[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66673-66674]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27969]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Final Record of Decisions for the Flathead National Forest Land 
Management Plan and Forest Plan Amendments for the Kootenai, Helena-
Lewis and Clark, and Lolo National Forests

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of plan approval for the Flathead National Forest and 
plan amendments approval for the Kootenai, Helena-Lewis and Clark, and 
Lolo National Forests.

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SUMMARY: Chip Weber, the Forest Supervisor for the Flathead National 
Forest, Northern Region, signed the record of decision (ROD) for the 
Flathead National Forest Land Management Plan (Forest Plan). The 
responsible officials, William Avey, Forest Supervisor for the Helena-
Lewis and Clark National Forest; Chad Benson,

[[Page 66674]]

Acting Forest Supervisor for the Kootenai National Forest; and Joe 
Alexander, Acting Forest Supervisor for the Lolo National Forest, 
signed the ROD for the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem grizzly 
bear amendments (Amendments). The final RODs document the rationale for 
approving the Forest Plan and Amendments and are consistent with the 
reviewing officers' responses to objections and instructions.

DATES: The revised Forest Plan for the Flathead National Forest will 
become effective 30 days after the publication of this notice of 
approval in the Federal Register. The Amendments will become effective 
with this publication in the Federal Register. To view the final RODs, 
final environmental impact statement (FEIS), the Forest Plan, 
Amendments, and other related documents, please visit the Flathead 
National Forest Plan Revision website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/fpr or the Amendments website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/flathead/gbamend.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information about the Forest Plan for 
the Flathead National Forest can be obtained from Anastasia Allen, 
weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time at the Flathead National 
Forest Supervisor's Office (phone: 406-758-5320). Information about the 
Amendments can be obtained by contacting Timory Peel, weekdays, 8:30 to 
5:00 p.m. Mountain Time at the Northern Region Office (phone: 406-329-
3678). Written requests for information may be sent to Flathead 
National Forests, Attn: Plan Revision, 650 Wolfpack Way, Kalispell, 
Montana 59901.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Plan describes the Flathead 
National Forest's distinctive roles and contributions within the 
broader landscape and details forest-wide management area and 
geographic area desired conditions, objectives, standards, and 
guidelines. The Forest Plan identifies suitable uses of National Forest 
System lands and provides estimates of the planned timber sale 
quantity. The Forest Plan identifies priority watersheds for 
restoration, and includes recommended wilderness areas and eligible 
wild and scenic rivers. This Forest Plan provides for efficient and 
effective management of the Flathead National Forest with desired 
conditions for coordination, partnerships, and shared stewardship with 
State, local, and Tribal governements, other federal agencies, adjacent 
landowners, and stakeholders.
    The Forest Service is concurrently amending the Forest Plans of the 
Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo National Forests to 
incorporate habitat management direction for the Northern Continental 
Divide Ecosystem grizzly bear population. The Flathead National Forest 
has incorporated the grizzly bear habitat management direction as part 
of its Forest Plan. Plan components (desired conditions, standards, and 
guidelines) that conserve grizzly bear habitat will be added to the 
Helena-Lewis and Clark, Kootenai, and Lolo Forest Plans. These plan 
components will guide future land management actions related to 
motorized access and secure core developed recreation sites, vegetation 
management, livestock grazing, and energy and mineral development. In 
general, habitat conditions in the primary conservation area will be 
maintained at levels that occurred during the time period when the 
grizzly bear population was known to be growing and increasing in 
distribution and will contribute to sustaining the recovery of the 
grizzly bear population.
    The Flathead National Forest initiated plan revision in fall 2013 
with field trips and stakeholder meetings. The Forest invited State, 
local and Tribal governments, and other federal agencies from around 
the region to participate in the process to revise the Forest Plan. An 
interagency working group met regularly throughout the plan revision 
effort. The Forest received almost 54,000 public comments on the Forest 
Plan and Amendments. Public involvement for the Amendments was 
initiated with the publication of a Notice of Intent in the Federal 
Register on March 6, 2015. Open houses were held in seven communities 
throughout the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem during the scoping 
period to provide information about the proposed action and accept 
public comments.
    The development of the Forest Plan and Amendments was shaped by the 
best available science, current laws, and public input. The 60-day 
timeframe for the opportunity to object ended on February 12, 2018. The 
Forest Service received 69 eligible objections. The reviewing officers 
issued their written responses to the objection issues on August 16, 
2018. The Regional Forester, Reviewing Official, provided the Forest 
Supervisors with minor clarification instructions for most of the 
objection issues. The final RODs document the rationale for approving 
the Forest Plan and Amendments and are consistent with the reviewing 
officers' responses to objections and instructions.

Responsible Officials

    The Responsible Officials for approving the Forest Plan and 
Amendments are as follows: Chip Weber, Forest Supervisor, Flathead 
National Forest; William Avey, Forest Supervisor, Helena-Lewis and 
Clark National Forest; Chad Benson, Acting Forest Supervisor, Kootenai 
National Forest; and Joe Alexander, Acting Forest Supervisor, Lolo 
National Forest.

    Dated: December 17, 2018.
Allen Rowley,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-27969 Filed 12-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P