In 2012, the USDA Forest Service adopted a new Planning Rule that directs the revision of forest plans, which are the documents that guide the management of National Forests. The current Hiawatha National Forest Forest Plan was approved in 2006 (http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/hiawatha/landmanagement/planning/). Input from other agencies, partners and the public was an important part of the entire Forest Plan revision process. The 2012 Planning Rule states every forest must update their monitoring program by May 9, 2016. The Forest is requesting a review of the document "Draft Monitoring Questions and Indicators," which outlines the draft changes to our monitoring program. In accordance with the 2012 Planning Rule requirements (36 CFR 219.16(c)(6)), a 30-day public review and comment period has been established for this review. Comments must be received or postmarked by May 2, 2016. Please address your comments to Ginger Molitor, Forest Planner, subject: Monitoring Transition, by one of the following methods: by postal mail 820 Rains Drive, Gladstone, MI 49837 or electronically to the Comment Analysis and Response Application (CARA) database at: https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?project=NP-1271.
The Forest Service values public participation. Communications from the public including commenters names and contact information will become a part of the public record for this effort. Comments including anonymous comments are accepted at any time. However comments posted after the close of a designated comment period may not be able to be given full consideration. Comments or in some cases other expressions of interest along with respondent’s contact information submitted during the comment period may be necessary to establish a respondent’s eligibility to participate in an administrative review. Interested members of the public should review the provided information to determine if any administrative review process applies and the eligibility requirements for that process.
Nicole Molitor
