[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 17, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 36527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13080]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 117 / Wednesday, June 17, 2020 /
Notices
[[Page 36527]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Notice of Intent To Issue Forest Order Closing Areas Near Beattie
Gulch Trailhead and McConnell Fishing Access North and West of
Gardiner, Montana to the Discharge of Firearms
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, is giving
notice of intent to issue an order closing the Beattie Gulch Trailhead
and McConnell Fishing Access areas north and west of Gardiner, Montana
to the discharge of firearms in advance of the public comment period
for the proposed closure. At the end of the notice of intent period,
the Forest Service will solicit public comments, as specified in this
notice, on the proposed forest order.
DATES: The public comment period will begin June 24, 2020. The Forest
Service will accept comments on the proposed forest order for 60 days.
The notice of the opportunity for public comment, including directions
on how to submit comments, will be posted at www.fs.usda.gov/main/custergallatin and www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.
ADDRESSES: The proposed forest order and the justification for the
forest order are available on the Forest Service's website at
www.fs.usda.gov/main/custergallatin and www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Thom, District Ranger, 406-848-
7375, extension 22, [email protected].
Individuals who use TDD may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at
1-800-877-8339, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, including
holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Advance Notice and Public Comment Procedures
Section 4103 of the John D. Dingell, Jr., Conservation, Management,
and Recreation Act (Pub. L. 116-9) requires that the Secretary of
Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, provide
public notice and comment before permanently or temporarily closing any
National Forest System lands to hunting, fishing, or recreational
shooting. Section 4103 applies to the proposed forest order closing
areas near Beattie Gulch and McConnell Fishing Access north and west of
Gardiner, Montana to the discharge of firearms. The public notice and
comment process in section 4103(b)(2) requires the Secretary to publish
a notice of intent, in the Federal Register, of the proposed closure in
advance of the public comment period for the closure. This notice meets
the requirement to publish a notice of intent in the Federal Register
in advance of the public comment period.
Following the notice of intent, section 4103(b)(2) requires an
opportunity for public comment. Because the proposed forest order would
permanently close areas near Beattie Gulch and McConnell Fishing
Access, north and west of Gardiner, Montana to the discharge of
firearms, the public comment period must be not less than 60 days. The
solicitation for public comment will be posted on www.fs.usda.gov/main/custergallatin and www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.
Section 4103(b)(2) requires the Secretary to respond to public
comments received on the proposed forest order, explain how the
Secretary resolved any significant issues raised by the comments, and
show how the resolution led to the closure. The response to comments on
the proposed order, justification for the final order, and the issuance
of the final forest order will all be posted on the following website:
www.fs.usda.gov/main/custergallatin and www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.
II. Background and Need for Forest Order
This permanent shooting closure is needed to address potentially
imminent harm to human health and safety resulting from the discharge
of firearms in these small areas. Bow hunting/shooting would still be
allowed. These areas total 23 acres in size collectively, Beattie Gulch
is 18 acres and McConnell Fishing access totals 5 acres. The size of
both areas has been limited to the minimum necessary to protect public
health and safety. The Beattie Gulch area and McConnell Fishing Access
permanent closures are needed to address concerns resulting from the
discharge of firearms toward developed facilities including the Old
Yellowstone Trail South, private property and residences, the
Yellowstone River, a powerline, and Montana State Highway 89.
The proposed forest order and the justification for the forest
order are available on the Forest Service's websites at
www.fs.usda.gov/main/custergallatin and www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies.
Lisa A Northrop,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2020-13080 Filed 6-16-20; 8:45 am]
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