Stanislaus National Forest; California; Stanislaus National Forest Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV) Use Designation Environmental Impact Statement, 36760-36763 [2015-15724]
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36760
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 123 / Friday, June 26, 2015 / Notices
Description of Respondents:
Individuals or households.
Number of Respondents: 480.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
Other (once).
Total Burden Hours: 157.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015–15664 Filed 6–25–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–DM–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2015–0045]
Notice of Extension of Approval of an
Information Collection; PPQ Form 816,
Contract Pilot and Aircraft Acceptance
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Extension of approval of an
information collection; comment
request.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this
notice announces the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service’s intention to
request an extension of approval of an
information collection associated with
the use of contract pilots and aircraft in
Plant Protection and Quarantine
domestic, emergency, and biological
control programs.
DATES: We will consider all comments
that we receive on or before August 25,
2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0045.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery:
Send your comment to Docket No.
APHIS–2015–0045, Regulatory Analysis
and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station
3A–03.8, 4700 River Road Unit 118,
Riverdale, MD 20737–1238.
Supporting documents and any
comments we receive on this docket
may be viewed at https://
www.regulations.gov/
#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2015-0045 or
in our reading room, which is located in
room 1141 of the USDA South Building,
14th Street and Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading
room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except
holidays. To be sure someone is there to
help you, please call (202) 799–7039
before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information on contract pilot and
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SUMMARY:
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aircraft acceptance, contact Mr. Timothy
Roland, Director, Aircraft and
Equipment Operations, PPQ, APHIS,
22675 N. Moorefield Road, Bldg. 6430,
Edinburg, TX 78541; (956) 205–7710.
For copies of more detailed information
on the information collection, contact
Ms. Kimberly Hardy, APHIS’
Information Collection Coordinator, at
(301) 851–2727.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: PPQ Form 816, Contract Pilot
and Aircraft Acceptance.
OMB Control Number: 0579–0298.
Type of Request: Extension of
approval of an information collection.
Abstract: The Plant Protection Act
(7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) authorizes the
Secretary of Agriculture, either
independently or in cooperation with
States, to carry out operations or
measures to detect, eradicate, suppress,
control, prevent, or retard the spread of
plant pests and noxious weeds that are
new to or not widely distributed within
the United States. This authority has
been delegated to the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
As part of this mission, APHIS’ Plant
Protection and Quarantine (PPQ)
program responds to introductions of
plant pests with eradication,
suppression, or containment through
various programs in cooperation with
State departments of agriculture and
other government agencies. These
programs may include the aerial
application of treatments to control
plant pests.
APHIS contracts for these services,
and prior to any aerial applications,
requests certain information from the
contractors and/or contract pilots to
ensure that the work will be done
according to contract specifications.
Among other things, APHIS asks to see
the aircraft registration, the aircraft’s
airworthiness certificate, the pilot’s
license, the pilot’s medical certification,
the pilot’s proof of flight review, the
pilot’s pesticide applicator’s license,
and the aircraft logbook. APHIS
transfers information from these
documents to PPQ Form 816, which is
then signed by the APHIS official
collecting the information and the
contractor or contract pilot, indicating
acceptance of the pilot and aircraft for
the job.
We are asking the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) to
approve our use of these information
collection activities for an additional 3
years.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit
comments from the public (as well as
affected agencies) concerning our
information collection. These comments
will help us:
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(1) Evaluate whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our
estimate of the burden of the collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, through use, as
appropriate, of automated, electronic,
mechanical, and other collection
technologies; e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses.
Estimate of burden: The public
reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average
0.267 hours per response.
Respondents: Contractors and/or
contract pilots of aircraft.
Estimated annual number of
respondents: 15.
Estimated annual number of
responses per respondent: 1.
Estimated annual number of
responses: 15.
Estimated total annual burden on
respondents: 4 hours. (Due to averaging,
the total annual burden hours may not
equal the product of the annual number
of responses multiplied by the reporting
burden per response.)
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
also become a matter of public record.
Done in Washington, DC, this 22nd day of
June 2015.
Michael C. Gregoire,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–15739 Filed 6–25–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Stanislaus National Forest; California;
Stanislaus National Forest Over-Snow
Vehicle (OSV) Use Designation
Environmental Impact Statement
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Forest Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture will prepare
an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) on a proposal to designate oversnow vehicle (OSV) use on National
Forest System (NFS) roads, NFS trails,
SUMMARY:
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and areas on NFS lands within the
Stanislaus National Forest; and to
identify snow trails for grooming within
the Stanislaus 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
August 10, 2015. The draft
environmental impact statement is
expected in July 2016, and the final
environmental impact statement is
expected in April 2017.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Phyllis Ashmead, on behalf of Jeanne
Higgins, Forest Supervisor, Stanislaus
National Forest, 19777 Greenley Road,
Sonora, CA 95370. Comments may also
be sent via facsimile to 209–533–1890 or
submitted on the Stanislaus National
Forest OSV Designation Web page:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/
?project=46311
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Phyllis Ashmead, OSV Team Leader,
USDA Forest Service, Stanislaus
National Forest, 19777 Greenley Road,
Sonora, CA 95370; phone 209–532–6371
ext. 322; email pashmead@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:
For over 30 years, the Forest Service,
Pacific Southwest Region, in
cooperation with the California
Department of Parks and
Recreation(California State Parks) OffHighway Motor Vehicle Recreation
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.
Grooming activities are funded by the
state off-highway vehicle trust fund.
The following summarizes current
management of OSV use on
approximately 900,106 acres of NFS
lands in the Stanislaus National Forest:
1. Approximately 58 miles of NFS
groomed OSV trails exist(historically
the Forest has groomed Highland Lakes
Road 5.0 miles, an Alpine County road
on the Calaveras Ranger District, these
5.0 miles are not included in this
summary);
2. The remainder of the Forest is open
for cross country snowmobile use
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except congressionally designated
Wilderness and other special areas.
During the development of the 1991
Stanislaus National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan, areas
designated as Near Natural were
intended to be managed as semiprimitive non-motorized; however, they
were never formally closed to OSV use.
As a result, some of these areas have
been used historically by OSV riders
either due to proximity to other areas of
use or the type of experience they offer.
In some cases user groups have worked
through conflict and agreed to
subsequent adjustments in locations
available for OSV including Round
Valley on the Calaveras Ranger District
and the Crabtree area near Dodge Ridge
on the Summit Ranger District. Both of
these areas are managed for quiet winter
recreation (both closed to OSV
use).Thus, approximately 532,696 acres
of NFS lands are open to off-trail, crosscountry OSV use. In some areas, user
conflicts remain unresolved (Pacific
Valley and portions of the Eagle/Night
Near Natural Areas);
3. Approximately 367,410 acres of
NFS land are closed to OSV use;
4. There are two designated crossings
of the Pacific Crest Trail from the
Bridgeport Winter Sports Area south of
Sonora Pass on the Humboldt-Toiyabe
National Forest.
The final Subpart C of the Travel
Management Rule went into effect 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
The purpose of this project is twofold:
first, to effectively manage OSV use on
the Stanislaus National Forest by
providing access, ensuring that OSV use
occurs when there is adequate snow,
promoting the safety of all users,
enhancing public enjoyment,
minimizing impacts to natural and
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36761
cultural resources, and minimizing
conflicts among the various uses.
Secondly, the project identifies OSV
trails where the Forest Service or its
contractors would conduct grooming for
OSV use. Under the terms of the
Settlement Agreement between the
Forest Service and Snowlands Network,
et al., the Forest Service is required to
complete the appropriate NEPA analysis
to identify snow trails for grooming on
the Stanislaus National Forest.
There is a need to provide a
manageable, designated OSV system of
trails and areas within the Stanislaus
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.
The existing system of available OSV
trails and areas on the Stanislaus
National Forest is the culmination of
multiple agency decisions over recent
decades. Public OSV use of the majority
of this available system continues to be
manageable and consistent with current
travel management regulations.
Exceptions have been identified, based
on internal and public input and the
criteria for designating roads, trails, and
areas listed at 36 CFR 212.55. These
include needs to provide improved
access for OSV users and enact
prohibitions required by the 1991
Stanislaus National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan and other
management direction. These
exceptions represent additional needs
for change, and in these cases, changes
are proposed to meet the overall
objectives. Adopting some changes
would require an amendment to the
Forest Plan as identified in the Proposed
Action.
The Forest Service has identified
areas where OSV use should be
prohibited based on management
direction in the Forest Plan. The
proposed action will prohibit OSV use
of these trails and in these areas to be
consistent with the Forest Plan. The
prohibitions will be implemented
through Forest Orders.
The snow trail grooming analysis
would also address the need to provide
a high quality snowmobile trail system
on the Stanislaus National Forest that is
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 123 / Friday, June 26, 2015 / Notices
lands within the Stanislaus National
Forest where snowfall depth is adequate
for that use to occur;
2. To identify 58 miles of designated
OSV trails that would be groomed on
the Stanislaus National Forest. Trail
mileages are estimates only;
3. To work with Tuolumne and
Alpine Counties to groom Clark’s Fork
Road (9 miles) and Highland Lakes Road
(5 miles) as part of this Proposed
Action. These actions will require
agreements between the Stanislaus
National Forest, Tuolumne and Alpine
Counties (historically, the Forest has
groomed Highland Lakes Road 5.0
miles, an Alpine County road, on the
Calaveras Ranger District.). This mileage
is not included in the Proposed Action;
4. To designate 98 miles of ungroomed OSV routes;
5. To designate 141,073 acres for open
OSV riding;
6. To groom trails when there is 12 to
18 inches of snow, following California
State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle
Recreation (OHMVR) Division snow
depth grooming standards;
7. To implement a Forest-wide snow
depth requirement for OSV use that
would provide for public safety and
natural and cultural resource protection
by allowing off-trail, cross-country OSV
use in designated areas when there is a
minimum of 12 inches of continuous
and supportable snow covering the
landscape at 5,000 feet in elevation and
above. When the snow-depth
requirement is not met, OSV use would
be prohibited. Stanislaus Meadow on
the Calaveras RD will require a
minimum depth of 24 inches, measured
at the meadow.
8. To amend the Forest Plan to allow
winter OSV use in the Pacific Valley
and portions of the Eagle Night Near
Natural areas.1 Historical OSV use was
identified during public meetings.
Pacific Valley Near Natural Area. This
area is located in the northeast part of
the Forest on the Calaveras Ranger
District. The area is characterized by
mountain-peaks, glaciated valleys,
scattered timber and considerable
granite rock. It borders the CarsonIceberg Wilderness. Pacific Valley Near
Natural Area encompasses 8,578 acres.
Eagle/Night Near Natural Area. This
area is located in the east central part of
the Forest on the Summit Ranger
District. The area is characterized by
bare volcanic ridges and rock outcrops,
scattered timber, and small sub-alpine
meadows. It borders the Emigrant
Wilderness. Portions of Eagle/Night
Near Natural are proposed for over snow
use, including Long Valley, Eagle
Meadow and Sonora Pass. The portion
of the area proposed for over snow
vehicle use in the Eagle/Night Near
Natural Area is 5,045 acres.
NEAR NATURAL OVER-SNOW FOREST PLAN AMENDMENT
Practice
Existing S&G
Amendment
Area
Forestwide S&Gs:
ROS Semi-primitive Nonmotorized [10–B–2]
(USDA 2010, p. 53).
Motorized use is normally prohibited, except for: 4N80Y;
5N02R (NMFPA).
Motorized use is normally prohibited, except for: 4N80Y;
5N02R (NMFPA); and, the
Pacific Valley and Eagle/
Night over-snow use areas.
Closed to motorized use except for: 4N80Y; 5N02R
(NMFPA); and, the Pacific
Valley and Eagle/Night
over-snow use areas.
Prohibit motorized use and
close motorized routes in
non-motorized areas, except
for: 4N80Y; 5N02R
(NMFPA); and, the Pacific
Valley and Eagle/Night
over-snow use areas.
Pacific Valley ..........................
Eagle/Night .............................
8,578
5,045
.................................................
13,623
Closed Motor Vehicle
Travel Management
[10–G–1a] (USDA 2010,
p. 53).
Closed to motorized use except for: 4N80Y; 5N02R
(NMFPA).
Restricted Motor Vehicle
Management [10–G–2,
C1a] (USDA 2010, p.
58).
Prohibit motorized use and
close motorized routes in
non-motorized areas, except
for: 4N80Y; 5N02R
(NMFPA).
Near Natural:
ROS Semi-primitive Nonmotorized [10–B–2]
(USDA 2010, p. 121).
Manage to the ROS Class of
Semi-primitive Non-motorized.
Closed Motor Vehicle
Travel Management
[10–G–1] (USDA 2010,
p. 121).
Manage to Forestwide S&Gs
for Closed Motor Vehicle
Travel Management.
Total ..........................
.................................................
acres
Manage to the ROS Class of
Semi-primitive Non-motorized, except for the Pacific
Valley and Eagle/Night
over-snow use areas.
Manage to Forestwide S&Gs
for Closed Motor Vehicle
Travel Management, except
for the Pacific Valley and
Eagle/Night over-snow use
areas.
.................................................
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NMFPA = Non-Motorized Forest Plan Amendment (USDA 2009. Motorized Travel Management Record of Decision. Stanislaus National Forest, Sonora, CA. November 2009).
USDA 2010. Forest Plan Direction. Forest Service, Stanislaus National Forest, Sonora, CA. April 2010.
1 Near Natural Management is described in the
Forest Plan as: Emphasis is placed on providing a
natural landscape in a non-motorized setting.
Public motorized use is not normally allowed and
no timber harvest is scheduled. Wildlife habitat
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management, watershed projection, dispersed, nonmotorized recreation, livestock grazing and
minerals uses are allowed. The area is characterized
by a high quality visual setting where changes are
rarely evident. Land altering practices are limited
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in scope and duration. It meets the Forest Service
criteria for the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum
class of Semi-primitive Non-motorized.
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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
August of 2017. The Forest Service
would produce an OSV use map that
would resemble the existing motor
vehicle use map for the Stanislaus
National Forest. Such a map would
allow the public to identify the routes
and areas where OSV use would be
allowed on the Stanislaus National
Forest.
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Responsible Official
The Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus
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
Stanislaus 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.
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Open houses will be held in
Pinecrest, Sonora, Hathaway Pines and
Bear Valley for interested parties to hear
an overview of the Proposed Action and
ask questions. A separate stakeholder
workshop is also being planned.
Notification of open house and
workshop dates will be announced
through press releases, emails and
posted on the Web site: https://
www.fs.usda.gov/project/
?project=46311.
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
such manner that they are useful to the
agency’s preparation of the
environmental impact statement.
Written comments should be within the
scope of the proposed action, have a
direct relationship to the proposed
action, and must include supporting
reasons for the responsible official to
consider. Therefore, comments should
be provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions. The preferred format for
attachments to electronically submitted
comments would be as an MS Word
document. Attachments in portable
document format (pdf) are not preferred,
but are acceptable.
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.
The Stanislaus 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: June 22, 2015.
Scott Tangenberg,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2015–15724 Filed 6–25–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
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36763
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
National Agricultural Library
Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To
Collect Information
National Agricultural Library,
Agricultural Research Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
L. 104–13) and Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR
part 1320 (60 FR 44978, August 29,
1995), this notice announces the
National Agricultural Library’s (NAL)
intent to request approval for an
electronic mailing list subscription form
for people working in water resources
and agriculture. This voluntary form
gives individuals an opportunity to
subscribe to an electronic distribution
list (Enviro-News) maintained by the
Water Quality Information Center
(WQIC) at the NAL.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by August 25, 2015 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by any of the following methods:
• Agency Web site: https://
wqic.nal.usda.gov/contact-us. Follow
the instructions for submitting
comments on the WQIC Web site.
• Fax: 301–504–5181, Attention:
WQIC.
• Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: WQIC/
NAL, 10301 Baltimore Ave., Room
118–F, Beltsville, Maryland 20705–
2351.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Electronic Mailing List
Subscription Form—Water Quality
Information Center.
OMB Number: 0518–0045.
Expiration Date: 3 years from date of
approval.
Type of Request: Renewal of existing
data collection from the WQIC
distribution list subscribers.
Abstract: The NAL’s WQIC maintains
an electronic, announcement-only
distribution list (Enviro-News). The
current voluntary ‘‘Electronic Mailing
List Subscription Form’’ gives
individuals interested in the subject of
water and agriculture an opportunity to
subscribe to this list. This form contains
six items and is used to collect
information about participants who are
interested in joining an electronic
distribution list (Enviro-News) covering
water and agriculture and related topics.
The form collects data to improve the
relevancy to subscribers of information
provided by the distribution list. To
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36760-36763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15724]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Stanislaus National Forest; California; Stanislaus 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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,
[[Page 36761]]
and areas on NFS lands within the Stanislaus National Forest; and to
identify snow trails for grooming within the Stanislaus 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 August 10, 2015. The draft environmental impact statement is
expected in July 2016, and the final environmental impact statement is
expected in April 2017.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Phyllis Ashmead, on behalf of
Jeanne Higgins, Forest Supervisor, Stanislaus National Forest, 19777
Greenley Road, Sonora, CA 95370. Comments may also be sent via
facsimile to 209-533-1890 or submitted on the Stanislaus National
Forest OSV Designation Web page: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46311
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phyllis Ashmead, OSV Team Leader, USDA
Forest Service, Stanislaus National Forest, 19777 Greenley Road,
Sonora, CA 95370; phone 209-532-6371 ext. 322; email
pashmead@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:
For over 30 years, the Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, in
cooperation with the California Department of Parks and
Recreation(California State Parks) Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation
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. Grooming activities are funded by the
state off-highway vehicle trust fund.
The following summarizes current management of OSV use on
approximately 900,106 acres of NFS lands in the Stanislaus National
Forest:
1. Approximately 58 miles of NFS groomed OSV trails
exist(historically the Forest has groomed Highland Lakes Road 5.0
miles, an Alpine County road on the Calaveras Ranger District, these
5.0 miles are not included in this summary);
2. The remainder of the Forest is open for cross country snowmobile
use except congressionally designated Wilderness and other special
areas. During the development of the 1991 Stanislaus National Forest
Land and Resource Management Plan, areas designated as Near Natural
were intended to be managed as semi-primitive non-motorized; however,
they were never formally closed to OSV use. As a result, some of these
areas have been used historically by OSV riders either due to proximity
to other areas of use or the type of experience they offer. In some
cases user groups have worked through conflict and agreed to subsequent
adjustments in locations available for OSV including Round Valley on
the Calaveras Ranger District and the Crabtree area near Dodge Ridge on
the Summit Ranger District. Both of these areas are managed for quiet
winter recreation (both closed to OSV use).Thus, approximately 532,696
acres of NFS lands are open to off-trail, cross-country OSV use. In
some areas, user conflicts remain unresolved (Pacific Valley and
portions of the Eagle/Night Near Natural Areas);
3. Approximately 367,410 acres of NFS land are closed to OSV use;
4. There are two designated crossings of the Pacific Crest Trail
from the Bridgeport Winter Sports Area south of Sonora Pass on the
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
The final Subpart C of the Travel Management Rule went into effect
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
The purpose of this project is twofold: first, to effectively
manage OSV use on the Stanislaus National Forest by providing access,
ensuring that OSV use occurs when there is adequate snow, promoting the
safety of all users, enhancing public enjoyment, minimizing impacts to
natural and cultural resources, and minimizing conflicts among the
various uses.
Secondly, the project identifies OSV trails where the Forest
Service or its contractors would conduct grooming for OSV use. Under
the terms of the Settlement Agreement between the Forest Service and
Snowlands Network, et al., the Forest Service is required to complete
the appropriate NEPA analysis to identify snow trails for grooming on
the Stanislaus National Forest.
There is a need to provide a manageable, designated OSV system of
trails and areas within the Stanislaus 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.
The existing system of available OSV trails and areas on the
Stanislaus National Forest is the culmination of multiple agency
decisions over recent decades. Public OSV use of the majority of this
available system continues to be manageable and consistent with current
travel management regulations. Exceptions have been identified, based
on internal and public input and the criteria for designating roads,
trails, and areas listed at 36 CFR 212.55. These include needs to
provide improved access for OSV users and enact prohibitions required
by the 1991 Stanislaus National Forest Land and Resource Management
Plan and other management direction. These exceptions represent
additional needs for change, and in these cases, changes are proposed
to meet the overall objectives. Adopting some changes would require an
amendment to the Forest Plan as identified in the Proposed Action.
The Forest Service has identified areas where OSV use should be
prohibited based on management direction in the Forest Plan. The
proposed action will prohibit OSV use of these trails and in these
areas to be consistent with the Forest Plan. The prohibitions will be
implemented through Forest Orders.
The snow trail grooming analysis would also address the need to
provide a high quality snowmobile trail system on the Stanislaus
National Forest that is 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
[[Page 36762]]
lands within the Stanislaus National Forest where snowfall depth is
adequate for that use to occur;
2. To identify 58 miles of designated OSV trails that would be
groomed on the Stanislaus National Forest. Trail mileages are estimates
only;
3. To work with Tuolumne and Alpine Counties to groom Clark's Fork
Road (9 miles) and Highland Lakes Road (5 miles) as part of this
Proposed Action. These actions will require agreements between the
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne and Alpine Counties (historically,
the Forest has groomed Highland Lakes Road 5.0 miles, an Alpine County
road, on the Calaveras Ranger District.). This mileage is not included
in the Proposed Action;
4. To designate 98 miles of un-groomed OSV routes;
5. To designate 141,073 acres for open OSV riding;
6. To groom trails when there is 12 to 18 inches of snow, following
California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR)
Division snow depth grooming standards;
7. To implement a Forest-wide snow depth requirement for OSV use
that would provide for public safety and natural and cultural resource
protection by allowing off-trail, cross-country OSV use in designated
areas when there is a minimum of 12 inches of continuous and
supportable snow covering the landscape at 5,000 feet in elevation and
above. When the snow-depth requirement is not met, OSV use would be
prohibited. Stanislaus Meadow on the Calaveras RD will require a
minimum depth of 24 inches, measured at the meadow.
8. To amend the Forest Plan to allow winter OSV use in the Pacific
Valley and portions of the Eagle Night Near Natural areas.\1\
Historical OSV use was identified during public meetings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Near Natural Management is described in the Forest Plan as:
Emphasis is placed on providing a natural landscape in a non-
motorized setting. Public motorized use is not normally allowed and
no timber harvest is scheduled. Wildlife habitat management,
watershed projection, dispersed, non-motorized recreation, livestock
grazing and minerals uses are allowed. The area is characterized by
a high quality visual setting where changes are rarely evident. Land
altering practices are limited in scope and duration. It meets the
Forest Service criteria for the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum
class of Semi-primitive Non-motorized.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pacific Valley Near Natural Area. This area is located in the
northeast part of the Forest on the Calaveras Ranger District. The area
is characterized by mountain-peaks, glaciated valleys, scattered timber
and considerable granite rock. It borders the Carson-Iceberg
Wilderness. Pacific Valley Near Natural Area encompasses 8,578 acres.
Eagle/Night Near Natural Area. This area is located in the east
central part of the Forest on the Summit Ranger District. The area is
characterized by bare volcanic ridges and rock outcrops, scattered
timber, and small sub-alpine meadows. It borders the Emigrant
Wilderness. Portions of Eagle/Night Near Natural are proposed for over
snow use, including Long Valley, Eagle Meadow and Sonora Pass. The
portion of the area proposed for over snow vehicle use in the Eagle/
Night Near Natural Area is 5,045 acres.
Near Natural Over-Snow Forest Plan Amendment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Practice Existing S&G Amendment Area acres
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forestwide S&Gs:
ROS Semi-primitive Non- Motorized use is Motorized use is Pacific Valley...... 8,578
motorized [10-B-2] (USDA normally normally Eagle/Night......... 5,045
2010, p. 53). prohibited, except prohibited, except
for: 4N80Y; 5N02R for: 4N80Y; 5N02R
(NMFPA). (NMFPA); and, the
Pacific Valley and
Eagle/Night over-
snow use areas.
Closed Motor Vehicle Travel Closed to motorized Closed to motorized
Management [10-G-1a] (USDA use except for: use except for:
2010, p. 53). 4N80Y; 5N02R 4N80Y; 5N02R
(NMFPA). (NMFPA); and, the
Pacific Valley and
Eagle/Night over-
snow use areas.
Restricted Motor Vehicle Prohibit motorized Prohibit motorized
Management [10-G-2, C1a] use and close use and close
(USDA 2010, p. 58). motorized routes in motorized routes in
non-motorized non-motorized
areas, except for: areas, except for:
4N80Y; 5N02R 4N80Y; 5N02R
(NMFPA). (NMFPA); and, the
Pacific Valley and
Eagle/Night over-
snow use areas.
Near Natural:
ROS Semi-primitive Non- Manage to the ROS Manage to the ROS
motorized [10-B-2] (USDA Class of Semi- Class of Semi-
2010, p. 121). primitive Non- primitive Non-
motorized. motorized, except
for the Pacific
Valley and Eagle/
Night over-snow use
areas.
Closed Motor Vehicle Travel Manage to Forestwide Manage to Forestwide
Management [10-G-1] (USDA S&Gs for Closed S&Gs for Closed
2010, p. 121). Motor Vehicle Motor Vehicle
Travel Management. Travel Management,
except for the
Pacific Valley and
Eagle/Night over-
snow use areas.
------------
Total.................... .................... .................... .................... 13,623
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NMFPA = Non-Motorized Forest Plan Amendment (USDA 2009. Motorized Travel Management Record of Decision.
Stanislaus National Forest, Sonora, CA. November 2009).
USDA 2010. Forest Plan Direction. Forest Service, Stanislaus National Forest, Sonora, CA. April 2010.
[[Page 36763]]
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 August of 2017. The Forest
Service would produce an OSV use map that would resemble the existing
motor vehicle use map for the Stanislaus National Forest. Such a map
would allow the public to identify the routes and areas where OSV use
would be allowed on the Stanislaus National Forest.
Responsible Official
The Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus 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.
Open houses will be held in Pinecrest, Sonora, Hathaway Pines and
Bear Valley for interested parties to hear an overview of the Proposed
Action and ask questions. A separate stakeholder workshop is also being
planned. Notification of open house and workshop dates will be
announced through press releases, emails and posted on the Web site:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46311.
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of
the environmental impact statement. Written comments should be within
the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the
proposed action, and must include supporting reasons for the
responsible official to consider. Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. The preferred
format for attachments to electronically submitted comments would be as
an MS Word document. Attachments in portable document format (pdf) are
not preferred, but are acceptable.
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.
The Stanislaus 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: June 22, 2015.
Scott Tangenberg,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2015-15724 Filed 6-25-15; 8:45 am]
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