[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2837]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 8, 1994]


                                                    VOL. 59, NO. 26

                                          Tuesday, February 8, 1994
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

 

Twelve Lakes Stabilization Project, Wasatch-Cache National 
Forest, Summit County, UT

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement on a proposal to stabilize Big Elk, Crystal, Duck, Fire, 
Island, Long, Marjorie, Pot, Star, Teapot, Wall, and Weir Lake 
reservoirs located in non-motorized backcountry adjacent to the Mirror 
Lake Highway. These lakes will no longer be used for water storage 
purposes. Restoration of watershed resources, fishery and wildlife 
habitat, and previous recreation impacts will occur. This project is 
mitigation for lost fishery and recreational opportunities related to 
the construction of Jordanelle Reservoir (Central Utah Project).

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
in writing by March 8, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to POB 68, Kamas, Utah 84036.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mead Hargis, Kamas Ranger District, 801-783-4338.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Wasatach-Cache National Forest is the 
lead agency.

    The Kamas Ranger District invites comments on the proposed action 
and alternatives. Scoping will include written, phone or personal 
comments. No meetings are scheduled. District employees will meet with 
any person who requests a meeting.
    The decisions to be made include whether or not to stabilize these 
lakes and if so at what lake surface elevation and what, if any, 
recreation and natural resource restoration will be necessary.
    Preliminary issues include cost, fishery benefits, roadless 
character, wetlands, cultural resources, potential impacts of 
stablization attracting more recreational use to these lakes.
    Preliminary alternatives include No Action, stabilization at 
natural lake levels, low hazard dam levels, and levels above low hazard 
dam elevations.
    A 404 Dredge and Fill permit from the Army Corps of Engineers and 
Utah State Stream Alternation permits will be necessary.
    The Responsible Official is Melissa Blackwell, District Ranger, 
Kamas Ranger District.
    Estimated dates of availability: Draft EIS August 1994, final EIS 
November 1994.
    The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will 
be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency's notice 
of availability appears in the Federal Register. It is very important 
that those interested in this proposed action participate at that time. 
To be the most helpful, comments on the draft environmental impact 
statement should be as specific as possible and may address the 
adequacy of the statement or the merits of the alternatives discussed 
(see The Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing 
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 
40 CFR 1503.3).
    In addition, Federal court decisions have established that 
reviewers of draft environmental impact statements must structure their 
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is 
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewers' position and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
553 (1978). Environmental objections that could have been raised at the 
draft stage may be waived if not raised until after completion of the 
final environmental impact statement. City of Angoon v. Hodel, (9th 
Circuit, 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 S. Supp. 
1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). The reason for this is to ensure that 
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest 
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to 
them in the final.

    Dated: February 1, 1994.
Melissa Blackwell,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 94-2837 Filed 2-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M