[Federal Register: January 5, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 3)]
[Notices]
[Page 525-527]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05ja07-21]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Bridger-Teton National Forest; Wyoming; Proposed Summer
Designated Road and Motorized Trail System
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Bridger-Teton National Forest is preparing an
Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed May 1st to December 1st
designated road and motorized trail system for portions of the Buffalo,
Jackson, and Big Piney Ranger Districts where cross-country motorized
use is currently allowed. This scoping proposal complies with the 2005
National Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Rule which requires all wheeled
motorized travel to occur on designated routes. The full text of the
proposal plus maps showing the proposed designated road and motorized
trail system are posted in the Bridger-Teton National Forest Web site
at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/btnf.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis are requested by
January 29, 2007. The draft environmental impact statement is expected
in September 2007 and the final environmental impact statement is
expected in January 2008.
[[Page 526]]
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to ``North Zone Travel Management'';
Bridger-Teton National Forest, PO Box 1689, Jackson, WY 83001. Comments
may also be faxed to (307) 739-5450. E-mail comments can be submitted
via a link for ``North Zone Travel Plan Revision'' on the Bridger-Teton
National Forest Web site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/btnf.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Wilkinson, North Zone Travel
Project, Bridger-Teton National Forest, PO Box 1689, Jackson, WY 83001
(307-739-5544).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
Off-highway vehicle (OHV) use within portions of the Bridger-Teton
National Forest is not being managed in a manner consistent with
current Forest Plan direction and the National OHV Rule, nor in a
manner that is consistent with land capability, public safety and
enjoyment by all Forest users. The current travel plan for the north
zone of the Bridger-Teton National Forest was developed in 1987 prior
to technological advances that transformed all-terrain vehicle (ATV)
and motorcycle use on public lands. Motorized use has a long history on
the Forest and is a legitimate use in appropriate places. However,
unmanaged OHV use has caused a proliferation of user-created trails
that are not sustainable, has damaged wet meadows, soils, and stream
channels, and results in wildlife disturbance. Additionally, unmanaged
OHV use has caused social problems such as disrupting hunting
opportunities, spooking horse riders creating potential safety
concerns, and disrupting grazing operations. By providing clear
direction on where motorized use is allowed via a designated OHV route
system, the potential for resource damage and violations can be reduced
while better serving public needs and improving the ability to maintain
roads and trails. With this in mind, the goal for this project is to
improve management of OHV use by identifying and analyzing changes
needed to the current system of Forest roads and motorized trails
within areas where motorized use is currently unrestricted. The
resulting designated road and trail system must comply with Forest Plan
direction and meet the following objectives: (1) Reduce resource
impacts, (2) provide a viable road and trail system to meet public
needs, and (3) improve the ability to enforce travel restictions and
maintain routes.
Proposed Action
To meet the project goal and objectives, changes are being proposed
to the current system of roads and motorized trails. No new roads or
motorized trails are proposed to be constructed. However, the proposal
does include adding some roads and motorized trails that exist on the
ground but are not currently part of the Forest Service system.
Likewise, some roads that currently are on the Forest Service system
are proposed to be closed or changed to allow only vehicles 50'' or
less in width. As the final designated road and trail system is
implemented, sections of road or motorized trails will need to be re-
constructed to improve sustainability and mitigate resource damage. The
proposed designated road and motorized trail system totals 404 miles
within the areas where motorized use is currently unrestricted. This is
roughly equivalent to the mileage that is currently on the Forest
Service system, however the proposal includes 37 more miles of
motorized trail and 46 fewer miles of road.
Responsible Official
Districts Rangers for the three ranger districts will be making the
decision about the designated road and motorized trail system on their
respective districts. Elizabeth Brann, District Ranger, Buffalo Ranger
District; PO Box 278; Moran, WY 83013. Nancy Hall, District Ranger,
Jackson Ranger District, PO Box 1689, Jackson, WY 83001. Greg Clark,
District Ranger, Big Piney Ranger District, PO Box 218, Big Piney, WY
83113.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
Based on the environmental analysis and public input, a decision
will be made whether or not to implement the proposed changes to the
road and motorized trail system or to implement an alternative. The
decision for the designated road and motorized trail system will be
displayed on a motor vehicle use map that conforms to a nationally
consistent format and is updated annually.
Scoping Process
The purpose of scoping is to invite your comments on this proposal.
Your comments will be used to identify significant issues so that
alternative proposals can be developed and analyzed. This process is
used to provide the best information possible to inform the public and
decision-makers about trade-offs associated with alternative ways to
meet the project purpose.
Preliminary Issues
The following preliminary issues have been identified. Other issues
raised during the public scoping process will also be addressed in the
EIS.
Effects on wildlife including threatened, endangered, and
sensitive species.
Effects on opportunities for quiet, non-motorized
recreation.
Effects on hunting opportunities.
Effects on opportunities for motorized recreation.
Effects on roadless areas.
Effects on wetlands, streambanks, and water quality.
Effects on soils, cultural resources, and vegetation.
Effects on management of the motorized system including
maintenance, signing, and enforcement.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. Information
about the project is posted on the Bridger-Teton National Forest Web
site at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/btnf. Large maps showing the proposed
designated road and motorized trail system are available at the
Supervisor's Office, at Ranger District Offices, and at the Teton
County Library in Jackson, Wyoming. Agency personnel are available to
meet with any interested individuals or groups about this project.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for
comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement
will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement may
be
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waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings,
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 45-day comment period so that
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to
them in the final environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal
and will be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21).
Dated: December 27, 2006.
Nancy Hall,
Jackson District Ranger.
[FR Doc. E6-22575 Filed 1-4-07; 8:45 am]
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