[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 13, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36700-36701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14807]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Directive Publication Notice

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service 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 3 months and notice of final directives 
issued in the last 3 months. No directives are planned for publication 
for public comment between July 1, 2021, and September 30, 2021.

DATES: This notice identifies proposed and interim directives that were 
published for public comment since January 1, 2020, and final 
directives that have been issued since April 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Questions or comments may be provided by email to 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0c5f41224a5f2248657e696f78657a697f4c797f686d226b637a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c7948ae98194e983aeb5a2a4b3aeb1a2b487b2b4a3a6e9a0a8b1">[email protected]</span></a> or in writing to 201 14th Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20250, Attn: Directives and Regulations staff, Mail 
1132.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ann Goode at 202-740-6286 or 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#25444b4b0b424a4a414065505641440b424a53"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="25444b4b0b424a4a414065505641440b424a53">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for 
the hearing-impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through 
Friday. You may sign up to receive email alerts at https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed or 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 notice 
and comment Agency directives that formulate standards, criteria, or 
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 Forest Service has no proposed or interim directives planned 
for publication for public comment from July 1, 2021 to September 30, 
2021.

Previously Published Directives That Have Not Been Finalized

    The following proposed or interim directives have been published 
for public comment but not yet finalized:
    1. Proposed Forest Service Manual (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; Forest Service Handbook 
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 Forest Service Manual 2719, Special Use Authorizations 
Involving Storage and Use of Explosives and Magazine Security, and 
Forest Service Handbook 2709.11, Special Uses Handbook, Chapter 50, 
Standard Forms and Supplemental Clauses.
    3. Forest Service Manual 7700, Travel Management, Chapters Zero and 
10, Travel Planning.
    4. Forest Service Manual 2400, Timber Management, Chapters Zero, 
2430, Commercial Timber Sales; 2440, Designating, Cruising, Scaling, 
and Accountability; 2450, Timber Sale Contract Administration; and 
2460, Uses of Timber Other Than Commercial Timber Sales; Forest Service 
Handbook 2409.15, Timber Sale Administration, Chapters Zero, 10, 
Fundamentals of Timber Sale Contracting; 30, Change in Status of 
Contracts; 50, Specified Transportation Facilities; and 70, Contract 
Claims and Disputes; Forest Service Handbook 2409.18a, Timber Sale 
Debarment and Suspension Procedures, Chapters Zero, 10, Non-procurement 
Debarment and Suspension; and 20, Debarment and Export Violations.
    5. Forest Service Manual 3800, Landscape Scale Restoration Program.
    6. Forest Service Manual 2700, Special Uses Management, Chapter 40, 
Vegetation Management Pilot Projects, and Forest Service Handbook 
2709.11, Special Uses Handbook, Chapter 50, Standard Forms and 
Supplemental Clauses.
    7. Forest Service Handbook 2709.11, Special Uses Handbook, Chapter 
80, Operating Plans and Agreements for Powerline Facilities.
    8. Forest Service Manual 2400, Timber Management, Chapter 2420, 
Timber Appraisal; Forest Service Handbook 2409.19, Renewable Resources 
Handbook, Chapters 10, Knutson-Vandenberg Sale Area Program Management 
Handbook; 20, Knutson-Vandenberg Forest and Regional Program 
Management; 60, Stewardship Contracting; and 80, Good Neighbor 
Authority.
    9. Forest Service Manual 1820, Public Lands Corps and Resource 
Assistants Program.
    10. Forest Service Handbook 5509.11, Chapter 20, Section 21, Small 
Tracts Act Adjustments.
    11. Forest Service Manual 2720, Alaska Region Supplement, Section 
2721.53, Outfitting and Guiding Service.

[[Page 36701]]

Directives That Have Been Issued Since April 1, 2021

    1. Closure of National Forest System Lands to Hunting, Fishing, or 
Recreational Shooting, Forest Service Handbook 5309.11, Law Enforcement 
Handbook, Chapter 30, Violations, Section 34. This directive 
implements, in part, the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, 
and Recreation Act to facilitate access to hunting, fishing and 
recreational shooting on National Forest System lands. These updates 
include a greater role for public participation, codification of the 
national policy that federal lands are open unless closed to hunting, 
fishing or recreational shooting, and establish a process for 
temporarily or permanently closing areas on National Forest System 
lands to hunting, fishing, or recreational shooting. The revisions also 
include a new definition for emergency closures, which are exempt from 
the procedural requirements for hunting, fishing, and recreational 
shooting closure orders. The 30-day comment period for this directive 
began August 17, 2021, and closed September 16, 2020. Thirty public 
comments were received, which can be viewed at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ReadingRoom?project=ORMS-2312. The final 
directive and a document summarizing public comments and the agency's 
responses are included in the list of documents below. The final 
directive was issued April 8, 2021 and can be viewed at https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/5309.11/wo_5309.11_30_Amend-2021-1%20-%20Violations.doc.
    2. Providing Notice and Opportunity to Comment on Directives, 
Forest Service Handbook 1109.12, Directive System, Chapter 30. This 
directive sets forth direction for providing public notice of and 
opportunity to comment on Forest Service directives. Specifically, this 
chapter provides direction for determining whether a directive requires 
public notice and opportunity for comment, procedures for providing 
public notice and opportunity to comment on directives, strategies for 
engaging the public in development of Forest Service directives, 
interagency and intergovernmental communication, including tribal 
consultation, consideration of public comments, and finalizing 
directives.
    The comment period for the proposed directive began January 16, 
2020, and closed March 16, 2020. The Forest Service received 10 
comments on the proposed directive. The comments can be viewed at 
https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ReadingRoom?project=ORMS-2016. The directive was designated as significant by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) and was reviewed by OMB prior to 
publication for public comment and issuance as a final directive. The 
final directive was issued April 15, 2021, and can be viewed at https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/1109.12/1109.12-ch30%20(216%20Directive)-final%20(004).docx.
    3. Operation and Maintenance of Developed Recreation Sites, Forest 
Service Handbook 2309.13, Chapter 50. This directive establishes a new 
chapter and revised direction for Forest Service operation and 
maintenance of developed recreation sites in the Recreation Site 
Handbook. The new chapter contains direction that was previously set 
out in Forest Service Manual 2330 and new direction governing national 
quality standards for Forest Service operation and maintenance of 
developed recreation sites. The comment period for the directive began 
July 9, 2020 and ended August 10, 2020. The Forest Service received 5 
comments, which can be viewed at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ReadingRoom?project=ORMS-2572. The final directive was issued 
June 25, 2021, as amended, and can be viewed at https://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/fsh/2309.13/wo%202309.13_50_FS%20OM%20of%20Developed%20Recreation%20Sites-PUP.docx.

    Dated: July 7, 2021.
Amelia Steed,
Acting Deputy Director, Strategic Planning, Budget, & Accountability.
[FR Doc. 2021-14807 Filed 7-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P


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