On Thursday, November 15, 2018, Hiawatha National Forest announced the opportunity to comment on a programmatic Forest Plan amendment addressing how the Forest displays trail management data.
The Hiawatha Forest Plan does not currently identify trail mileage limitations in a way that matches with Federal Trail Data Standards, which came out after the Hiawatha Forest Plan was finalized. The purpose of this programmatic Forest Plan amendment would be to reformat three tables (Tables 2300-5, 2300-6 and 2300-7) to display the trail mileage according to use categories that align with the new Federal Trail Data Standards.
The amendment would not change allowable mileage. To view the proposed amendment, visit the U.S. Forest Service website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55032.
According to the National Forest Management Act and its implementing regulations at 36 CFR 219 (2012 Planning Rule), a plan may be amended at any time.
Although this amendment would modify/reformat tables in the Forest Plan, it would not approve projects or activities, nor would it propose ground disturbing activities. Therefore, this amendment is excluded from documentation in an environmental assessment (EA) or an environmental impact statement (EIS) under categorical exclusion 36 CFR 220.6(e)(16) – Land Management Plans, plan amendments, and plan revisions developed in accordance with 36 CFR 219 et. seq. that provide broad guidance and information for project and activcity decision making in a National Forest Service unit.
The 30-day comment period for this proposed amendment begins on the day after publication of this notice in the Daily Press, Escanaba, MI, the official newspaper of record.
This comment period is provided pursuant to 36 CFR 219.16(a)(2). Scoping and comment periods are combined pursuant to 36 CFR Part 219.13. This proposed programmatic Forest Plan amendment is subject to the objection procedures at 36 CFR 219 subpart B. Only those who provide substantive formal comment, as defined in 36 CFR 219.62, will be eligible to object to the proposed decision.
When submitting comments, please keep them specific to this proposal only. Comments that are not specific to the proposed amendment will be deemed outside the scope of the analysis and will not be considered. If you are including references or additional information to be considered for this project, please specify exactly how the material relates to the proposal.
The preferred method to submit comments is by email, electronically to the Comment Analysis and Response Application (CARA) database at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=55032. Alternatively, send hard copy comments to Cid Morgan, Attn: Trail Format Amendment, Hiawatha National Forest, 820 Rains Drive, Gladstone, MI 49837.
For additional information, contact Paul Holeva, Forest Recreation Program Manager at pholeva@fs.fed.us, 906-428-5889 (voice) or 711 (TTY).
