Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest; California and Nevada; Bridgeport Ranger District Travel Management, 72023-72025 [E8-28142]
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72023
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 73, No. 229
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket # AMS–FV–07–0142]
United States Standards for Grades of
Beet Greens
Agricultural Marketing Service,
USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) is revising the voluntary
United States Standards for Grades of
Beet Greens. Specifically, AMS is
removing the ‘‘Unclassified’’ category
from the standards.
DATES: Effective Date: December 26,
2008.
Dr.
Carl Newell, Standardization and
Training Section, Fresh Products
Branch, (540) 361–1120. The revised
United States Standards for Grades of
Beet Greens are available by accessing
the Fresh Products Branch Web site at:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/
freshinspection.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Section
203(c) of the Agricultural Marketing Act
of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1621–1627), as
amended, directs and authorizes the
Secretary of Agriculture ‘‘To develop
and improve standards of quality,
condition, quantity, grade and
packaging and recommend and
demonstrate such standards in order to
encourage uniformity and consistency
in commercial practices.’’ AMS is
committed to carrying out this authority
in a manner that facilitates the
marketing of agricultural commodities.
AMS makes copies of official standards
available upon request. The United
States Standards for Grades of Fruits
and Vegetables not connected with
Federal Marketing Orders or U.S. Import
Requirements no longer appear in the
Code of Federal Regulations, but are
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:30 Nov 25, 2008
Jkt 217001
maintained by USDA, AMS, Fruit and
Vegetable Programs.
AMS is revising the United States
Standards for Grades of Beet Greens
using the procedures that appear in Part
36, Title 7 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (7 CFR part 36). These
standards were last revised June 1, 1959.
Background
Prior to undertaking detailed work to
develop a proposed revision to the
standards, AMS published a notice on
February 19, 2008, in the Federal
Register (73 FR 9086) soliciting
comments on possible revisions to the
United States Standards for Grades of
Beet Greens, including an AMS
proposal to remove the ‘‘Unclassified’’
category from the standards. No
comments were received in response to
the notice. A second notice was
published on July 10, 2008, in the
Federal Register (73 FR 39646)
proposing to revise the standards to
remove the ‘‘Unclassified’’ category
from the standards. No comments were
received in response to the second
notice; accordingly, AMS is revising the
grade standards for beet greens to
include this revision.
The official grades of beet greens
covered by these standards are
determined by the procedures set forth
in the Regulations Governing
Inspection, Certification and Standards
of Fresh Fruits, Vegetables and Other
Products (7 CFR 51.1 to 51.62).
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 1621–1627.
Dated: November 20, 2008.
James E. Link,
Administrator, Agricultural Marketing
Service.
[FR Doc. E8–28079 Filed 11–25–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest;
California and Nevada; Bridgeport
Ranger District Travel Management
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Humboldt Toiyabe
National Forest will prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement to
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
disclose the impacts associated with the
following proposed actions:
• Restricting motor vehicles to
designated roads and trails, consistent
with the national travel management
rule.
• Changes to the forest transportation
system, including the recognition and
designation of certain user-created
routes for motor vehicle use.
• The Ranger District currently
manages about 1500 miles of motor
vehicle routes for public use. The
proposed action would recognize and
adopt an additional 300 additional
miles of existing informal (user-created)
roads and trails. Most of these have been
in existence for many years, but have
not been recognized as a part of the
forest transportation system.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received within
30 days from the date this Notice of
Intent is published in the Federal
Register.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to:
Travel Management Team, Bridgeport
Ranger District, HCR1, Box 1000,
Bridgeport, CA 93517. E-mail comments
may be submitted to commentsintermtn-humboldt-toiyabebridgeport@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Loomis, Humboldt Toiyabe
National Forest, 1536 S. Carson St.
Carson City, NV 89701. Phone: 775–
882–2766.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Over the past few decades, the
availability and capability of motorized
vehicles, particularly off-highway
vehicles (OHVs) and sport utility
vehicles (SUVs) has increased
tremendously. Nationally, the number
of OHV users has climbed sevenfold in
the past 30 years, from approximately 5
million in 1972 to 36 million in 2000.
Unmanaged OHV use has resulted in
unplanned roads and trails, erosion,
watershed and habitat degradation, and
impacts to cultural resource sites.
Compaction and erosion are the primary
effects of OHV use on soils. Riparian
areas and aquatic dependent species are
particularly vulnerable to OHV use.
Unmanaged recreation, including
impacts from OHVs, is one of ‘‘Four Key
Threats Facing the Nation’s Forests and
Grasslands.’’ (USDA Forest Service,
June 2004).
E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM
26NON1
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
72024
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 229 / Wednesday, November 26, 2008 / Notices
On November 9, 2005, the Forest
Service published final travel
management regulations in the Federal
Register (FR Vol. 70, No. 216—Nov. 9,
2005, pp 68264–68291). This final
Travel Management Rule requires
designation of those roads, trails, and
areas that are open to motor vehicle use
on National Forests. Designations will
be made by class of vehicle and, if
appropriate, by time of year. The final
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 designated.
On some NFS lands, long managed as
open to cross-country motor vehicle
travel, repeated use has resulted in
unplanned, unauthorized, roads and
trails. These routes generally developed
without environmental analysis or
public involvement, and do not have the
same status as NFS roads and NFS trails
included in the forest transportation
system. Nevertheless, some
unauthorized routes are well-sited,
provide excellent opportunities for
outdoor recreation by motorized and
non-motorized users, and would
enhance the National Forest system of
designated roads, trails and areas. Other
unauthorized routes are poorly located
and cause unacceptable impacts. Only
NFS roads and NFS trails can be
designated for motorized vehicle use. In
order for an unauthorized route to be
designated, it must first be added to the
national forest transportation system
(NFTS).
The Bridgeport Ranger District
recently completed an inventory of
unauthorized routes on NFS lands and
identified approximately 800 miles of
unauthorized routes. The Bridgeport
Ranger District then used an
interdiscipliary process to conduct
travel analysis that included working
with the public to determine whether
any of the unauthorized routes should
be proposed for addition to the
Bridgeport Ranger District
transportation system in this proposed
action. Travel analysis developed a
number of routes which could be
considered in this or future decisions on
the NFTS as a part of travel management
on the Bridgeport Ranger District.
Roads, trails and areas that are currently
part of the Bridgeport Ranger District
transportation system and are open to
motorized vehicle travel will remain
designated for such use except as
described below under Proposed
Action. This proposal focuses only on
the prohibition of motorized vehicle
travel off designated routes and needed
changes to the Bridgeport Ranger
District transportation system, including
the addition of some user-created routes
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:30 Nov 25, 2008
Jkt 217001
to the Bridgeport Ranger District
transportation. The proposed action is
being carried forward in accordance
with the Travel Management Rule (36
CFR Part 212).
Purpose and Need for Action
There is a need for regulation of
unmanaged motorized vehicle travel by
the public. Currently, motorized vehicle
travel by the public is not prohibited off
designated routes in much of the Ranger
District. In their enjoyment of the
National Forest, motorized vehicle users
have created numerous unauthorized
routes. The number of such routes
continues to grow each year with many
routes having environmental impacts
and safety concerns that have not been
addressed. The Travel Management
Rule, 36 CFR Part 212, provides policy
for ending this trend of unauthorized
route proliferation and managing the
Forest transportation system in a
sustainable manner through designation
of motorized NFS roads, trails and areas,
and the prohibition of cross-country
travel. There is a need for limited
changes and additions to the Bridgeport
Ranger District transportation system to
provide motorized access to dispersed
recreation opportunities (camping,
hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback
riding, etc.) and to provide for a
diversity of motorized recreation
opportunities (4×4 Vehicles, motorcyles,
ATVs, passenger vehicles, etc.).
It is Forest Service policy to provide
a diversity of road and trail
opportunities for experiencing a variety
of environments and modes of travel
consistent with the National Forest
recreation role and land capability (FSM
2353.03(2)). In meeting these needs the
proposed action must also achieve the
following purposes:
• Avoid impacts to cultural resources.
• Provide for public safety.
• Provide for a diversity of
recreational opportunities.
• Assure adequate access to public
and private lands.
• Provide for adequate maintenance
and administration of designations
based on availability of resources and
funding to do so.
• Minimize damage to soil, vegetation
and other forest resources.
• Avoid harassment of wildlife and
significant disruption of wildlife
habitat.
• Minimize conflicts between motor
vehicles and existing or proposed
recreational uses of NFS lands.
• Minimize conflicts among different
classes of motor vehicle uses of NFS
lands or neighboring federal lands.
• Assure compatibility of motor
vehicle use with existing conditions in
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
populated areas, taking into account
sound, emissions, etc.
• Have valid existing rights of use
and access (rights-of-way).
Proposed Action
The proposed action would restrict
motor vehicles to designated roads and
trails, consistent with the national travel
management rule; and change the forest
transportation system, including the
recognition and designation of certain
user-created routes for motor vehicle
use.
The Ranger District currently manages
about 1500 miles of motor vehicle
routes for public use. Motor vehicles
will continue to be welcome on these
roads and trails. The proposed action
would recognize and adopt an
additional 300 additional miles of
existing informal (user-created) roads
and trails. Most of these have been in
existence for many years, but have not
been recognized as a part of the forest
transportation system. Maps and tables
describing the proposed action can
found at https://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/
projects/#bridgeport. In addition, maps
will be available for viewing at the
Bridgeport Ranger District.
Responsible Official
Cheryl Probert, District Ranger,
Bridgeport Ranger District, HCR1, Box
1000, Bridgeport, CA 93517.
Scoping Process
The first formal opportunity to
comment on the Bridgeport Ranger
District Travel Management 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. 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.
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.
• Hawthorne, Nevada: December 8,
4–6 p.m. Mineral County Public Library.
1st and A St., Hawthorne, NV.
• Bridgeport, California: December 9,
4–6 p.m. Memorial Hall, 100 Sinclair
St., Bridgeport, CA.
E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM
26NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 229 / Wednesday, November 26, 2008 / Notices
• Smith Valley, Nevada: December
10, 6–8 p.m. Smith Valley High School
Multi Purpose Room, 20 Day Lane,
Smith, NV.
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/htnf. Written
comments will be accepted at these
meetings.
Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
such a way that they are useful to the
Agency’s preparation of the EIS.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions. The submission of timely
and specific comments can affect a
reviewer’s ability to participate in
subsequent administrative review or
judicial review.
Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
be part of the public record for this
proposed action. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered; however, anonymous
comments will not provide the
respondent with standing to participate
in subsequent administrative review or
judicial review.
Dated: November 13, 2008.
Cheryl Probert,
Bridgeport District Ranger.
[FR Doc. E8–28142 Filed 11–25–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Emerging Technology and Research
Advisory Committee; Notice of
Partially Closed Meeting
The Emerging Technology and
Research Advisory Committee (ETRAC)
will meet on December 8, 2008, 1:30
p.m., Room 3884, in the Herbert C.
Hoover Building, 14th Street between
Pennsylvania and Constitution
Avenues, NW., Washington, DC. The
Committee advises the Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Export
Administration on emerging technology
and research activities, including those
related to deemed exports.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:30 Nov 25, 2008
Jkt 217001
Agenda
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Open Session
1. ETRAC charge.
2. ETRAC discussion on path forward.
3. Subcommittees—Discussion.
(a) Biology, biotech and health sciences
(b) Chemical and materials sciences
(c) Communications, advanced
computing and software
(d) Nuclear technologies and directed
energy research
(e) Space and remote sensing
technologies
(f) Nanotechnologies and
microelectronics
4. Public Comments and Questions.
72025
Bureau of Industry and Security
Closed Session
5. Discussion of matters determined to
be exempt from the provisions relating
to public meetings found in 5 U.S.C.
app. 2 §§ 10(a)(1) and 10(a)(3).
The open session will be accessible
via teleconference to 20 participants on
a first come, first serve basis. To join the
conference, submit inquiries to Ms.
Yvette Springer at
Yspringer@bis.doc.gov no later than
December 1, 2008.
A limited number of seats will be
available for the public session.
Reservations are not accepted. To the
extent that time permits, members of the
public may present oral statements to
the Committee. The public may submit
written statements at any time before or
after the meeting. However, to facilitate
the distribution of public presentation
materials to the Committee members,
the Committee suggests that presenters
forward the public presentation
materials prior to the meeting to Ms.
Springer via e-mail.
The Assistant Secretary for
Administration, with the concurrence of
the delegate of the General Counsel,
formally determined on November 10,
2008, pursuant to Section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. app. 2 §§ (10)(d)),
that the portion of the meeting dealing
with matters the disclosure of which
would be likely to frustrate significantly
implementation of an agency action as
described in 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B) shall
be exempt from the provisions relating
to public meetings found in 5 U.S.C.
app. 2 §§ 10(a)1 and 10(a)(3). The
remaining portions of the meeting will
be open to the public.
For more information, call Yvette
Springer at (202) 482–2813.
Dated: November 20, 2008.
Yvette Springer,
Committee Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–28059 Filed 11–25–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–JT–P
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Regulations and Procedures Technical
Advisory Committee; Notice of
Partially Closed Meeting
The Regulations and Procedures
Technical Advisory Committee (RPTAC)
will meet December 10, 2008, 9 a.m.,
Room 4830, in the Herbert C. Hoover
Building, 14th Street between
Constitution and Pennsylvania
Avenues, NW., Washington, DC. The
Committee advises the Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Export
Administration on implementation of
the Export Administration Regulations
(EAR) and provides for continuing
review to update the EAR as needed.
Agenda
Public Session
1. Opening remarks by the Chairman.
2. Presentation of papers or comments
by the Public.
3. Opening remarks by Bureau of
Industry and Security.
4. Export Enforcement update.
5. Regulations update.
6. Working group reports.
7. Automated Export System (AES)
update.
Closed Session
8. Discussion of matters determined to
be exempt from the provisions relating
to public meetings found in 5 U.S.C.
app. 2 §§ 10(a)(1) and 10(a)(3).
The open session will be accessible
via teleconference to 20 participants on
a first come, first serve basis. To join the
conference, submit inquiries to Ms.
Yvette Springer at
Yspringer@bis.doc.gov no later than
December 3, 2008.
A limited number of seats will be
available for the public session.
Reservations are not accepted. To the
extent that time permits, members of the
public may present oral statements to
the Committee. The public may submit
written statements at any time before or
after the meeting. However, to facilitate
the distribution of public presentation
materials to the Committee members,
the Committee suggests that presenters
forward the public presentation
materials prior to the meeting to Ms.
Springer via e-mail.
The Assistant Secretary for
Administration, with the concurrence of
the delegate of the General Counsel,
formally determined on October 30,
2008, pursuant to Section 10(d) of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, as
amended (5 U.S.C. app. 2 §§ (10)(d)),
that the portion of the meeting dealing
E:\FR\FM\26NON1.SGM
26NON1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 26, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72023-72025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-28142]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest; California and Nevada;
Bridgeport Ranger District Travel Management
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest will prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement to disclose the impacts associated with
the following proposed actions:
Restricting motor vehicles to designated roads and trails,
consistent with the national travel management rule.
Changes to the forest transportation system, including the
recognition and designation of certain user-created routes for motor
vehicle use.
The Ranger District currently manages about 1500 miles of
motor vehicle routes for public use. The proposed action would
recognize and adopt an additional 300 additional miles of existing
informal (user-created) roads and trails. Most of these have been in
existence for many years, but have not been recognized as a part of the
forest transportation system.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
within 30 days from the date this Notice of Intent is published in the
Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Travel Management Team, Bridgeport
Ranger District, HCR1, Box 1000, Bridgeport, CA 93517. E-mail comments
may be submitted to comments-intermtn-humboldt-toiyabe-
bridgeport@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Loomis, Humboldt Toiyabe
National Forest, 1536 S. Carson St. Carson City, NV 89701. Phone: 775-
882-2766.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Over the past few decades, the availability and capability of
motorized vehicles, particularly off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and sport
utility vehicles (SUVs) has increased tremendously. Nationally, the
number of OHV users has climbed sevenfold in the past 30 years, from
approximately 5 million in 1972 to 36 million in 2000.
Unmanaged OHV use has resulted in unplanned roads and trails,
erosion, watershed and habitat degradation, and impacts to cultural
resource sites. Compaction and erosion are the primary effects of OHV
use on soils. Riparian areas and aquatic dependent species are
particularly vulnerable to OHV use. Unmanaged recreation, including
impacts from OHVs, is one of ``Four Key Threats Facing the Nation's
Forests and Grasslands.'' (USDA Forest Service, June 2004).
[[Page 72024]]
On November 9, 2005, the Forest Service published final travel
management regulations in the Federal Register (FR Vol. 70, No. 216--
Nov. 9, 2005, pp 68264-68291). This final Travel Management Rule
requires designation of those roads, trails, and areas that are open to
motor vehicle use on National Forests. Designations will be made by
class of vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of year. The final 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
designated.
On some NFS lands, long managed as open to cross-country motor
vehicle travel, repeated use has resulted in unplanned, unauthorized,
roads and trails. These routes generally developed without
environmental analysis or public involvement, and do not have the same
status as NFS roads and NFS trails included in the forest
transportation system. Nevertheless, some unauthorized routes are well-
sited, provide excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation by
motorized and non-motorized users, and would enhance the National
Forest system of designated roads, trails and areas. Other unauthorized
routes are poorly located and cause unacceptable impacts. Only NFS
roads and NFS trails can be designated for motorized vehicle use. In
order for an unauthorized route to be designated, it must first be
added to the national forest transportation system (NFTS).
The Bridgeport Ranger District recently completed an inventory of
unauthorized routes on NFS lands and identified approximately 800 miles
of unauthorized routes. The Bridgeport Ranger District then used an
interdiscipliary process to conduct travel analysis that included
working with the public to determine whether any of the unauthorized
routes should be proposed for addition to the Bridgeport Ranger
District transportation system in this proposed action. Travel analysis
developed a number of routes which could be considered in this or
future decisions on the NFTS as a part of travel management on the
Bridgeport Ranger District. Roads, trails and areas that are currently
part of the Bridgeport Ranger District transportation system and are
open to motorized vehicle travel will remain designated for such use
except as described below under Proposed Action. This proposal focuses
only on the prohibition of motorized vehicle travel off designated
routes and needed changes to the Bridgeport Ranger District
transportation system, including the addition of some user-created
routes to the Bridgeport Ranger District transportation. The proposed
action is being carried forward in accordance with the Travel
Management Rule (36 CFR Part 212).
Purpose and Need for Action
There is a need for regulation of unmanaged motorized vehicle
travel by the public. Currently, motorized vehicle travel by the public
is not prohibited off designated routes in much of the Ranger District.
In their enjoyment of the National Forest, motorized vehicle users have
created numerous unauthorized routes. The number of such routes
continues to grow each year with many routes having environmental
impacts and safety concerns that have not been addressed. The Travel
Management Rule, 36 CFR Part 212, provides policy for ending this trend
of unauthorized route proliferation and managing the Forest
transportation system in a sustainable manner through designation of
motorized NFS roads, trails and areas, and the prohibition of cross-
country travel. There is a need for limited changes and additions to
the Bridgeport Ranger District transportation system to provide
motorized access to dispersed recreation opportunities (camping,
hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, etc.) and to provide for a
diversity of motorized recreation opportunities (4x4 Vehicles,
motorcyles, ATVs, passenger vehicles, etc.).
It is Forest Service policy to provide a diversity of road and
trail opportunities for experiencing a variety of environments and
modes of travel consistent with the National Forest recreation role and
land capability (FSM 2353.03(2)). In meeting these needs the proposed
action must also achieve the following purposes:
Avoid impacts to cultural resources.
Provide for public safety.
Provide for a diversity of recreational opportunities.
Assure adequate access to public and private lands.
Provide for adequate maintenance and administration of
designations based on availability of resources and funding to do so.
Minimize damage to soil, vegetation and other forest
resources.
Avoid harassment of wildlife and significant disruption of
wildlife habitat.
Minimize conflicts between motor vehicles and existing or
proposed recreational uses of NFS lands.
Minimize conflicts among different classes of motor
vehicle uses of NFS lands or neighboring federal lands.
Assure compatibility of motor vehicle use with existing
conditions in populated areas, taking into account sound, emissions,
etc.
Have valid existing rights of use and access (rights-of-
way).
Proposed Action
The proposed action would restrict motor vehicles to designated
roads and trails, consistent with the national travel management rule;
and change the forest transportation system, including the recognition
and designation of certain user-created routes for motor vehicle use.
The Ranger District currently manages about 1500 miles of motor
vehicle routes for public use. Motor vehicles will continue to be
welcome on these roads and trails. The proposed action would recognize
and adopt an additional 300 additional miles of existing informal
(user-created) roads and trails. Most of these have been in existence
for many years, but have not been recognized as a part of the forest
transportation system. Maps and tables describing the proposed action
can found at https://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/projects/#bridgeport. In
addition, maps will be available for viewing at the Bridgeport Ranger
District.
Responsible Official
Cheryl Probert, District Ranger, Bridgeport Ranger District, HCR1,
Box 1000, Bridgeport, CA 93517.
Scoping Process
The first formal opportunity to comment on the Bridgeport Ranger
District Travel Management 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. 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.
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.
Hawthorne, Nevada: December 8, 4-6 p.m. Mineral County
Public Library. 1st and A St., Hawthorne, NV.
Bridgeport, California: December 9, 4-6 p.m. Memorial
Hall, 100 Sinclair St., Bridgeport, CA.
[[Page 72025]]
Smith Valley, Nevada: December 10, 6-8 p.m. Smith Valley
High School Multi Purpose Room, 20 Day Lane, Smith, NV.
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/htnf.
Written comments will be accepted at these meetings.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's
concerns and contentions. The submission of timely and specific
comments can affect a reviewer's ability to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide
the respondent with standing to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review.
Dated: November 13, 2008.
Cheryl Probert,
Bridgeport District Ranger.
[FR Doc. E8-28142 Filed 11-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
