[Federal Register: November 26, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 229)]
[Notices]
[Page 72023-72025]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26no08-45]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest; California and Nevada;
Bridgeport Ranger District Travel Management
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest will prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement to disclose the impacts associated with
the following proposed actions:
Restricting motor vehicles to designated roads and trails,
consistent with the national travel management rule.
Changes to the forest transportation system, including the
recognition and designation of certain user-created routes for motor
vehicle use.
The Ranger District currently manages about 1500 miles of
motor vehicle routes for public use. The proposed action would
recognize and adopt an additional 300 additional miles of existing
informal (user-created) roads and trails. Most of these have been in
existence for many years, but have not been recognized as a part of the
forest transportation system.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
within 30 days from the date this Notice of Intent is published in the
Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Travel Management Team, Bridgeport
Ranger District, HCR1, Box 1000, Bridgeport, CA 93517. E-mail comments
may be submitted to comments-intermtn-humboldt-toiyabe-
bridgeport@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Loomis, Humboldt Toiyabe
National Forest, 1536 S. Carson St. Carson City, NV 89701. Phone: 775-
882-2766.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Over the past few decades, the availability and capability of
motorized vehicles, particularly off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and sport
utility vehicles (SUVs) has increased tremendously. Nationally, the
number of OHV users has climbed sevenfold in the past 30 years, from
approximately 5 million in 1972 to 36 million in 2000.
Unmanaged OHV use has resulted in unplanned roads and trails,
erosion, watershed and habitat degradation, and impacts to cultural
resource sites. Compaction and erosion are the primary effects of OHV
use on soils. Riparian areas and aquatic dependent species are
particularly vulnerable to OHV use. Unmanaged recreation, including
impacts from OHVs, is one of ``Four Key Threats Facing the Nation's
Forests and Grasslands.'' (USDA Forest Service, June 2004).
[[Page 72024]]
On November 9, 2005, the Forest Service published final travel
management regulations in the Federal Register (FR Vol. 70, No. 216--
Nov. 9, 2005, pp 68264-68291). This final Travel Management Rule
requires designation of those roads, trails, and areas that are open to
motor vehicle use on National Forests. Designations will be made by
class of vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of year. The final rule
prohibits the use of motor vehicles off the designated system as well
as use of motor vehicles on routes and in areas that are not
designated.
On some NFS lands, long managed as open to cross-country motor
vehicle travel, repeated use has resulted in unplanned, unauthorized,
roads and trails. These routes generally developed without
environmental analysis or public involvement, and do not have the same
status as NFS roads and NFS trails included in the forest
transportation system. Nevertheless, some unauthorized routes are well-
sited, provide excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation by
motorized and non-motorized users, and would enhance the National
Forest system of designated roads, trails and areas. Other unauthorized
routes are poorly located and cause unacceptable impacts. Only NFS
roads and NFS trails can be designated for motorized vehicle use. In
order for an unauthorized route to be designated, it must first be
added to the national forest transportation system (NFTS).
The Bridgeport Ranger District recently completed an inventory of
unauthorized routes on NFS lands and identified approximately 800 miles
of unauthorized routes. The Bridgeport Ranger District then used an
interdiscipliary process to conduct travel analysis that included
working with the public to determine whether any of the unauthorized
routes should be proposed for addition to the Bridgeport Ranger
District transportation system in this proposed action. Travel analysis
developed a number of routes which could be considered in this or
future decisions on the NFTS as a part of travel management on the
Bridgeport Ranger District. Roads, trails and areas that are currently
part of the Bridgeport Ranger District transportation system and are
open to motorized vehicle travel will remain designated for such use
except as described below under Proposed Action. This proposal focuses
only on the prohibition of motorized vehicle travel off designated
routes and needed changes to the Bridgeport Ranger District
transportation system, including the addition of some user-created
routes to the Bridgeport Ranger District transportation. The proposed
action is being carried forward in accordance with the Travel
Management Rule (36 CFR Part 212).
Purpose and Need for Action
There is a need for regulation of unmanaged motorized vehicle
travel by the public. Currently, motorized vehicle travel by the public
is not prohibited off designated routes in much of the Ranger District.
In their enjoyment of the National Forest, motorized vehicle users have
created numerous unauthorized routes. The number of such routes
continues to grow each year with many routes having environmental
impacts and safety concerns that have not been addressed. The Travel
Management Rule, 36 CFR Part 212, provides policy for ending this trend
of unauthorized route proliferation and managing the Forest
transportation system in a sustainable manner through designation of
motorized NFS roads, trails and areas, and the prohibition of cross-
country travel. There is a need for limited changes and additions to
the Bridgeport Ranger District transportation system to provide
motorized access to dispersed recreation opportunities (camping,
hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, etc.) and to provide for a
diversity of motorized recreation opportunities (4x4 Vehicles,
motorcyles, ATVs, passenger vehicles, etc.).
It is Forest Service policy to provide a diversity of road and
trail opportunities for experiencing a variety of environments and
modes of travel consistent with the National Forest recreation role and
land capability (FSM 2353.03(2)). In meeting these needs the proposed
action must also achieve the following purposes:
Avoid impacts to cultural resources.
Provide for public safety.
Provide for a diversity of recreational opportunities.
Assure adequate access to public and private lands.
Provide for adequate maintenance and administration of
designations based on availability of resources and funding to do so.
Minimize damage to soil, vegetation and other forest
resources.
Avoid harassment of wildlife and significant disruption of
wildlife habitat.
Minimize conflicts between motor vehicles and existing or
proposed recreational uses of NFS lands.
Minimize conflicts among different classes of motor
vehicle uses of NFS lands or neighboring federal lands.
Assure compatibility of motor vehicle use with existing
conditions in populated areas, taking into account sound, emissions,
etc.
Have valid existing rights of use and access (rights-of-
way).
Proposed Action
The proposed action would restrict motor vehicles to designated
roads and trails, consistent with the national travel management rule;
and change the forest transportation system, including the recognition
and designation of certain user-created routes for motor vehicle use.
The Ranger District currently manages about 1500 miles of motor
vehicle routes for public use. Motor vehicles will continue to be
welcome on these roads and trails. The proposed action would recognize
and adopt an additional 300 additional miles of existing informal
(user-created) roads and trails. Most of these have been in existence
for many years, but have not been recognized as a part of the forest
transportation system. Maps and tables describing the proposed action
can found at http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf/projects/#bridgeport. In
addition, maps will be available for viewing at the Bridgeport Ranger
District.
Responsible Official
Cheryl Probert, District Ranger, Bridgeport Ranger District, HCR1,
Box 1000, Bridgeport, CA 93517.
Scoping Process
The first formal opportunity to comment on the Bridgeport Ranger
District Travel Management Project is during the scoping process (40
CFR 1501.7), which begins with the issuance of this Notice of Intent.
All comments, including the names, addresses and when provided, will be
placed in the record and are available for public inspection. The
Forest Service is seeking comments from individuals, organizations, and
local, state, and Federal agencies that may be interested in or
affected by the proposed action. Comments may pertain to the nature and
scope of the environmental, social, and economic issues, and possible
alternatives related to the development of the travel management plan
and EIS.
A series of public open houses are scheduled to explain the
proposed travel plan and route designation process and to provide an
opportunity for public input.
Hawthorne, Nevada: December 8, 4-6 p.m. Mineral County
Public Library. 1st and A St., Hawthorne, NV.
Bridgeport, California: December 9, 4-6 p.m. Memorial
Hall, 100 Sinclair St., Bridgeport, CA.
[[Page 72025]]
Smith Valley, Nevada: December 10, 6-8 p.m. Smith Valley
High School Multi Purpose Room, 20 Day Lane, Smith, NV.
Times, dates and locations will also be posted through local public
notice and on the project Web page at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/htnf.
Written comments will be accepted at these meetings.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's
concerns and contentions. The submission of timely and specific
comments can affect a reviewer's ability to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review.
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 will not provide
the respondent with standing to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review.
Dated: November 13, 2008.
Cheryl Probert,
Bridgeport District Ranger.
[FR Doc. E8-28142 Filed 11-25-08; 8:45 am]
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