Tahoe National Forest; California; Tahoe National Forest Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV) Use Designation Environmental Impact Statement, 9431-9432 [2015-03595]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9431-9432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03595]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Tahoe National Forest; California; Tahoe National Forest Over-
Snow Vehicle (OSV) Use Designation Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture will 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to 
designate over-snow vehicle (OSV) use on National Forest System (NFS) 
roads, NFS trails, and areas on NFS lands within the Tahoe National 
Forest; and to identify snow trails for grooming within the Tahoe 
National Forest. In addition, the Forest Service is proposing to 
establish snow depths for OSV use and snow grooming.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by March 25, 2015. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
in January 2016, and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected in August 2016.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Michael Woodbridge, on behalf of 
Tom Quinn, Forest Supervisor, Tahoe National Forest, 631 Coyote Street, 
Nevada City, CA 95959. Comments may also be sent via facsimile to 530-
478-6109 or submitted on the Tahoe National Forest OSV Designation Web 
page: https://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=45914.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Woodbridge, Public Affairs 
Officer, USDA Forest Service, Tahoe National Forest, 631 Coyote Street, 
Nevada City, CA 95959; phone 530-478-6205; email 
mjwoodbridge@fs.fed.us. Hours for personal communication at the 
Supervisor's Office are between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time, 
Monday through Friday.
    Individuals with a hearing or speech disability may dial 711 for 
Telecommunication Relay Services.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Snow Trail Grooming Program: For over 30 years, the Forest Service, 
Pacific Southwest Region, in cooperation with the California Department 
of Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) 
Division has enhanced winter recreation, and more specifically 
snowmobiling recreation, by maintaining NFS trails (snow trails) by 
grooming snow for snowmobile use. Most groomed snow trails are co-
located on underlying NFS roads. Some grooming occurs on county roads 
and closed snow-covered highways. Most grooming activities are 
currently funded by the state off-highway vehicle trust fund.
    The Forest Service manages OSV use on the Tahoe National Forest 
consistent with management direction contained in the Tahoe National 
Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). The following 
summarizes current management of OSV use on approximately 829,510 acres 
of NFS lands in the Tahoe National Forest:
    1. Approximately 236 miles of designated NFS OSV trails;
    2. Of the approximately 236 miles of designated NFS OSV trails, 
approximately 188 miles are OSV trails available for grooming;
    3. Approximately 105 miles of NFS trail (Pacific Crest Trail) is 
closed to OSV use;
    4. Approximately 48,756 acres of NFS land is restricted to 
designated routes only;
    5. Approximately 1,408 acres of NFS land is closed to OSV use from 
September 15 through December 31.
    6. Approximately 669,537 acres of NFS land is open to off-trail 
cross-country OSV use; and
    7. Approximately 109,808 acres of NFS land is closed to OSV use.
    The final amended Subpart C of the Travel Management Rule was 
issued on January 28, 2015 (80 FR 4500, Jan. 28, 2015), and becomes 
effective on February 27, 2015. The final rule states: ``Over-snow 
vehicle use on NFS roads, on NFS trails, and in areas on NFS lands 
shall be designated by the Responsible Official on administrative units 
or Ranger Districts, or parts of administrative units or Ranger 
Districts, of the NFS where snowfall is adequate for that use to occur, 
and, if appropriate, shall be designated by class of vehicle and time 
of year . . .'' (36 CFR 212.81 (a)). Further, under 36 CFR 261.14, it 
is prohibited to possess or operate an OSV on NFS lands in that 
administrative unit or Ranger District other than in accordance with 
those designations. OSV designations made as a result of the analysis 
in this Environmental Impact Statement would conform to the final 
Subpart C of the Travel Management Rule.

Purpose and Need for Action

    One purpose of this project is to effectively manage OSV use on the 
Tahoe National Forest to provide access, ensure that OSV use occurs 
when there is adequate snow, promote the safety of all users, enhance 
public enjoyment, minimize impacts to natural and cultural resources, 
and minimize conflicts among the various uses.
    There is a need to provide a manageable, designated OSV system of 
trails and areas within the Tahoe National Forest that is consistent 
with and achieves the purposes of the Forest Service Travel Management 
Rule at 36 CFR part 212. This action responds to direction provided by 
the Forest Service's Travel Management Rule at 36 CFR part 212 and 
Subpart C of the Travel Management Rule.
    The existing system of OSV trails and areas open for OSV use on the 
Tahoe National Forest results from implementation of Forest Plan 
management direction for OSV use. Public OSV use of the majority of 
this existing system continues to be manageable and consistent with 
current travel management regulations. Exceptions have been identified, 
based on internal and informal public input and the criteria listed at 
36 CFR 212.55. These include needs to protect natural resources, 
provide improved access for OSV users, provide improved quiet winter 
recreation opportunities and ensure consistency with overall management 
area direction contained in the Forest Plan. These exceptions represent 
additional needs for change, and in these cases, changes are proposed 
to meet the overall objectives.
    The snow trail grooming analysis would also address the need to 
provide a high quality snowmobile trail system on the Tahoe National 
Forest that is

[[Page 9432]]

smooth and stable for the rider. Groomed trails are designed so the 
novice rider can use them without difficulty.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service proposes the following:
    1. To designate OSV use on NFS roads, NFS trails, and areas on NFS 
lands within the Tahoe National Forest where snow depth is adequate for 
that use to occur. The Tahoe National Forest is proposing off-trail 
cross-country OSV use covering 665,717 acres. Trails where OSV use 
would be allowed would total 236 miles.
    2. To identify approximately 188 miles of the Tahoe National 
Forest's approximately 236 miles of designated OSV trails as available 
for snow grooming.
    3. To implement a standard of 12 inches of snow depth or more for 
snow trail grooming when funds and equipment are used from sources 
other than the OHMVR Division. When using OHMVR Division funds, their 
snow depth standards will be used.
    4. To implement a Forest-wide snow depth requirement for OSV use 
that would provide for public safety and natural and cultural resource 
protection by (1) allowing OSV use in designated areas when there is a 
minimum of 12 inches of snow covering the landscape, and (2) allowing 
OSV use on designated NFS roads and designated NFS trails when there is 
a minimum of 6 inches of snow covering the road or trail. When the 
snow-depth requirement is not met, OSV use would be prohibited. Most 
snow trails would be located on existing dirt, gravel, or paved trails 
or roads. These trails and roads are used in the summer for highway 
vehicle and off highway vehicle uses.
    5. To establish OSV use prohibitions in three areas. OSV use is 
currently prohibited on 109,808 acres of the Tahoe National Forest in 
accordance with the existing Forest Plan management direction. These 
current OSV prohibitions would continue. The Tahoe National Forest has 
identified three additional areas in which OSV use would be prohibited. 
Adopting these prohibitions would require an amendment to the Forest 
Plan. These areas are:
    a. High Loch Leven (approximately 3,117 acres)--To provide 
increased non-motorized winter recreation opportunities in the Loch 
Leven Management Area.
    b. Robinson Flat Cultural (approximately 1 acre)--To protect 
fragile historic building structures from damage by snowmobile use. 
Snowmobile riders are known to use the snow covered roofs of the 
historic structures as ramps at Robinson Flat.
    c. Independence Lake Donated Parcels (approximately 703 acres)--To 
protect watershed values on steep terrain within the Independence Lake 
watershed which provides habitat for the Lahontan cutthroat trout, a 
species listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
    6. To designate OSV crossings for the Pacific Crest Trail. There 
would be two designated crossings, as well as two sections in which an 
OSV trail and the Pacific Crest Trail share the same route where the 
Pacific Crest Trail is located on roads.
    OSV use inconsistent with these designations would be prohibited 
under 36 CFR part 261 once the decision is issued and OSV use maps are 
made available to the public.
    The use designations resulting from this analysis would only apply 
to the use of OSVs. An OSV is defined in the Forest Service's Travel 
Management Regulations as ``a motor vehicle that is designed for use 
over snow and that runs on a track or tracks and/or a ski or skis, 
while in use over snow'' (36 CFR 212.1).
    Limited administrative use by the Forest Service; use of any fire, 
military, emergency, or law enforcement vehicle for emergency purposes; 
authorized use of any combat or combat support vehicle for national 
defense purposes; law enforcement response to violations of law, 
including pursuit; and OSV use that is specifically authorized under a 
written authorization issued under Federal law or regulations would be 
exempt from these designations (36 CFR 212.81(a)).
    These actions would begin immediately upon the issuance of the 
record of decision, which is expected in December of 2016. The Forest 
Service would produce an OSV use map that would resemble the existing 
motor vehicle use map for the Tahoe National Forest. Such a map would 
allow the public to identify the routes and areas where OSV use would 
be allowed on the Tahoe National Forest.

Responsible Official

    The Tahoe National Forest Supervisor will issue the decision.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    This decision will designate OSV use on NFS roads, on NFS trails, 
and in areas on NFS lands in the Tahoe National Forest where snowfall 
is adequate for that use to occur. It will also identify the NFS trails 
available for snow grooming. The decision would only apply to the use 
of OSVs as defined in the Forest Service's Travel Management 
Regulations (36 CFR 212.1). The Forest Supervisor will consider all 
reasonable alternatives and decide whether to continue current 
management of OSV uses on the Tahoe National Forest, implement the 
proposed action, or select an alternative for the management of OSV 
use.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.
    Scoping meetings will be held between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Pacific 
Time at the following locations:
    March 2: Nevada City, Supervisor's Office, 631 Coyote Street, 
Nevada City, CA 95959.
    March 3: Truckee, Truckee Ranger Station, 10811 Stockrest Springs 
Road, Truckee, CA 96161.
    March 4: Sierraville, Sierraville Ranger District, 317 South 
Lincoln Street, Sierraville, CA 96126.
    March 5: Sierra City, Sierra City Community Hall, 13 Castagna 
Alley, Sierra City, CA 96125.
    Foresthill--Date and location to be determined.
    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 also be 
accepted and considered.
    The Tahoe National Forest OSV Use Designation Project is an 
activity implementing a land management plan. It is not an activity 
authorized under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 
108-148). Therefore, this activity is subject to pre-decisional 
administrative review consistent with the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-74) as implemented by Subparts A and B of 36 
CFR part 218. Certain portions of the proposed action would amend the 
Forest Plan. These actions are subject to pre-decisional administrative 
review, pursuant to Subpart B of the Planning Rule (36 CFR part 219).

    Dated: February 13, 2015.
Tom Quinn,
Forest Supervisor, Tahoe National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2015-03595 Filed 2-20-15; 8:45 am]
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