[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 5, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20118-20119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06908]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Intent To Publish Proposed Permanent Recreational 
Shooting Order in the Laramie Ranger District of the Medicine Bow-Routt 
National Forests

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, is giving 
notice of its intent to publish for public comment a proposed permanent 
order prohibiting recreational shooting in the Pole Mountain Area of 
the Laramie Ranger District of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, 
which covers approximately 55,000 acres in Albany County, Wyoming, from 
March 31 to September 10. At the end of the advance notice period, the 
Forest Service will seek public comments, as specified in this notice, 
on the proposed permanent seasonal recreational shooting order.

DATES: Advance notice of the opportunity to provide public comment on 
the proposed permanent seasonal recreational shooting order is being 
provided until April 12, 2023. Beginning on April 12, 2023, the Forest 
Service will accept comments on the proposed permanent seasonal 
recreational shooting order for 60 days. The notice of opportunity for 
public comment will be posted on the Medicine Bow-Routt National 
Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland's web page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbr/alerts-notices.

ADDRESSES: The proposed permanent seasonal recreational shooting order, 
map and the justification for the proposed permanent order are posted 
on the Forest Service's Regulations and Policies web page at 
www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Romero, Laramie District Ranger, 
307-745-2337 or [email protected]. Individuals who use 
telecommunication devices for the hearing-impaired may call the Federal 
Relay Service at 800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, 
including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Advance Notice and Public Comment Procedures

    Section 4103 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, 
and Recreation Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-9, Title IV (Sportsmen's Access 
and Related Matters)), hereinafter ``the Dingell Act,'' requires the 
Forest Service to provide advance notice and opportunity for public 
comment before temporarily or permanently closing any National Forest 
System lands to hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting. Section 
4103 of the Dingell Act applies to the proposed permanent order 
prohibiting recreational shooting in the Pole Mountain Area of the 
Laramie Ranger District in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests from 
March 31 to September 10. The public notice and comment process in 
section 4103(b)(2) of the Dingell Act requires the Forest Service to 
publish a notice of intent in the Federal Register of the proposed 
permanent order in advance of the public comment period for the 
proposed permanent order. This notice meets the requirement to publish 
a notice of intent in the Federal Register in advance of the public 
comment period.
    Following the notice of intent, section 4103(b)(2) of the Dingell 
Act requires an opportunity for public comment on proposed temporary or 
permanent hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting orders. Because 
the proposed order would permanently prohibit recreational shooting in 
the Pole Mountain Area of the Laramie Ranger District of the Medicine 
Bow-Routt National Forests from March 31 to September 10, the public 
comment period must be at least 60 days. Beginning on April 12, 2023, 
the Forest Service will accept public comments on the proposed 
permanent order for 60 days. The notice of opportunity for public 
comment will be posted on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and 
Thunder Basin National Grassland's

[[Page 20119]]

web page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbr/alerts-notices.
    Section 4103(b)(2) of the Dingell Act requires the Forest Service 
to respond to public comments received on the proposed permanent order 
before issuing a final permanent order, including an explanation of how 
any significant issues raised by the comments were resolved and, if 
applicable, how resolution of those issues affected the proposed 
permanent order or the justification for the proposed permanent order. 
The final permanent order, the justification for the final permanent 
order, and the response to comments on the proposed permanent order 
will be posted on the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder 
Basin National Grassland's web page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbr/alerts-notices.

Background and Need

    The proposed permanent order would implement a requirement of the 
2008 Allotment Management Plan Revisions for the Pole Mountain Grazing 
Allotments and Limiting Firearm Use Within the Pole Mountain Area 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and 2010 Decision Notice and Finding of 
No Significant Impact--Limiting Firearm Use Within the Pole Mountain 
Area. The proposed permanent order would prohibit discharging a 
firearm, air rifle, or gas gun in the Pole Mountain Area of the Laramie 
Ranger District of the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests from March 
31 to September 10 to address public safety and natural resource 
concerns. Land management plan direction does not limit recreational 
shooting in any other locations of the Medicine Bow-Routt National 
Forests.
    The proposed permanent order and the justification for the proposed 
permanent order are posted on the Forest Service's Regulations and 
Policies web page at www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.

    Dated: March 29, 2023.
Gregory Smith,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2023-06908 Filed 4-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P