Notice of Availability of the Bog Creek Road Project Final Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Records of Decision, 4509-4513 [2019-02282]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 32 / Friday, February 15, 2019 / Notices region, including international waters and the Nation’s coasts, ports, and inland waterways, as required to support national security. Legislation and executive orders assign the U.S. Coast Guard a wide range of responsibilities applicable to Polar Regions. The U.S. Coast Guard derives its authority for the use of icebreaking from several statutes governing execution of its missions. These include: 14 U.S.C. 541 (previously 14 U.S.C. 81) 1 Coast Guard establishment, maintenance, and operation of aids to navigation; 14 U.S.C. 521 (previously 14 U.S.C. 88) Coast Guard saving of life and property; 14 U.S.C. 522 (previously 14 U.S.C. 89) Coast Guard law enforcement; 14 U.S.C. 716 (previously 14 U.S.C. 90) Arctic maritime transportation; 14 U.S.C. 527 (previously 14 U.S.C. 91) controlling anchorage and movement of vessels; 14 U.S.C. 715 (previously 14 U.S.C. 94) conduct oceanographic research; and 14 U.S.C. 701 (previously 14 U.S.C. 141) cooperation with agencies, States, territories, and others. In addition, Executive Order 7521 (Use of Vessels for Icebreaking in Channels and Harbors), 1 FR 2184, Dec. 24, 1936, directs the U.S. Coast Guard to assist in keeping channels and harbors open to navigation by means of icebreaking operations. In accordance with NEPA, the U.S. Coast Guard prepared an EIS analyzing the potential impacts of up to six new PSCs, as this is the maximum number anticipated to be operational in the Polar Regions under the current PSC program acquisition strategy. A lesser number of icebreakers is expected to result in a similar or reduced impact than what will be discussed and evaluated in the EIS. Potential environmental stressors include acoustic (underwater acoustic transmissions, vessel noise, icebreaking noise, aircraft noise, and gunnery noise), and physical (vessel movement, aircraft or in-air device movement, in-water device movement, icebreaking, and marine expended materials). The Final EIS has considered three alternatives: • The No Action Alternative included use of the existing assets to fulfil Coast Guard missions, which are reaching the end of their service lives. • Alternative 1 (Preferred Alternative) included the design and build up to six polar icebreakers to fulfill mission requirements in the Arctic and Antarctic. • Alternative 2 included various forms of icebreaker leasing, such as those leases used by the United States Navy, the National Science Foundation, other federal agencies, and the domestic maritime industry, to close the Coast Guard icebreaking capability gap. The Final EIS addresses potential environmental impacts under each alternative associated with physical, biological, and socioeconomic environmental resources. The analysis addresses direct and indirect impacts, and accounts for cumulative impacts from other foreseeable federal, state, or local activities in the proposed action area. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a scoping process to identify community concerns and local issues that should be addressed in the EIS, as well as gathered public comments on the Draft EIS following its release in August 2018. The Coast Guard considered the public comments we received when drafting the Final EIS. The changes between the draft EIS and the Final EIS are identified and described in Appendix C of the Final EIS, which can be found at one of the locations in the ADDRESSES section. The Final EIS identifies minor to moderate adverse impacts associated with the proposed action that would be mitigated by the implementation of standard operating procedures and best management practices. An increase in the Coast Guard icebreaking fleet would be beneficial because Coast Guard support would readily available during an at-sea emergiencies to commercial fishing, recreational fishing, transportation and shipping, tourism, and cultural resources and the communities that depend on them. The Final EIS has been distributed to various federal, state, and local agencies, as well as other interested individuals and organizations. Following a 30-day waiting period, after publication of the NOA in the Federal Register, the U.S. Coast Guard will announce its Record of Decision which will be published in the Federal Register. This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a). Timothy J. Connors, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Program Manager, Polar Security Cutter Program. [FR Doc. 2019–02550 Filed 2–14–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P 1 The Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115–282), enacted December 4, 2018, redesignated many existing sections within Title 14 of the United States Code. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:41 Feb 14, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4509 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY U.S. Customs and Border Protection DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Notice of Availability of the Bog Creek Road Project Final Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Records of Decision U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture. ACTION: Notice of availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Records of Decision concerning the repair and maintenance of Bog Creek Road and closure of certain roads within the Blue-Grass Bear Management Unit in the Selkirk Mountains in Boundary County, Idaho; public review. AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) Idaho Panhandle National Forests (IPNF) announce the availability of the Bog Creek Road Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the agencies’ respective Draft Records of Decision (ROD). The Final EIS identifies and assesses potential impacts upon the environment of: Repairing and maintaining an approximately 5.6-mile section of the existing Bog Creek Road, which is located in the Selkirk Mountains in Boundary County, Idaho, within approximately two miles of the Canadian border, on land within the Blue-Grass Bear Management Unit (BMU) that is managed by the Forest Service; and closing for motorized use additional roads within the Blue-Grass BMU to comply with the Forest Plan Amendments for Motorized Access Management within the Selkirk and Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear Recovery Zones (Access Amendment) and to reduce road density in the Blue-Grass BMU. The CBP Draft ROD addresses the decision to approve the funding for and implement the repair and maintenance of the Bog Creek Road. The Forest Service Draft ROD addresses the decisions to: Approve CBP’s repair and maintenance of Bog Creek Road for administrative use by CBP, the Forest Service, and others; implement the motorized closure of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads to establish grizzly bear core area habitat and meet Access Amendment standards for the Blue-Grass BMU; and implement SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM 15FEN1 4510 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 32 / Friday, February 15, 2019 / Notices changes in the seasonally restricted designation of roads in the Blue-Grass BMU. This document provides instructions for filing objections to the Forest Service’s Draft ROD. DATES: The CBP Draft ROD will be available until April 1, 2019. CBP will issue a Final ROD at about the same time the Forest Service issues a Final ROD but no sooner than April 1, 2019. The Forest Service Draft ROD will be available for 45 days after the date of publication in the newspaper of record, the Coeur d’Alene Press. Objections to the Forest Service Draft ROD must be filed within 45 days of such publication and filed in the manner specified in the ADDRESSES section of this document. After the 45-day objection period ends and after the Forest Service responds in writing to and addresses any objections, the Forest Service will issue a Final ROD. For detailed instructions on how to file an objection, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: For Obtaining Copies of the Final EIS and Draft Records of Decision: Electronic copies of the Final EIS, CBP Draft ROD, and Forest Service Draft ROD are available at https:// www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=41296 and https://www.cbp.gov/document/ environmental-assessments/bog-creekroad-project-environmental-impactstatement. CD–ROM and print copies are available by sending a request to Joe Zidron at Joseph.Zidron@cbp.dhs.gov or 949–643–6392 or at the following Forest Service locations: • The IPNF Supervisor’s Office, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; • Sandpoint Ranger District, 1602 Ontario Street, Sandpoint, Idaho; • Bonners Ferry Ranger District, 6286 Main Street, Bonners Ferry, Idaho; and • Priest Lake Ranger District, 32203 Highway 57, Priest River, Idaho. For Filing Objections to the Forest Service Draft ROD: Objections to the Forest Service Draft ROD, including attachments, must be filed via fax, mail, express delivery, messenger service, email, or hand-delivery to: Objection Reviewing Officer, USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, 26 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804. Hand-delivery hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. FAX to (406) 329– 3411, Email: appeals-northern-regionaloffice@fs.fed.us. For fax and email, include ‘‘Bog Creek Road Project Objection’’ in the subject line. Acceptable formats for electronic objections are text or html email, Adobe VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:41 Feb 14, 2019 Jkt 247001 portable document format (pdf), and formats viewable in Microsoft Office applications. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Zidron, CBP, Border Patrol and Air and Marine Program Management Office, by telephone at 949–643–6392, or email at joseph.zidron@cbp.dhs.gov or Kim Pierson, Deputy Forest Supervisor, Forest Service, IPNF, by telephone at 208–765–7220, or email at kpierson@ fs.fed.us. Persons who require assistance accessing information should contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Target Center at 202–720–2600 (voice and TDD) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Action U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) Idaho Panhandle National Forests (IPNF) (collectively the Agencies) are proposing a road repair, maintenance, and motorized closure project in the Continental Mountain area of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests within the Bonners Ferry and Priest Lake Ranger Districts.1 The project has two objectives: (1) To provide safe east-west access for administrative use (as explained below) to this section of the U.S.–Canada border across the Selkirk Mountains, and (2) to meet grizzly bear motorized access standards within the Blue-Grass Bear Management Unit (BMU) of the Selkirk Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone in order to comply with the Forest Plan Amendments for Motorized Access Management within the Selkirk and Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear Recovery Zones (Access Amendment). The Bog Creek Road Project Final EIS has been prepared to identify and assess potential impacts from the Proposed Action on the environment. The Proposed Action was developed through collaborative efforts between CBP, the Forest Service, and the public, and was designed to meet the goals and objectives established for the project while meeting as many other resource needs as possible. The Proposed Action consists of three components: (1) Road repair and maintenance of Bog Creek Road and change in motorized use designation; (2) change in motorized use designation for Blue Joe Creek Road; 1 This proposal is being made pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., the President’s Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508), DHS Directive 023–01, Revision 01, and Instruction 023–01–001–01, Revision 01, and CBP and Forest Service NEPA guidelines. PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and (3) motorized closure of selected seasonally restricted Forest Service roads. The Proposed Action is described below. The first component is the repair and maintenance of an approximately 5.6mile section of Bog Creek Road (Forest Service Road [FSR] 1013), which would be conducted to allow the road to meet Forest Service road maintenance level 2 standards and would generally allow access for high-clearance vehicles. Maintenance level 2 roads are described in Forest Service Handbook 7709.58. Bog Creek Road is currently designated as a seasonally restricted road. Motorized use by the Forest Service, CBP, law enforcement, and other administrative agencies is permitted between April 1 and November 15 (active bear year) but is limited to 57 administrative vehicle round trips per active bear year. After road repair activities, the road designation would change to administrative open (asneeded administrative motorized access). Under the administrative open road designation, Bog Creek Road would be open to as-needed administrative motorized access but not open to the public for motorized travel. Repair and maintenance would consist of grading and resurfacing areas of the road that have been heavily eroded by surface water flows, filling potholes, and removing protruding boulders. Repair would also include installation of six new culverts and replacement of six of the existing 67 corrugated metal pipe culverts located along the length of the roadway because they have partially rusted through, otherwise exceeded their usable life, or do not meet current design standards for width and capacity. The most intensive repair would occur at Spread Creek, where a culvert failure and road washout have made the road completely impassable. The road would not be widened, but limited areas that no longer meet minimum width requirements may require cut and fill work to achieve the desired road operating and safety standards. Trees and other vegetation within the roadway and to either side would be grubbed or cut back to facilitate safe vehicle passage. The second component is the change in motorized designation of Blue Joe Creek Road (FSR 2546). Blue Joe Creek Road extends from the eastern terminus of the Bog Creek Road, running 5.5 miles alongside Blue Joe Creek, to the Continental Mine property. Blue Joe Creek Road is currently designated as seasonally restricted, and motorized access is limited to 57 vehicle round trips per active bear year. Under the E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM 15FEN1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 32 / Friday, February 15, 2019 / Notices Proposed Action, the current seasonal restrictions that limit the number of motorized administrative trips along Blue Joe Creek Road would be removed. The road would be designated as administrative open, which would allow for as-needed administrative motorized trips. This change in designation, when combined with the Bog Creek Road designation change, would allow for administrative trips by private property owners to access their property within the Blue-Grass BMU. The final component is the motorized closure of selected seasonally restricted Forest Service roads. Under the Proposed Action, approximately 26 miles of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads would be closed to all wheeled motorized use within the BlueGrass BMU. Closing the roads would allow the Forest Service to meet the requirements of at least 55 percent of the BMU as core area habitat, and no more than 26 percent of the BMU having a total motorized route density (TMRD) greater than 2 miles per square mile, as specified in the Access Amendment. The means by which motorized road closure would take place would vary by site and would include both decommissioning and long-term storage. Decommissioning involves permanently removing a road from the Forest Service transportation system. Long-term storage involves rendering a road undrivable. Roads stored for creation of grizzly bear core habitat would remain stored for a minimum of ten years. On-the-ground road work is typically the same or very similar for decommissioning and longterm storage, as both are intended to prevent future failures and erosion hazards. Both methods may involve one or a combination of the following treatments: Fully or partially recontouring the road prism, ripping the road surface, removing culverts and recontouring stream crossings, planting and seeding, mulching, or slashing disturbed areas. All roads proposed for motorized closure under the Proposed Action are currently classified as seasonally restricted Forest Service roads. Administrative motorized use of these roads is permitted between April 1 and November 15; non-motorized public access on these roads is permitted yearround. Alternatives The Agencies developed alternatives to the Proposed Action described above and disclose the environmental impacts of these alternatives in the Final EIS. In addition to the No-Action Alternative (Alternative 1) and the Proposed Action VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:41 Feb 14, 2019 Jkt 247001 (Alternative 2), there are three other action alternatives analyzed: Modified Proposed Action (Alternative 3— Preferred Alternative), Blue-Grass BMU West–East Open Access (Alternative 4), and Alternative 4 Modified. Alternative 4 Modified was developed for inclusion in the Final EIS in response to collaborative stakeholder alternative suggestions received during the Draft EIS public comment period. Alternative 1, the No-Action Alternative, represents the effects of not implementing the proposed repair and maintenance of Bog Creek Road and motorized closure of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads, while taking into account the effects of other past, ongoing, and reasonably foreseeable activities occurring in the area. This alternative proposes that no repair and maintenance activities would occur on the 5.6-mile section of Bog Creek Road and that the 26 miles of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads would continue to be available for motorized use in accordance with seasonal access restrictions. There would be no change in Forest Service management of the roads and CBP activities in the Blue-Grass BMU. Although the Forest Service would continue to examine road closure options to meet Access Amendment requirements within the Blue-Grass BMU under the No-Action Alternative, compliance with the Access Amendment standards would not change until currently unidentified other viable road closure options are implemented. Alternative 3 is a modified version of the Proposed Action that would close a different set of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads to motorized access. It is the Agencies’ preferred alternative. The repair and maintenance activities proposed for Bog Creek Road and the administrative open designation for Bog Creek Road and Blue Joe Creek Road are the same as described under the Proposed Action. Under Alternative 3, approximately 25 miles of Forest Service roads would be closed to all motorized use by the Forest Service within the Blue-Grass BMU. This would allow the Forest Service to meet the Access Amendment grizzly bear core area habitat requirement of 55 percent and the TMRD requirement of 26 percent. Two of the nine roads proposed for motorized road closure under Alternative 3 would be different from the roads proposed for closure under the Proposed Action. These roads were included in this alternative because closing these roads would create more grizzly bear core area habitat in upper Grass Creek, a place that has been PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4511 heavily and continuously used by grizzly bears since at least the 1980s. All roads proposed for motorized closure under Alternative 3 are classified as seasonally restricted Forest Service roads. Administrative motorized use of these roads is permitted between April 1 and November 15. Non-motorized public access on these roads is permitted year-round. Alternative 4 is a modified version of the Proposed Action that would open Bog Creek Road and roads along the eastern approach to Bog Creek Road to public motorized access. Under Alternative 4, Bog Creek Road repair and maintenance and the motorized closure of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads would be identical to the Proposed Action. After repair of Bog Creek Road is completed, Alternative 4 would designate the 5.6 miles of the repaired Bog Creek Road as open for public motorized access year-round. However, winter motorized snowmobile use by the public is currently not allowed on Bog Creek Road as a result of rulings by the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Washington on November 7, 2006, and February 27, 2007, relating to recovery of Selkirk Mountain woodland caribou and the potential impacts of snowmobile use within the recovery area. Approximately 4.5 miles of Blue Joe Creek Road would change to an administrative open designation (asneeded administrative motorized access). Additionally, the designation of roads along the eastern approach to Bog Creek Road (1 mile of FSR 2546 and FSRs 1011, 636, and 1009) would also change from the current seasonally restricted designation (limited motorized access) to an open road designation (public motorized access) to allow for continuous public motorized travel across the Blue-Grass BMU. Under Alternative 4, the same 26 miles of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads as identified in the Proposed Action would be closed to all wheeled motorized use within the Blue-Grass BMU. Alternative 4 Modified was developed for inclusion in the Final EIS in response to collaborative stakeholder alternative suggestions received during the Draft EIS public comment period. As described below, Alternative 4 Modified is similar in many respects to Alternative 4, but includes a few variations. Alternative 4 Modified incorporates the same road repair and maintenance activities, the same eastern approach roads to Bog Creek Road, and the same administrative motorized use and winter motorized snowmobile use that are described in Alternative 4. E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM 15FEN1 4512 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 32 / Friday, February 15, 2019 / Notices khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES However, Alternative 4 Modified includes a variation of the open public access on the Bog Creek Road and eastern approach roads presented in Alternative 4. It also includes a different combination of roads proposed for motorized closure as compared to the alternatives analyzed in the Draft EIS. Specifically, the roads would only be open to unlimited public motorized access from July 15 to August 15. Outside of this period, motorized access to the roads would be available for administrative use only. The gate at the east end of FSR 1009 would be left open from July 15 to August 15, and gates would be constructed at closed roads that intersect the open eastern approach roads to prevent unauthorized access. Because there would be open public motorized access for this one-month period, the road would be designated as open. The Final EIS addresses the potential impacts from the Proposed Action and alternatives. Evaluations were conducted on various resources present in the Blue-Grass BMU, including: threatened and endangered species, wildlife, fish, special-status plants, water, soils, recreation, and heritage. Forest Service Pre-decisional Administrative Review (‘‘Objection’’) Process This project is subject to 36 CFR part 218, subparts A and B of the Forest Service’s Project-level Pre-decisional Administrative Review Process. Pursuant to these regulations, only those who provided timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project during a comment period are eligible to file an objection with the Forest Service. Issues raised in an objection must be based on previously submitted specific written comments regarding the project and attributed to the objector unless the objection is based on new information that arose after the designated opportunities for comments. Objections to the Forest Service’s Draft ROD, including attachments, must be filed by regular mail, fax, email, hand-delivery, express delivery, or messenger service with the reviewing officer within 45 days of the date of publication of the legal notice for the objection process. This Federal Register notice is not the legal notice for purposes of the Forest Service’s objection process. Instead, a separate legal notice will be published in the newspaper of record, the Coeur d’Alene Press. The publication date of the legal notice in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection, and those wishing VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:41 Feb 14, 2019 Jkt 247001 to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer and to retain evidence of timely filing, as determined by the following indicators: The date of the U.S. Postal Service postmark for an objection received before the close of the fifth business day after the objection filing period; the agency’s electronically generated posted date and time for email and facsimiles; the shipping date for delivery by private carrier for an objection received before the close of the fifth business day after the objection filing period; or the official agency date stamp showing receipt of hand delivery. For emailed objections, the sender should receive an automated electronic acknowledgement from the agency as confirmation of receipt. If the sender does not receive an automated acknowledgment of receipt of the objection, it is the sender’s responsibility to ensure timely filing by other means. Objections to the Forest Service Draft ROD must be filed with the reviewing officer in writing. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process. Incorporation of documents by reference is not allowed, except for the following list of items that may be referenced by including date, page, and section of the cited document, along with a description of its content and applicability to the objection: All or any part of a Federal law or regulation; Forest Service directives and land management plans; documents referenced by the Forest Service in the proposed project EA or EIS that is subject to objection; and comments previously provided to the Forest Service by the objector during public involvement opportunities for the proposed project where written comments were requested by the responsible official. All other documents must be included with the objection. At a minimum, an objection to the Forest Service Draft ROD must include the following: Objector’s name and address as defined in 36 CFR 218.2, with a telephone number, if available; signature or other verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for electronic mail may be filed with the objection); when multiple names are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector; verification of the identity of the lead objector must be provided upon request or the reviewing officer will designate a lead objector; the name of the proposed PO 00000 Frm 00081 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 project, the name and title of the responsible official, and the name(s) of the national forest(s) and/or ranger district(s) on which the proposed project will be implemented; a description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project; if applicable, how the objector believes the environmental analysis or draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; supporting reasons for the reviewing officer to consider; and a statement that demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments on the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the designated opportunities for comment. Prior Public Involvement Public scoping for the Bog Creek Road repair and maintenance proposal was initially conducted by CBP in February and March of 2013. Information gathered from the initial scoping effort was used to inform the Agencies about what level of NEPA analysis was necessary to evaluate the proposed project. The initial scoping information included the possibility that road closures may become part of the proposed action, but did not include specific motorized road closure information. Using initial scoping information, the Agencies determined that the NEPA analysis would be conducted through an EIS process. The Notice of Intent (NOI) stating that CBP and the Forest Service planned to prepare an EIS for the Bog Creek Road Project was published in the Federal Register on April 27, 2016 (81 FR 24839). The NOI asked for public comment on the proposal from April 27 to May 27, 2016. The Proposed Action described in the NOI included both repair and maintenance of Bog Creek Road and motorized road closures of specific road segments in the Blue-Grass BMU. In total, 17 comment letters were received during the NOI scoping period. All scoping comments submitted during the initial scoping and NOI scoping were included in issue development for the current EIS process. A Scoping Report that summarizes both scoping efforts is available for review as part of the project record. The Scoping Report is available on the CBP public website: https://www.cbp.gov/document/ environmental-assessments/bog-creek- E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM 15FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 32 / Friday, February 15, 2019 / Notices road-project-environmental-impactstatement. The Draft EIS publication was announced in the Federal Register on June 1, 2018 (83 FR 25472). The 45-day public comment period started the day following publication and was extended 15 additional days. See notice published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2018 (83 FR 34601). Interested parties submitted specific written comments by email, in person, and U.S. Postal Service mail. The Agencies also held public meetings in Bonners Ferry, Priest Lake, and Sandpoint, Idaho to provide opportunities for the public to understand the proposed action and alternatives. One hundred seven comment letters were received on the Draft EIS. More information on the public comment process and agency responses to Draft EIS public comments are presented in Appendix C of the Final EIS. khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Public Involvement in Historic Preservation Activities Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requires Federal agencies to review all actions which may affect resources listed on, or eligible for, the National Register of Historic Places in order to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties. In the Federal Register notice published on June 1, 2018 (83 FR 25472), and in accordance with the NHPA, the Agencies requested public comments on historic preservation issues related to the road repair and closure of roads for motorized use. This process also afforded the Idaho State Historic Preservation Officer and tribal governments a reasonable opportunity to comment on such undertakings. The Agencies received one comment specific to historic preservation issues. Next Steps After the Forest Service objection filing period is complete, the Forest Service reviewing officer will issue a written response to the objections. The written response will set forth the reasons for the response, and may include instructions to the Forest Service’s responsible official. If more than one objection is filed, the reviewing officer may consolidate objections and issue one or more responses. The Forest Service’s responsible official will then address all concerns and instructions identified in the written response. Thereafter, the Forest Service will issue the VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:41 Feb 14, 2019 Jkt 247001 Forest Service Final ROD. CBP will issue the CBP Final ROD at about the same time but no sooner than April 1, 2019. The Forest Service Final ROD and the CBP Final ROD will be made available to the public through an NOA in the Federal Register. Dated: February 8, 2019. Karl H. Calvo, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Facilities and Asset Management, Office of Enterprise Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Jeanne Higgins, Forest Supervisor, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, U.S. Forest Service. [FR Doc. 2019–02282 Filed 2–14–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9111–14–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal Emergency Management Agency [Docket ID FEMA–2019–0002; Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA–B–1903] Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, the FIRM and FIS report, once effective, will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings. SUMMARY: Comments are to be submitted on or before May 16, 2019. DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4513 The Preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report for each community are available for inspection at both the online location https://www.fema.gov/ preliminaryfloodhazarddata and the respective Community Map Repository address listed in the tables below. Additionally, the current effective FIRM and FIS report for each community are accessible online through the FEMA Map Service Center at https:// msc.fema.gov for comparison. You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. FEMA–B–1903, to Rick Sacbibit, Chief, Engineering Services Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646–7659, or (email) patrick.sacbibit@fema.dhs.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Sacbibit, Chief, Engineering Services Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20472, (202) 646–7659, or (email) patrick.sacbibit@fema.dhs.gov; or visit the FEMA Map Information eXchange (FMIX) online at https:// www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/fmx_ main.html. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEMA proposes to make flood hazard determinations for each community listed below, in accordance with section 110 of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, 42 U.S.C. 4104, and 44 CFR 67.4(a). These proposed flood hazard determinations, together with the floodplain management criteria required by 44 CFR 60.3, are the minimum that are required. They should not be construed to mean that the community must change any existing ordinances that are more stringent in their floodplain management requirements. The community may at any time enact stricter requirements of its own or pursuant to policies established by other Federal, State, or regional entities. These flood hazard determinations are used to meet the floodplain management requirements of the NFIP and are used to calculate the appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings built after the FIRM and FIS report become effective. The communities affected by the flood hazard determinations are provided in the tables below. Any request for reconsideration of the revised flood hazard information shown on the Preliminary FIRM and FIS report that satisfies the data requirements outlined in 44 CFR 67.6(b) is considered an appeal. Comments unrelated to the ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\15FEN1.SGM 15FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4509-4513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-02282]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Availability of the Bog Creek Road Project Final 
Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Records of Decision

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security and U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement 
and Draft Records of Decision concerning the repair and maintenance of 
Bog Creek Road and closure of certain roads within the Blue-Grass Bear 
Management Unit in the Selkirk Mountains in Boundary County, Idaho; 
public review.

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SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Forest 
Service (Forest Service) Idaho Panhandle National Forests (IPNF) 
announce the availability of the Bog Creek Road Project Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the agencies' respective Draft 
Records of Decision (ROD). The Final EIS identifies and assesses 
potential impacts upon the environment of: Repairing and maintaining an 
approximately 5.6-mile section of the existing Bog Creek Road, which is 
located in the Selkirk Mountains in Boundary County, Idaho, within 
approximately two miles of the Canadian border, on land within the 
Blue-Grass Bear Management Unit (BMU) that is managed by the Forest 
Service; and closing for motorized use additional roads within the 
Blue-Grass BMU to comply with the Forest Plan Amendments for Motorized 
Access Management within the Selkirk and Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear 
Recovery Zones (Access Amendment) and to reduce road density in the 
Blue-Grass BMU.
    The CBP Draft ROD addresses the decision to approve the funding for 
and implement the repair and maintenance of the Bog Creek Road. The 
Forest Service Draft ROD addresses the decisions to: Approve CBP's 
repair and maintenance of Bog Creek Road for administrative use by CBP, 
the Forest Service, and others; implement the motorized closure of 
seasonally restricted Forest Service roads to establish grizzly bear 
core area habitat and meet Access Amendment standards for the Blue-
Grass BMU; and implement

[[Page 4510]]

changes in the seasonally restricted designation of roads in the Blue-
Grass BMU. This document provides instructions for filing objections to 
the Forest Service's Draft ROD.

DATES: The CBP Draft ROD will be available until April 1, 2019. CBP 
will issue a Final ROD at about the same time the Forest Service issues 
a Final ROD but no sooner than April 1, 2019.
    The Forest Service Draft ROD will be available for 45 days after 
the date of publication in the newspaper of record, the Coeur d'Alene 
Press. Objections to the Forest Service Draft ROD must be filed within 
45 days of such publication and filed in the manner specified in the 
ADDRESSES section of this document. After the 45-day objection period 
ends and after the Forest Service responds in writing to and addresses 
any objections, the Forest Service will issue a Final ROD. For detailed 
instructions on how to file an objection, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section below.

ADDRESSES: 
    For Obtaining Copies of the Final EIS and Draft Records of 
Decision: Electronic copies of the Final EIS, CBP Draft ROD, and Forest 
Service Draft ROD are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=41296 and https://www.cbp.gov/document/environmental-assessments/bog-creek-road-project-environmental-impact-statement.
    CD-ROM and print copies are available by sending a request to Joe 
Zidron at Joseph.Zidron@cbp.dhs.gov or 949-643-6392 or at the following 
Forest Service locations:
     The IPNF Supervisor's Office, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur 
d'Alene, Idaho;
     Sandpoint Ranger District, 1602 Ontario Street, Sandpoint, 
Idaho;
     Bonners Ferry Ranger District, 6286 Main Street, Bonners 
Ferry, Idaho; and
     Priest Lake Ranger District, 32203 Highway 57, Priest 
River, Idaho.
    For Filing Objections to the Forest Service Draft ROD: Objections 
to the Forest Service Draft ROD, including attachments, must be filed 
via fax, mail, express delivery, messenger service, email, or hand-
delivery to: Objection Reviewing Officer, USDA Forest Service, Northern 
Region, 26 Fort Missoula Road, Missoula, MT 59804. Hand-delivery hours 
are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. 
FAX to (406) 329-3411, Email: appeals-northern-regional-office@fs.fed.us. For fax and email, include ``Bog Creek Road Project 
Objection'' in the subject line. Acceptable formats for electronic 
objections are text or html email, Adobe portable document format 
(pdf), and formats viewable in Microsoft Office applications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Zidron, CBP, Border Patrol and Air 
and Marine Program Management Office, by telephone at 949-643-6392, or 
email at joseph.zidron@cbp.dhs.gov or Kim Pierson, Deputy Forest 
Supervisor, Forest Service, IPNF, by telephone at 208-765-7220, or 
email at kpierson@fs.fed.us. Persons who require assistance accessing 
information should contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) 
Target Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD) or contact USDA through 
the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Action

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Forest 
Service (Forest Service) Idaho Panhandle National Forests (IPNF) 
(collectively the Agencies) are proposing a road repair, maintenance, 
and motorized closure project in the Continental Mountain area of the 
Idaho Panhandle National Forests within the Bonners Ferry and Priest 
Lake Ranger Districts.\1\ The project has two objectives: (1) To 
provide safe east-west access for administrative use (as explained 
below) to this section of the U.S.-Canada border across the Selkirk 
Mountains, and (2) to meet grizzly bear motorized access standards 
within the Blue-Grass Bear Management Unit (BMU) of the Selkirk Grizzly 
Bear Recovery Zone in order to comply with the Forest Plan Amendments 
for Motorized Access Management within the Selkirk and Cabinet-Yaak 
Grizzly Bear Recovery Zones (Access Amendment).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ This proposal is being made pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., the 
President's Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for 
Implementing the NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), DHS Directive 023-
01, Revision 01, and Instruction 023-01-001-01, Revision 01, and CBP 
and Forest Service NEPA guidelines.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Bog Creek Road Project Final EIS has been prepared to identify 
and assess potential impacts from the Proposed Action on the 
environment. The Proposed Action was developed through collaborative 
efforts between CBP, the Forest Service, and the public, and was 
designed to meet the goals and objectives established for the project 
while meeting as many other resource needs as possible. The Proposed 
Action consists of three components: (1) Road repair and maintenance of 
Bog Creek Road and change in motorized use designation; (2) change in 
motorized use designation for Blue Joe Creek Road; and (3) motorized 
closure of selected seasonally restricted Forest Service roads. The 
Proposed Action is described below.
    The first component is the repair and maintenance of an 
approximately 5.6-mile section of Bog Creek Road (Forest Service Road 
[FSR] 1013), which would be conducted to allow the road to meet Forest 
Service road maintenance level 2 standards and would generally allow 
access for high-clearance vehicles. Maintenance level 2 roads are 
described in Forest Service Handbook 7709.58. Bog Creek Road is 
currently designated as a seasonally restricted road. Motorized use by 
the Forest Service, CBP, law enforcement, and other administrative 
agencies is permitted between April 1 and November 15 (active bear 
year) but is limited to 57 administrative vehicle round trips per 
active bear year. After road repair activities, the road designation 
would change to administrative open (as-needed administrative motorized 
access). Under the administrative open road designation, Bog Creek Road 
would be open to as-needed administrative motorized access but not open 
to the public for motorized travel.
    Repair and maintenance would consist of grading and resurfacing 
areas of the road that have been heavily eroded by surface water flows, 
filling potholes, and removing protruding boulders. Repair would also 
include installation of six new culverts and replacement of six of the 
existing 67 corrugated metal pipe culverts located along the length of 
the roadway because they have partially rusted through, otherwise 
exceeded their usable life, or do not meet current design standards for 
width and capacity. The most intensive repair would occur at Spread 
Creek, where a culvert failure and road washout have made the road 
completely impassable. The road would not be widened, but limited areas 
that no longer meet minimum width requirements may require cut and fill 
work to achieve the desired road operating and safety standards. Trees 
and other vegetation within the roadway and to either side would be 
grubbed or cut back to facilitate safe vehicle passage.
    The second component is the change in motorized designation of Blue 
Joe Creek Road (FSR 2546). Blue Joe Creek Road extends from the eastern 
terminus of the Bog Creek Road, running 5.5 miles alongside Blue Joe 
Creek, to the Continental Mine property. Blue Joe Creek Road is 
currently designated as seasonally restricted, and motorized access is 
limited to 57 vehicle round trips per active bear year. Under the

[[Page 4511]]

Proposed Action, the current seasonal restrictions that limit the 
number of motorized administrative trips along Blue Joe Creek Road 
would be removed. The road would be designated as administrative open, 
which would allow for as-needed administrative motorized trips. This 
change in designation, when combined with the Bog Creek Road 
designation change, would allow for administrative trips by private 
property owners to access their property within the Blue-Grass BMU.
    The final component is the motorized closure of selected seasonally 
restricted Forest Service roads. Under the Proposed Action, 
approximately 26 miles of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads 
would be closed to all wheeled motorized use within the Blue-Grass BMU. 
Closing the roads would allow the Forest Service to meet the 
requirements of at least 55 percent of the BMU as core area habitat, 
and no more than 26 percent of the BMU having a total motorized route 
density (TMRD) greater than 2 miles per square mile, as specified in 
the Access Amendment. The means by which motorized road closure would 
take place would vary by site and would include both decommissioning 
and long-term storage. Decommissioning involves permanently removing a 
road from the Forest Service transportation system. Long-term storage 
involves rendering a road undrivable. Roads stored for creation of 
grizzly bear core habitat would remain stored for a minimum of ten 
years. On-the-ground road work is typically the same or very similar 
for decommissioning and long-term storage, as both are intended to 
prevent future failures and erosion hazards. Both methods may involve 
one or a combination of the following treatments: Fully or partially 
recontouring the road prism, ripping the road surface, removing 
culverts and recontouring stream crossings, planting and seeding, 
mulching, or slashing disturbed areas.
    All roads proposed for motorized closure under the Proposed Action 
are currently classified as seasonally restricted Forest Service roads. 
Administrative motorized use of these roads is permitted between April 
1 and November 15; non-motorized public access on these roads is 
permitted year-round.

Alternatives

    The Agencies developed alternatives to the Proposed Action 
described above and disclose the environmental impacts of these 
alternatives in the Final EIS. In addition to the No-Action Alternative 
(Alternative 1) and the Proposed Action (Alternative 2), there are 
three other action alternatives analyzed: Modified Proposed Action 
(Alternative 3--Preferred Alternative), Blue-Grass BMU West-East Open 
Access (Alternative 4), and Alternative 4 Modified. Alternative 4 
Modified was developed for inclusion in the Final EIS in response to 
collaborative stakeholder alternative suggestions received during the 
Draft EIS public comment period.
    Alternative 1, the No-Action Alternative, represents the effects of 
not implementing the proposed repair and maintenance of Bog Creek Road 
and motorized closure of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads, 
while taking into account the effects of other past, ongoing, and 
reasonably foreseeable activities occurring in the area. This 
alternative proposes that no repair and maintenance activities would 
occur on the 5.6-mile section of Bog Creek Road and that the 26 miles 
of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads would continue to be 
available for motorized use in accordance with seasonal access 
restrictions. There would be no change in Forest Service management of 
the roads and CBP activities in the Blue-Grass BMU. Although the Forest 
Service would continue to examine road closure options to meet Access 
Amendment requirements within the Blue-Grass BMU under the No-Action 
Alternative, compliance with the Access Amendment standards would not 
change until currently unidentified other viable road closure options 
are implemented.
    Alternative 3 is a modified version of the Proposed Action that 
would close a different set of seasonally restricted Forest Service 
roads to motorized access. It is the Agencies' preferred alternative. 
The repair and maintenance activities proposed for Bog Creek Road and 
the administrative open designation for Bog Creek Road and Blue Joe 
Creek Road are the same as described under the Proposed Action. Under 
Alternative 3, approximately 25 miles of Forest Service roads would be 
closed to all motorized use by the Forest Service within the Blue-Grass 
BMU. This would allow the Forest Service to meet the Access Amendment 
grizzly bear core area habitat requirement of 55 percent and the TMRD 
requirement of 26 percent. Two of the nine roads proposed for motorized 
road closure under Alternative 3 would be different from the roads 
proposed for closure under the Proposed Action. These roads were 
included in this alternative because closing these roads would create 
more grizzly bear core area habitat in upper Grass Creek, a place that 
has been heavily and continuously used by grizzly bears since at least 
the 1980s. All roads proposed for motorized closure under Alternative 3 
are classified as seasonally restricted Forest Service roads. 
Administrative motorized use of these roads is permitted between April 
1 and November 15. Non-motorized public access on these roads is 
permitted year-round.
    Alternative 4 is a modified version of the Proposed Action that 
would open Bog Creek Road and roads along the eastern approach to Bog 
Creek Road to public motorized access. Under Alternative 4, Bog Creek 
Road repair and maintenance and the motorized closure of seasonally 
restricted Forest Service roads would be identical to the Proposed 
Action. After repair of Bog Creek Road is completed, Alternative 4 
would designate the 5.6 miles of the repaired Bog Creek Road as open 
for public motorized access year-round. However, winter motorized 
snowmobile use by the public is currently not allowed on Bog Creek Road 
as a result of rulings by the United States District Court of the 
Eastern District of Washington on November 7, 2006, and February 27, 
2007, relating to recovery of Selkirk Mountain woodland caribou and the 
potential impacts of snowmobile use within the recovery area. 
Approximately 4.5 miles of Blue Joe Creek Road would change to an 
administrative open designation (as-needed administrative motorized 
access). Additionally, the designation of roads along the eastern 
approach to Bog Creek Road (1 mile of FSR 2546 and FSRs 1011, 636, and 
1009) would also change from the current seasonally restricted 
designation (limited motorized access) to an open road designation 
(public motorized access) to allow for continuous public motorized 
travel across the Blue-Grass BMU. Under Alternative 4, the same 26 
miles of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads as identified in 
the Proposed Action would be closed to all wheeled motorized use within 
the Blue-Grass BMU.
    Alternative 4 Modified was developed for inclusion in the Final EIS 
in response to collaborative stakeholder alternative suggestions 
received during the Draft EIS public comment period. As described 
below, Alternative 4 Modified is similar in many respects to 
Alternative 4, but includes a few variations. Alternative 4 Modified 
incorporates the same road repair and maintenance activities, the same 
eastern approach roads to Bog Creek Road, and the same administrative 
motorized use and winter motorized snowmobile use that are described in 
Alternative 4.

[[Page 4512]]

However, Alternative 4 Modified includes a variation of the open public 
access on the Bog Creek Road and eastern approach roads presented in 
Alternative 4. It also includes a different combination of roads 
proposed for motorized closure as compared to the alternatives analyzed 
in the Draft EIS. Specifically, the roads would only be open to 
unlimited public motorized access from July 15 to August 15. Outside of 
this period, motorized access to the roads would be available for 
administrative use only. The gate at the east end of FSR 1009 would be 
left open from July 15 to August 15, and gates would be constructed at 
closed roads that intersect the open eastern approach roads to prevent 
unauthorized access. Because there would be open public motorized 
access for this one-month period, the road would be designated as open.
    The Final EIS addresses the potential impacts from the Proposed 
Action and alternatives. Evaluations were conducted on various 
resources present in the Blue-Grass BMU, including: threatened and 
endangered species, wildlife, fish, special-status plants, water, 
soils, recreation, and heritage.

Forest Service Pre-decisional Administrative Review (``Objection'') 
Process

    This project is subject to 36 CFR part 218, subparts A and B of the 
Forest Service's Project-level Pre-decisional Administrative Review 
Process. Pursuant to these regulations, only those who provided timely 
and specific written comments regarding the proposed project during a 
comment period are eligible to file an objection with the Forest 
Service. Issues raised in an objection must be based on previously 
submitted specific written comments regarding the project and 
attributed to the objector unless the objection is based on new 
information that arose after the designated opportunities for comments.
    Objections to the Forest Service's Draft ROD, including 
attachments, must be filed by regular mail, fax, email, hand-delivery, 
express delivery, or messenger service with the reviewing officer 
within 45 days of the date of publication of the legal notice for the 
objection process. This Federal Register notice is not the legal notice 
for purposes of the Forest Service's objection process. Instead, a 
separate legal notice will be published in the newspaper of record, the 
Coeur d'Alene Press. The publication date of the legal notice in the 
newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to 
file an objection, and those wishing to object should not rely upon 
dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. It is the 
objector's responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written 
objection with the reviewing officer and to retain evidence of timely 
filing, as determined by the following indicators: The date of the U.S. 
Postal Service postmark for an objection received before the close of 
the fifth business day after the objection filing period; the agency's 
electronically generated posted date and time for email and facsimiles; 
the shipping date for delivery by private carrier for an objection 
received before the close of the fifth business day after the objection 
filing period; or the official agency date stamp showing receipt of 
hand delivery. For emailed objections, the sender should receive an 
automated electronic acknowledgement from the agency as confirmation of 
receipt. If the sender does not receive an automated acknowledgment of 
receipt of the objection, it is the sender's responsibility to ensure 
timely filing by other means.
    Objections to the Forest Service Draft ROD must be filed with the 
reviewing officer in writing. All objections are available for public 
inspection during and after the objection process. Incorporation of 
documents by reference is not allowed, except for the following list of 
items that may be referenced by including date, page, and section of 
the cited document, along with a description of its content and 
applicability to the objection: All or any part of a Federal law or 
regulation; Forest Service directives and land management plans; 
documents referenced by the Forest Service in the proposed project EA 
or EIS that is subject to objection; and comments previously provided 
to the Forest Service by the objector during public involvement 
opportunities for the proposed project where written comments were 
requested by the responsible official. All other documents must be 
included with the objection.
    At a minimum, an objection to the Forest Service Draft ROD must 
include the following: Objector's name and address as defined in 36 CFR 
218.2, with a telephone number, if available; signature or other 
verification of authorship upon request (a scanned signature for 
electronic mail may be filed with the objection); when multiple names 
are listed on an objection, identification of the lead objector; 
verification of the identity of the lead objector must be provided upon 
request or the reviewing officer will designate a lead objector; the 
name of the proposed project, the name and title of the responsible 
official, and the name(s) of the national forest(s) and/or ranger 
district(s) on which the proposed project will be implemented; a 
description of those aspects of the proposed project addressed by the 
objection, including specific issues related to the proposed project; 
if applicable, how the objector believes the environmental analysis or 
draft decision specifically violates law, regulation, or policy; 
suggested remedies that would resolve the objection; supporting reasons 
for the reviewing officer to consider; and a statement that 
demonstrates the connection between prior specific written comments on 
the particular proposed project or activity and the content of the 
objection, unless the objection concerns an issue that arose after the 
designated opportunities for comment.

Prior Public Involvement

    Public scoping for the Bog Creek Road repair and maintenance 
proposal was initially conducted by CBP in February and March of 2013. 
Information gathered from the initial scoping effort was used to inform 
the Agencies about what level of NEPA analysis was necessary to 
evaluate the proposed project. The initial scoping information included 
the possibility that road closures may become part of the proposed 
action, but did not include specific motorized road closure 
information. Using initial scoping information, the Agencies determined 
that the NEPA analysis would be conducted through an EIS process.
    The Notice of Intent (NOI) stating that CBP and the Forest Service 
planned to prepare an EIS for the Bog Creek Road Project was published 
in the Federal Register on April 27, 2016 (81 FR 24839). The NOI asked 
for public comment on the proposal from April 27 to May 27, 2016. The 
Proposed Action described in the NOI included both repair and 
maintenance of Bog Creek Road and motorized road closures of specific 
road segments in the Blue-Grass BMU. In total, 17 comment letters were 
received during the NOI scoping period.
    All scoping comments submitted during the initial scoping and NOI 
scoping were included in issue development for the current EIS process. 
A Scoping Report that summarizes both scoping efforts is available for 
review as part of the project record. The Scoping Report is available 
on the CBP public website: https://www.cbp.gov/document/environmental-
assessments/bog-creek-

[[Page 4513]]

road-project-environmental-impact-statement.
    The Draft EIS publication was announced in the Federal Register on 
June 1, 2018 (83 FR 25472). The 45-day public comment period started 
the day following publication and was extended 15 additional days. See 
notice published in the Federal Register on July 20, 2018 (83 FR 
34601). Interested parties submitted specific written comments by 
email, in person, and U.S. Postal Service mail. The Agencies also held 
public meetings in Bonners Ferry, Priest Lake, and Sandpoint, Idaho to 
provide opportunities for the public to understand the proposed action 
and alternatives. One hundred seven comment letters were received on 
the Draft EIS. More information on the public comment process and 
agency responses to Draft EIS public comments are presented in Appendix 
C of the Final EIS.

Public Involvement in Historic Preservation Activities Under Section 
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act

    Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) 
requires Federal agencies to review all actions which may affect 
resources listed on, or eligible for, the National Register of Historic 
Places in order to take into account the effects of their undertakings 
on historic properties. In the Federal Register notice published on 
June 1, 2018 (83 FR 25472), and in accordance with the NHPA, the 
Agencies requested public comments on historic preservation issues 
related to the road repair and closure of roads for motorized use. This 
process also afforded the Idaho State Historic Preservation Officer and 
tribal governments a reasonable opportunity to comment on such 
undertakings. The Agencies received one comment specific to historic 
preservation issues.

Next Steps

    After the Forest Service objection filing period is complete, the 
Forest Service reviewing officer will issue a written response to the 
objections. The written response will set forth the reasons for the 
response, and may include instructions to the Forest Service's 
responsible official. If more than one objection is filed, the 
reviewing officer may consolidate objections and issue one or more 
responses.
    The Forest Service's responsible official will then address all 
concerns and instructions identified in the written response. 
Thereafter, the Forest Service will issue the
    Forest Service Final ROD. CBP will issue the CBP Final ROD at about 
the same time but no sooner than April 1, 2019. The Forest Service 
Final ROD and the CBP Final ROD will be made available to the public 
through an NOA in the Federal Register.

    Dated: February 8, 2019.
Karl H. Calvo,
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Facilities and Asset Management, 
Office of Enterprise Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Jeanne Higgins,
Forest Supervisor, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, U.S. Forest 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-02282 Filed 2-14-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-14-P
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