[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83073-83074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26161]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Forest Service Manual 2000 National Forest Resource Management; 
Chapter 2040 National Forest System Monitoring

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of availability for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service (Forest Service or Agency), United States 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), is proposing to establish a new 
chapter and new direction for all types of monitoring activities across 
the National Forest System to track conditions and inform evidence-
based decision-making and adaptive management.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing by December 28, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically to https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?project=ORMS-3585. Written 
comments may be mailed to Mara Alexander, National Adaptive Management 
Program Lead, Ecosystem Management Coordination, 201 14th Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20024. All timely received comments, including names and 
addresses, will be placed in the record and will be available for 
public inspection and copying. The public may inspect comments received 
at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/ReadingRoom?project=ORMS-3585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mara Alexander, National Adaptive 
Management Program Lead, Ecosystem Management Coordination, at 202-597-
1245 or by electronic mail to [email protected]. Individuals who 
use telecommunication devices for the deaf and hard of hearing (TDD) 
may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, 
every day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed new Forest Service Manual

[[Page 83074]]

Chapter 2040 on National Forest System Monitoring will improve the 
Agency's ability to make evidence-based decisions, as required by the 
2012 Planning Rule and the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking 
Act of 2018. The proposed directive creates a framework that clearly 
defines the Forest Service's monitoring principles, what those 
principles are intended to accomplish, and the roles and 
responsibilities for leaders at all levels to implement the policy. An 
analysis of existing agency policy in Forest Service Handbooks and 
Manuals was conducted to evaluate monitoring requirements to inform the 
development of a National Forest System monitoring policy.
    The Forest Service has determined that the proposed new directive 
sets forth policy and responsibilities, with the goal of providing 
current direction applicable to the Forest Service monitoring program. 
Therefore, the Forest Service is publishing the proposed directive for 
public comment in accordance with 36 CFR part 216. The Forest Service 
is seeking public comment on the proposed directive, including the 
sufficiency of the proposed directive in meeting its stated objectives, 
ways to enhance the utility and clarity of information within the 
direction, or ways to streamline processes outlined. The proposed 
directive location of this new chapter has the potential to change. It 
is expected that Chapter 2040 will replace Chapter 1940--Inventory, 
Monitoring, and Assessment Activities which established direction 
associated solely for land management planning.
    Forest Service National Environmental Policy Act procedures exclude 
from documentation in an environmental assessment or impact statement 
``rules, regulations, or policies to establish service wide 
administrative procedures, program processes, or instructions'' 36 CFR 
220.6(d)(2). The Agency's conclusion is that these proposed directives 
fall within this category of actions and that no extraordinary 
circumstances exist as currently defined that require preparation of an 
environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement.
    After the public comment period closes, the Forest Service will 
consider timely comments that are within the scope of the proposed 
directive in the development of the final directive. A notice of the 
final directive, including a response to timely comments, will be 
posted on the Forest Service's web page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies/comment-on-directives.

    Dated: November 9, 2023.
Gregory Smith,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2023-26161 Filed 11-27-23; 8:45 am]
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