[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 82 (Friday, April 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32394-32395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08951]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Kootenai National Forest; Montana; Kootenai National Forest Over-
Snow Motorized Use Travel Plan

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).

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

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service (Forest Service), United States Department 
of Agriculture, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to 
inform a decision about the designation of trails and areas of the 
Kootenai National Forest which would be open to motorized over-snow 
use. The environmental impact statement will also inform a decision 
about the classes of vehicles and times of year for which motorized 
over-snow use will be allowed on designated trails and areas. Trails 
and areas designated for motorized over-snow vehicle use will be 
identified on an Over-Snow Vehicle Use Map which will specify the 
classes of vehicles and the time of year for which use is designated on 
the Kootenai National Forest.

DATES: The draft environmental impact statement is expected early in 
2025, with a 45-day public comment period immediately following 
publication of this project's Notice of Availability of Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement in the Federal Register. The final 
environmental impact statement is expected by summer of 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kootenai National Forest, 
[email protected], 406-283-7740, or Stephani Rust, 
[email protected]. Individuals may also visit the project's web 
page at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/kootenai/?project=64358. 
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf and hard of 
hearing (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339, 24 
hours a day, every day of the year, including holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    Pursuant to the Travel Management Rule at 36 CFR 212 subpart C, the 
Forest Service must designate trails and areas to be open for motorized 
over-snow vehicle use. Once designated, trails and areas open to 
motorized over-snow vehicle use need to be identified on an Over-Snow 
Vehicle Use Map (36 CFR 212.81). Over-Snow Vehicle Use Maps must 
specify the classes of vehicles and the time of year for which use is

[[Page 32395]]

designated (36 CFR 212.81(c)). The public shall be allowed to 
participate in the designation of National Forest System roads, trails, 
and areas, consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (36 
CFR 212.52).
    On the 2.2-million-acre Kootenai National Forest, there is a need 
to designate trails and areas which would be open to motorized over-
snow vehicle use. There is also a need to designate trails and areas 
open to motorized over-snow vehicle use within the Ten Lakes Wilderness 
Study Area of the Kootenai National Forest.

Proposed Action

    The Forest Service proposes to designate approximately 1,302,000 
acres of the Kootenai National Forest, including the Ten Lakes 
Wilderness Study Area, as areas open to cross-country motorized over-
snow vehicle use. Approximately 987,000 acres are proposed as areas 
open for all classes of cross-country motorized over-snow travel from 
December 1 to May 31 each year. Approximately 315,000 acres are 
proposed as areas open for all classes of cross-country motorized over-
snow travel from December 1 to March 31 and would be closed to 
motorized over-snow vehicle use on March 31 each year to accommodate 
grizzly bear den emergence. Areas designated for over-snow vehicle use 
would be identified on an Over-Snow Vehicle Use Map, in accordance with 
36 CFR 212.81. Over-Snow Vehicle Use Maps would specify the classes of 
vehicles and the time of year for which use is designated (36 CFR 
212.81(c)).
    Additionally, the Forest Service proposes to designate 
approximately 380 miles of trails in the Kootenai National Forest, 
including in the Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area, as open to motorized 
over-snow vehicle use. Approximately 285 miles of groomed over-snow 
trails and approximately 49 miles of ungroomed over-snow trails are 
proposed to be open to any over-snow vehicle class between December 1 
and March 31 each year. Approximately 16 miles of groomed over-snow 
trails and 30 miles of ungroomed over-snow trails are proposed to be 
open to any over-snow vehicle class between December 1 and March 31 
each year. Trails designated for over-snow vehicle use would be 
identified with the publication of an Over-Snow Vehicle Use Map, in 
accordance with 36 CFR 212.81.
    An amendment to the Kootenai National Forest 2015 Land Management 
Plan may be considered to modify the boundaries of management area 5a 
(Backcountry-Non-motorized Year-round).

Expected Impacts

    The minimization criteria were applied to the identification of the 
National Forest System areas and trails. Impacts to wolverine, grizzly 
bear, Canada lynx, and whitebark pine will be assessed in a biological 
assessment, and consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is 
expected to occur. An amendment to the Kootenai National Forest 2015 
Land Management Plan may be considered to modify the boundaries of 
management area 5a (Backcountry-Non-motorized Year-round) as it 
currently is mapped in the 2015 Land Management Plan. The following 
substantive requirements are likely to apply (219.13(b)(2)) to the 
potential amendment: 36 CFR 219.8(b) to guide the plan area's 
contribution to social and economic sustainability, taking into 
account: (1) social, cultural, and economic conditions relevant to the 
area influenced by the plan; (2) sustainable recreation; (3) multiple 
uses that contribute to local, regional, and national economies in a 
sustainable manner; and 36 CFR 219.9(a)(2) the plan must include plan 
components that maintain or restore the diversity of ecosystems and 
habitat types throughout the plan area.

Responsible Official

    Kootenai National Forest Supervisor.

Scoping Comments and the Objection Process

    Public scoping of this project occurred in April 2015 and July 
through September 2023; those scoping efforts have informed this 
proposed action. Public scoping will not be repeated; however, 
additional opportunities for public comment will be provided when the 
Draft EIS is available.
    Any decision about this project may be subject to 36 CFR 218 and/or 
36 CFR 219 pre-decisional review (objection). Unless received 
anonymously, public comments received during the scoping period from 
July 13, 2023 through September 29, 2023 or other designated 
opportunities for public comment may establish eligibility for 
participation in pre-decisional administrative review. Issues raised in 
an objection must be based on previously submitted comments, unless 
based on new information arising after designated opportunities.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision will determine the designation of trails and areas of 
the Kootenai National Forest which will be open to motorized over-snow 
use, as well as determining the classes of vehicles and times of year 
for which motorized over-snow use will be allowed on designated trails 
and areas.

Substantive Provisions

    An amendment to the Kootenai National Forest 2015 Land Management 
Plan may be considered to modify the boundaries of management area 5a 
(Backcountry-Non-motorized Year-round) as it currently is mapped in the 
2015 Land Management Plan. The following substantive requirements are 
likely to apply (219.13(b)(2)) to the potential amendment: 36 CFR 
219.8(b) to guide the plan area's contribution to social and economic 
sustainability, taking into account: (1) social, cultural, and economic 
conditions relevant to the area influenced by the plan; (2) sustainable 
recreation; (3) multiple uses that contribute to local, regional, and 
national economies in a sustainable manner; and 36 CFR 219.9(a)(2) the 
plan must include plan components that maintain or restore the 
diversity of ecosystems and habitat types throughout the plan area.

    Dated: April 22, 2024.
Troy Heithecker,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2024-08951 Filed 4-25-24; 8:45 am]
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