[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36760-36763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15724]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Stanislaus National Forest; California; Stanislaus National 
Forest Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV) Use Designation Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture will 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposal to 
designate over-snow vehicle (OSV) use on National Forest System (NFS) 
roads, NFS trails,

[[Page 36761]]

and areas on NFS lands within the Stanislaus National Forest; and to 
identify snow trails for grooming within the Stanislaus National 
Forest. In addition, the Forest Service is proposing to establish snow 
depths for OSV use and snow grooming.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by August 10, 2015. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected in July 2016, and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected in April 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Phyllis Ashmead, on behalf of 
Jeanne Higgins, Forest Supervisor, Stanislaus National Forest, 19777 
Greenley Road, Sonora, CA 95370. Comments may also be sent via 
facsimile to 209-533-1890 or submitted on the Stanislaus National 
Forest OSV Designation Web page: http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46311

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phyllis Ashmead, OSV Team Leader, USDA 
Forest Service, Stanislaus National Forest, 19777 Greenley Road, 
Sonora, CA 95370; phone 209-532-6371 ext. 322; email 
[email protected]. Hours for personal communication at the 
Supervisor's Office are between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time, 
Monday through Friday.
    Individuals with a hearing or speech disability may dial 711 for 
Telecommunication Relay Services.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    For over 30 years, the Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region, in 
cooperation with the California Department of Parks and 
Recreation(California State Parks) Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation 
Division has enhanced winter recreation, and more specifically 
snowmobiling recreation, by maintaining NFS trails (snow trails) by 
grooming snow for snowmobile use. Most groomed snow trails are co-
located on underlying NFS roads. Some grooming occurs on county roads 
and closed snow-covered highways. Grooming activities are funded by the 
state off-highway vehicle trust fund.
    The following summarizes current management of OSV use on 
approximately 900,106 acres of NFS lands in the Stanislaus National 
Forest:
    1. Approximately 58 miles of NFS groomed OSV trails 
exist(historically the Forest has groomed Highland Lakes Road 5.0 
miles, an Alpine County road on the Calaveras Ranger District, these 
5.0 miles are not included in this summary);
    2. The remainder of the Forest is open for cross country snowmobile 
use except congressionally designated Wilderness and other special 
areas. During the development of the 1991 Stanislaus National Forest 
Land and Resource Management Plan, areas designated as Near Natural 
were intended to be managed as semi-primitive non-motorized; however, 
they were never formally closed to OSV use. As a result, some of these 
areas have been used historically by OSV riders either due to proximity 
to other areas of use or the type of experience they offer. In some 
cases user groups have worked through conflict and agreed to subsequent 
adjustments in locations available for OSV including Round Valley on 
the Calaveras Ranger District and the Crabtree area near Dodge Ridge on 
the Summit Ranger District. Both of these areas are managed for quiet 
winter recreation (both closed to OSV use).Thus, approximately 532,696 
acres of NFS lands are open to off-trail, cross-country OSV use. In 
some areas, user conflicts remain unresolved (Pacific Valley and 
portions of the Eagle/Night Near Natural Areas);
    3. Approximately 367,410 acres of NFS land are closed to OSV use;
    4. There are two designated crossings of the Pacific Crest Trail 
from the Bridgeport Winter Sports Area south of Sonora Pass on the 
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
    The final Subpart C of the Travel Management Rule went into effect 
on February 27, 2015. The final rule states: ``Over-snow vehicle use on 
NFS roads, on NFS trails, and in areas on NFS lands shall be designated 
by the Responsible Official on administrative units or Ranger 
Districts, or parts of administrative units or Ranger Districts, of the 
NFS where snowfall is adequate for that use to occur, and, if 
appropriate, shall be designated by class of vehicle and time of year . 
. .'' (36 CFR 212.81 (a)). Further, under 36 CFR 261.14, it is 
prohibited to possess or operate an OSV on NFS lands in that 
administrative unit or Ranger District other than in accordance with 
those designations. OSV designations made as a result of the analysis 
in this Environmental Impact Statement would conform to the final 
Subpart C of the Travel Management Rule.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of this project is twofold: first, to effectively 
manage OSV use on the Stanislaus National Forest by providing access, 
ensuring that OSV use occurs when there is adequate snow, promoting the 
safety of all users, enhancing public enjoyment, minimizing impacts to 
natural and cultural resources, and minimizing conflicts among the 
various uses.
    Secondly, the project identifies OSV trails where the Forest 
Service or its contractors would conduct grooming for OSV use. Under 
the terms of the Settlement Agreement between the Forest Service and 
Snowlands Network, et al., the Forest Service is required to complete 
the appropriate NEPA analysis to identify snow trails for grooming on 
the Stanislaus National Forest.
    There is a need to provide a manageable, designated OSV system of 
trails and areas within the Stanislaus National Forest that is 
consistent with and achieves the purposes of the Forest Service Travel 
Management Rule at 36 CFR part 212. This action responds to direction 
provided by the Forest Service's Travel Management Rule.
    The existing system of available OSV trails and areas on the 
Stanislaus National Forest is the culmination of multiple agency 
decisions over recent decades. Public OSV use of the majority of this 
available system continues to be manageable and consistent with current 
travel management regulations. Exceptions have been identified, based 
on internal and public input and the criteria for designating roads, 
trails, and areas listed at 36 CFR 212.55. These include needs to 
provide improved access for OSV users and enact prohibitions required 
by the 1991 Stanislaus National Forest Land and Resource Management 
Plan and other management direction. These exceptions represent 
additional needs for change, and in these cases, changes are proposed 
to meet the overall objectives. Adopting some changes would require an 
amendment to the Forest Plan as identified in the Proposed Action.
    The Forest Service has identified areas where OSV use should be 
prohibited based on management direction in the Forest Plan. The 
proposed action will prohibit OSV use of these trails and in these 
areas to be consistent with the Forest Plan. The prohibitions will be 
implemented through Forest Orders.
    The snow trail grooming analysis would also address the need to 
provide a high quality snowmobile trail system on the Stanislaus 
National Forest that is smooth and stable for the rider. Groomed trails 
are designed so the novice rider can use them without difficulty.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service proposes the following:
    1. To designate OSV use on NFS roads, NFS trails, and areas on NFS

[[Page 36762]]

lands within the Stanislaus National Forest where snowfall depth is 
adequate for that use to occur;
    2. To identify 58 miles of designated OSV trails that would be 
groomed on the Stanislaus National Forest. Trail mileages are estimates 
only;
    3. To work with Tuolumne and Alpine Counties to groom Clark's Fork 
Road (9 miles) and Highland Lakes Road (5 miles) as part of this 
Proposed Action. These actions will require agreements between the 
Stanislaus National Forest, Tuolumne and Alpine Counties (historically, 
the Forest has groomed Highland Lakes Road 5.0 miles, an Alpine County 
road, on the Calaveras Ranger District.). This mileage is not included 
in the Proposed Action;
    4. To designate 98 miles of un-groomed OSV routes;
    5. To designate 141,073 acres for open OSV riding;
    6. To groom trails when there is 12 to 18 inches of snow, following 
California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) 
Division snow depth grooming standards;
    7. To implement a Forest-wide snow depth requirement for OSV use 
that would provide for public safety and natural and cultural resource 
protection by allowing off-trail, cross-country OSV use in designated 
areas when there is a minimum of 12 inches of continuous and 
supportable snow covering the landscape at 5,000 feet in elevation and 
above. When the snow-depth requirement is not met, OSV use would be 
prohibited. Stanislaus Meadow on the Calaveras RD will require a 
minimum depth of 24 inches, measured at the meadow.
    8. To amend the Forest Plan to allow winter OSV use in the Pacific 
Valley and portions of the Eagle Night Near Natural areas.\1\ 
Historical OSV use was identified during public meetings.
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    \1\ Near Natural Management is described in the Forest Plan as: 
Emphasis is placed on providing a natural landscape in a non-
motorized setting. Public motorized use is not normally allowed and 
no timber harvest is scheduled. Wildlife habitat management, 
watershed projection, dispersed, non-motorized recreation, livestock 
grazing and minerals uses are allowed. The area is characterized by 
a high quality visual setting where changes are rarely evident. Land 
altering practices are limited in scope and duration. It meets the 
Forest Service criteria for the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum 
class of Semi-primitive Non-motorized.
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    Pacific Valley Near Natural Area. This area is located in the 
northeast part of the Forest on the Calaveras Ranger District. The area 
is characterized by mountain-peaks, glaciated valleys, scattered timber 
and considerable granite rock. It borders the Carson-Iceberg 
Wilderness. Pacific Valley Near Natural Area encompasses 8,578 acres.
    Eagle/Night Near Natural Area. This area is located in the east 
central part of the Forest on the Summit Ranger District. The area is 
characterized by bare volcanic ridges and rock outcrops, scattered 
timber, and small sub-alpine meadows. It borders the Emigrant 
Wilderness. Portions of Eagle/Night Near Natural are proposed for over 
snow use, including Long Valley, Eagle Meadow and Sonora Pass. The 
portion of the area proposed for over snow vehicle use in the Eagle/
Night Near Natural Area is 5,045 acres.

                                  Near Natural Over-Snow Forest Plan Amendment
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             Practice                  Existing S&G            Amendment               Area             acres
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Forestwide S&Gs:
    ROS Semi-primitive Non-        Motorized use is      Motorized use is      Pacific Valley......        8,578
     motorized [10-B-2] (USDA       normally              normally             Eagle/Night.........        5,045
     2010, p. 53).                  prohibited, except    prohibited, except
                                    for: 4N80Y; 5N02R     for: 4N80Y; 5N02R
                                    (NMFPA).              (NMFPA); and, the
                                                          Pacific Valley and
                                                          Eagle/Night over-
                                                          snow use areas.
    Closed Motor Vehicle Travel    Closed to motorized   Closed to motorized
     Management [10-G-1a] (USDA     use except for:       use except for:
     2010, p. 53).                  4N80Y; 5N02R          4N80Y; 5N02R
                                    (NMFPA).              (NMFPA); and, the
                                                          Pacific Valley and
                                                          Eagle/Night over-
                                                          snow use areas.
    Restricted Motor Vehicle       Prohibit motorized    Prohibit motorized
     Management [10-G-2, C1a]       use and close         use and close
     (USDA 2010, p. 58).            motorized routes in   motorized routes in
                                    non-motorized         non-motorized
                                    areas, except for:    areas, except for:
                                    4N80Y; 5N02R          4N80Y; 5N02R
                                    (NMFPA).              (NMFPA); and, the
                                                          Pacific Valley and
                                                          Eagle/Night over-
                                                          snow use areas.
Near Natural:
    ROS Semi-primitive Non-        Manage to the ROS     Manage to the ROS
     motorized [10-B-2] (USDA       Class of Semi-        Class of Semi-
     2010, p. 121).                 primitive Non-        primitive Non-
                                    motorized.            motorized, except
                                                          for the Pacific
                                                          Valley and Eagle/
                                                          Night over-snow use
                                                          areas.
    Closed Motor Vehicle Travel    Manage to Forestwide  Manage to Forestwide
     Management [10-G-1] (USDA      S&Gs for Closed       S&Gs for Closed
     2010, p. 121).                 Motor Vehicle         Motor Vehicle
                                    Travel Management.    Travel Management,
                                                          except for the
                                                          Pacific Valley and
                                                          Eagle/Night over-
                                                          snow use areas.
                                                                                                    ------------
        Total....................  ....................  ....................  ....................       13,623
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NMFPA = Non-Motorized Forest Plan Amendment (USDA 2009. Motorized Travel Management Record of Decision.
  Stanislaus National Forest, Sonora, CA. November 2009).
USDA 2010. Forest Plan Direction. Forest Service, Stanislaus National Forest, Sonora, CA. April 2010.


[[Page 36763]]

    OSV use inconsistent with these designations would be prohibited 
under 36 CFR part 261 once the decision is issued and OSV use maps are 
made available to the public. The use designations resulting from this 
analysis would only apply to the use of OSVs. An OSV is defined in the 
Forest Service's Travel Management Regulations as ``a motor vehicle 
that is designed for use over snow and that runs on a track or tracks 
and/or a ski or skis, while in use over snow'' (36 CFR 212.1).
    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; and OSV use that is specifically authorized under a 
written authorization issued under Federal law or regulations would be 
exempt from these designations (36 CFR 212.81(a)).
    These actions would begin immediately upon the issuance of the 
record of decision, which is expected in August of 2017. The Forest 
Service would produce an OSV use map that would resemble the existing 
motor vehicle use map for the Stanislaus National Forest. Such a map 
would allow the public to identify the routes and areas where OSV use 
would be allowed on the Stanislaus National Forest.

Responsible Official

    The Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor will issue the decision.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    This decision will designate OSV use on NFS roads, on NFS trails, 
and in areas on NFS lands in the Stanislaus National Forest where 
snowfall is adequate for that use to occur. It will also identify the 
NFS trails available for snow grooming. The decision would only apply 
to the use of OSVs as defined in the Forest Service's Travel Management 
Regulations (36 CFR 212.1). The Forest Supervisor will consider all 
reasonable alternatives and decide whether to continue current 
management of OSV uses on the Stanislaus National Forest, implement the 
proposed action, or select an alternative for the management of OSV 
use.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.
    Open houses will be held in Pinecrest, Sonora, Hathaway Pines and 
Bear Valley for interested parties to hear an overview of the Proposed 
Action and ask questions. A separate stakeholder workshop is also being 
planned. Notification of open house and workshop dates will be 
announced through press releases, emails and posted on the Web site: 
http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=46311.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of 
the environmental impact statement. Written comments should be within 
the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the 
proposed action, and must include supporting reasons for the 
responsible official to consider. Therefore, comments should be 
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly 
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. The preferred 
format for attachments to electronically submitted comments would be as 
an MS Word document. Attachments in portable document format (pdf) are 
not preferred, but are acceptable.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered, however.
    The Stanislaus National Forest OSV Use Designation Project is an 
activity implementing a land management plan. It is not an activity 
authorized under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (Pub. L. 
108-148). Therefore, this activity is subject to pre-decisional 
administrative review consistent with the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-74) as implemented by Subparts A and B of 36 
CFR part 218. Certain portions of the proposed action would amend the 
Forest Plan. These actions are subject to pre-decisional administrative 
review, pursuant to Subpart B of the Planning Rule (36 CFR part 219).

     Dated: June 22, 2015.
Scott Tangenberg,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2015-15724 Filed 6-25-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-11-P