Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 118 / Monday, June 22, 2009 / Notices 29467 

481 F. Supp 2d 1059 (N.D. Cal. 2007)). 

Revision of the Kootenai and Idaho 

Panhandle National Forests land 

management plans under the (36 CFR 

part 219 (2005)) rule was suspended in 

response to the injunction. On April 21, 

2008, following a notice and comment 

opportunity, completion of an 

environmental impact statement and 

consultation under the Endangered 

Species Act, the Department of 

Agriculture promulgated a new 

planning rule (36 CFR part 219 (2008)). 

This new planning rule explicitly 

allows the resumption of plan revisions 

started under the 2005 rule based on a 

finding that the revision process 

conforms to the new planning rule (36 

CFR 219.14(b)(3)(ii)). 

In May 2006, the Kootenai and Idaho 

Panhandle National Forests prepared 

and released a Proposed Land 

Management Plan with maps for a 90- 

day comment period (extended to 120 

days). Supporting documentation such 

as a draft Comprehensive Evaluation 

Report and Analysis of Management 

Situation were also made available to 

the public. The development and 

content of those documents and plan 

components are consistent with the 

2008 planning rule. Beginning in May 

2005, and prior to injunction of the 2005 

planning rule, the Kootenai and Idaho 

Panhandle National Forests 

implemented four major phases of 

public involvement: (1) Scoping; (2) 

collaborative workgroup meetings to 

develop desired conditions and other 

components of the Plan; (3) 

collaborative workgroup meetings to 

discuss Starting Option maps; and (4) 

the release of the Proposed Plan maps. 

Since release of the Proposed Land 

Management Plan and the conclusion of 

the public comment period, the 

Analysis of Public Comment report was 

produced in March 2007, and posted on 

the KIPZ Web site. This report is a 

synthesis and summary of the 

comments and concerns that were 

brought up during the comment period 

on the Proposed Land Management 

Plans. Results from collaboration will be 

used as the revision process resumes. 

The remainder of the revision process 

will be conducted in accordance with 

all Forest Service directives applicable 

to the 2008 planning rule. 

Based on the discussions above, we 

find that the planning actions taken 

prior to April 21, 2008, the effective 

date of the new planning rule, conform 

to the planning process of the 2008 

planning rule and for that reason the 

plan revision process does not need to 

be restarted. Therefore, the Kootenai 

and Idaho Panhandle National Forests 

are resuming their plan revision process 

where we left off in March 2007, by 

using information received during the 

public comment period and 

collaborative efforts on the Proposed 

Land Management Plan to develop our 

final plans. 

Dated: June 11, 2009. 

Paul Bradford, 

Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. E9–14417 Filed 6–19–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Coronado National Forest; Arizona; 

Revised Land and Resource 

Management Plan 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of initiation to revise the 

Coronado National Forest’s Land and 

Resource Management Plan. 

SUMMARY: The Forest Service is revising 

the Coronado National Forest’s Land 

and Resource Management Plan 

(hereafter referred to as the Forest Plan). 

This notice describes the documents 

available for review and how to obtain 

them; summarizes the need to change 

the Forest Plan; provides information 

concerning public participation and 

collaboration, including the process for 

submitting comments; provides an 

estimated schedule for the planning 

process, including the time available for 

comments; and includes names and 

addresses for agency officials who can 

provide additional information. 

DATES: Revision formally begins with 

the publication of this notice in the 

Federal Register. To be most beneficial 

to the planning process, your comments 

on the need for change should be 

submitted by August 31, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: 

Coronado National Forest, Attention: 

Forest Plan Revision Team, 300 W 

Congress, Tucson, Arizona 85701. Email: coronado-plan@fs.fed.us. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jennifer Ruyle at (520) 388–8300 or email the plan revision team at: 

coronado-plan@fs.fed.us. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Documents Available for Review 

The Comprehensive Evaluation 

Report, the Ecological Sustainability 

Report, and the Social and Economic 

Sustainability Report are the Forest Plan 

revision analysis documents that 

provide evaluations of social, economic, 

and ecological conditions and trends in 

and around the Coronado National 

Forest. The information outlined in the 

Comprehensive Evaluation Report 

identifies the need to change or revise 

the 1986 Forest Plan. These documents 

are available for review and are located 

on the Forest’s Web site at http:// 

www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/planrevision/plan-revision-documents.shtml 

or by request. 

Need for Change 

The need for change has been 

organized into five revision topics: 1. 

Ecosystem Restoration, 2. Safety and 

Information, 3. Public Access and 

Travel Patterns, 4. Preservation of Open 

Space, and 5. Collaboration and 

Partnerships. For each of the revision 

topics, there is a need for the revised 

Forest Plan to make changes in plan 

components and management 

approaches, as described below: 

1. Ecosystem Restoration 

Needed changes in plan components: 

• Desired condition statements and 

objectives need to be developed that 

provide adequate guidance for 

sustaining and restoring ecosystems. 

• Plan components should be 

changed to reflect new scientific 

knowledge and updated language. 

• The Forest Plan components for 

ecological attributes should be 

integrative, where possible, to reflect the 

interconnectedness between physical 

and biological resources. 

• The Forest Plan needs to be 

changed to include objectives and 

guidelines that reflect systematic 

observation and analysis of treatment 

results, and adaptation of treatment 

methods based on those results. 

• As Forest Plan components are 

developed, they will need to reflect the 

uncertainties associated with changing 

climate. 

• Plan components for reducing the 

threat of invasive species and for 

conserving native species will need to 

be developed. 

• Plan components will need to be 

developed for sustaining aquatic 

habitats that are at risk. 

• Place-based geographic area plan 

components should be developed where 

it makes sense to do so. This will help 

to facilitate understanding of the 

management needs for each mountain 

range. 

2. Safety and Information 

Needed changes in plan components: 

• The Forest Plan needs to be 

changed to identify new strategies for 

sustaining the forest resources and 

experiences in the face of changes in 

population, behavior, and increased 

development. 

• Place-based geographic area plan 

components should be developed where 

it makes sense to do so. 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
29468 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 118 / Monday, June 22, 2009 / Notices 

3. Public Access and Travel Patterns 

Needed changes in plan components: 

• The Forest Plan needs to be 

changed to include desired conditions 

and objectives that emphasize and 

prioritize Forest-wide public and 

administrative access needs. 

Needed changes in management 

approaches: 

Management approaches should be 

identified that facilitate comprehensive, 

coordinated and flexible collaborative 

solutions for resolving public access 

needs. 

4. Preservation of Open Space 

Needed changes in plan components: 

• Desired condition statements 

should be developed that reflect the role 

of the Coronado National Forest in 

preserving open space. 

• Guidelines, based on the Scenery 

Management System, should be 

developed to protect scenic natural 

landscapes. 

Needed changes in management 

approaches: 

• Management approaches for the 

Coronado National Forest will need to 

be developed for participating in county 

and community land use planning 

efforts. 

5. Collaboration and Partnerships 

Needed changes in plan components: 

• The Forest Plan should include 

desired conditions that reflect, where 

possible, outcomes that are based on 

collaborative processes. 

Needed changes in management 

approaches: 

• Management approaches that 

emphasize collaboration should be 

described. 

• The plan needs to be changed to 

reflect an integrated approach to 

management of traditional uses and 

cultural resources. 

(Reference: Comprehensive 

Evaluation Report.) 

Public Participation and Opportunity 

To Comment 

The revision process is designed to 

provide continued opportunities for 

public collaboration and open 

participation in the development of the 

revised Forest Plan. Additional 

information on the process, the 

documents being produced, and public 

participation opportunities can be found 

on the Coronado National Forest’s plan 

revision Web site at: http:// 

www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/planrevision/index.shtml. The Forest Service 

is seeking public comments on the need 

for change identified in the 

comprehensive Evaluation Report. 

Substantive comments received by 

August 31, 2009 will be of the most 

value in evaluating public response to 

the adequacy of the need for change 

topics outlined in the report. 

It is important to participate in the 

plan revision process as only those 

parties who participate following the 

publication of this notice through the 

submission of written comments can 

submit an objection later in the 

proposed plan development process 

pursuant to 36 CFR 219.13(a). 

Comments received during the 

planning process, including the names 

and addresses of those who commented 

will be part of the public record 

available for public inspection. The 

Responsible Official shall accept and 

consider comments submitted 

anonymously. Submit written 

comments to the address noted above. 

Estimated Planning Process Schedule 

The revision process for the Coronado 

National Forest officially begins with 

the publication of this notice in the 

Federal Register. A draft proposed 

Forest Plan is currently scheduled to be 

issued for pre-decisional review in May 

2010 and final plan approval in 

December 2010. 

Responsible Official 

The Forest Supervisor, Coronado 

National Forest, is the Responsible 

Official (36 CFR 219.2(b)(1)). (Authority: 

36 CFR 219.9(b)(2)(i), 73 FR 21509, 

April 21, 2008). 

Dated: June 11, 2009. 

Jeanine Derby, 

Forest Supervisor, Coronado National Forest. 

[FR Doc. E9–14537 Filed 6–19–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Southern Recreation Resource 

Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of request for 

nominations for the Southern Region 

Recreation Resource Advisory 

Committee. 

SUMMARY: Nominations are being sought 

for certain positions to serve on the 

Recreation Resource Advisory 

Committee (Recreation RAC) operating 

in the Southern Region of the Forest 

Service. New members will be 

appointed by the Secretary of 

Agriculture (Secretary) and serve threeyear terms. Appointments will begin in 

February 2010 when current member 

appointments expire. 

One member is being sought to 

represent each of the following interests: 

(1) Wildlife Viewing/Visiting 

Interpretive Sites; (2) Non-motorized 

Recreation; (3) Local Environmental 

Groups; and (4) State Tourism Official 

Representing the State. 

The public is invited to submit 

nominations for membership on the 

Recreation RAC. Current members who 

have only served one term may also 

apply. Application packets for 

Recreation RACs can be obtained on the 

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

passespermits/rrac-application.shtml or 

by e-mailing: r8_rrac@fs.fed.us. 

Interested parties may also contact 

Caroline Mitchell, U.S. Forest Service, 

PO Box 1270, Hot Springs, AR 71902 

(501–321–5318). 

All nominations must consist of a 

completed application packet that 

includes background information and 

other information that addresses a 

nomine’s qualifications. 

DATES: All applications must be 

received by the appropriate office listed 

below on or before July 31, 2009. This 

timeframe may be extended if officials 

do not receive applications for needed 

positions. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons may 

submit nominations to the Southern 

Region Recreation RAC by U.S. Mail: C. 

Mitchell, Ouachita National Forest, PO 

Box 1270, Hot Springs, AR 71902, or 

Express Delivery: C. Mitchell, Ouachita 

National Forest, 100 Reserve Street, Hot 

Springs, AR 71901. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Anyone wanting further information 

regarding this request for nominations 

may contact the designated federal 

official: Cheryl Chatham, Recreation 

RAC DFO, PO Box 1270, Hot Springs, 

AR 71902 (501–321–5277). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act (REA), signed 

December 2004, requires that the Forest 

Service and the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM) provide Recreation 

RACs with an opportunity to make 

recommendations to the two agencies 

on certain types of proposed recreation 

fee changes. 

REA allows the agencies to use 

existing advisory councils, such as BLM 

Resource Advisory Councils (RACs), or 

to establish new committees as 

appropriate. The Forest Service and 

BLM elected to jointly use existing BLM 

RACs in the states of Arizona, Idaho, the 

Dakotas, Montana, Nevada, New 

Mexico, and Utah. In 2006, the Forest 

Service chartered new Recreation RACs 

for the states of California and Colorado, 

and for the Forest Service Pacific 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES