[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49894-49895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25001]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Rio Sabana Day Use Picnic Area, Caribbean National Forest,
Naguabo, Puerto Rico
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Forest Service, USDA will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) on a proposed action to develop the Rio Sabana Day Use
Picnic Area in the municipality of Naguabo, reconstruct 2.5 miles of
the Rio Sabana Trail and trailhead, reconstruct 0.8 miles of entrance
road, and construct a cable trail bridge over Rio Sabana.
The Forest Service invites comments and suggestions that are within
the scope of the proposed action and analysis. In addition, the agency
gives notice of the environmental analysis and decision making process
that will occur on the proposal so that interested and affected people
are aware of how they may participate and contribute to the final
decision.
DATES: Following are the dead lines established for pubic comments: (a)
Comments to be incorporated into the draft environmental impact
statement should be received by September 30th, 1998; (b) Comments to
be incorporated into the final environmental impact statement should be
received within 45 days following publication of the Notice of
Availability of the draft environmental impact statement.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Abigail Rivera, Team Leader;
Caribbean National Forest, P.O. Box 490, Palmer, Puerto Rico, 00721.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Abigail Rivera, Rio Sabana Picnic Area EIS Team Leader, 787 888-5643.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Caribbean National Forest is proposing:
(a) To develop a day use picnic area located in the vicinity of the Rio
Sabana Bridge, on the southern end of Highway #191, at Km. 21.1, in the
Cubuy Sector of the Municipality of Naguabo; (b) the rehabilitation of
2.5 miles of the Rio Sabana Trail #6 and trailhead; (c) repair and
reconstruction of 0.8 miles of entrance road, on Hwy. #191, Km. 22.3,
to project site, Km. 21.1; (d) and construction of a cable bridge over
the Rio Sabana. Currently, the area has not been developed for
recreation but receives heavy use. This use, coupled with a sensitive
ecosystem in which it is located, gives rise to a potential conflict
between the need to protect and conserve natural resources and the need
to provide a well managed natural setting where our customers can enjoy
a satisfying recreational experience.
Access to the proposed site is via Hwy #191, at Km. 22.3. On April
13, 1992, U.S. District Judge Guierbolini permanently enjoined and
restrained the U.S. Forest Service and the Federal Highway
Administration from proceeding with construction activities on the
closed portion of Highway P.R. #191, from Km. 13.5 to Km. 20, until
completion of an environmental impact statement. The proposed project
is located on a segment of Hwy. #191 that is outside of the area under
court order.
The proposed action would meet the objectives of: (a) Correcting
the current managerial situation and social settings in relation to the
physical setting and actual use; (b) protect the natural resources in
the vicinity; (c) increase Forest Service presence on the southern end
of the Forest, which currently is minimal.
The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Forest Management Act
(NFMA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The U.S. Forest Service
will be the lead agency and the Puerto Rico Department of Public
Transportation (DTOP) will be a cooperating agency.
Public participation will be especially important at several points
during analysis. The first point is when scoping officially begins (40
CFR 1501.7). The Forest Service will be seeking information, comments,
and assistance from Federal, State and local agencies, and other
individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected by
the proposed action.Comments must be received by September 30, 1998.
This input will be used in preparation of the draft environmental
impact statement (DEIS). The scoping process will include: (1)
Identifying potential issues; (2) Identifying issues to be analyzed in
depth; (3) Eliminating insignificant issues or those which have been
covered by a relevant previous environmental process; (4) Exploring
additional alternatives; (5) Identifying potential environmental
effects of the proposed action and alternatives (i.e. direct, indirect,
and cumulative effects and connected actions). Public participation
will include notifying interested and affected publics of the proposed
action in person and/or by mail. News releases will be used to provide
general notice to the public.
The following preliminary issues have been identified through
internal scoping: (1) Possible effects of development of picnic area
and reconstruction of Rd. #191 on the threatened and endangered species
identified in the project area; (2) Possible effects on natural
resources due to an increase in visitors to picnic area and trail; (3)
Reconstruction of the historic CCC Rio Sabana Trail, which connects
with the Tradewinds/El Toro Trail, may generate greater use than is
allowed in the proposed Wilderness Management Area; (4) Security issues
in the area in relation to 24-hour presence of Forest Service hosts of
volunteers; (5) Potential hazards to Forest users caused by a nearby
water impoundment and transmission facility, located on private land.
A draft environmental impact statement is expected to be available
for public review, for 45 days, in October 1998.
It is very important that those interested in this proposed action
participate at that time. Upon release of the draft environmental
impact statement, projected for October 1998, reviewers should
structure their participation in the environmental review of the
proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the
reviewer's position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp.
v. NRDC, 435 U.S.C. 519, (1978). Also, environmental objections that
could be raised at the draft environmental impact statement 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 Wisconsin
Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). It
is also helpful if comments refer to specific pages of chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement 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
[[Page 49895]]
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.)
After the comment period on the draft environmental impact
statement ends, the comments will be analyzed, considered, and
responded to by the Forest Service in preparing the final environmental
impact statement. The final environmental impact statement is scheduled
to be completed by February 1999. The Responsible Official will
consider the comments, responses, environmental consequences discussed
in the final environmental impact statement, and applicable laws,
regulations, and policies in making a decision. The Responsible
Official will document the decision and rationale for the decision in a
Record of Decision. The decision will be subject to appeal in
accordance with 36 CFR 215.
The Responsible Official is: Pablo Cruz, Forest Supervisor,
Caribbean National Forest, P.O. Box 490, Palmer, Puerto Rico, 00721.
Dated: August 25, 1998.
Pablo Curz,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 98-25001 Filed 9-17-98; 8:45 am]
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