Angeles National Forest; Los Angeles County, CA Williamson Rock/Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) Project EIS, 45759-45761 [2014-18553]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 151 / Wednesday, August 6, 2014 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_
exp.php?project=43405.
Forest Service
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Angeles National Forest; Los Angeles
County, CA Williamson Rock/Pacific
Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT)
Project EIS
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Angeles National Forest
proposes to provide limited, managed
recreational activities in the vicinity of
Williamson Rock. The proposed action
would include allowing access to the
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT)
and limited access to Williamson Rock
for rock climbing, while protecting the
federally listed mountain yellow-legged
frog (MYLF) and other unique resources.
The area has been closed to the public
since 2006, either by Forest Order or
court injunction, to protect the MYLF.
The project was originally proposed
as an environmental assessment, and an
opportunity for public scoping
comments was provided from December
18, 2013 through January 24, 2014.
Preliminary issues identified during
scoping indicated that there may be
significant effects resulting from the
proposed action. Responsible official,
Forest Supervisor Thomas A. Contreras,
has decided to prepare an EIS instead of
an EA for this project. The proposed
action in the EA has been modified for
the EIS.
DATES: Comments on the proposed
action should be submitted within 30
days of the date of publication of this
Notice of Intent in the Federal Register.
The Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) is expected to be
available for public review in Spring
2015 and the Final EIS is expected in
Fall 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by one of the following methods:
• Mailed to the Angeles National
Forest; Attn: Jose Henriquez,
Williamson Rock/PCT ID Team; 701 N.
Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, CA
91006;
• Delivered to the address shown
above during business hours (M–F 8:00
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.);
• Submitted electronically, in
common formats (.doc, .pdf, .rtf, .txt), to:
comments-pacificsouthwest-angeles@
fs.fed.us with Subject: Williamson Rock.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jose
Henriquez, 701 N. Santa Anita Avenue,
Arcadia, CA 91006; (626) 574–5277. A
scoping package, maps and other
information are online at: https://www.fs.
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SUMMARY:
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General Background: Williamson
Rock is a well-known High Country
recreation area used predominately for
rock climbing, located within the Santa
Clara-Mojave Rivers Ranger District, in
upper Little Rock Canyon. It has been
utilized by climbers since the 1960’s
and is regarded as one of the unique
rock climbing resources in southern
California, due to its mild summer
temperatures and close proximity to
urban centers. The Pacific Crest
National Scenic Trail (PCT) traverses
the project area, paralleling and
periodically crossing Little Rock Creek
and its tributaries for approximately 2
miles. The mountain yellow-legged frog
(Rana muscosa—MYLF) occupies
habitat in Little Rock Creek, within the
Williamson Rock area. The area is also
home to a nesting pair of peregrine
falcons (Falco peregrinus), as well as a
Forest Service Sensitive plant species,
Johnston’s buckwheat (Eriogonum
microthecum var. johnstonii).
Purpose and Need for Action: The
Forest Service continues to receive high
demand for the resumption of recreation
opportunities in the Williamson Rock
area. Specifically, there is a need for the
public use and enjoyment of the PCT
where it passes through the project area,
in accordance with the management
objectives specified in the PCTA/Forest
Service Memorandum of Understanding
and PCT Comprehensive Management
Plan. Consistent with the Angeles
National Forest Land Management Plan
recreation goals and objectives, there is
also a need for a quality, sustainable
rock climbing opportunity at
Williamson Rock.
In achieving these needs, this
proposal and any alternatives must
achieve the following purposes:
• Provide protective measures for the
federally listed MYLF, and the Primary
Constituent Elements of the Designated
Critical Habitat in the project area.
• Protect other listed or otherwise
unique resources in the Williamson
Rock area (specifically: Peregrine falcon,
Johnston’s buckwheat, and an eligible
Wild and Scenic River).
• Monitor recreation activity to
manage compliance of natural resource
protective measures.
Proposed Action: In meeting the
needs for action, the following measures
are proposed:
1. Implement long-term closure of
Little Rock Creek corridor and adjacent
areas.
• Implement a long-term closure of
the stream corridor (10 meters beyond
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45759
high water mark) within MYLF
Designated Critical Habitat (DCH) and
adjacent areas between the stream
corridor and CA–2 within Section 12, T.
3N, R. 10W and Section 7, T.3N, R. 11W
as shown on maps #1 and #2 (see
https://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_
project_exp.php?project=43405). These
are areas that have historically provided
direct human access into the DCH, or
contain climbing routes within the
stream habitat. The closure would
include all stream-based rock climbing
routes (e.g. the ‘‘Stream Wall’’ and
‘‘London Wall’’), as well as the area of
‘‘user-created’’ braided trails and paths
along scree slopes between CA–2 and
Williamson Rock. Exceptions to this
closure are as follows:
Æ Exception: The Pacific Crest
National Scenic Trail (PCT) is within
the proposed closure area, and would
remain open year around (see further
discussion of the PCT below).
Æ Exception: The Long Trail, a new
system trail which would access the
Williamson Rock Visitor Use Permit
Area, would be within the proposed
closure boundaries, and would remain
open from August 1 to November 15 to
people having a valid Visitor Use Permit
(see further discussion of the Long Trail
below).
2. Implement a visitor use permit
system and seasonal closures for the
Williamson Rock Visitor Use Permit
Area.
• Designate a day-use Visitor Use
Permit Area that encompasses the
Williamson Rock Trailhead and parking,
the Long Trail, and the Williamson Rock
climbing areas as shown on maps #1
and #2 (see https://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/
nepa_project_exp.php?project=43405).
Visitors to this area would be required
to obtain a Visitor Use Permit through
the National Recreation Reservation
Service (NRRS).
• A seasonal closure of the Visitor
Use Permit Area would be implemented
from November 16 to July 31, to
minimize impacts to MYLF and/or
peregrine falcons.
• During the open season (August 1 to
November 15), Visitor Use Permits
would be reserved in advance through
NRRS online or by calling the NRRS
toll-free number. Permits would not be
issued by local Forest Service offices.
• At least one Forest Service site
manager with citation authorization
would be onsite each day that the
Visitor Use Permit Area is open.
Funding for this site management would
be provided by a combination of grants,
partner contributions, user fees, and
federal budget allocations.
• The Forest Service would use the
NRRS system to provide permit users
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 151 / Wednesday, August 6, 2014 / Notices
with educational information about the
area, including regulations, human
waste disposal requirements, and
resource protection concerns and
requirements.
• A limited number of permits would
be issued each day, based on site
capacity (including parking capacity at
the Kratka Ridge parking lot on CA–2).
The permit system would be governed
by an ‘‘either/or’’ quota mechanism that
would initially issue permits each day
for no more than 90 persons to access
the rock and no more than 30 vehicles
(based on available number of parking
stalls) to park at the designated trail
head.
• The number of visitor use permits
issued would be adjusted up or down as
determined by an adaptive management
process that would consider the
following three metrics/indicators:
Æ MYLF population reports
Æ Permit compliance
Æ Available funding for onsite Forest
Service management
• Dogs and other domestic animals
would be prohibited (PCT exempt),
unless they are service animals covered
under DOJ 28 CFR Part 35.136—also
applies to federal agencies under
Section 504.
3. Provide developed recreation
facilities to access Williamson Rock.
• Establish a system trail
(approximately 1.2 miles in length) to
the east side of Williamson Rock from
the Kratka Ridge parking lot, partially
using abandoned logging road segments
and the user-created trail alignment
currently referred to as the Long Trail
(see map #2 at https://www.fs.fed.us/
nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project
=43405).
• The Long Trail would cross Little
Rock Creek in two places (referred to in
this analysis as the 1st and 2nd
crossings). At the 2nd crossing, install a
removable 3′–4′ wide by approximately
14′ long stream crossing platform. The
platform would be built so that it could
be easily removed and re-installed based
on the seasonal closure periods. See
sample images of platform crossings in
the fact sheet posted at https://
www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_
exp.php?project=43405.
• At the 1st stream crossing, materials
deposited over several years create an
artificial bridge that would continue to
be used as a stream crossing. The
material keeps people out of the stream,
and it has also been determined that
removing the material could create more
resource damage than if left in place.
• Place interpretive signage and
barriers to discourage entry into closure
areas and encourage resource
protection.
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17:14 Aug 05, 2014
Jkt 232001
• At the terminus of the Long Trail at
Williamson Rock, install an information
kiosk displaying a map of the existing
climbing routes available for use, site
use etiquette and rules, and clearly
identified closed areas.
4. Construct Pacific Crest National
Scenic Trail bridge.
• Construct a bridge for PCT users at
the point where the trail crosses Little
Rock Creek within the closure area (SW
1⁄4, Section 12, T. 3N, R. 10W). See map
and image of proposed bridge location
in the fact sheet posted at https://
www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_
exp.php?project=43405.
5. Manage human waste.
• Removal of human waste would be
required in the Williamson Rock Visitor
Use Permit Area and along the Long
Trail corridor. Permit holders must bag
and remove all human waste (feces) and
toilet paper, and deposit in a disposal
container to be installed at the Kratka
Ridge trailhead/parking area. The
presence of human waste in these areas
would be monitored to determine
compliance.
• Install a vault toilet at the Kratka
Ridge trailhead/parking area.
• Provide interpretive signing within
the Visitor Use Permit Area, trailhead/
parking area, and along the Long Trail
regarding human waste disposal
requirements.
• Hikers on the PCT would be
required to deposit human body waste
in cat-holes dug at least 100 feet from
any surface freshwater source, and to
remove toilet paper as trash.
6. Implement botanical resource
requirements (Include in all action
alternatives).
• Sensitive plant species found
within the project area shall be flagged
and avoided prior to, and during
construction activities.
• (1) All heavy equipment and
vegetation maintenance tools (e.g., chain
saws, hand clippers, pruners) shall be
cleaned prior to entering National Forest
System lands. (2) Any transport vehicles
that have operated in an off-road area
since that vehicle’s last washing shall be
cleaned prior to entering National Forest
System lands.
• Cutting or removal of trees shall be
done by or under the direction of a
silviculturist.
• Install and maintain appropriate
weed free erosion/sediment control
measures, as needed per the erosion
control plan, throughout the duration of
work activities. Wattles or hay bales
shall be made of rice straw and netted
in biodegradable material.
• If necessary, barriers will be
installed or replaced to limit
unauthorized off-highway vehicle
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activity after trail construction
activities.
• During the growing season
following trail construction, a survey for
weed species would be conducted along
the trail and associated disturbance
areas to ensure that new/expanding
weed species are removed/controlled.
7. Prevent access to user-created
trails.
• Install natural barriers at access
points to user-created trails within the
project area, to prevent use and
encourage natural regeneration.
• Monitor trespass activity to
determine if additional measures would
be needed.
8. Develop a monitoring and adaptive
management plan.
• A monitoring and adaptive
management plan for the closure area
and Williamson Rock Visitor User
Permit Area would be developed and
adopted as a part of implementation, to
determine appropriate use levels and
seasons over time.
Possible Alternatives: In addition to
the proposed action, the EIS will
evaluate the required No Action
alternative and will likely consider
other alternatives identified through the
interdisciplinary process and public
participation.
Responsible Official: Thomas A.
Contreras, Forest Supervisor, Angeles
National Forest, Supervisor’s Office, 701
N. Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, CA
91006.
Nature of Decision to be Made: The
responsible official will decide whether
to adopt and implement the proposed
action, or an alternative to the proposed
action, or take no action with respect to
the Williamson Rock/PCT project.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. The Forest Service is
soliciting comments from federal, state
and local agencies and other individuals
or organizations that may be interested
in or affected by implementation of the
proposed project.
Public questions and comments
regarding this proposal are an integral
part of this environmental analysis
process. Input provided by interested
and/or affected individuals,
organizations and governmental
agencies will be used to identify
resource issues that will be analyzed in
the environmental impact statement.
The Forest Service will identify
significant issues raised during the
scoping process, and use them to
formulate alternatives, prescribe
mitigation measures and project design
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 151 / Wednesday, August 6, 2014 / Notices
features, or analyze environmental
effects.
We are particularly interested in
hearing about any potential issues,
which are defined as points of
discussion, dispute, or debate about the
effects of the proposed action. Your
participation will help the
interdisciplinary team develop effective,
issue-driven alternatives and
mitigations to the proposed action as
needed. It is important that reviewers
provide their comments at such times
and in such a manner that they are
useful to the agency’s preparation of the
environmental impact statement.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions.
The project was originally proposed
as an environmental assessment, and an
opportunity for public scoping
comments was provided between
December 18, 2013 and January 24,
2014. The proposed action in the EA has
been modified for the EIS. If you
previously commented on the project,
your comments have been and will
continue to be considered in the
development of alternatives. In order to
move forward with this project, we ask
that you do not repeat your comments.
Following alternative development, the
Forest Service will be providing another
opportunity to comment on the
alternatives and analysis. If you have
any new comments, we welcome those
at this time.
Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including names and
addresses of those who comment, will
be part of the public project record for
this proposed action. Comments
submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered; however,
anonymous comments will not provide
the agency with the ability to provide
the respondent with subsequent
environmental documents.
Dated: July 29, 2014.
Thomas A. Contreras,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014–18553 Filed 8–5–14; 8:45 am]
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BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest;
Oregon; Notice of Intent To Prepare a
Supplement to the 2012 Final
Environmental Impact Statement for
Snow Basin Vegetation Management
Project
AGENCY:
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare a
supplemental environmental impact
statement.
ACTION:
The USDA Forest Service will
prepare a Supplement to the Snow
Basin Vegetation Management Project
Final Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) to address the environmental
impact of the project on elk and elk
habitat, as directed by the United States
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
in League of Wilderness Defenders/Blue
Mountains Biodiversity Project v.
Connaughton, 752 F.3d 755, 767 (9th
Cir. 2014). Specifically, the court held
that ‘plaintiffs are likely to prevail on
their claim that a supplemental EIS
must be completed to show the
environmental impact of the Snow
Basin project on elk and their habitat
now that the [Travel Management Plan]
has been withdrawn.’ Id. at 761.
SUMMARY:
Dea
Nelson, Environmental Coordinator,
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, PO
Box 907, Baker City, OR 97814; or, 541–
523–1216; or, dnelson09@fs.fed.us.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday.
In March
2012, the Final EIS for the Snow Basin
Vegetation Management Project was
completed. A Record of Decision was
signed on March 19, 2012. These
documents, which include descriptions
of the purpose and need for the project
and the proposed action, can be found
at https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/
SnowBasin. The supplemental EIS will
provide additional information to clarify
the impacts on elk of the Snow Basin
project without considering the travel
management plan decision, which was
withdrawn in April 2012. A draft
supplemental EIS is estimated to be
available in November 2014, and the
final in February 2015.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Wallowa-Whitman Forest Supervisor.
17:14 Aug 05, 2014
Jkt 232001
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will decide
whether or not to incorporate the
supplemental information into the FEIS.
The Responsible Official will also
document the decision and reasons for
the decision in a new record of decision
consistent with the scope of the
supplement. This decision will be
subject to Forest Service predecisional
objection procedures (36 CFR part 218,
Subparts A and B).
Scoping Process
Scoping is not required for
supplements to environmental impact
statements (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4)).
Scoping was conducted for the original
EIS. The supplement will be subject to
notice and comment. A draft
supplemental EIS will be published and
made available for review and comment
for 45 days, following direction at 36
CFR part 218 § 218.22 and § 218.24.
Dated: July 29, 2014.
John Laurence,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014–18577 Filed 8–5–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Responsible Official
VerDate Mar<15>2010
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[C–570–938]
Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts
From the People’s Republic of China:
Final Results of Expedited Sunset
Review of the Countervailing Duty
Order
Enforcement and Compliance,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce
(‘‘the Department’’) finds that revocation
of the countervailing duty order
(‘‘CVD’’) order on citric acid and certain
citrate salts (‘‘citric acid’’) from the
People’s Republic of China (‘‘PRC’’)
would be likely to lead to continuation
or recurrence of a countervailable
subsidy at the levels indicated in the
‘‘Final Results of Review’’ section of this
notice.
Effective Date: August 6, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Patricia Tran, Office III, AD/CVD
Operations, Enforcement and
Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230;
telephone: (202) 482–1503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
AGENCY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45759-45761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18553]
[[Page 45759]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Angeles National Forest; Los Angeles County, CA Williamson Rock/
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) Project EIS
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Angeles National Forest proposes to provide limited,
managed recreational activities in the vicinity of Williamson Rock. The
proposed action would include allowing access to the Pacific Crest
National Scenic Trail (PCT) and limited access to Williamson Rock for
rock climbing, while protecting the federally listed mountain yellow-
legged frog (MYLF) and other unique resources. The area has been closed
to the public since 2006, either by Forest Order or court injunction,
to protect the MYLF.
The project was originally proposed as an environmental assessment,
and an opportunity for public scoping comments was provided from
December 18, 2013 through January 24, 2014. Preliminary issues
identified during scoping indicated that there may be significant
effects resulting from the proposed action. Responsible official,
Forest Supervisor Thomas A. Contreras, has decided to prepare an EIS
instead of an EA for this project. The proposed action in the EA has
been modified for the EIS.
DATES: Comments on the proposed action should be submitted within 30
days of the date of publication of this Notice of Intent in the Federal
Register. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is expected to
be available for public review in Spring 2015 and the Final EIS is
expected in Fall 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
Mailed to the Angeles National Forest; Attn: Jose
Henriquez, Williamson Rock/PCT ID Team; 701 N. Santa Anita Avenue,
Arcadia, CA 91006;
Delivered to the address shown above during business hours
(M-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.);
Submitted electronically, in common formats (.doc, .pdf,
.rtf, .txt), to: comments-pacificsouthwest-angeles@fs.fed.us with
Subject: Williamson Rock.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jose Henriquez, 701 N. Santa Anita
Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006; (626) 574-5277. A scoping package, maps and
other information are online at: https://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=43405.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
General Background: Williamson Rock is a well-known High Country
recreation area used predominately for rock climbing, located within
the Santa Clara-Mojave Rivers Ranger District, in upper Little Rock
Canyon. It has been utilized by climbers since the 1960's and is
regarded as one of the unique rock climbing resources in southern
California, due to its mild summer temperatures and close proximity to
urban centers. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) traverses
the project area, paralleling and periodically crossing Little Rock
Creek and its tributaries for approximately 2 miles. The mountain
yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa--MYLF) occupies habitat in Little Rock
Creek, within the Williamson Rock area. The area is also home to a
nesting pair of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus), as well as a
Forest Service Sensitive plant species, Johnston's buckwheat (Eriogonum
microthecum var. johnstonii).
Purpose and Need for Action: The Forest Service continues to
receive high demand for the resumption of recreation opportunities in
the Williamson Rock area. Specifically, there is a need for the public
use and enjoyment of the PCT where it passes through the project area,
in accordance with the management objectives specified in the PCTA/
Forest Service Memorandum of Understanding and PCT Comprehensive
Management Plan. Consistent with the Angeles National Forest Land
Management Plan recreation goals and objectives, there is also a need
for a quality, sustainable rock climbing opportunity at Williamson
Rock.
In achieving these needs, this proposal and any alternatives must
achieve the following purposes:
Provide protective measures for the federally listed MYLF,
and the Primary Constituent Elements of the Designated Critical Habitat
in the project area.
Protect other listed or otherwise unique resources in the
Williamson Rock area (specifically: Peregrine falcon, Johnston's
buckwheat, and an eligible Wild and Scenic River).
Monitor recreation activity to manage compliance of
natural resource protective measures.
Proposed Action: In meeting the needs for action, the following
measures are proposed:
1. Implement long-term closure of Little Rock Creek corridor and
adjacent areas.
Implement a long-term closure of the stream corridor (10
meters beyond high water mark) within MYLF Designated Critical Habitat
(DCH) and adjacent areas between the stream corridor and CA-2 within
Section 12, T. 3N, R. 10W and Section 7, T.3N, R. 11W as shown on maps
1 and 2 (see https://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=43405). These are areas that have historically
provided direct human access into the DCH, or contain climbing routes
within the stream habitat. The closure would include all stream-based
rock climbing routes (e.g. the ``Stream Wall'' and ``London Wall''), as
well as the area of ``user-created'' braided trails and paths along
scree slopes between CA-2 and Williamson Rock. Exceptions to this
closure are as follows:
[cir] Exception: The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) is
within the proposed closure area, and would remain open year around
(see further discussion of the PCT below).
[cir] Exception: The Long Trail, a new system trail which would
access the Williamson Rock Visitor Use Permit Area, would be within the
proposed closure boundaries, and would remain open from August 1 to
November 15 to people having a valid Visitor Use Permit (see further
discussion of the Long Trail below).
2. Implement a visitor use permit system and seasonal closures for
the Williamson Rock Visitor Use Permit Area.
Designate a day-use Visitor Use Permit Area that
encompasses the Williamson Rock Trailhead and parking, the Long Trail,
and the Williamson Rock climbing areas as shown on maps 1 and
2 (see https://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=43405). Visitors to this area would be required to
obtain a Visitor Use Permit through the National Recreation Reservation
Service (NRRS).
A seasonal closure of the Visitor Use Permit Area would be
implemented from November 16 to July 31, to minimize impacts to MYLF
and/or peregrine falcons.
During the open season (August 1 to November 15), Visitor
Use Permits would be reserved in advance through NRRS online or by
calling the NRRS toll-free number. Permits would not be issued by local
Forest Service offices.
At least one Forest Service site manager with citation
authorization would be onsite each day that the Visitor Use Permit Area
is open. Funding for this site management would be provided by a
combination of grants, partner contributions, user fees, and federal
budget allocations.
The Forest Service would use the NRRS system to provide
permit users
[[Page 45760]]
with educational information about the area, including regulations,
human waste disposal requirements, and resource protection concerns and
requirements.
A limited number of permits would be issued each day,
based on site capacity (including parking capacity at the Kratka Ridge
parking lot on CA-2). The permit system would be governed by an
``either/or'' quota mechanism that would initially issue permits each
day for no more than 90 persons to access the rock and no more than 30
vehicles (based on available number of parking stalls) to park at the
designated trail head.
The number of visitor use permits issued would be adjusted
up or down as determined by an adaptive management process that would
consider the following three metrics/indicators:
[cir] MYLF population reports
[cir] Permit compliance
[cir] Available funding for onsite Forest Service management
Dogs and other domestic animals would be prohibited (PCT
exempt), unless they are service animals covered under DOJ 28 CFR Part
35.136--also applies to federal agencies under Section 504.
3. Provide developed recreation facilities to access Williamson
Rock.
Establish a system trail (approximately 1.2 miles in
length) to the east side of Williamson Rock from the Kratka Ridge
parking lot, partially using abandoned logging road segments and the
user-created trail alignment currently referred to as the Long Trail
(see map 2 at https://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=43405 =43405).
The Long Trail would cross Little Rock Creek in two places
(referred to in this analysis as the 1st and 2nd crossings). At the 2nd
crossing, install a removable 3'-4' wide by approximately 14' long
stream crossing platform. The platform would be built so that it could
be easily removed and re-installed based on the seasonal closure
periods. See sample images of platform crossings in the fact sheet
posted at https://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=43405.
At the 1st stream crossing, materials deposited over
several years create an artificial bridge that would continue to be
used as a stream crossing. The material keeps people out of the stream,
and it has also been determined that removing the material could create
more resource damage than if left in place.
Place interpretive signage and barriers to discourage
entry into closure areas and encourage resource protection.
At the terminus of the Long Trail at Williamson Rock,
install an information kiosk displaying a map of the existing climbing
routes available for use, site use etiquette and rules, and clearly
identified closed areas.
4. Construct Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail bridge.
Construct a bridge for PCT users at the point where the
trail crosses Little Rock Creek within the closure area (SW \1/4\,
Section 12, T. 3N, R. 10W). See map and image of proposed bridge
location in the fact sheet posted at https://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=43405.
5. Manage human waste.
Removal of human waste would be required in the Williamson
Rock Visitor Use Permit Area and along the Long Trail corridor. Permit
holders must bag and remove all human waste (feces) and toilet paper,
and deposit in a disposal container to be installed at the Kratka Ridge
trailhead/parking area. The presence of human waste in these areas
would be monitored to determine compliance.
Install a vault toilet at the Kratka Ridge trailhead/
parking area.
Provide interpretive signing within the Visitor Use Permit
Area, trailhead/parking area, and along the Long Trail regarding human
waste disposal requirements.
Hikers on the PCT would be required to deposit human body
waste in cat-holes dug at least 100 feet from any surface freshwater
source, and to remove toilet paper as trash.
6. Implement botanical resource requirements (Include in all action
alternatives).
Sensitive plant species found within the project area
shall be flagged and avoided prior to, and during construction
activities.
(1) All heavy equipment and vegetation maintenance tools
(e.g., chain saws, hand clippers, pruners) shall be cleaned prior to
entering National Forest System lands. (2) Any transport vehicles that
have operated in an off-road area since that vehicle's last washing
shall be cleaned prior to entering National Forest System lands.
Cutting or removal of trees shall be done by or under the
direction of a silviculturist.
Install and maintain appropriate weed free erosion/
sediment control measures, as needed per the erosion control plan,
throughout the duration of work activities. Wattles or hay bales shall
be made of rice straw and netted in biodegradable material.
If necessary, barriers will be installed or replaced to
limit unauthorized off-highway vehicle activity after trail
construction activities.
During the growing season following trail construction, a
survey for weed species would be conducted along the trail and
associated disturbance areas to ensure that new/expanding weed species
are removed/controlled.
7. Prevent access to user-created trails.
Install natural barriers at access points to user-created
trails within the project area, to prevent use and encourage natural
regeneration.
Monitor trespass activity to determine if additional
measures would be needed.
8. Develop a monitoring and adaptive management plan.
A monitoring and adaptive management plan for the closure
area and Williamson Rock Visitor User Permit Area would be developed
and adopted as a part of implementation, to determine appropriate use
levels and seasons over time.
Possible Alternatives: In addition to the proposed action, the EIS
will evaluate the required No Action alternative and will likely
consider other alternatives identified through the interdisciplinary
process and public participation.
Responsible Official: Thomas A. Contreras, Forest Supervisor,
Angeles National Forest, Supervisor's Office, 701 N. Santa Anita
Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006.
Nature of Decision to be Made: The responsible official will decide
whether to adopt and implement the proposed action, or an alternative
to the proposed action, or take no action with respect to the
Williamson Rock/PCT project.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. The Forest
Service is soliciting comments from federal, state and local agencies
and other individuals or organizations that may be interested in or
affected by implementation of the proposed project.
Public questions and comments regarding this proposal are an
integral part of this environmental analysis process. Input provided by
interested and/or affected individuals, organizations and governmental
agencies will be used to identify resource issues that will be analyzed
in the environmental impact statement. The Forest Service will identify
significant issues raised during the scoping process, and use them to
formulate alternatives, prescribe mitigation measures and project
design
[[Page 45761]]
features, or analyze environmental effects.
We are particularly interested in hearing about any potential
issues, which are defined as points of discussion, dispute, or debate
about the effects of the proposed action. Your participation will help
the interdisciplinary team develop effective, issue-driven alternatives
and mitigations to the proposed action as needed. It is important that
reviewers provide their comments at such times and in such a manner
that they are useful to the agency's preparation of the environmental
impact statement. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the
close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the
reviewer's concerns and contentions.
The project was originally proposed as an environmental assessment,
and an opportunity for public scoping comments was provided between
December 18, 2013 and January 24, 2014. The proposed action in the EA
has been modified for the EIS. If you previously commented on the
project, your comments have been and will continue to be considered in
the development of alternatives. In order to move forward with this
project, we ask that you do not repeat your comments. Following
alternative development, the Forest Service will be providing another
opportunity to comment on the alternatives and analysis. If you have
any new comments, we welcome those at this time.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public project
record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide
the agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent
environmental documents.
Dated: July 29, 2014.
Thomas A. Contreras,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-18553 Filed 8-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
