[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54621-54622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-21540]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Rocky Mountain Ranger District Access and Travel Management Plan 
EIS, Lewis and Clark National Forest; Glacier, Pondera, Teton, and 
Lewis & Clark Counties, MT

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact 
statement on a proposal to develop a travel management plan to regulate 
motorized and non-motorized travel on roads and trails on lands 
administered by the Rocky Mountain Ranger District, also known as the 
Rocky Mountain Division of the Lewis and Clark National Forest. 
Approximately 392,000 acres of National Forest System lands are 
contained within the analysis area. Designated wilderness areas that 
are part of the Rocky Mountain Ranger District will not be included in 
this effort. The purpose of the project is to evaluate the impacts of 
motorized and non-motorized travel within the planning area, and to 
identify and select an action alternative that allows recreational use 
and enjoyment of the National Forest System lands, minimizes resource 
damage, reduces adverse effects to terrestrial and aquatic species, and 
mitigates or reduces conflicts between types of uses. Needs for 
securing additional legal public access routes to reach National Forest 
System lands will be identified and discussed, but no decision will be 
made on acquiring specific routes.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received 
on or before 45 days after publication of this notice in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Rick Prausa, Forest Supervisor, 
Lewis and Clark National Forest, 1101 15th Street, North, Box 869, 
Great Falls, MT 59401. People sending comments electronically can do so 
by putting ``Rocky Mountain Front Travel Plan'' on the subject line of 
their e-mail to r1 lewisclark [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dick Schwecke, EIS Team Leader (406) 
791-7700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This project addresses travel management 
planning on one of the seven mountain ranges managed partly or entirely 
by the Lewis and Clark National Forest. The Rocky Mountain Ranger 
District project includes approximately 392,000 acres, which is about 
21% of the Lewis and Clark National Forest. Approximately 385,900 acres 
of designated wilderness areas that are part of the Rocky Mountain 
Ranger District will not be included in this effort. The purpose of 
this project is to evaluate the impacts of motorized and non-motorized 
travel on existing roads and trails within the planning area. The 
Forest Service intends to identify action alternatives that provide for 
public access, use, and enjoyment of the Lewis and Clark National 
Forest, while also minimizing resource damage, reducing adverse effects 
to terrestrial and aquatic species, and mitigating or reducing 
conflicts between types of uses. The project is intended to focus on 
identifying the types of use and season of use that would be 
appropriate on roads, trails, and specific areas within the mountain 
range to be analyzed.
    Public Involvement. 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 received will be included in 
the documentation for the EIS. The public is encouraged to take part in 
the process and is encouraged to visit with Forest Service officials at 
any time during the analysis and prior to the decision. While public 
participation in this analysis is welcome at any time, comments 
received within 45 days of the publication of this notice will be 
especially useful in the preparation of the Draft EIS. The scoping 
process will include identifying: potential issues, significant issues 
to be analyzed in depth, alternatives to the proposed action, and 
potential environmental effects of the proposal and alternatives.
    Estimated Dates for Filing. The Draft EIS for the Rocky Mountain 
Ranger District Access and Travel Management Plan is expected to be 
available for public review by March 2003. The comment period on the 
draft EIS will be 45 days. It is very important that those interested 
in the management of this area participate at that time. The final EIS 
is scheduled to be completed by October 2003. In the final EIS, the 
Forest Service is required to respond to comments received during the 
comment period that pertain to the environmental consequences discussed 
in the draft EIS and applicable laws, regulations, and policies 
considered in making a decision regarding the proposal.
    The Reviewers Obligation to Comment. The Forest Service believes it 
is important to give reviewers notice at this early stage of several 
court rulings

[[Page 54622]]

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 review'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 actions participate by the close of the 45-
day comment period so that substantive comments and objects 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 
statements.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed actions, comments on the draft 
environmental impact statements should be as specific as possible. It 
is also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the 
draft statements. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft 
environmental impact statements or the merits of the alternatives 
formulated and discussed in the statements. 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.
    Comments on the draft EIS should be directed to the responsible 
official: Rick Prausa, Forest Supervisor, Lewis and Clark National 
Forest, 1101 15th Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401.

    Dated: August 19, 2002.
Rick Prausa,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 02-21540 Filed 8-22-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M