[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]
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