[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 22, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28666-28667]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9791]


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 Notices
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 72 , No. 98 / Tuesday, May 22, 2007 / 
Notices  

[[Page 28666]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Uinta National Forest, UT; Indian Springs Road Realignment 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Uinta National Forest is initiating the preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Indian Springs Road Realignment.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be postmarked 
or received within 30 days from date of publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register to ensure full consideration. The draft 
environmental impact statement is expected August 2007 and the final 
environmental impact statement is expected November 2007.

ADDRESSES: Please submit issues or concerns to the Responsible 
Official: Julie King, Heber District Ranger, 2460 South Highway 40, 
P.O. Box 190, Heber City, UT 84032; by phone at 435-654-0470; or by fax 
435-654-5772. E-mail comments to [email protected]; e-mails must 
be submitted in MS Word (*.doc) or rich text format (*.rtf) and should 
include the project name in the subject line. Oral comments as well as 
written comments may also be submitted at the above address during 
regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, excluding 
Federal holidays.
    Each individual or representative from each organization submitting 
comments must either sign the comments or otherwise verify identity in 
order to attain appeal eligibility. Comments received in response to 
this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, 
will be considered part of the public record for this project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Information regarding this project 
will be posted on the Uinta National Forest's Web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/uinta/projects/nepa. For additional information, 
please contact Jim Percy.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of the Proposed Action is to reduce adverse impacts to 
watershed and fisheries, provide safer driving conditions while 
maintaining access to Strawberry Ridge from the south. The Proposed 
Action is needed because currently the road is a single lane, native 
surface primarily located within 50 feet of Indian Creek; several 
sections of the road are within the stream channel.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action would relocate the existing Indian Springs 
Road. Work would include the construction of 1.9 miles at an upland and 
drier location and obliteration and restoration of 1.6 miles of the 
existing road in riparian area. The relocated road will be a 16 feet 
wide, single lane with turnouts, drainage structures and gravel 
surface. This new alignment would substantially improve water quality 
through reduction of sediment production, enhanced habitat for fauna 
and floral species, provide safe infrastructure though improved 
horizontal and vertical alignment and reduce short and long term 
operation and maintenance costs.

Possible Alternatives

    Three preliminary alternatives are being considered: (1) No 
action--The existing native surface, single lane road remains at its 
present location, which is within a riparian zone. (2) Proposed 
Action--Reconstruct a single lane road with turnouts along a new 
alignment and obliterate the entire length of existing alignment. (3) 
Alternative A--Reconstruct a single lane road with turnouts along a new 
alignment and obliterate a large portion of the existing alignment. 
Approximately 0.5 mile of dead-end road would remain to allow access 
for dispersed camping and for access to water for the livestock 
permittee.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The Uinta National Forest is the lead agency. Wasatch County is a 
cooperating agency.

Responsible Official

    Julie King, Heber District Ranger, 2460 South Highway 40, Heber 
City, UT 84032; by phone at 435-654-0470; or by fax 435-654-5772.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Heber District Ranger will decide whether to authorize 
construction of the Indian Springs Road realignment and to close and 
rehabilitate the existing road.

Preliminary Issues

    Key issues and concerns identified include impacts to inventoried 
roadless areas, health, safety, and transportation, watershed 
resources, aquatic species and livestock management.

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 
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 45-

[[Page 28667]]

day comment period so that 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.

    Dated: May 16, 2007.
Julie K. King,
Heber District Ranger.
[FR Doc. E7-9791 Filed 5-21-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P