20810 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 68 / Friday, April 8, 2022 / Notices 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Directive Publication Notice 

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture 

(USDA). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Forest Service, U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, provides 

direction to employees through 

issuances in its Directive System, 

comprised of the Forest Service Manual 

and Forest Service Handbooks. The 

Agency must provide public notice of 

and opportunity to comment on any 

directives that formulate standards, 

criteria, or guidelines applicable to 

Forest Service programs. Once per 

quarter, the Agency provides advance 

notice of proposed and interim 

directives that will be made available 

for public comment during the next 

three months and notice of final 

directives issued in the last three 

months. 

DATES: This notice identifies proposed 

and interim directives that will be 

published for public comment between 

April 1, 2022, and June 30, 2022; 

proposed and interim directives that 

were previously published for public 

comment but not yet finalized and 

issued; and final directives that have 

been issued since January 1, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: Questions or comments may 

be provided by email to 

SM.FS.Directives@usda.gov or in writing 

to 201 14th Street SW, Washington, DC 

20250, Attn: Directives and Regulations 

staff, Mailstop 1132. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay 

Lowe at 703–231–8079 or james.lowe@

usda.gov. 

Individuals who use 

telecommunications devices for the deaf 

or hard of hearing (TDD) may call the 

Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 800–877– 

8339 24 hours a day, every day of the 

year, including holidays. 

You may register to receive email 

alerts at https://www.fs.usda.gov/aboutagency/regulations-policies. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Proposed and Interim Directives 

Consistent with 16 U.S.C. 1612(a) and 

36 CFR part 216, Public Notice and 

Comment for Standards, Criteria and 

Guidance Applicable to Forest Service 

Programs, the Forest Service publishes 

for public comment Agency directives 

that formulate standards, criteria, and 

guidelines applicable to Forest Service 

programs. Agency procedures for 

providing public notice and opportunity 

to comment are specified in Forest 

Service Handbook (FSH) 1109.12, 

Chapter 30, Providing Public Notice and 

Opportunity to Comment on Directives. 

The following proposed directives are 

planned for publication for public 

comment from April 1, 2022, to June 30, 

2022: 

1. Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2000, 

National Forest System Monitoring 

Policy Development. 

2. Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 

5509.11, Title Claims, Sales, and Grants 

Handbook, Chapter 10, Title Claims & 

Encroachments. 

The primary method of public 

outreach for this proposed directive is 

publication on the Forest Service 

website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/ 

about-agency/regulations-policies, 

publication in the Federal Register, use 

of the GovDelivery email service, and 

other Agency communications 

resources, which may include a press 

release, blog post, or social media. 

Previously Published Directives That 

Have Not Been Finalized 

The following proposed and interim 

directives have been published for 

public comment but have not yet been 

finalized: 

1. FSM 2200, Rangeland Management, 

Chapters Zero Code; 2210, Rangeland 

Management Planning; 2220, 

Management of Rangelands (Reserved); 

2230, Grazing Permit System; 2240, 

Rangeland Improvements; 2250, 

Rangeland Management Cooperation; 

and 2270, Information Management and 

Reports; FSH 2209.13, Grazing Permit 

Administration Handbook, Chapters 10, 

Term Grazing Permits; 20, Grazing 

Agreements; 30, Temporary Grazing and 

Livestock Use Permits; 40, Livestock 

Use Permits; 50, Tribal Treaty 

Authorizations and Special Use Permits; 

60, Records; 70, Compensation for 

Permittee Interests in Rangeland 

Improvements; 80, Grazing Fees; and 90, 

Rangeland Management Decision 

Making; and Forest Service Handbook 

2209.16, Allotment Management 

Handbook, Chapter 10, Allotment 

Management and Administration. 

2. Interim FSM 2719, Special Use 

Authorizations Involving Storage and 

Use of Explosives and Magazine 

Security, and FSH 2709.11, Special Uses 

Handbook, Chapter 50, Standard Forms 

and Supplemental Clauses. 

3. FSM 3800, Landscape Scale 

Restoration Program. 

4. FSM 7700, Travel Management, 

Chapters Zero and 10, Travel Planning. 

Final Directives That Have Been Issued 

Since January 1, 2022 

1. FSM 2400, Timber Management, 

Chapter 2420, Timber Appraisal; FSH 

2409.19, Renewable Resources 

Handbook, Chapters 10, KnutsonVandenberg Sale Area Program 

Management Handbook; 20, KnutsonVandenberg Forest and Regional 

Program Management; 60, Stewardship 

Contracting; and 80, Good Neighbor 

Authority. The Forest Service requested 

comments on proposed amendments to 

several of its 2400 series directives 

pertaining to the sale and disposal of 

forest products. The amendments 

address changes in authorities, policies 

and direction designed to improve 

efficiencies and increase the pace of 

forest restoration and generally update 

outdated directives. The 60-day 

comment period for these directives 

began December 17, 2020, and closed 

February 16, 2021. A total of 13 

comments were received and can be 

viewed at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/ 

Public/ReadingRoom?project=ORMS2747. The final directives were issued 

January 4, 2022, and can be viewed at 

the following websites: https://

www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/ 

2409.19/wo_2409.19_10- 

Amend%202022-1.docx. https://

www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/ 

2409.19/wo_2409.19_20- 

Amend%202022-2.docx. https://

www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/ 

2409.19/wo_2409.19_60- 

Amend%202022-3.docx. https://

www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/ 

2409.19/wo_2409.19_80- 

Amend%202022-4.docx. https://

www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsm/2400/ 

wo_2420-Amend%202022-1.docx. 

2. Region 10 Supplement to FSM 

2720, Special Uses; Management of 

Strictly Point-To-Point Commercial 

Transportation Under Special Use 

Authorization to National Forest System 

Lands within the Visitor Center Subunit 

of Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. 

The Alaska Region final directive 

supplement addresses challenges in 

managing strictly point-to-point 

commercial transportation to and from 

the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center 

(Visitor Center) during the cruise ship 

season (April–October). Visitation to the 

Visitor Center has increased to nearly 

700,000 annual visitors as of 2018, with 

additional growth expected over the 

next several years. Existing facilities 

cannot accommodate the growing 

number of visitors. Increased use has 

affected resources and visitor safety and 

experiences. The final directive 

supplement allows the Alaska Region of 

the Forest Service to restrict strictly 

point-to-point commercial 

transportation to and from the Visitor 

Center during the cruise season. The 

final directive supplement will enhance 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 68 / Friday, April 8, 2022 / Notices 20811 

the Alaska Region’s management and 

enforcement of authorized point-topoint commercial transportation to and 

from the Visitor Center. The 60-day 

comment period for this directive began 

June 24, 2021, and closed August 28, 

2021. Five comments were received, 

which can be viewed at https://

cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/ReadingRoom

?project=ORMS-2314. The final 

directive was issued January 13, 2022, 

and can be viewed at https://

www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/field/r10/ 

fsm/2700/R10%202720.docx. 

3. FSM 2700, Special Uses 

Management, Chapter 40, Vegetation 

Management Pilot Projects, and FSH 

2709.11, Special Uses Handbook, 

Chapter 50, Standard Forms and 

Supplemental Clauses. The Forest 

Service has issued this final directive, 

which implements section 8630 of the 

Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 

(Farm Bill). The Farm Bill created a 

voluntary pilot project program for 

removal of vegetation other than hazard 

trees near powerline rights-of-way on 

National Forest System (NFS) lands. 

The final directive establishes Agency 

procedures to enhance the reliability of 

the electric grid and reduce the threat of 

wildfire due to vegetation-related 

conditions adjacent to powerline facility 

rights-of-way. Approved vegetation 

management pilot projects will allow 

electric utilities to conduct voluntary 

vegetation management, other than 

removal of hazard trees, up to 150 feet 

from either side of a powerline facility 

right-of-way and for a total width of up 

to 200 feet. The 30-day comment period 

for this directive began December 10, 

2020, and closed January 11, 2021. Four 

comments were received, which can be 

viewed at https://cara.ecosystemmanagement.org/Public/ReadingRoom

?project=ORMS-2717. The final 

directive was issued February 10, 2022, 

and can be viewed at https://

www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsm/2700/ 

wo_2740-Amend%202022-1.docx. 

4. FSH 2709.11, Special Uses 

Handbook, Chapter 80, Operating Plans 

and Agreements for Powerline 

Facilities. The Forest Service has issued 

this final directive, which implements 

section 512 of the Federal Land Policy 

and Management Act (FLPMA), as 

added by the Consolidated 

Appropriations Act of 2018. The final 

directive will help reduce threats of 

wildfire and enhance electric system 

reliability by establishing Agency 

procedures for development, review, 

and approval of proposed operating 

plans and agreements for vegetation 

management, inspection, and operation 

and maintenance of powerline facilities 

on NFS lands. The 30-day comment 

period for this directive began December 

10, 2020, and closed January 11, 2021. 

Fourteen comments were received, 

which can be viewed at https://

cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ 

ReadingRoom?project=ORMS-2718. The 

final directive was issued February 10, 

2022, and can be viewed at https://

www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/ 

2709.11/wo_2709.11_80- 

Amend%202022-1.docx. 

Dated: April 4, 2022. 

Amelia I. Steed, 

Acting Deputy Director, Directives and 

Regulations, Strategic Planning, Budget, & 

Accountability. 

[FR Doc. 2022–07523 Filed 4–7–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3411–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service 

[Docket No. NRCS–2022–0001] 

Notice of Intent To Prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement for 

the Etowah River Watershed, Dawson 

County, Georgia 

AGENCY: Natural Resources 

Conservation Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare 

an Environmental Impact Statement 

(EIS). 

SUMMARY: The Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS) Georgia 

State Office announces its intent to 

prepare an EIS for the Etowah River 

Watershed Project in the proximity of 

Dawsonville, Georgia. The EIS process 

will examine flood prevention and 

agricultural water management 

measures and evaluate additional (new) 

alternative solutions identified during 

scoping. NRCS is requesting comments 

to identify significant issues, potential 

alternatives, information, and analyses 

relevant to the Proposed Action from all 

interested individuals, Federal and State 

agencies, and Tribes. 

DATES: We will consider comments that 

we receive by May 9, 2022. Comments 

received later will be considered to the 

extent possible. 

ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit 

comments in response to this notice. 

You may submit your comments 

through one of the methods below: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov and search 

for docket ID NRCS–2022–0001. Follow 

the online instructions for submitting 

comments; or 

• Mail or Hand Delivery: Gregg 

Hudock, P.E., Principal, Practice Leader 

and Group Leader, Golder Associates, 

Inc., 5170 Peachtree Road, Building 100, 

Suite 300, Atlanta, GA, USA, 30341. 

Please specify the docket ID NRCS– 

2022–0001. 

All comments received will be posted 

without change and made publicly 

available on www.regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Diane A. Guthrie, P.E.; telephone: (706)– 

546–2310; email: diane.guthrie@

usda.gov. In addition, for questions 

related to submitting comments contact 

Golder Associates, Inc.: Gregg Hudock, 

P.E. at (770)–496–1893, Fax (770) 934– 

9476, Gregg_Hudock@golder.com. 

Persons with disabilities who require 

alternative means for communication 

should contact the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) Target Center at 

(202) 720–2600 (voice). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need 

NRCS is evaluating alternatives that 

will prevent or reduce flooding and 

increase and maintain safe and reliable 

supplies of water for the local 

community while increasing water 

conservation and improving water 

delivery efficiency in the Etowah River 

Watershed. The primary purpose 

underlying watershed planning and the 

proposed action is to: 

(a) Provide flood protection to reduce 

floodwater damages for crops and 

pasture, fences, farmsteads, machinery, 

buildings, livestock, county and 

township roads and bridges, and urban 

areas in Dawsonville; and 

(b) Provide a rural water supply to 

meet current and future water demands 

by increasing and maintaining safe and 

reliable supplies of water for the local 

rural community, increasing water 

conservation, and improving water 

delivery efficiency in the Etowah River 

Watershed for Dawson County, Georgia. 

This proposed action is authorized 

under the Watershed Prevention and 

Flood Protection Act of 1954. The action 

is needed to provide flood damage 

protection due to the existing aging 

Etowah River Watershed Dam No. 13 

and to provide agricultural and rural 

water management ensuring a safe and 

reliable water supply that meets current 

and future water demands. The current 

watershed structure has reached the end 

of its original 50-year design life and 

needs to be brought into compliance 

with modern dam safety criteria. The 

existing Etowah River Watershed Dam 

No. 13 is not in compliance with the 

Georgia Rules for Dam Safety and the 

NRCS TR–60 design criteria. Through 

hydraulic modeling, it was determined 

the auxiliary spillway is likely to breach 


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