[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8835-8837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2326]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Middle Kyle Complex Environmental Impact Statement. Humboldt-
Toiyabe National Forest, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, 
Clark County, NV

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) will prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze and disclose the 
potential environmental consequences for a proposed recreation complex 
development. The proposed Middle Kyle Complex is located on the Spring 
Mountains National Recreation Area (NRA) of the Humboldt-Toiyabe 
National Forest, approximately 35 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. 
The Forest Service is considering the construction and operation of new 
recreational opportunities and facilities within the middle Kyle Canyon 
area in order to reduce the recreational pressure on sensitive species 
and their habitats within the upper Kyle and Lee Canyons. The project 
may include such facilities as a visitor center, commercial retail 
shops, amphitheater, picnic areas, campsites, administrative 
facilities, hiking/biking trails, equestrian trails, and off-highway 
vehicle (OHV) trails. Construction would begin approximately one year 
following the signing of the Record of Decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
in writing on or before April 3, 2006. The Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) is expected in March 2007 and the Final Environmental 
Impact Statement (FEIS) is expected in October 2007. A public open 
house is proposed in March 2007, during the DEIS formal comment period 
and shortly following release of the DEIS.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Hal Peterson, Middle Kyle Complex 
Project Manager, Spring Mountains NRA, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las 
Vegas, Nevada 89130. Email communications are encouraged, please 
include your name and return address in all written or electronic 
correspondence. Email messages should be sent to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information concerning 
this project, please contact Hal Peterson, Middle Kyle Complex Project 
Manager, Spring Mountains NRA, 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, 
Nevada 89130; phone (702) 839-5572. Information about this EIS will be 
posted on the Internet at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/projects/smnra/middle_kyle_complex/home.shtml. This Web site will be used to post 
all public documents during the environmental review process and 
announce opportunities for public participation and comment.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Purpose and Need for Action: The Forest Service has determined a 
need for the development of new destination recreation, environmental 
education, visitor services, parking/transportation management and 
administrative facilities in the middle Kyle Canyon area of the Spring 
Mountains NRA. This need is in response to the increasing NRA 
visitation generated by the growth of the Las Vegas Metropolitan area, 
and the associated impacts on the environmentally sensitive areas in 
upper Kyle and Lee Canyons where the

[[Page 8836]]

Forest Service developed recreation and administrative facilities are 
currently located.
    The purpose for this action is to move the Spring Mountains NRA 
toward the desired condition for the area. Elements of the desired 
condition as stated in the Humboldt-Toiyabe NF Land Management and 
Resource Plan, the Spring Mountains NRA General Management Plan and the 
Clark County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan include: 
Provide additional developed recreation facilities in appropriate 
locations to encourage use away from upper Kyle and Lee Canyons; 
Emphasize new facilities in lower Kyle and Lee Canyons (east of Highway 
158); Provide public education and information about the Spring 
Mountains natural and cultural resources; Increase capability to 
monitor and manage visitor traffic in Kyle and Lee Canyons; Provide 
additional multiple use trail opportunities; Increase accessibility of 
trailheads at appropriate locations for equestrians; Divert public to 
other appropriate areas once site or road capacities have been reached; 
Develop a Spring Mountains NRA visitor center along the entrance to 
Kyle and/or Lee Canyons; and, Provide facilities that meet 
administrative needs, are cost effective, increase management presence 
and customer satisfaction, operate year-round, are located in the lower 
canyon and transfer some uses from Kyle Guard Station. Additionally, 
the Forest Service has established the goal that this project be 
developed in an environmentally and fiscally sustainable manner.
    Proposed Action: The proposed action has been developed by the 
Forest Service to respond to the need for action generated by the 
difference between the area's existing condition and its desired 
condition with the respect to the management direction for the area. 
The proposed action would provide a broad range of recreational and 
environmental education opportunities while preserving the canyon's key 
natural and cultural resources. Recreational-related facilities would 
generate revenue that would be returned to the project to help pay for 
annual operation and maintenance costs.
    The proposed project is strategically located adjacent to the most 
heavily traveled entrance to the Spring Mountains NRA along the Kyle 
Canyon Road (Nevada State Route 157), and east of the Deer 
Creek Highway (Nevada State Route 158). Most of the proposed 
development would be located away from environmentally and culturally 
sensitive areas. The project area encompasses approximately 2,500 acres 
of National Forest System lands to provide adequate room to minimize 
impacts to sensitive resource areas and to provide for a logical 
grouping of uses to minimize user conflicts and enhance visitor 
experience. Many portions of the project area would remain undeveloped.
    The main development area, the Village, would be located on the 
disturbed areas of the recently purchased former golf course. 
Facilities proposed for the Village area include a 12,000 square feet 
(sq ft) visitor center, 4,200 sq ft indoor group meeting area, retail 
space for 7 shops, food concession area for 3 vendors, a 2,200 sq ft 
residential area (security/artist-in-residence), 60,000 sq ft plaza 
area plus 40,000 sq ft plaza landscaped/play areas, 1500 seat 
amphitheater, 3 group picnic sites, a 185,000 sq ft commons area, a 
1200 space underground parking structure plus 115 surface parking 
spaces, 900 linear feet of Village access roadway. In addition, a 2,000 
sq ft transit center is proposed for this location. (Note: all 
dimensions stated are approximate.)
    Adjacent to the Village area is the Village Valley which may 
include: 21,000 sq ft pond(s), approximately 1 acre of site restoration 
around the pond(s), 3 outdoor classrooms, approximately 6 acres of Kyle 
Canyon wash restoration and roughly 21 acres of upland restoration, 2.3 
miles of paved trails, 2.7 miles of unpaved trails, and a connector 
trail from the Village Valley area to the existing Kyle Administrative 
Site adjacent to the Kyle Canyon wash.
    The main picnic and camping areas are proposed east of the Village 
area, and on the south side of State Route 157. The picnic areas would 
include 245 individual sites, 3 group sites, 4 restroom structures, 116 
parking spaces and 1.4 miles of road. The camping areas would include 
210 tent/RV sites with hook-ups, 2 small group sites (15 spaces each), 
one large group camping area (with 100 spaces), 3 shower buildings, 4 
restroom buildings, and 2.5 miles of road. This area could also include 
pedestrian and bicycle trails with 4.3 miles of unpaved trail and 3.2 
miles of paved trail.
    Single and multiple use hiking, biking and equestrian trails (10.2 
miles), a horse rental concession area, and a 10 unit equestrian 
campground with one restroom building are proposed on the north side of 
State Route 157. An administrative site is also proposed on the north 
side of State Route 157. Administrative facilities may include: 10,000 
sq ft of fire and administrative office/warehouse space, 2,000 sq ft 
concessionaire office space, 3,000 sq ft research center space, 2 
helipads, 3 residential buildings, a barracks, a bridge and 1.7 miles 
of access road.
    A 10 parking space OHV Trailhead to access existing OHV trails is 
proposed adjacent to State Route 157, northwest from the intersection 
of State Route 157 with Harris Springs Road.
    At the east end of the project area, facilities adjacent to the 
Harris Springs Road, south of State Route 157, may include a short 
access road and trailhead with 8 parking spaces to access a 2.3 mile 
hiking trail in the canyon bottom. Facilities in the area south of the 
Kyle Canyon Wash, off of the Harris Springs Road, may include a 
trailhead with 40 parking spaces, a mountain bike rental concession and 
8.4 miles of mountain bike/hiking trails.
    Other anticipated activities include development of infrastructure 
to support the planned facilities (roads, utilities, wastewater 
treatment, etc.); State Route 157 highway improvements to provide for 
safe intersections for vehicles and pedestrians; restoration and 
revegetation of abandoned roads, trails and utility sites; removal of 
illegally dumped materials; a defined equestrian trail crossing for 
State Route 158; removal of non-native trees and shrubs in the Village 
area; restoration of the existing historic Civilian Conservation Corps 
(CCC) Kyle Guard Station for managed public use; closure of selected 
Forest Service Roads to motor vehicles; and, conversion of selected 
Forest Service Roads to non-motorized trail use.
    More detailed information on the proposed action, including maps, 
may be obtained by visiting the Forest Service Web page at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/projects/smnra/middle_kyle_complex/home.shtml 
and following the link to the Middle Kyle Canyon Framework Plan.
    A no action alternative will also be considered.
    Lead and Cooperating Agencies: The Forest Service will be the lead 
Federal agency in accordance with 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
1501.5(b) and is responsible for the preparation of the EIS. Scoping 
will determine if any cooperating agencies are needed.
    Responsible Official: The USDA Forest Service responsible official 
for this EIS is Robert L. Vaught, Forest Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe 
National Forest Supervisor's Office, 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, Nevada 
89431; phone (775) 331-6444.
    Nature of Decision To Be Made: The Responsible Official will decide 
whether to implement the action as proposed or modified, or to take no 
action. The Forest Supervisor will also

[[Page 8837]]

decide what mitigation measures and monitoring will be required.
    Scoping Process: Public participation will be very important 
throughout the NEPA analysis process. The Forest Service will be 
seeking information, comments, and assistance from Federal, State, and 
local agencies, American Indian tribes, as well as other individuals 
and organizations that may be interested in or affected by the proposed 
project.
    Preliminary Issues: No preliminary planning issues were identified.
    Comment Requested: This notice of intent initiates the scoping 
process, which guides the development of the EIS. Comments submitted 
during the scoping process should be in writing and should be specific 
to the purpose and need and the proposed action. The comments should 
describe as clearly and completely as possible any issues or concerns 
the commenter has with the proposal.
    Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent 
Environmental Review: A DEIS will be prepared for comment. The comment 
period on the DEIS will be 45 days from the date the Environmental 
Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in the Federal 
Register.
    At this early stage, the Forest Service believes it is important to 
give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of 
DEISs must structure their participation in the environmental review of 
the proposal in a way that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the 
reviewer's position and contentions [see ``Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power 
Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)'']. Also, environmental 
objections that could be raised at the DEIS stage but that are not 
raised until after completion of the FEIS may be waived or dismissed by 
the courts [see ``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 45-day 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 FEIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the DEIS 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 DEIS 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 NEPA 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 (see 40 CFR 1501.7 and 
1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 21).

    Dated: February 13, 2006.
Robert L. Vaught,
Forest Supervisor.
 [FR Doc. E6-2326 Filed 2-17-06; 8:45 am]
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