Olympic National Forest, Jefferson County, WA; Dosewallips Road Washout Project, 26776-26777 [07-2333]

Download as PDF 26776 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 91 / Friday, May 11, 2007 / Notices Calif.). The court enjoined the USDA from implementing and utilizing the 2005 Rule until it complies with the court’s opinion regarding the Administrative Procedures Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act. While the Agency is not in agreement with the Court’s decision, it has decided, in the interest of moving forward with land management planning, to prepare an environmental impact statement to comply with the court order. ycherry on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES Estimated Dates The draft environmental impact statement is expected June, 2007, and the final environmental impact statement is expected November, 2007. Purpose and Need for Action The 2005 Rule at 36 CFR part 219 resulted from a review of the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule issued on November 9, 2000 (2000 Rule) by Forest Service personnel at the direction of the Office of the Secretary. The review affirmed much of the 2000 Rule and the underlying concepts of sustainability, monitoring, evaluation, collaboration, and use of science. Although the 2000 Rule was intended to simplify and streamline the development and amendment of land and resource management plans, the review concluded that the 2000 Rule was neither straightforward nor easy to implement. The review found the following: (1) The 2000 rule has both definitions and analytical requirements that are very complex, unclear, and, therefore, subject to inconsistent implementation across the agency; (2) Compliance with the regulatory direction on such matters as ecological sustainability and science consistency checks would be difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish; and (3) The complexity of the 2000 rule makes it difficult and expensive to implement. Based on the review and over two decades of experience with land management plans, the Agency promulgated a new planning rule that improved upon the 2000 rule by providing a planning process that was more readily understood and that was within the Agency’s capability to implement. The 2005 Rule also responded to additional needs identified through public comments received during the rulemaking. Under the 2005 rule: (1) Land management plans are strategic in nature; VerDate Aug<31>2005 21:09 May 10, 2007 Jkt 211001 (2) Are adaptive and based on current information and science; (3) Guide sustainable management of National Forest System lands; and (4) The public is involved in planning; and (5) Planning must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies. Proposed Action The Agency expects to publish a rule for comment in late June. Possible Alternatives Other than the Proposed Action and a No Action alternative, additional alternatives to this proposed action have not yet been identified. Issues with and alternatives to the proposed action will be framed during the internal and external scoping and public comment periods in the NEPA process. Responsible Official The responsible official is Mark Rey, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20250. Nature of Decision to be Made Scoping Process This Notice of Intent initiates the scoping process in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations (40 CFR part 1500). As part of the scoping process, the Forest Service solicits public comment on the nature and scope of environmental, social, and economic issues that should be analyzed in the draft environmental impact statement. Scoping will include review of comments previously collected during promulgation of the 2005 planning rule (70 FR 1022), agency planning directives (72 FR 4478, 71 FR 10956, 71 FR 5124), and the Agency categorical exclusion for land management planning (71 FR 75481). The nature and scope of the analysis for the draft environmental impact statement will focus on the process for development, revision, and amendment of land management plans, and alternatives to it. Because of the extensive amount of public comment received on the 2005 planning rule, planning directives, and the Agency categorical exclusion for land management planning, no public Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Comment Requested Reviewers should provide their comments during the comment period. Timely comments will enable the Agency to analyze and respond to them at one time and to use them in the preparation of the environmental impact statement, thus avoiding undue delay in the decisionmaking process. Furthermore, specific and substantive comments will facilitate meaningful review and consideration. Reviewers have an obligation to structure their participation in the National Environmental Policy Act process so that it is meaningful and alerts the Agency to the reviewer’s position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Dept. of Transportation v. Public Citizen, 541 U.S. 752, 764 (2004). Dated: April 27, 2007. Gregory Smith, Acting Deputy Chief, National Forest System. [FR Doc. E7–9078 Filed 5–10–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE The responsible official will promulgate a land management planning rule based on an alternative that meets the agency’s purpose and need. PO 00000 meetings are planned for this scoping effort. Forest Service Olympic National Forest, Jefferson County, WA; Dosewallips Road Washout Project Forest Service, USDA. Revised Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: On August 12, 2005, the USDA Forest Service (FS), Olympic National Forest (ONF), published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register (70 FR 47171) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Dosewallips Road Washout Project. A revised Notice of Intent was published on August 26, 2005 in Federal Register (70 FR 50297). The FS and Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) further revise this Notice of Intent as follows. Except for the sections noted, all prior information remains the same. DATES: The draft EIS is expected to be released in July 2007, and the final EIS is expected to be released in May 2008. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Action The original proposed action to restore and rebuild the washed out section of Forest Service Road (FSR) E:\FR\FM\11MYN1.SGM 11MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 91 / Friday, May 11, 2007 / Notices 2610 using a low-water crossing has been dropped from further consideration. Instead, the ONF and WFLHD proposed to reestablish road access previously provided by FSR 2610 to ONF and Olympic National Park (ONP) recreational facilities by rerouting the road above its former location along the hill-slope above and to the north of the washout. Approximately 0.8 mile of single-lane road with turnouts would be constructed using standard construction methods. Furthermore, the ONP and WFLHD propose to repair the damage to ONP’s Dosewallips Road in the vicinity of Dosewallips River Falls, about 0.85 mile from the ONF/ONP boundary. This proposed action also includes a proposal to amend the Forest Plan only for the proposed repair on FSR 2610. Possible Alternatives The potential alternatives have changed since the last Notice of Intent for this proposed action was published. In addition to the proposed action, the possible alternatives to restore access along the damaged section of FSR 2610 are: No action; reroute to restore access to cars, recreational vehicles, and trailers upslope of the damage with an emphasis to minimize the footprint of the road and thereby the resource impacts; and a bridge or causeway to restore access to cars, recreational vehicles and trailers. As in the case of the Proposed Action, the reroute alternative that would minimize the road footprint and impacts also includes proposals to amend the Forest Plan for the repair needed on FSR 2610. Any proposed amendments to the Forest Plan will be identified and analyzed in the EIS. Under all the action alternatives, the ONP proposes to repair the Dosewallips Road near the Dosewallips Falls. ycherry on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES Lead and Cooperative Agencies The ONF (FS) and WFLHD (FHWA) will be co-lead agencies in preparation and completion of the EIS. The ONP (NPS) will be a cooperating agency in the completion of the EIS. Responsible Official Mr. Dale Hom, Forest Supervisor, will be th Responsible Official for the decisions of the FS. Mr. Hom’s contact information is Olympic National Forest, 1835 Black Lake Blvd., SW., Suite A, Olympia, WA 98512. Ms. Clara Conner, Division Engineer, will be the Responsible Official for the decisions of FHWA. Ms. Conner’s contact information is Western Federal Lands Highway Division, 610 East Fifth St., Vancouver, WA 98661. Mr. Jonathon B. Jarvis, Regional Director of the NPS VerDate Aug<31>2005 21:09 May 10, 2007 Jkt 211001 26777 Pacific West Region, will be the Responsible Official for the decisions of the NPS. However, Mr. William G. Laitner, Park Superintendent, will be the implementing official for the NPS. Mr. Laitner;s contact information is Olympic National Park, 600 East Park Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98362. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Tim Davis, Project Leader, ONF, 1835 Black Lake Blvd., SW., Suite A, Olympia, Washington 98512; phone (360) 956– 2375; or e-mail tedavis@fs.fed.us. AGENCY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dated: May 2, 2007. Dale Hom, Forest Supervisor, Olympic National Forest. [FR Doc. 07–2333 Filed 5–10–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Ravalli County Resource Advisory Committee AGENCY: ACTION: Forest Service, USDA. Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: The Ravalli County Resource Advisory Committee will be meeting to discuss management of Dams in the Wilderness and hold a short public forum (question and answer session) The meeting is being held pursuant to the authorities in the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463) and under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106–393). The meeting is open to the public. The meeting will be held on May 22, 2007, 6:30 p.m. DATES: The meeting will be held at the Bitterroot National Forest Supervisor Office, Conference Room, 1801 North First Street, Hamilton, Montana. Send written comments to Dan Ritter, District Ranger, Stevensville Ranger District, 88 Main Street, Stevensville, MT 59870. by facsimile (406) 777–7423, or electronically to dritter@fs.fed.us. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel G. Ritter, Stevensville District Ranger and Designated Federal Officer, Phone: (406) 777–5461. Dated: May 4, 2007. Barry Paulson, Acting Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 07–2332 Filed 5–10–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–M PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Forest Service Notice of Proposed New Fee Sites; Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, (Title VIII, Pub. L. 108–447) Mendocino National Forest, USDA Forest Service. ACTION: Notice of proposed new fee sites. SUMMARY: The Mendocino National Forest is proposing to charge new fees at 14 developed recreation sites. Fees are assessed based on the level of amenities and services provided, cost of operation and maintenance, market assessment, and public comment. The fees listed are only proposed and will be determined upon further analysis and public comment. Funds from fees would be used for the continued operation and maintenance of these recreation sites. Pine Mountain Lookout will be available for overnight rental. The rental fee is recommended at $50 per night. Lookout rentals offer a unique experience and are a widely popular offering on National Forests. Pine Mountain was recently restored to maintain the lookout’s eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places. Fees would continue to help protect and maintain lookouts and their historic integrity. The following recreation sites are currently fee free but we are recommending fees be charged in the future: Davis Flat Campground, Dixie Glade Campground, Fouts Campground, Lake Red Bluff Boat Launch, Little Stony Campground, Mill Creek Campground, North Forth Campground, Sacramento River Boat Launch, South Fork Campground, Deer Valley Campground, Penny Pines Campground, Howard Lake Campground, Howard Meadows Campground, and Little Doe Campground. Improvements have been made at many of these campgrounds including installing new fire rings, picnic tables and some new toilets. Improvements at these campgrounds were to address sanitation and safety concerns, and improve deteriorating resource conditions and recreation experiences. A financial analysis is being completed to determine fee rates. The proposed fees to help maintain these sites would range between $5 and $8 a campsite. DATES: New fees would begin after October 1, 2007. The lookout rental will be listed with the National Recreation Reservation Service. E:\FR\FM\11MYN1.SGM 11MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 91 (Friday, May 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26776-26777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2333]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Olympic National Forest, Jefferson County, WA; Dosewallips Road 
Washout Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revised Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On August 12, 2005, the USDA Forest Service (FS), Olympic 
National Forest (ONF), published a Notice of Intent in the Federal 
Register (70 FR 47171) to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS) for the Dosewallips Road Washout Project. A revised Notice of 
Intent was published on August 26, 2005 in Federal Register (70 FR 
50297). The FS and Western Federal Lands Highway Division (WFLHD) of 
the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) further revise this Notice of 
Intent as follows. Except for the sections noted, all prior information 
remains the same.

DATES: The draft EIS is expected to be released in July 2007, and the 
final EIS is expected to be released in May 2008.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Action

    The original proposed action to restore and rebuild the washed out 
section of Forest Service Road (FSR)

[[Page 26777]]

2610 using a low-water crossing has been dropped from further 
consideration. Instead, the ONF and WFLHD proposed to reestablish road 
access previously provided by FSR 2610 to ONF and Olympic National Park 
(ONP) recreational facilities by rerouting the road above its former 
location along the hill-slope above and to the north of the washout. 
Approximately 0.8 mile of single-lane road with turnouts would be 
constructed using standard construction methods. Furthermore, the ONP 
and WFLHD propose to repair the damage to ONP's Dosewallips Road in the 
vicinity of Dosewallips River Falls, about 0.85 mile from the ONF/ONP 
boundary. This proposed action also includes a proposal to amend the 
Forest Plan only for the proposed repair on FSR 2610.

Possible Alternatives

    The potential alternatives have changed since the last Notice of 
Intent for this proposed action was published. In addition to the 
proposed action, the possible alternatives to restore access along the 
damaged section of FSR 2610 are: No action; reroute to restore access 
to cars, recreational vehicles, and trailers upslope of the damage with 
an emphasis to minimize the footprint of the road and thereby the 
resource impacts; and a bridge or causeway to restore access to cars, 
recreational vehicles and trailers. As in the case of the Proposed 
Action, the reroute alternative that would minimize the road footprint 
and impacts also includes proposals to amend the Forest Plan for the 
repair needed on FSR 2610. Any proposed amendments to the Forest Plan 
will be identified and analyzed in the EIS. Under all the action 
alternatives, the ONP proposes to repair the Dosewallips Road near the 
Dosewallips Falls.

Lead and Cooperative Agencies

    The ONF (FS) and WFLHD (FHWA) will be co-lead agencies in 
preparation and completion of the EIS. The ONP (NPS) will be a 
cooperating agency in the completion of the EIS.

Responsible Official

    Mr. Dale Hom, Forest Supervisor, will be th Responsible Official 
for the decisions of the FS. Mr. Hom's contact information is Olympic 
National Forest, 1835 Black Lake Blvd., SW., Suite A, Olympia, WA 
98512. Ms. Clara Conner, Division Engineer, will be the Responsible 
Official for the decisions of FHWA. Ms. Conner's contact information is 
Western Federal Lands Highway Division, 610 East Fifth St., Vancouver, 
WA 98661. Mr. Jonathon B. Jarvis, Regional Director of the NPS Pacific 
West Region, will be the Responsible Official for the decisions of the 
NPS. However, Mr. William G. Laitner, Park Superintendent, will be the 
implementing official for the NPS. Mr. Laitner;s contact information is 
Olympic National Park, 600 East Park Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98362.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Davis, Project Leader, ONF, 1835 
Black Lake Blvd., SW., Suite A, Olympia, Washington 98512; phone (360) 
956-2375; or e-mail tedavis@fs.fed.us.

    Dated: May 2, 2007.
Dale Hom,
Forest Supervisor, Olympic National Forest.
[FR Doc. 07-2333 Filed 5-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M

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