[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 39 (Monday, February 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10465-10466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4541]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Management Area 11 Analysis; Seeley Lake Ranger District, Lolo 
National Forest, Missoula and Powell Counties, MT

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; intent to prepare an environment impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to disclose the effects of snowmobiling on specific 
sites within Management Area 11 of the Lolo National Forest Plan on the 
Seeley Lake Ranger District.

DATE: Initial comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be 
received in writing no later than April 13, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Deborah L. R. Austin, Forest 
Supervisor, Lolo National Forest, Building 24, Fort Missoula, Missoula, 
MT 59804.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Linford, Seeley Lake Ranger 
District, HC 31, Box 3200, Seeley Lake, MT 59868, phone 406-677-3920, 
or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Lolo National Forest proposes to amend 
the Lolo Forest Plan in order to allow snowmobiling in specific sites 
that are located on the Seeley Lake Ranger District within Management 
Area 11 (MA 11) as described in the Lolo Forest Plan. The Lolo Forest 
Plan assigns land to 28 management areas. MA 11 represents large 
roadless blocks of land distinguished by their natural character and 
managed to provide for a variety of dispersed recreation activities and 
for wildlife that are dependent on old-growth forests. The forest plan 
prohibits motorized access in MA 11. Snowmobiling in portions of MA 11 
is being considered in response to public interest in having a variety 
of dispersed recreation activities.
    Public scoping was conducted on this proposal in 1998 and 1999 
through public meetings and letters. Issues and comments identified 
during this earlier scoping will be carried forward and addressed in 
this analysis. During this process the Forest Service is seeking 
written comment, particularly addressing possible issues or 
alternatives. A scoping document will be prepared and mailed to parties 
known to be interested in the proposed action.
    Effects of the proposed action on recreation, the Seeley Lake area 
economy wildlife, and roadless areas have been identified as four 
preliminary key issues. The following preliminary alternatives were 
identified in the original environmental analysis and respond to the 
key issues: (1) No action alternative--Do not allow any snowmobiling in 
MA 11, (2) Allow snowmobiling in specific portions of MA 11, (3) Close 
some areas not in MA 11 to snowmobiling, while opening specific MA 11 
areas to snowmobiling, (4) Limit some of the areas open to snowmobiling 
with seasonal restrictions.

[[Page 10466]]

    The federal Forest Service is the lead agency for preparing this 
EIS. They will consult with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
when making this decision. The responsible official who will make the 
decision regarding snowmobile use in Management Area 11 lands is 
Deborah L. R. Austin, Forest Supervisor, Lolo National Forest, Building 
24, Fort Missoula, Missoula MT 59804. She will decide on this proposal 
after considering comments, responses, environmental consequences, 
applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The decision and rational 
for the decision will be documented in a Record of Decision.
    The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) and available for public review in September 
2000. At that time, the EPA will publish a Notice of Availability of 
the Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The comment period on the Draft 
EIS will be 45 days from the date of the EPA's notice of availability 
in the Federal Register. The final EIS is scheduled to be completed by 
October 2000. The comment period on the draft environmental impact 
statement will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection 
Agency published 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 
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 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 
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. Wisconsin 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 draft 
environmental impact statement 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 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 
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.).

    Dated: February 17, 2000.
Deborah L.R. Austin,
Forest Supervisor, Lolo National Forest.
[FR Doc. 00-4541 Filed 2-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M