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<br />\ Forest and National Planning News
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<br />e and Roadless Rule
<br />
<br />\~O, 2001, the F~rest Service published new interim direction that streamlines and
<br />ionstruction and reconstruction in Invenioried Roadless Areas (IRAsyand contiguous
<br />.. This is not a new rule. Rather, it is new direction for implementing the rule that was
<br />\nuary 200'l.The direction consolidates road construction and reconstruction in IRAs
<br />anning direction. The interim direction delegates some decisions regarding road '
<br />_ _.__.....w...';-UVII 411Ci reconstru~tion in lRAs fr9m the Chief of the Forest Service to the Regional Forester.
<br />It also clarifies the fle'xibilityof line officers in determining the application of the, roads analysis
<br />process: The interim direction remains in elTect until 'each National Forest or Grassland completes a
<br />Forest:scale roads analysis and Forest Plan Review, Amendment, or Revision.
<br />
<br />Northeru Great Plains .Plans (Thunder Basiu National Grassland Revised PIau)
<br />
<br />: A 6'month comment period to allow additional comments on the Final EnvironmenlJlI Impact State.,
<br />" ment (FEIS) and proposed Northern Great Plains Management Plan'Revisions closed January 22,
<br />',2002.: The Northern Great,Plains Management Plan Revisions include Land Management Plans for
<br />National Grasslands in Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska, including.lhe Thunder
<br />Basin National G'rassland, Congre~sional delegations from the affected states requested the additional
<br />comment period. More than 46,000 comments were received by January 22; all 'but about 500 were
<br />postcards or forin letters generated by organizations an'd their members.
<br />Prior to the end of the 6.month comment period. the USDA Forest Service prepared a Supplemental
<br />Infonnation Report to disclose changes to the B1ack.tailed Prairie Dog Habitat from a sylvatic plague
<br />outbreak within the, Thunder Basin National Grassland. The plague w~s verifled at the time the FE1S
<br />and proposed Revised Plan were released for the 6.monlh comment period.
<br />Rocky Mountain RegiDmil Forester Rick Cables is the responsible official for the Revised Thunder,
<br />, Basin National Grassland Plan, Timing for the RecDrd'ofDecision will depend upon the time needed
<br />to analyze comments and inake any needed changes, '
<br />
<br />Planning Rule
<br />
<br />A Planning Rule to implement the 1976 National Forest Management Act (NFMA) was issued in No.
<br />vember 2000, On May 17,2001, interim direction was issued because the dates in the November 2000
<br />Rule would be too difficult for all National Forests to meet, and because there were concerns about
<br />soine provisions in the Rule. The Department of Agriculture is responsible for conducting a review'
<br />and analysis of ihe new Planning Rule, Later this year, lhe public will have an opportunity to com.
<br />ment on a proposal that, results frDm'that analysis,
<br />
<br />Canada Lynx Amendment'
<br />
<br />ElTective April 24, 2000, the US Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Canada lynx as a Threatened
<br />, Species throughout its range, Because of the likelihood of adverse elTects under current Land and I '
<br />'Resource Management Plans and possible risk to lynx viabilily,-five Regional Foresters and four Fish
<br />and Wildlife Service Directors signed a Lynx'Conservation Agreement, It incorporates a staged
<br />approach to modifying management direction to better conserve lynx, If changes in Plans are needed, ,I
<br />they will be made through the Amendment or Revision process.
<br />.In'2000, the Rocky Mountain Region of the USDA Forest Service issued a Notice oflntent in the
<br />Federal Register to'inltiate a 'Southern Rockies Lynx Amendment Using a single analysis, the
<br />ameodment will amend seven Forest Plans, including the Medicine Bow and Routt National Forests'.
<br />The Regional Office Interdisciplinary Team expects to publish the draft analysis in May 2002. At thai
<br />tim,e. we will invite public conunents. ..' .
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<br />March 2002 '
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