[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19185-19187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9571]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Helena National Forest, Montana Travel Management Plan for the 
South Belts, Divide, and Blackfoot Project Areas

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: This Notice of Intent (NOI) describes the Helena National 
Forest's proposal to revise the existing travel management on National 
Forest System lands in the South Belts, Divide, and Blackfoot project 
areas. The decisions to be made focus on what routes (both motorized 
and non-motorized) will be open or restricted depending on other 
resource needs. Signing or other physical structure will be used to 
implement the decision to reach chosen management objective. No route 
obliterations or relocations will be analyzed under this decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by May 15, 2003. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
late June 2003 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
April 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Kimberly Delgado-Public Affairs 
Officer c/o Helena National Forest, 2880 Skyway Drive, Helena, MT 
59602.
    For further information contact Chuck Neal-Forest Travel Planner or 
call at (406) 449-5201.
    If you prefer, a ``scoping'' letter is available on the Web at [email protected]. You can submit comments at this location 
by typing on the subject line ``Attention Public Affairs Officer.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Forest wide travel management planning update originally was 
proposed in November 2000. Formal public involvement for that planning 
effort began with the publication of the NOI to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement in the Federal Register in December of 
2000. A scoping letter describing that proposal was mailed to over 
1,300 individuals and groups and public meetings were held in the 
communities of Lincoln, Townsend, and Helena in December 2000.
    In response to that NOI and scoping effort many letters, postcards, 
e-mails, petitions, and maps were received commenting on the proposal. 
A private contractor conducted a content analysis to identify the 
issues and concerns and grouped them into main categories. This content 
analysis was completed in March 2001. These responses are retained in 
the record.
    In 2001, a number of factors influenced the Helena National Forest 
to set aside the 2000 Forest wide travel planning effort. These factors 
included the requirements to complete a Forest Roads Analysis and the 
need to place priority on restoration and timber salvage in response to 
the severe fires of 2000.
    An additional change that influenced the complexity of the 2000 
Forest wide travel planning effort was the July 2001 off-highway 
vehicle regulations affecting National Forests and BLM lands in 
Montana, North Dakota, and portions of South Dakota. This direction 
applies to all government lands where a site-specific travel plan has 
not been implemented and restricts wheeled motorized travel to roads 
and trails where evidence of motorized use existed at that time.
    The Forest Wide Travel Plan of 2000 was rescinded in March of 2003 
due to elapsed time since the appearance of the NOI in the Federal 
Register and changed scope of the proposal.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose for initiating this proposal is to have a network of 
open roads and trails that addresses the need for a variety of 
vehicular and non-vehicular use while meeting goals, objectives, and 
standards for the multiple resources present within the project areas.
    The Helena Forest Plan, signed in 1986, did not fully anticipate 
the growing popularity of ATV's and snowmobiles. Subsequently, off-road 
travel and user-created routes were increasing until the 2001 OHV 
decision prohibited cross-country motorized travel. The decision 
amended the Helena Forest Plan to eliminate this activity and further 
directed the Forests to prioritize areas for subsequent site-specific 
travel planning. Therefore, there is a need to update the Forest Travel 
Plan to address both motorized and non-motorized uses.
    The Helena National Forest visitor map displays 23 different time 
blocks for restrictions. This makes understanding, implementing, and 
enforcing the travel plan complex both for the users and the Forest 
Service. Therefore, there is a need for a more clear, simplified travel 
plan that is easier to understand and enforce.

Proposed Action

    The Helena National Forest proposes to implement a travel plan for 
the South Belts, Divide, and Blackfoot project areas that provides 
motorized and non-motorized opportunities for both roads and trails. 
Forest Plan goals, objectives, and standards for other resources were 
key to the development of this proposed action such as providing 
adequate seasonal habitat for wildlife and maintaining water quality.
    The proposed action is summarized below. Site-specific, route-by-
route detail for each project area is available upon request. The 
proposed action includes the following elements:
    1. Motorized and non-motorized roads and trails are identified and 
include the following four route types:
    * Roads open to vehicles that meet the requirements of state laws,
    * Motorized trails open to vehicles 50 inches wide or less,
    * Non-motorized trails, and
    * Snowmobile routes.
    2. Potential ``connector'' local road or trail locations are 
identified for possible future decisions.
    3. Open and restricted routes and areas for snowmobiles are 
delineated. Big game winter range areas are not open to snowmobile use; 
however, designated snowmobile routes through winter range are 
identified.
    4. Vehicle access within 300 feet of an open, designated road is 
allowed primarily to access dispersed camping sites and other uses as 
long it does not result in unacceptable resource damage

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such as rutting, crossing of wet meadows, or notable noxious weed 
spread.
    To protect resources, the proposed action features the flexibility 
to restrict motorized use in the 300-foot zone in local situations if 
unacceptable resource damage occurs.
    5. Stream fording by motorized vehicles is not allowed unless it is 
a part of a designated route (over snow vehicles are excluded from this 
feature as long as a stream is frozen).
    6. Three categories of restrictions have been applied to identified 
routes. They are:
    * October 15-December 1 (big game security),
    * December 2-May 15 (winter range protection), and
    * Yearlong.
    Unique situations generating a need to temporarily modify the 
travel plan will use special orders or other methods on a case-by-case 
basis. These may include but are not limited to spring thaw, game 
retrieval, Grizzly Bear emergence, calving areas, firewood gathering, 
and non-ambulatory disabled access.
    7. Off-route travel with respect to wheeled motorized vehicles is 
restricted per the 2001 State-wide OHV decision or as otherwise 
described in this proposed action.
    8. Canada lynx conservation strategy has been applied resulting in 
no net increase in designated and/or groomed over-the-snow routes and 
snowmobile play areas in lynx habitat (generally higher elevation 
spruce/fir forest).
    9. Access to private land holding within the National Forest 
Boundary was considered in developing the proposed action.
    10. Routes with mixed traffic (street-legal and non-street-legal 
and licensed and unlicensed drivers) have been identified and typically 
are short segments. Some of these situations may be a mix of highway 
vehicles with ORVs or snowmobiles. These potential shared uses are 
highlighted to heighten the awareness to users of these routes. This 
shared use will be addressed as an administrative decision and is 
therefore not appealable within this process.
    11. Routes that are open for motorized use, restricted yearlong, or 
restricted seasonally will be signed accordingly. Sites that have 
unique concerns or high resource values at risk, such as a bald eagle 
nest site, will be gated to increase closure effectiveness. Existing 
gates will continue to be used where appropriate.
    12. To guide decisions about access to private lands that are 
located within the National Forest Boundary, the proposed action 
includes guidelines that consider private landowner needs as well as 
protection of resources on the National Forest System lands.
    This proposal may not meet all Forest Plan standards such as 
wildlife security direction. These potential concerns will be fully 
analyzed in the EIS. If not fully compliant with the Forest Plan, 
appropriate actions will be taken; e.g. modify the alternative or 
propose site-specific Forest Plan amendments.

Project Area Descriptions

    South Belts: The South Belts project area includes federal land 
administered by the USDA Forest Service from Mt. Boulder-Baldy near 
Confederate Gulch south to the Dry Creek watershed, west to the Forest 
boundary to other ownership and east to the Forest boundary to other 
ownership.
    Divide: The Divide project area includes federal lands administered 
by the USDA Forest Service. It includes those National Forest system 
lands within the 10-Mile Creek drainage and the Little Blackfoot River 
drainage. Also included are those Federal lands that lie north of State 
Highway 12 to the Helena Ranger District-Lincoln Ranger District 
boundary near Nevada Mountain. The portion of the Helena Ranger 
District that lies within the Little Prickly Pear drainage is excluded 
from this analysis.
    Blackfoot: The Blackfoot project area includes federal land 
administered by the USDA Forest Service. It includes the Helena 
National Forest Boundary north of the Scapegoat Wilderness, south to 
the Lincoln and Helena Ranger District boundary near Nevada Mountain, 
west to the Lolo National Forest boundary and east over the Continental 
Divide.

Responsible Official

    The decisionmaker for these three project areas is the Forest 
Supervisor for the Helena National Forest.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Incorporated in the following decisions is Forest Plan direction in 
providing a range of quality recreation, including motorized and non-
motorized opportunities while implementing multiple Forest land and 
resource objectives and visitors' needs. The key decision points will 
include the following:
    * Which roads, trails, and areas are appropriate for which types of 
public motorized and non-motorized use?
    * Which roads, trails, and areas would have seasonal restrictions 
to protect wildlife or other resources?
    * Whether or not a Forest Plan amendment(s) would be required?
    The identified travel corridor connectors for local route systems 
will be evaluated and analyzed for future site-specific decisions.

Scoping Process

    There are several options for you and/or your organization to make 
comments and participate in the process.
    1. If you have substantive comments to the proposed action, please 
request a scoping package where you may fill out the attached Comment 
Sheet and return it to us. Your substantive comment must be specific to 
this proposed action to be helpful in this process. If possible, typed 
comments are most readily scanned for content identification purposes 
and comments can also be e-mailed, using the same general outline as 
the comment sheet, to: [email protected]. In the subject 
line at this site, please include the following: Attention Public 
Affairs Officer.
    2. Information about the Forest Travel Plan, including this scoping 
statement and the comment sheet, will be posted on the Helena National 
Forest Web site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/helena/projects. Information 
will be on the Web site by April 21, 2003.
    3. There will be some public meetings in June and July of 2003. 
Please contact this office for specifics.
    Your substantive response will be included in this analysis 
process. Your response should be specific and include reasons why you 
feel it should be considered. The key or significant responses will be 
used to formulate alternatives, prescribe mitigation measures, or be 
analyzed in environmental effects.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review: A draft environmental impact statement will be 
prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental 
impact statement will begin in July of 2003 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

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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 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.
    Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who 
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal 
and will be available for public inspection.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21)

    Dated: April 14, 2003.
Allen L. Christophersen,
Deputy Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 03-9571 Filed 4-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P