From: Subject: FR Doc E7-14977 Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2007 22:05:54 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-14977.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 FR Doc E7-14977 
[Federal Register: August 3, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 149)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 43223-43225]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03au07-31]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

=20
Salmon-Challis National Forest, Idaho; Salmon-Challis National=20
Forest Travel Management Plan and Off-highway Vehicle Designation

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact=20
statement to designate a portion of the National Forest roads, trails,=20
and areas open to public motor vehicle use on the Salmon-Challis=20
National Forest (SCNF), and assign the type of use(s) and season of use=20
allowed on each road and trail or portion thereof. Additionally, the=20
Forest Service will designate some previously unauthorized (or user-
created) routes for public motor vehicle use and assign the type of=20
use(s) and season of use allowed on each route or portion thereof.=20
Decisions regarding motorized travel do not include motorized travel=20
over snow. A Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) depicting those routes that=20
will be open to public motorized travel on the SCNF will be the primary=20
tool to determine compliance with, and enforcement of, motorized=20
vehicle use designations on the ground. Existing routes and user-
created routes not designated as open on the MVUM will be legally=20
closed to motorized travel. The SCNF currently has 980,700 acres open=20
to motorized cross-country travel. Those acres will be closed year-
round to motorized cross country travel, excluding over-snow vehicles.

DATES: Written comments concerning the proposed action should be=20
received by September 14, 2007. The draft environmental impact=20
statement is expected to be released in March 2008 and the final=20
environmental impact statement is expected in August 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Salmon-Challis National Forest,=20
ATTN: Travel Management Planning, 1206 South Challis Street, Salmon, ID=20
83467.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Gallogly, Travel Planning Team=20
Leader, Salmon-Challis National Forest, 1206 South Challis Street,=20
Salmon, ID 83467. Telephone: (208) 756-5103.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:=20

Purpose and Need

    The purpose of this action is to designate a public motorized=20
vehicle transportation system for the SCNF that addresses current and=20
anticipated recreation needs, provides a variety of recreation access=20
opportunities, considers management concerns (such as public safety,=20
maintenance costs, and consistency with adjoining public lands),=20
reduces impacts to forest resources, recognizes reserved or outstanding=20
rights, and reduces conflicts between recreational uses.
    The need for this action is to meet national direction published in=20
the Federal Register, 36 CFR Parts 212, 251, 261, 295 Travel=20
Management: Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use''=20
(Federal Register 2005: 70 FR 68264) (Travel Management Rule). This=20
rule requires designation of those roads, trails, and areas open to=20
motor vehicle use on Forest System Lands. The rule prohibits the use of=20
motor vehicles off the designated system, as well as use of motor=20
vehicles on routes and in areas that are not consistent with the=20
designation.

Proposed Action

    The project area includes the approximate 3.0 million acres under=20
the administration of the SCNF, excluding the approximate 1.3 million=20
acre-Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area which is=20
Congressionally mandated as non-motorized.
    The proposed action is the Forest's initial description of=20
designated roads, trails and areas which would be available for public=20
motor vehicle use on the SCNF. The proposed action is based on existing=20
travel plans for both the Salmon and Challis National Forests and input=20
gathered from the public, cooperating agencies and organizations, and=20
Forest Service specialists during meetings, workshops, and field trips=20
held from summer 2006 through May 2007. This proposal is only one=20
alternative that will be evaluated in the Environmental Impact=20
Statement for the Salmon-Challis National Forest Travel Management Plan=20
and Off-highway Vehicle Designation.
    The proposed action identifies approximately 3,400 miles of roads=20
designated for motorized public use and about 1,100 miles of motorized=20
trails. This proposal would prohibit all motorized cross country travel=20
and close all roads, trails, and routes not specifically designated for=20
motorized public use. Off-route access would be permitted for 300 feet=20
on either side of designated motorized routes, except the Salmon River=20
Road (FR 30) to accommodate access to and from dispersed=20
campsites only. Camping with the use of a motor vehicle (e.g. car,=20
motor-home, truck and camp trailer, camper, off-highway vehicle, or=20
motorcycle) is only allowed in designated dispersed camping areas and=20
designated pull-outs along the Salmon River Road (FR 30). Day-
use parking is allowed along the Salmon River Road. Motor vehicle use=20
for big game retrieval off of designated roads or designated motorized=20
trails would not be allowed. Motorized use beyond those limits would be=20
subject to citations and fines by law enforcement.
    The following uses would not be affected by this decision and are=20
outside the scope of this project: (1) Over-snow vehicles; (2)=20
aircraft; (3) watercraft; (4) non-motorized uses (e.g. hiking,=20
equestrian, mountain bikes); (5) search and rescue operations; (6) law=20
enforcement operations; (7) firefighting operations; (8) permitted uses=20
(e.g. woodcutting, livestock herding/fence maintenance; (9) limited=20
administrative access; (10) legal ingress and egress to private land;=20
(11) new or non-national forest roads; and (12) use of roads with=20
legally documented rights-of-way held by state, county or other public=20
road authority.
    Detailed maps and data tables displaying proposed designated roads=20
and trails across the Forest, and designated dispersed camping areas=20
and pull outs along the Salmon River Road

[[Page 43224]]

are posted on the SCNF Web site at: http://f=
rwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=
=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sc/


Forest Plan Amendment

    The Challis National Forest Land Resource Management Plan would be=20
amended as part of the SCNF Forest Travel Management Plan project to=20
include changes to the two sections outlined below.
    Challis National Forest Plan Amendment 9: Forestwide=20
Management Direction Standards and Guidelines.

Current Direction

Clause d. Proposed Wilderness.
    Continue existing ORV closures or expand closures where needed to=20
allow adverse impacts from ORV's to heal. May allow ORV use to continue=20
on the following roads and/or trails:
    a. Toolbox-Herd Peak Trail 051--Between the ridgetop at=20
the head of Toolbox Canyon, to Herd Peak--on the two short segments of=20
this trail which dip into the proposed wilderness area; two-wheeled=20
motorized and mechanized vehicles only.
    b. Wildhorse Road 136--From proposed wilderness boundary=20
(\1/4\ mile above Wildhorse Campground) to end of current road; no=20
vehicle size restrictions.
    c. Long Lost Creek Road 434--From proposed wilderness=20
boundary to Trailhead for Long Lost Trail 194; no vehicle size=20
restrictions.
    d. Long Lost Trail 194--From Long Lost Creek Road=20
434 to end of trail; two wheel, motorized and mechanized=20
vehicles only.
    e. Swauger Lakes Trail 091--From Long Lost Creek Road=20
434 to Dry Creek Trail 240; two-wheel, motorized and=20
mechanized vehicles only.
    f. Long Lost-Wet Creek Trail 245--From Long Lost Trail=20
194 to Shadow Lakes; two wheel, motorized and mechanized=20
vehicles only.

Amended Directon

    Clause d. Proposed Wilderness; item d described above would be=20
removed from the list.
    Long Lost Trail 194 would not be a designated motorized=20
route and would not be open for motorized public use.
    Challis National Forest Plan Amendment 9:
    Management Area Direction for Management Area 16 Borah=20
Peak, Recreation, Management Area Direction.

Current Direction

    Clause c. Swauger Lakes Trail 091--from Long Lost Creek=20
Road 434 to Dry Creek Trail 240; two wheel, motorized=20
and mechanized vehicles only.

Amended Direction

    Clause c. Swauger Lakes Trail 091--from Long Lost Creek=20
Road 434 to Dry Creek Trail 240; motorized and=20
mechanized vehicles 50'' or less in width only.

Possible Alternatives

    Alternatives to the proposed action will be considered and=20
evaluated. The No Action alternative would adopt the existing systems=20
of open roads and trails displayed on current travel plans for the=20
Salmon National Forest and the Challis National Forest and designate=20
those routes as open to public motorized travel.
    Alternatives to the Proposed Action and No Action will depict=20
differing combinations of routes to remain open to motorized travel.=20
The Proposed Action and the alternative actions will provide a system=20
of routes that differ from existing conditions and the No Action=20
alternative.
    Less restrictive alternatives would generally entail designating a=20
greater number of miles of roads and trails to be open to motorized=20
travel than the Proposed Action. Alternatives considered to be less=20
restrictive could also include fewer constraints on season of use or=20
vehicle types allowed on designated routes. Less restrictive=20
alternatives would generally provide for more motorized recreational=20
use opportunities.
    More restrictive alternatives would generally entail designating=20
fewer miles of roads and trails to be open for motorized travel than=20
the Proposed Action or have more constraints on season of use and=20
vehicles types using designated routes. More restrictive alternatives=20
would provide motorized recreational opportunities, yet there may be=20
greater emphasis on non-motorized recreation.
    A consequence of designating routes open for motorized travel is=20
that those routes not designated as open would be identified as closed=20
to motorized travel. Road closure procedures that involve ground-
disturbing activities would not be part of the Proposed Action or=20
alternatives and would require separate and distinct site-specific NEPA=20
decisions regarding the implementation aspects of road closures. The=20
environmental effects of having roads closed to motorized travel will=20
be evaluated in this analysis.
    Identification of new routes that would meet the objectives for a=20
motorized transportation system may be, as appropriate, part of this=20
travel management planning. Separate, site-specific NEPA decisions=20
would be required to implement ground-disturbing activities associated=20
with new route construction.

Responsible Official

    William A. Wood, Supervisor, Salmon-Challis National Forest,=20
Headquarters Office, 1206 South Challis Street, Salmon, Idaho 83467, is=20
the responsible official for making the decision and providing=20
direction for the analysis.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Based on the purpose and need for the proposal, the Forest=20
Supervisor will evaluate the Proposed Action and other alternatives to=20
decide which roads, trails and areas will be designated as open to the=20
public for motorized use and the allowed season and/or type of use for=20
those routes open to motorized travel.
    Federal land managers are directed (Executive Order 11644, 36 CFR=20
212 and 43 CFR 8342.1 to ensure that the use of motorized vehicles and=20
off-road vehicles will be controlled and directed so as to protect the=20
resources of those lands, to promote the safety of users, minimize=20
conflicts among the the various uses of federal lands, and to provide=20
for public use of roads and trails designated as open.

Scoping Process

    Preliminary public involvement was initiated in April 2006 to=20
inform the public and stakeholders on the objectives of travel=20
management. The public was also asked to provide input about specific=20
routes they wanted to remain open and/or those routes that may be in=20
conflict with other desired conditions sought by the public on Forest=20
Service Lands. This initial comment period ended in March 2007. The=20
SCNF received many comments on individual routes and numerous general=20
comments about the area and travel management as a whole.
    This initial public input was used to develop the preliminary=20
route-by-route Proposed Action which will be now used as the Forest=20
starts the more formal scoping process. The Forest will conduct the=20
following series of public, open-house-style meetings across the Forest=20
and in surrounding communities to discuss the Proposed Action with=20
interested parties and those who may be affected by the proposal:
     Challis, Idaho--August 7, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. Challis-Yankee=20
Fork Ranger District Office, Highway 93 North.
     Mackay, Idaho--August 8, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. Lost River=20
Ranger Distrct Office, 716 West Custer Street.

[[Page 43225]]

     Salmon, Idaho--August 9, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. Salmon, Idaho--
Public Lands Center, 1206 South Challis Street.
     Idaho Falls, Idaho--August 15, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. Caribou-
Targhee National Forest, Supervisor's Office, 1405 Hollipark Drive.
     Blackfoot, Idaho--August 16, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. Blackfoot=20
City Council Room, Library Building, 157 No. Broadway.
     North Fork, Idaho--August 22, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. North Fork=20
Fire Station, Highway 93.
     Leadore, Idaho--August 28, 2007, 4:30-8 p.m. Leadore=20
Community Center, Highway 28.
    Notice of all meetings will be posted on the Forest's website and=20
advertised in the Recorder Herald, Challis Messenger, Arco Advertiser,=20
and Post Register newspapers.
    Based on comments received as a result of this notice and after the=20
Forest has conducted public meetings and afforded the public sufficient=20
time to respond to the preliminary Proposed Action, the Forest will use=20
the public scoping comments and concerns along with resource-related=20
input from the interdisciplanary team and other agency resource=20
specialists to identify a set of issues to carry forward into the=20
environmental analysis.

Preliminary Issues

    The Forest Service has received some indications of potential=20
issues from the initial public involvement process. These potential=20
issues include:
    (1) Adverse resource impacts caused by inappropriate types of=20
vehicle use and unrestricted season of use.
    (2) Infringement on wildlife caused by roads in important or=20
critical habitat, high density of roads in wildlife habitat areas, and=20
disturbance of wildlife during critical lifecycle periods.
    (3) Loss of recreational opportunity when existing routes are=20
closed to motorized travel.
    (4) Loss of semi-primitive and primitive recreational opportunity=20
if more routes are open to motorized travel.
    (5) Failure to accommodate the growing number of motorized users=20
desiring to use federal lands for recreational riding of ATVs and=20
motorcycles.
    (6) Inconsistencies between adjoining public lands.
    (7) Enforcement concerns centered on whether the agency has the=20
ability to provide enforcement once decisions have been made on allowed=20
routes and uses for motorized travel.
    (8) Safety concerns on routes where multiple vehicle types (full-
sized trucks and cars, ATVs, and motorcycles) are allowed.
    (9) Conflicts with landowners when routes cross private lands to=20
access federally managed lands.
    The Forest Service recognizes that this list of issues may not be=20
complete and issues will be further defined and refined as scoping=20
continues. A comprehensive list of key issues will be determined before=20
the range of alternatives is developed and the environmental analysis=20
is started.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent begins the formal scoping process in the=20
development of the environmental impact statement. All comments=20
received during the initial comment period (April 2006-March 2007) will=20
be brought forward into this formal scoping, and those who commented=20
then need not comment again to have their comments considered, or to=20
demonstrate their interest in this planning process. Any new or=20
additional comments about the proposed action would be most useful if=20
received by September 7, 2007. Persons and organizations commenting=20
during the intitial scoping will be maintained on the mailing list for=20
future information about Salmon-Challis National Forest Travel=20
Management Planning.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent=20
Environmental Review: A draft environmental impact statement will be=20
prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental=20
impact statement will be 45 days from the date the Environmental=20
Protection Agency (EPA) publishes the notice of availability in the=20
Federal Register. Written comments are preferred and should include the=20
name and address of the commenter. Comments submitted for this proposed=20
action will be considered part of the public record.
    The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important=20
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public=20
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of=20
draft environmental impact statements must structure their=20
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is=20
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and=20
contentions (Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,=20
553 (1978).) Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the=20
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised=20
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may=20
be waived or dismissed by the courts (City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d=20
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490=20
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980)). Because of these court rulings,=20
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action=20
participate by the close of the 45-day period so that substantive=20
comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service at a=20
time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the=20
final environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues=20
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft=20
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is=20
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the=20
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft=20
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives=20
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer=20
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing=20
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at=20
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
    Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who=20
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal=20
and will be available for public inspection.

    (Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook=20
1909.15, Section 21.)

    Dated: July 25, 2007.
William A. Wood,
Forest Supervisor.
 [FR Doc. E7-14977 Filed 8-2-07; 8:45 am]

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