[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 65 (Monday, April 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17638-17640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-7566]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Nevada City Range District, Tahoe National Forest, CA; Burlington 
Ridge Trails Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service is proposing to modify the existing 
Burlington Ridge Trail system. These modifications include: Expanding 
some trails through new construction and joining up with user created 
trails; rerouting; realigning; and eliminating other trails in order to 
correct problems such as erosion, user conflicts, and potential natural 
and cultural resource degradation. This trail system currently includes 
approximately 18.5 miles of motorized and approximately 10.5 miles of 
non-motorized, single track, trails used by motorcyclists, hikers,

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equestrians and mountain bicyclists. This Burlington Ridge Trails 
project area includes National Forest System lands along State Highway 
20 from approximately one-quarter mile east of White Cloud to 
approximately the Lowell Hill Road and south approximately four miles. 
Volunteers have constructed and maintained most of the existing trails. 
Trails date back to the 1960s when motorcyclists and equestrians 
connected logging roads, skid trails, abandoned railroad grades and 
ditches to form loop routes. More routes evolved in the 1970s and in 
1982 construction of the Pioneer Trail began on National Forest System 
land by the Gold Country Trails Council, an equestrian group. At this 
time the Forest Service became actively involved in managing the area's 
trails. These trails have since become popular with local mountain 
bicyclists.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by April 19, 2004. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
July 1, 2004 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
August 15, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Jean M. Masquelier, District 
Ranger, 631 Coyote St., Nevada City, CA 95959. For further information, 
mail correspondence to Mary Furney, Assistant District Recreation 
Officer, Nevada City Ranger District, Tahoe National Forest, 631 Coyote 
St., Nevada City, CA 95959 or by sending electronic mail (e-mail) to 
[email protected] or by fax to 530-478-6109 attention Mary Furney.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: see address above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    The Forest Service proposes to modify existing trails and construct 
new sections of trails to promote: More environmentally sound trails by 
reducing erosion; greater stream protection; enhanced archeological 
site protection and provide safer trail experiences as well as a 
greater diversity of trail opportunities in this area. It will also 
continue to promote the demonstrated spirit of successful cooperation 
among user groups and the Forest Service and help to meet the 
identified increasing demand for single track, off highway vehicle 
trails experience.
    The Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment (SNFPA) Final Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) Record of Decision (ROD) January 
2004 states: ``This decision reaffirms that providing recreation 
opportunities is one of the Forest Service's major missions in 
California along with providing sustainable, healthy ecosystems.'' It 
goes on to state, ``Projected population growth in the United States 
and increasing tourism in this region, along with other factors, 
clearly contribute to increasing demand for recreation facilities and 
services throughout the Sierra Nevada national forests.''

Proposed Action

    The proposed action includes:
    1. Rerouting approximately one quarter mile of trail on the Towle 
Mill Loop Trail which is located T17N, R10E sections 25 and 36 to 
reduce erosion caused by the current steepness of the trail. The 
proposed trail will be generally less than 12 percent grade, utilizing 
climbing turns across the contour rather than the existing straight, 40 
percent grade, down and up trail. Most of the current trail will be 
closed off except where the rerouted trail crosses the current trail. 
Also on the Towle Mill Loop Trail in section 25, approximately one 
third of a mile of trail is proposed to be rerouted onto an old 
railroad grade. Further east on that trail, in section 25, it is 
proposed that another one third of a mile of trail is constructed 
paralleling the present one in order to separate motorized and non-
motorized activity reducing potential conflicts between motorcyclists 
and equestrians thus increasing user safety.
    2. Constructing approximately three quarters of a mile of trail 
along a ditch, further north, mostly in section 25 with about 100 yards 
extending into section 19. This new construction would extend the non-
motorized Hallelujah Trail to Skillman Campground paralleling the 20-12 
Road also known as the Burlington Ridge Road. Currently motorcyclists, 
mountain bicyclists and equestrians utilize this portion of road to 
access single track trails. This new trail would serve to separate use 
and would be non-motorized. It will help to keep motorcyclists from 
inadvertently crossing onto the non-motorized Hallelujah Trail reducing 
conflicts and increasing trail user safety.
    3. Closing approximately one quarter mile of the Omega Trail, in 
section 29. The Omega Trail has already been rerouted near the Forest 
Road 32 and Highway 20 intersection south of the 32 Road to the 
Burlington Off Highway Vehicle Staging Area. This will help to reduce 
user conflicts by directing motorcyclists away from the non-motorized 
Pioneer Trail.
    4. Rerouting five minor sections and constructing a new trail that 
essentially connects user created trails. Beginning in the southeast 
corner of section 29, off of the 32-2 Road, there is a user created 
motorized trail that extends east and north into section 28 and is 
approximately one and one half miles long. There are five very minor 
reroutes, each less than 100 feet long, proposed along this section of 
trail. These reroutes would direct trail users away from archeological 
sites and wet areas, reducing impacts to these sensitive areas. It is 
proposed to extend this trail through the lower portion of section 28 
and extending into section 27, then joinging up with another one half 
mile long user created trail that is just south of Highway 20 in 
sections 22 and 21. The entire length of the new construction joinging 
up the user-created trail portions is approximately five miles. The 
total trail length including the user created sections and the new 
construction is approximately seven miles. This new construction would 
replace an unauthorized trail that traverses from Forest Service land 
through private land that is currently used to make a loop route back 
on to Forest Service land.
    Existing system trails are generally no more than two feet wide and 
natural features are generally left as they are with the trail winding 
around them. This adds to the unique experience of this area, enhances 
trail users's skills and helps to keep the speeds down of 
motorcyclists, mountain bicyclists, and equestrians. All of the 
proposed reroutes and new construction would be in keeping with the 
character of the existing trails.

Possible Alternatives

    Alternatives being considered at this time include: (1) Proposed 
actions; (2) no action alternative; and (3) implement only the reroutes 
and closures, with no new construction.

Responsible Official

    Jean M. Masquelier, District Ranger, 631 Coyote St., Nevada City, 
CA 95959.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made is whether to approve the Proposed Action, 
which would: Provide for trail construction, trail reconstruction, and 
trail closures; or provide for trail reconstruction and closure only; 
or do nothing to the current system.

Scoping Process

    Public participation is viewed as an integral part of the 
environmental analysis. The Forest Service will be seeking points of 
dispute, debate, or disagreement from Federal, State, and

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local governmental agencies as well as from individuals or 
organizations that may be potentially interested or affected by the 
proposed action. A scoping letter will be mailed to persons who have 
expressed interest in the proposed action based on notification in the 
Tahoe National Forest Quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions and by 
notification through a published legal notice in the Union newspaper, 
Grass Valley, CA and in the Journal newspaper, Auburn, CA.
    This project was originally published in the Tahoe National 
Forest's quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions (SOPA) in October of 
2000. Scoping for trail projects have occurred in this general area 
since 1998 with Forest Service personnel attending meetings of 
constituent groups and otherwise meeting with group members.

Preliminary Issues

    Noise and emissions from motorcycles and equipment used to 
construct new proposed trail segments may affect California Spotted Owl 
(CSO) since the project area includes protected activity centers 
(PACs), home range core areas (HRCAs), suitable CSO habitat and Old 
Forest Emphasis allocations. In addition other wildlife species may be 
affected as well. Are there significant impacts to wildlife and habitat 
caused by construction of trails and use by motorized and non-motorized 
trail users? Will trail construction and use increase erosion, 
pollution, and sedimentation of waterways? Should motorized trail 
activity be allowed to continue in Old Forest Emphasis allocations?

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. Comments 
submitted during the scoping process should be in writing or e-mail, 
and should be specific to the proposed action. The comments should 
describe as clearly and completely as possible any points of dispute, 
debate, or disagreement the commenter has with the proposal. Once 
scoping letters are received, the District shall identify all potential 
issues, eliminate non-significant issues or those covered by another 
environmental analysis, identify issues to analyze in depth, develop 
additional alternatives to address those significant issues, and 
identify potential environmental effects of the proposed action as well 
as all fully analyzed alternatives.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review: The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and available for public review 
in July 2004. EPA will publish a notice of availability of the draft 
EIS in the Federal Register at that time. The comment period on the 
draft EIS will extend for 45 days from the date the EPA notice appears 
in the Federal Register. At that time, copies of the draft EIS will be 
mailed to potentially interested and affected agencies, organizations, 
and individuals for their review and comment and to those who provided 
comment during the scoping period. It is very important that those 
interested in the Burlington Ridge Trails Project participate by 
providing comment at that time.
    The final EIS would be completed in August 2004. In the final EIS, 
the Forest Service is required to respond to substantive comments 
received during the comment period that pertain to the environmental 
consequences discussed in the draft EIS, as well as applicable laws, 
regulations, and policies considered in making the decision regarding 
this proposal.
    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 two week 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: March 30, 2004.
Steven T. Eubanks,
Forest Supervisor, Tahoe National Forest.
[FR Doc. 04-7566 Filed 4-2-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M