82 FR 45800 - Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests; Apache, Coconino, Greenlee and Navajo Counties, Arizona; Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Public Motorized Travel Management Plan
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 189 (October 2, 2017)
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 189 (October 2, 2017)
| Page Range | 45800-45802 | |
| FR Document | 2017-21009 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 189 (Monday, October 2, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 45800-45802] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-21009] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests; Apache, Coconino, Greenlee and Navajo Counties, Arizona; Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Public Motorized Travel Management Plan AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Revised Notice of Intent (NOI). ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Forest Service is revising the Environmental Impact Statement for the Public Motorized Travel Management Plan on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. DATES: Comments concerning the 2010 DEIS were received by December 13, 2010, 45 days from the date of publication of the Notice of Availabiliy (NOA) of the draft EIS in the Federal Register (75 FR 66756). An additional 45 day comment period will occur after the publication of the revised DEIS in the Federal Register. The revised DEIS is expected in the summer of 2018 and the final EIS is expected in the winter of 2019. [[Page 45801]] ADDRESSES: Send written inquiries to Travel Management, Apache- Sitgreaves National Forests, P.O. Box 640, Springerville, AZ 85938. Inquiries may also be sent via email to [email protected] with ``Travel Management'' in the subject line. Inquiries may also be sent via facsimile to (928) 333-5966. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennie O'Connor Card, Team Leader at (406) 522-2537 or [email protected]; or, Tim Gilloon, NEPA Program Manager at (928) 333-6333 or [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: : On October 10, 2007, the Federal Register published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Public Motorized Travel Management Plan on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (72 FR 57514-57517). On October 31, 2007, the Federal Register published a corrected NOI for that document (72 FR 61607). On February 29, 2008 the Federal Register published a revised NOI for those documents (73 FR 11088-11091). The Forest Service is hereby entirely revising all those NOI documents, Federal Register of October 10, 2007 (72 FR 57514-57517), Federal Register of October 31, 2007 (72 FR 61607) and Federal Register of February 29, 2008 (73 FR 11088-11091), to read as follows. Revision: The Forest Service is preparing a Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Apache-Sitgreaves Public Motorized Travel Management Plan (the Project) on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (the Forests). The Forest Service is issuing this NOI to advise the public and agencies that we will be preparing a revised DEIS using new information, based on changed conditions, in order to make the best possible decision. The new information includes: Changed conditions due to the Wallow Fire of 2011; the 2015 Land Management Plan for the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (the Forest Plan); changes in aquatic and terrestrial species status; more accurate road mapping based on Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) data and aerial photography; and Forest Service decisions made under the National Environmental Policy Act since the 2010 DEIS. The revised DEIS will use the 2010 DEIS as a foundation, and will consider all public comments received; the revised DEIS does not change the nature or scope of the proposed action. The Project proposes to designate which routes (roads and trails) and areas on federal lands administered by the Forests are open to motorized travel. This proposed action will bring the Forests into compliance with the Travel Management Rule (36 CFR 212, subpart B) to provide for a system of National Forest System (NFS) roads, motorized trails, and motorized areas designed for motor vehicle use. The proposed action prohibits cross-country travel and motor vehicle use off the designated system. This proposed action also will designate use of motor vehicles within a specified distance of certain designated routes for the purposes of dispersed camping and/or retrieval of a downed big game animal. The Forest Service will produce a Motorized Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) that displays those routes and areas on the Forests that are open to motorized travel. The MVUM will be the primary tool used to determine compliance and enforcement with motor vehicle use designations. Existing routes, unauthorized routes, and areas not designated as open on the MVUM will be legally closed to motorized travel except as allowed by permit or other authorization. The decisions on motorized travel do not include over-snow travel or existing winter-use recreation. Purpose and Need for Action The purpose of this project is to comply with the Travel Management Rule by providing a system of roads, trails, and areas designated for motor vehicle use that reduces impacts to biological, physical, and cultural resources on the forests (36 CFR 212, sections 212, 251, 261). At 36 CFR 261.13, the Forests are required to prohibit motor vehicle use off the system of designated roads, trails, and areas and motor vehicle use that is not in accordance with the designations. There is a need for a safe and efficient transportation system for public use, Agency administration, and resource protection, while recognizing historic and current uses of the forests. Specifically, there is a need for: (1) Identifying the system of roads that would be open to motor vehicle use; (2) identifying the system of motorized trails for vehicles 50 inches or less in width; and (3) optional designation of the limited use of motor vehicles within a specified distance of designated routes solely for the purposes of dispersed camping or retrieval of big game by an individual who has legally killed the animal. There is a need to counter detrimental effects to resources from continued use of some roads and motorized trails, as well as cross- country travel. Some detrimental effects from motorized use of the Forests include increased sediment deposits in streams which degrade water quality and fish habitat, the spread of invasive plants across the forests, disturbances to a variety of plant and wildlife species, and the risk of damaging cultural resource sites. Changed Conditions The changed conditions and new information since the 2010 DEIS, which lead to the need for a revised environmental analysis, are incorporated in the updated alternatives being considered in detail. The first substantive change stemmed from the Wallow Fire of 2011, which resulted in changes to the physical environment within the project area. The fire resulted in changes in the ecology of the landscape, creating a need to conduct significant restoration and monitoring efforts in order to return the Forests to its natural fire regime. The Forest Plan is another substantive change to the existing conditions. This has changed the desired conditions, standards and guidelines, and suitability directing how the Forests are managed. The Forest Plan provides overarching management direction for how motorized travel will be managed on the Forests. In addition, changes in aquatic and terrestrial species status under the Endangered Species Act for threatened and endangered species, and under Forest Service policy for sensitive species, resulted in another changed condition. Critical and sensitive habitats for some species can be found across the Forests which must now be considered and analyzed. Additionally, the Forests updated the existing conditions in the databases of record to match the on-the-ground conditions using LIDAR data and aerial photography. The result of this corrects or clarifies the existing physical NFS roads, changing the baseline of which the alternatives considered are compared against. Other decisions made under the National Environmental Policy Act since the 2010 draft EIS by the Forests changed the existing conditions and led to changes in the action alternatives. While the Project is proposing to look at the entire National Forest System of roads, numerous decisions about specific roads and trails have been made since 2010 that provide definitive environmental analysis and designation [[Page 45802]] for those roads and trails that does not require redundant analysis. Collectively, these changes will be analyzed and incorporated into the revised DEIS, which will be circulated for public comment. The previous public comments and analysis will be used as the foundation for this revision. At the time that the revised DEIS is circulated, the public will have the opportunity to comment on the entire DEIS, including portions that have not been revised. Preliminary Issues The Forest analyzed all scoping comments received in 2007 to identify issues, which are defined as cause-effect relationships directly or indirectly caused by implementing the proposed action. The issues defined as within the scope of the project, and directly or indirectly caused by implementing the proposal, were used to develop the range of action alternatives. Four issues were identified: (1) Restricting motorized access for dispersed camping; (2) restricting motorized big game retrieval; (3) impacts to resources from motorized use; and, (4) economics: loss of revenues and jobs. Proposed Action The revised proposed action would designate a system of roads, trails, and areas for motorized use as well as motorized access for dispersed camping and motorized access for big game retrieval. The road system would have 15 percent fewer roads and 68 percent more motorized trails than the current system. That would result in 2,890 miles of NFS roads open to public motorized travel, including 2,143 miles of roads that are open to both highway legal and off-highway vehicles. Also, this would result in 270 miles of motorized trails across the Forests, with 20 miles open to all vehicles and 182 miles open to vehicles less than 50 inches wide. The proposed action would designate 300 feet from either side of around 35 percent of the designated open roads (1,027 miles) for the sole purpose of accessing dispersed camping locations with motor vehicles. Motorized big game retrieval would be allowed within a 1-mile distance off the designated road and motorized trail system (1.2 million acres) for elk. No other species would be retrieved using motor vehicles. There would be one motorized use area designated (17 acres). All other cross country travel would be prohibited. Possible Alternatives The revised DEIS will analyze three alternatives in detail. These revised alternatives used the 2010 DEIS as a foundation and the public comments received from that DEIS. Alternative 1 (no action) represents the existing transportation system and proposes no changes. The existing system includes 3,418 miles of open roads and 127 miles of motorized trails. Cross-country travel off system roads on around 1.6 million acres would continue, except where currently prohibited. This alternative is not be compliant with the travel management rule because it does not designate a system of roads, trails and areas for motorized use. Alternative 2 is the Proposed Action, which would designate a system of roads, trails, and areas for motorized use as well as motorized access for dispersed camping and motorized access for big game retrieval. The road system would have 15 percent fewer roads and 68 percent more motorized trails than the current system. That would result in 2,890 miles of NFS roads open to public motorized travel, including 2,143 miles of roads that are open to both highway legal and off-highway vehicles. Alternative 3 is being designated to address the following issues: (1) Restricting motorized access for dispersed camping; (2) restricting motorized big game retrieval; and, (3) impacts to resources from motorized use. Scoping Process The proposed action outlined in this revised NOI is identical to the scope of the proposed action that was originally scoped, and therefore a new scoping period is not required. The original scoping process solicited over 20,000 public comments, which are being used to guide the development of the revised DEIS. 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 also be accepted and considered. Responsible Official The Responsible Official is the Forest Supervisor of the Apache- Sitgreaves National Forests, P.O. Box 640, Springerville, AZ 85938. Nature of Decision To Be Made Based on the effects to social, natural, and cultural resources, the Forest Supervisor will decide what changes to make to the current motorized travel system to be compliant with the Travel Management Rule. The decision will also include whether to provide motorized access for dispersed camping, whether to designate motorized use areas, and whether to provide access for motorized big game retrieval. The Record of Decision, which will be published after analyzing the public's comments, will document the decision with the rationale. Dated: September 15, 2017. Jeanne M. Higgins, Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System. [FR Doc. 2017-21009 Filed 9-29-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
![45800 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Notices
where fish-bearing would be the highest drainage structures and provide interdisciplinary team will continue to
priority followed by non-fish bearing adequate base to support motorized seek information and comments from
perennial streams (these would be OHV use, reduce erosion, and loss of Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribal
determined and prioritized based on fine materials. governments, and other individuals or
field review); replacing crossings on The Lolo Insect & Disease project will organizations that may interested in, or
perennial streams with structures also include a variety of project design affected by, the proposed action. There
appropriately sized for a 100-year event criteria that have been developed from is a collaborative group in the area that
(these would be prioritized by the past projects, verified by field surveys, the interdisciplinary team will interact
district fisheries biologist); and stabilize and will be used to limit possible with during the analysis process. It is
eroding sections of road that may be adverse effects to soils, water quality, important that reviewers provide their
accomplished by blading followed by fish and wildlife habitat, recreation comments at such times and in such
spot rocking or the addition of drainage opportunities, and culturally significant manner that they are useful to the
structures where needed. areas. agency’s preparation of the EIS.
• Road maintenance and Therefore, comments should be
reconditioning would occur on Possible Alternatives
provided prior to the close of the
approximately 157 miles of system In addition to the No Action and the comment period and should clearly
roads. Maintenance consist of culvert Proposed Action, alternatives that do articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
cleaning, surface blading, and roadside not harvest in riparian habitat contentions.
brushing; and reconditioning includes conservation areas, within the Eldorado Comments received in response to
minor road reshaping, waterbar Creek Roadless Area and special areas of this solicitation, including names and
removal, and road surface brush historic or tribal significance (such as addresses of those who comment, will
removal. the National Historic Landmark be part of the public record for this
• Road decommissioning is proposed corridor), as well as minimal temporary proposed action. Comments submitted
on approximately 60 miles of system road construction with more helicopter anonymously will be accepted and
road and approximately 30 miles of logging are expected. These preliminary considered, however, anonymous
non-system road. In most cases this alternatives were developed based on comments will not provide the Agency
includes fully re-contouring the road. prior scoping comments received. with the ability to provide the
• Approximately 4 miles of system Alternatives will be developed based on respondent with subsequent
roads would be converted to an off- previous and additional comments environmental documents.
highway vehicle (OHV) trail. received during the scoping periods.
• Approximately 0.74 miles of new Dated: September 13, 2017.
system roads would be constructed to Responsible Official Jeanne M. Higgins,
contribute to the long term Nez Perce-Clearwater Forest Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National
transportation system while reducing Supervisor. Forest System.
roads located within riparian habitat [FR Doc. 2017–21008 Filed 9–29–17; 8:45 am]
conservation areas. Nature of Decision To Be Made
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
The following actions are proposed to The Responsible Official will
improve soil and vegetation conditions determine whether to adopt the
in the Musselshell Restoration Area proposed action or another alternative, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
portion (1,600 acres) of the project area: in whole or in part, and what mitigation
• Approximately 745 acres of white measurements and management Forest Service
pine restoration would be accomplished requirements will be implemented.
through intermediate harvest by creating Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests;
small openings to plant blister rust Preliminary Issues Apache, Coconino, Greenlee and
resistant seedlings, benefit other Issues received during the previous Navajo Counties, Arizona; Revised
species, and contribute to ecosystem scoping period include harvesting in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement
health. Eldorado Creek Roadless Area, the for Public Motorized Travel
• Approximately 92 acres of riparian National Historic Landmark corridor, Management Plan
habitat conservation area (RHCA) and other special areas of historic or AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
restoration would occur where RHCAs tribal significance; riparian habitat
of perennial streams are overstocked conservation area thinning, helicopter ACTION: Revised Notice of Intent (NOI).
with trees. Trees would be logging systems, winter logging, and
commercially thinned to promote a SUMMARY: The Forest Service is revising
minimal road construction.
healthy stand and promote long term the Environmental Impact Statement for
RHCA function. Permits or Licenses Required the Public Motorized Travel
• Soil rehabilitation would occur on Any required permits for disturbance Management Plan on the Apache-
approximately 55 acres of currently of water or wetlands would be obtained Sitgreaves National Forests.
detrimentally disturbed areas associated prior to initiating work (Army Corps of DATES: Comments concerning the 2010
with past harvest related activities. Engineers 404 permit, Idaho Department DEIS were received by December 13,
Activities could include decompaction, of Water Resources Stream Alteration 2010, 45 days from the date of
mastication, fertilization, seeding, and Permit). Any additional mitigation publication of the Notice of Availabiliy
(NOA) of the draft EIS in the Federal
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
addition of woody/organic material. measures identified in the permitting
• Deferred maintenance would occur process would be incorporated into the Register (75 FR 66756). An additional
on mile of Trail #853. Work may project plans. 45 day comment period will occur after
include improvement and development the publication of the revised DEIS in
of drainage structures within the Scoping Process the Federal Register. The revised DEIS
existing tread. Rock and/or gravel This Notice of Intent initiates the is expected in the summer of 2018 and
material may be placed on the exiting scoping process, which guides the the final EIS is expected in the winter
tread surface to complement the development of the EIS. The of 2019.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:01 Sep 29, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM 02OCN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_45989/page/1.svg)
![45802 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 189 / Monday, October 2, 2017 / Notices
for those roads and trails that does not alternatives used the 2010 DEIS as a motorized access for dispersed camping,
require redundant analysis. foundation and the public comments whether to designate motorized use
Collectively, these changes will be received from that DEIS. areas, and whether to provide access for
analyzed and incorporated into the Alternative 1 (no action) represents motorized big game retrieval. The
revised DEIS, which will be circulated the existing transportation system and Record of Decision, which will be
for public comment. The previous proposes no changes. The existing published after analyzing the public’s
public comments and analysis will be system includes 3,418 miles of open comments, will document the decision
used as the foundation for this revision. roads and 127 miles of motorized trails. with the rationale.
At the time that the revised DEIS is Cross-country travel off system roads on Dated: September 15, 2017.
circulated, the public will have the around 1.6 million acres would
Jeanne M. Higgins,
opportunity to comment on the entire continue, except where currently
DEIS, including portions that have not Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National
prohibited. This alternative is not be
Forest System.
been revised. compliant with the travel management
[FR Doc. 2017–21009 Filed 9–29–17; 8:45 am]
Preliminary Issues rule because it does not designate a
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
system of roads, trails and areas for
The Forest analyzed all scoping motorized use.
comments received in 2007 to identify Alternative 2 is the Proposed Action,
issues, which are defined as cause-effect which would designate a system of DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
relationships directly or indirectly roads, trails, and areas for motorized use
caused by implementing the proposed Forest Service
as well as motorized access for
action. The issues defined as within the dispersed camping and motorized Kemmerer Ranger District; Bridger-
scope of the project, and directly or access for big game retrieval. The road Teton National Forest; Wyoming;
indirectly caused by implementing the system would have 15 percent fewer Kemmerer Grazing and Rangeland
proposal, were used to develop the roads and 68 percent more motorized Vegetation Management Project
range of action alternatives. Four issues trails than the current system. That
were identified: (1) Restricting would result in 2,890 miles of NFS AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
motorized access for dispersed camping; roads open to public motorized travel, ACTION: Revised Notice of Intent to
(2) restricting motorized big game including 2,143 miles of roads that are prepare an Environmental Impact
retrieval; (3) impacts to resources from open to both highway legal and off- Statement.
motorized use; and, (4) economics: loss highway vehicles.
of revenues and jobs. Alternative 3 is being designated to SUMMARY: The Bridger-Teton National
address the following issues: (1) Forest will prepare an Environmental
Proposed Action
Restricting motorized access for Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the
The revised proposed action would dispersed camping; (2) restricting effects of continued authorization of
designate a system of roads, trails, and motorized big game retrieval; and, (3) grazing on 17 sheep allotments on the
areas for motorized use as well as impacts to resources from motorized Kemmerer Ranger District in southwest
motorized access for dispersed camping use. Wyoming.
and motorized access for big game DATES: Although comments are accepted
retrieval. The road system would have Scoping Process
at any time, two designated comment
15 percent fewer roads and 68 percent The proposed action outlined in this periods concerning the scope of the
more motorized trails than the current revised NOI is identical to the scope of analysis were established: June 26, 2017
system. That would result in 2,890 the proposed action that was originally through July 26, 2017 and November 17,
miles of NFS roads open to public scoped, and therefore a new scoping 2008 through January 2, 2009.
motorized travel, including 2,143 miles period is not required. The original Comments will be accepted for an
of roads that are open to both highway scoping process solicited over 20,000 additional 30 days after October 2, 2017.
legal and off-highway vehicles. Also, public comments, which are being used The Draft EIS is expected in June 2018.
this would result in 270 miles of to guide the development of the revised Following its release, an opportunity to
motorized trails across the Forests, with DEIS. Comments received in response to comment on the Draft EIS will be
20 miles open to all vehicles and 182 this solicitation, including names and provided. The Final EIS is expected
miles open to vehicles less than 50 addresses of those who comment, will June 2019.
inches wide. be part of the public record for this
The proposed action would designate ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
proposed action. Comments submitted
300 feet from either side of around 35 anonymously will also be accepted and Kemmerer Ranger District, 308 U.S.
percent of the designated open roads considered. Highway 189 North, Kemmerer, WY
(1,027 miles) for the sole purpose of 83101. Comments may also be sent via
accessing dispersed camping locations Responsible Official email to comments-intermtn-bridger-
with motor vehicles. Motorized big The Responsible Official is the Forest teton-kemmerer@fs.fed.us, or via
game retrieval would be allowed within Supervisor of the Apache-Sitgreaves facsimile to 307–828–5135. Please put
a 1-mile distance off the designated road National Forests, P.O. Box 640, ‘‘Comments on Kemmerer Grazing’’ in
and motorized trail system (1.2 million Springerville, AZ 85938. the subject line.
acres) for elk. No other species would be It is important that reviewers provide
Nature of Decision To Be Made their comments at such times and in
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
retrieved using motor vehicles. There
would be one motorized use area Based on the effects to social, natural, such a way that they are useful to the
designated (17 acres). All other cross and cultural resources, the Forest Agency’s preparation of the EIS.
country travel would be prohibited. Supervisor will decide what changes to Therefore, comments should be
make to the current motorized travel provided prior to the close of the
Possible Alternatives system to be compliant with the Travel comment period and should clearly
The revised DEIS will analyze three Management Rule. The decision will articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
alternatives in detail. These revised also include whether to provide contentions.
VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:01 Sep 29, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM 02OCN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_45989/page/3.svg)
Document Created: 2017-09-30 04:40:34
Document Modified: 2017-09-30 04:40:34
| 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 | Revised Notice of Intent (NOI). | |
| Dates | Comments concerning the 2010 DEIS were received by December 13, 2010, 45 days from the date of publication of the Notice of Availabiliy (NOA) of the draft EIS in the Federal Register (75 FR 66756). An additional 45 day comment period will occur after the publication of the revised DEIS in the Federal Register. The revised DEIS is expected in the summer of 2018 and the final EIS is expected in the winter of 2019. | |
| Contact | Jennie O'Connor Card, Team Leader at (406) 522-2537 or [email protected]; or, Tim Gilloon, NEPA Program Manager at (928) 333-6333 or [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 45800 |
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR