Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho; Salmon-Challis National Forest Travel Management Plan and Off-highway Vehicle Designation, 43223-43225 [E7-14977]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 149 (Friday, August 3, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43223-43225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14977]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho; Salmon-Challis National 
Forest Travel Management Plan and Off-highway Vehicle Designation

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement to designate a portion of the National Forest roads, trails, 
and areas open to public motor vehicle use on the Salmon-Challis 
National Forest (SCNF), and assign the type of use(s) and season of use 
allowed on each road and trail or portion thereof. Additionally, the 
Forest Service will designate some previously unauthorized (or user-
created) routes for public motor vehicle use and assign the type of 
use(s) and season of use allowed on each route or portion thereof. 
Decisions regarding motorized travel do not include motorized travel 
over snow. A Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) depicting those routes that 
will be open to public motorized travel on the SCNF will be the primary 
tool to determine compliance with, and enforcement of, motorized 
vehicle use designations on the ground. Existing routes and user-
created routes not designated as open on the MVUM will be legally 
closed to motorized travel. The SCNF currently has 980,700 acres open 
to motorized cross-country travel. Those acres will be closed year-
round to motorized cross country travel, excluding over-snow vehicles.

DATES: Written comments concerning the proposed action should be 
received by September 14, 2007. The draft environmental impact 
statement is expected to be released in March 2008 and the final 
environmental impact statement is expected in August 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Salmon-Challis National Forest, 
ATTN: Travel Management Planning, 1206 South Challis Street, Salmon, ID 
83467.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Gallogly, Travel Planning Team 
Leader, Salmon-Challis National Forest, 1206 South Challis Street, 
Salmon, ID 83467. Telephone: (208) 756-5103.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need

    The purpose of this action is to designate a public motorized 
vehicle transportation system for the SCNF that addresses current and 
anticipated recreation needs, provides a variety of recreation access 
opportunities, considers management concerns (such as public safety, 
maintenance costs, and consistency with adjoining public lands), 
reduces impacts to forest resources, recognizes reserved or outstanding 
rights, and reduces conflicts between recreational uses.
    The need for this action is to meet national direction published in 
the Federal Register, 36 CFR Parts 212, 251, 261, 295 Travel 
Management: Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use'' 
(Federal Register 2005: 70 FR 68264) (Travel Management Rule). This 
rule requires designation of those roads, trails, and areas open to 
motor vehicle use on Forest System Lands. The rule prohibits the use of 
motor vehicles off the designated system, as well as use of motor 
vehicles on routes and in areas that are not consistent with the 
designation.

Proposed Action

    The project area includes the approximate 3.0 million acres under 
the administration of the SCNF, excluding the approximate 1.3 million 
acre-Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area which is 
Congressionally mandated as non-motorized.
    The proposed action is the Forest's initial description of 
designated roads, trails and areas which would be available for public 
motor vehicle use on the SCNF. The proposed action is based on existing 
travel plans for both the Salmon and Challis National Forests and input 
gathered from the public, cooperating agencies and organizations, and 
Forest Service specialists during meetings, workshops, and field trips 
held from summer 2006 through May 2007. This proposal is only one 
alternative that will be evaluated in the Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Salmon-Challis National Forest Travel Management Plan 
and Off-highway Vehicle Designation.
    The proposed action identifies approximately 3,400 miles of roads 
designated for motorized public use and about 1,100 miles of motorized 
trails. This proposal would prohibit all motorized cross country travel 
and close all roads, trails, and routes not specifically designated for 
motorized public use. Off-route access would be permitted for 300 feet 
on either side of designated motorized routes, except the Salmon River 
Road (FR 30) to accommodate access to and from dispersed 
campsites only. Camping with the use of a motor vehicle (e.g. car, 
motor-home, truck and camp trailer, camper, off-highway vehicle, or 
motorcycle) is only allowed in designated dispersed camping areas and 
designated pull-outs along the Salmon River Road (FR 30). Day-
use parking is allowed along the Salmon River Road. Motor vehicle use 
for big game retrieval off of designated roads or designated motorized 
trails would not be allowed. Motorized use beyond those limits would be 
subject to citations and fines by law enforcement.
    The following uses would not be affected by this decision and are 
outside the scope of this project: (1) Over-snow vehicles; (2) 
aircraft; (3) watercraft; (4) non-motorized uses (e.g. hiking, 
equestrian, mountain bikes); (5) search and rescue operations; (6) law 
enforcement operations; (7) firefighting operations; (8) permitted uses 
(e.g. woodcutting, livestock herding/fence maintenance; (9) limited 
administrative access; (10) legal ingress and egress to private land; 
(11) new or non-national forest roads; and (12) use of roads with 
legally documented rights-of-way held by state, county or other public 
road authority.
    Detailed maps and data tables displaying proposed designated roads 
and trails across the Forest, and designated dispersed camping areas 
and pull outs along the Salmon River Road

[[Page 43224]]

are posted on the SCNF Web site at: https://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/

Forest Plan Amendment

    The Challis National Forest Land Resource Management Plan would be 
amended as part of the SCNF Forest Travel Management Plan project to 
include changes to the two sections outlined below.
    Challis National Forest Plan Amendment 9: Forestwide 
Management Direction Standards and Guidelines.

Current Direction

Clause d. Proposed Wilderness.
    Continue existing ORV closures or expand closures where needed to 
allow adverse impacts from ORV's to heal. May allow ORV use to continue 
on the following roads and/or trails:
    a. Toolbox-Herd Peak Trail 051--Between the ridgetop at 
the head of Toolbox Canyon, to Herd Peak--on the two short segments of 
this trail which dip into the proposed wilderness area; two-wheeled 
motorized and mechanized vehicles only.
    b. Wildhorse Road 136--From proposed wilderness boundary 
(\1/4\ mile above Wildhorse Campground) to end of current road; no 
vehicle size restrictions.
    c. Long Lost Creek Road 434--From proposed wilderness 
boundary to Trailhead for Long Lost Trail 194; no vehicle size 
restrictions.
    d. Long Lost Trail 194--From Long Lost Creek Road 
434 to end of trail; two wheel, motorized and mechanized 
vehicles only.
    e. Swauger Lakes Trail 091--From Long Lost Creek Road 
434 to Dry Creek Trail 240; two-wheel, motorized and 
mechanized vehicles only.
    f. Long Lost-Wet Creek Trail 245--From Long Lost Trail 
194 to Shadow Lakes; two wheel, motorized and mechanized 
vehicles only.

Amended Directon

    Clause d. Proposed Wilderness; item d described above would be 
removed from the list.
    Long Lost Trail 194 would not be a designated motorized 
route and would not be open for motorized public use.
    Challis National Forest Plan Amendment 9:
    Management Area Direction for Management Area 16 Borah 
Peak, Recreation, Management Area Direction.

Current Direction

    Clause c. Swauger Lakes Trail 091--from Long Lost Creek 
Road 434 to Dry Creek Trail 240; two wheel, motorized 
and mechanized vehicles only.

Amended Direction

    Clause c. Swauger Lakes Trail 091--from Long Lost Creek 
Road 434 to Dry Creek Trail 240; motorized and 
mechanized vehicles 50'' or less in width only.

Possible Alternatives

    Alternatives to the proposed action will be considered and 
evaluated. The No Action alternative would adopt the existing systems 
of open roads and trails displayed on current travel plans for the 
Salmon National Forest and the Challis National Forest and designate 
those routes as open to public motorized travel.
    Alternatives to the Proposed Action and No Action will depict 
differing combinations of routes to remain open to motorized travel. 
The Proposed Action and the alternative actions will provide a system 
of routes that differ from existing conditions and the No Action 
alternative.
    Less restrictive alternatives would generally entail designating a 
greater number of miles of roads and trails to be open to motorized 
travel than the Proposed Action. Alternatives considered to be less 
restrictive could also include fewer constraints on season of use or 
vehicle types allowed on designated routes. Less restrictive 
alternatives would generally provide for more motorized recreational 
use opportunities.
    More restrictive alternatives would generally entail designating 
fewer miles of roads and trails to be open for motorized travel than 
the Proposed Action or have more constraints on season of use and 
vehicles types using designated routes. More restrictive alternatives 
would provide motorized recreational opportunities, yet there may be 
greater emphasis on non-motorized recreation.
    A consequence of designating routes open for motorized travel is 
that those routes not designated as open would be identified as closed 
to motorized travel. Road closure procedures that involve ground-
disturbing activities would not be part of the Proposed Action or 
alternatives and would require separate and distinct site-specific NEPA 
decisions regarding the implementation aspects of road closures. The 
environmental effects of having roads closed to motorized travel will 
be evaluated in this analysis.
    Identification of new routes that would meet the objectives for a 
motorized transportation system may be, as appropriate, part of this 
travel management planning. Separate, site-specific NEPA decisions 
would be required to implement ground-disturbing activities associated 
with new route construction.

Responsible Official

    William A. Wood, Supervisor, Salmon-Challis National Forest, 
Headquarters Office, 1206 South Challis Street, Salmon, Idaho 83467, is 
the responsible official for making the decision and providing 
direction for the analysis.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Based on the purpose and need for the proposal, the Forest 
Supervisor will evaluate the Proposed Action and other alternatives to 
decide which roads, trails and areas will be designated as open to the 
public for motorized use and the allowed season and/or type of use for 
those routes open to motorized travel.
    Federal land managers are directed (Executive Order 11644, 36 CFR 
212 and 43 CFR 8342.1 to ensure that the use of motorized vehicles and 
off-road vehicles will be controlled and directed so as to protect the 
resources of those lands, to promote the safety of users, minimize 
conflicts among the the various uses of federal lands, and to provide 
for public use of roads and trails designated as open.

Scoping Process

    Preliminary public involvement was initiated in April 2006 to 
inform the public and stakeholders on the objectives of travel 
management. The public was also asked to provide input about specific 
routes they wanted to remain open and/or those routes that may be in 
conflict with other desired conditions sought by the public on Forest 
Service Lands. This initial comment period ended in March 2007. The 
SCNF received many comments on individual routes and numerous general 
comments about the area and travel management as a whole.
    This initial public input was used to develop the preliminary 
route-by-route Proposed Action which will be now used as the Forest 
starts the more formal scoping process. The Forest will conduct the 
following series of public, open-house-style meetings across the Forest 
and in surrounding communities to discuss the Proposed Action with 
interested parties and those who may be affected by the proposal:
     Challis, Idaho--August 7, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. Challis-Yankee 
Fork Ranger District Office, Highway 93 North.
     Mackay, Idaho--August 8, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. Lost River 
Ranger Distrct Office, 716 West Custer Street.

[[Page 43225]]

     Salmon, Idaho--August 9, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. Salmon, Idaho--
Public Lands Center, 1206 South Challis Street.
     Idaho Falls, Idaho--August 15, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. Caribou-
Targhee National Forest, Supervisor's Office, 1405 Hollipark Drive.
     Blackfoot, Idaho--August 16, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. Blackfoot 
City Council Room, Library Building, 157 No. Broadway.
     North Fork, Idaho--August 22, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. North Fork 
Fire Station, Highway 93.
     Leadore, Idaho--August 28, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. Leadore 
Community Center, Highway 28.
    Notice of all meetings will be posted on the Forest's website and 
advertised in the Recorder Herald, Challis Messenger, Arco Advertiser, 
and Post Register newspapers.
    Based on comments received as a result of this notice and after the 
Forest has conducted public meetings and afforded the public sufficient 
time to respond to the preliminary Proposed Action, the Forest will use 
the public scoping comments and concerns along with resource-related 
input from the interdisciplanary team and other agency resource 
specialists to identify a set of issues to carry forward into the 
environmental analysis.

Preliminary Issues

    The Forest Service has received some indications of potential 
issues from the initial public involvement process. These potential 
issues include:
    (1) Adverse resource impacts caused by inappropriate types of 
vehicle use and unrestricted season of use.
    (2) Infringement on wildlife caused by roads in important or 
critical habitat, high density of roads in wildlife habitat areas, and 
disturbance of wildlife during critical lifecycle periods.
    (3) Loss of recreational opportunity when existing routes are 
closed to motorized travel.
    (4) Loss of semi-primitive and primitive recreational opportunity 
if more routes are open to motorized travel.
    (5) Failure to accommodate the growing number of motorized users 
desiring to use federal lands for recreational riding of ATVs and 
motorcycles.
    (6) Inconsistencies between adjoining public lands.
    (7) Enforcement concerns centered on whether the agency has the 
ability to provide enforcement once decisions have been made on allowed 
routes and uses for motorized travel.
    (8) Safety concerns on routes where multiple vehicle types (full-
sized trucks and cars, ATVs, and motorcycles) are allowed.
    (9) Conflicts with landowners when routes cross private lands to 
access federally managed lands.
    The Forest Service recognizes that this list of issues may not be 
complete and issues will be further defined and refined as scoping 
continues. A comprehensive list of key issues will be determined before 
the range of alternatives is developed and the environmental analysis 
is started.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent begins the formal scoping process in the 
development of the environmental impact statement. All comments 
received during the initial comment period (April 2006-March 2007) will 
be brought forward into this formal scoping, and those who commented 
then need not comment again to have their comments considered, or to 
demonstrate their interest in this planning process. Any new or 
additional comments about the proposed action would be most useful if 
received by September 7, 2007. Persons and organizations commenting 
during the intitial scoping will be maintained on the mailing list for 
future information about Salmon-Challis National Forest Travel 
Management Planning.
    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 (EPA) publishes the notice of availability in the 
Federal Register. Written comments are preferred and should include the 
name and address of the commenter. Comments submitted for this proposed 
action will be considered part of the public record.
    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 
draft environmental impact statements 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 
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised 
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may 
be waived or dismissed by the courts (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 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 
final environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft 
environmental impact statement 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 draft 
environmental impact statement 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 National Environmental Policy Act 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.

    (Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21.)

    Dated: July 25, 2007.
William A. Wood,
Forest Supervisor.
 [FR Doc. E7-14977 Filed 8-2-07; 8:45 am]
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