Document Headings

                    Document headings vary by document type but may contain                    the following:                  
                -                       the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document                    
                -                       the number of the CFR title and the number of each part                      the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly                      related to                    
                -                       the agency docket number / agency internal file number                    
                -                       the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in                      the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory                      Actions                    

                    See the                                          Document Drafting Handbook                                        for more details.                  

###### Department of Agriculture

###### Forest Service

# AGENCY:

Forest Service, USDA.

# ACTION:

Cancellation of notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

# SUMMARY:

The Southwestern Region of the Forest Service planned to prepare an environmental impact statement on a proposal to amend National Forest land and resource management plans to incorporate standards and guidelines for management of habitat for American peregrine falcon, Little Colorado River spinedace, loach minnow, spikedace, Apache trout, Chihuahua chub, Gila trout, Gila top minnow, razorback sucker, southwest willow flycatcher, cactus ferruginous pygmy owl, Sonora tiger salamander, New Mexico ridgenose rattlesnake, and Pima pineapple cactus. The amendment would have added new standards and guidelines to existing direction for the protection of federally listed threatened and endangered species.

                        The Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement was published in the                         **Federal Register**                         on Monday, June 1, 1998 (63 FR 29692-29695). A Revised Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement was published in the                         **Federal Register**                         on Tuesday, September 28, 1999 (64 FR 52274). Since that time, considerable analysis has gone into reviewing the adequacy of Forest Plans with respect to protection of Federally listed threatened and endangered species. We found that existing direction in the eleven Forest Plans provides adequate protection for the species considered in the consultation. Forest Plans currently allow Forest Supervisors and District Rangers the discretion to apply appropriate protection measures for Federally listed threatened and endangered species when designing site-specific projects. Site-specific projects are subject to consultation as required by Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, further ensuring the adequacy of protective measures for Federally listed threatened and endangered species.                    

For these reasons, I hereby cancel the referenced Notices of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Director of Ecosystem Analysis and Planning, 517 Gold Ave. SW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, (505) 842-3251.

Dated: February 16, 2001.

James T. Gladen,

Deputy Regional Forester.

[FR Doc. 01-4471 Filed 2-22-01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-11-U