Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the National Forests in Mississippi

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the National

Forests in Mississippi

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Regional Forester for the Southern Region gives notice of

the agency's intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

for revision of the Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest

Plan) for the National Forests in Mississippi. According to 36 CFR

219.10(g), Forest Plans are ordinarily revised on a 10-15 year cycle.

The existing Forest Plan for Mississippi was approved on September 16,

1985.

The agency invites written comments within the scope of the

analysis described below. In addition, the agency gives notice that an

open and full environmental analysis and decision making process

(collaborative planning effort) will occur so that interested and

affected citizens may participate and assist in identifying and

developing recommendations on the management of the National Forests in

Mississippi.

This Notice of Intent covers the following Mississippi counties

which contain National Forest System lands: Adams, Amite, Benton,

Chickasaw, Choctaw, Copiah, Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene,

Harrison, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jones, Lafayette, Lincoln,

Marshall, Newton, Oktibbeha, Pearl River, Perry, Pontotoc, Scott,

Sharkey, Smith, Stone, Tippah, Union, Wayne, Wilkinson, Winston, and

Yalobusha.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received

on or before February 14, 2000. The agency expects to file the Draft

Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) with the Environmental Protection

Agency and make it available for public comment in September, 2001. The

agency expects to file the final EIS in September, 2002. See

Supplementary Information (Section VI. Involving the Public) for

meeting dates.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Forest Supervisor, National

Forests in Mississippi, 100 W. Capitol St., Suite 1141, Jackson, MS

39269.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Long, Land Management Planning

Revision Team Leader, (601) 965-4391.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: The Regional Forester for the Southern Region

located at 1720 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30367.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

The National Forests in Mississippi Forest Plan covers the six

proclaimed National Forests in Mississippi: Bienville, DeSoto, Delta,

Holly Springs, Homochitto and Tombigbee. Pursuant to 36 CFR 219.10(g),

the Forest Supervisor is required to review the conditions on the land

covered by the Forest Plan at least every five years to determine

whether conditions and/or demands of the public have changed

significantly. This regulation further states that the Forest Plan may

be revised whenever the Forest Supervisor determines that significant

changes have occurred. In 1991, staff of the National Forests in

Mississippi conducted a five-year review of the Forest Plan. The Forest

Service completed a ten-year review in 1996 and annual reviews for

fiscal years 1997 and 1998.

Concurrent with the ten-year review, the Forest's interdisciplinary

Land Management Planing Team updated resource inventories, estimated

supply capabilities and resource demands, and determined initial needs

to change management direction. Together with the reviews and public

comments solicited on its findings, this work forms the basis for the

preliminary issues identified in this Notice of Intent. These

preliminary issues along with any additional issues raised during

public scoping activities, to begin in January 2000, will be examined

during the plan revision process.

In the past, a ``Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental

Impact Statement'' marked the very beginning of the planning process.

For this plan revision, however, an effort was made to define the

current situation and to present detailed proposed actions as part of

this notice. We trust this will lead to improved ``scoping'' and

provide more concise and specific public comments. These, in turn, will

make it possible to develop more responsive alternatives for analysis

in the Environmental Impact Statement. Our desired results are improve

public participation opportunities facilitated by open decision making

process throughout the Forest Plan revision process.

Two Stage Decision Making Process

National Forest System resource allocation and management decisions

are made in two decision stages or steps. Programmatic (strategic)

management decisions occur in the first stage and are documented in the

Forest Plan. Programmatic decisions in the Forest Plan are implemented

by authorization of site-specific activities. This project level

decision-making is the second stage.

The first decision stage establishes programmatic management

direction spanning a ten to fifteen year time span. A Forest Plan is

analogous to a county or city zoning plan. Decisions made in the Forest

Plan identify actions that may take place but do not represent a

commitment by the agency to implement site-specific projects. Forest

Plans do not compel the agency to undertake particular site-specific

projects; rather, they establish overall goals and objectives (or

desired resource conditions) that an individual National Forest will

strive to achieve in order to maintain or assure ecological

sustainability and to contribute to economic and social sustainability

of local communities affected by national forest management activities.

Forest Plan decisions do not normally make any irreversible or

irretrievable commitment of resources. Forest Plans also establish

limitations on what actions may be authorized, and what conditions must

be met during project decision-making.

The following decisions are made in a Forest Plan:

(1) Establishment of the forest-wide multiple-use goals and

objectives (36 CFR 21911(b)).

(2) Establishment of forest-wide management requirements (36 CFR

219.13 to 219.27).

(3) Establishment of multiple-use prescriptions and associated

standards and guidelines for each management area (36 CFR 219.11(c)).

(4) Determination of land that is suitable for the production of

timber (16 U.S.C. 1604(k) and 36 CFR 219.14).

(5) Establishment of allowable sale quantity for timber within a

time frame specified in the plan (36 CFR 219.16).

(6) Establishment of monitoring and evaluation requirements (36 CFR

219.11(d)).

(7) Recommendation of roadless areas as potential wilderness areas

(36 CFR 219.17).

(8) Where applicable, designation of those lands administratively

available for oil and gas leasing; and when appropriate, authorizing

the Bureau of Land Management to offer specific lands for leasing (36

CFR 228.102 (d) and (e)).

[[Page 69687]]

This Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement

for revision of the National Forests in Mississippi Land and Resource

Management Plan focuses on the strategic management decisions occurring

in the first decision stage described above.

II. Purpose and Need for Action

The purpose for this revision rests primarily in the requirements

of the National Forest Management Act. The law's implementing

regulations at 36 CFR 219.10(g) require that Forest Plans be revised at

least every 15 years. The current resource management plan for the

National Forests in Mississippi was initiated in September 1985.

A need to revise the plan exists due to: changes in policy or law

and changed physical, biological, and social conditions occurring on

the forest.

Changes in Policy or Law

A substantial body of case law has developed, since the original

Forest Plan was written. This case law more clearly defines the roles

and requirements of a Forest Plan. One resulting example is the concise

listing of eight forest-plan decisions listed in the previous section.

Similarly, the science and policy of national forest management

have continued to evolve. Key examples include: service-wide adoption

of Ecosystem Management in 1992, the ``Course to the Future'' strategy

in 1994, the Southern Region's revised strategy for management of the

Red-cockaded Woodpecker in 1995, and Forest Service Natural Resource

Agenda in 1998. These policy statements represent a fundamental change

in management philosophy and, as such, are built from an extensive set

of concepts and principles. These concepts include a focus on desired

conditions, thinking and acting at multiple scales, working within the

ecological potential of sites and landscapes, and an increasing

emphasis on ecological sustainability.

Changed Physical, Biological, and Social Conditions

Hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms, and Southern Pine Beetle

outbreaks have made changes to the forest beyond those contemplated in

the current plan. Beaver impoundments and the success of exotics such

as kudzu and Cogongrass have made, or threaten, additional changes. In

many areas, our neighbors and customers have changed significantly.

Near the Mississippi Gulf Coast, private lands in and around the

National Forests have become more densely populated. Adjacent landowner

expectations and values have shifted from a rural to a more urban

perspective introducing a new set of issues and concerns to be

addressed during Forest Plan revision. This urban interface phenomenon

is occurring in varying degrees on all National Forests within the

state.

III. Preliminary Issues

The following preliminary issues offered here were developed from:

(1) The 10-year review of the current plan; (2) subsequent annual

monitoring reports; (3) public and internal response to their findings;

(4) from public comments received on project level proposals. Public

comments in response to this notice will help us to determine

additional issues and scope of the analysis to be considered.

Forest Health/Sustainability

Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management is a key component of the

Forest Service Natural Resource Agenda. Watersheds are vital to

ecosystem health. Healthy watersheds promote healthy forests and

sustainable forest ecosystems. The revised Forest Plan will incorporate

Forest Service policy to restore and maintain healthy watersheds for

use by current and future generations.

Forest Health and Sustainability issues include:

Forest biological diversity.

Native forest ecosystem restoration.

Old growth.

Forest health, especially protection from insects and

diseases.

Protection of riparian wetland areas.

Streamside zone management.

Control or eradication of noxious weeds occurring on

National Forest lands.

Management of special interest areas.

Vegetation Management

The harvest and regeneration of timber producing trees has always

been a central issue in National Forest planning in Mississippi. Over

the life of the current Forest Plan, timber has generally ranked as the

second most valuable agricultural crop in the state of Mississippi.

This issue assumes additional significance because of the effects of

timber harvest on other resources such as recreation and wildlife. Not

surprisingly, forest regeneration and timber harvest were the subject

of more review comments than any others. Public comments received on

the 10-year Review of the Land and Resource Management Plan expressed

support for timber harvests to continue at current or higher levels.

Opposing views also have been expressed resulting in polarization of

the issue. Individuals and organizations involved in the timber

industry or local government have expressed concern about the decline

of National Forest timber harvests on local economies, particularly on

employment and the 25% returns to counties for roads and schools. The

average actual timber volume sold on the National Forests in

Mississippi were just over 80% of the amount planned for fiscal years

1985 through 1995. Declines in harvest levels have occurred over the

last several years generating concern about declining revenues.

Vegetation Management issues include and will focus on:

Allowable sale quantity (ASQ).

Lands suitable for timber production.

Relationship of timber harvest levels to local economies

and jobs.

Silvicultural systems and how they affect sustainability

and forrest health.

Uneven-aged silvicultural systems effect on timber and

non-timber resources.

Hardwood management within pine stands.

Mixed pine management.

Alternative forest products, such as pine straw raking and

removal.

Role of herbicide use in forest management.

Threatened, Endangered, Proposed and Sensitive Species Management

Red-cockaded Woodpecker Decisions. The Final Environmental Impact

Statement for the Management of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker and its

Habitat on National Forests in the Southern Region (RCW/EIS) was issued

in June of 1995. The RCW/EIS contains direction to revise previous

management practices, standards, and guidelines, and its Record of

Decision (ROD) instructs affected Forests to incorporate the new

direction into their Forest Plans, through revision or amendment.

The revised Forest Plan must establish final HMA boundaries and

population objectives. The RCW/EIS Record of Decision established

tentative HMA's on 367,169 acres on the Bienville, De Soto,

Chickasawhay, and Homochitto Ranger Districts. The accompanying

tentative population goal is 1,595 active clusters. As of 1996, the

Forest's total number of active clusters was 134. Additionally, Forest

Plan revision must incorporate the management practices, standards, and

guidelines in the RCW Record of Decision. The HMA's and population

[[Page 69688]]

objectives are subject to some modification. Any changes will require

analysis beyond the RCW/EIS as well as a favorable opinion from the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during formal consultation.

Other Threatened and Endangered Species. Management for other

threatened, endangered, proposed, and sensitive species will also

require consideration during plan revision. These species include: the

gopher tortoise, and Louisiana quillwort occurring on the De Soto

National Forest and the Pondberry on the Delta National Forest.

Recovery plans for the affected species have been developed and their

prescribed conservation and protection measures are incorporated in

forest management activities. Forest Service will continue efforts to

conserve and recover threatened, endangered, and sensitive species and

their habitats.

Threatened, endangered, proposed, and sensitive species management

issues to be addressed during plan revision include:

Develop management practices that promote viable populations of

threatened, endangered, and sensitive species and their habitats

occurring on National forest lands. Determine how much of the National

Forests in Mississippi's land base will be allocated to red-cockaded

woodpecker management (Habitat Management Areas) and what affect such

allocation will have on other resource management opportunities.

Transportation and Access

Management of our forest transportation system attracts public

scrutiny. Almost all users of the national forests use forest roads.

Forest Service Natural Resource Agenda identifies forest roads as one

of its key agenda items. Development of a national roads policy is

underway. Once finalized revised Forest Plan will incorporate the

national roads policy, as appropriate.

An extensive system of roads and trails allows access to nearly

every part of the Forest. In addition, and by the direction of the

current Forest Plan, the National Forests in Mississippi are

``generally open to ORV's'' (off-road vehicles), now more often

referred to as OHV's (off-highway vehicles). Exceptions are

individually identified areas of potential resource damage or conflict

with other uses.

Motorized use can reduce the habitat quality for some wildlife

species and cause damage to soils on sensitive sites. Use of motorized

vehicles can also conflict with users who are seeking more solitude or

can create safety concerns for non-motorized users such as hikers or

horseback riders. Motorized vehicle use, particularly that of all-

terrain vehicles (ATV's), has increased dramatically over the last ten

years. Furthermore, the current plan's assumption that cross-country

travel by OHV's would be ``limited by heavy undergrowth'' has proven

inaccurate. As a result, instances of resource damage and user

conflicts have become increasingly common.

Transportation and access issues to be addressed during plan

revision include:

Transportation management and access needs. The Forest's road

system will be managed to meet resource needs and provide adequate

public access.

Density of local roads required to provide permanent, effective

access to National Forest lands for all resource management needs.

Off road vehicles (ORV's) management to provide recreational

opportunities and protect other resources.

Recreation

National Forests in Mississippi offer a host of outdoor recreation

opportunities. Recreation demand, both dispersed and developed, is

expected to continue to increase over the next plan cycle. Increases in

recreation use often create resource management conflicts. Different

user groups compete for use of the same area, each having different

expectations.

Prescribed Fire

Prescribed fire is an important management tool on the National

Forests in Mississippi. Historically, fire played a significant role in

shaping the native plant and animal communities in Mississippi. The

Forest consistently ranks first or second in the nation in the amount

of acreage on which it is applied. Beginning in the 1960's, prescribed

burning has normally been conducted on upland pine sites, with site

preparation burns occurring in late summer and understory burns during

the dormant season. Prior to European settlement, fires occurred

throughout the year on a variety of sites, whenever conditions allowed

anatual or aboriginal ignitions to spread. Studies indicate that fire

can have an influence on the successful regeneration of oaks. One of

the concepts underlying ecosystem management is that natural processes

should be simulated to the greatest extend possible. This builds on the

idea that the structure and function of native ecosystems is best

maintained by the conditions under which they evolved. To the extent

that these conditions can be recreated on the Forest, it will require

changes to our traditional application of prescribed fire.

Prescribed fire issues to be addressed during plan revision

include:

Determine role of prescribed fire in achieving forest ecosystem

management goals and objectives.

Identify and evaluate the extent, time of year (including summer

growing season), and frequencies for prescribed fire use as an

ecosystem management tool.

Evaluate impacts associated with use of plow lines and establish

appropriate standards and guidelines.

Consider use of permanent fire lines, especially within wildland/

urban interface zones.

Roadless Areas

The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Roadless Area

Review and Evaluation II (RARE II) of 1979 inventoried three roadless

areas on National Forest lands in Mississippi. Two areas, Black Creek

and Leaf, were recommended for wilderness designation. The third, Sandy

Creek, was listed for further study. In 1984, the Mississippi National

Forest Wilderness Act created the Black Creek Wilderness and the Leaf

Wilderness. Included in the act was ``release'' language which directed

that inventoried areas not designated as wilderness be managed for

multiple use; however, the act also directed that the ``wilderness

option'' be reviewed for such areas when the Forest Plan was revised.

For the National Forests in Mississippi, the Sandy Creek area on the

Homochitto National Forest is the only area in this category.

On October 13, President Clinton directed the USDA Forest Service

to develop a proposal potentially affecting over 40 million acres on

inventoried roadless areas on national forests and grasslands. The

2,375 acre Sandy Creek RARE II Further Study Area is the only area in

Mississippi meeting the President's initial criteria for review

consideration. On October 25, 1999, forest Service Chief Dombeck issued

a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement as the

first step towards implementing President Clinton's direction to

further protect remaining roadless areas within National Forest System

lands. The Sandy Creek Further Study Area will be evaluated as part of

the national roadless area review. A draft environmental impact

statement on the roadless area is expected to be available for public

review in the spring 2000. Recommendations specific to the Sandy Creek

Further Study Area that may follow from the national review will be

incorporated during plan revision.

[[Page 69689]]

IV. Proposed Action

The Southern Regional Forester proposes to prepare an Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS) for revising the Forest Land and Resource

Management Plan (Forest Plan) for the National Forests in Mississippi.

The Forest Plan will prescribe resource management direction pursuant

to the requirements of the National Forest Management Act for the six

proclaimed National Forests in Mississippi; Bienville, Delta, DeSoto,

Homochitto, Holly Springs and Tombigbee National Forests. The agency

invites the public, state and local government officials and their

representatives, other federal agencies, and any affected Indian tribes

to participate in the forest plan revision process which will proceed

over the next 24 to 26 months before a final revised Forest Plan is

issued.

The current Forest Plan for the National Forests in Mississippi

requires revision to incorporate agency established ecosystem

management principles. The Forest Service will identify ecological

units through the LandType Association (LTA) level, according to the

Forest Service National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units.

Management direction in the revised Forest Plan would work toward

maintaining the long-term ecological structure and function of affected

ecosystems.

The current Forest Plan contains limited descriptions of desired

future conditions (FDCs). The current plan's DFCs need updating to

accurately reflect evolving agency and public expectations regarding

resource uses, products, values or services occurring on or generated

from national forest administered lands. One of the more critical tasks

to be accomplished during the forest plan revision process will be

development of updated DFCs. An open, public, collaborative planning

process will be followed during development of DFCs.

Desired Future Conditions (DFCs) are descriptive statements

expressing the collective vision of future landscape conditions and the

uses, products, values, and services that will be provided. Desired

future conditions and the outcomes associated with it will serve as the

central reference point for planning and management of National Forest

lands. DFC's will be developed in response to key issues identified

during plan revision. Extensive public involvement (participation) will

be sought as the forest identifies and develops DFC's during the plan

revision process. Each DFC will utilize established ecological units as

a criteria for defining their location and capabilities. Each DFC will

emphasize the resource or condition which the issue addresses. Plan

revision alternatives will be developed by allocating land areas to

individual DFC's in varying amounts. Notwithstanding the issue to which

it responds, each DFC will consider all resource elements (incorporate

multiple-use resource management principals). The allocation of the

DFC's in each alternative will be distinctly mappable.

The following proposals specifically address the preliminary issues

listed previously. Based on current information, they represent the

Forest Service's initial choice of action for addressing these

preliminary issues. The following proposed actions are identified at

this time in an effort to provide focus for public review and comment

and do not represent a final decision regarding the preliminary issues

identified. All actions are subject to change as a result of scoping,

developing alternatives, and conducting a more detailed analysis of

effects.

Forest Health/Sustainability

Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management is a key component of the

Forest Service Natural Resource Agenda. Throughout the plan revision

process the Forest Service will encourage all parties interested in

resource management to collaborate in describing and defining

sustainable forest management. During plan revision, focus will be

placed on forest ecosystem health, agency accountability, and community

partnerships to achieve Forest Service Natural Resource Agenda goals

for sustainable forest ecosystem management. Management for health

watersheds will be included as a key component in the development of

Desired Future Condition statements. The revised plan will incorporate

the Natural Resource Agenda goals and objectives for watershed

protection and restoration. Management emphasis will be placed on

watershed restoration and maintenance. During plan revision the Forest

Service will: (1) Study the relationship between land uses, watersheds,

and ecosystem health; (2) complete an ecosystem analyses at the

watershed level to determine existing conditions and potential

landscape capability; (3) use results from sound scientific analyses to

make land use allocations and guide project-level decisions and set

priorities for watershed restoration; (4) ensure that land management

decisions meet watershed and ecosystem management objectives; (5)

collaborate with all interested parties and stakeholders to achieve

health watersheds and ecosystems for current and future generations.

Vegetation Management

Vegetation management objectives will be developed as one of the

DFC's for allocation. The Forest will employ both even-aged forest

management, including clearcutting, and uneven-aged management as tools

for achieving desired future conditions in appropriate ecological units

and communities. Area regulation will be utilized for all even-aged

management. Uneven-aged management will be regulated by diameter

distribution with intermediate practices for developing uneven-aged

structure in currently even-aged stands.

Old Growth. Management for old growth attributes will be included

as one of the DFC's for allocation. The revised plan will consider old

growth representation across the range of native forest communities.

Natural Disturbances. As much as practical, historical levels of

disturbance will be incorporated into the revised plan's output

predictions. General control and/or recovery guidelines will also be

developed, both Forest-wide and for each management area.

Exotic Species. Mitigation measures and management practices

designed to limit the spread of Cogongrass as well as kudzu control

will be developed during plan revision. The revised plan will reflect

the natural Resource Agenda emphases placed on control of exotic

species to restore and enhance ecosystems.

Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species Management

Management emphasis will be placed on the conservation and recovery

of threatened, endangered, and (federally listed) sensitive species and

their habitats that occur on National Forest administered lands.

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Decisions. The tentative Habitat Management

Area (HMA) delineations from the Final RCW/EIS will be adopted, with

only minor changes, on the Bienville, Chickasawhay, and Homochitto

Ranger Districts. On the De Soto Ranger District, the boundaries for

the Biloxi HMA will be adopted from the Final, but the two areas of the

Black Creek HMA will be combined and moved to the Leaf River Wildlife

Management Area. Revised population objectives will be developed for

each of the above HMA's consistent with the proposed direction in

Appendix ``A'' of the RCW/EIS Record of Decision (ROD). The

[[Page 69690]]

resulting forest-wide population objective is expected to total

approximately 1,480 clusters. The revised Forest Plan will incorporate

the standards and guidelines from the ROD, except that both the

Chicasawhay and Bienville HMA's will be managed under the sub-HMA

strategy. This is consistent with RCW/EIS direction for the

Chickasawhay but represents a departure for the Bienville. Proposed

changes in the sub-HMA strategy will require analysis beyond the RCW/

EIS as well as a favorable opinion from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service reached through formal consultation. The Forest Plan will adopt

the southern pine beetle high hazard rotation lengths where applicable.

Transportation and Access

Local road and OHV management will be included as an element of

DFC's. For each desired future condition, OHV travel may be allowed

area-wide, confined to designated areas, trails, or seasons, or

prohibited entirely. Forest-wide, all areas will be closed to OHVs

except those identified for their use.

A National Roads Policy is currently under development. When the

roads policy is issued, agency direction will be incorporated during

plan revision as appropriate.

Recreation

Recreation management is a priority item of the Forest Service

natural Resource Agenda. Forest Service will seek to provide a diverse

spectrum of recreation opportunities in response to changing demands.

The revised plan will incorporate the new recreation agenda of the

Forest Service Natural Resource Agenda. The new recreation agenda

concentrates on five key areas: (1) Improving the settings for outdoor

recreation and enhancing visitor experiences, (2) guaranteeing visitor

satisfaction with our services and facilities, (3) reaching out to

rural and urban communities to capitalize on the social and economic

opportunities associated with recreation on national forests, (4)

strengthening our relationships with those who cooperate with us to

improve outdoor recreation for all Americans, and (5) ensuring that

recreation use does not impair the land's health.

Prescribed Fire

Fire return interval will be included as an element of Desired

Future Conditions, and both dormant and growing season fire will be

utilized. The use of prescribed fire for silvicultural objectives will

be employed on hardwood sites where appropriate and consistent with the

Southern Region's Vegetation Management EIS, including the Delta

National Forest.

Roadless Areas

The Sandy Creek Further Study Area will be evaluated as part of the

national roadless area review. A draft environmental impact statement

on the roadless area is expected to be available for public review in

the spring 2000. Recommendations specific to the Sandy Creek Further

study Area that may follow from the national review will be

incorporated during plan revision. No other recommendations to the

roadless area inventory are currently proposed. The revised plan will

continue the management direction and practices adopted in the 1993

``Limits of Acceptable Change'' process for the Black Creek and Leaf

Wildernesses and the Black Creek scenic corridor.

V. Development of Alternatives

The alternatives presented in the Forest's DEIS will portray a full

range of responses to key issues. The range of alternatives will

include one that continues current management direction, as well as

others that address the range of issues developed during the scoping

process. The DEIS will examine the effects of implementing strategies

to achieve different overall desired future conditions for the Forest,

including possible management practices and objectives that move the

Forest toward desired conditions. A preferred alternative will be

identified in the DEIS.

VI. Involving the Public

The objective for public involvement in this process is to create

an atmosphere of openness where all members of the public feel free to

share information with the Forest Service and its employees on a

regular basis. We seek to establish two-way communication with the

public to gather ideas and concerns and to determine public attitudes.

We seek to encourage public involvement in a planning process that

fully integrates the needs and values of all segments of the public,

including low-income, minority, and historically underserved

communities.

The Forest Service is seeking information, comments,and assistance

from Federal, State, and local agencies, Indian tribes, and other

individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected by

the land management decisions under consideration during the plan

revision process. This input will be used in the preparation of the

DEIS. The range of alternatives to be considered in the DEIS will be

based on the identification of key public issues, management concerns,

resource management opportunities, and plan decisions specific to the

National Forests in Mississippi. Public participation will be solicited

by notifying in person and/or by mail, interested publics. News

releases will be used to give the public general notice, and public

scoping meetings will be conducted on each Ranger District.

Public participation, facilitated by open decision making process,

will be sought throughout the plan revision process and will be

especially important at several points along the way. The first

opportunity to comment will be during the scoping process (40 CFR

1501.7). Scoping includes: (1) Identifying additional potential issues

(other than those previously described), (2) from these, identifying

key issues or those which have been covered by prior environmental

review, (3) exploring additional alternatives, and (4) identifying

potential environmental effects of the proposed action and alternatives

(i.e., direct, indirect, and cumulative effects).

As part of the first step in scoping, a series of public meetings

are scheduled to explain the public's role in the planning process and

provide an opportunity for public input. These meetings are planned as

follows:

Bienville National Forest

January 18, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Forest Center in Forest, MS

January 20, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Raleigh Multi-Purpose

Building In Raleigh, MS

January 22, 2000 from 10 am to 8 pm at the Benita Lakes Mall in

Meridian, MS (Co-hosted with the Chickasawhay Ranger District)

January 25, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Morton City Auditorium in

Morton, MS

Chickasawhay Ranger District

January 20, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Library of Hattiesburg, 329

Hardy Street, in Hattiesburg, MS (Co-hosted with the DeSoto Ranger

District)

January 22, 2000 from 10 am to 3 pm at the Benita Lakes Mall in

Meridian, MS (Co-hosted with the Bienville Ranger District)

January 24, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Chickasawhay Ranger District

Office, 968 Highway 15 South, in Laurel, MS

January 27, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Waynesboro City Auditorium in

Waynesboro, MS

[[Page 69691]]

Delta National Forest

January 18, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Community Center in Rolling

Fork, MS

January 25, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Greenville Library in

Greenville, MS

January 31, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Vicksburg Library in

Vicksburg, MS

DeSoto Ranger District

January 20, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Library of Hattiesburg, 329

Hardy Street, in Hattiesburg, MS (Co-Hosted by the Chickasawhay Ranger

District)

January 21, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Orange Grove Community Center

on Highway 49, North in Gulfport, MS

January 25, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the DeSoto Ranger District

Office, 654 W. Frontage Road, in Wiggins, MS

Holly Springs National Forest

January 10, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Holly Springs District

Office, 1000 Front Street, Oxford, MS

January 18, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Marshall County Industrial

Development Authority, 520 Access Road, Holly Springs, MS

January 24, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Corps of Engineers Building,

Scenic Route 333, Grenada Dam Road, Grenda, MS

Homochitto National Forest

January 20, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Agriculture Building, at

Alcorn State University, in Lorman, MS

January 25, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Homochitto District Office in

Gloster, MS

January 27, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Meadville Public Library in

Meadville, MS

Tombigbee National Forest

January 11, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm Tombigbee District Office in

Ackerman, MS

January 12, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Thompson Hall on the campus

of Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS

January 18, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Fire Department in Houston,

MS

January 25, 2000 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the Lake Tiak O'Kata in

Louisville, MS

National Forests in Mississippi (Forest-wide emphasis)

January 11, 2000 from 10 am to 8 pm at the McCoy Federal Building, 100

West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS

Additional public meetings will be scheduled throughout the plan

revision process. Their location and frequency of occurrence will vary

depending upon specific objectives. The primary objective for the

initial meetings listed above are for information sharing and initial

identification of additional public issues and concerns. Subsequent

public meetings may focus on specific key issues to seek clarification

and understanding prior to development of alternatives and evaluation

of effects. Public notice will be provided through publication in the

newspaper, the Clariton-Ledger, published daily in Jackson,

Mississippi. Notice will also be served through direct mailings to

interested and affected parties identified during the plan revision

process. The Forest Service will seek to identify other methods to

effectively accomplish outreach and invite and encourage broad public

involvement throughout the Forest Plan revision process.

The DEIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) and to be available for public review by September, 2001.

At that time, EPA will publish a notice of availability of the draft

supplement in the Federal Register. The comment period for the DEIS

will be 3 months from the date the EPA's notice of availability appears

in the Federal Register.

After the comment period ends on the DEIS, the comments will be

analyzed, considered, and responded to by the Forest Service in

preparing the FEIS. The Forest Service will continue to open decision

making (collaborative efforts) during the evaluation of comments

received on the DEIS. The FEIS is scheduled to be completed by

September, 2001. The responsible official will consider the comments,

responses, environmental consequences discussed in the final

environmental impact statement, and applicable laws, regulations, and

policies in making a decision regarding this proposal. The responsible

official will document the decision and reasons for the decision in a

Record of Decision. The decision will be subject to appeal in

accordance with 36 CFR part 217.

The responsible official is Elizabeth Estill, Regional Forester,

Southern Region, 1720 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30367.

Dated: December 8, 1999.

David G. Holland,

Deputy Regional Forester for Natural Resources.

[FR Doc. 99-32296 Filed 12-13-99; 8:45 am]

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