[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 200 (Monday, October 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71475-71477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25007]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Angeles National Forest, California, Cattle Canyon Improvements 
Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare draft environmental impact 
statement/environmental impact report and public scoping meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Angeles National Forest (USFS-ANF) and the Watershed 
Conservation Authority WCA are lead agencies preparing a joint Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR), 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the 
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Endangered Species 
Act, and other applicable laws, to evaluate the San Gabriel River 
Confluence with Cattle Canyon Improvements Project (Project). The USFS-
ANF and the WCA have agreed to jointly prepare an EIS/EIR in order to 
optimize efficiency and avoid duplication. The EIS/EIR is intended to 
be sufficient in scope to address the federal, state, and local 
requirements and the environmental issues concerning the proposed 
activities and permit approvals. The Project was developed to better 
manage the recreation use and balance the needs for resource 
protection. The project site encompasses an approximate 2.5-mile reach 
of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, running generally south 
until its confluence with Cattle Canyon Creek in Los Angeles County: 
T2N R8W Sections 19 and 30, T2N R9W Sections 24, 25, 26, T3N R8W 
Section 18. The entire project site is within the San Gabriel Mountains 
National Monument boundary and will continue to be managed by the USFS-
ANF. The proposed actions are to develop new management strategies to 
protect and restore the multi-use areas for future public enjoyment. 
Proposed enhancements include establishment of parking spaces, 
development of new picnic areas, pedestrian trails, river access points 
and upgrades to existing facilities, improvements to paved and unpaved 
roadways, and restoration of riparian and upland vegetation 
communities.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by December 1, 2016.
    Two public scoping meetings are being held to provide you with an 
opportunity to learn more about the proposed action and to express 
comments on the proposed action and scope of the EIS/EIR. The scoping 
meetings will be held Wednesday, November 16, 2016, from 6:00 p.m. to 
8:30 p.m., and Saturday, November 19, 2016, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: Please send written scoping comments to: Cattle Canyon 
Improvements Project, 110 N. Wabash Ave., Glendora, CA 91741. Comments 
may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to (626) 574-5233. If applicable, 
responses should include the name of a contact person at your agency or 
organization.
    The scoping meetings will be held at the following locations:

Wednesday, November 16, 2016, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Julia McNeill 
Senior Center--Celebration Hall, 4100 Baldwin Park Boulevard, Baldwin 
Park, California
Saturday, November 19, 2016, 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Angeles National 
Forest Headquarters, 701 North Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, California

    Additional information about public meetings is posted on: http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/angeles/landmanagement/projects and http://www.wca.ca.gov/cattle_canyon.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
USDA Forest Service, Angeles National Forest, 110 N. Wabash Ave., 
Glendora, CA 91741, Contact: Jeremy Sugden, Phone: (626) 335-1251 x222, 
Email: [email protected]
Watershed Conservation Authority, 100 N. Old San Gabriel Canyon Road, 
Azusa, CA 91701, Contact: Rob Romanek, Phone: (626) 815-1019 x108, 
Email: [email protected]

    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information

[[Page 71476]]

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

    Due to steep topography and dense chaparral, recreation is highly 
concentrated in areas that are relatively flat with roaded access in 
ANF. The heavy use combined with the lack of facilities has resulted in 
the degradation within the project site. Current conditions are not 
sustainable for long-term management. The San Gabriel River Confluence 
with the Cattle Canyon Improvement Project is being proposed to better 
manage the recreation use and balance the needs for resource 
protection. The future desired condition is to provide balanced, 
environmentally sustainable recreation opportunities to meet the needs 
of a growing urban and culturally diverse population, particularly for 
day use.
    The purpose and need for the project is to provide recreation 
facilities and infrastructure that are high quality, well-maintained, 
safe, accessible and consistent with visitors' expectations; shift and 
concentrate recreational use to certain areas in order to minimize 
adverse effects over a broader area; promote stewardship of public land 
by providing quality and sustainable recreation opportunities that 
result in increased visitor satisfaction; allow for better management 
of the recreation resources on the Forest; and improve riparian habitat 
conditions in certain areas and make progress toward enhancing stream 
habitat conditions by restoring vegetation, minimizing invasive plants 
and noxious weed presence, and developing management strategies to 
regulate access.

Proposed Action

    The full description of the proposed action/project is on the 
following Web sites:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/angeles/landmanagement/projects
http://www.wca.ca.gov/cattle_canyon

Proposed actions/project include the following components:

River Access

    To provide better public access to the river while protecting 
natural resources, a total of six locations for river access points are 
proposed throughout the project site. Each river access point would 
implement the Sustainable Site Access Model and include: Parking, 
infrastructure to provide for potential development of future shuttle 
services, litter disposal, restrooms, picnic tables and seating, East 
Fork Scenic Trail with interpretive elements, safe river access trails, 
and elimination of user-created trails and parking.

Riparian and Upland Habitat Restoration

    Restoration would occur throughout the project site to reduce 
impacts from user generated trails, protect seeps/springs on east side 
of the road, preserve stream habitat in tributary behind oaks picnic 
area, and mitigate losses from trail construction. Restoration would 
include non-native vegetation removal and/or riparian plantings.

Parking

    The project proposes a total of 270 new parking spaces designated 
for standard vehicles and three spaces for bus parking within the 
vicinity of the Oaks Picnic Area and Coyote Flat. Of the 270 parking 
spaces, 14 spaces would be designed and designated as accessible 
spaces. These spaces include angled and perpendicular bays with curbs, 
formal (marked) paved roadside parking, and a paved parking lot at the 
former fire station within the East Fork Scenic Overlook and Trailhead 
area. Parking would be available during day-use hours. Undesignated 
parking areas would be blocked by boulders and parking signage 
installed.

Right of Way Improvements

    Improvements along the two-mile reach of the public right of way 
would include designated roadside parking, the addition of three 
loading area/shuttle stops, low barrier walls, signage, and a vehicle 
turnaround at the end of Camp Bonita Road.

Amenities

    Proposed actions include development of the following amenities:
     Recreational Trails: Recreational trail improvements would 
include the following: The 2.5 mile East Fork Scenic Trail (comprising 
two miles of newly constructed road-adjacent scenic trail and .5 miles 
of improvements to existing trail/access road that runs between the 
East Fork Overlook area and Heaton Flat), Botanical Interpretive Trail 
(approximately 1.5 miles of existing non designated trail), Trail steps 
to Coyote Flat (approximately 350 feet), five trailheads, and a 
trailhead parking lot.
     Interpretive Areas: An interpretive area with site-
specific signage and informational displays would be located at the 
Oaks, Confluence, Coyote Flat, and Heaton Flat Areas.
     Scenic Overlooks: The existing scenic overlook of the 
EFSGR in the Overlook Area would be improved with planters, Geology 
Hut, low masonry barrier walls, litter receptacles, and interpretive 
signs. A new scenic overlook in the Confluence Area would include an 
interpretive element of Eldoradoville, and an East Fork Scenic Trail 
interpretive sign.
     Picnic Areas: Six designated picnic areas would be located 
throughout the project area. Improvements are planned for the existing 
picnic areas at Oaks, Coyote Flat, and Heaton Flat.
     Pedestrian Bridge: A prefabricated pedestrian steel bridge 
may be constructed across the Cattle Canyon Creek, parallel to the 
existing L.A. County Camp Bonita Road Bridge (also known as Cattle 
Canyon Bridge).
     USFS Visitor Kiosk: Three USFS Visitor Kiosks would be 
strategically placed throughout the project site.
     Restrooms and Refuse Disposal: Nine restroom facilities 
are planned with three 2-toilet units and six 4-unit toilet facilities 
located near river access points, picnic areas and other popular 
destination sites. Small bear-proof trash receptacles would be located 
at all river access points, loading areas/shuttle stops, parking areas, 
along the East Fork Scenic trail, and all designated picnic sites.

Site Type Management

    The project area is being proposed to be managed as a Day Use only 
area. Currently recreation sites located within the project area (Oaks 
Picnic Site and East Fork Trailhead Day Use Parking) are managed as 
Standard Amenity Recreation Fee Sites (SARF). With the development of 
the project new recreation sites will be eligible to be included into 
the SARF program. These new sites may be designated for fee collection 
after the project is constructed, in accordance with the Federal Lands 
Recreation Enhancement Act, including necessary approvals of the 
Recreation Advisory Committee established by that law.

Possible Alternatives

    In order to address substantive issues identified during scoping, 
project alternatives may be considered and developed by lead agencies 
staff, following completion of the public scoping period. If necessary, 
the alternatives shall fulfill the identified purpose & need for action 
while addressing one or more significant issues related to the proposed 
project.

Preliminary Issues/Potential Environmental Effects

    Potential environmental effects and impacts for the proposed 
project and the

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alternatives will be explored during the scoping and during preparation 
of the EIS/EIR. The EIS/EIR will focus on issues for which potentially 
significant impacts are identified, including: Public recreation and 
impacts to user groups, biological resources, cultural resources, 
transportation and parking, water resources and water quality, and 
others. In addition, the EIS/EIR will analyze the full range of 
resource topics required by the lead agencies (e.g., noise, land use) 
and cumulative impacts.

Permits or Licenses Required

    Permits that may be required before implementation include: A 
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Construction 
Permit issued by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, 
a Section 404 Permit and Section 401 Certification (per the Clean Water 
Act) issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Biological Opinion/
Incidental Take Statement issued by USFWS, Section 2081 Incidental Take 
Permit issued by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and a 
Streambed Alteration Agreement (Section 1602 permits of the California 
Fish and Game Code) issued by the California Department of Fish and 
Wildlife. Local traffic control and encroachment permits may be 
required from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works or the 
California Department of Transportation.

Scoping Process

    The ANF and the WCA are seeking public and agency comment on the 
proposed project to identify major issues. Comments received will help 
define the scope of the project and issues to be analyzed in depth. 
Comments should be as ``project specific'' as possible. It is important 
that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in such a 
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 scoping comment period and should clearly 
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions in relation to the 
project. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental 
Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA 
(40 CFR 1503.3) in addressing these points.
    The proposed project is consistent with the 2006 Angeles National 
Forest Land Management Plan, and is subject to project level, pre-
decisional administrative review pursuant to 36 CFR 218, Subparts A and 
B. Comments received on this notice or in subsequent environmental 
reviews, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be 
considered as part of the public record on this proposed project, and 
are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and California 
Public Records Act (CPRA). Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments 
will not have standing to object to the subsequent decision.

    Dated: October 7, 2016.
Rachel C. Smith,
Deputy Forest Supervisor, Angeles National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2016-25007 Filed 10-14-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P