Dixie National Forest, UT, Dixie National Forest Motorized Travel Plan, 75477-75480 [E6-21145]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
mstockstill on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 241 / Friday, December 15, 2006 / Notices
entirety if requested pursuant to the
Freedom of Information Act.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Further information can be obtained
from Keith Dimmett at the address
mentioned above or by calling 208–382–
7400.
Schedule: Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS), April 2007. Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS),
June 2007.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An
estimated 3,000 acres of the Needles
Inventoried Roadless Area (IRA) lie
within the Spruce Creek Project Area.
With the exception of a portion of the
whitebark pine enhancement
treatments, none of the activities
associated with the Proposed Action
would occur within any IRA.
The entire project area drains into the
Gold Fork River and, although there are
no 303(d)/305(b) listed streams within
the project area, that segment of the
Gold Fork River immediately
downstream of the project area is
identified as a water quality limited
waterbody. The pollutant of concern is
phosphorus. A TMDL is currently in
place and addresses the entire length of
the Gold Fork River.
The entire project area lies within
Management Area 18 (Cascade
Reservoir), discussed on pages III–302
through III–315 in the Forest Plan.
Several Management Prescription
Categories (MPCs) apply within this
management area. However, only MPC
4.1c and 5.2 occur within the project
area. With the exception of a portion of
the whitebark pine enhancement
treatments, the Proposed Action
includes management activities within
MPC 5.2 only.
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.
The Forest Service believes, at this
early stage, it is important to give
reviewers notice of several court rulings
related to public participation in the
environmental review process. First,
reviewers of the DEIS must structure
their participation in the environmental
review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the
reviewer’s position and contentions.
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 are not
raised until after completion of the FEIS
may be waived or dismissed by the
courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.
2d 1016, 1002 (9th Cir., 1986) and
Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:40 Dec 14, 2006
Jkt 211001
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 DEIS 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.
Reviewers may wish to refer to the
Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations for implementing the
procedural provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR
1503.3 in addressing these points.
Responsible Official: Frank V.
Guzman, Deputy Forest Supervisor,
Boise National Forest, 1249 South
Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID 83709.
Dated: December 1, 2006.
Frank V. Guzman,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 06–9686 Filed 12–14–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Dixie National Forest, UT, Dixie
National Forest Motorized Travel Plan
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
the Dixie National Forest intends to
prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) for the Forest Service to
establish a system of designated roads,
trails and areas for motorized vehicle
use, thereby developing a Motorized
Travel Plan. A new Motorized Travel
Plan is needed to improve the
management and enforcement of motor
vehicle use on these National Forest
System lands and meet the requirements
of national policy for travel
management. This notice describes the
components to be included in a new
travel plan, decisions to be made,
estimated dates pertaining to the
project, information concerning public
participation, and the names, address
and roles of the agency officials
involved. The project area is defined by
the boundaries of Dixie National Forest,
including the Pine Valley, Cedar City,
Powell and Escalante Ranger Districts,
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
75477
as well as the Teasdale portion of the
Fremont River Ranger District, now
administered by the Fishlake National
Forest. For the purpose of this notice,
the Dixie National Forest will include
the Fremont River Ranger District.
DATES: Written comments to be
considered in the preparation of the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS) should be submitted by January
31, 2007, which is approximately 48
days following the publication of this
notice in the Federal Register. The DEIS
is expected to be available for review by
June, 2007. The Record of Decision and
Final Environmental Impact Statement
are expected to be available by
September, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments
to: Noelle Meier, Dixie National Forest,
1789 N. Wedgewood Ln., Cedar City,
Utah 84720; FAX: (435) 865–3791; Email: comments_dixie_
motorized_travel_plan@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Direct questions about the proposed
action and EIS to Noelle Meier,
Motorized Travel Plan Project Team
Leader, by mail at 1789 N. Wedgewood
Ln, Cedar City, Utah 84720; or by phone
at (435) 865–3700; FAX: (435) 865–
3791; E-mail: comments_dixie
_motorized_travel_plan@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this project is to
designate a system of authorized roads,
trails or areas for motor vehicle use in
order to better protect natural resources,
provide legal access, improve recreation
management and enforcement related to
motor vehicle use. This purpose and
need is in accordance with 36 CFR parts
212, 251, 261, and 295 Travel
Management; Designated Routes and
Areas for Motor Vehicle Use; Final Rule
(hereafter referred to as the ‘‘final rule’’).
Overall, increased recreational use
and demand on the Dixie National
Forest, including increased off-highway
vehicle (OHV) use, has been linked to
the immense population growth of
southwestern Utah, Salt Lake City and
Las Vegas, Nevada over the past decade.
Concurrent growth of subdivisions
located within and adjacent to the Dixie
National Forest has also occurred,
accounting for hundreds of building
permits issued annually for private
residential and vacation homes.
Increased OHV use and related impacts
have been observed surrounding these
growing forest communities.
Similar situations have occurred
throughout the nation, leading to a final
rule that governs OHVs and other motor
vehicle use on national forests and
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
75478
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 241 / Friday, December 15, 2006 / Notices
mstockstill on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
grasslands. While Forest Service Chief
Dale Bosworth states that OHV use is a
legitimate form of recreation, he has
identified unmanaged recreation—
especially impacts from OHVs—as one
of the key threats facing national forests
today. Locally, as well as regionally and
nationally, unmanaged OHV use on
federal lands has resulted in unplanned
roads and trails, erosion, watershed and
habitat damage, impacts to cultural
sites, and increasing degradation of
recreational experiences, especially a
loss in opportunities for solitude,
primitive hunting and other quiet
experiences. Perceptions of crowding
and user conflict are occurring in some
areas of the Forest, often pertaining to
more intense seasonal activities such as
big-game hunting.
Proposed Action
For the purposes of this project and
notice, the term ‘‘route’’ is used to
define a motorized road or trail, mapped
to a location on the ground. The term
‘‘authorized route’’ is a National Forest
System Road or Trail that is designated
for motor vehicle use pursuant to 212.51
in the final rule. An ‘‘unauthorized
route’’ is a motorized road or trail not
designated for motor vehicle use
pursuant to 212.51 in the final rule.
This proposal, subsequent alternatives
and decision will include the following
components:
1. Cross-Country Travel:
(a) Prohibition of motorized crosscountry travel (off designated roads or
trails) except in designated areas.
Motorized cross-country travel will be
prohibited except as specified for
permitted uses, such as dispersed
camping, firewood gathering, emergency
fire suppression, search and rescue, law
enforcement, military operations and
Forest Service administrative use and
purposes.
2. Designation of Authorized National
Forest System Roads and Motorized
Trails:
(a) Closure of currently authorized
routes that will not be designated for
motorized use, and therefore removed
from the National Forest System of
roads and motorized trails. These routes
may be decommissioned from the
National Forest System.
(b) Designation of unauthorized routes
that will be added to the National Forest
System of roads and motorized trails.
3. Designation of Authorized Uses of
National Forest System Roads and
Motorized Trails:
(a) Designation of routes that will be
open to all uses.
(b) Designation of routes needed to
accommodate administrative activities
and permitted uses.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:47 Dec 14, 2006
Jkt 211001
(c) Designation of routes needed to
access to private lands, rights-of-way,
easements, and other jurisdictions.
(d) Designation of routes with
seasonal restrictions and/ or that allow
only certain types of vehicles.
4. Construction or Relocation of
Designated National Forest System
Roads and Motorized Trails:
(a) Construction or relocation of
routes to improve the transportation
system or to meet evaluation findings
specified through the environmental
analysis.
The Forest Service would analyze and
document direct, indirect, and
cumulative environmental effects in the
development of a range of alternatives.
The route evaluations performed in the
pre-planning stage of this project will be
updated accordingly, as analysis is
conducted and additional input is
provided internally, by the public and
other governments.
It should be noted that private land
and land under the jurisdiction of other
governments are located within this
project boundary, but route segments
contained within those lands have been
excluded from this designation process.
Proposed designations for routes on
National Forest Lands have been made
while considering adjacent land uses
and a variety of legal situations.
Ongoing coordination with these
entities will continue throughout this
project.
In 1996, the Dixie National Forest
began to inventory every motorized
route on the Forest. This effort resulted
in a broad GPS (Global Positioning
System) inventory, completed the
summer of 2005. According to the Infra
Database for the Dixie National Forest,
approximately 6,153 total miles of
motorized routes have been inventoried,
with 3,856 miles accounting for
authorized routes and 2,297 miles being
unauthorized routes. The total number
of routes on the inventory is
approximately 8,071, with 2,344 being
authorized routes and 5,727 being
unauthorized routes.
It is believed that very few routes
were missed in completing the
inventory; therefore, the inventory will
provide the base data layer for this
travel planning project. If important
routes appear to have been omitted from
the inventory, the Dixie National Forest
asks that knowledge of those routes be
brought to the attention of agency
officials as part of public involvement
for this project.
The extensive route inventory has
allowed the Dixie National Forest to
conduct a route-by-route assessment for
this planning effort. This assessment
involved a detailed agency review of
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
each motorized route for known or
potential effects to the environment,
legal access issues or other social uses,
and was augmented by pre-planning
public input. Broad, landscape-scale
and site specific considerations were
made, identifying opportunities to
improve watershed and wildlife habitat
health, as well as the connectivity of
communities, and recreational access.
Opportunities to improve nonmotorized and motorized trail systems
and to facilitate desirable recreation
activities were also considered.
Pursuant to 212.50 of the final rule, a
number of previous or pending
administrative decisions that allow,
restrict, or prohibit motor vehicle use on
National Forest System roads, trails or
areas have been incorporated as
previously designated into this travel
planning project.
Possible Alternatives
All alternatives studied in detail must
fall within the scope of the purpose and
need for action and will tier to and
comply with the Dixie forest plan. The
added restrictions on motorized crosscountry travel are the only proposed
amendments to the forest plan at this
time. Law requires a ‘‘no-action
alternative’’, which would maintain
current allowances and restrictions for
OHV use and motorized travel, as
described in the current Dixie forest
plan and travel plan. The Forest is
expecting that public input will identify
broad-scale or route-specific issues that
may be addressed by modifying the
proposed action to create a new
alternative or alternatives.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
Garfield, Iron, Kane, Piute,
Washington, and Wayne Counties and
the State of Utah are participating as
cooperating agencies in this project. As
lead agency, the Forest Service would
analyze and document direct, indirect,
and cumulative environmental effects
for a range of alternatives.
Responsible Officials
Kevin Schulkoski, Acting Forest
Supervisor of the Dixie National Forest,
is currently the responsible official for
the Dixie National Forest. He can be
reached by mail at Dixie National
Forest, 1789 N. Wedgewood Ln., Cedar
City, UT 84720.
Mary Erickson, Forest Supervisor of
the Fishlake National Forest, is the
responsible official for the decision
pertaining to the Fremont River Ranger
District. She can be reached by mail at
Fishlake National Forest, 115 East 900
North, Richfield UT 84701.
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 241 / Friday, December 15, 2006 / Notices
Nature of Decision To Be Made
On November 2, 2005, the Forest
Service announced final travel
management regulations governing
OHVs and other motor vehicle use on
national forests and grasslands (36 CFR
parts 212, 251, 261, and 295 Travel
Management; Designated Routes and
Areas for Motor Vehicle Use; Final
Rule). In compliance with this national
policy, the Responsible Officials will
decide on motorized areas and routes
that will be added to or deleted from the
current authorized system. The
Responsible Officials will also decide
on the type and season of motorized use
to be allowed on the authorized system.
All routes not designated to the
motorized travel system will be
considered unauthorized routes, and
motorized use of those routes will be
illegal. Motorized cross-country travel
will be prohibited except as specified
for the purposes of dispersed camping,
firewood gathering, emergency fire
suppression, search and rescue, law
enforcement, military operations and
Forest Service administrative use,
including uses authorized by permit.
Any user-made motorized route that is
developed after decision will be
considered unauthorized and will be
closed or removed by the Forest Service
upon discovery. No public process or
analysis will be necessary to remove
such a route.
Methods of closing or removing
unauthorized routes may vary and will
be determined on a site-specific basis.
Closure or removal methods for routes
that are not designated as a part of this
project will be disclosed prior to
decision. Future proposals to change the
designations made in this decision will
undergo separate analysis and decision,
conducted under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
mstockstill on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
Scoping Process
The first formal opportunity to
comment on the Dixie National Forest
Motorized Travel Planning Project is
during the scoping process (40 CFR
1501.7), which begins with the issuance
of this Notice of Intent. All comments,
including the names, addresses and
when provided, will be placed in the
record and are available for public
inspection. Mail comments to: Noelle
Meier, Dixie National Forest, 1789 N.
Wedgewood Ln., Cedar City, Utah,
84720.
The Forest Service is seeking
comments from individuals,
organizations, and local, state, and
Federal agencies that may be interested
in or affected by the proposed action.
Comments may pertain to the nature
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:47 Dec 14, 2006
Jkt 211001
and scope of the environmental, social,
and economic issues, and possible
alternatives related to the development
of the travel management plan and EIS.
Scoping notices have been sent to
potentially affected persons and those
that have expressed a continued interest
in this project. Other interested
individuals, organizations, or agencies
may have their names added to the
mailing list for this project at any time
by submitting a request to: Noelle Meier,
Project Team Leader, by mail at 1789 N.
Wedgewood Ln., Cedar City, Utah
84720; or by phone at (435) 865–3700;
FAX: (435) 865–3791; E-mail:
comments_dixie_motorized_
travel_plan@fs.fed.us. Additional
information about this project can be
found at https://www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie/
projects/MTP/index.shtml.
A series of public open houses are
scheduled to explain the proposed
travel plan and route designation
process and to provide an opportunity
for public input. Six scoping meetings
are planned.
January 9, 2007 (Tuesday): Ramada
Inn, 1440 East St. George Blvd., St.
George, UT, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
January 10, 2007 (Wednesday):
Hunter Conference Center, Southern
Utah University, Cedar City, UT, 12
p.m. to 8 p.m.
January 11, 2007 (Thursday): City
Library and Offices, 25 South 200 East,
Panguitch, UT, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
January 18, 2007 (Thursday): Salt
Lake City Library, Level 4 Meeting
Room, 210 East 400 South, Salt Lake
City, UT, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
January 24, 2007 (Wednesday): City
Office and Community Center,
Escalante, UT 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
January 25, 2007 (Thursday):
Wonderland Inn, Utah State Highways
12 and 24, Torrey, UT 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Times, dates and locations will also
be posted through local public notice
and on the project Web page at:
https://www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie/projects/
MTP/index.shtml. Written comments
will be accepted at these meetings. The
Forest Service will also work with tribal
governments to address issues that
would significantly or uniquely affect
them.
Preliminary Issues
Alternatives to the proposed action
have not been identified at this time;
however, the following preliminary
issues have been identified:
• Compliance with policy and law,
recognition of legal access.
• Protection of natural and cultural
resources.
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
75479
• Improvement of recreation
opportunities, management,
enforcement and education.
• Consideration of local economies.
• Increased public involvement.
Permits or Licenses Required
No permits or licenses are required to
implement the proposed action and the
issuing authority is the Forest Service.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement.
Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review:
A draft environmental impact
statement will be prepared for comment.
The comment period on the draft
environmental impact statement will be
45 days from the date the
Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in
the Federal Register. The Forest Service
believes, at this early stage, it is
important to give reviewers notice of
several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental
review process. First, reviewers of the
DEIS must structure their participation
in the environmental review of the
proposal so that it is meaningful and
alerts an agency to the reviewers’
position and contentions. Vermont
Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC,
435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also,
environmental objections that could
have been raised at the DEIS stage but
that are not raised until after completion
of the final EIS may be waived or
dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon
v. Hodel, (9th Circuit, 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 the time it can meaningfully consider
them and respond to them in the draft
and final EIS.
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns about the proposed action,
comments should be as specific as
possible. Upon issuance of a draft EIS it
would also be helpful if comments refer
to specific pages or chapters of the draft
statement. Comments may also address
the adequacy of the statement or the
merits of the alternatives formulated
and discussed in the statement.
Reviewers may wish to refer to the
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
75480
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 241 / Friday, December 15, 2006 / Notices
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Scoping Process
Purpose and Need for Action
Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations for implementing the
procedural provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR
1503.3 in addressing these points.
Public participation will be especially
important at several points during the
analysis, beginning with the scoping
process (40 CFR 1501.7). Initial scoping
began with the project listed in the 2006
Fall Edition of the Malheur National
Forest’s Schedule of Proposed Actions.
A Public meeting has been planned for
January 2007 to discuss the project.
Other meetings will be scheduled as
needed. Also, correspondence with
tribes, government agencies,
organizations, and individuals who
have indicated their interest will be
conducted.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
The purpose and need of the Thorn
Fire Salvage Recovery Project includes:
(1) Recovery of the economic value of a
portion of the dead and dying trees
consistent with protection of other
resource values; and (2) improving
public safety within the fire area by
removing potential hazard trees for
public safety along open forest travel
routes.
Forest Service
Proposed Action
Thorn Fire Salvage Recovery Project,
Malheur National Forest, Grant County,
OR
This action includes salvage of dead
and dying trees from approximately
7,952 acres and removal of potential
hazard trees for public safety along open
forest travel routes. Salvage harvest
methods would include ground-based
and helicopter logging systems.
Approximately 80 percent of the harvest
area would be salvaged by helicopter.
No commercial harvest or road
construction is proposed within
Appendix C Inventoried Dry Cabin,
Cedar Grove and Shake Table Roadless
Areas. Road activities associated with
salvage and restoration will be limited
to reconstruction, opening and reclosing existing roads, and maintenance.
No new roads would be built. Following
site preparation, approximately 7,952
acres would be planted with conifer
seedlings. Forest Plan amendments
would be included as needed.
Dated December 5, 2006.
Kevin R. Schulkoski,
Acting Dixie Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E6–21145 Filed 12–14–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
mstockstill on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will
prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) to disclose
environmental effects on a proposed
action to recover the economic value of
dead and dying trees damaged in the
Shake Table Fire Complex, and remove
potential hazard trees from open forest
travel routes within the Todd, Duncan,
Fields Creek and Dry Creek
subwatersheds. Shake Table Fire
Complex, located approximately 20
miles south west of John Day, Oregon,
burned approximately 14,527 acres
across mixed ownership in August
2006, of that approximately 13,536 acres
were on National Forest System Lands
administered by the Blue Mountain
Ranger District, Malheur National
Forest. The proposed action is the
Thorn Fire Salvage Recovery Project.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received by
January 16, 2007. The Draft EIS is
expected to be filed with the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and be available to the public for review
by April 2007. The Final EIS is
scheduled to be completed by June
2007.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
the Responsible Official, Gary L. ‘‘Stan’’
Benes, Forest Supervisor, Malheur
National Forest, 431 Patterson Bridge
Road, P.O. Box 909, John Day Oregon
97845. Send electronic comments to:
comments-pacificnorthwestmalheur@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry
Hensley, Project Manager, Malheur
National Forest, 431 Patterson Bridge
Road, P.O. Box 909, John Day, Oregon,
telephone 541–575–3167, e-mail
jhensley@fs.fed.us.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:47 Dec 14, 2006
Jkt 211001
Possible Alternatives
Alternatives will include the
proposed action, no action, and
additional alternatives that respond to
issues generated during the scoping
process. The agency will give notice of
the full environmental analysis and
decisionmaking process to interested
and affected people may participate and
contribute to the final decision.
Responsible Official and Nature of
Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official is Gary L.
‘‘Stan’’ Benes, Forest Supervisor of the
Malheur National Forest, 431 Patterson
Bridge Road, P.O. Box 909, John Day,
OR 97845. The Responsible Official will
decide if the proposed project will be
implemented and will document the
decision and reasons for the decision in
a Record of Decision. That decision will
be subject to Forest Service Appeal
Regulations. The responsibility for
preparing the DEIS and FEIS has been
delegated to Brooks Smith, Acting
District Ranger, Blue Mountain Ranger
District.
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Preliminary Issues
Preliminary issues identified include
the potential effect of the proposed
action on: Soils, water quality and fish
habitat, snags and down wood,
disturbance to cultural resources,
potential for noxious weed expansion,
threatened, endangered and sensitive
aquatic, terrestrial and plant species,
potential loss of economic value of trees
damaged by wildfire, and the safety and
use of the area by public and land
managers.
Comment
Public comments about this proposal
are requested to identify issues and
alternatives to the proposed action and
to focus the scope of the analysis.
Comments received in response to this
solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
be considered part of the public record
on this proposed action, and will be
available for public inspection.
Comments submitted anonymously will
be accepted and considered; however,
those who submit anonymous
comments will not have standing to
appeal the subsequent decisions under
36 CFR parts 215 or 217. Additionally,
pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person
may request the agency to withhold a
submission from the public record by
showing how the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) permits such
confidentiality. Persons requesting such
confidentiality should be aware that
under the FOIA, confidentiality may be
granted in only very limited
circumstances such as to protect trade
secrets. The Forest Service will inform
the requester of the agency’s decision
regarding the request for confidentiality,
and where the request is denied; the
agency will return the submission and
notify the requester that the comments
may be resubmitted with or without
name and address within a specified
number of days.
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 241 (Friday, December 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75477-75480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21145]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Dixie National Forest, UT, Dixie National Forest Motorized Travel
Plan
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Dixie National Forest intends
to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Forest
Service to establish a system of designated roads, trails and areas for
motorized vehicle use, thereby developing a Motorized Travel Plan. A
new Motorized Travel Plan is needed to improve the management and
enforcement of motor vehicle use on these National Forest System lands
and meet the requirements of national policy for travel management.
This notice describes the components to be included in a new travel
plan, decisions to be made, estimated dates pertaining to the project,
information concerning public participation, and the names, address and
roles of the agency officials involved. The project area is defined by
the boundaries of Dixie National Forest, including the Pine Valley,
Cedar City, Powell and Escalante Ranger Districts, as well as the
Teasdale portion of the Fremont River Ranger District, now administered
by the Fishlake National Forest. For the purpose of this notice, the
Dixie National Forest will include the Fremont River Ranger District.
DATES: Written comments to be considered in the preparation of the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be submitted by
January 31, 2007, which is approximately 48 days following the
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. The DEIS is
expected to be available for review by June, 2007. The Record of
Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement are expected to be
available by September, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: Noelle Meier, Dixie National
Forest, 1789 N. Wedgewood Ln., Cedar City, Utah 84720; FAX: (435) 865-
3791; E-mail: comments_dixie_motorized_travel_
plan@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct questions about the proposed
action and EIS to Noelle Meier, Motorized Travel Plan Project Team
Leader, by mail at 1789 N. Wedgewood Ln, Cedar City, Utah 84720; or by
phone at (435) 865-3700; FAX: (435) 865-3791; E-mail: comments_
dixie_motorized_travel_plan@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this project is to designate a system of authorized
roads, trails or areas for motor vehicle use in order to better protect
natural resources, provide legal access, improve recreation management
and enforcement related to motor vehicle use. This purpose and need is
in accordance with 36 CFR parts 212, 251, 261, and 295 Travel
Management; Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use; Final
Rule (hereafter referred to as the ``final rule'').
Overall, increased recreational use and demand on the Dixie
National Forest, including increased off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, has
been linked to the immense population growth of southwestern Utah, Salt
Lake City and Las Vegas, Nevada over the past decade. Concurrent growth
of subdivisions located within and adjacent to the Dixie National
Forest has also occurred, accounting for hundreds of building permits
issued annually for private residential and vacation homes. Increased
OHV use and related impacts have been observed surrounding these
growing forest communities.
Similar situations have occurred throughout the nation, leading to
a final rule that governs OHVs and other motor vehicle use on national
forests and
[[Page 75478]]
grasslands. While Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth states that OHV
use is a legitimate form of recreation, he has identified unmanaged
recreation--especially impacts from OHVs--as one of the key threats
facing national forests today. Locally, as well as regionally and
nationally, unmanaged OHV use on federal lands has resulted in
unplanned roads and trails, erosion, watershed and habitat damage,
impacts to cultural sites, and increasing degradation of recreational
experiences, especially a loss in opportunities for solitude, primitive
hunting and other quiet experiences. Perceptions of crowding and user
conflict are occurring in some areas of the Forest, often pertaining to
more intense seasonal activities such as big-game hunting.
Proposed Action
For the purposes of this project and notice, the term ``route'' is
used to define a motorized road or trail, mapped to a location on the
ground. The term ``authorized route'' is a National Forest System Road
or Trail that is designated for motor vehicle use pursuant to 212.51 in
the final rule. An ``unauthorized route'' is a motorized road or trail
not designated for motor vehicle use pursuant to 212.51 in the final
rule.
This proposal, subsequent alternatives and decision will include
the following components:
1. Cross-Country Travel:
(a) Prohibition of motorized cross-country travel (off designated
roads or trails) except in designated areas. Motorized cross-country
travel will be prohibited except as specified for permitted uses, such
as dispersed camping, firewood gathering, emergency fire suppression,
search and rescue, law enforcement, military operations and Forest
Service administrative use and purposes.
2. Designation of Authorized National Forest System Roads and
Motorized Trails:
(a) Closure of currently authorized routes that will not be
designated for motorized use, and therefore removed from the National
Forest System of roads and motorized trails. These routes may be
decommissioned from the National Forest System.
(b) Designation of unauthorized routes that will be added to the
National Forest System of roads and motorized trails.
3. Designation of Authorized Uses of National Forest System Roads
and Motorized Trails:
(a) Designation of routes that will be open to all uses.
(b) Designation of routes needed to accommodate administrative
activities and permitted uses.
(c) Designation of routes needed to access to private lands,
rights-of-way, easements, and other jurisdictions.
(d) Designation of routes with seasonal restrictions and/ or that
allow only certain types of vehicles.
4. Construction or Relocation of Designated National Forest System
Roads and Motorized Trails:
(a) Construction or relocation of routes to improve the
transportation system or to meet evaluation findings specified through
the environmental analysis.
The Forest Service would analyze and document direct, indirect, and
cumulative environmental effects in the development of a range of
alternatives. The route evaluations performed in the pre-planning stage
of this project will be updated accordingly, as analysis is conducted
and additional input is provided internally, by the public and other
governments.
It should be noted that private land and land under the
jurisdiction of other governments are located within this project
boundary, but route segments contained within those lands have been
excluded from this designation process. Proposed designations for
routes on National Forest Lands have been made while considering
adjacent land uses and a variety of legal situations. Ongoing
coordination with these entities will continue throughout this project.
In 1996, the Dixie National Forest began to inventory every
motorized route on the Forest. This effort resulted in a broad GPS
(Global Positioning System) inventory, completed the summer of 2005.
According to the Infra Database for the Dixie National Forest,
approximately 6,153 total miles of motorized routes have been
inventoried, with 3,856 miles accounting for authorized routes and
2,297 miles being unauthorized routes. The total number of routes on
the inventory is approximately 8,071, with 2,344 being authorized
routes and 5,727 being unauthorized routes.
It is believed that very few routes were missed in completing the
inventory; therefore, the inventory will provide the base data layer
for this travel planning project. If important routes appear to have
been omitted from the inventory, the Dixie National Forest asks that
knowledge of those routes be brought to the attention of agency
officials as part of public involvement for this project.
The extensive route inventory has allowed the Dixie National Forest
to conduct a route-by-route assessment for this planning effort. This
assessment involved a detailed agency review of each motorized route
for known or potential effects to the environment, legal access issues
or other social uses, and was augmented by pre-planning public input.
Broad, landscape-scale and site specific considerations were made,
identifying opportunities to improve watershed and wildlife habitat
health, as well as the connectivity of communities, and recreational
access. Opportunities to improve non-motorized and motorized trail
systems and to facilitate desirable recreation activities were also
considered.
Pursuant to 212.50 of the final rule, a number of previous or
pending administrative decisions that allow, restrict, or prohibit
motor vehicle use on National Forest System roads, trails or areas have
been incorporated as previously designated into this travel planning
project.
Possible Alternatives
All alternatives studied in detail must fall within the scope of
the purpose and need for action and will tier to and comply with the
Dixie forest plan. The added restrictions on motorized cross-country
travel are the only proposed amendments to the forest plan at this
time. Law requires a ``no-action alternative'', which would maintain
current allowances and restrictions for OHV use and motorized travel,
as described in the current Dixie forest plan and travel plan. The
Forest is expecting that public input will identify broad-scale or
route-specific issues that may be addressed by modifying the proposed
action to create a new alternative or alternatives.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
Garfield, Iron, Kane, Piute, Washington, and Wayne Counties and the
State of Utah are participating as cooperating agencies in this
project. As lead agency, the Forest Service would analyze and document
direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects for a range of
alternatives.
Responsible Officials
Kevin Schulkoski, Acting Forest Supervisor of the Dixie National
Forest, is currently the responsible official for the Dixie National
Forest. He can be reached by mail at Dixie National Forest, 1789 N.
Wedgewood Ln., Cedar City, UT 84720.
Mary Erickson, Forest Supervisor of the Fishlake National Forest,
is the responsible official for the decision pertaining to the Fremont
River Ranger District. She can be reached by mail at Fishlake National
Forest, 115 East 900 North, Richfield UT 84701.
[[Page 75479]]
Nature of Decision To Be Made
On November 2, 2005, the Forest Service announced final travel
management regulations governing OHVs and other motor vehicle use on
national forests and grasslands (36 CFR parts 212, 251, 261, and 295
Travel Management; Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use;
Final Rule). In compliance with this national policy, the Responsible
Officials will decide on motorized areas and routes that will be added
to or deleted from the current authorized system. The Responsible
Officials will also decide on the type and season of motorized use to
be allowed on the authorized system.
All routes not designated to the motorized travel system will be
considered unauthorized routes, and motorized use of those routes will
be illegal. Motorized cross-country travel will be prohibited except as
specified for the purposes of dispersed camping, firewood gathering,
emergency fire suppression, search and rescue, law enforcement,
military operations and Forest Service administrative use, including
uses authorized by permit. Any user-made motorized route that is
developed after decision will be considered unauthorized and will be
closed or removed by the Forest Service upon discovery. No public
process or analysis will be necessary to remove such a route.
Methods of closing or removing unauthorized routes may vary and
will be determined on a site-specific basis. Closure or removal methods
for routes that are not designated as a part of this project will be
disclosed prior to decision. Future proposals to change the
designations made in this decision will undergo separate analysis and
decision, conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Scoping Process
The first formal opportunity to comment on the Dixie National
Forest Motorized Travel Planning Project is during the scoping process
(40 CFR 1501.7), which begins with the issuance of this Notice of
Intent. All comments, including the names, addresses and when provided,
will be placed in the record and are available for public inspection.
Mail comments to: Noelle Meier, Dixie National Forest, 1789 N.
Wedgewood Ln., Cedar City, Utah, 84720.
The Forest Service is seeking comments from individuals,
organizations, and local, state, and Federal agencies that may be
interested in or affected by the proposed action. Comments may pertain
to the nature and scope of the environmental, social, and economic
issues, and possible alternatives related to the development of the
travel management plan and EIS. Scoping notices have been sent to
potentially affected persons and those that have expressed a continued
interest in this project. Other interested individuals, organizations,
or agencies may have their names added to the mailing list for this
project at any time by submitting a request to: Noelle Meier, Project
Team Leader, by mail at 1789 N. Wedgewood Ln., Cedar City, Utah 84720;
or by phone at (435) 865-3700; FAX: (435) 865-3791; E-mail: comments_
dixie_motorized_travel_plan@fs.fed.us. Additional
information about this project can be found at https://www.fs.fed.us/
r4/dixie/projects/MTP/index.shtml.
A series of public open houses are scheduled to explain the
proposed travel plan and route designation process and to provide an
opportunity for public input. Six scoping meetings are planned.
January 9, 2007 (Tuesday): Ramada Inn, 1440 East St. George Blvd.,
St. George, UT, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
January 10, 2007 (Wednesday): Hunter Conference Center, Southern
Utah University, Cedar City, UT, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
January 11, 2007 (Thursday): City Library and Offices, 25 South 200
East, Panguitch, UT, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
January 18, 2007 (Thursday): Salt Lake City Library, Level 4
Meeting Room, 210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City, UT, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
January 24, 2007 (Wednesday): City Office and Community Center,
Escalante, UT 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
January 25, 2007 (Thursday): Wonderland Inn, Utah State Highways 12
and 24, Torrey, UT 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Times, dates and locations will also be posted through local public
notice and on the project Web page at: https://www.fs.fed.us/r4/
dixie/projects/MTP/index.shtml. Written comments will be
accepted at these meetings. The Forest Service will also work with
tribal governments to address issues that would significantly or
uniquely affect them.
Preliminary Issues
Alternatives to the proposed action have not been identified at
this time; however, the following preliminary issues have been
identified:
Compliance with policy and law, recognition of legal
access.
Protection of natural and cultural resources.
Improvement of recreation opportunities, management,
enforcement and education.
Consideration of local economies.
Increased public involvement.
Permits or Licenses Required
No permits or licenses are required to implement the proposed
action and the issuing authority is the Forest Service.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review:
A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for
comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement
will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. The
Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important to give
reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
the DEIS must structure their participation in the environmental review
of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the
reviewers' position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp.
v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that
could have been raised at the DEIS stage but that are not raised until
after completion of the final EIS may be waived or dismissed by the
courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, (9th Circuit, 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 the time it can meaningfully
consider them and respond to them in the draft and final EIS.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns about the proposed action, comments should be as specific
as possible. Upon issuance of a draft EIS it would also be helpful if
comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the draft statement.
Comments may also address the adequacy of the statement or the merits
of the alternatives formulated and discussed in the statement.
Reviewers may wish to refer to the
[[Page 75480]]
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the
procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40
CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Dated December 5, 2006.
Kevin R. Schulkoski,
Acting Dixie Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E6-21145 Filed 12-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
