North 
Carolina

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of approval of the revised Land Management Plan for the 
Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests.

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SUMMARY: James Melonas, the Forest Supervisor for the National Forests 
in North Carolina, Southern Region, signed the Final Record of Decision 
(ROD) for the revised Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests Land 
Management Plan (LMP). The final ROD documents the rationale for 
approving the revised LMP and is consistent with the Reviewing 
Officer's responses to objections and instructions.

DATES: The revised LMP for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests 
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 final ROD, Final Environmental Impact Statement 
(FEIS), the revised LMP, and other related documents, please visit the 
National Forests in North Carolina website at: www.fs.usda.gov/goto/nfsnc/nprevision. A legal notice of approval is also being published in 
the newspaper of record, Asheville Citizen Times. A copy of this legal 
notice will be posted on the National Forests in North Carolina website 
as listed in ADDRESSES.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Aldridge, Forest Planner, 
Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, by telephone 828-257-4200, or 
via email at [email protected].
    Individuals who use telecommunication 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. 
Written requests for information may be sent to National Forests in 
North Carolina, Attn: Forest Plan Revision, 160 Zillicoa Street, Ste. 
A; Asheville, NC 28801.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests 
span six ranger districts and

[[Page 10284]]

approximately 1.04 million acres across 18 counties in Western North 
Carolina. The Forests have a combined LMP. The LMP was developed 
pursuant to the 2012 Forest Service Planning Rule (36 CFR 219) and will 
replace the current LMP, which was significantly amended in 1994 
following its 1987 release. The revised 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 Forests.
    The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests lie within one of the 
oldest mountain ranges in the world and are a global hotspot for 
biodiversity, with a rich diversity of ecosystems, unique habitats, and 
rare species. The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests are among the 
most visited in the National Forest System with nationally recognized 
scenic and recreation destinations that are among the region's greatest 
economic assets. The Pisgah Forest is also home to the birthplace of 
scientific forestry in America.
    The Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests initiated LMP revision in 
2013. During revision, the Forests engaged with federal, state, and 
local governments; 18 counties; three regional councils of government; 
local congressional staff; scientists; numerous interest and industry 
groups; individuals; and three collaborative groups that serve as 
liaisons to broader communities of interests. The design of public and 
government involvement was dynamic, allowing opportunities to both 
inform and accept feedback on the planning process as well as specific 
elements of the LMP. Public participants had opportunities to engage 
through more than 49 traditional public meetings, as well as through 
virtual meetings, facilitated phone calls, social media, email, and 
postal mail. The Forests engaged in government-to-government 
consultation with 12 federally recognized tribes. The revised LMP 
honors and redeems the Forests' trust responsibility to tribes, 
recognizes tribes and tribal members as partners in stewarding the 
national forests, and values traditional ecological knowledge and 
places of tribal significance. The development of the LMP was shaped by 
the best available scientific information, current laws, and public and 
government input.
    A 135-day public comment period on the draft LMP and associated 
Draft EIS was initiated on February 14, 2020. Comments were used to 
refine the preferred alternative and augment LMP. A draft ROD, LMP, and 
FEIS were released in January 2022, initiating a 60-day objection 
filing period that closed March 22, 2022. The Forest Service received 
825 eligible objections. 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 January 19, 2023. The instructions from 
the Reviewing Officer were addressed in the ROD, LMP, and FEIS.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Bureau of Land Management is a cooperating agency per their 
legal jurisdiction over the federal mineral estate underlying the 
Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests and provides information and 
special expertise related to subsurface mineral resources.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official for approving the revised LMP is James E. 
Melonas, Forest Supervisor, National Forests in North Carolina. The 
Responsible Official approving the list of species of conservation 
concern is Ken Arney, Regional Forester, Southern Region.

    Dated: February 9, 2023.
Troy Heithecker,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2023-03353 Filed 2-16-23; 8:45 am]
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