From: Subject: FR Doc 08-470 Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:53:33 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-470.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 FR Doc 08-470 
[Federal Register: February 4, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 23)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 6454-6456]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04fe08-13]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

=20
Clearwater National Forest, ID; Travel Management Plan

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION:  Revised notice; intent to prepare an environmental impact=20
statement. The original notice was published in the Federal Register=20
Vol. 72, No. 228, November 28, 2007/Notices, pages 67268-67270. A=20
revised notice was published in the Federal Register Vol. 72, No. 243,=20
December 19, 2007/Notices, pages 71874-71876.

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SUMMARY: On November 28, 2007, the USDA Forest Service announced its=20
intent to prepare a travel planning environmental impact statement=20
(EIS). The proposed action would designate a site-specific=20
transportation system and prohibit indiscriminate cross-country=20
traffic. The EIS will analyze the effects of the proposed action and=20
alternatives. A Revised Notice was published to extend the due date for=20
scoping comments to January 11, 2008. This Revised Notice is being=20
published because the due date for scoping comments has been extended=20
to February 29, 2008. The Clearwater National Forest invites comments=20
and suggestions on the issues to be addressed. The agency gives notice=20
of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis and decision-
making process on the proposal so interested and affected members of=20
the public may participate and contribute to the final decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received=20
by February 29, 2008. A 45-day public comment period will follow the=20
release of the draft environmental impact statement that is expected in=20
June 2008. The final environmental impact statement is expected in=20
January 2009.

ADDRESSES: Send written or electronic comments to: Lochsa Ranger=20
District, Kamiah Ranger Station; Attn: Lois Foster, Interdisciplinary=20
Team Leader;

[[Page 6455]]

Rt. 2, Box 191; Kamiah, ID 83536; Fax 208-935-4275; E-mail 
comments-northern-clearwater@fs.fed.us.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lois Foster, Interdisciplinary Team=20
Leader, (208) 935-4258.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Purpose and Need for Action is to (1)=20
Implement national OHV Rule direction, (2) Limit indiscriminate cross-
county motorized travel, (3) Designate selected roads and trails for=20
motorized travel, (4) Designate appropriate areas or routes for travel=20
with oversnow vehicles, (5) Balance travel opportunities with=20
maintenance and management capability including costs, (6) Provide for=20
a better spectrum of motorized, non-motorized, and non-mechanized=20
travel opportunities across the CNF in recognition of the need to=20
retain the character of lands recommended for Wilderness designation=20
and the CNF's ability to provide for non-motorized recreation=20
opportunities that are not available on other land ownerships, (7)=20
Manage impacts to Forest resources, (8) Improve clarity and consistency=20
of existing travel restrictions, and (9) Amend the 1987 Forest Plan as=20
necessary to accomplish the actions described above.
     The need for revision of the Forest Plan is supported by=20
nationwide awareness within the Forest Service of the negative effects=20
of indiscriminate off-road travel by motorized users. These concerns=20
led to publication of the Travel Management final rule on November 9,=20
2005 in 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: 79 FR 68264). The rule requires each National=20
Forest to designate those roads, trails, and areas that are open to=20
motor vehicle use. The rule prohibits use of motor vehicles off the=20
designated system, as well as use of motor vehicles on routes and in=20
areas that are not consistent with the designation. The rule does not=20
require that over-snow vehicles, such as snowmobiles, are limited to a=20
designated system by exempting them under 121.51, but also states in=20
212.81 that ``use by over-snow vehicles * * * on National Forest system=20
lands may be allowed, restricted, or prohibited.'' The CNF chose to=20
include over-snow vehicles in the analysis.
     The Proposed Action would designate motorized road and trail=20
routes for summer travel on the Clearwater National Forest. Existing=20
conditions include roads and trails identified as open to motorized=20
travel in the 2005 Travel Guide, plus any error corrections or project-
level NEPA decisions made since then. The Proposed Action would include=20
any changes from existing conditions, such as road to trail=20
conversions, designating some roads previously not thought to be=20
travelable, and not designating some roads that were previously thought=20
to be travelable.
     The transportation system for snow-free travel would include:
     1,623 miles of roads open yearlong to all highway-legal=20
vehicles (an increase of 8 miles compared to existing conditions);
     509 miles of roads open yearlong to small vehicles such as=20
ATVs and motorcycles, but not including UTVs (an increase of 9 miles);
     663 miles of roads open seasonally to all highway-legal=20
vehicles (a decrease of 13 miles);
     151 miles of roads open seasonally to small vehicles (a=20
decrease of 1 mile);
     93 miles of trails open yearlong to small vehicles (a=20
change of 0 miles);
     226 miles of trails open yearlong to motorcycles (a=20
decrease of 178 miles);
     75 miles of trails open seasonally to small vehicles (an=20
increase of 2 miles); and
     93 miles of trails open seasonally to motorcycles (a=20
change of 0 miles).
     The proposed action would also modify the dates of seasonal=20
restrictions for roads and trails to reduce the variety of restricted=20
periods, and ultimately improve the clarity of the Motor Vehicle Use=20
Map (MVUM). Motorized travel up to 300 feet off of designated routes to=20
access established campsites would be permitted in most areas. In=20
certain areas, off-route travel would be permitted only to access=20
specifically designated campsites.
     Existing restrictions for bicycles on all but one road would be=20
eliminated. Bicycle restrictions on roads would drop from a total of 10=20
miles currently to only 1 mile, which would be entirely within the CNF=20
seed orchard. Areas recommended for wilderness by the Forest Plan would=20
become off limits to bicycles. System trails available to bicycles=20
would drop from 811 miles to 730 miles (a reduction of 81 miles).
     Over-snow vehicle use would be restricted in areas recommended for=20
wilderness by the Forest Plan. Within the areas where over-snow vehicle=20
use would generally be permitted, there would continue to be some=20
specific routes where over-snow vehicles would be restricted. Over-snow=20
vehicle use would be prohibited forest-wide from October 1 to November=20
4. The transportation system for over-snow vehicles would include:
     364 miles of groomed snowmobile routes (no change from=20
existing conditions);
     1,322,943 acres generally open to over-snow vehicles=20
except for certain restricted routes;
     3,484 miles of roads where over-snow vehicles would be=20
permitted from November 5 until snowmelt in the spring, compared to=20
3,174 acres available currently (an increase of 310 acres); and
     503,057 acres closed to over-snow vehicles, compared to=20
302,856 acres available currently (a decrease of 200,201 acres).

The numbers above are only approximate at this time.
    The existing Forest Plan will be amended. When the Forest Plan was=20
completed in 1987, trail vehicles were few and travel planning was=20
focused almost completely on roads and highway vehicles. Motorized use=20
has increased dramatically since then, and modern vehicles such as=20
snowmobiles, ATV's, and motorcycles have capabilities that could not=20
have been envisioned in 1987. The Forest Plan also contains some=20
conflicting information regarding the intent for management of certain=20
areas. Changes may include:
     Better coordination between the level of motorized travel=20
and the focus of certain management areas, primarily those in roadless=20
areas;
     Additions or changes to Forest Plan standards to permit=20
implementation of the national Travel Management rule; and
     Other goals, objectives, and standards affecting travel=20
management.
    Possible Alternatives the Forest Service will consider include a=20
no-action alternative, which will serve as a baseline for comparison of=20
alternatives. The proposed action will be considered along with=20
additional alternatives that will be developed to meet the purpose and=20
need for action, and to address significant issues identified during=20
scoping.
    The Responsible Official is Thomas K. Reilly, Clearwater Forest=20
Supervisor, Clearwater National Forest, 12730 Highway 12, Orofino, ID=20
83544.
    The Decision to be Made is whether to adopt the proposed action, in=20
whole or in part, or another alternative; and what mitigation measures=20
and management requirements will be implemented.
    The Scoping Period for the EIS is being extended with this notice.=20
The scoping process will identify issues to be analyzed in detail and=20
will lead to the development of alternatives to the proposal. The=20
Forest Service is seeking

[[Page 6456]]

information and comments from other Federal, State, and local agencies;=20
Tribal governments; and organizations and individuals who may be=20
interested in or affected by the proposed action. Comments received in=20
response to this notice, including the names and addresses of those who=20
comment, will be part of the project record and available for public=20
review. Public meetings were held on December 18, 19, and 20, 2007. If=20
additional public meetings are scheduled, the times, dates and=20
locations for them will be published in the Lewiston, Idaho Lewiston=20
Morning Tribune.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent=20
Environmental Review: A draft environmental impact statement will be=20
prepared for comment. The second major opportunity for public input=20
will be when the Draft EIS is published. The comment period on the=20
draft environmental impact statement will be 45 days from the date the=20
Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in=20
the Federal Register. The Draft EIS is anticipated to be available for=20
public review in June 2008. The comment period on the Draft EIS will be=20
45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the=20
notice of availability in the Federal Register.
    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 comment period for the Draft EIS so=20
that substantive comments and objections are made available to the=20
Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and=20
respond to them in the 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.
    After the comment period for the Draft EIS ends, the Forest Service=20
will analyze comments received and address them in the Final EIS. The=20
Final EIS is scheduled to be released by January 2009. The Responsible=20
Official (Forest Supervisor Thomas K. Reilly) will document the=20
decision and rationale in a Record of Decision (ROD). The decision will=20
be subject to review under Forest Service appeal regulations at 36 CFR=20
Part 215.
    Preliminary Issues identified by the Forest Service=20
interdisciplinary team include: changing motorized and non-motorized=20
recreation opportunities, costs of road and trail management and=20
maintenance, soil issues, effects on aquatic environments and species,=20
effects on wildlife, the spread of noxious weeds, changes in motorized=20
access to roads, trails and areas that are not designated as part of=20
the travel planning analysis, and motorized access for people with=20
disabilities.

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

    Dated: January 24, 2008.
Thomas K. Reilly,
Clearwater Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 08-470 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am]

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