Middle Kyle Complex Environmental Impact Statement. Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Clark County, NV, 8835-8837 [E6-2326]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 2006 / Notices
Agriculture at the addresses provided
below for General Information.
Producers Certified as Eligible for
TAA, Contact: Farm Service Agency
service centers in Indiana.
For General Information About TAA,
Contact: Jean-Louis Pajot, Coordinator,
Trade Adjustment Assistance for
Farmers, FAS, USDA, (202) 720–2916,
e-mail: trade.adjustment@fas.usda.gov.
Dated: February 8, 2006.
A. Ellen Terpstra,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. E6–2399 Filed 2–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Trade Adjustment Assistance for
Farmers
AGENCY:
Foreign Agricultural Service,
USDA.
ACTION:
Notice.
The Administrator, Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS), today
accepted a petition filed by the National
Grape Cooperative Association
representing Washington Concord juice
grape producers for trade adjustment
assistance. The Administrator will
determine within 40 days whether or
not increasing grape juice, not from
concentrate, imports contributed
importantly to a decline in domestic
producer prices of 20 percent or more
during the marketing period beginning
August 1, 2004, and ending July 31,
2005. If the determination is positive, all
producers who produce and market
their Concord juice grapes in
Washington will be eligible to apply to
the Farm Service Agency for no cost
technical assistance and for adjustment
assistance payments.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Foreign Agricultural Service
Trade Adjustment Assistance for
Farmers
Foreign Agricultural Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Administrator, Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS), today
accepted a petition filed by the National
Grape Cooperative Association
representing Michigan Concord juice
grape producers for trade adjustment
assistance. The Administrator will
determine within 40 days whether or
not increasing grape juice, not from
concentrate, imports contributed
importantly to a decline in domestic
producer prices of 20 percent or more
during the marketing period beginning
August 1, 2004, and ending July 31,
2005. If the determination is positive, all
producers who produce and market
their Concord juice grapes in Michigan
will be eligible to apply to the Farm
Service Agency for no cost technical
assistance and for adjustment assistance
payments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jean-Louis Pajot, Coordinator, Trade
Adjustment Assistance for Farmers,
FAS, USDA, (202) 720–2916, e-mail:
trade.adjustment@fas.usda.gov.
Dated: February 10, 2006.
A. Ellen Terpstra,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. E6–2401 Filed 2–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Middle Kyle Complex Environmental
Impact Statement. Humboldt-Toiyabe
National Forest, Spring Mountains
National Recreation Area, Clark
County, NV
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
AGENCY:
Jean-Louis Pajot, Coordinator, Trade
Adjustment Assistance for Farmers,
FAS, USDA, (202) 720–2916, e-mail:
trade.adjustment@fas.usda.gov.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
ACTION:
Dated: February 10, 2006.
Ellen A. Terpstra,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.
[FR Doc. E6–2400 Filed 2–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–10–P
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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service
(Forest Service) will prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) to
analyze and disclose the potential
environmental consequences for a
proposed recreation complex
development. The proposed Middle
Kyle Complex is located on the Spring
Mountains National Recreation Area
(NRA) of the Humboldt-Toiyabe
National Forest, approximately 35 miles
northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. The
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Forest Service is considering the
construction and operation of new
recreational opportunities and facilities
within the middle Kyle Canyon area in
order to reduce the recreational pressure
on sensitive species and their habitats
within the upper Kyle and Lee Canyons.
The project may include such facilities
as a visitor center, commercial retail
shops, amphitheater, picnic areas,
campsites, administrative facilities,
hiking/biking trails, equestrian trails,
and off-highway vehicle (OHV) trails.
Construction would begin
approximately one year following the
signing of the Record of Decision.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received in
writing on or before April 3, 2006. The
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS) is expected in March 2007 and
the Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS) is expected in October
2007. A public open house is proposed
in March 2007, during the DEIS formal
comment period and shortly following
release of the DEIS.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Hal Peterson, Middle Kyle Complex
Project Manager, Spring Mountains
NRA, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las
Vegas, Nevada 89130. Email
communications are encouraged, please
include your name and return address
in all written or electronic
correspondence. Email messages should
be sent to
Middle_Kyle_Complex@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
additional information concerning this
project, please contact Hal Peterson,
Middle Kyle Complex Project Manager,
Spring Mountains NRA, 4701 N. Torrey
Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130;
phone (702) 839–5572. Information
about this EIS will be posted on the
Internet at: https://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/
projects/smnra/middle_kyle_complex/
home.shtml. This Web site will be used
to post all public documents during the
environmental review process and
announce opportunities for public
participation and comment.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action: The
Forest Service has determined a need
for the development of new destination
recreation, environmental education,
visitor services, parking/transportation
management and administrative
facilities in the middle Kyle Canyon
area of the Spring Mountains NRA. This
need is in response to the increasing
NRA visitation generated by the growth
of the Las Vegas Metropolitan area, and
the associated impacts on the
environmentally sensitive areas in
upper Kyle and Lee Canyons where the
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 2006 / Notices
Forest Service developed recreation and
administrative facilities are currently
located.
The purpose for this action is to move
the Spring Mountains NRA toward the
desired condition for the area. Elements
of the desired condition as stated in the
Humboldt-Toiyabe NF Land
Management and Resource Plan, the
Spring Mountains NRA General
Management Plan and the Clark County
Multiple Species Habitat Conservation
Plan include: Provide additional
developed recreation facilities in
appropriate locations to encourage use
away from upper Kyle and Lee Canyons;
Emphasize new facilities in lower Kyle
and Lee Canyons (east of Highway 158);
Provide public education and
information about the Spring Mountains
natural and cultural resources; Increase
capability to monitor and manage visitor
traffic in Kyle and Lee Canyons; Provide
additional multiple use trail
opportunities; Increase accessibility of
trailheads at appropriate locations for
equestrians; Divert public to other
appropriate areas once site or road
capacities have been reached; Develop a
Spring Mountains NRA visitor center
along the entrance to Kyle and/or Lee
Canyons; and, Provide facilities that
meet administrative needs, are cost
effective, increase management presence
and customer satisfaction, operate yearround, are located in the lower canyon
and transfer some uses from Kyle Guard
Station. Additionally, the Forest Service
has established the goal that this project
be developed in an environmentally and
fiscally sustainable manner.
Proposed Action: The proposed action
has been developed by the Forest
Service to respond to the need for action
generated by the difference between the
area’s existing condition and its desired
condition with the respect to the
management direction for the area. The
proposed action would provide a broad
range of recreational and environmental
education opportunities while
preserving the canyon’s key natural and
cultural resources. Recreational-related
facilities would generate revenue that
would be returned to the project to help
pay for annual operation and
maintenance costs.
The proposed project is strategically
located adjacent to the most heavily
traveled entrance to the Spring
Mountains NRA along the Kyle Canyon
Road (Nevada State Route #157), and
east of the Deer Creek Highway (Nevada
State Route #158). Most of the proposed
development would be located away
from environmentally and culturally
sensitive areas. The project area
encompasses approximately 2,500 acres
of National Forest System lands to
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provide adequate room to minimize
impacts to sensitive resource areas and
to provide for a logical grouping of uses
to minimize user conflicts and enhance
visitor experience. Many portions of the
project area would remain undeveloped.
The main development area, the
Village, would be located on the
disturbed areas of the recently
purchased former golf course. Facilities
proposed for the Village area include a
12,000 square feet (sq ft) visitor center,
4,200 sq ft indoor group meeting area,
retail space for 7 shops, food concession
area for 3 vendors, a 2,200 sq ft
residential area (security/artist-inresidence), 60,000 sq ft plaza area plus
40,000 sq ft plaza landscaped/play
areas, 1500 seat amphitheater, 3 group
picnic sites, a 185,000 sq ft commons
area, a 1200 space underground parking
structure plus 115 surface parking
spaces, 900 linear feet of Village access
roadway. In addition, a 2,000 sq ft
transit center is proposed for this
location. (Note: all dimensions stated
are approximate.)
Adjacent to the Village area is the
Village Valley which may include:
21,000 sq ft pond(s), approximately 1
acre of site restoration around the
pond(s), 3 outdoor classrooms,
approximately 6 acres of Kyle Canyon
wash restoration and roughly 21 acres of
upland restoration, 2.3 miles of paved
trails, 2.7 miles of unpaved trails, and
a connector trail from the Village Valley
area to the existing Kyle Administrative
Site adjacent to the Kyle Canyon wash.
The main picnic and camping areas
are proposed east of the Village area,
and on the south side of State Route
157. The picnic areas would include
245 individual sites, 3 group sites, 4
restroom structures, 116 parking spaces
and 1.4 miles of road. The camping
areas would include 210 tent/RV sites
with hook-ups, 2 small group sites (15
spaces each), one large group camping
area (with 100 spaces), 3 shower
buildings, 4 restroom buildings, and 2.5
miles of road. This area could also
include pedestrian and bicycle trails
with 4.3 miles of unpaved trail and 3.2
miles of paved trail.
Single and multiple use hiking, biking
and equestrian trails (10.2 miles), a
horse rental concession area, and a 10
unit equestrian campground with one
restroom building are proposed on the
north side of State Route 157. An
administrative site is also proposed on
the north side of State Route 157.
Administrative facilities may include:
10,000 sq ft of fire and administrative
office/warehouse space, 2,000 sq ft
concessionaire office space, 3,000 sq ft
research center space, 2 helipads, 3
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residential buildings, a barracks, a
bridge and 1.7 miles of access road.
A 10 parking space OHV Trailhead to
access existing OHV trails is proposed
adjacent to State Route 157, northwest
from the intersection of State Route 157
with Harris Springs Road.
At the east end of the project area,
facilities adjacent to the Harris Springs
Road, south of State Route 157, may
include a short access road and
trailhead with 8 parking spaces to
access a 2.3 mile hiking trail in the
canyon bottom. Facilities in the area
south of the Kyle Canyon Wash, off of
the Harris Springs Road, may include a
trailhead with 40 parking spaces, a
mountain bike rental concession and 8.4
miles of mountain bike/hiking trails.
Other anticipated activities include
development of infrastructure to
support the planned facilities (roads,
utilities, wastewater treatment, etc.);
State Route 157 highway improvements
to provide for safe intersections for
vehicles and pedestrians; restoration
and revegetation of abandoned roads,
trails and utility sites; removal of
illegally dumped materials; a defined
equestrian trail crossing for State Route
158; removal of non-native trees and
shrubs in the Village area; restoration of
the existing historic Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC) Kyle Guard
Station for managed public use; closure
of selected Forest Service Roads to
motor vehicles; and, conversion of
selected Forest Service Roads to nonmotorized trail use.
More detailed information on the
proposed action, including maps, may
be obtained by visiting the Forest
Service Web page at https://
www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/projects/smnra/
middle_kyle_complex/home.shtml and
following the link to the Middle Kyle
Canyon Framework Plan.
A no action alternative will also be
considered.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies: The
Forest Service will be the lead Federal
agency in accordance with 40 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) 1501.5(b) and
is responsible for the preparation of the
EIS. Scoping will determine if any
cooperating agencies are needed.
Responsible Official: The USDA
Forest Service responsible official for
this EIS is Robert L. Vaught, Forest
Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe National
Forest Supervisor’s Office, 1200
Franklin Way, Sparks, Nevada 89431;
phone (775) 331–6444.
Nature of Decision To Be Made: The
Responsible Official will decide
whether to implement the action as
proposed or modified, or to take no
action. The Forest Supervisor will also
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decide what mitigation measures and
monitoring will be required.
Scoping Process: Public participation
will be very important throughout the
NEPA analysis process. The Forest
Service will be seeking information,
comments, and assistance from Federal,
State, and local agencies, American
Indian tribes, as well as other
individuals and organizations that may
be interested in or affected by the
proposed project.
Preliminary Issues: No preliminary
planning issues were identified.
Comment Requested: This notice of
intent initiates the scoping process,
which guides the development of the
EIS. Comments submitted during the
scoping process should be in writing
and should be specific to the purpose
and need and the proposed action. The
comments should describe as clearly
and completely as possible any issues or
concerns the commenter has with the
proposal.
Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A DEIS will be
prepared for comment. The comment
period on the DEIS will be 45 days from
the date the Environmental Protection
Agency publishes the notice of
availability in the Federal Register.
At this early stage, the Forest Service
believes it is important to give reviewers
notice of several court rulings related to
public participation in the
environmental review process. First,
reviewers of DEISs must structure their
participation in the environmental
review of the proposal in a way that it
is meaningful and alerts an agency to
the reviewer’s position and contentions
[see ‘‘Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power
Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553
(1978)’’]. Also, environmental objections
that could be raised at the DEIS stage
but that are not raised until after
completion of the FEIS may be waived
or dismissed by the courts [see ‘‘City of
Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022
(9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages,
Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338
(E.D. Wis. 1980)]. Because of these court
rulings, it is very important that those
interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 45-day
comment period so that substantive
comments and objections are made
available to the Forest Service at a time
when it can meaningfully consider them
and respond to them in the FEIS.
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns on the proposed action,
comments on the DEIS should be as
specific as possible. It is also helpful if
comments refer to specific pages or
chapters of the draft statement.
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13:48 Feb 17, 2006
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Comments may also address the
adequacy of the DEIS or the merits of
the alternatives formulated and
discussed in the statement. Reviewers
may wish to refer to the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations for
implementing the procedural provisions
of the NEPA at 40 CFR 1503.3 in
addressing these points.
Comments received, including the
names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the
public record on this proposal and will
be available for public inspection (see
40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest
Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 21).
Dated: February 13, 2006.
Robert L. Vaught,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E6–2326 Filed 2–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Natural Resources Conservation
Service
Harding Lake, Aquatic Habitat
Enhancement Project
Natural Resources
Conservation Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of a Finding of No
Significant Impact.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969; the Council on
Environmental Quality Guidelines (40
CFR part 1500); and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service
(formerly the Soil Conservation Service)
Guidelines (7 CFR part 650); the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Robert Jones,
State Conservationist, finds that neither
the proposed action nor any of the
alternatives is a major federal action
significantly affecting the quality of the
human environment, and determine that
an environmental impact statement is
not needed for the Harding Lake,
Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Project.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Robert Jones, State Conservationist,
Natural Resources Conservation Service,
Alaska State Office, 800 West Evergreen
Avenue, Suite 100, Palmer, AK 99645–
6539; Phone: 907–761–7760; Fax: 907–
761–7790.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
environmental assessment of this
federally assisted action indicates that
the project will not cause significant
local, regional, or national impacts on
the environment. As a result of these
findings, the preparation and review of
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8837
an environmental impact statement are
not needed for this project.
The project purpose is to redirect and
control partial stream flows to restore
shallow-water spawning and rearing
habitat for Northern Pike (Exos lucius)
and the Least Ciscoe (Coregonus
sardinella) at Harding Lake, Salcha, AK.
The planned works of improvement
include installation of a double-weir,
sheet-pile stream flow control system in
Rogge Creek. This will re-establish more
consistent water flow to the Harding
Lake Channel of Rogge Creek
terminating in Harding Lake.
Subsequently, the rise in water levels
(design ASL 717) will provide more
stable water conditions in Harding Lake
to serve in reestablishing littoral
wetland areas for northern pike
production and rearing. Operation and
maintenance of the structure will
address flood control to the capacity of
the Rogge Creek channels ability to
contain flood waters (100 cfs), when out
of bank flows will respond to the
natural topography and conditions,
irrespective of the structure presence. A
natural outlet of the Harding Lake
controls upper surface levels of the lake.
The Notice of a Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) has been
forwarded to the Environmental
Protection Agency and other interested
parties. A limited number of copies of
the FONSI are available to fill single
copy requests at the above address.
Basic data developed during the
environmental assessment are on file
and may be reviewed by contacting
Robert Jones.
No administrative action on
implementation of the proposal will be
taken until 30 days after the date of this
publication in the Federal Register.
Dated: February 9, 2006.
Robert Jones,
State Conservationist.
[FR Doc. 06–1573 Filed 2–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–16–M
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
The Department of Commerce has
submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35).
Agency: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Title: Coastal and Estuarine Land
Conservation, Planning, Protection, or
Restoration.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8835-8837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2326]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Middle Kyle Complex Environmental Impact Statement. Humboldt-
Toiyabe National Forest, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area,
Clark County, NV
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) will prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze and disclose the
potential environmental consequences for a proposed recreation complex
development. The proposed Middle Kyle Complex is located on the Spring
Mountains National Recreation Area (NRA) of the Humboldt-Toiyabe
National Forest, approximately 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Forest Service is considering the construction and operation of new
recreational opportunities and facilities within the middle Kyle Canyon
area in order to reduce the recreational pressure on sensitive species
and their habitats within the upper Kyle and Lee Canyons. The project
may include such facilities as a visitor center, commercial retail
shops, amphitheater, picnic areas, campsites, administrative
facilities, hiking/biking trails, equestrian trails, and off-highway
vehicle (OHV) trails. Construction would begin approximately one year
following the signing of the Record of Decision.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
in writing on or before April 3, 2006. The Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) is expected in March 2007 and the Final Environmental
Impact Statement (FEIS) is expected in October 2007. A public open
house is proposed in March 2007, during the DEIS formal comment period
and shortly following release of the DEIS.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Hal Peterson, Middle Kyle Complex
Project Manager, Spring Mountains NRA, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las
Vegas, Nevada 89130. Email communications are encouraged, please
include your name and return address in all written or electronic
correspondence. Email messages should be sent to Middle--Kyle--
Complex@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information concerning
this project, please contact Hal Peterson, Middle Kyle Complex Project
Manager, Spring Mountains NRA, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas,
Nevada 89130; phone (702) 839-5572. Information about this EIS will be
posted on the Internet at: https://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/projects/smnra/
middle_kyle_complex/home.shtml. This Web site will be used to post
all public documents during the environmental review process and
announce opportunities for public participation and comment.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action: The Forest Service has determined a
need for the development of new destination recreation, environmental
education, visitor services, parking/transportation management and
administrative facilities in the middle Kyle Canyon area of the Spring
Mountains NRA. This need is in response to the increasing NRA
visitation generated by the growth of the Las Vegas Metropolitan area,
and the associated impacts on the environmentally sensitive areas in
upper Kyle and Lee Canyons where the
[[Page 8836]]
Forest Service developed recreation and administrative facilities are
currently located.
The purpose for this action is to move the Spring Mountains NRA
toward the desired condition for the area. Elements of the desired
condition as stated in the Humboldt-Toiyabe NF Land Management and
Resource Plan, the Spring Mountains NRA General Management Plan and the
Clark County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan include:
Provide additional developed recreation facilities in appropriate
locations to encourage use away from upper Kyle and Lee Canyons;
Emphasize new facilities in lower Kyle and Lee Canyons (east of Highway
158); Provide public education and information about the Spring
Mountains natural and cultural resources; Increase capability to
monitor and manage visitor traffic in Kyle and Lee Canyons; Provide
additional multiple use trail opportunities; Increase accessibility of
trailheads at appropriate locations for equestrians; Divert public to
other appropriate areas once site or road capacities have been reached;
Develop a Spring Mountains NRA visitor center along the entrance to
Kyle and/or Lee Canyons; and, Provide facilities that meet
administrative needs, are cost effective, increase management presence
and customer satisfaction, operate year-round, are located in the lower
canyon and transfer some uses from Kyle Guard Station. Additionally,
the Forest Service has established the goal that this project be
developed in an environmentally and fiscally sustainable manner.
Proposed Action: The proposed action has been developed by the
Forest Service to respond to the need for action generated by the
difference between the area's existing condition and its desired
condition with the respect to the management direction for the area.
The proposed action would provide a broad range of recreational and
environmental education opportunities while preserving the canyon's key
natural and cultural resources. Recreational-related facilities would
generate revenue that would be returned to the project to help pay for
annual operation and maintenance costs.
The proposed project is strategically located adjacent to the most
heavily traveled entrance to the Spring Mountains NRA along the Kyle
Canyon Road (Nevada State Route 157), and east of the Deer
Creek Highway (Nevada State Route 158). Most of the proposed
development would be located away from environmentally and culturally
sensitive areas. The project area encompasses approximately 2,500 acres
of National Forest System lands to provide adequate room to minimize
impacts to sensitive resource areas and to provide for a logical
grouping of uses to minimize user conflicts and enhance visitor
experience. Many portions of the project area would remain undeveloped.
The main development area, the Village, would be located on the
disturbed areas of the recently purchased former golf course.
Facilities proposed for the Village area include a 12,000 square feet
(sq ft) visitor center, 4,200 sq ft indoor group meeting area, retail
space for 7 shops, food concession area for 3 vendors, a 2,200 sq ft
residential area (security/artist-in-residence), 60,000 sq ft plaza
area plus 40,000 sq ft plaza landscaped/play areas, 1500 seat
amphitheater, 3 group picnic sites, a 185,000 sq ft commons area, a
1200 space underground parking structure plus 115 surface parking
spaces, 900 linear feet of Village access roadway. In addition, a 2,000
sq ft transit center is proposed for this location. (Note: all
dimensions stated are approximate.)
Adjacent to the Village area is the Village Valley which may
include: 21,000 sq ft pond(s), approximately 1 acre of site restoration
around the pond(s), 3 outdoor classrooms, approximately 6 acres of Kyle
Canyon wash restoration and roughly 21 acres of upland restoration, 2.3
miles of paved trails, 2.7 miles of unpaved trails, and a connector
trail from the Village Valley area to the existing Kyle Administrative
Site adjacent to the Kyle Canyon wash.
The main picnic and camping areas are proposed east of the Village
area, and on the south side of State Route 157. The picnic areas would
include 245 individual sites, 3 group sites, 4 restroom structures, 116
parking spaces and 1.4 miles of road. The camping areas would include
210 tent/RV sites with hook-ups, 2 small group sites (15 spaces each),
one large group camping area (with 100 spaces), 3 shower buildings, 4
restroom buildings, and 2.5 miles of road. This area could also include
pedestrian and bicycle trails with 4.3 miles of unpaved trail and 3.2
miles of paved trail.
Single and multiple use hiking, biking and equestrian trails (10.2
miles), a horse rental concession area, and a 10 unit equestrian
campground with one restroom building are proposed on the north side of
State Route 157. An administrative site is also proposed on the north
side of State Route 157. Administrative facilities may include: 10,000
sq ft of fire and administrative office/warehouse space, 2,000 sq ft
concessionaire office space, 3,000 sq ft research center space, 2
helipads, 3 residential buildings, a barracks, a bridge and 1.7 miles
of access road.
A 10 parking space OHV Trailhead to access existing OHV trails is
proposed adjacent to State Route 157, northwest from the intersection
of State Route 157 with Harris Springs Road.
At the east end of the project area, facilities adjacent to the
Harris Springs Road, south of State Route 157, may include a short
access road and trailhead with 8 parking spaces to access a 2.3 mile
hiking trail in the canyon bottom. Facilities in the area south of the
Kyle Canyon Wash, off of the Harris Springs Road, may include a
trailhead with 40 parking spaces, a mountain bike rental concession and
8.4 miles of mountain bike/hiking trails.
Other anticipated activities include development of infrastructure
to support the planned facilities (roads, utilities, wastewater
treatment, etc.); State Route 157 highway improvements to provide for
safe intersections for vehicles and pedestrians; restoration and
revegetation of abandoned roads, trails and utility sites; removal of
illegally dumped materials; a defined equestrian trail crossing for
State Route 158; removal of non-native trees and shrubs in the Village
area; restoration of the existing historic Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC) Kyle Guard Station for managed public use; closure of selected
Forest Service Roads to motor vehicles; and, conversion of selected
Forest Service Roads to non-motorized trail use.
More detailed information on the proposed action, including maps,
may be obtained by visiting the Forest Service Web page at https://
www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/projects/smnra/middle_kyle_complex/home.shtml
and following the link to the Middle Kyle Canyon Framework Plan.
A no action alternative will also be considered.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies: The Forest Service will be the lead
Federal agency in accordance with 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
1501.5(b) and is responsible for the preparation of the EIS. Scoping
will determine if any cooperating agencies are needed.
Responsible Official: The USDA Forest Service responsible official
for this EIS is Robert L. Vaught, Forest Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe
National Forest Supervisor's Office, 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, Nevada
89431; phone (775) 331-6444.
Nature of Decision To Be Made: The Responsible Official will decide
whether to implement the action as proposed or modified, or to take no
action. The Forest Supervisor will also
[[Page 8837]]
decide what mitigation measures and monitoring will be required.
Scoping Process: Public participation will be very important
throughout the NEPA analysis process. The Forest Service will be
seeking information, comments, and assistance from Federal, State, and
local agencies, American Indian tribes, as well as other individuals
and organizations that may be interested in or affected by the proposed
project.
Preliminary Issues: No preliminary planning issues were identified.
Comment Requested: This notice of intent initiates the scoping
process, which guides the development of the EIS. Comments submitted
during the scoping process should be in writing and should be specific
to the purpose and need and the proposed action. The comments should
describe as clearly and completely as possible any issues or concerns
the commenter has with the proposal.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A DEIS will be prepared for comment. The comment
period on the DEIS will be 45 days from the date the Environmental
Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in the Federal
Register.
At this early stage, the Forest Service believes it is important to
give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
DEISs must structure their participation in the environmental review of
the proposal in a way that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the
reviewer's position and contentions [see ``Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power
Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)'']. Also, environmental
objections that could be raised at the DEIS stage but that are not
raised until after completion of the FEIS may be waived or dismissed by
the courts [see ``City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th
Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334,
1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980)]. Because of these court rulings, it is very
important that those interested in this proposed action participate by
the close of the 45-day comment period so that substantive comments and
objections are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it
can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the FEIS.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the DEIS should be as
specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific
pages or chapters of the draft statement. Comments may also address the
adequacy of the DEIS or the merits of the alternatives formulated and
discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council
on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural
provisions of the NEPA at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal
and will be available for public inspection (see 40 CFR 1501.7 and
1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 21).
Dated: February 13, 2006.
Robert L. Vaught,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E6-2326 Filed 2-17-06; 8:45 am]
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