[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 235-236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28548]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
[223D0102DM, DS6CS00000, DLSN00000.000000. DX6CS25; Docket No. DOI-
2021-0016]
Request for Information To Inform Interagency Efforts To Develop
the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas
AGENCY: Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Request for information and notice of public listening
sessions.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior (Department), on behalf of an
interagency working group co-led with the Council on Environmental
Quality (CEQ), Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Department of
Commerce (DOC) through National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), is soliciting comments to inform how the American Conservation
and Stewardship Atlas (Atlas) can best serve as a useful tool for the
public and how it should reflect a continuum of conservation actions in
the America the Beautiful initiative, recognizing that many uses of
lands and waters can be consistent with the long-term health of natural
systems and contribute to addressing climate change and environmental
injustices. The input received will be used to develop the Atlas.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments by 11:59 p.m.
on March 7, 2022.
The interagency group will host virtual public listening sessions
at the dates and times below.
Thursday, January 13, 2022, 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, January 19, 2022, 6:00-7:30 p.m. ET
Friday, January 21, 2022, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET
Specific details will be posted on the Department's America the
Beautiful web page on January 4, 2022. Listening sessions may end
before the time noted above if all those participating have completed
their oral comments.
ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted through https://www.regulations.gov and will be available for public viewing and
inspection. In the Search box, enter the docket number presented above
in the document headings. For best results, do not copy and paste the
number; instead, type the docket number into the Search box using
hyphens. Then, click on the Search button. You may submit a comment by
clicking on ``Comment.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eve Barnett, Policy and
Intergovernmental Affairs Analyst, Office of Intergovernmental and
External Affairs, Office of the Secretary, Department of the Interior,
(202) 208-1923.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Section 216(a) of Executive Order 14008 established the first-ever
national conservation goal, calling for the conservation of ``at least
30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.'' In accordance with
Executive Order 14008, the Department, USDA, DOC, and CEQ released the
Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful report on May 6, 2021.
The report calls for a decade-long national initiative to advance
locally led conservation and restoration on public, private, and Tribal
lands and waters. It acknowledges--and celebrates--the wide-ranging
contributions that diverse conservation efforts can make to the
initiative and its goals of tackling climate change, sustaining
biodiversity, and increasing equitable access to nature.
The report emphasizes that there is a continuum of conservation in
America that aligns with the guiding principles of the initiative.
These core principles commit the effort to:
Pursue a Collaborative and Inclusive Approach to Conservation
Conserve America's Lands and Waters for the Benefit of All
People
Support Locally Led and Locally Designed Conservation Efforts
Honor Tribal Sovereignty and Support the Priorities of Tribal
Nations
Pursue Conservation and Restoration Approaches that Create
Jobs and Support Healthy Communities
Honor Private Property Rights and Support the Voluntary
Stewardship Efforts of Private Landowners and Fishers
Use Science as a Guide
Build on Existing Tools and Strategies with an Emphasis on
Flexibility and Adaptive Approaches
The report also outlines the six areas of focus that elected
officials, Tribal leaders, and stakeholders lifted up as early
opportunities for successful collaboration: Creating more parks and
safe outdoor opportunities in nature-deprived communities; supporting
Tribally led conservation and restoration priorities; expanding
collaborative conservation of fish and wildlife habitats and corridors;
increasing access for outdoor recreation; incentivizing and rewarding
the voluntary conservation efforts of fishers, ranchers, farmers, and
forest owners; and creating jobs by investing in restoration and
resilience.
The report specifies that an interagency working group will develop
an Atlas through interagency collaboration to develop and track a clear
baseline of information on lands and waters that are conserved or
restored. The Atlas is intended to be an accessible, updated, and
comprehensive tool through which to measure the progress of
conservation, stewardship, and restoration efforts in a manner that
reflects the goals and principles of the initiative. The interagency
group, co-led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the
Department as well as USDA and NOAA, in partnership with CEQ and other
Federal agencies, will develop the Atlas with input from the public,
States, Tribal Nations, scientists, and a wide range of stakeholders.
While agencies have already received feedback
[[Page 236]]
on the America the Beautiful initiative from a broad set of
stakeholders, this request for information offers a formal comment
period to collect input specific to the development of the Atlas. The
group is seeking input from the public on the following:
Science and Data. What data sources, standards, and
technical approaches should be applied to data included in the Atlas to
ensure that it is an authoritative and useful tool for the public?
Conservation as a Continuum. How can the Atlas reflect the
meaningful conservation work already underway in America?
[cir] What stewardship actions should be considered, in addition to
permanent protections, to capture a more complete picture of
conservation and restoration in America?
[cir] What are the attributes of lands and waters that should be
included in the Atlas? Considerations could include, for example, a
clearly defined geographic boundary, status of ecological function,
representation of species and habitats, extent of disturbance, expected
future risks from climate change or other human stressors, ecosystem
connectivity, or durability of management status.
[cir] How can the Atlas best reflect the contributions of State,
local, Tribal, territorial, and private lands?
Outcomes. How can the Atlas best reflect land and water
contributions to biodiversity, climate change mitigation and
resilience, and equitable access to nature and its benefits?
Additional information about this project can be found at: https://www.doi.gov/priorities/america-the-beautiful.
Eric Werwa,
Deputy Assistant Secretary--Policy and Environmental Management,
Exercising the Delegated Authority of the Assistant Secretary for
Policy, Management and Budget.
[FR Doc. 2021-28548 Filed 1-3-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4334-63-P