[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28607-28608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13257]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Santa Fe National Forest; New Mexico; Amendment of the Land 
Management Plan for Santa Fe National Forest

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Forest Plan Amendment approval.

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SUMMARY: James Melonas, the Forest Supervisor for the Santa Fe National 
Forest, Southwest Region, signed the final Record of Decision (ROD) for 
the amendment to the Santa Fe National Forest Land and Resource 
Management Plan (Forest Plan Amendment). The final ROD documents the 
rationale for approving the Forest Plan Amendment and is consistent 
with the Reviewing Officer's response to objections and instructions.

DATES: The date of the Santa Fe's Forest Plan Amendment for Invasive 
Plant Control is July 20, 2018. Santa Fe's Forest Plan Amendment for 
Invasive Plant Control, Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, 
Final ROD, and other supporting information, will be available for 
review at http://

[[Page 28608]]

www.fs.usda.gov/projects/santafe/landmanagement/projects.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandra Imler-Jacquez, Environmental 
Coordinator, Santa Fe National Forest at 505-438-5443. Individuals who 
use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8:00 a.m. 
and 8:00 p.m. (Eastern time), Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Service, Southwestern Region, 
Santa Fe National Forest, prepared a Forest Plan Amendment for Invasive 
Plant Control. The current Forest Plan forest-wide standards for 
watershed management prohibit herbicide use within municipal 
watersheds, in areas of human habitation, on soils with low 
regeneration potential or less than moderate cation exchange capacity 
(1987 Forest Plan). The amendment allows herbicides to be used where 
necessary in those situations. The current Santa Fe National Forest 
Plan also prohibits herbicide use if an environmental analysis shows 
that it is not ``environmentally, economically or socially 
acceptable,'' which is an ambiguous and non-quantifiable standard, 
subject to variable interpretations. The amendment will slightly modify 
that standard while continuing to focus on using the analysis of 
environmental, economic and social impacts to determine the 
appropriateness of herbicide application.
    A draft ROD and final SEIS were released in December 2017, which 
was subject to a pre-decisional objection period. Four objections were 
received, with one being set aside from review in accordance with 36 
CFR 218.10(7) and the Reviewing Officer's responses to the objection 
issues were signed by the Acting Deputy Regional Forester (as Reviewing 
Officer for the Regional Forester) in March 2018. A final ROD to 
approve the Forest Plan Amendment for Invasive Plant Control for the 
Santa Fe National Forest has now been signed and is available at the 
website described above.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official for the Santa Fe's Forest Plan Amendment 
for Invasive Plant Control on Santa Fe National Forest is James 
Melonas, Forest Supervisor, Santa Fe National Forest, 11 Forest Lane, 
Santa Fe, NM 87508.

    Dated: May 9, 2018.
Chris French,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2018-13257 Filed 6-19-18; 8:45 am]
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