From: Subject: FR Doc E7-14665 Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:14:55 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-14665.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 FR Doc E7-14665 
[Federal Register: July 27, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 144)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 41288-41289]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27jy07-22]                        =20

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

=20
Notice of Availability (NOA) Record of Decision (ROD) for the=20
Final Supplement to the 2004 Supplemental Environmental Impact=20
Statement To Remove or Modify the Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure=20
Standards and Guidelines

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability of record of decision.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act=20
(NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the National Forest Management Act=20
(NFMA, 16 U.S.C. 1600-1614 et seq.), the Forest Service announces the=20
decision to amend selected portions of the 1994 Record of Decision for=20
the Northwest Forest Plan. Specifically, the ROD amends 19 Land and=20
Resource Management Plans for National Forests within the range of the=20
northern spotted owl in western Washington and Oregon and northwestern=20
California. The United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of=20
Land Management (BLM), is expected to concurrently announce a similar=20
decision amending their respective Resource Management Plans.
    The Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure Standards and Guidelines=20
added conservation measures for rare and little known species to BLM=20
and Forest Service (Northwest Forest Plan) requirements for providing=20
for late-successional and old-growth forest related species. These=20
Standards and Guidelines were frustrating the Agencies' ability to meet=20
the other resource management goals set forth in the Northwest Forest=20
Plan (timber harvest, hazardous fuels treatment, ecosystem=20
restoration). Although the Survey and Manage Standards and Guidelines=20
are removed with this decision, conservation of rare and little known=20
species will continue to be accomplished through the other elements of=20
the Northwest Forest Plan and the Agency's Special Status Species=20
Program. This ROD also complies with a Settlement Agreement between the=20
Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior and Douglas Timber=20
Operators and American Forest Resource Council.

DATES: Effective Date: This decision is effective July 24, 2007.

ADDRESSES: The ROD is now available on the Internet at http://fr=
webgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3D=
linklog&to=3Dhttp://www.reo.gov/s-m2006.
 Requests to receive copies of the ROD should be=20

sent to Carol Hughes, USDA Forest Service-NR, P.O. Box 3623, Portland,=20
OR 97208-3623, or submit e-mail to ORSMSEIS@blm.gov. Printed copies=20
will be available after August 10th at National Forest offices in=20
western Washington and Oregon and northwestern California.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Christensen, Group Leader,=20
Wildlife, Fisheries, Watershed, Soils and Range, USDA Forest Service-
NR, P.O. Box 3623, Portland, Oregon 97208; telephone (503) 808-2922.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In June 2007, the BLM and Forest Service=20
(the Agencies) released a Final Supplement to the 2004 FSEIS to Remove=20
or Modify the Survey and Manage Mitigation Measure Standards and=20
Guidelines. The Final Supplement presented the entire 2004 analysis,=20
updated for new information and supplemented to include:

--Responses to three deficiencies identified in August 2005, by the=20
U.S. District Court of the Western District of Washington, and;
--An additional alternative to respond to implications of a November=20
2006, decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit=20
relative to the red tree vole on the BLM's Cow Catcher and Cottonsnake=20
Timber Sales in Oregon.

    The analysis covered 337 species of fungi, bryophytes, lichens,=20
mollusks, vascular plants, and vertebrates and 4 arthropod groups. The=20
analysis showed, when compared to the No-Action Alternatives, 53=20
species would have insufficient habitat in all or a portion of their=20
Northwest Forest Plan range to support stable populations. However, the=20
analysis points out these species are generally either secure in other=20
areas of their range, or State Heritage programs do not rate them=20
imperiled enough to qualify for the two Agencies' Special Status=20
Species Programs. The analysis also shows the selected alternative=20
improves the Agencies' ability to achieve other Northwest Forest Plan=20
objectives.
    Readers should note this decision was signed by the Under Secretary=20
of Agriculture for Natural Resources and the Environment. Therefore, no=20
administrative review (``appeal'') through the Forest Service will be=20
available on the Record of Decision under 36 CFR part 217.
    Reference to previously published Federal Register documents: 71 FR=20
38601, July 7, 2006; 71 FR 38641, July 7, 2006; 72 FR 546, Jan. 5,=20
2007; 72 FR 31821, June 8, 2007; 72 FR 33737, June 19, 2007.


[[Page 41289]]


    Dated: July 24, 2007.
Mark Rey,
Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment.
[FR Doc. E7-14665 Filed 7-26-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-11-P