Bitterroot National Forest, Ravalli County, MT, Travel Management Planning, 55737-55738 [07-4805]
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mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 189 / Monday, October 1, 2007 / Notices
policies, and Comprehensive
Conservation Plans. The Wilderness Act
of 1964 directs the National Wilderness
Preservation System be managed to
protect natural wilderness conditions
and to provide outstanding
opportunities for the public to find
solitude or primitive and unconfined
types of recreational experiences. The
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge contains
8,000,000 acres of federally protected
wilderness (Molly Beattie Wilderness)
and over 11,000,000 acres of land and
water that are managed for multiple
values (subsistence, wildlife, water
quality, scenic values, etc.), and
mandated to provide recreation
experiences to visitors under a number
of laws, including the National Wildlife
Refuge System Administration Act, (as
amended by the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act), the
Refuge Recreation Act, and the Alaska
National Interest Lands Conservation
Act.
To help meet Federal agencies’
mandates related to recreation,
scientists at the Aldo Leopold
Wilderness Research Institute will
periodically monitor and report, to
managers and the public, visitor use and
user characteristics, and visitor feedback
on management actions on federal
lands. Agency personnel will use the
collected information to ensure that
visitors’ recreational activities do not
harm the natural resources of the refuge
and that wilderness-type recreation
experiences are protected. The agency
intends to record visitor responses in
2008 for comparison to the most recent
survey (1977 prior to Refuge status and
Wilderness designation), and expand
the scope of the survey to include
visitor feedback to understand major
dimensions of experiences and factors
that influence those experiences.
Potential influences include encounters
with other visitors, subsistence users,
researchers, and agency personnel and
information sources used to plan the
trip. The data from this information
collection will be stored at the Aldo
Leopold Wilderness Research Institute
in Missoula, Montana. Scientists
working at the Research Institute will
conduct the data analysis.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will
use information from this collection to:
(1) Understand;
a. Individual visitor demographics,
frequency of visits, and residence;
b. Visit characteristics, such as
whether they are hunting or not, river
floating or not, method of access, size of
group, and difficulty in finding
campsites, evaluations of conditions
encountered, and feedback on
information available for trip planning;
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18:31 Sep 28, 2007
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(2) Gain an understanding of how the
agency’s management of the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge and other
potential facilitating and constraining
factors influence a visitor’s recreation
experience;
(3) Help understand how to educate
recreation visitors so they do not leave
impacts from their visits, such as
damaged vegetation, litter, polluted
lakes and streams, and wildlife
disturbance while engaging in high
quality, safe, responsible recreation
visits; and
(4) Provide information that may
assist in revision of the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive
Conservation Plan.
Respondents will be recreation
visitors to the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge. Visitors will be contacted as
they enter the Arctic Refuge or upon
exit and will be provided with a mailback postcard that offers them
alternative methods of response to the
survey: (1) Mail the postage-paid
postcard to the Leopold Institute with a
name and address in order to receive a
mail-back survey, (2) mail the postage
paid postcard to the Leopold Institute
with an electronic e-mail address to
receive an electronic form of the survey,
or (3) keep the postcard that contains a
web address for on-line completion of
the survey. All responses will be
voluntary. Data collected in this
information collection are not available
from other sources and have not been
collected since 1977.
This study will only ask recreation
visitors (non-local, non-subsistence
users) questions about their recreation
visit, their personal demographics
relevant to education and service
provision, and factors that have
influenced or are likely to influence
their recreation visits. Survey
respondents will be told that this
information is voluntary, in confidence
(their names will not be connected to
their responses in any way). The Survey
will not include questions related to oil
exploration or development within the
boundaries of the Refuge.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 20
minutes.
Type of Respondents: Individuals.
Estimated Annual Number of
Respondents: 900.
Estimated Annual Number of
Responses per Respondent: Once.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on
Respondents: 300 hours.
Comment is Invited:
Comment is invited on: (1) Whether
this collection of information is
necessary for the stated purposes and
the proper performance of the functions
of the agency, including whether the
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55737
information will have practical or
scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (4)
ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents, including the additional
use of automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
All comments received in response to
this notice, including names and
addresses when provided, will be a
matter of public record. Comments will
be summarized and included in the
request for Office of Management and
Budget approval.
Dated: September 21, 2007.
Ann M. Bartuska,
Deputy Chief for Research & Development.
[FR Doc. E7–19253 Filed 9–28–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Bitterroot National Forest, Ravalli
County, MT, Travel Management
Planning
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environment impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act,
notice is hereby given that the Forest
Service, Bitterroot National Forest will
prepare a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement to disclose the environmental
consequences of the proposed travel
management planning. The proposed
action would provide approximately
2,487 miles of wheeled motorized
recreation opportunities on the
Bitterroot National Forest while
maintaining 1,030,405 acres of nonmotorized areas. The proposed action
would also provide approximately 341
miles of open snowmobile routes and
608,031 acres open to snowmobile use.
DATES: Specific comments on the
proposed action should be received by
November 23, 2007. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected to be available for the public
in August 2008, and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected to be available in May 2009.
The Motor Vehicle Use Map is
scheduled to be available on or before
December 2009.
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01OCN1
55738
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 189 / Monday, October 1, 2007 / Notices
Submit written, faxed, or email comments by: (1) Mail—Travel
Management Planning Team;
Stevensville Ranger District; 88 Main;
Stevensville, Montana 59870 (2) fax—
(406) 777–7423; (3) e-mail—commentsnorthern-bitterroot@fs.fed.us
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan
Ritter, Stevensville District Ranger (406)
777–5461 or Sandy Mack, Project Team
Leader (406) 777–7415 (see ADDRESSES
above)
Responsible Official
The responsible official for the Travel
Management Planning Project is Dave T.
Bull, Forest Supervisor, Bitterroot
National Forest 1801 N. First, Hamilton
59840–3114.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Scoping Process
Comments will be accepted during
the 60-day scoping period as described
in this notice of intent. To assist in
commenting, a coping package
providing more detailed information on
the project proposal has been prepared
and is available to interested parties.
Contact Sandy Mack, Project Leader at
the address listed in this notice of intent
if you would like to receive a copy. The
information is also available on the web
at www.fs.fed.us/r1/bitterroot/projects/
motorizedlrec.shtml, and at each
District Office and at the public libraries
in Darby, Hamilton, Stevensville and
Missoula. the Forest will schedule
public meetings in November, prior to
the end of the public comment period.
Meeting times and locations will be
announced at a later date.
ADDRESSES:
Purpose
The objectives of the project are to: 1.
Change the existing motorized
recreation designations provide quality
motorized recreation experiences while
protecting natural resources and
providing non-motorized recreation
opportunities.
• Provide motorized loop routes that
offer a quality recreational experience,
with the focus on using old roads and
linkages with only minor resource
impacts.
• Provide areas for non-motorized
recreation experiences.
• Close routes to motorized use that
have resource concerns that can’t
reasonably be mitigated.
2. Close routes that offer little value
as a motorized experience and have
resource concerns.
3. Clarify and simplify the motor
vehicle use designations.
4. Comply with the 2005 Travel
Management Rule.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Proposed Action
The proposed action establishes clear,
standardized designations of where
motorized recreation is appropriate,
sustainable and desirable on the
Bitterroot National Forest. It would
provide 2,487 miles of routes open to
wheeled motorized use including: 25
mi. of roads open to all vehicles,
yearlong or seasonal (mixed-motorized);
1,479 mi. of roads open to highway legal
vehicles only, yearlong or seasonal; 746
mi. of trails open to vehicles 50″ or less
in width, yearlong or seasonal; 237 mi.
of trails open to motorcycles, yearlong
or seasonal. It would also provide
1,030,405 acres of non-motorized use
(1⁄2 mile or more from wheeled
motorized use designations) across the
Forest. The proposed action would
provide 58 miles of groomed
snowmobile trails, 341 miles of open
snowmobile routes and 608,031 acres
open to snowmobile use.
Alternatives to the proposed action
will be developed based on public
comments.
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Jkt 214001
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will
determine whether or not to proceed
with the proposed motorized use
designations.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process that 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 at least 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 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
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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 24
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 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: September 20, 2007.
Barry Paulson,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 07–4805 Filed 9–28–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Inyo National Forest, California, Inyo
National Forest Motorized Travel
Management EIS
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Inyo National Forest
(INF) will prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement to disclose the
impacts associated with the following
proposed actions: 1. The prohibition of
wheeled motorized vehicle travel off
designated National Forest System
(NFS) roads, NFS trails and areas by the
public except as allowed by permit or
other authorization. 2. Changes in the
INF Transportation System, including
E:\FR\FM\01OCN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 189 (Monday, October 1, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55737-55738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4805]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Bitterroot National Forest, Ravalli County, MT, Travel Management
Planning
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environment impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act,
notice is hereby given that the Forest Service, Bitterroot National
Forest will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement to disclose
the environmental consequences of the proposed travel management
planning. The proposed action would provide approximately 2,487 miles
of wheeled motorized recreation opportunities on the Bitterroot
National Forest while maintaining 1,030,405 acres of non-motorized
areas. The proposed action would also provide approximately 341 miles
of open snowmobile routes and 608,031 acres open to snowmobile use.
DATES: Specific comments on the proposed action should be received by
November 23, 2007. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
to be available for the public in August 2008, and the final
environmental impact statement is expected to be available in May 2009.
The Motor Vehicle Use Map is scheduled to be available on or before
December 2009.
[[Page 55738]]
ADDRESSES: Submit written, faxed, or e-mail comments by: (1) Mail--
Travel Management Planning Team; Stevensville Ranger District; 88 Main;
Stevensville, Montana 59870 (2) fax--(406) 777-7423; (3) e-mail--
comments-northern-bitterroot@fs.fed.us
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Ritter, Stevensville District
Ranger (406) 777-5461 or Sandy Mack, Project Team Leader (406) 777-7415
(see ADDRESSES above)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose
The objectives of the project are to: 1. Change the existing
motorized recreation designations provide quality motorized recreation
experiences while protecting natural resources and providing non-
motorized recreation opportunities.
Provide motorized loop routes that offer a quality
recreational experience, with the focus on using old roads and linkages
with only minor resource impacts.
Provide areas for non-motorized recreation experiences.
Close routes to motorized use that have resource concerns
that can't reasonably be mitigated.
2. Close routes that offer little value as a motorized experience
and have resource concerns.
3. Clarify and simplify the motor vehicle use designations.
4. Comply with the 2005 Travel Management Rule.
Proposed Action
The proposed action establishes clear, standardized designations of
where motorized recreation is appropriate, sustainable and desirable on
the Bitterroot National Forest. It would provide 2,487 miles of routes
open to wheeled motorized use including: 25 mi. of roads open to all
vehicles, yearlong or seasonal (mixed-motorized); 1,479 mi. of roads
open to highway legal vehicles only, yearlong or seasonal; 746 mi. of
trails open to vehicles 50 or less in width, yearlong or
seasonal; 237 mi. of trails open to motorcycles, yearlong or seasonal.
It would also provide 1,030,405 acres of non-motorized use (\1/2\ mile
or more from wheeled motorized use designations) across the Forest. The
proposed action would provide 58 miles of groomed snowmobile trails,
341 miles of open snowmobile routes and 608,031 acres open to
snowmobile use.
Alternatives to the proposed action will be developed based on
public comments.
Responsible Official
The responsible official for the Travel Management Planning Project
is Dave T. Bull, Forest Supervisor, Bitterroot National Forest 1801 N.
First, Hamilton 59840-3114.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will determine whether or not to proceed
with the proposed motorized use designations.
Scoping Process
Comments will be accepted during the 60-day scoping period as
described in this notice of intent. To assist in commenting, a coping
package providing more detailed information on the project proposal has
been prepared and is available to interested parties. Contact Sandy
Mack, Project Leader at the address listed in this notice of intent if
you would like to receive a copy. The information is also available on
the web at www.fs.fed.us/r1/bitterroot/projects/motorized_rec.shtml,
and at each District Office and at the public libraries in Darby,
Hamilton, Stevensville and Missoula. the Forest will schedule public
meetings in November, prior to the end of the public comment period.
Meeting times and locations will be announced at a later date.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process that 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 at least 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
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 24 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 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: September 20, 2007.
Barry Paulson,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 07-4805 Filed 9-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
