[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32082-32084]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13761]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Rico West Dolores Roads and Trails Project (Travel Management); 
Dolores District of the San Juan National Forest; Colorado

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service intends to prepare an environmental impact 
statement to analyze and disclose the environmental effects of 
adjustments to

[[Page 32083]]

the road and trail system in the Rico West Dolores area. A project-
level amendment to the San Juan Land and Resource Management Plan is 
also proposed. The analysis area is in Dolores and Montezuma Counties 
approximately 5 miles north of the Town of Dolores and includes 
National Forest Lands surrounding the Town of Rico.

DATES: If you have supplementary comments which meet the description in 
Scoping Process, below, they must be received by July 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: If you have supplementary comments which meet the 
description in Scoping Process, below, submit them in writing to Derek 
Padilla, District Ranger, Dolores Ranger District, 29211 Highway 184, 
Dolores, CO 81323; comments may also be emailed to [email protected] or 
sent by facsimile to 970-882-6841. All comments, including names and 
addresses when provided, are placed in the record and are available for 
public inspection and copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Kill, NEPA Coordinator and 
Interdisciplinary Team Leader, telephone 970-882-7296. Individuals who 
use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Previous Scoping Period

    A previous scoping period, including public input occurred from 
December 12th 2014 through January 30th 2015. That scoping period met 
the requirement for scoping for the Environmental Impact Statement. 
Written comments that were submitted during the previous scoping period 
are considered and filed in the project record. The Forest Service 
requests that you do not resubmit the same comments. Because of 
extensive public input, the scope of issues to be analyzed in the 
Environmental Impact Statement has already been well examined.
    This notice of intent initiates a supplementary scoping process, 
which is intended to provide an additional opportunity for the public 
to comment on the scope of issues to be analyzed in the Environmental 
Impact Statement only if there is new or different information that has 
not been previously considered. To determine whether your comment or 
concern has previously been submitted, please read the Scoping Report 
found on the project Web page at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44918 or call Deborah Kill at 970-882-6822.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action document and maps located at http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44918 describes proposed actions in 
detail. There has been no change to the proposals since this Proposed 
Action document was published for the first scoping period in December, 
except that additional language has been added to the Purpose and Need 
statement below to add clarification. Briefly, the proposals include 
(1) minor adjustments to the main graveled roads, (2) re-configuration 
of some native surface roads which includes converting some native 
surface roads to ATV trails, (3) setting limits for day-use and 
overnight parking off of the roads, (4) changing to the type of uses 
allowed on some of the single track trails, (5) new timing restrictions 
on motorcycle use of single track trails, (6) re-alignment of single 
track trails at select locations, and (7) additional single track 
trails added to the system. As stated in the Proposed Action document, 
it will be necessary to adjust the Forest Plan's Over-Ground Travel 
Suitability Map and the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum Map and these 
Forest Plan changes would apply only to the Rico-West Dolores analysis 
area.

Purpose and Need

    The purpose of the Proposed Action is to manage over-ground wheeled 
motorized vehicle use in accordance with the requirements of the Travel 
Management Rule (36 CFR 212). The Rule requires the Forest Service to 
designate a system of roads, trails, and areas for motorized use by 
vehicle class and, if appropriate, by time of year. The travel rule at 
36 CFR 212.55 also lists criteria for designation of roads, trails and 
areas as follows, (a) General criteria for designation of National 
Forest System roads, National Forest System trails, and areas on 
National Forest System lands. In designating National Forest System 
roads, National Forest System trails, and areas on National Forest 
System lands for motor vehicle use, the responsible official shall 
consider effects on National Forest System natural and cultural 
resources, public safety, provision of recreational opportunities, 
access needs, conflicts among uses of National Forest System lands, the 
need for maintenance and administration of roads, trails, and areas 
that would arise if the uses under consideration are designated; and 
the availability of resources for that maintenance and administration. 
(b) Specific criteria for designation of trails and areas. In addition 
to the criteria in paragraph (a) of this section, in designating 
National Forest System trails and areas on National Forest System 
lands, the responsible official shall consider effects on the 
following, with the objective of minimizing: (1) Damage to soil, 
watershed, vegetation, and other forest resources; (2) Harassment of 
wildlife and significant disruption of wildlife habitats; (3) Conflicts 
between motor vehicle use and existing or proposed recreational uses of 
National Forest System lands or neighboring Federal lands; and (4) 
Conflicts among different classes of motor vehicle uses of National 
Forest System lands or neighboring Federal lands. In addition, the 
responsible official shall consider: (5) Compatibility of motor vehicle 
use with existing conditions in populated areas, taking into account 
sound, emissions, and other factors.
    The purpose of this action is to balance the current and future 
recreational desires of the public with Forest Service responsibilities 
for wildlife and fisheries management, water resources management, and 
forest management as well as the desires of local communities and 
affected private land owners. This action is needed to develop a 
sustainable system of trails and roads where motorized travel is 
appropriate and will strive to improve both the motorized and non-
motorized user's experience.

Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made is whether to implement the proposed 
action, or to meet the purpose and need for action through some other 
combination of activities, or to take no action at this time.

Dates

    Another opportunity for public comment will occur when the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement describing alternatives in detail will 
be made available for public comment later in 2015. At that time, 
public comments on the draft EIS will be received for 45 days from the 
date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of 
availability of the draft EIS in the Federal Register. A draft decision 
is expected in late 2015.

Administrative Review Processes

    For project-level decisions about the road and trail system, the 
Forest Service will apply its pre-decisional administrative review 
process described in 36 CFR part 218, subparts A and B. Preliminary 
project-level decisions

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about the road and trail system will be described in a draft Record of 
Decision.
    The proposed forest plan amendment, if selected, will be subject to 
1982 Planning Rule regulations 219.17(f) which state that `If the 
change resulting from the amendment is determined not to be significant 
for the purposes of the planning process, the Forest Supervisor may 
implement the amendment following appropriate public notification and 
satisfactory completion of NEPA procedures.'
    The Forest Service will apply the pre-decisional objection process 
at 36 CFR 219 subpart B to the Forest Plan amendment.

Responsible Official and Lead Agency

    The USDA Forest Service is the lead agency for this proposal. 
District Ranger Derek Padilla is the responsible official for project 
decisions while Kara Chadwick, Forest Supervisor is the responsible 
official for the Forest Plan amendment.

    Dated: May 29, 2015.
Derek Padilla,
Dolores District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2015-13761 Filed 6-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-11-P