[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 71 (Thursday, April 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18894-18896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-9017]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Trail 1135 Analysis and 
Parking Area Development, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, Jackson 
County, Colorado

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) 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, and would be built to accommodate horse trailers and other 
recreational parking for approximately 12 vehicles. Short sections of 
trail (less than \1/4\ mile) would be relocated at both ends to tie 
into parking areas. Forest Development Road (FDR) 711.11 and FDR 711.1A 
would be closed to motorized use. Physical barriers to prevent 
motorized access to the roads and trail would be installed where 
necessary. Informational signing, Interpretive Education bulletin 
boards, and other area improvements may also be installed in the 
future. Routine trail maintenance would occur on the rest of the trail, 
where needed.

[[Page 18895]]

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, FDR 711.1, and FDR 711.1A 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 has completed a draft 
environmental impact statement (DEIS) 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. The Preferred Alternative is the 
Proposed Action: to close FDT 1135 to all motorized use; nonmotorized 
use would be allowed to continue; close FDR 711.1 and FDR 711.1A to all 
motorized use; the development of parking areas, relocation of short 
sections of trail, installing physical barriers to prevent motorized 
access, and interpretive signing would be implemented with the final 
decision. All comments and suggestions on the scope of the analysis and 
decision-making process are welcome.
    Scoping Efforts for the Draft EIS: On January 4, 2000, a formal 
scoping letter describing background information, purpose and need for 
the action, potential issues, and decisions to be made was mailed to 
roughly 60 interested and potentially affected individuals, groups, 
organizations, and agencies. In an attempt to inform the general public 
of the proposal, a press release was also mailed to local media 
contacts on January 6, 2000. Roughly 240 individual comment letters and 
250 form letters were received in response to this scoping effort.
    On July 5, 2000 a postcard indicating that the Forest Service was 
intending to prepare an EIS for the FDT 1135 proposal was mailed to all 
individuals who had submitted comments during the January 4, 2000 
scoping effort. On July 25, 2000 the Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS 
was published in the Federal Register. Finally, on August 8, 2000 a 
press release notifying the general public of the Forest Service's 
intentions was mailed to local media contacts. An additional 126 
comment letters were received in response to the Notice of Intent 
scoping effort.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prior to revision of the 1997 Routt National 
Forest Plan, FDT 1135, FDR 711.1, and FDR 711.1A were 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 
and FDR 711.1 run was changed to a non-motorized Management Area 
prescription. As a result of this change, the middle portion (roughly 9 
miles) of FDT 1135 and most of FDR 711.1 (roughly 1.5 miles), and parts 
of FDR 711.1A are 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 roads and 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, 
FDR 711.1, and FDR 711.1A to all 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, and would be 
built to accommodate horse trailers and other recreational parking up 
to 12 vehicles. Physical barriers preventing motorized access to the 
trail would be installed. Short sections of less than \1/4\ mile of 
trail would be relocated to reroute the old trail to the new trailhead 
parking areas. 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 issues were identified as a 
result of the January 4, 2000 and July 25, 2000 scoping efforts:
     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.
     Motorized use of the Continental Divide National Scenic 
Trail (CDNST).
     Off-trail use by motorized vehicles.
     Inadequate trail signing.
     Increase law enforcement efforts.
    Proposed Alternatives: The following alternatives were developed 
and analyzed in response to the issues identified above:

Proposed Action: Close FDT 1135, FDR 711.1, and FDR 711.1A to 
Motorized Use (Agency Preferred Alternative)

    Under this alternative, the Forest Service would close FDT 1135, 
FDR 711.1, and FDR 711.1A to all motorized use; all other forms of non-
motorized recreation activities would continue to be allowed. Specific 
components of this alternative include:
     Due to inadequate parking at the existing Grassy Run 
trailhead, the trailhead would be relocated roughly \1/4\ mile 
northeast on FDR 721 to an old clearcut area, and roughly 250 yards of 
new trail would be constructed to tile into Trail 1135. the old section 
of trail, between the old trailhead and where the newly constructed 
trail ties into Trail 1135, would be obliterated. Physical barriers to 
prevent motorized access of the trial would be installed.
     The Arapaho Ridge trailhead would also be relocated 
roughly \1/4\ mile east on FDR 700, and roughly \1/4\ mile of trail 
would be constructed to tie into the existing trail. Physical barriers 
to prevent motorized access of the trail would be installed.
     Physical barriers to prevent motorized access of FDR 711.1 
would be installed.
     Gravel surfaced, loop parking areas approximately \1/4\ 
mile long would be created at each trailhead. The parking areas would 
include 12 pullouts, alternated on both side of the loop, and would be 
designed to accommodate trailer parking. In addition to day use parking 
areas, the pullouts could be used as dispersed campsites. Smaller 
parking areas for cars would also be created at each trailhead. The 
smaller parking areas would also be gravel surfaced.
     3-panel bulletin boards would be installed at each new 
trailhead location to display user information.
     An interpretive sign explaining historic harvest 
activities would be installed at the Grassy Run trailhead on FDR 721.

[[Page 18896]]

Alternative 1: No Action

    Under the No Action alternative, the Forest Service would allow 
continued motorized use of FDT 1135, FDR 711.1, and FDR 711.1A and 
would not amend the Routt National Forest Plan. Trailhead parking areas 
would not be created, physical barriers to the road and trail would not 
be installed, and informational signing and Interpretive Education 
bulletin boards would not be installed. This alternative would not 
comply with the Routt National Forest Plan; however, it provides a 
baseline to compare the effects of the action alternatives.

Alternative 2: Change the Management Area Prescription Surrounding 
FDT 1135, FDR 711.1, and FDR 711.1A to Accommodate Motorized Use

    Under this alternative, the Forest Service would crate a motorized 
Management Area corridor around FDT 1135, FDR 711.1, and FDR 711.1A. 
This action would change a linear portion of the currently non-
motorized Management Area prescription to one that accommodates 
motorized uses in back country settings for roughly 100 feet on either 
side of roads and trail. The Management Area change would affect 
roughly 9 miles of the trail and approximately 3 miles of road. All 
other activities associated with this alternative would be identical to 
the Proposed Action, except installation of physical barriers to the 
road and trail. Selection of this alternative would require an 
amendment to the Routt National Forest Plan.

Alternative 3: Change the Management Area Prescription Northwest of 
FDT 1135 and west of FDR 711.1 to 3.31--Backcountry Recreation, 
Year-round Motorized

    Under this alternative, the Forest Service would change the 
Management Area prescription on the northwest side of FDT 1135 and west 
side FDR 711.1A from 1.32 (Backcountry Recreation, Non-motorized) to 
3.31 (Backcountry Recreation, year-round Motorized). This would allow 
motorcycle use to continue on FDT 1135, FDR 711.1, and FDR 711.1A. All 
other activities associated with this alternative would be identical to 
the Proposed Action, except installation of physical barriers to the 
trail. Selection of this alternative would require an amendment to the 
Routt National Forest Plan.

Alternative 4: Change the Entire Management Area Prescription to 
3.31--Backcountry Recreation, Year-round Motorized

    Under this alternative, the Forest Service would change the entire 
Management Area prescription surrounding Trail 1135 from 1.32 
(Backcountry Recreation, Non-motorized) to 3.31 (Backcountry 
Recreation, year-round Motorized). This alternative would also allow 
motorcycle use to continue on trail 1135. All other activities 
associated with this alternative would be identical to the Proposed 
Action, except installation of physical barriers to the trail. 
Selection of this alternative would require an 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 May 25, 2001.
    Release of Names: Comments received in response to this 
solicitation, including names and address 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 (FOIA) permits 
such confidentiality. Persons requesting such confidentiality should be 
aware that, under the FOIA, 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 and address within ten (10) 
days.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Austin, Project Coordinator, 
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, P.O. Box 158, Walden, Colorado, 
80480. Telephone: (970)-723-8204.
    Responsible Official: Charles T. Oliver, District Ranger; Parks 
Ranger District; Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests; P.O. 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: April 4, 2001.
Mary H. Peterson,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 01-9017 Filed 4-11-01; 8:45 am]
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