Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 25 / Friday, February 6, 2015 / Notices 6683 

developing a proposal to establish 

exceptions from the declaration 

requirement for composite materials and 

products that contain a minimal amount 

of plant material. Upon completion of 

the proposal, we will publish it in the 

Federal Register for public comment. 

APHIS will continue to provide the 

latest information regarding the Lacey 

Act on our Web site, http://

www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/

lacey_act/. The Web site currently 

contains the Lacey Act, as amended; a 

slideshow covering background and 

context, requirements, commodities and 

products covered, information on 

prohibitions, and the current status of 

implementation of the declaration 

requirement of the Lacey Act; frequently 

asked questions; the phase-in 

implementation plan; a link to the Lacey 

Act Web Governance System (LAWGS); 

and the paper declaration form. The 

Web site will be updated as new 

materials become available. We 

encourage persons interested in 

receiving timely updates on APHIS’ 

Lacey Act efforts to register for our 

stakeholder registry at https://

public.govdelivery.com/accounts/

USDAAPHIS/subscriber/new/ and select 

‘‘Lacey Act Declaration’’ as a topic of 

interest. 

Done in Washington, DC, this 2nd day of 

February 2015. 

Kevin Shea, 

Administrator, Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–02403 Filed 2–5–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–34–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

RIN 0596–AD06 

National Forest System, Land 

Management Planning Directives 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of final directives. 

SUMMARY: On February 29, 2013, the 

Forest Service (Agency) proposed to 

revise the Forest Service Handbook 

(FSH 1909.12) and Manual (FSM 1920) 

establishing procedures and 

responsibilities for implementing the 

National Forest System (NFS) land 

management planning regulation 

(collectively ‘‘planning directives’’). The 

final issuance of planning directives, 

effective today, will provide consistent 

overall guidance to Forest Service Line 

Officers and Agency employees in 

developing, amending, or revising land 

management plans for units of the NFS. 

Public comment was accepted until May 

24, 2013. The Agency considered all 

public comment, including 

recommendations from an advisory 

committee formed pursuant to the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act 

(FACA), in developing final planning 

directives. 

DATES: These directives are effective 

January 30, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: The Forest Service Manual 

and Handbook, including the planning 

directives, are available electronically 

via the World Wide Web/Internet at 

http://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives. 

Single paper copies are available by 

contacting Annie Eberhart Goode, Forest 

Service, USDA, Ecosystem Management 

Coordination Staff (Mail Stop 1104), 

1400 Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20250–1104. 

Additional information and analysis, 

including a description of how the 

Agency considered public comment, 

can be found at http://www.fs.usda.gov/ 

main/planningrule/home. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Annie Eberhart Goode, Planning 

Specialist, Ecosystem Management 

Coordination staff, (202) 205–1056. 

Individuals who use 

telecommunication devices for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at (800) 877–8339 

between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern 

Standard Time, Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On April 9, 2012, the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture (Department or USDA) 

adopted final planning regulations for 

the NFS at 36 CFR part 219 (77 FR 

21161). These regulations, known 

collectively as the 2012 Planning Rule, 

provide broad programmatic direction 

in developing and implementing land 

management plans. The rule explicitly 

directs the Chief of the Forest Service to 

establish planning procedures in the 

Forest Service Directives System (36 

CFR 219.2(b)(5)(i). Those Responsible 

Officials that are implementing the 2012 

Planning Rule shall follow the 

regulations at 36 CFR part 219 and the 

revised planning directives. 

The Forest Service Directives System 

consists of the Forest Service Manual 

(FSM) and the Forest Service Handbook 

(FSH), which contain the Agency’s 

policies, practices, and procedures, and 

serves as the primary basis for the 

internal management and control of 

programs and administrative direction 

to Forest Service employees. The 

directives are set out on the World Wide 

Web/Internet at http://www.fs.fed.us/

im/directives. Specifically, the FSM 

contains legal authorities, objectives, 

policies, responsibilities, instructions, 

and guidance needed on a continuing 

basis by Forest Service Line Officers and 

primary staff to plan and execute 

programs and activities. The FSH is the 

principal source of specialized guidance 

and instruction for carrying out the 

policies, objectives, and responsibilities 

contained in the FSM. 

FSM 1920 and FSH 1909.12 (planning 

directives) provide policy direction, 

objectives, instructions, and guidance 

for Forest Service Line Officers and 

primary staff to plan and execute the 

process of developing, revising, 

amending, and making administrative 

changes to land management plans to 

provide for the sustainability of 

ecosystems and resources; meet the 

need for forest restoration and 

conservation, watershed protection, and 

species diversity and conservation; and 

assist the Agency in providing a 

sustainable flow of benefits, including 

economic benefits, services, and uses of 

NFS lands. The 2012 Planning Rule and 

the FSM 1920 and FSH 19092.12 

together provide requirements and 

guidance for the Agency in land 

management planning pursuant to the 

National Forest Management Act. 

On February 29, 2013, the Forest 

Service proposed to revise the planning 

directives (FSM 1920 and FSH 1909.12) 

to ensure that the Agency’s planning 

directives are consistent with the 2012 

Planning Rule. Issuance of planning 

directives will provide consistent 

overall guidance to Forest Service Line 

Officers and Agency employees in 

developing, amending, or revising land 

management plans pursuant to the 2012 

Planning Rule. Public comment was 

accepted until May 24, 2013. The 

Agency considered all public comment 

in developing final planning directives. 

In addition to seeking public 

comment on the proposed directives, 

the Agency considered 

recommendations from the Planning 

Rule Implementation Federal Advisory 

Committee (FACA Committee), 

established in June 2012 to advise the 

Secretary of Agriculture and the Chief of 

the Forest Service regarding 

implementation of the 2012 Planning 

Rule. The FACA Committee is 

comprised of 21 members who provide 

balanced and broad representation of 

public interests including industry and 

user groups; environmental 

organizations; conservation 

organizations; recreation interests; 

members of the scientific community; 

State, County, or local elected officials 

(or designee); Tribal representatives; 

and other public interests. The initial 

FACA Committee provided its 

recommendations regarding the 


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proposed Planning Directives in 

November, 2013. The previous 

committee’s membership expired in 

June 2014. The Secretary announced 

August 12, 2014, the selection of 21 new 

members to the FACA committee. The 

charter, background information, and 

other information for the Planning Rule 

Advisory Committee can be found 

www.fs.usda.gov/main/planningrule/

committee. The committee was 

rechartered in June, 2014 to continue in 

an advisory capacity for an additional 2 

years. The text of the initial FACA 

Committee’s recommendations can be 

found at http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/

planningrule/home/

?cid=stelprdb5346267. 

Content of Final Directives 

The following is an overview of the 

content of the directives. 

FSM 1920—Land Management 

Planning Manual. This Forest Service 

Manual describes the responsibilities of 

Agency Line Officers and staff regarding 

the process for developing, revising, 

amending, and making administrative 

changes to land management plans for 

the National Forest System (NFS). It 

includes authorities and 

responsibilities. It should be used in 

conjunction with the FSH. 

FSH 1909.12—Land Management 

Planning Handbook. This FSH provides 

policy direction, objectives, instructions 

and guidance for the process of 

developing, revising, amending, and 

making administrative changes to plans 

for the NFS. It includes authorities and 

responsibilities. 

Zero Code. The chapter known as the 

zero code contains authorities, 

responsibilities, and select definitions 

applicable to subsequent chapters, along 

with definitions and guidance 

applicable to all sections of FSH 

1909.12, such as direction on best 

available scientific information (BASI) 

and adaptive management. The zero 

code also includes exhibits or references 

not easily found electronically. 

Chapter 10—The Assessment. This 

chapter provides direction regarding the 

procedures for writing an assessment for 

development, amendment, or revision of 

land management plans. 

Chapter 20—Land Management Plan. 

This chapter describes the land 

management plan under the 2012 

Planning Rule and provides guidance 

for developing, amending, and revising 

land management plans. 

Chapter 30—Monitoring. This chapter 

provides direction regarding the plan 

monitoring program, broader-scale 

monitoring strategy, and biennial 

evaluation of information obtained from 

implementation of the plan monitoring 

program. 

Chapter 40—Public Participation. 

This chapter sets out direction regarding 

provision of public participation 

opportunities and for collaboration, 

intergovernmental participation, and 

Tribal consultation relating to land 

management planning. 

Chapter 50—Objection Process. This 

chapter sets out direction regarding 

administration of the objection process 

that provides for administrative review 

of plans, plan revisions, and plan 

amendments before their approval. 

Chapter 60—Forest Vegetation 

Resource Planning. This chapter 

provides procedures for developing plan 

components and other plan content to 

guide management of timber resources, 

including identification of lands that are 

not suitable for timber production, 

limitations on timber harvest, display of 

the planned timber sale program, and 

components related to timber harvest for 

timber production or other purposes. 

Chapter 70—Wilderness Evaluation. 

This chapter provides direction for 

identifying and evaluating lands that 

may be suitable for inclusion in the 

National Wilderness Preservation 

System and determining whether to 

recommend any such lands for 

wilderness designation. 

Chapter 80—Wild and Scenic River 

Evaluation. This chapter provides 

direction for identifying and evaluating 

potential additions to the National Wild 

and Scenic Rivers System. This chapter 

also includes provisions on interim 

management of river segments 

determined to be eligible and suitable, 

documentation of study results, as well 

as the process for notifying Congress of 

Agency wild and scenic river 

recommendations. 

Chapter 90—Reserved. 

Public Comments 

The availability of proposed 

directives for public review and 

comment was published in the Federal 

Register on February 27, 2013 (77 FR 

35323). The public comment period 

closed on April 29, but the Agency 

reopened the comment period for an 

additional 15 days to provide an 

opportunity to gather additional public 

input to inform the Agency’s 

development of final planning 

directives. The Forest Service received 

17,449 responses to the proposed 

directives, consisting of letters, emails, 

Web-based submissions, and facsimiles. 

Of those, 370 were unique letters, and 

the remaining 17,079 responses were 

form letters. The responses were 

received from a wide variety of 

respondents from more than 40 states, 

and came from the public and nongovernmental organizations as well as 

local governments and other State and 

Federal agencies. 

Public comment on the proposed 

planning directives addressed a wide 

range of topics. Many people supported 

the proposed planning directives or 

favored stronger guidance in particular 

areas, while others opposed the 

proposed directives or recommended 

limitations or alternate approaches to 

Agency policies related to land 

management planning. The Forest 

Service considered all the comments in 

finalizing the directives. This section 

provides a summary of revisions, by 

chapter, made in response to public 

comment. A more detailed description 

of public comments and the Agency’s 

responses can be found at http://

www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule. 

The following is a chapter-by-chapter 

overview of the comments provided 

about the directives and the Forest 

Service’s response to those comments. 

Zero Code 

Many comments were received 

regarding the use of best available 

scientific information (BASI) and 

adaptive management. Some 

commenters felt there was a lack of clear 

direction on how to implement adaptive 

management, while other questions 

centered on the use of BASI. Questions 

about BASI included objections to the 

detailed process for its integration, 

questions about sources of scientific 

information, and questions about how 

the Responsible Official will determine 

BASI. 

After considering these comments, the 

Forest Service clarified and modified 

the direction on BASI and adaptive 

management. The final directive 

simplifies the direction on considering 

the accuracy and reliability of 

information when making BASI 

determinations and clarifying sections 

on BASI documentation attributes. In 

addition, the direction on BASI and 

adaptive management was moved from 

Chapter 40 to the chapter on zero code 

since they are relevant to all chapters. 

Chapter 10. Assessment. Some 

comments about the assessment chapter 

concerned recommendations for 

clarifying the purpose and scale of the 

assessment and minimizing problems 

with data gaps. Other comments 

concerned specific assessment topics, 

such as socio-economic conditions, 

ecosystem services, and multiple uses. 

After considering comments, the 

Agency revised Chapter 10 so that the 

guidance for assessments more clearly 

defined terms and scale, reduced 

redundancy within the directives, and 


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added sources of information. For 

example, the Agency clarified how to 

identify species of conservation concern 

and the use of natural range of variation 

in the assessment. In addition, the 

Agency clarified the guidance for 

assessing the major contributions of the 

plan area to social, cultural, and 

economic conditions from multiple 

uses, ecosystem services, infrastructure, 

and administrative operations of the 

plan area. 

The Agency added a requirement for 

the Responsible Official to publish a 

notice in the Federal Register to 

announce the beginning of the 

assessment. 

Chapter 20—Land Management Plan. 

Chapter 20 sets out the procedures for 

developing, amending, and revising 

land management plans under the 2012 

Planning Rule. Comments on 

developing plans were extensive, and 

ranged from general observations about 

the process to specific comments about 

a variety of plan components and 

procedures. Comments covered topics 

such as direction on water resources 

management, fire management, and the 

role of recreation. For example, some of 

the recreational concerns were that 

recreation was not clearly addressed in 

the section that set out the matters to be 

considered during plan revision. 

Commenters also had concerns about 

requiring the inclusion of specific 

direction in plans, such as requiring 

plans to include project consistency 

guidelines. 

After considering these comments, the 

Forest Service made many edits and 

clarifications. For example, the Agency 

clarified the direction on the need to 

change the plan, and the requirements 

for integrating plan components, such as 

desired conditions, standards, 

guidelines, and objectives. The Agency 

added the direction that the Responsible 

Official should complete the plan 

development or plan revision, from the 

public notice of the assessment to final 

plan approval, within 4 years. Other 

parts of Chapter 20 were rewritten or 

replaced; for example, the section on 

recreation guidance was revised to 

require application of the Recreation 

Opportunity Spectrum tool in parts of 

the plan and to more clearly define 

sustainable recreation. 

The Agency also enhanced guidance 

on how to coordinate required National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

procedures with the required planning 

procedures. The Agency expanded 

sections for species of conservation 

concern to give guidance on the 

responsibilities of the Regional Forester, 

including guidance on managing new 

information. The Agency clarified how 

the Responsible Official should design 

plan components for ecological integrity 

and the influence of climate change. 

The Agency also added a section to 

clarify how land management plans give 

direction for designated areas. 

Chapter 30—Monitoring. In general, 

comments on Chapter 30 emphasized 

the need to acknowledge and use 

consistent monitoring data generated 

throughout the plan’s lifecycle. 

Questions were also raised about 

ensuring adequate funding to help 

ensure the success of monitoring 

programs. Some commenters suggested 

specific changes to information 

considered when identifying monitoring 

indicators. In response to these 

comments, edits were made throughout 

the chapter to improve clarity. The 

Agency added direction about questions 

and indicators for social, cultural, and 

economic sustainability to the guidance 

for monitoring progress toward meeting 

desired conditions and objectives 

Chapter 40—Public Participation. 

Comments on Chapter 40 regarding 

adaptive management and best available 

science were reflected in revisions to 

the zero code. 

With regard to public participation, 

some commenters sought an expanded 

discussion of how the Forest Service is 

to provide opportunities for public 

involvement in the planning process. 

After considering these comments, and 

to improve clarity, the content of 

Chapter 40 was revised to focus on 

public participation only. Changes to 

Chapter 40 included providing guidance 

on working with other public agencies 

and tribes during the land management 

planning process. This guidance 

includes a section on the participation 

of and consultation with federally 

recognized Indian tribes, Alaska Native 

Corporations, other Federal agencies, 

and State and local governments. Also, 

Chapter 40 provides guidance on 

coordinating the public engagement 

processes required by both the 2012 

Planning Rule and NEPA. The 

additional guidance identifies the 

requirements for formal notices and 

other forms of outreach to the public. 

Chapter 50—Objection Process. There 

were few comments on the objection 

process, and the majority of these asked 

for clarifications regarding various parts 

of the objection process. In response, the 

Agency added definitions and 

clarifications throughout the chapter, 

including clarification of who is eligible 

to object or participate as an interested 

person. Some commenters wanted to see 

the entire objection process eliminated. 

The Agency responded that the 

objection process could not be 

eliminated, as the 2012 Planning Rule 

mandates it. Revisions to Chapter 50 

were also made to clarify the Reviewing 

Officer’s discretion in managing 

resolution meetings. 

Chapter 60—Forest Vegetation 

Resource Planning. Comments focused 

on various aspects of the guidance on 

National Forest Management Act 

(NFMA) requirements and 2012 

Planning Rule requirements. This 

included aspects related to identifying 

lands suitable for timber production, 

and plan components needed to comply 

with NFMA requirements for timber 

harvest. The Forest Service was also 

asked to clarify various terms and 

definitions in the chapter, including the 

calculation of long-term sustained yield 

capacity and other measures of timber 

volume. After considering comments, 

the Forest Service made changes to the 

chapter to improve clarity by revising 

narratives, adding displays, and 

adopting a new set of terminology and 

definitions for measures of timber 

volume. 

Chapter 70—Wilderness Planning. A 

significant percentage of the comments 

received concerned Chapter 70, which 

describes the process during land 

management planning of inventorying, 

evaluating, and analyzing National 

Forest System lands for possible 

inclusion in the National Wilderness 

Preservation System. Many respondents 

sent a form letter which was generally 

supportive of the broadly inclusive 

nature of the procedure outlined for 

inventorying and evaluating potential 

wilderness lands. The letter also urged 

the Forest Service to go further in the 

preservation of potential wilderness 

areas by prohibiting all motorized uses 

from potential wilderness areas, 

pending designation decisions. Other 

respondents sent a form letter 

expressing views highly critical of the 

new inventory and evaluation process, 

and objecting to what was perceived as 

the creation of de facto wilderness 

without Congressional approval. 

Respondents also commented that 

identifying broad areas of Forest lands 

as potential wilderness and managing 

them for wilderness qualities would 

effectively eliminate motorized 

recreation uses across large sections of 

Forests. 

Additional concerns focused on the 

inventory process, seeking clarification 

on how inventories would be 

conducted, whether existing inventory 

data could be included, and the criteria 

to be used for wilderness inventories. 

Concerns also focused on the 

management of recommended 

wilderness areas, including whether or 

not recommended areas should be 

managed as wilderness. 


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After considering comments, the 

Forest Service edited Chapter 70 to 

clarify the inventory process including 

the use of existing information, previous 

decisions, travel management, travel 

analysis, public engagement, and 

government to government engagement. 

In addition, the Agency retained the 

approach included in the proposed 

directives to keep the inventory process 

broad, inclusive, and transparent to the 

public, but the final directives eliminate 

from the inventory areas that contain 

certain types of roads. Finally, the 

chapter was edited to clarify the range 

of management actions available to the 

Responsible Official once a decision is 

made to recommend an area for 

inclusion in the Wilderness 

Preservation System. 

Chapter 80—Wild and Scenic River 

Planning. Some commenters were 

concerned about the process for 

identifying and evaluating potential 

Wild and Scenic Rivers during plan 

revisions. Most of these concerns 

focused on the inventory process, and 

commenters sought clarification on 

elements such as river segment 

eligibility. After considering comments, 

the Agency reorganized the chapter and 

made several clarifications, including 

clarifying the process for identifying 

river eligibility. Chapter 80 was also 

revised to clarify interim management of 

study rivers. 

FACA Committee Recommendations 

The FACA Committee provided 

recommendations regarding the 

proposed directives to the Agency for 

consideration. The Agency substantially 

incorporated the FACA Committee’s 

recommendations into the final 

directives. A detailed description of the 

Agency’s response to each 

recommendation from the FACA 

Committee can be found at http://

www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule. 

The following is a chapter-by-chapter 

overview of the FACA Committee 

recommendations provided about the 

directives and the Agency’s response. 

Forest Service Manual—The final 

directives reflect the FACA Committee’s 

recommendation to clarify intent for 

timing, objectives, policies, and 

Responsible Official obligations 

regarding planning. 

Zero code—The FACA Committee 

recommended revision of definitions 

and inclusion of several new 

definitions, and the Agency both revised 

the definitions section and included 

additional language in other sections of 

the directives that support the 

definitions. 

Chapter 10—Changes to the 

assessment’s approach to social, 

cultural, and economic conditions were 

incorporated into the final directives, 

along with revisions recommended by 

the FACA Committee on ecological 

concepts, transparency, adaptive 

management, climate change, natural 

range of variation, recreation, and 

designation areas. 

Chapter 20—Revisions related to the 

description of plan components and the 

integration of multiple planning needs 

into land management plans were 

incorporated into the final directives, 

along with revisions recommended by 

the FACA Committee on social and 

economic sustainability, ecosystem 

integrity, natural range of variation, and 

water resources. 

Chapter 30—FACA Committee 

recommendations related to the 

monitoring program, including 

partnerships, were incorporated into the 

final directives. 

Chapter 40—Revisions recommended 

by the FACA Committee related to 

notifications, outreach to underserved 

communities, and interaction with 

Tribes, States, and local governments 

were incorporated into the final 

directives. 

Chapter 50—Revisions related to 

participation of interested persons in 

the objection process and provisions 

related to transparency were 

recommended by the FACA Committee 

and incorporated into the final 

directives. 

Chapter 60—Revisions related to 

monitoring timber management were 

incorporated into the final directives, 

based on recommendations by the 

FACA Committee. 

Chapter 70—The FACA Committee 

recommended provisions to clarify 

public participation opportunities, 

overall transparency in the wilderness 

evaluation process, the inventory 

process and evaluation; these 

approaches were included in the final 

directives. 

Regulatory Certifications 

Regulatory Impact 

This notice has been reviewed under 

USDA procedures and Executive Order 

(E.O.) 12866, Regulatory Planning and 

Review. The Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) has reviewed this notice 

and has determined that it is a 

significant action because of the high 

level of public interest in the Forest 

Service’s land management planning 

activities, which will be guided by the 

directives. 

The final directives would not have 

an annual effect of $100 million or more 

on the economy nor adversely affect 

productivity, competition, jobs, the 

environment, public health or safety, 

nor State or local governments. The 

final directives would not interfere with 

an action taken or planned by another 

agency nor raise new legal or policy 

issues. Finally, the final directives 

would not alter the budgetary impact of 

entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan 

programs or the rights and obligations of 

recipients of such programs. Moreover, 

the final directives have been 

considered in light of E.O. 13272 

regarding proper consideration of small 

entities and the Small Business 

Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 

1996 (SBREFA), which amended the 

Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 

et seq.). No direct or indirect financial 

impact on small businesses or other 

entities has been identified. Therefore, it 

is hereby certified that these final 

directives will not have a significant 

economic impact on a substantial 

number of small entities as defined by 

the act. 

Environmental Impact 

These final directives provide the 

detailed direction to Agency employees 

necessary to carry out the final 2012 

Planning Rule codified at 36 CFR part 

219 governing land management 

planning. Forest Service NEPA 

procedures exclude from documentation 

in an environmental assessment or 

impact statement ‘‘rules, regulations, or 

policies to establish servicewide 

administrative procedures, program 

processes, or instructions.’’ 36 CFR 

220.6(d)(2). The Agency’s conclusion is 

that these final 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. 

No Takings Implications 

These final directives have been 

analyzed in accordance with the 

principles and criteria contained in E.O. 

12360, Governmental Actions and 

Protected Property Rights, and it has 

been determined that they would not 

pose the risk of a taking of private 

property as they are limited to the 

establishment of administrative 

procedures. 

Energy Effects 

These final directives have been 

analyzed under E.O. 13211, Actions 

Concerning Regulations That 

Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 

Distribution, or Use. It has been 

determined that they do not constitute 

a significant energy action as defined in 

the Executive Order. 


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Civil Justice Reform 

These proposed directives have been 

reviewed under E.O. 12988, Civil Justice 

Reform. These final directives will 

guide the work of Forest Service 

employees and are not intended to 

preempt any State and local laws and 

regulations that might be in conflict or 

that would impede full implementation 

of these directives. The directives would 

not retroactively affect existing permits, 

contracts, or other instruments 

authorizing the occupancy and use of 

NFS lands and would not require the 

institution of administrative 

proceedings before parties may file suit 

in court challenging their provisions 

Unfunded Mandates 

Pursuant to Title II of the Unfunded 

Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 

1531–1538), which the President signed 

into law on March 22, 1995, the effects 

of these final directives on State, local, 

and Tribal governments, and on the 

private sector have been assessed and 

do not compel the expenditure of $100 

million or more by any State, local, or 

Tribal government, or anyone in the 

private sector. Therefore, a statement 

under section 202 of the act is not 

required. 

Federalism 

The Agency has considered these 

final directives under the requirements 

of E.O. 13132, Federalism. The Agency 

has made an assessment that they 

conform with the federalism principles 

set out in this Executive Order; would 

not impose any significant compliance 

costs on the States; and would not have 

substantial direct effects on the States, 

on the relationship between the national 

government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. Moreover, these 

final directives address the land 

management planning process on 

National Forests, Grasslands or other 

units of the NFS, and provide direction 

regarding the Agency’s interaction with 

State, local and Tribal governments, to 

ensure consideration of concerns, 

impacts and opportunities. 

Consultation and Coordination With 

Indian Tribal Governments 

The Forest Service conducted 

government-to-government consultation 

on the planning directives. The Forest 

Service considers Tribal consultation as 

an ongoing, iterative process that 

encompasses development of the 

proposed directives through the 

issuance of final directives. The Agency 

contacted all federally recognized Tribes 

and Alaska Native Corporations by mail 

to formally initiate consultation on the 

proposed directives and asked for 

comments within 120 days. Hopi Nation 

Tribal leaders requested consultation 

and met with the Deputy Regional 

Forester of Region 3 on June 6, 2013, to 

discuss the planning directives. Written 

comments were received from tribes in 

California and Oregon, the California 

Indian Water Commission and an 

Alaska native corporation. Comments 

were focused on coordination and 

consultation with tribes and Alaska 

native corporations. 

Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the 

Public 

These final directives do not contain 

any record keeping or reporting 

requirements or other information 

collection requirements as defined in 5 

CFR part 1320 and, therefore, impose no 

paperwork burden on the public. While 

most land management planning 

activities do not involve information 

collection as defined in 5 CFR part 

1320, the Agency recognizes that a wide 

variety of strategies may be used 

pursuant to the 2012 Planning Rule to 

engage the public in the planning 

process. To ensure compliance with the 

review provisions of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 

et seq.) and implementing regulations at 

5 CFR part 1320 in a timely manner to 

support land management planning, the 

Agency has developed a generic 

information collection which is 

currently under review by OMB and has 

been assigned control number 0596– 

0234. In addition, Chapter 50 of these 

final directives contains information 

collection requirements as defined in 5 

CFR part 1320. The information 

collection requirements for the objection 

process to the land management plans 

has been approved by OMB and 

assigned control number 0596–0158. 

Dated: January 30, 2015. 

Robert Bonnie, 

Under Secretary, NRE. 

[FR Doc. 2015–02369 Filed 2–5–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3411–15–P 

ARCTIC RESEARCH COMMISSION 

103rd Commission Meeting 

January 29, 2015. 

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. 

Arctic Research Commission will hold 

its 103rd meeting in Washington, 

District of Columbia, on March 4–5, 

2015. The business sessions, open to the 

public, will convene at 9:00 a.m. 

The Agenda items include: 

(1) Call to order and approval of the 

agenda 

(2) Approval of the minutes from the 

102nd meeting 

(3) Commissioners and staff reports 

(4) Discussion and presentations 

concerning Arctic research activities. 

The focus of the meeting will be on 

Arctic policy issues, and on programs 

and research projects affecting the 

Arctic. 

If you plan to attend this meeting, 

please notify us via the contact 

information below. Any person 

planning to attend who requires special 

accessibility features and/or auxiliary 

aids, such as sign language interpreters, 

must inform the Commission of those 

needs in advance of the meeting. 

Contact person for further 

information: John Farrell, Executive 

Director, U.S. Arctic Research 

Commission, 703–525–0111 or TDD 

703–306–0090. 

Kathy Farrow, 

Communications Specialist. 

[FR Doc. 2015–02346 Filed 2–5–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7555–01–P 

ARCTIC RESEARCH COMMISSION 

103rd Commission Meeting 

January 29, 2015. 

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. 

Arctic Research Commission will hold 

its 103rd meeting in Washington, 

District of Columbia, on March 4–5, 

2015. The business sessions, open to the 

public, will convene at 9:00 a.m. 

The Agenda items include: 

(1) Call to order and approval of the 

agenda 

(2) Approval of the minutes from the 

102nd meeting 

(3) Commissioners and staff reports 

(4) Discussion and presentations 

concerning Arctic research 

activities. 

The focus of the meeting will be on 

Arctic policy issues, and on programs 

and research projects affecting the 

Arctic. 

If you plan to attend this meeting, 

please notify us via the contact 

information below. Any person 

planning to attend who requires special 

accessibility features and/or auxiliary 

aids, such as sign language interpreters, 

must inform the Commission of those 

needs in advance of the meeting. 

Contact person for further 

information: John Farrell, Executive 

Director, U.S. Arctic Research 


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