Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment Draft Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY:

Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice of public meetings related to the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). Public meetings will provide information on the document, opportunities for discussion, dialogue and consideration of how the alternatives address the five problem areas, including old forest ecosystems and associated species; aquatic, riparian and meadow ecosystems; fire and fuels management; noxious weeds; and lower westside hardwood ecosystems. Meetings will take place in cities near Sierra Nevada forests, as well as Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay area, and Sacramento. The meeting schedule is attached.

SUMMARY:

The Draft EIS to amend Sierra Nevada Forest Plans was released on May 2, 2000 and is open for public comment until August 11, 2000. The Sierra Nevada Framework for Conservation and Collaboration is an effort by the USDA Forest Service to better integrate the latest science and a collaborative approach into national forest management. The EIS will allow the forest service to update forest plans for the 11 national forests in the Sierra Nevada and Modoc Plateau. The Draft EIS proposes 7 action alternatives to address five problem areas.

Requesting Copies of the DEIS and Submitting Comments

The DEIS is available in 4 formats: a printed summary (40 pages); a printed 3-volume set of the full draft EIS, appendices and maps (1500 pages); compact disk (CD); or downloadable at www.r5.fed.us/sncf. To request hardcopies or a CD, write (Subject: SNFP Request): USDA Forest Service—CAET, Sierra Nevada Framework Project, PO Box 7669, 200 E. Broadway, Room 301, Missoula Mt 59807. Email: mailroom_wo_caet@fs.fed.us. Fax: (460) 329-3021.

Review and Comments on the DEIS may be sent to the above address (Subject: SNFP Comments)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Please see the USDA Forest Service, World Wide Web site www.r5.fs.fed.us/sncf or contact USDA Forest Service, Sierra Nevada Framework Project, Room 419, 801 I Street, Sacramento, Ca 95814; phone number 916-492-7554; TTY via PacBell relay (800) 735-2929.