This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

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section.

Notices Federal Register

11520 

Vol. 74, No. 51 

Wednesday, March 18, 2009 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Giant Sequoia National Monument 

Management Plan EIS 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement. 

SUMMARY: The Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service is preparing 

an Environmental Impact Statement 

(EIS) to establish management direction 

for the land and resources within the 

Giant Sequoia National Monument 

(GSNM) created by Presidential 

Proclamation on April 15, 2000. The 

Forest Service, as the responsible 

agency, proposes to amend the 1988 

Sequoia National Forest Land and 

Resource Management Plan (1988 Forest 

Plan) to provide for the protection of the 

objects of interest identified in the 

Proclamation. 

DATES: Comments concerning the scope 

of the analysis must be received by May 

4, 2009. The draft environmental impact 

statement is expected September 2009 

and the final environmental impact 

statement is expected March 2010. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 

Marianne Emmendorfer, Project Leader, 

Sequoia National Forest Headquarters, 

1839 South Newcomb Street, 

Porterville, CA 93257, and Attention: 

Monument Management Plan, or via 

facsimile to (559) 781–4744. 

It is important that reviewers provide 

their comments at such times and in 

such a way that they are useful to the 

Agency’s preparation of the EIS. 

Therefore, comments should be 

provided prior to the close of the 

comment period and should clearly 

articulate the reviewer’s concerns and 

contentions. The submission of timely 

and specific comments can affect a 

reviewer’s ability to participate in 

subsequent administrative review or 

judicial review. 

Comments received in response to 

this solicitation, including names and 

addresses of those who comment, will 

become part of the public record for this 

proposed action. Comments submitted 

anonymously will be accepted and 

considered; however, anonymous 

comments will not provide the 

respondent with standing to participate 

in subsequent administrative review or 

judicial review. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Marianne Emmendorfer, Project Leader, 

Sequoia National Forest, at the address 

listed above. Her telephone number is 

559–338–2251, extension 313. 

Information regarding the monument 

and the planning process can also be 

found on the Giant Sequoia National 

Monument Web site located at http:// 

www.fs.fed.us/r5/sequoia/gsnm. 

The Sequoia National Forest is using 

the Giant Sequoia National Monument 

Management Plan to pilot software from 

Limehouse SoftwareTM that allows 

documents to be posted to a Web site for 

your review and comment. Please visit 

the Limehouse Software Web site 

http://gsnm-consult.limehouse.com/ 

portal/ to enter comments 

electronically. Additional documents 

will be posted that are relevant to the 

management plan. When you visit the 

Web site, please register to access all the 

features of this Web site and to receive 

automatic notifications when 

documents are posted. A guided tour, 

showing how to use the site, is 

available, as well as help files, 

explaining how to use the Web site. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Individuals who use telecommunication 

devised 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: 

Background 

On April 15, 2000, a Presidential 

Proclamation creating the Giant Sequoia 

National Monument was signed. The 

Proclamation designated 327,769 acres 

within the boundary of the Sequoia 

National Forest as a National Monument 

to provide protection for a variety of 

objects of historic and scientific interest, 

including giant sequoia trees and their 

surrounding ecosystem. The 

Proclamation required establishment of 

a monument management plan within 

three years, and establishment of a 

scientific advisory board to assist in 

development of this plan. A scientific 

advisory board was appointed, in 

consultation with the National Academy 

of Sciences, to provide scientific 

guidance during the development of the 

2004 Giant Sequoia National Monument 

Management Plan Final Environmental 

Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of 

Decision. A Giant Sequoia National 

Monument Management Plan Record of 

Decision was signed on January 12, 

2004. The monument plan was 

challenged and litigation was filed in 

the United States District Court for the 

Northern District of California on 

January 27, 2005 (Sierra Club, et al., v. 

Bosworth, et al., No. C–05–00397 CRB) 

and March 3, 2005 (People of the State 

of California, ex rel. Lockyer v. United 

States Department of Agriculture, et al., 

No. C–05–00898 CRB). In October 2006, 

Federal District Court, Judge Charles 

Breyer, found in favor of the plaintiffs 

in both cases and remanded the Plan to 

the USDA Forest Service ‘‘* * * so that 

a proper Monument Plan can be 

developed in accordance with the 

Presidential Proclamation, * * * and in 

compliance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

* * *’’ Calif. ex rel. Lockyer v. USDA, 

No. C–05–00898 (N.D. Cal., Oct. 11, 

2006). 

There are a number of resources and 

direction that are applicable to the 

entire Sequoia National Forest that also 

need to be addressed in the Giant 

Sequoia National Monument 

management plan to some extent. The 

2004 Giant Sequoia National Monument 

plan specified that it relied on the 2001 

Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment 

(SNFPA) FEIS and Record of Decision, 

due in part to the fact that the 

supplemental SNFPA EIS was being 

developed at the same time as the 

monument plan. However, the 2004 

SNFPA contained updated scientific 

research regarding fire and fuels, and 

wildlife habitat information. This 

current analysis for the monument will 

rely on the most current scientific 

information available. Where applicable 

it may adopt existing direction from 

other sources including the 2004 

SNFPA. 

In addition, though California condors 

fit the description of ‘‘rare and endemic 

species’’ for which the monument was 

established, these birds have historically 


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used portions of the Sequoia National 

Forest (SQF). Therefore, direction for 

condor habitat will be provided within 

the monument portion of the SQF in the 

management plan, with the knowledge 

that any updated management direction 

for condor habitat outside the 

Monument will be addressed in the 

Sequoia National Forest plan revision. 

Mediated Settlement Agreement 

The 1990 Mediated Settlement 

Agreement to the Sequoia National 

Forest Land Management Plan (MSA) 

states, ‘‘In the interim period between 

signing this Agreement and finalizing an 

amendment incorporating this 

Agreement into the Plan, the Parties 

agree that the provisions of this 

Agreement shall be implemented 

according to the schedules indicated 

throughout this document.’’ A review is 

currently being conducted to determine 

which of the provisions of the MSA 

have been incorporated into 

amendments to the 1988 Sequoia 

National Forest Land and Resource 

Management Plan. The preliminary 

review found that there are a number of 

provisions yet to be fully incorporated 

in amendments. Therefore, applicable 

provisions of the MSA will be addressed 

in the Giant Sequoia National 

Monument management plan 

environmental analysis. 

Proclamation 

The Proclamation stated, ‘‘Laws, 

regulations, and policies pertaining to 

administration by the Department of 

Agriculture of grazing permits and 

timber sales under contract as of the 

date of this proclamation on National 

Forest System lands within the 

boundaries of the Monument shall 

continue to apply to lands within the 

Monument. Nothing in this 

proclamation shall be deemed to affect 

existing special use authorizations; 

existing uses shall be governed by 

applicable laws, regulations, and 

management plans. Nothing in this 

proclamation shall be deemed to revoke 

any existing withdrawal, reservation, or 

appropriation; however, the national 

monument shall be the dominant 

reservation.’’ [Proclamation 7295, 65 FR 

24095, 24098 (Apr. 25, 2000)]. 

In addition, the Proclamation stated, 

‘‘Removal of trees, except for personal 

use fuel wood, from within the 

monument area may take place only if 

clearly needed for ecological restoration 

and maintenance or public safety.’’ (65 

FR 24097). Public use in the Monument 

is defined as scientific research, 

interpretation and conservation 

education regarding natural and cultural 

resources, activities authorized under 

special use permits, recreation activities 

and current commodity uses (i.e., 

grazing, fuelwood cutting, etc.) under 

applicable laws, regulations and 

policies regarding their administration. 

The Proclamation also stated, ‘‘The 

final decision to issue any management 

plans and any management rules and 

regulations rests with the Secretary of 

Agriculture. Management plans or rules 

and regulations developed by the 

Secretary of the Interior governing uses 

within national parks or other national 

monuments administered by the 

Secretary of the Interior shall not apply 

within the Giant Sequoia National 

Monument.’’ (65 FR 24098). 

It is not within the purpose or 

authority of the Presidential 

Proclamation that established the Giant 

Sequoia National Monument to change 

existing: 

• State jurisdiction over fish and 

game management; 

• Water rights; 

• Laws, policies and regulations 

pertaining to permits and projects under 

current contract; 

• Special use authorizations; and 

• Withdrawals, reservations, or 

appropriations except where the 

Proclamation specified, and that the 

Monument shall be the dominant 

reservation. 

Scientific Advisory Board and Existing 

Advisories 

The 2001 Presidential Proclamation 

required the Secretary of Agriculture to 

appoint a Scientific Advisory Board 

(SAB) to assist in developing the 

monument management plan. The board 

was convened as described above, and 

submitted 28 advisories during the 

planning process from 2002–2004. 

Some of the advisories were specific 

to the draft EIS while others were more 

far reaching. As this new monument 

planning process was initiated, a 

number of people requested that a new 

SAB be convened. As a first step to 

determine whether a new SAB is 

necessary, the Forest Service offered a 

commenting opportunity on the existing 

scientific advisories concurrent with the 

commenting opportunity on the 

Proclamation from July through August 

2008. Only those advisories that were 

not directed at the 2002 draft EIS were 

included. Several people commented on 

the advisories. 

The Forest Supervisor determined 

that a number of the existing scientific 

advisories are still relevant for the new 

monument plan. She found the public 

comments on whether or how an 

additional Scientific Advisory Board 

would be empanelled merit further 

study. 

Purpose and Need for Action 

The Presidential Proclamation 

establishing the Giant Sequoia National 

Monument (Monument) required 

preparation of a management plan. The 

required plan will amend the existing 

1988 Sequoia National Forest Land and 

Resource Management Plan (1988 Forest 

Plan) as amended by the 1991 Kings 

River Wild and Scenic River, and 

Special Management Area 

Implementation Plan and the 2001 

Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment 

(2001 SNFPA). The Proclamation 

focused on certain resources and uses in 

establishing the Monument so the 

proposed plan amendment will also 

focus on those areas in implementing 

the Proclamation. 

The Monument Management Plan 

may also incorporate the management 

direction provided by the 1990 Sequoia 

National Forest Land Management Plan 

Mediated Settlement Agreement (MSA), 

and the 2004 Sierra Nevada Forest Plan 

Amendment Supplemental 

Environmental Impact Statement (2004 

SNFPA SEIS), as applicable, and to the 

extent that direction is consistent with 

the Proclamation. Although the 

Monument plan environmental impact 

statement (EIS) must consider these 

other sources of direction, the plan is 

not constrained by the requirements 

prescribed in these documents. The 

plan will be informed by the best 

available science and will be based on 

a thorough review of relevant scientific 

information and practical experience, 

per the Proclamation and planning 

direction, resulting in a plan which 

could be substantially different from 

current management direction. 

The purpose and need of this 

management plan is to establish 

management direction for the land and 

resources within the Giant Sequoia 

National Monument in order to protect 

the Objects of Interest (as described 

below), while providing key resources 

and opportunities for public use within 

the Monument. Although many valuable 

Objects of Interest are identified, it was 

also clear in the Proclamation that the 

major purpose of the monument is to 

protect and maintain the giant sequoia 

groves and the rare giants within their 

unique and natural habitat. 

The Monument management plan will 

describe a long-term vision and the 

strategic management direction to guide 

management activities that move 

resources toward the desired conditions. 

This Monument plan will define the 

parameters (limits) for management 

activities, and offer the flexibility to 

adapt project-level decisions to 


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1Several advisories were specific to the 2002 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Giant 

Sequoia National Monument Management Plan and 

are therefore not necessarily applicable to this 

current Draft EIS. 

accommodate rapidly changing resource 

conditions. 

The Proclamation states that the 

monument plan shall: 

Establish a transportation plan that 

provides for visitor enjoyment, and 

understanding about the scientific and 

historical objects consistent with their 

protection. (65 FR 24098). 

The Proclamation did not specifically 

state, but implied the following needs in 

protecting Objects of Interest in the 

Monument: 

(A) Provide for survival of mature and 

regeneration of young sequoias to assure 

the continued existence of this species. 

Consider the effects of disturbance and 

climate change on the regeneration, 

range and distribution of sequoias. (65 

FR 24095). 

(B) Restore the ecological processes 

and attributes that may be altered due 

to a century of fire suppression and 

large-scale logging, so that forest 

resiliency to large-scale wildfire and 

other potentially catastrophic events is 

improved (65 FR 24095–24096), 

(C) Provide opportunities for 

scientific study of the Objects of Interest 

(such as biologists, geologists, 

paleontologists, archaeologists and 

historians) (65 FR 24095–24097). 

The Objects of Interest were generally 

identified in the Proclamation, with the 

requirement that the management plan 

would provide direction for their proper 

care. Through public and agency 

dialogue the Objects of Interest have 

been determined to be a mix of specific 

individuals/locations (i.e. specific 

caverns or named sequoias) and broad 

ecosystem processes (i.e. sequoia groves 

and associated watersheds). The 

following are the Objects of Interest that 

will be considered for protection under 

this Giant Sequoia National Monument 

Management Plan: 

• The ecosystems and outstanding 

landscapes within the Monument that 

surround the sequoia groves, including 

the interconnected vegetation types; 

• The naturally occurring giant 

sequoia groves and associated 

ecosystems, rare giant trees, and other 

rare and endemic plant species 

including the Springville clarkia, etc.; 

• The diverse array of rare animal 

species include the Pacific fisher, great 

gray owl, American marten, northern 

goshawk, peregrine falcon, California 

spotted owl, California condor, several 

rare amphibians and western pond 

turtle; 

• The paleontological resources in the 

meadow sediments, giant sequoia tree 

rings, and other vegetation that have 

recorded the ecological changes 

including fire regimes, volcanism, 

vegetation and climate over the 

millennia; 

• The limestone caverns and other 

geologic features including granite 

domes, spires, geothermally produced 

hot springs and soda springs, and the 

mix of glacial and river carved gorges; 

• Cultural resources, both historic 

and prehistoric, provide a record of 

human adaptation to climate change 

and other influences, including land use 

patterns, in shaping ecosystems over the 

past 12,000 years. 

The Presidential Proclamation creates 

a national monument recognizing and 

protecting forever its unique resources. 

The Proclamation also clearly identifies 

opportunities for scientific research, 

interpretation, recreation, and the need 

for a transportation plan. We are 

committed to preparing a management 

plan that is responsive to these needs 

and opportunities and that protects and 

restores the objects of interest as 

identified in the Proclamation. 

Proposed Action 

Desired Conditions and New Objectives 

The desired conditions are broad, 

overarching descriptions of management 

goals and objectives to address the 

purpose and need to protect the Objects 

of Interest while providing key 

resources and opportunities for public 

use within the Monument. The 1988 

Forest Plan and the 2001 SNFPA 

provide desired condition goals and 

objectives for a number of resources in 

the monument. Much of this direction is 

relevant for use in managing the Giant 

Sequoia National Monument. However, 

there is a subset of desired conditions 

and associated management direction 

that needs to be amended to manage the 

monument in accordance with the 

Proclamation. 

In response to the Proclamation, the 

desired conditions discussed here are 

focused on the resources for which the 

Giant Sequoia National Monument 

Management Plan would amend or 

otherwise alter the current direction 

provided in the 1988 Forest Plan, as 

amended by the 2001 SNFPA. The 

desired conditions and associated 

management direction expected to be 

altered from current management 

direction includes: 

• Shifts in vegetation management 

direction (management prescriptions), 

mainly regarding sequoias and oak 

habitat; 

• Shifts in fuels management, mainly 

regarding sequoia groves; 

• Provide resource management 

direction that is more responsive to new 

scientific data; 

• Greater emphasis on 

paleontological and cave resources; 

• Greater emphasis on selected 

cultural resource types and research 

questions; 

• Greater emphasis on place-based 

recreation and public access; and 

• Greater emphasis on partnerships 

and research opportunities. 

The desired conditions and resultant 

monument management goals are 

governed by the 2000 Presidential 

Proclamation establishing the Giant 

Sequoia National Monument; and, as 

applicable, informed by the 1988 Forest 

Plan; the 1990 MSA; the applicable 

advisories from the Scientific Advisory 

Board; 1 and the 2001 and/or 2004 

SNFPA. 

The desired conditions are also 

informed by the public comments 

regarding the original 2004 Giant 

Sequoia National Monument 

Management Plan, and the commenting 

opportunity on the Presidential 

Proclamation and scientific advisories 

from July 2 through August 31, 2008. 

The desired conditions are described 

in the context of protecting the Objects 

of Interest, and/or providing 

opportunities for public use. 

A. Vegetation Including Sequoia Groves 

The Proclamation stated that ‘‘No 

portion of the monument shall be 

considered to be suited for timber 

production, and no part of the 

monument shall be used in a calculation 

or provision of sustained yield of timber 

from the Sequoia National Forest.’’ (65 

FR 24097). The desired conditions for 

vegetation within the Monument under 

the Proclamation will amend portions of 

the current direction for vegetation 

management. The 1988 Forest Plan 

provided two goals for timber resources: 

(1) Increase total timber (and wood 

fiber) supply where cost effective, and 

(2) maintain and enhance giant sequoias 

to increase recreation use and 

interpretive opportunities. The 

Monument plan will amend the first 

goal and its associated management 

prescriptions per Proclamation direction 

to remove the Monument from the 

timber land base. The second goal of the 

1988 Forest Plan is consistent with the 

Proclamation’s goal to ‘‘provide for and 

encourage continued public and 

recreational access and use consistent 

with the purposes of the monument.’’ 

(65 FR 24097) In addition, the 1988 

Forest Plan provided specific 

management direction for giant 

sequoias, about which the 1990 MSA 

recommended several changes to 


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2Preserve is defined in terms of the sequoia 

groves by allowing ecological processes, or 

equivalents thereof, to maintain the dynamic of 

forest structure and function (Piirto and Rogers, An 

Ecological Foundation for Management of National 

Forest Giant Sequoia Ecosystems, 1999). 

3Protect is defined in terms of sequoia groves as 

protecting the naturally occurring goves from events 

that are contrary to or disruptive of natural 

ecological processes. Protect cultural artifacts, and 

ususual biological and physical features within 

groves from agents that could destroy them or 

accelerate their natural rate fo deterioration. 

establish grove boundaries and prevent 

logging in the groves to help preserve 2

and protect 3 them. 

The desired condition for the 

monument vegetation is a variable 

distribution over space and time of a 

variety of species, sizes, and ages that 

are in balance with climate and other 

ecological conditions, which addresses 

the range of natural variability as 

determined by the best available 

science. The resultant combinations and 

ranges of ecosystem structures will 

provide a diverse habitat for biological 

Objects of Interest, recreation 

opportunities, and forest ecosystems 

able to regenerate and to survive 

drought, insects, disease, and large 

wildfires. 

Objects of Interest are protected from 

large scale disturbances and vegetation 

type conversions. Under the 

Proclamation, ‘‘Removal of trees, except 

for personal use fuel wood, from within 

the Monument area may take place only 

if clearly needed for ecological 

restoration and maintenance or public 

safety.’’ (65 FR 24097). Consistent with 

this direction, the Forest will develop 

standards and guidelines to encourage 

forest stand disturbances at the 

appropriate scale and severity to meet 

other objectives such as safety, fuels, 

and wildlife management. The 

vegetation diversity may promote ladder 

fuels and down woody debris in one 

area, and giant sequoia regeneration and 

reduced fuels in another area. 

More specifically, the desired 

conditions in giant sequoia groves will 

be a balance of forest disturbances, fuel 

loading, ladder fuels, and burn 

frequencies that will provide adequate 

conditions for sequoia regeneration. The 

desired habitat and processes will be 

adequate to protect some sequoia 

regeneration, most large sequoias, and 

all mature sequoias. 

The 1990 MSA also recommended 

alterations to much of the grazing 

management direction for oak and 

chaparral vegetation areas. Portions of 

this direction have been included in the 

2001 SNFPA direction for grazing in oak 

woodlands. However, there are still 

portions of the MSA direction regarding 

grazing management in oak and 

chaparral habitats that will be 

considered in the environmental 

analysis, and may be addressed in the 

monument plan. 

The desired conditions of vegetation 

within oak grassland grazing allotments 

are healthy large oak trees capable of 

producing acorns and adequate 

regeneration and protection of oaks to 

assure long term survival of the species. 

B. Fuels 

Fire, whether natural or human 

caused, has been a key process in 

reducing the surface, ladder, and crown 

fuels that reduce susceptibility to the 

adverse effects of severe wildfires. Many 

ecosystems within and adjacent to the 

monument have excessive fuels 

accumulation due to years of fire 

exclusion. These fuels have built up at 

various rates depending on conditions 

and past treatments. 

The existing direction under the 2001 

SNFPA locates fuel treatments across 

broad landscapes that are linked to 

support one another so that the spread 

of wildland fire is interrupted and its 

intensity reduced. Continued use of 

these strategies in the Monument are 

intended to protect the resources 

including life, property, and sensitive 

resources, such as the giant sequoias, 

wildlife, cultural resources, and riparian 

areas. The 1990 MSA recommended 

fuels inventories and fuel load 

reduction plans for the groves, which 

will be considered in the development 

of alternatives and in the environmental 

analysis for the monument plan. 

The desired condition for fuels in the 

Monument is to establish and maintain 

lower, manageable levels of flammable 

materials, especially at the surface and 

understory layers using frequent fire 

return intervals. Safer, manageable fuels 

are defined as those which pose low risk 

for large, catastrophic fires and include 

a highly diverse vegetation mosaic of 

age classes, tree sizes, and species 

composition. This will also contribute 

to protecting the objects of interest and 

will help maintain sustainable 

environmental, social, and economic 

benefits (i.e., effects to tourism). 

Additional direction provided in the 

2001 Sierra Nevada Forest Plan 

Amendment sets the highest priority for 

fuel reduction activities in the urban 

wildland intermix zone (WUI). These 

fuel reduction treatments are to protect 

human communities from wildland fires 

as well as minimize the spread of fires 

that might originate in urban areas. The 

goal is for fire suppression capabilities 

to be enhanced by modified fire 

behavior inside the zone (USDA Forest 

Service, January 2001, Record of 

Decision, page 9). The desired condition 

for WUI within the Monument would 

follow the 2001 SNFPA guidelines to 

focus fuel reduction treatments in 

developed areas within the WUI zones. 

C. Habitat Management for Rare and 

Endemic Species 

The GSNM and surrounding Sequoia 

National Forest provide habitat for a 

number of rare plant and animal 

species. The Proclamation states: ‘‘The 

great elevational range of the monument 

embraces a number of climatic zones, 

providing habitats for an extraordinary 

diversity of plant species and 

communities. The monument is rich in 

rare plants and is home to more than 

200 plant species endemic to the 

southern Sierra Nevada mountain 

range.’’ The desired condition is that 

lands within the monument continue to 

provide a diverse range of habitats. 

Riparian areas, montane meadows, and 

late successional forest are areas of 

particular concern. 

Lands within the GSNM account for 

nearly one quarter of the Southern 

Sierra Fisher Conservation Area 

designated under the 2001 SNFPA. The 

Southern Sierra Fisher Conservation 

Area is a mapped land allocation 

encompassing the known occupied 

range of the Pacific fisher in the Sierra 

Nevada. The Monument management 

plan may update or add to the 

management standards and guidelines 

based on current scientific research and 

modeling from the Conservation Biology 

Institute (CBI) and others regarding 

fishers. 

Current management direction 

provided by the 2001 SNFPA for 

California spotted owl, northern 

goshawks and great gray owls will 

continue unaltered within the 

monument. The 2001 SNFPA 

designated standards and guidelines for 

conserving willow flycatchers and 

designated sites of emphasis habitats, 

based on consistent monitoring of 

known willow flycatcher sites. Five of 

these sites occur within the GSNM, 

though monitoring resulted in no 

willow flycatcher detections since 

regular monitoring began in 2001. The 

management direction provided by the 

2001 SNFPA is expected to continue to 

be used in the monument. 

The 2001 SNFPA was intended to 

provide regionally consistent direction 

to address aquatic, riparian, and 

meadow ecosystems identified as the 

most altered and impaired habitats in 

the Sierra Nevada. In addition, many 

aquatic and riparian-dependent species 

were found to be at risk of extirpation. 

Foothill and mountain yellow-legged 

frogs, several slender salamander 

species, and western pond turtles have 


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suitable habitat in riparian areas in the 

monument. The Aquatic Management 

Strategy (AMS) for the 2001 SNFPA 

established Riparian Conservation 

Objectives for Riparian Conservation 

Areas (RCAs) and Critical Aquatic 

Refuges (CARs). Portions of four CARs 

are located within the GSNM. The 

management direction provided by the 

2001 SNFPA is expected to continue to 

be used in the monument. 

The 1988 Forest Plan and 1990 MSA 

provide direction for the management of 

the California condor. Forest Plan 

direction specifies that management is 

to be congruent with the California 

Condor Recovery Plan, and identifies 

several historic use areas that are to be 

managed for the benefit and protection 

of the condor. These include the 

Starvation Grove historic nest site and 

the Lion Ridge roost area. The MSA 

recommended designating Wildlife 

Habitat Management Areas and other 

guidance, which will be considered in 

the development of alternatives and in 

the environmental analysis for the 

monument plan. 

D. Watershed Resources 

The 2001 SNFPA amended the 1988 

Forest Plan and provided direction on 

management of watersheds. The 1990 

MSA also includes direction for 

watershed management including 

establishing Streamside Management 

Zones. The recommended management 

direction from the 1990 MSA regarding 

watershed resources will be considered 

in the development of alternatives and 

in the environmental analysis for the 

monument plan. 

The desired condition is for 

hydrologic functions to operate in a 

natural role within watersheds while 

resource management activities sustain 

human needs and uses in the 

monument. Restoration of ecological 

process is promoted through repair of 

previously harmed areas, and fostering 

a return to natural conditions wherever 

possible. 

E. Geological and Soil Resources 

The Proclamation describes caves and 

other special geologic resources as: ‘‘The 

monument is dominated by granitic 

rocks, most noticeably as domes and 

spires in areas such as the Needles. The 

magnificent Kern Canyon forms the 

eastern boundary of the monument’s 

southern unit * * * Particularly in the 

northern unit of the monument, 

limestone outcrops, remnants of an 

ancient seabed, are noted for their 

caves.’’ 

The desired condition is for ecological 

functions to operate in a natural role 

across geologic features of the 

Monument while resource management 

activities sustain human needs and 

uses. Geologic resource management 

may be focused on (1) geologic features 

(caves, domes, hot springs, etc.), (2) 

designating geological special interest 

areas (caves, hot springs, etc.), (3) 

identifying and minimizing potential 

geologic hazards, (4) maintaining 

groundwater, (5) protecting 

paleontological resources, and (6) 

management of mineral resources, 

‘‘lands within the boundaries of this 

monument are hereby appropriated and 

withdrawn from entry, location, 

selection, sale, leasing, or other 

disposition under the public land laws 

including, but not limited to, 

withdrawal from locating, entry, and 

patent under the mining laws and from 

disposition under all laws relating to 

mineral and geothermal leasing.’’ 

(Proclamation 7295, Federal Register, 

Vol. 65, No. 80, 4/25/2000, p. 24097). 

The Proclamation removed the 

Monument lands from new mineral 

extraction so the Monument plan will 

amend the Forest Plan to reflect this 

direction. 

In addition, the 1990 MSA 

recommended direction regarding soil 

quality standards and associated 

monitoring. The 2001 SNFPA 

incorporated the Pacific Southwest 

Regional Soil Quality management 

direction into the amendment. Whether 

the 2001 SNFPA adequately addressed 

the 1990 MSA recommendations has yet 

to be determined. 

F. Paleontological Resources 

According to the Proclamation, the 

Monument holds unique 

paleontological resources (i.e., life of 

past geologic periods found in the fossil 

record of plants and animals) 

documenting tens of thousands of years 

of ecosystem change. The Proclamation 

goes on to state, ‘‘Subfossil vegetation 

entombed within ancient woodrat 

middens in these caves has provided the 

only direct evidence of where giant 

sequoias grew during the Pleistocene 

era, and documents substantial 

vegetation changes over the last 50,000 

or more years. Vertebrate fossils also 

have been found within the middens.’’ 

In addition, giant sequoias hold within 

their tree rings multi-millennial records 

of past environmental changes such as 

climate, fire regimes, and consequent 

forest response. The desired condition is 

to manage the paleontological resources 

to retain the components providing the 

fossil record throughout the monument. 

G. Cultural Resources 

The Proclamation states: ‘‘During the 

past 8,000 years, Native American 

peoples of the Sierra Nevada have lived 

by hunting and fishing, gathering, and 

trading with other people throughout 

the region. Archaeological sites such as 

lithic scatters, food-processing sites, 

rock shelters, village sites, petroglyphs, 

and pictographs are found in the 

monument. These sites have the 

potential to shed light on the roles of 

prehistoric peoples, including the role 

they played in shaping the ecosystems 

on which they depended’’ and ‘‘One of 

the earliest recorded references to giant 

sequoias is found in the notes of the 

Walker Expedition of 1833, which 

described ‘‘trees of the redwood species, 

incredibly large * * *.’’ The world 

became aware of giant sequoias when 

sections of the massive trees were 

transported east and displayed as 

curiosities for eastern audiences. The 

1988 Forest Plan and several laws direct 

the management and protection 

measures for cultural resources. 

The monument currently has over 900 

recorded archaeological sites. These 

sites are the physical remains of human 

occupation over the last 9,000 years and 

range from small-scale obsidian flake 

scatters to large-scale complex Native 

American village sites occupied for 

thousands of years. Historic sites 

chronicle some of the earliest EuroAmerican exploration, settlement, and 

development of the southern Sierra 

Nevada. Cultural resources provide 

information about the past that was 

never written down. A greater 

understanding of these resources can 

lead to a greater understanding of 

human environmental interactions. 

These interactions include how humans 

reacted to large-scale climate change; 

how humans manipulated vegetation on 

the smaller scale of food and material 

use by individual families, and on the 

larger scale of Native American burning 

and Euro-American logging. Cultural 

resources provide physical evidence of 

human land use patterns and can 

provide a greater understanding of 

culture change. 

In addition to the physical remains, 

the oral histories, ethnographic studies, 

and continuation of traditional practices 

contribute to our understanding of 

people who have both new and longterm cultural connections to the 

Monument. The preservation and 

interpretation of cultural resources not 

only provides opportunities for visitors 

to explore, enjoy, and learn about the 

diversity of cultures that have lived in 

and visited the Monument; but also 

their own cultural heritage. The desired 

condition for the Monument is to place 

greater management emphasis on the 

rich cultural resources through 


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protection, research, and public 

education. 

H. Human Use and Socioeconomics 

The Proclamation describes human 

use of the Monument as follows: ‘‘The 

plan will provide for and encourage 

continued public and recreational 

access and use consistent with the 

purposes of the monument.’’ People of 

all ages, races and backgrounds, 

whether from local, rural or 

metropolitan communities would be 

encouraged to learn about and visit the 

Monument. The Monument would serve 

as a foundation of our commonality and 

interdependence. 

The Monument will be managed cost 

effectively. Research would be 

conducted regarding human use and 

socioeconomics. As the Scientific 

Advisory Board recommended: ‘‘The 

Plan should take into account 

substantial increases in visitor use and 

exploit opportunities for collaboration 

with nearby communities and 

businesses plus the National Park[s] 

* * * [It] needs to include a plan to 

develop good quantitative and 

qualitative information on visitor use, 

activities undertaken, and enjoyment of 

proposed interpretive programs and 

facilities to comply with the 

Presidential Proclamation (Advisories 

XVII and XIX).’’ 

Demand for more specialized 

recreation (often provided by outfitters 

and guides, such as mountain biking 

and rock climbing) is increasing and the 

diversity of specialized recreation is 

increasingly broad. Regional population 

growth is expected to lead to greater 

demand for existing and emerging 

recreation opportunities. Projected 

population growth in the United States 

and increasing tourism in this region, 

along with other factors, clearly 

contribute to increasing demand for 

recreation facilities and services 

throughout the Sierra Nevada, 

specifically in the monument. 

Existing direction from the 1988 

Forest Plan and 2001 SNFPA encourage 

diverse public access and use of the area 

in a safe manner. Management direction 

is in place to protect communities 

(including those within the monument) 

from wildfires, and to encourage 

economic opportunities for the gateway 

communities and communities in the 

Monument. 

Interpretation and conservation 

education reflect scientificallysupported scholarship and research 

data, conveying clear messages 

regarding natural and cultural resources 

and multiple use. The unique qualities 

of the monument pique people’s interest 

throughout the world. The monument 

not only provides a rich opportunity to 

connect people to the giant sequoias and 

monument, but also to the earth as a 

whole. The monument management 

plan has the potential, through the use 

of multi-media interpretation and 

educational programs, to develop 

stewardship of the resource, to ensure 

its present and future protection and to 

enhance public enjoyment of this 

unique place. Awareness of the history 

of the Monument, appreciation for its 

biological processes, learning about the 

people who used and continue to use 

the monument, and education about 

disruptive forces are all distinctive, yet 

interrelated pieces that should be 

integrated into the overall approach to 

use of the resource. 

The 1988 Forest Plan and 2001 

SNFPA provide management direction 

to be well-balanced with a wide variety 

of recreational activities in a wellmanaged environment, promoting 

appreciation of the opportunities and 

harmony among users. Current direction 

recommends that visitors will find a 

rich and varied range of recreational, 

educational, and social opportunities 

enhanced by giant sequoias and the 

surrounding ecosystems. Current 

direction also recommends that visitors 

will have the opportunity to recreate in 

a variety of settings, from primitive to 

highly developed areas. The 1988 Forest 

Plan also provides direction for public 

enjoyment to handle conflicts that do 

arise with timeliness and equilibrium, 

and to provide consistent and easy-toread signage, and informational 

materials. Current management 

direction also promotes recreation use 

throughout the year. 

The desired condition for the 

Monument is to further emphasize the 

existing management direction to 

provide wide and varied public use of 

monument resources and opportunities 

while protecting the sensitive resources 

and Objects of Interest. Within the 

Monument there would be more 

emphasis on establishing partnerships, 

providing people with a connection to 

place, and promoting a sense of 

stewardship. These partnerships would 

provide a wide spectrum of recreation 

experiences through a wide variety of 

providers, including the Forest Service, 

partners, permit holders, volunteers and 

other community entities. Partnerships 

would be developed to increase 

interpretive materials and programs for 

reaching larger segments of the general 

public and for educating the ‘‘citizen 

steward.’’ Management partnerships 

will continue with those tribes whose 

ecosystems and watershed are affected 

by activities that occur on National 

Forest System lands, as well as with 

those Native Americans without a land 

base who have the need, through the 

practice of their culture, for National 

Forest System lands. 

The 1988 Forest Plan used some 

evaluation tools that have changed over 

time. The Visual Management System 

has changed to the Scenery Management 

System (SMS). The 1990 MSA 

recommended a number of changes to 

the Visual Quality Objectives, which 

will be considered during the evaluation 

under the SMS. 

The MSA had several requirements 

for off-highway vehicle and other trail 

use, which may be affected by the 

Travel Management Rule (36 CFR Parts 

212, 251, and 261: Travel Management; 

Land Uses; and Prohibitions;), and is 

clearly altered by the Proclamation 

(Proclamation 7295, Federal Register, 

Vol. 65, No. 80, 4/25/2000, p. 24098). 

How the Monument plan will amend 

the Forest Plan to clarify recreational 

road and trail use will be identified 

during the environmental analysis. 

There are two proposals from the 

1988 Forest Plan that will not be carried 

forward within the monument: Creation 

of downhill ski areas at Peppermint on 

the Western Divide Ranger District, or 

Mitchell-Maddox on the Hume Lake 

Ranger District. 

There are no new objectives proposed 

at this time for Human Use, 

Socioeconomics, or Dispersed and 

Developed Recreation. All the suggested 

changes are to provide more focused 

guidelines to emphasize diverse public 

access, partnerships and place-based 

recreation opportunities. 

I. Transportation System 

The Proclamation tells us: ‘‘The 

management plan shall contain a 

transportation plan for the monument 

that provides for visitor enjoyment and 

understanding about the scientific and 

historic objects in the monument, 

consistent with their protection. For the 

purposes of protecting the objects 

included in the monument, motorized 

vehicle use will be permitted only on 

designated roads, and non-motorized 

mechanized vehicle use will be 

permitted only on designated roads and 

trails, except for emergency or 

authorized administrative purposes or 

to provide access for persons with 

disabilities. No new roads or trails will 

be authorized within the monument 

except to further the purposes of the 

monument.’’ 

The desired condition is that the road 

and trail system on the Monument 

protects the Objects of Interest, is safe, 

reflects appropriate access, considers 

the needs of other landowners, and 

meets public demand. 


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The existing management direction in 

the 1988 Forest Plan and the Travel 

Management Rule provides for a road 

system that is commensurate with the 

level of management activities occurring 

in the Monument, providing appropriate 

access to the objects of interest for their 

proper care, protection, and 

management. Public use, related to 

recreation, special use authorizations, 

and private land access, is an important, 

but secondary need and does not 

conflict with the proper care, protection, 

and management of the Objects of 

Interest. Current management direction 

requires that the road and trail system 

be sized and maintained to limit 

impacts to aquatic and terrestrial 

habitats. The Proclamation altered a 

portion of the existing direction by 

limiting motorized, mechanized 

vehicles to designated roads. The 

Monument will emphasize developing 

access points in coordination with 

gateway communities and other 

agencies to provide clear, welcoming 

entry into the Monument. The 

monument plan may also focus greater 

emphasis on providing access to the 

Objects of Interest, and providing more 

opportunities for traveling on loop trails 

or roads. 

J. Scientific Study 

The Proclamation describes the 

promise of science as follows: ‘‘The rich 

and varied landscape of the Giant 

Sequoia National Monument holds a 

diverse array of scientific and historic 

resources * * *. The monument 

provides exemplary opportunities for 

biologists, geologists, paleontologists, 

archaeologists, and historians to study 

these objects * * *. These giant sequoia 

groves and the surrounding forest 

provide an excellent opportunity to 

understand the consequences of 

different approaches to forest restoration 

* * *. Outstanding opportunities exist 

for studying the consequences of 

different approaches to mitigating these 

conditions and restoring natural forest 

resilience * * *. Outstanding 

opportunities exist for studying forest 

resilience to large-scale logging and the 

consequences of different approaches to 

forest restoration.’’ 

Under the 2001 SNFPA, the current 

direction is to use adaptive 

management. As stated in the 2001 

SNFPA ROD (p.15), ‘‘Adaptive 

management will allow the Forest 

Service to test new and innovative 

management techniques as part of 

formal research projects * * * allow for 

variances from the standards and 

guidelines in Appendix A to test 

hypotheses in a scientifically structured 

manner. Projects that seek variances 

from the standards and guidelines will 

be permitted if they are part of a formal 

adaptive management research project 

or administrative study done in 

conjunction with the Pacific Southwest 

Research Station or another recognized 

scientific research institution * * *. 

Investment in * * * adaptive 

management projects will allow us to 

gain more knowledge and adjust future 

management techniques based on that 

knowledge.’’ 

The desired condition is to use the 

right balance between adaptability and 

accountability, being realistic about the 

Forest Service’s monitoring and reanalysis capabilities. The desired 

condition is also to use the best 

available science in data, 

methodologies, and structure, 

specifically, to integrate various 

decision support systems. 

The current direction to use adaptive 

management will be analyzed to 

determine whether to amend the 

direction for adaptive management in 

the Monument. The Monument plan 

would maintain options by continuing 

on-going cooperation, and develop 

additional joint research efforts with the 

scientific community, and cooperating 

agencies, to adaptively manage 

resources to continue to learn and refine 

approaches. 

Possible Alternatives 

Other alternatives will be developed 

based on significant issues identified 

during the scoping process for the 

environmental impact statement. All 

alternatives will need to address the 

purpose and need as described above, 

which reflects the 2000 Presidential 

Proclamation establishing Giant Sequoia 

National Monument. Alternatives being 

considered at this time include: (1) No 

Action, (2) Proposed Action, and other 

alternatives identified following 

scoping. 

Responsible Official 

Tina Terrell, Forest Supervisor, 

Sequoia National Forest, is the 

Responsible Official. As the Responsible 

Official, she will document the decision 

and reasons for the decision in the 

Record of Decision. That decision will 

be subject to Forest Service appeal 

regulations (36 CFR part 217). 

Nature of Decision To Be Made 

The decision to be made is whether to 

amend the 1988 Sequoia National Forest 

Land and Resource Management Plan as 

described in the proposed action to 

manage the Giant Sequoia National 

Monument, develop an alternative 

amendment that addresses the purpose 

and need, and responds to significant 

issues; or continue to manage the Giant 

Sequoia National Monument under the 

1988 Forest Plan, as amended by the 

2001 Sierra Nevada Forest Plan 

Amendment, and consistent with the 

Presidential Proclamation. 

Scoping Process 

The notice of intent initiates the 

scoping process, which guides the 

development of the environmental 

impact statement. Scoping began on this 

project in January 2008, and this notice 

extends the scoping period for the new 

Giant Sequoia National Monument 

Management Plan environmental impact 

statement. 

It is important that reviewers provide 

their comments at such times and in 

such manner that they are useful to the 

agency’s preparation of the 

environmental impact statement. 

Therefore, comments should be 

provided prior the close of the comment 

period and should clearly articulate the 

reviewers concerns and contentions. 

The submission of timely and specific 

comments can affect a reviewer’s ability 

to participate in subsequent 

administrative appeal or judicial review. 

Dated: March 12, 2009. 

Tina J. Terrell, 

Forest Supervisor, Sequoia National Forest, 

USDA Forest Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–5809 Filed 3–17–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Notice of New Fee Sites; Federal Lands 

Recreation Enhancement Act (Title VIII, 

Pub. L. 108–447) 

AGENCY: Stanislaus National Forest, 

USDA Forest Service. 

ACTION: Notice of new fee sites. 

SUMMARY: The Stanislaus National 

Forest is proposing to charge new fees 

at five existing campgrounds. Fees are 

assessed based on the level of amenities 

and services provided, cost of operation 

and maintenance, market assessment, 

and public comment. The fees listed are 

only proposed and will be determined 

upon further analysis and public 

comment. Funds from fees would be 

used for the continued operation and 

maintenance and improvement of these 

recreation sites. New fees are proposed 

at Pacific Valley ($10), Union ($8), Utica 

($8), Lumsden ($8), and South Fork ($8) 

Campgrounds. Improvements have been 

made at many of these campgrounds, or 

are planned, including installing new 

fire rings, picnic tables, accessible trails, 


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