81 FR 65624 - White River National Forest; Eagle County, CO; Berlaimont Estates Access Route EIS

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 185 (September 23, 2016)

Page Range		65624-65625
FR Document		2016-22924

Berlaimont Estates LLC (Berlaimont) owns a 680-acre private inholding completely within the White River National Forest (WRNF) to the north of Interstate 70 in the vicinity of Edwards, Colorado. Berlaimont desires to develop the property as 19 individual residential lots. Currently, the subject property may be accessed by National Forest System Roads (NFSR) 774 and 780, which connect to the southeastern corner of the horseshoe-shaped subject property. Beyond the southeastern corner, NFSR 780 connects to the southwestern corner of the property and NFSR 783 connects to the northwestern corner and northern areas of the property from the west side. Additionally, the northern portion of the property may be accessed via NFSR 778 running up Berry Creek which connects with NFSR 783 providing access into the northern portion of the property from the east. All NFSR's in this area are currently low development, native surfaced roads. Berlaimont has applied for an easement to construct, improve, utilize, and maintain road segments across the National Forest System (NFS) lands in support of their desired development of their property. Specifically, Berlaimont is proposing to improve segments of the existing NFSR 774 and NFSR 780, as well as construct a new road segment across additional NFS lands in order to more directly access the northern portion of their property. Their proposed improvements would consist of constructing a paved asphalt road with a gravel shoulder, vehicle turnouts, retaining walls, traffic signs, guardrails, erosion control facilities, and drainage facilities. The Forest Service will be analyzing this proposal along with a wider range of potential alternatives.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 185 (Friday, September 23, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 185 (Friday, September 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65624-65625]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22924]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


White River National Forest; Eagle County, CO; Berlaimont Estates 
Access Route EIS

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Berlaimont Estates LLC (Berlaimont) owns a 680-acre private 
inholding completely within the White River National Forest (WRNF) to 
the north of Interstate 70 in the vicinity of Edwards, Colorado. 
Berlaimont desires to develop the property as 19 individual residential 
lots. Currently, the subject property may be accessed by National 
Forest System Roads (NFSR) 774 and 780, which connect to the 
southeastern corner of the horseshoe-shaped subject property. Beyond 
the southeastern corner, NFSR 780 connects to the southwestern corner 
of the property and NFSR 783 connects to the northwestern corner and 
northern areas of the property from the west side. Additionally, the 
northern portion of the property may be accessed via NFSR 778 running 
up Berry Creek which connects with NFSR 783 providing access into the 
northern portion of the property from the east. All NFSR's in this area 
are currently low development, native surfaced roads.
    Berlaimont has applied for an easement to construct, improve, 
utilize, and maintain road segments across the National Forest System 
(NFS) lands in support of their desired development of their property. 
Specifically, Berlaimont is proposing to improve segments of the 
existing NFSR 774 and NFSR 780, as well as construct a new road segment 
across additional NFS lands in order to more directly access the 
northern portion of their property. Their proposed improvements would 
consist of constructing a paved asphalt road with a gravel shoulder, 
vehicle turnouts, retaining walls, traffic signs, guardrails, erosion 
control facilities, and drainage facilities. The Forest Service will be 
analyzing this proposal along with a wider range of potential 
alternatives.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by November 7, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected to be available for public review March 2017 and the final 
environmental impact statement is expected June 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Scott Fitzwilliams, Forest 
Supervisor, c/o Matt Klein, Realty Specialist, White River National 
Forest, P.O. Box 190, Minturn, CO 81645. Comments may also be sent via 
email to [email protected] (include ``Berlaimont Estate Access 
Route EIS'' in the subject line), electronically at https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=50041, or 
via facsimile to (970) 827-9343.
    All comments, including names and addresses when provided, are 
placed in the record and are available for public inspection and 
copying. The public may inspect comments received at the Holy Cross 
Ranger Station, 24747 U.S. Highway 24, Minturn, CO 81645. Visitors are 
encouraged to call ahead to (970) 827-5715 to facilitate entry into the 
building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information related to the 
project can be obtained from the project Web page: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=50041 or by contacting 
Matt Klein, Realty Specialist, Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District, 24747 
U.S. Hwy 24, P.O. Box 190, Minturn, Colorado 81645. Mr. Klein can be 
reached by phone at (970) 827-5182 or by email at 
[email protected].
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information 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

    The purpose of the proposed project is to provide an improved road 
to Berlaimont's private property.
    The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) 
directs the Forest Service to provide adequate access to inholdings 
fully contained within national forest lands. The need for the proposed 
project is that Berlaimont desires to develop single family residences 
on their property. The current maintenance level and condition of the 
existing NSFRs are not at the level desired by Berlaimont to meet their 
full objectives. Determination of the level of adequate access under 
ANILCA is not done through a NEPA analysis; however, the effects of 
issuing an easement to provide adequate access do need to be analyzed. 
The level of use and development granted through a Record of Decision 
may equal or exceed the level that shall be identified through the 
separate ANILCA determination.

Proposed Action

    The Proposed Action is to grant an easement to Berlaimont to 
improve, utilize, and maintain segments of the existing NFSR 774 and 
NFSR 780, to the southeastern corner of the property only.
    Amendment to the WRNF Land and Resource Management Plan--For this 
project, a Forest Plan amendment may be necessary because the proposed 
action and some possible alternatives may not be consistent with the 
prescribed standards and guidelines for Management Area 5.41 (Deer and 
Elk Winter Range).

Possible Alternatives

    An alternative will also be analyzed that includes the proposed 
action with the addition of constructing, utilizing, and maintaining a 
new road segment across NFS lands in order to access the northern 
portion of the property. Further alternatives may include improving 
other sections of NFSR's 780, 783 or 778 to the northern portion of the 
property.

Responsible Official

    The Responsible Official is Mr. Scott Fitzwilliams, Forest 
Supervisor, c/o Matt Klein, Realty Specialist, White River National 
Forest, P.O. Box 190, Minturn, CO 81645.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    Based on the analysis that will be documented in the forthcoming 
EIS, the Responsible Official will decide whether or not to implement, 
in whole or in part, the Proposed Action or another alternative that 
may be developed by the Forest Service as a result of scoping.

Preliminary Issues

    The proposed road improvement may have an impact on:
    Wildlife--The area of NFS lands surrounding the property is 
identified in the WRNF's Land and Resource Management Plan as deer and 
elk winter range managed to provide adequate amounts of quality forage, 
cover and solitude.
    Visual Resource Management--Each alternative road alignment and 
degree of improvement (streetlamps, for example) may affect the visual 
aesthetics of the north Edwards viewshed from either the valley floor 
or the north-facing hillsides on the opposite side of the valley.
    Soils--Road design and construction could present both short-term

[[Page 65625]]

(construction) and long-term (operation and use) effects on soil 
stability and erosion prevention.
    Water Quailty--As with the potential soil impacts described above, 
road construction and use could alter runoff patterns for stormwater 
and snowmelt in such a way as to potentially effect water quality of 
nearby creeks and streams through sedimentation and turbidity or the 
introduction of foreign chemicals.
    Outdoor Recreation/Public Access--NFSR 774 is a popular route with 
the public for accessing the Red and White Mountain area. This route is 
a point of entry for a multitude of recreational activities, including 
hiking, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, OHV riding, hunting, and 
snowmobile riding. NFSR's 778, 780 and 783 provide public access into 
the areas completely surrounding Berlaimont's private land. Use of any 
of these routes by Berlaimont residents and guests could increase user 
conflicts with WRNF visitors. Phyiscal improvments to the roadway could 
be benficial to some types of recreational activities, while 
simultaneously having a determential effect on others.
    Grazing--The NFS lands surrounding the subject property are 
currently used as an active grazing allotment for up to 2,900 sheep.

Permits or Licenses Required

    This Proposed Action considers the issuance of a road easement from 
the Forest Service to Berlaimont under the authority of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA).

Scoping Process

    This Notice of Intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Forest 
Service is soliciting comments from Federal, State and local agencies 
and other individuals or organizations that may be interested in or 
affected by implementation of the proposed project. Public questions 
and comments regarding this proposal are an integral part of this 
environmental analysis process. Input provided by interested and/or 
affected individuals, organizations and governmental agencies will be 
used to identify alternative actions and resource issues that will be 
analyzed in the EIS. The Forest Service will identify significant 
issues raised during the scoping process, and use them to formulate 
alternatives, prescribe mitigation measures and project design 
features, or analyze environmental effects.
    A public open house meeting was held on Wednesday, September 7th, 
2016 in Edwards, CO to inform the public and help to shape this 
proposal.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such manner 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.
    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 those comments will not provide the 
commenter with standing to appeal the subsequent decision.
    There will be an additional opportunity to comment when the Notice 
of Availability of the Draft EIS is published in the Federal Register. 
It is anticipated that another public meeting will be held at that time 
to discuss the Draft EIS. For objection eligibility, each individual or 
representative from each entity submitting written comments must either 
sign the comment or verify identity upon request. Individuals and 
organizations wishing to be eligible to object must meet the 
information requirements in 36 CFR 218.25(a)(3).

    Dated: September 19, 2016.
Scott Fitzwilliams,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2016-22924 Filed 9-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

65624 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 185 / Friday, September 23, 2016 / Notices

Dated: September 14, 2016. environmental impact statement is and development granted through a
William Avey, expected to be available for public Record of Decision may equal or exceed
Forest Supervisor, Helena-Lewis and Clark review March 2017 and the final the level that shall be identified through
National Forest. environmental impact statement is the separate ANILCA determination.
[FR Doc. 2016–22780 Filed 9–22–16; 8:45 am] expected June 2017. Proposed Action
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Scott Fitzwilliams, Forest Supervisor, The Proposed Action is to grant an
c/o Matt Klein, Realty Specialist, White easement to Berlaimont to improve,
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE River National Forest, P.O. Box 190, utilize, and maintain segments of the
Minturn, CO 81645. Comments may also existing NFSR 774 and NFSR 780, to the
Forest Service be sent via email to matthewklein@ southeastern corner of the property
fs.fed.us (include ‘‘Berlaimont Estate only.
White River National Forest; Eagle Amendment to the WRNF Land and
Access Route EIS’’ in the subject line),
County, CO; Berlaimont Estates Resource Management Plan—For this
electronically at https://cara.ecosystem-
Access Route EIS project, a Forest Plan amendment may
management.org/Public//
be necessary because the proposed
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. CommentInput?Project=50041, or via action and some possible alternatives
ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare an facsimile to (970) 827–9343. may not be consistent with the
environmental impact statement. All comments, including names and
prescribed standards and guidelines for
addresses when provided, are placed in
Management Area 5.41 (Deer and Elk
SUMMARY: Berlaimont Estates LLC the record and are available for public
Winter Range).
(Berlaimont) owns a 680-acre private inspection and copying. The public may
inholding completely within the White inspect comments received at the Holy Possible Alternatives
River National Forest (WRNF) to the Cross Ranger Station, 24747 U.S. An alternative will also be analyzed
north of Interstate 70 in the vicinity of Highway 24, Minturn, CO 81645. that includes the proposed action with
Edwards, Colorado. Berlaimont desires Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to the addition of constructing, utilizing,
to develop the property as 19 individual (970) 827–5715 to facilitate entry into and maintaining a new road segment
residential lots. Currently, the subject the building. across NFS lands in order to access the
property may be accessed by National FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: northern portion of the property.
Forest System Roads (NFSR) 774 and Additional information related to the Further alternatives may include
780, which connect to the southeastern project can be obtained from the project improving other sections of NFSR’s 780,
corner of the horseshoe-shaped subject Web page: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/ 783 or 778 to the northern portion of the
property. Beyond the southeastern nepa_project_exp.php?project=50041 or property.
corner, NFSR 780 connects to the by contacting Matt Klein, Realty
southwestern corner of the property and Responsible Official
Specialist, Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger
NFSR 783 connects to the northwestern District, 24747 U.S. Hwy 24, P.O. Box The Responsible Official is Mr. Scott
corner and northern areas of the 190, Minturn, Colorado 81645. Mr. Fitzwilliams, Forest Supervisor, c/o
property from the west side. Klein can be reached by phone at (970) Matt Klein, Realty Specialist, White
Additionally, the northern portion of 827–5182 or by email at matthewklein@ River National Forest, P.O. Box 190,
the property may be accessed via NFSR fs.fed.us. Minturn, CO 81645.
778 running up Berry Creek which Individuals who use Nature of Decision To Be Made
connects with NFSR 783 providing telecommunication devices for the deaf
access into the northern portion of the (TDD) may call the Federal Information Based on the analysis that will be
property from the east. All NFSR’s in Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 documented in the forthcoming EIS, the
this area are currently low development, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Responsible Official will decide
native surfaced roads. Time, Monday through Friday. whether or not to implement, in whole
Berlaimont has applied for an or in part, the Proposed Action or
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
easement to construct, improve, utilize, another alternative that may be
and maintain road segments across the Purpose and Need for Action developed by the Forest Service as a
National Forest System (NFS) lands in result of scoping.
The purpose of the proposed project
support of their desired development of is to provide an improved road to Preliminary Issues
their property. Specifically, Berlaimont Berlaimont’s private property. The proposed road improvement may
is proposing to improve segments of the The Alaska National Interest Lands have an impact on:
existing NFSR 774 and NFSR 780, as Conservation Act (ANILCA) directs the Wildlife—The area of NFS lands
well as construct a new road segment Forest Service to provide adequate surrounding the property is identified in
across additional NFS lands in order to access to inholdings fully contained the WRNF’s Land and Resource
more directly access the northern within national forest lands. The need Management Plan as deer and elk winter
portion of their property. Their for the proposed project is that range managed to provide adequate
proposed improvements would consist Berlaimont desires to develop single amounts of quality forage, cover and
of constructing a paved asphalt road family residences on their property. The solitude.
with a gravel shoulder, vehicle turnouts, current maintenance level and Visual Resource Management—Each
retaining walls, traffic signs, guardrails, condition of the existing NSFRs are not
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

alternative road alignment and degree of
erosion control facilities, and drainage at the level desired by Berlaimont to improvement (streetlamps, for example)
facilities. The Forest Service will be meet their full objectives. Determination may affect the visual aesthetics of the
analyzing this proposal along with a of the level of adequate access under north Edwards viewshed from either the
wider range of potential alternatives. ANILCA is not done through a NEPA valley floor or the north-facing hillsides
DATES: Comments concerning the scope analysis; however, the effects of issuing on the opposite side of the valley.
of the analysis must be received by an easement to provide adequate access Soils—Road design and construction
November 7, 2016. The draft do need to be analyzed. The level of use could present both short-term

VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:22 Sep 22, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM 23SEN1

Document Created: 2016-09-23 01:43:57
Document Modified: 2016-09-23 01:43:57

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
Dates		Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received by November 7, 2016. The draft environmental impact statement is expected to be available for public review March 2017 and the final environmental impact statement is expected June 2017.
Contact		Additional information related to the project can be obtained from the project Web page: http:// www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=50041 or by contacting Matt Klein, Realty Specialist, Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District, 24747 U.S. Hwy 24, P.O. Box 190, Minturn, Colorado 81645. Mr. Klein can be reached by phone at (970) 827-5182 or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 65624

81 FR 65624 - White River National Forest; Eagle County, CO; Berlaimont Estates Access Route EIS

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREForest Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 185 (September 23, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service