[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 109 (Tuesday, June 7, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36516-36518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13373]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Black Hills National Forest, Custer, South Dakota--Rushmore 
Connector Trail Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service), Black Hills National 
Forest, proposes to issue authorizations for the construction, 
operation and maintenance of a non-motorized trail connecting the 
existing George S. Mickelson (Mickelson) Trail near Hill City, South 
Dakota, to the Blackberry Trailhead at Mount Rushmore National Memorial 
(the Memorial). New trail construction would extend approximately 14 
miles across National Forest System (NFS) land and approximately 1.4 
miles across National Park Service (NPS) lands within the Memorial. The 
trail would be a combination of compacted tread and elevated walkway, 
with a trail tread of about eight feet and corridor of about twenty 
feet. The proposed Rushmore Connector Trail would be constructed, 
operated and maintained by the proponent, State of South Dakota 
Department of Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP).

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be postmarked 
no later than 30 (thirty) days from date of publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected November 2017, and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected March 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Forest Supervisor, Black Hills 
National Forest, ATTN: Rushmore Connector Trail, 1019 N. 5th Street, 
Custer, SD 57730. Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], with ``Rushmore Connector Trail'' 
in the subject line. Electronic comments must be submitted in Word 
(.doc), Rich Text (.rtf), or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. Open-house-
style public meetings are planned, one each in Hill City and Rapid 
City, South Dakota, on Tuesday, June 14, and Thursday, June 16. Times 
and exact locations of these meetings will be announced on the Black 
Hills National Forest project Web site, http://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=44935.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Apodaca, Forest Recreation and 
Trails Program Manager, Black Hills National Forest Supervisor's 
Office,

[[Page 36517]]

1019 N. 5th Street, Custer, SD 57730, phone (605) 673-9200. 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: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of this proposal is to respond to the application 
submitted by the State of South Dakota. The need is to evaluate the 
State's application to construct, operate and maintain a non-motorized 
recreation trail and associated corridor across NFS lands managed by 
the Black Hills National Forest, in order to determine effects as well 
as consistency with law, regulation, policy and guidance in the 1997 
Revised Forest Plan for the Black Hills National Forest, as Amended 
(Forest Plan). This proposal would respond to Forest Plan Goal 4 
(Provide for scenic quality, recreational opportunities and protection 
of heritage resources); Goal 7 (Emphasize cooperation with individuals, 
organizations, and other agencies in coordinating planning and 
implementing projects); and Goal 8 (Promote rural development 
opportunities).

Proposed Action

    The proposed Rushmore Connector Trail, would be constructed, 
operated and maintained for non-motorized use. The proposal is based on 
the special use permit application and the George S. Mickelson Trail to 
Mt. Rushmore National Memorial Trail Feasibility Study, completed 
previously and provided by the SDGFP to the Forest Service. New trail 
construction would extend approximately 14 miles across NFS land and 
approximately 1.4 miles within the Memorial. The new trail is 
anticipated to be a combination of compacted tread and elevated 
walkway, with a trail tread width of approximately eight feet within a 
corridor approximately twenty feet wide. The trail would be designed to 
follow the Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines and have 
grades no greater than 8-14 percent, depending on the resting interval. 
A right-of-way across private property would be required for a small 
segment of trail, approximately 0.1 mile. The proponent would secure 
this right-of-way at their expense, in the name of the U.S. Government.
    The Rushmore Connector Trail would connect the existing Forest 
Service developed recreation facilities along the Peter Norbeck Scenic 
Byway (SD Highway 244), which it would cross at least three times. The 
Big Pine Trailhead would be relocated to the south side of the highway 
to improve trail user safety, and would provide the point for 
divergence of user groups. Equestrian users would be required to follow 
the existing Centennial National Recreation Trail (Trail 89) south for 
approximately 4.8 miles, of which 4.1 miles is located in the Black Elk 
Wilderness managed by the Forest Service. Existing management direction 
including party size limits would apply. Within the Memorial 0.72 miles 
of the existing Blackberry Trail would be utilized. Bicyclists would 
travel from Big Pine Trailhead on the proposed designated route, 
through the Horsethief Lake and Wrinkled Rock areas into the Memorial. 
Hikers could use either route. A Forest Plan amendment is proposed, to 
address several possible inconsistencies of the proposal with existing 
guidance regarding expansion of the recreational trail system and 
outfitter-guide permits in the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve, and party 
size limits in the Black Elk Wilderness.
    If an action alternative were selected, the land beneath the trail 
would remain NFS land managed by the Black Hills National Forest. The 
trail facility itself would be constructed, operated and maintained by 
the State of South Dakota, under a special use permit issued by the 
Forest Service under authority of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act (FLPMA). The special use permit would allow the State to 
charge for use of the trail, as part of the general use fee for the 
Mickelson Trail. Any other fees proposed by the State to be implemented 
for portions of the proposed trail would require prior Forest Service 
approval with public involvement. Individual special events proposed on 
the trail would each require Forest Service approval with public 
involvement, and authorization under a special use permit.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    Under terms of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
Forest Service is the lead agency for analysis of this proposal. The 
National Park Service, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, is a 
cooperating agency on this project. The NPS has special expertise and 
jurisdiction by law and would make a decision on whether to implement 
that portion of the proposed trail route on NPS lands. The Federal 
Highway Administration (FHWA) is also a cooperating agency on this 
project. FHWA may have a decision to make regarding funding of project 
work.

Responsible Officials

    The Forest Service Responsible Official for this project is the 
Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest, 1019 N. 5th Street, 
Custer, South Dakota 57730. Depending on the nature of the permit(s) 
that might be issued to implement an action alternative, the Regional 
Forester of the U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region may also 
issue a decision on this project. The National Park Service Responsible 
Official for this project is the Superintendent of Mount Rushmore 
National Memorial. Some decisions may be required to be made by the NPS 
Regional Director, or through additional mandated rulemaking 
procedures.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Based on the environmental analysis the Forest Supervisor of the 
Black Hills National Forest will make the following decisions:
     Whether to authorize construction, operation and 
maintenance of approximately 14 miles of non-motorized trail connecting 
the George S. Mickelson Trail to Mount Rushmore National Memorial near 
Hill City, South Dakota, as proposed, in some other manner and/or along 
an alternate route, or not at all;
     What if any design criteria, mitigation measures, and 
monitoring requirements should be required;
     Whether to amend existing Black Hills National Forest Plan 
direction to allow implementation of the selected alternative;
     Whether to authorize construction of a new campground in 
Section 33 or thereabouts, of Township 1 South, Range 5 East, Black 
Hills Meridian, to accommodate trail users and other Forest visitors;
     Whether to authorize reconstruction of the Highway 244 
underpass near Willow Creek Campground and Palmer Gulch Campground, to 
facilitate use of the Rushmore Connector Trail with the existing Black 
Elk Wilderness and Norbeck Wildlife Preserve trail system;
     Whether to authorize construction of additional trailhead 
facilities north and west of the Norbeck Wildlife Preserve to provide 
additional access points to the Rushmore Connector Trail;
     Whether to reconstruct portions of the Centennial Trail, 
including sections in the Black Elk Wilderness, to address and mitigate 
use impacts;
     Whether to approve, in principle only, future special 
events within the capacity analyzed;

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     Whether use limits should be imposed on trail use for 
segments outside of the Black Elk Wilderness;
     Whether to authorize additional outfitter-guide permits;
     Whether to authorize the implementation of use fees;
     Whether to authorize phased construction of the Rushmore 
Connector Trail on NFS lands prior to potential final rulemaking 
procedures for actions within Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
    Some of these decisions may be reserved to the Regional Forester of 
the Rocky Mountain Region of the Forest Service. The level of 
individual decisions will be determined by the actions outlined through 
the NEPA process. If any action alternative is selected, project 
implementation could begin in the year 2018. The initial focus would be 
to issue authorizations and engineering design and layout.

Permits or Licenses Required

    A special use permit issued by the Forest Service under FLPMA would 
be required before any action alternative could be implemented.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement.
    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. Therefore, comments should be 
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly 
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
    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, anonymous comments may not allow the 
Agency to provide the respondent with subsequent environmental 
documents.

    Dated: May 25, 2016.
Jim Zornes,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2016-13373 Filed 6-6-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-11-P