[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 77 (Friday, April 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21683-21684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08441]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest; Utah; Little Cottonwood 
Canyon Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has proposed 
transportation improvements in and near Little Cottonwood Canyon in 
Salt Lake City, Utah. Some activities for the proposed action and 
alternatives would occur on what are currently National Forest System 
(NFS) lands managed under the 2003 Wasatch-Cache National Forest plan 
(Forest Plan). This notice is to ensure all persons and entities 
interested in activities on NFS lands and the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache 
National Forest are aware of the March 9, 2018 Notice of Intent (NOI), 
March 5, 2019 Revised NOI, and May 15, 2019 Revised NOI published by 
the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on behalf of UDOT for 
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 
transportation improvements.

DATES: The Draft EIS is expected Summer 2021 and the Final EIS is 
expected Winter 2021/2022.

ADDRESSES: Additional information concerning this project may be 
obtained at https://littlecottonwoodeis.udot.utah.gov/.
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the hearing-
impaired (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, Monday 
through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Brandon Weston, Environmental Services Director, Environmental 
Services Division, UDOT 4501 South 2700 West, P.O. Box 141265, Salt 
Lake City, Utah 84114-1265; Telephone: (801) 965-4603, email: 
[email protected].
    Josh Van Jura, P.E., Little Cottonwood Canyon Project Manager, UDOT 
4501 South 2700 West, P.O. Box 141265, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-1265; 
Telephone: (801) 231-8452, Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FHWA, on behalf of UDOT, published a 
March 9, 2018 NOI, March 5, 2019 Revised NOI, and a May 15, 2019 
Revised NOI (83 FR 10545, 84 FR 7967, 84 FR 21894, respectively) for 
the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for proposed 
transportation improvements in and near Little Cottonwood Canyon in 
Salt Lake City, Utah. As stated in all three NOIs, the project may 
require FHWA to appropriate NFS lands and transfer such

[[Page 21684]]

lands to the UDOT, which would be in the form of a non-exclusive right-
of-way for highway purposes. UDOT will make a decision for project 
activities on lands that will be appropriated by FHWA at the time of 
implementation of those activities. A Forest Service decision will 
apply to project activities, if any, that occur on NFS lands that are 
not appropriated by FHWA at the time of implementation of those 
activities. The Forest Service decision may amend the 2003 Wasatch-
Cache Forest Plan: If analysis leads the Forest Service to conclude 
that an amendment is necessary and appropriate. UDOT will prepare a 
single EIS to satisfy National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
requirements for the Forest Service and UDOT. The Forest Service 
intends to use the EIS to make its decision for the NFS lands it 
administers.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    UDOT is the Lead Agency for the preparation of the EIS acting under 
authority of 23 United States Code Section 327, and a Memorandum of 
Understanding executed by the FHWA and UDOT on January 17, 2017 . The 
Forest Service is a Cooperating Agency for the preparation of the EIS. 
Other Cooperating Agencies include the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Utah Transit Authority, and the 
Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities.

Responsible Official

    The Forest Service responsible official is the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache 
Forest Supervisor.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Forest Service may need to make a decision to authorize use of 
NFS land outside the right-of-way to be appropriated by FHWA and to 
amend the Forest Plan for that use if it is inconsistent with the 
current Forest Plan. It is anticipated the draft EIS will identify any 
Forest Service decision that may be required. This notice does not 
commit the Forest Service to amending the Forest Plan. This notice does 
not preclude the Forest Service from changing the Forest Plan through 
administrative change, if appropriate. Any Forest Service decision on 
project and site-specific activities must be supported by NEPA analysis 
sufficient to meet Forest Service requirements. In the event the Forest 
Service determines a Forest Plan amendment is necessary, we hereby give 
notice that substantive requirements of the 2012 Planning Rule (36 CFR 
219) likely to be directly related and, therefore, applicable to the 
Forest Plan amendment are 36 CFR 219.10(a)(1) and (3), scenery and 
transportation corridor. The plan amendment would be project-specific, 
with a scope and scale of only the project activities occurring on NFS 
lands and only for the NFS lands occurring within the project area.

Administrative Review

    The Forest Service decision on project activities and, if needed, 
plan amendment will use the 36 CFR 218 pre-decisional objection review 
process (using applicable sub-parts A and B).

Tina J. Terrell,
Acting Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2021-08441 Filed 4-22-21; 8:45 am]
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