[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 143 (Tuesday, July 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45750-45751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18127]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Motorized Trail Analysis and Parking Area Development, Medicine 
Bow-Routt National Forests, Jackson County, Colorado

AGENCY: USDA, Forest Service.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare and Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to assess and disclose the environmental effects of 
determining the future status of Forest Development Trail (FDT) 1135 
(Arapaho Ridge Trail) and creating trailhead parking areas at both ends 
of the trail. FDT 1135 is located on the Routt National Forest in 
Jackson County, Colorado. Trailhead parking areas would be rough 
surfaced, approximately 2 acres in size, and would be built to 
accommodate horse trailers and other recreational parking. 
Informational signing, Interpretive Education bulletin boards, and 
other area improvements may also be installed in the future. 
Installation of these amenities would be based on public need and the 
Forest Service budget.
    The purpose and need for the proposal is to determine whether or 
not motorized use is appropriate on FDT 1135. Currently, the area 
around and including FDT 1135 is in a non-motorized Forest Plan 
Management Area prescription. The analysis will determine the 
appropriate use of the trail, if user-conflicts or resource impacts are 
occurring as a result of existing motorized use of the trail, and the 
types of amenities and parking areas needed at each trailhead.
    The Forest Service is giving notice that it is beginning a full 
environmental analysis and decision-making process for this proposal so 
that potentially interested or affected individuals, agencies, or 
organizations can participate in the process and contribute to the 
final decision. All comments and suggestions on the scope of the 
analysis and decision-making process are welcome.

DATES: Public scoping to determine the future status of FDT 1135 and to 
create trailhead parking areas at both ends of the trail was initiated 
on January 4, 2000. Over 500 comment letters were received. All 
comments received from the January 4, 2000 scoping effort will be 
combined with comments received as a result of this Notice of Intent. 
Comments from both scoping efforts will be reviewed to identify 
potential issues for this analysis. Since the previously received 
comments will be incorporated into this analysis, individuals who 
responded to the January 4, 2000 scoping request need to provide 
comments at this time only if they wish to provide additional 
information to what they previously submitted. Written comments and 
suggestions should be postmarked by August 21, 2000 to receive 
consideration. The estimated time for filing the draft EIS is October 
2000 followed by the final decision in February 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Charles T. Oliver, District Ranger, 
Parks Ranger District, P.O. Box 158, Walden, Colorado, 80480.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Martin, Project Coordinator, 
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, 2468 Jackson Street, Laramie, 
Wyoming, 82070. Telephone: (307) 745-2371.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prior to revision of the 1997 Routt National 
Forest Plan, FDT 1135 was located entirely within a Forest Plan 
Management Area that allowed motorized travel on designated routes. 
Consequently, the trail was managed to accommodate motorcycle use, as 
well as other non-motorized uses. Following revision of the Forest 
Plan, however, most of the area through which FDT 1135 runs was changed 
to a non-motorized Management Area prescription. As a result of this 
change, the middle portion (roughly 9 miles) of the trail is now 
located in Forest Plan Management Area 1.32, Backcountry Recreation, 
Non-motorized with Limited Motorized Use in Winter, whereas both 
trailheads and roughly 3 miles of the trail are located in Management 
Area 5.13, Forest Products. Allowing motorized travel to continue on 
portions of the trail currently falling within the non-motorized 
prescription conflicts with the 1997 Routt National Forest Plan.
    Proposed Action: The Forest Service is proposing to close FDT 1135 
to motorized use; all other forms of non-motorized recreation 
activities would continue to be allowed. The Forest Service would also 
create trailhead parking areas at both ends of the trail. The parking 
areas would be rough surfaced, approximately 2 acres in size, and would 
be built to accommodate

[[Page 45751]]

horse trailers and other recreational parking. Informational signing, 
Interpretive Education bulletin boards, and other area improvements may 
also be installed in the future. Installation of these amenities would 
be based on public need and the Forest Service budget.
    Preliminary Issues: The following preliminary issues were 
identified as a result of the January 4, 2000 scoping effort:
     Implement the Revised Routt Forest Plan by closing FDT 
1135 to motorized use.
     Amend the Revised Routt Forest Plan to allow continued 
motorized use.
     Reduce the size of the proposed parking areas.
     Construct physical barriers to prevent motorized use of 
the trail.
     User conflicts due to use of motorized vehicles in back 
country settings.
     User conflicts due to potentially reduced motorized trail 
opportunities.
     Resource impacts from motorized use of FDT 1135.
     Impacts to roadless areas from motorized use of FDT 1135.
    Preliminary Alternatives: The following preliminary alternatives 
were developed in response to the issues identified above:
    (1) No Action: The Forest Service would allow continued motorized 
use of the trail and would not amend the Routt National Forest Plan. 
Trailhead parking areas would not be created, and informational signing 
and Interpretive Education bulletin boards would not be installed.
    (2) Proposed Action: Please refer to the description above.
    (3) Amend the Routt National Forest Plan to allow continued 
motorized use of FDT 1135: The Forest Service would amend the Routt 
National Forest Plan to create a motorized Management Area corridor 
around FDT 1135. This action would change a linear portion of the 
currently non-motorized prescription to one that accommodates motorized 
uses in back country settings for roughly 100 feet on either side of 
FDT 1135. The Management Area change would affect roughly 9 miles of 
the trail. All other activities associated with this alternative would 
be identical to the proposed action.
    Selection of this alternative would likely result in a significant 
amendment to the Routt National Forest Plan.
    Decisions to be Made: The Responsible Official must decide which 
alternative of those analyzed in the draft EIS to select for 
implementation. Based on the decision that is made, he will also decide 
what mitigation measures and monitoring requirements will be required.
    Reviewer Obligations: The comment period on the draft EIS will be 
45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the 
notice of availability in the Federal Register. The comment period is 
expected to end August 21, 2000.
    Release of Names: Comments received in response to this 
solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will 
be considered part of the public record on this Proposed Action and 
will be available for public inspection. Comments submitted anonymously 
will be accepted and considered; however, those who submit anonymous 
comments will not have standing to appeal the subsequent decision under 
36 CFR parts 215 or 217. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27 (d), any 
person may request the agency to withhold a submission from the public 
record by showing how the Freedom of Information Act (FOLA) permits 
such confidentiality. Persons requesting such confidentiality should be 
aware that, under the FOLA, confidentiality may be granted in only very 
limited circumstances, such as to protect trade secrets. The Forest 
Service will inform the requester of the agency's decision regarding 
the request for confidentiality, and where the request is denied, the 
agency will return the submission and notify the requester that the 
comments may be resubmitted with or without name and address within ten 
(10) days.
    Responsible Official: Charles T. Oliver, District Ranger; Parks 
Ranger District; Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests; PO Box 158; 
Walden, CO 80480.
    As the Responsible Official, I will decide which, if any of the 
alternatives to be described in the draft Environmental Impact 
Statement will be implemented. I will document the decision and reasons 
for my decision in a Record of Decision.

    Dated: June 26, 2000.
Charles T. Oliver,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 00-18127 Filed 7-24-00; 8:45 am]
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