[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 17 (Tuesday, January 27, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3874-3875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1619]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Final Environmental Impact Statement for the South Platte Wild 
and Scenic River Study, Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron 
and Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC), Douglas, Jefferson, Park and 
Teller Counties, CO

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: Under the National Environmental Policy Act (Pub. L 91-190) 
and the National Forest Management Act (Pub. L. 94-588), the Forest 
Service announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the South Platte Wild and Scenic River Study. The FEIS 
analyzes the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of the 
alternatives analyzed in the study. A Record of Decision is not being 
issued at this time in order to receive comments on new information not 
previously disclosed, namely, (1) the proposed amendment to the Forest 
Plan, and (2) the Preferred Alternative.

DATES: Comments must be received by April 2, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Robert J. Leaverton, Forest 
Supervisor, Attn: South Platte Wild and Scenic River Study, Pike and 
San Isabel

[[Page 3875]]

National Forests, 2840 Kachina Drive, Pueblo, Colorado 81008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Hill, Planning Staff Officer, at 
above address or by phone at (719)-553-1414, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A portion of the river was studied in the 
early 1980's during preparation of PSICC's Forest Plan. That portion 
was between Cheesman and Elevemile Reservoirs and was found eligible 
for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River System, but a 
decision was not made regarding the river's suitability (i.e., whether 
it would be an appropriate addition to the System). The study of other 
portions of the rivers was postponed due to the pending proposal to 
construct Two Forks Reservoir, which was eventually denied by the 
Environmental Protection Agency in the 1990's.
    The current study began in the early 1990's. It included the 
previous study area plus the river below Cheesman Reservoir to Stontia 
Springs Reservoir and the North Fork. Previous documents in this study 
include the Draft Legislative EIS (April 1997) and a Supplemental Draft 
Legislative EIS (March 2000). These documents were labeled 
``legislative'' under the presumption that a recommendation would be 
made to Congress to designate some or all of the eligible river 
segments in the study. However, under the Final EIS's Preferred 
Alternative, no decisions on suitability is contemplated. Therefore no 
recommendation to Congress would be forthcoming and accordingly the 
modifier ``legislative'' is not employed.
    The Preferred Alternative includes a proposed amendment to the 
PSICC Forest Plan. An amendment had been contemplated in the 
Supplemental Draft EIS, but only as an item that would be consistent 
with whatever alternative was selected for implementation. Its details 
had not been developed in that document. However, public response 
indicated a need to review the amendment prior to its being selected in 
a decision document. In light of this, the Record of Decision is being 
postponed to provide an opportunity for comment on the proposed 
amendment. Comments are due April 2, 2004.
    Copies of the Final EIS are being provided to entities known to be 
interested in the study. For others who are interested in reading the 
document, it has been posted on the web at http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/psicc/projects/wsr/.

    Dated: January 21, 2004.
Robert J. Leaverton,
Forest Supervisor, Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Cimarron and 
Comanche National Grasslands.
[FR Doc. 04-1619 Filed 1-26-04; 8:45 am]
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