[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 200 (Monday, October 19, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53462-53464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24900]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; Nevada; Mountain City, Ruby 
Mountains, and Jarbidge Ranger Districts Combined Travel Management 
Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: Based on the content of comments received during scoping the 
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest will prepare an environmental impact 
statement (EIS) to disclose the impacts associated with the following 
proposed actions:
     Changes to the forest transportation system, including 
designation of certain unauthorized routes by motor vehicle use, 
changing designation of National Forest System (NFS) roads to NFS 
trails open for motor vehicle use, and closing some NFS roads for 
access or environmental reasons.
     Prohibiting motor vehicle use off designated roads and 
trails consistent with the national travel management rule.
     The three ranger districts currently manage approximately 
1,100 miles of motor vehicle routes for public use. The proposed action 
could designate as many as 1,300 miles of unauthorized routes to meet 
administrative and utilization needs across the three districts. Many 
of the unauthorized routes considered for designation have been in 
existence for many years but have not been recognized as a part of the 
forest transportation system.

DATES: The districts began the travel management process in 2005 and 
held an initial set of open houses in late 2005 and early 2006. Between 
2006 and 2009, the district rangers met informally with county and 
tribal officials as well as user groups. The districts have accepted 
comments on this project since January 12, 2009 and will continue to do 
so until the publication of a draft EIS during the second quarter of 
2010.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should he sent to: Travel Management Team, 
Mountain City Ranger District, 2035 Last Chance Road, Elko, NV 89801. 
E-mail comments may be submitted to [email protected].

[[Page 53463]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Winfrey, Humboldt-Toiyabe 
National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks, NV 89431. Phone: 775-355-
5308.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Over the past few decades, the availability and capability of 
motorized vehicles, particularly off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and sport 
utility vehicles (SUVs) has increased. Nationally, the number of OHV 
users has climbed sevenfold in the past 30 years, from approximately 5 
million in 1972 to 36 million in 2000.
    Unmanaged recreation, including impacts from OHVs, is one of the 
``Four Key Threats Facing the Nation's Forests and Grasslands'' (USDA 
Forest Service June 2004). Unmanaged OHV use has resulted in unplanned 
roads and trails, erosion, watershed and habitat degradation, and 
impacts to cultural resource sites.
    On November 9, 2005, the Forest Service published its final travel 
management regulations in the Federal Register (FR Vol. 70, No. 216, 
Nov. 9, 2005, pp. 68264-68291). This Travel Management Rule requires 
designation of those roads, trails, and areas that are open to motor 
vehicle use in national forests. Designations will be made by class of 
vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of year. The final rule prohibits 
the use of motor vehicles on the designated system. Only NFS roads and 
trails are designated for motorized vehicle use. For an unauthorized 
route to be designated, it must first be added to the forest 
transportation system.
    On some NFS lands long managed as open to cross-country motor 
vehicle travel has resulted in unplanned, unauthorized roads and 
trails. These routes were generally developed without environmental 
analysis or public involvement, and are not designated as NFS roads and 
trails included in the forest transportation system. Nevertheless, some 
unauthorized routes are well-sited, provide excellent opportunities for 
outdoor recreation by motorized and non motorized users, and would 
enhance the NFS of designated roads, trails, and areas. Other 
unauthorized routes are poorly located and cause unacceptable impacts 
to Forest resources. The Mountain City, Ruby Mountains, and Jarbidge 
Ranger Districts recently completed an inventory of unauthorized routes 
and have identified approximately 1,300 miles of unauthorized routes 
within the boundaries of the districts.

Purpose and Need for Action

    On November 9, 2005, the Secretary of Agriculture adopted rules 
which provided for a fundamental change in the management of motor 
vehicle use on the national forests (70 FR 68288). Until that time, 
there was a presumption that all roads, trails, and areas were open to 
use by motor vehicles. If use by motor vehicles was not appropriate for 
any reason, the Forest Service had to take action to close specific 
roads, trails, or areas and prohibit motorized use. This resulted in a 
largely unplanned transportation system, with many routes established 
by repeated use, and damage to resources occurring from uncontrolled 
cross country travel.
    The 2005 rule provided a mechanism for transition to a new system 
for managing motor vehicle use. Following appropriate environmental 
analysis and public involvement, those roads, trails, and areas 
designated for motorized use will be identified on a motor vehicle use 
map, and any motor vehicle use not consistent with those designations 
will be prohibited by the rule (36 CFR 261.13). In this way, the 
national forests will provide sustainable transportation systems for 
travel and recreation and for management and protection of resources 
prone to damage from unmanaged use.
    The rule also provides that the management of motor vehicle use is 
to be an ongoing process, with continuing evaluation of the 
designations and revision as needed (36 CFR 212.54). It is expected 
that many changes to the designated system will be made over time to 
meet recreation and transportation needs and protect national forest 
resources.
    The number of unauthorized routes across the Mountain City. Ruby 
Mountains, and Jarbidge Ranger Districts has increased over many years. 
Some of these routes were established in areas where there is the 
potential for resource damage. Prohibiting motor vehicles from 
traveling off designated roads and trails would reduce the effects to 
natural resources caused by cross-country travel. This action responds 
to the goals and objectives outlined in the Humboldt National Forest 
Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) (USDA Forest Service 
1986). It helps move the project area towards the desired conditions 
described in the Forest Plan by allowing motor vehicle use where it 
will not unacceptably impact forest resources or unnecessarily impact 
other forest users.
    The purpose of the proposed action is to designate roads, trails, 
and areas for motor vehicle use to meet recreation, access, and 
management objectives while limiting environmental impacts and moving 
towards a sustainable transportation system across the three districts.

Proposed Action

    In general, the routes proposed for addition to the forest 
transportation system are rough, unmaintained, and unsuitable for two-
wheel drive low-clearance vehicles. They may be used by Forest Service 
personnel in the administration of their duties, ranchers accessing 
portions of their allotments, geologists searching for minerals, 
hunters and hikers gaining access to remote areas, and others driving 
for pleasure on NFS lands.
    Following issuance of the decision, all roads and trails designated 
for motor vehicle use would be identified on a motor vehicle use map. 
Motor vehicle use that is not consistent with the designations will be 
prohibited under the terms of 36 CFR 261.13. However, the prohibitions 
on motor vehicle use will not apply to the following activities, as 
detailed in 36 CFR 261.13:
     Aircraft.
     Watercraft.
     Over-snow vehicles.
     Limited administrative use by the Forest Service.
     Use of any fire, military, emergency, or law enforcement 
vehicle for emergency purposes.
     Authorized use of any combat or combat-support vehicle for 
national defense purposes.
     Law enforcement response to violations of law, including 
pursuit.
     Motor vehicle use that is specifically authorized under a 
written authorization issued under Federal law or regulation (e.g., 
woodcutting permits, term grazing permits, approved plans of 
operations) (36 CFR 212.51a).
     Use of a road or trail that is authorized by a legally 
documented right-of-way held by a State, county, or other public road 
authority.

Responsible Officials

    Tom Montoya, District Ranger, Mountain City Ranger District, 2035 
Last Chance Road, Elko, NV 89801; and Car Abbas, District Ranger, Ruby 
Mountains and Jarbidge Ranger District, 140 Pacific Ave., P.O. Box 246, 
Wells, NV 89835.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Based on this environmental analysis, the district rangers will 
decide:
     Which routes motorized traffic would he restricted to, and 
what areas, if any, would he open to cross-country motorized travel.
     Which alternative best represents the minimum road system 
needed for

[[Page 53464]]

safe and efficient travel and for administration, utilization, and 
protection of NFS lands.

Scoping Process

    The districts have accepted comments on this project since January 
12, 2009, and will continue to do so until the publication of a draft 
EIS during the second quarter of 2010. A copy of the Travel Analysis 
Process (TAP) is available on the Internet at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/ and at the district offices in Elko and Wells, Nevada. Copies of 
project maps can also he viewed on the Internet, or a copy of the maps 
on DVD can be requested by contacting the district rangers at the above 
addresses. Hard copies of the maps are also available for viewing at 
the district offices and public libraries in Elko and Wells, Nevada. 
Copies of these maps have also been provided to Elko County and local 
tribal offices.

Comment Requested

    Comments received before the draft EIS is published will he given 
consideration.

    Dated: October 5, 2009.
Torn Montoya,
Mountain City District Ranger.
    Dated: October 5, 2009.
Nancy Taylor,
Acting for Gar Abbas, Ruby Mountains and Jarbidge District Ranger.
[FR Doc. E9-24900 Filed 10-16-09; 8:45 am]
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