Federal Register: January 4, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 3)
DOCID: FR Doc 01-143
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Environmental statements; availability, etc.:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft environmental assessment.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment for Amendment No. 21 to the Hiawatha National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan; Alger County, Michigan
DATES: On December 5, 2000, Hiawatha National Forest Supervisor, Clyde N. Thompson (Responsible Official) announced his preferred alternative for a Draft Environmental Assessment that would amend the 1986 Hiawatha National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). A legal notice was published in the Escanaba Daily Press, Escanaba, Michigan newspaper in accordance with 36 CFR 217.8(a)(2) on December 5, 2000.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
On December 5, 2000, Hiawatha National Forest Supervisor, Clyde N. Thompson (Responsible Official) announced his preferred alternative for a Draft Environmental Assessment that would amend the 1986 Hiawatha National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) in a 30day predecision period. This amendment updates the standards and guidelines for Grand Island Research Natural Area (GI RNA), creates a new Management Area 8.1.2 specific to GIRNA and updates the GIRNA Establishment Record. This notice is provided pursuant to National Forest System Land and Resource Management Planning regulations (36 CFR 219.35, 65 FR 67579, November 9, 2000). Copies of the Draft Environmental Assessment are available upon request.
SUMMARY:
Hiawatha National Forest, MI,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The proposed Forest Plan Amendment No. 21 describes sitespecific standards and guidelines that allow for existing recreation use while reducing resource impacts to the GIRNA. These standards and guidelines offer protection of soils, watershed, botanical communities, old growth, Great Lakes shoreline and heritage resources. The preferred alternative maintains the historic use patterns of Grand Island within the GIRNA. This is nonsignificant amendment.
Public involvement was an important part of the decision making process for this proposal. On December 9, 1999 a public scoping letter was sent to over 700 interested parties and a notice was published in the local newspaper. A second round of public involvement occurred with the issuance of the predecisional environmental assessment on December 1, 2000. We published a legal notice notifying the public of the availability of the EA for review in the Escanaba Daily Press, Escanaba, Michigan on December 5, 2000. A 30day comment period follows release of the predecisional EA on December 5, 2000 for review (until January 5, 2001). A final decision is expected in January 2001.
This decision will be subject to appeal pursuant to USDA Forest
Service regulations 36 CFR 217.3. Any written appeal must be postmarked
or submitted to the Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, Eastern
Region, 310 West Wisconsin Ave., Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI 53203, within
45 days of the date the legal notice will be published in the Escanaba
Daily Press, Escanaba, Michigan in accordance with 36 CFR 217.8(a)(2).
The appeal period begins the day following the legal notice publication
in the Escanaba Daily Press. Appeals must meet the content requirements
of 36 CFR 217.9. The Forest Service is an equal opportunity organization.
Dated: December 18, 2000.
Clyde N. Thompson,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 01143 Filed 1301; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 341011M
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Patty Beyer, Project Coordinator, at 9062289681. TDD 9067893337; or direct electronic mail to:
pbeyer@fs.fed.us, or access the forest web page at http:// www.fs.fed.us/r9/hiawatha.
Responsible Official: Clyde N. Thompson, Forest Supervisor, 2727 North Lincoln Rd., Escanaba, Michigan, 49829.