[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30865-30866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-11354]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Leon, Liberty, Wakulla, Franklin, Columbia, Baker, Lake, Putnam 
and Marion Counties, FL

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a draft environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service intends to prepare a draft 
environmental impact statement for designating a system of roads and 
trails within portions of the Apalachicola, Osceola, and Ocala National 
Forests in Florida.

DATES: A draft environmental impact statement is expected to be 
completed in August 2002. The final environmental impact statement is 
scheduled to be completed in November 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may request to be placed on the project mailing list and 
submit comments by contacting: Marsha Kearney, Forest Supervisor, USDA 
Forest Service, 325 John Knox Rd., Tallahassee, Florida, 32303.

[[Page 30866]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andy Colaninno, District Ranger, 
Apalalachicola Ranger District, PO Box 579, Bristol, Florida 32321; 
Jerri Marr, District Ranger, Lake George Ranger District, 17147 Highway 
40, Silver Springs, Florida 34488; Jim Thorsen, District Ranger, 
Seminole Ranger District, 40929 State Road 19, Umatilla, Florida 32784; 
Will Metz, District Ranger, Osceola Ranger District, PO Box 70, 
Olustee, Florida 32072.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prior to 1999, vehicles could travel off 
roads (cross-country) on the National Forests in Florida except in 
areas specifically posted closed. The policy of allowing cross-country 
access contributed to a proliferation of travelways in portions of the 
Forests. As a result of this situation, vehicle access was addressed in 
the revision of Land and Resource Management Plan for the National 
Forests in Florida (Forest Plan).
    Upon approval in 1999, the Forest Plan changed access for motorized 
vehicles in two ways: ``cross-country'' travel on land with no existing 
roads or trails is prohibited anywhere in the forests; and restricted 
areas were established where travel will be limited to designated roads 
and trails. The Forest Plan provided that a system of roads and trails 
would be designated in the restricted areas in cooperation with the 
public and user groups.
    In January 2000 a series of public meetings was held near each 
National Forest in Florida. At these meetings, attendees selected a 
variety of stakeholder representatives to provide information on access 
preferences and needs. The group developed a proposed system for 
consideration by the Forest Service along with a set of guiding 
principles and designation criteria. The Forest Service began an 
environmental assessment of the proposed action in 2001. During the 
assessment, it became evident that an accurate inventory of roads, 
trails, and travelways was needed in the restricted areas. An inventory 
using the global positioning system (GPS) began in August 2001 and was 
completed in April 2002. It also became evident that the proposed 
action may have a significant effect on the human environment leading 
to preparation of an environmental impact statement.
    The scoping process, as outlined by the Council on Environmental 
Quality (CEQ), will be utilized to involve Federal, State, and local 
agencies and other interested persons and organizations. Interested 
persons and organizations wishing to participate in the scoping process 
should contact the Forest Service at the above mentioned address. 
Environmental considerations include potential presence of historical 
or archeological resources, aesthetics, recreation demand, wetlands, 
endangered and threatened species, and fish and wildlife habitats and 
values. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement 
will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important 
to give reviewers notice 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. 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). Because of these court rulings, 
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action 
participate by the close of the comment period so that substantive 
comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service at a 
time when it can meaningful 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 CEQ for implementing the procedural provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.

    Dated: May 2, 2002.
Marsha Kearney,
Forest Supervisor, National Forests in Florida.
[FR Doc. 02-11354 Filed 5-7-02; 8:45 am]
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