[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 147 (Monday, August 2, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45089-45090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18707]



[[Page 45089]]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Oregon; Motorized Vehicle 
Use on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest; Intent to Prepare a 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) To Augment, Clarify, 
Analyze and Disclose the Potential Environmental Effects of 
Establishing and Designating a System of Roads, Trails and Areas for 
Wheeled Motorized Vehicles

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Proposed Action would designate the location, type of 
vehicle and season of use for motorized vehicles across the entire 
Forest in order to meet the intent of the Travel Management; Designated 
Routes and Areas for Motor Vehicle Use, Final Rule that was published 
on November 9, 2005 (70 FR 216). Over-the-snow vehicles are excluded 
from this Proposed Action. A Forest Plan Amendment would be required to 
achieve the purpose and need, and implement the Proposed Action.

DATES: Under 40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4), there is no formal scoping period for 
this action. The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(SEIS) is expected in October 2010 and the Final Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement is expected in March 2011.

ADDRESSES: Send electronic comments to: [email protected]. Send written comments to: Pam Olson, 
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 
97504.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pam Olson, Rogue River-Siskiyou 
National Forest, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, Oregon 97504, Telephone 
(541) 618-2126; FAX (541) 618-2149.

Background

    On November 9, 2005, the Forest Service published final travel 
management regulations in the Federal Register (FR Vol. 70, No. 216--
Nov. 9, 2005, pp 68264-68291). This final Travel Management Rule 
requires designation of those roads, trails, and areas that are open to 
motor vehicle use by the public on 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 by the public off the 
designated system as well as use of motor vehicles on routes and in 
areas that are not designated. Persons exempt from the final rule 
prohibitions would be those with a permit specifically authorizing 
access. Examples include access to private property, a mining claim or 
a communication site.
    In June 2007, the Forest hosted a series of four open houses in 
southwest Oregon to provide people an opportunity to learn more about 
the Travel Analysis process, and, in addition, Forest representatives 
met with a number of individuals, groups and neighboring land 
management agencies to gather information for the project.
    The Forest completed an inventory of existing open roads and 
trails. Currently, there are approximately 4,620 road miles and 
approximately 1,155 trail miles. Motorized trails account for 
approximately 15% (170 miles) of the total trail miles.
    Under the Proposed Action, roads, trails and areas that are 
currently part of the Forest transportation system and are open to 
wheeled motorized vehicle travel would remain designated for such use 
except as described below. The Proposed Action is being carried forward 
in accordance with the Travel Management Rule (36 CFR Part 212). The 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Motorized Vehicle Use 
on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest was released in March 2009, 
with the comment period ending May 11, 2009. In December 2009, the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement was released, and the Record of 
Decision was signed on December 3, 2009. Appeals were received, and 
there were issues that were determined to require clarification and 
supplementation of the previous analysis. The Record of Decision was 
withdrawn in April 2010 so that those issues could be addressed within 
a supplemental document.
    Following a decision on the FSEIS, the Forest will publish a Motor 
Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) identifying all Forest roads, trails and areas 
that are designated open for motor vehicle use by the public. The MVUM 
shall specify the classes of vehicles and, if appropriate, the times of 
year for which use is authorized. It will be updated and published 
annually (or more frequently if needed) when changes to the Forest's 
transportation system are made. Future decisions associated with 
changes to the MVUM may trigger the need for documentation of 
additional environmental analysis.

Purpose and Need

    The purpose for action is to enact the Travel Management Rule, 
which will designate roads for motorized use. Increased demand for 
motorized use, lack of designated areas/routes, and the inconsistent 
direction contained in the Forest Plans have led to the need to reduce 
resource damage and social impacts, user conflicts, and address safety 
concerns.

Proposed Action

    Based on the stated purpose and need for action and as a result of 
the recent Travel Analysis process, the Forest proposes to:
     Prohibit motorized public access on approximately 60-65 
miles of roads currently open in order to minimize or reduce resource 
damage;
     Formally designate approximately 3,390 miles of road where 
mixed use would be allowed. Mixed use is defined as designation of a 
National Forest System (NFS) road for use by both highway-legal and 
non-highway-legal motor vehicles;
     Construct two motorized trails to provide loop route 
opportunities (approximately 2 miles);
     Convert approximately 20-25 miles of NFS roads to 
motorized trails;
     Designate two areas where off-road motorized use is 
allowed. This includes continued use of the Woodruff area near Prospect 
and the development of an additional area near Willow Lake. Both areas 
are located on the High Cascades Ranger District; and
     Enact Forest Plan amendments to make both plans consistent 
with the Travel Management Rule. The Rogue River-Siskiyou National 
Forest is guided by two separate Forest Plans.
    Maps illustrating the Proposed Action can found at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/rogue-siskiyou/projects/travel/.
    In addition, maps will be available for viewing at:

Forest Supervisor's Office, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 97504.
Gold Beach Ranger District, 29279 Ellensburg Ave. Gold Beach, OR 97444 
or 539 Chetco Ave, Brookings, OR 97415.
High Cascades Ranger District, 47201 Highway 62, Prospect, OR 97536 or 
730 Laurel St., Butte Falls, OR 97522.
Powers Ranger District, 42861 Highway 242, Powers, OR 97466.
Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District, 6941 Upper Applegate Road, 
Jacksonville, OR 97530 or 645 Washington Street, Ashland, Oregon 97520.
Wild Rivers Ranger District, 2164 N.E. Spalding Avenue, Grants Pass, OR 
97526 or 26568 Redwood Hwy., Cave Junction, OR 97523.

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Responsible Official

    The Forest Supervisor, Scott D. Conroy, is the Responsible Official 
for making the decision and providing direction for the analysis under 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Decision Framework

    The Forest Service will use the results of supplemental analysis to 
determine if the analysis is sufficient to answer and clarify the 
issues raised during appeal.

Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Environmental 
Review

    A Draft SEIS will be prepared for comment. Comments received on the 
Draft SEIS will be considered in the preparation of the Final SEIS. The 
Draft SEIS is now expected to be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for public review in 
October 2010. The comment period on the Draft SEIS will be 45-days from 
the date EPA publishes the Notice of Availability in the Federal 
Register. At the end of the comment period on the Draft SEIS, comments 
will be analyzed and considered by the Forest Service in preparing the 
Final SEIS. The Final SEIS is scheduled to be completed by March 2011.

    Dated: July 21, 2010.
Scott D. Conroy,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2010-18707 Filed 7-30-10; 8:45 am]
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