[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 184 (Friday, September 23, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55815-55816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18532]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 184 / Friday, September 23, 2005 / 
Notices  

[[Page 55815]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Little Belt-Castle-Crazy Mountains Travel Management Plan EIS, 
Lewis and Clark National Forest; Cascade, Judith Basin, Meagher, 
Wheatland, Sweetgrass, and Park 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 Belt Creek, Judith Musselshell, and White Sulphur 
Ranger Districts of the Lewis and Clark National Forest. Approximately 
924,800 acres of National Forest System lands are contained within the 
analysis area. 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 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 may 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 October 24, 2005 (approx. 30 days after publication in the 
Federal Register).

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Lesley W. Thompson, 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 ``Little Belt-Castle-Crazy Mountains Travel Plan'' 
on the subject line of their e-mail to [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The project addresses travel management 
planning on three of the seven mountain ranges managed partly or 
entirely by the Lewis and Clark National Forest. The Little Belt-
Castle-Crazy Mountain project includes approximately 924,800 acres, 
which is about 50% of the land area managed by the Lewis and Clark 
National Forest. 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 ranges 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 30 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 Little Belt--Castle--Crazy Mountains Travel 
Management Plan is expected to be available for public review by June 
2006. The comment period on the draft EIS will be 60 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 
December 2006. 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 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, 
533 (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 action participate by the close of the 60-day comment period 
on the Draft EIS 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 
statements.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, 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 their merits of the

[[Page 55816]]

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: Lesley W. Thompson, Forest Supervisor, Lewis and Clark 
National Forest, 1101 15th Street North, Great Falls, MT 59401.

    Dated: September 13, 2005.
Lesley W. Thompson,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 05-18532 Filed 9-22-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M