[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 145 (Friday, July 28, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38789-38791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-18553]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Salmon River Corridor Management Project, Sawtooth National
Recreation Area, Sawtooth National Forest, Custer County, Idaho
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact
statement to disclose the effects of proposed management direction for
use and facilities on the upper main Salmon River corridor, located in
Custer County, Idaho.
The project area involves approximately thirty miles of the upper
main Salmon River. The project area starts south of the community of
Stanley, Idaho, at the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery and continues to the
eastern boundary of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (SNRA). The
north and south boundaries of the project area generally parallel the
river, approximately \1/4\ mile from the water's edge. A few exceptions
to this width occur in the canyon in areas of flatter topography, where
the project area widens to the toe of the slope.
DATES: The agency expects to file the DEIS with the Environmental
Protection Agency and make it available for public comment in October
1995. The agency expects to file the final EIS in December, 1995.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For additional information contact Salli Rinella, project coordinator
at the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Star Route, Ketchum, ID
83340, (208) 727-5000.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Salmon River corridor, with its outstanding natural features is
eligible as a ``recreation river'' within the National Wild and Scenic
River System. Currently there is no capacity identified for recreation
use. Although this narrow corridor contains less than two percent of
the SNRA's total land base, it currently receives almost 15 percent of
the entire recreation use for the area. It is expected that demand for
recreation opportunity will continue to increase. There is a need to
identify and manage for a recreation capacity that is compatible with
the natural resources in the area.
There are currently eight developed campground facilities within
the project area, with capacity of 131 camping units. Some of the
developed facilities are outdated and in need of repair. Most of the
existing campground spurs and turn-around areas were not designed for
today's larger vehicles. Many sites and most of the existing toilets
within the project area are not designed to provide a barrier-free
opportunity as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Some of
the developed sites lie within riparian areas. The use that is
occurring within the areas and some of the facilities themselves are
causing resource impacts.
Disperse camping is allowed anywhere on the SNRA except in
developed campgrounds or in areas signed ``No Camping Allowed''. Many
of the dispersed campsites are impacting riparian areas and streambank
stability. Vehicular movement for dispersed camping also is causing
loss of vegetation and possible soil compaction.
In the past, Idaho Fish and Game has fed wintering elk in emergency
situations within the corridor. Elk wander onto the highway creating
safety hazards to motorists. Additional safety problems occur as
visitors traveling along the highway slow down or stop along the
highway to view the wildlife. Large concentrations of elk have also
caused vegetation loss and soil compaction at the emergency feed sites.
Past Biological Opinions from consultation with National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) indicates that river-oriented activities may
effect the threatened Snake River spring/summer chinook salmon.
Activities may also be limiting the habitats of threatened, endangered
or sensitive fish, wildlife and plant species.
On August 22, 1972 Congress passed Public Law 92-400 establishing
the SNRA. The intent of establishing the SNRA was to protect the areas
primary values of natural beauty, fish and wildlife resources, pastoral
and historical values, and recreation attributes.
There is a need to identify a river capacity level to ensure the
area's primary values are protected and a need to update existing
facilities to reduce impacts and accommodate today's user needs. There
is also a need to address elk feeding in the corridor to reduce impacts
and address safety.
Proposed Action
The Sawtooth National Forest proposes to develop FLRMP standards
and guidelines identifying limits of acceptable change that will
determine when carrying capacity for recreation activities on the upper
main Salmon River have been met, and to prohibit surfing on this
section of the river.
The Forest also proposes to issue six five-year special use
outfitter-guide floatboating permits, one five-year year-round special
use fishing permit, four five-year special use walk and wade fishing
permits, and to allow the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to continue
to feed wintering elk in emergency situations on National Forest System
lands at two locations within this project area. The Forest proposes to
rehabilitate existing facilities at Salmon River, Riverside, Upper
O'Brien, Holman Creek, and Mormon Bend Campgrounds; Snyder Spring
Picnic Area; Yankee Fork floatboat launch site; and Buckhorn Bridge
Picnic Site. Areas of impact at developed recreation sites will also be
revegetated or otherwise protected or improved. The Forest further
proposes: to remove thirteen camp sites and portions of the road at
Basin Creek Campground, four sites at Holman Creek Campground, and one
unit at Morman Creek Campground and to reclaim associated riparian and
floodplain areas; to expand Sunny Gulch Campground to accomdate those
developed sites lost at Basin Creek, Holman Creek Campgrounds; to
manage undeveloped camping and river access by a combination of vehicle
restrictions, permanent or temporary closures, and allowing undeveloped
camping at areas
[[Page 38790]]
designated with signs and permanent fire grills; to provide improved
river access facilities at Basin Creek and Four Aces; to improve/
define/develop pullouts along Highway 75 to make them safer and provide
educational and interpretation information at some of them; and to
utilize seasonal closures at Lower Holman and Riverside Campgrounds,
Buckhorn Bridge Picnic Site, and other areas along the river to reduce
impacts to spawning salmon and/or their habitat.
Decision To Be Made
Based on the analysis in the EIS, two levels of decision must be
made by the Forest Supervisor. The Forest Supervisor must decide what
additional standards and guidelines, if any, must be incorporated into
the Sawtooth National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (FLRMP)
to ensure recreation uses within the Salmon River Corridor are managed
in such as fashion to allow for protection of the primary values of the
SNRA, as established by PL92-400. This ``programmatic'' level of
decision may result in an amendment to the FLRMP. The Forest Supervisor
also must make ``site specific'' decisions as the the level of use that
will be allowed to occur on the upper main Salmon River and what
modifications if any are needed to both developed and dispersed
recreation sites to ensure protection of the primary values of the
SNRA, as established by PL 92-400.
Issues Identified to Date
Past scoping and public participation for some of these projects
have helped identify preliminary issues for this project.
1. Recreation use may be causing impacts to sensitive, threatened,
and endangered fish, wildlife and plants, and their associated habitat.
2. Recreation use may be causing the loss of vegetation and soil
compaction.
3. Modifying current use and facilities may impact visitors
recreation experience.
4. Modifying current use and facilities may impact the economy of
local communities and businesses.
5. Use within the corridor may impact heritage resources.
6. Concentrations of elk during emergency winter feeding may be
impacting resources and causing safety problems on Highway 75.
7. Condition of current facilities may be impacting visitors
experiences.
Possible Alternatives
Alternative A--No Action. This alternative maintains the current
location and management of developed and dispersed recreation sites. No
special use permits would be issued for walk and wade, fishing, and
floatboating. No river carrying capacity would be developed. Surfing
would continue to occur and winter emergency elk feeding by Idaho
Department of Fish and Game would continue to be reviewed on an as
needed basis.
Alternative B--In this alternative, undeveloped camping and river
access would be managed by a combination of vehicle restrictions,
permanent or temporary closures, and allowing undeveloped camping at
areas designated with signs and permanent fire grills. Numbers of sites
available for undeveloped camping would generally remain the same.
Eighteen sites would be removed from developed campgrounds and would be
``replaced'' by 18 new sites at Sunny Gulch Campground. Camping and
day-use facilities in need of upgrading would be replaced. Number of
river floatboat access sites would be reduced, but facilities at
remaining river access sites would be improved. Seasonal closures would
be utilized at Lower O'Brien and Riverside Campgrounds. All of Lower
O'Brien and the lower portion of Riverside would be closed from August
1 to June 15. Pullouts occurring along Highway 75 that provide parking
space for day use (fishing, sightseeing, picnicking, etc.) would be
managed as much as practicable by utilizing barriers and/or designated
trails to the river. Signs would be utilized when necessary to educate
and/or notify visitors of any restrictions, such as seasonal access
closures to protect spawning salmon and redds, or other resource needs.
The portion of the upper Salmon River from the Fish Hatchery to the
SNRA boundary would be closed to surfing. The six special use outfitter
guide floatboating permits, the one special use year-round fishing
permit, and four special use walk and wade permits would be issued for
five years. Mitigation measures similar to what is currently being used
would be included to minimize impacts to spawning salmon and their
redds. A river floatboat carrying capacity would be determined. This
capacity would allow for use and the enjoyment of the river that is
compatible with the resources. Two areas would be approved for use by
Idaho Fish and Game for emergency winter elk feeding.
Alternative C--In this alternative, undeveloped camping and river
access would be managed by a combination of vehicle restrictions,
permanent or temporary closures, and allowing undeveloped camping at
areas designated with signs and permanent fire grills. Numbers of sites
available for undeveloped camping would be reduced. Eighteen sites
would be removed from developed campgrounds and would not be
``replaced''. Camping and day-use facilities in need of upgrading would
be replaced. Number of river floatboat access sites would be reduced,
but facilities at remaining river access sites would be improved.
Seasonal closures would be utilized at Lower O'Brien and Riverside
Campgrounds. All of Lower O'Brien and the lower portion of Riverside
would be closed from August 1 to June 15. Pullouts occurring along
Highway 75 that provide parking space for day use (fishing,
sightseeing, picnicking, etc.) would be managed as much as practicable
by utilizing barriers and/or designated trails to the river. Signs
would be utilized when necessary to educate and/or notify visitors of
any restrictions, such as seasonal access closures to protect spawning
salmon and redds, or other resource needs. The portion of the upper
Salmon River from the Fish Hatchery to the SNRA boundary would be
closed to surfing. The six special use outfitter guide floatboating
permits, the one special use year-round fishing permit, and four
special use walk and wade permits would be issued for five years.
Mitigation measures more restrictive than what are currently required
would be included to minimize impacts to spawning salmon and their
redds. A river floatboat carrying capacity would be determined. This
capacity would generally be less than in Alternative B, but would allow
for use and enjoyment of the river that is compatible with the
resources. Two areas would be approved for use by Idaho Fish and Game
for emergency winter elk feeding.
Scoping Process
This Notice of Intent formally initiates the scoping process for
the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). The Forest Service
invites comments and suggestions on the scope of the analysis to be
included in the DEIS. In addition, the Forest Service gives notice that
it is beginning a full environmental analysis and decision-making
process for this proposal so that interested or affected people may
know how they can participate in the environmental analysis and
contribute to the final decision. Public comments on the proposal are
welcome and should be submitted in writing to Paul Ries, Area Ranger,
Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Star Route, Ketchum, ID 83340.
Comments will be most useful to the analysis team if they are received
by August 31, 1995. The Forest Service
[[Page 38791]]
intends to hold public meetings on the proposal but the meetings have
not been scheduled at this time.
There are no known permits or licenses required to implement the
proposed actions. Several agencies and organizations will be invited to
participate as cooperating agencies.
As previously stated, the Forest Service expects to publish the
DEIS by mid-October 1995. The comment period on the DEIS will be 45
days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the
notice of availability in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes it is important to give reviewers
notice at this early stage of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
DEIS must structure their participation in the environmental review of
the proposal so that it is meaningful and alters an agency to the
reviewer's position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp.
v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that
could be raised at the DEIS stage but that are not raised until after
completion of the final environmental impact statement may be waived or
dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022
(9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsion Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp.
1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, it is very
important that those interested in this proposed action participate by
the close of the 45-day comment period so 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
environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the DEIS should be as
specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer to specific
pages or chapters of the draft statement. Comments may also address the
adequacy of the DEIS or the merits of the alternatives formulated and
discussed in the statement. (Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council
on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in
addressing these points.)
Please note that comments you make on the DEIS will be regarded as
public information.
Thomas L. Tidwell, Acting Forest Supervisor, Sawtooth National
Forest, is the responsible official.
Dated: July 24, 1995.
Thomas L. Tidwell,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 95-18553 Filed 7-27-95; 8:45 am]
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