Pike/San Isabel National Forests; Colorado; Pike/San Isabel National Forests Travel Management Plan, 48375-48376 [2016-17498]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
• Forest Service

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 142 (Monday, July 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48375-48376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-17498]


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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 142 / Monday, July 25, 2016 / 
Notices

[[Page 48375]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Pike/San Isabel National Forests; Colorado; Pike/San Isabel 
National Forests Travel Management Plan

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service proposes to undertake motorized travel 
management planning to designate roads, trails, and areas open to 
public motorized vehicle use on the six districts of the Pike and San 
Isabel National Forests (PSI), pursuant to 36 CFR part 212, subpart B. 
The proposed road and trail environmental impact statement (EIS) 
evaluation and record of decision (ROD) will determine which roads and 
trails will be designated or re-designated for public motorized use and 
published on future motor vehicle use maps (MVUMs), as described in 
subpart B of the Travel Management Final Rule, dated November 9, 2005. 
The PSI's MVUMs display all roads and motorized trails open to the 
public for motorized use. This action is in direct response to the PSI 
MVUM settlement agreement (hereafter referred to as the settlement 
agreement), which is the culmination of a multi-year lawsuit brought 
against the Forest Service by The Wilderness Society, Quiet Use 
Coalition, Wildlands CPR, Center for Native Ecosystems and Great Old 
Broads for Wilderness. The Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, 
which are administered in conjunction with the Pike and San Isabel 
National Forests, will not be included in this EIS.
    Scoping Process: Scoping is an ongoing process used to identify 
important issues and determine the extent of analysis necessary for an 
informed decision on a proposed action. This Notice of Intent (NOI) 
serves as formal initiation of the scoping process.
    The Forest Service is seeking comments from individuals, 
organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies that may be 
interested in or affected by the proposed action (described below). 
Comments may pertain to the nature and scope of the environmental, 
social, and economic issues, and possible alternatives related to the 
development of the travel management plan and EIS. Scoping notices have 
been sent to potentially affected persons and those that have expressed 
a continued interest in this project. Other interested individuals, 
organizations, or agencies may have their names added to the mailing 
list for this project at any time by submitting a request to the PSI 
Forest Planner, John Dow at 719-553-1476 (jrdow@fs.fed.us).

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by September 8, 2016. The scoping comment period commences on NOI 
publication date and continues for 45 days thereafter. The draft 
environmental impact statement is expected in early spring of 2018 and 
the final environmental impact statement is expected in early 2019.

ADDRESSES: Written comments concerning this notice should be addressed 
to Travel Management, Pike/San Isabel National Forests, 2840 Kachina 
Dr., Pueblo, CO 81008. Comments may also be sent via email to 
psitravelmanagement.org">comments@psitravelmanagement.org, or via facsimile to 719-553-1440, 
with ``PSI Travel Management'' in the subject line. Comments must be 
readable in Microsoft Word, rich text or pdf formats.
    All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are 
placed in the record and will be available for public inspection and 
copying. The public may inspect comments after they are received and 
summarized at the travel planning Web page at: 
www.psitravelmanagement.org.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Dow, Forest Planner at 719-553-
1476. 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The current PSI Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) 
dates back to 1984. Many changes have occurred since that time, in 
terms of type and volume of use, general population pressures, urban 
interface development, and other factors. Further, the improved 
precision of field measurements (i.e., global positioning system 
devices) and graphical depiction of route locations and management area 
boundaries has at times resulted in perceived conflicts with data 
published in 1984.
    The settlement agreement referenced herein identified a subset of 
MVUM designated roads and trails that were being managed contrary to 
Forest Plan direction. Alternatives A and B represent the issues 
addressed in the settlement agreement. Alternatives C and D represent 
issues from the settlement agreement along with revisions to certain 
rotues as a result of the PSI's Travel Analysis Process (TAP).

Purpose and Need for Action

    The action's purpose and need is to improve management of motor 
vehicle use via evaluation of motorized route designations on National 
Forest System (NFS) lands within the PSI in compliance with 36 CFR 
parts 212, 251, 261, and 295, and all other applicable laws. The action 
also needs to consider effects on resources with the objective of 
minimizing the impacts resulting from the designated motorized trails 
and areas pursuant to 36 CFR 212.55(b), and to analyze the 
environmental impacts of all motorized routes proposed for designation, 
including routes in the baseline contested by the Plaintiffs as 
identified in the settlement agreement. The designation of roads and 
trails must balance the needs of the broad range of recreationalists 
and other legitimate users of the national forests with the need to 
protect natural and cultural resources.

Proposed Action

    In accordance with 36 CFR part 212, the proposed action will 
analyze current designated motorized roads and trails, minus certain 
specific routes described in the settlement agreement. The proposed 
action will also analyze some priority proposed changes to the 
transportation system, including the inclusion of some current Forest 
Order transportation prohibitions associated with roads and trails on 
NFS lands, and including appropriate road and trail seasonal 
restrictions within the PSI.

[[Page 48376]]

These analyses could result in changes to the existing transportation 
system on the PSI. Depending on the analyses of roads and motorized 
trails, i.e., which roads and trails are designated as open to the 
public, it may be necessary to amend the Forest Plan.
    Per the settlement agreement dated November 16, 2015, the PSI 
transportation system that is open to public motorized travel consists 
of a total of 2,004 miles of NFS roads and 507 miles of NFS trails. 
That November 16, 2015 system is documented through USFS databases, 
spreadsheets, and reports, along with spatial data, and can be accessed 
from the travel planning Web page at: psitravelmanagement.org.

Possible Alternatives

    Four preliminary alternatives have been identified and are 
described briefly below.
    Alternative A: The No-Action Alternative, as per settlement 
agreement language, would consist of the public motorized routes 
depicted on the following MVUMs minus 30 NFS routes/route segments 
identified in the settlement agreement, that are either already 
decommissioned or would be temporarily changed to administrative use 
only during the interim EIS process:
     2010 Pikes Peak Ranger District MVUM
     2010 South Park Ranger District MVUM
     2010 Salida Ranger District MVUM
     2012 Leadville Ranger District MVUM
     2012 San Carlos Ranger District MVUM
     2013 South Platte Ranger District MVUM
    Alternative B: This Alternative would consist of the public 
motorized routes as they are currently recorded in the official Forest 
Service Infrastructure (INFRA) database, as of June 16, 2016, minus 
routes contested by the Plaintiffs and identified in the settlement 
agreement.
    Alternative C: This Alternative would consitutue the routes as they 
are currently recorded in the official Forest Service INFRA database, 
as of June 16, 2016, plus certain revisions to those roads that were 
considered as urgent, priority changes, in conformance with the results 
of the PSI's TAP Addendum Reports. Over the course of the last three 
years, PSI resource specialists conducted TAPs covering each ranger 
district. A TAP is a process whereby personnel representing key 
resource areas assign benefit and risk ratings to each road. The 
results of each TAP were compiled in a TAP Addendum Report. Urgent, 
priority changes may include, but would not be limited to: 
decommissioning and/or conversion of unneeded authorized routes, 
elimination of mixed use modes of travel on certain roads, seasonal 
closures, road/trail reroutes, construction of new motorized 
recreational trails and/or extensions to existing trails, downgrading 
of maintenance levels, and other such revisions necessary for the 
effective management of the NFS transportation network. The goal of 
this alternative would be to move toward a safe, affordable, and 
environmentally sound transportation system, while leaving room for 
future site-specific revisions as needed.
    Alternative D: This Alternative would consist of all the 
Alternative C revisions, plus additional, non-urgent changes, which 
would direct the PSI toward the minimum NFS network needed for safe and 
efficient travel, and for administration, utilization, and protection 
of NFS lands per 36 CFR 212.5(b)(1). The additional changes would be 
made in accordance with the opportunities and recommendations provided 
in the TAP Addendum Reports for the individual districts on the PSI.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official is Erin Connelly, Forest and Grasslands 
Supervisor, Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and 
Comanche National Grasslands, 2840 Kachina Dr., Pueblo CO. 81008.

Scoping Process

    The Forest Service will conduct scoping meetings to solicit 
comments from the public and interested parties on this proposed 
action.
    Meetings are currently scheduled from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the 
following locations and dates:

Pueblo, CO--August 23, 2016: Pueblo Community College, Fortino Ballroom 
(2nd floor of student center), 900 West Orman Avenue, Pueblo, CO 81004.
Salida, CO--August 24, 2016: Steam Plant Theatre and Event Center 
Ballroom, 220 West Sackett Street, Salida, CO 81201.
Colorado Springs, CO--August 25, 2016: Colorado Springs Utilities, 
Pikes Peak Room, Leon Young Service Center, 1521 S. Hancock Expressway, 
Colorado Springs, CO 80903.

    Additional information will be posted on the travel planning Web 
page at: psitravelmanagement.org.

Nature of Decisions To Be Made

     Is the proposal consistent with the Pike and San Isabel 
National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands Resource 
Management Plan (PSICC RMP)?
     If the proposal is not consistent with the PSICC RMP, what 
is the scope and scale of any required amendments?
     What alternative or combination of alternatives ensures 
the PSI follows the requirements for multiple uses outlined in the 
Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960.
     What alternative or combination of alternatives best 
represents the designated motorized roads and trails network taking 
into consideration the travel management rule motorized trails and road 
designation criterion outlined in 36 CFR 212.55.

Preliminary Issues

    Preliminary issues identified by the PSI are:
    (1) Resource damage caused by user-created (non-NFS) routes;
    (2) Potential lost recreational opportunities from route closures;
    (3) Safety concerns on mixed-use (highway legal and non-highway 
legal) routes.

    Dated: July 8, 2016.
Erin Connelly,
Forest and Grasslands Supervisor, Pike and San Isabel National Forests 
and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands.
[FR Doc. 2016-17498 Filed 7-22-16; 8:45 am]
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