[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 241 (Friday, December 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75477-75480]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21145]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Dixie National Forest, UT, Dixie National Forest Motorized Travel 
Plan

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Dixie National Forest intends 
to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Forest 
Service to establish a system of designated roads, trails and areas for 
motorized vehicle use, thereby developing a Motorized Travel Plan. A 
new Motorized Travel Plan is needed to improve the management and 
enforcement of motor vehicle use on these National Forest System lands 
and meet the requirements of national policy for travel management. 
This notice describes the components to be included in a new travel 
plan, decisions to be made, estimated dates pertaining to the project, 
information concerning public participation, and the names, address and 
roles of the agency officials involved. The project area is defined by 
the boundaries of Dixie National Forest, including the Pine Valley, 
Cedar City, Powell and Escalante Ranger Districts, as well as the 
Teasdale portion of the Fremont River Ranger District, now administered 
by the Fishlake National Forest. For the purpose of this notice, the 
Dixie National Forest will include the Fremont River Ranger District.

DATES: Written comments to be considered in the preparation of the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) should be submitted by 
January 31, 2007, which is approximately 48 days following the 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. The DEIS is 
expected to be available for review by June, 2007. The Record of 
Decision and Final Environmental Impact Statement are expected to be 
available by September, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: Noelle Meier, Dixie National 
Forest, 1789 N. Wedgewood Ln., Cedar City, Utah 84720; FAX: (435) 865-
3791; E-mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct questions about the proposed 
action and EIS to Noelle Meier, Motorized Travel Plan Project Team 
Leader, by mail at 1789 N. Wedgewood Ln, Cedar City, Utah 84720; or by 
phone at (435) 865-3700; FAX: (435) 865-3791; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of this project is to designate a system of authorized 
roads, trails or areas for motor vehicle use in order to better protect 
natural resources, provide legal access, improve recreation management 
and enforcement related to motor vehicle use. This purpose and need is 
in accordance with 36 CFR parts 212, 251, 261, and 295 Travel 
Management; Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use; Final 
Rule (hereafter referred to as the ``final rule'').
    Overall, increased recreational use and demand on the Dixie 
National Forest, including increased off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, has 
been linked to the immense population growth of southwestern Utah, Salt 
Lake City and Las Vegas, Nevada over the past decade. Concurrent growth 
of subdivisions located within and adjacent to the Dixie National 
Forest has also occurred, accounting for hundreds of building permits 
issued annually for private residential and vacation homes. Increased 
OHV use and related impacts have been observed surrounding these 
growing forest communities.
    Similar situations have occurred throughout the nation, leading to 
a final rule that governs OHVs and other motor vehicle use on national 
forests and

[[Page 75478]]

grasslands. While Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth states that OHV 
use is a legitimate form of recreation, he has identified unmanaged 
recreation--especially impacts from OHVs--as one of the key threats 
facing national forests today. Locally, as well as regionally and 
nationally, unmanaged OHV use on federal lands has resulted in 
unplanned roads and trails, erosion, watershed and habitat damage, 
impacts to cultural sites, and increasing degradation of recreational 
experiences, especially a loss in opportunities for solitude, primitive 
hunting and other quiet experiences. Perceptions of crowding and user 
conflict are occurring in some areas of the Forest, often pertaining to 
more intense seasonal activities such as big-game hunting.

Proposed Action

    For the purposes of this project and notice, the term ``route'' is 
used to define a motorized road or trail, mapped to a location on the 
ground. The term ``authorized route'' is a National Forest System Road 
or Trail that is designated for motor vehicle use pursuant to 212.51 in 
the final rule. An ``unauthorized route'' is a motorized road or trail 
not designated for motor vehicle use pursuant to 212.51 in the final 
rule.
    This proposal, subsequent alternatives and decision will include 
the following components:
    1. Cross-Country Travel:
    (a) Prohibition of motorized cross-country travel (off designated 
roads or trails) except in designated areas. Motorized cross-country 
travel will be prohibited except as specified for permitted uses, such 
as dispersed camping, firewood gathering, emergency fire suppression, 
search and rescue, law enforcement, military operations and Forest 
Service administrative use and purposes.
    2. Designation of Authorized National Forest System Roads and 
Motorized Trails:
    (a) Closure of currently authorized routes that will not be 
designated for motorized use, and therefore removed from the National 
Forest System of roads and motorized trails. These routes may be 
decommissioned from the National Forest System.
    (b) Designation of unauthorized routes that will be added to the 
National Forest System of roads and motorized trails.
    3. Designation of Authorized Uses of National Forest System Roads 
and Motorized Trails:
    (a) Designation of routes that will be open to all uses.
    (b) Designation of routes needed to accommodate administrative 
activities and permitted uses.
    (c) Designation of routes needed to access to private lands, 
rights-of-way, easements, and other jurisdictions.
    (d) Designation of routes with seasonal restrictions and/ or that 
allow only certain types of vehicles.
    4. Construction or Relocation of Designated National Forest System 
Roads and Motorized Trails:
    (a) Construction or relocation of routes to improve the 
transportation system or to meet evaluation findings specified through 
the environmental analysis.
    The Forest Service would analyze and document direct, indirect, and 
cumulative environmental effects in the development of a range of 
alternatives. The route evaluations performed in the pre-planning stage 
of this project will be updated accordingly, as analysis is conducted 
and additional input is provided internally, by the public and other 
governments.
    It should be noted that private land and land under the 
jurisdiction of other governments are located within this project 
boundary, but route segments contained within those lands have been 
excluded from this designation process. Proposed designations for 
routes on National Forest Lands have been made while considering 
adjacent land uses and a variety of legal situations. Ongoing 
coordination with these entities will continue throughout this project.
    In 1996, the Dixie National Forest began to inventory every 
motorized route on the Forest. This effort resulted in a broad GPS 
(Global Positioning System) inventory, completed the summer of 2005. 
According to the Infra Database for the Dixie National Forest, 
approximately 6,153 total miles of motorized routes have been 
inventoried, with 3,856 miles accounting for authorized routes and 
2,297 miles being unauthorized routes. The total number of routes on 
the inventory is approximately 8,071, with 2,344 being authorized 
routes and 5,727 being unauthorized routes.
    It is believed that very few routes were missed in completing the 
inventory; therefore, the inventory will provide the base data layer 
for this travel planning project. If important routes appear to have 
been omitted from the inventory, the Dixie National Forest asks that 
knowledge of those routes be brought to the attention of agency 
officials as part of public involvement for this project.
    The extensive route inventory has allowed the Dixie National Forest 
to conduct a route-by-route assessment for this planning effort. This 
assessment involved a detailed agency review of each motorized route 
for known or potential effects to the environment, legal access issues 
or other social uses, and was augmented by pre-planning public input. 
Broad, landscape-scale and site specific considerations were made, 
identifying opportunities to improve watershed and wildlife habitat 
health, as well as the connectivity of communities, and recreational 
access. Opportunities to improve non-motorized and motorized trail 
systems and to facilitate desirable recreation activities were also 
considered.
    Pursuant to 212.50 of the final rule, a number of previous or 
pending administrative decisions that allow, restrict, or prohibit 
motor vehicle use on National Forest System roads, trails or areas have 
been incorporated as previously designated into this travel planning 
project.

Possible Alternatives

    All alternatives studied in detail must fall within the scope of 
the purpose and need for action and will tier to and comply with the 
Dixie forest plan. The added restrictions on motorized cross-country 
travel are the only proposed amendments to the forest plan at this 
time. Law requires a ``no-action alternative'', which would maintain 
current allowances and restrictions for OHV use and motorized travel, 
as described in the current Dixie forest plan and travel plan. The 
Forest is expecting that public input will identify broad-scale or 
route-specific issues that may be addressed by modifying the proposed 
action to create a new alternative or alternatives.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    Garfield, Iron, Kane, Piute, Washington, and Wayne Counties and the 
State of Utah are participating as cooperating agencies in this 
project. As lead agency, the Forest Service would analyze and document 
direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental effects for a range of 
alternatives.

Responsible Officials

    Kevin Schulkoski, Acting Forest Supervisor of the Dixie National 
Forest, is currently the responsible official for the Dixie National 
Forest. He can be reached by mail at Dixie National Forest, 1789 N. 
Wedgewood Ln., Cedar City, UT 84720.
    Mary Erickson, Forest Supervisor of the Fishlake National Forest, 
is the responsible official for the decision pertaining to the Fremont 
River Ranger District. She can be reached by mail at Fishlake National 
Forest, 115 East 900 North, Richfield UT 84701.

[[Page 75479]]

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    On November 2, 2005, the Forest Service announced final travel 
management regulations governing OHVs and other motor vehicle use on 
national forests and grasslands (36 CFR parts 212, 251, 261, and 295 
Travel Management; Designated Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use; 
Final Rule). In compliance with this national policy, the Responsible 
Officials will decide on motorized areas and routes that will be added 
to or deleted from the current authorized system. The Responsible 
Officials will also decide on the type and season of motorized use to 
be allowed on the authorized system.
    All routes not designated to the motorized travel system will be 
considered unauthorized routes, and motorized use of those routes will 
be illegal. Motorized cross-country travel will be prohibited except as 
specified for the purposes of dispersed camping, firewood gathering, 
emergency fire suppression, search and rescue, law enforcement, 
military operations and Forest Service administrative use, including 
uses authorized by permit. Any user-made motorized route that is 
developed after decision will be considered unauthorized and will be 
closed or removed by the Forest Service upon discovery. No public 
process or analysis will be necessary to remove such a route.
    Methods of closing or removing unauthorized routes may vary and 
will be determined on a site-specific basis. Closure or removal methods 
for routes that are not designated as a part of this project will be 
disclosed prior to decision. Future proposals to change the 
designations made in this decision will undergo separate analysis and 
decision, conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Scoping Process

    The first formal opportunity to comment on the Dixie National 
Forest Motorized Travel Planning Project is during the scoping process 
(40 CFR 1501.7), which begins with the issuance of this Notice of 
Intent. All comments, including the names, addresses and when provided, 
will be placed in the record and are available for public inspection. 
Mail comments to: Noelle Meier, Dixie National Forest, 1789 N. 
Wedgewood Ln., Cedar City, Utah, 84720.
    The Forest Service is seeking comments from individuals, 
organizations, and local, state, and Federal agencies that may be 
interested in or affected by the proposed action. Comments may pertain 
to the nature and scope of the environmental, social, and economic 
issues, and possible alternatives related to the development of the 
travel management plan and EIS. Scoping notices have been sent to 
potentially affected persons and those that have expressed a continued 
interest in this project. Other interested individuals, organizations, 
or agencies may have their names added to the mailing list for this 
project at any time by submitting a request to: Noelle Meier, Project 
Team Leader, by mail at 1789 N. Wedgewood Ln., Cedar City, Utah 84720; 
or by phone at (435) 865-3700; FAX: (435) 865-3791; E-mail: [email protected]. Additional 
information about this project can be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie/projects/MTP/index.shtml.
    A series of public open houses are scheduled to explain the 
proposed travel plan and route designation process and to provide an 
opportunity for public input. Six scoping meetings are planned.

    January 9, 2007 (Tuesday): Ramada Inn, 1440 East St. George Blvd., 
St. George, UT, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    January 10, 2007 (Wednesday): Hunter Conference Center, Southern 
Utah University, Cedar City, UT, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    January 11, 2007 (Thursday): City Library and Offices, 25 South 200 
East, Panguitch, UT, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    January 18, 2007 (Thursday): Salt Lake City Library, Level 4 
Meeting Room, 210 East 400 South, Salt Lake City, UT, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    January 24, 2007 (Wednesday): City Office and Community Center, 
Escalante, UT 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
    January 25, 2007 (Thursday): Wonderland Inn, Utah State Highways 12 
and 24, Torrey, UT 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.

    Times, dates and locations will also be posted through local public 
notice and on the project Web page at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/dixie/projects/MTP/index.shtml. Written comments will be 
accepted at these meetings. The Forest Service will also work with 
tribal governments to address issues that would significantly or 
uniquely affect them.

Preliminary Issues

    Alternatives to the proposed action have not been identified at 
this time; however, the following preliminary issues have been 
identified:
     Compliance with policy and law, recognition of legal 
access.
     Protection of natural and cultural resources.
     Improvement of recreation opportunities, management, 
enforcement and education.
     Consideration of local economies.
     Increased public involvement.

Permits or Licenses Required

    No permits or licenses are required to implement the proposed 
action and the issuing authority is the Forest Service.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.

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 be 45 days 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 
the DEIS must structure their participation in the environmental review 
of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the 
reviewers' position and contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. 
v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that 
could have been raised at the DEIS stage but that are not raised until 
after completion of the final EIS may be waived or dismissed by the 
courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, (9th Circuit, 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 the time it can meaningfully 
consider them and respond to them in the draft and final EIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns about the proposed action, comments should be as specific 
as possible. Upon issuance of a draft EIS it would also be helpful if 
comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the draft statement. 
Comments may also address the adequacy of the statement or the merits 
of the alternatives formulated and discussed in the statement. 
Reviewers may wish to refer to the

[[Page 75480]]

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.

    Dated December 5, 2006.
Kevin R. Schulkoski,
Acting Dixie Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E6-21145 Filed 12-14-06; 8:45 am]
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