[Federal Register: January 4, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 3)]
[Notices]
[Page 751]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04ja01-25]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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[[Page 751]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Availability of a Draft Environmental Assessment for Amendment
No. 21 to the Hiawatha National Forest Land and Resource Management
Plan; Alger County, Michigan
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a draft environmental assessment.
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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 30-day pre-decision 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 GI-RNA and
updates the GI-RNA 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.
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.
ADDRESSES: Send requests for documents to: Forest Supervisor, Hiawatha
National Forest, 2727 North Lincoln Road, Escanaba, MI 49829.
Alternatively, direct electronic mail to: pbeyer@fs.fed.us ATTN:
GI-RNA Amendment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patty Beyer, Project Coordinator, at
906-228-9681. TDD 906-789-3337; 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Forest Plan Amendment No. 21
describes site-specific standards and guidelines that allow for
existing recreation use while reducing resource impacts to the GI-RNA.
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 GI-RNA. This is non-significant
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 pre-decisional 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 30-day comment period follows
release of the pre-decisional 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. 01-143 Filed 1-3-01; 8:45 am]
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