83 FR 25472 - Notice of Availability of the Bog Creek Road Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 106 (June 1, 2018)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 106 (June 1, 2018)
| Page Range | 25472-25475 | |
| FR Document | 2018-11766 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 25472-25475] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-11766] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY U.S. Customs and Border Protection DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Notice of Availability of the Bog Creek Road Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture. ACTION: Notice of availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement concerning the repair and maintenance of Bog Creek Road and closure of certain roads within the Blue-Grass Bear Management Unit in the Selkirk Mountains in Boundary County, Idaho; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) Idaho Panhandle National Forests (IPNF) announce the availability of the Bog Creek Road Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for public review. The Draft EIS identifies and assesses potential impacts upon the environment of: Repairing and maintaining an approximately 5.6-mile section of the existing Bog Creek Road, which is located in the Selkirk Mountains in Boundary County, Idaho, within approximately two miles of the Canadian border, on land within the Blue-Grass Bear Management Unit (BMU) that is managed by the Forest Service; and closing for motorized use additional roads within the Blue-Grass BMU to comply with the Forest Plan Amendments for Motorized Access Management within the Selkirk and Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear Recovery Zones and to reduce road density in the Blue-Grass BMU. This notice initiates the public review process for the Draft EIS. This process is conducted pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the President's Council on Environmental Quality regulations for Implementing the NEPA, and CBP and Forest Service NEPA guidelines. The purpose of the public review process is to solicit public comments regarding the Draft EIS. Additionally, this notice, in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, will allow members of the general public to provide comments to CBP and the Forest Service regarding whether the Proposed Action may have any potential impacts on any historic resources. DATES: For Comments: To ensure consideration, comments must be received by July 16, 2018. Comments may be submitted as set forth in the ADDRESSES section of this document. For Public Open Houses: Public open houses will be held at the following times:Priest Lake, Idaho: June 19, 2018, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sandpoint, Idaho: June 20, 2018, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Bonners Ferry, Idaho: June 21, 2018, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. ADDRESSES: For Obtaining Copies of the Draft EIS: Electronic copies of the Draft EIS are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=41296 and https://www.cbp.gov/document/environmental-assessments/bog-creek-road-project-environmental-impact-statement. CD-ROM and print copies are available by sending a request to Paul Enriquez at [email protected] or 949-643-6365 or at the following Forest Service locations: The IPNF Supervisors Office, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; Sandpoint Ranger District, 1602 Ontario Street, Sandpoint, Idaho; Bonners Ferry Ranger District, 6286 Main Street, Bonners Ferry, Idaho; and Priest Lake Ranger District, 32203 Highway 57, Priest River, Idaho. For Submitting Comments: You may submit written comments on the Draft EIS during the 45-day comment period by mail or email, or by attending a public open house. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for information on the public comment process. Please submit your written comments using one of the following methods: Mail: Bog Creek Road EIS, P.O. Box 643, Flagstaff, Arizona 86002-0643; Email: [email protected]; Hand delivered to any of the Forest Service locations where CD-ROM and print copies of the Draft EIS are available; or FAX: 208-765-7426. For Public Open Houses: Public open houses will be held at the following locations: Priest Lake, Idaho: Priest Lake Ranger District--32203 Highway 57, Priest River, Idaho; Sandpoint, Idaho: Sandpoint Ranger District--1602 Ontario Street, Sandpoint, Idaho; Bonners Ferry, Idaho: Bonners Ferry Ranger District--6286 Main Street, Bonners Ferry, Idaho. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Enriquez, CBP, Border Patrol and Air and Marine Program Management Office, by telephone at 949-643-6365, or email at [email protected]. Persons who require assistance accessing information, please contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Target Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed Action U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) Idaho Panhandle National Forests (IPNF) (collectively the Agencies) are proposing a road repair, maintenance, and motorized closure project in the Continental Mountain area of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests within the Bonners Ferry and Priest Lake Ranger Districts. The project has two objectives: (1) To provide safe east-west access for administrative use (as explained below) to this section of the U.S.-Canada border across the Selkirk Mountains, and (2) to meet grizzly bear motorized access standards within the Blue-Grass BMU of the Selkirk Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone in order to comply with the Forest Plan Amendments for Motorized Access Management within the Selkirk and Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear Recovery Zones (Access Amendment). The Bog Creek Road Project Draft EIS has been prepared to identify and assess potential impacts from the Proposed Action on the environment. The [[Page 25473]] Proposed Action was developed through collaborative efforts between CBP, the Forest Service, and the public, and was designed to meet the goals and objectives established for the project while meeting as many other resource needs as possible. The Proposed Action consists of three components: (1) Road repair and maintenance of Bog Creek Road and change in motorized use designation; (2) change in motorized use designation for Blue Joe Creek Road; and (3) motorized closure of selected seasonally restricted Forest Service roads. The Proposed Action is described below. The first component is the repair and maintenance of an approximately 5.6-mile section of Bog Creek Road (Forest Service Road [FSR] 1013), which would be conducted to allow the road to meet Forest Service road maintenance level 2 standards and would generally allow access for high-clearance vehicles. Maintenance level 2 roads are described in Forest Service Handbook 7709.58. Bog Creek Road is currently designated as a seasonally restricted road. Motorized use by the Forest Service, CBP, law enforcement, and other administrative agencies is permitted between April 1 and November 15 (active bear year) but is limited to 57 administrative vehicle round trips per active bear year. After road repair activities, the road designation would change to administrative open (as-needed administrative motorized access). Under the administrative open road designation, Bog Creek Road would be open to as-needed administrative motorized access but not open to the public for motorized travel. Repair and maintenance would consist of grading and resurfacing areas of the road that have been heavily eroded by surface water flows, filling potholes, and removing protruding boulders. Repair would also include installation of six new culverts and replacement of six of the existing 67 corrugated metal pipe culverts located along the length of the roadway because they have partially rusted through, otherwise exceeded their usable life, or do not meet current design standards for width and capacity. The most intensive repair would occur at Spread Creek, where a culvert failure and road washout have made the road completely impassable. The road would not be widened, but limited areas that no longer meet minimum width requirements may require cut and fill work to achieve the desired road operating and safety standards. Trees and other vegetation within the roadway and to either side would be grubbed or cut back to facilitate safe vehicle passage. The second component is the change in motorized designation of Blue Joe Creek Road (FSR 2546). Blue Joe Creek Road extends from the eastern terminus of the Bog Creek Road, running 7.4 miles alongside Blue Joe Creek, to the Continental Mine property. Blue Joe Creek Road is currently designated as seasonally restricted, and motorized access is limited to 57 vehicle round trips per active bear year. Under the Proposed Action, the current seasonal restrictions that limit the number of motorized administrative trips along Blue Joe Creek Road would be removed. The road would be designated as administrative open, which would allow for as-needed administrative motorized trips. This change in designation, when combined with the Bog Creek Road designation change, would allow for administrative trips by private property owners to access their property within the Blue-Grass BMU. The final component is the motorized closure of selected seasonally restricted Forest Service roads. Under the Proposed Action, approximately 26 miles of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads would be closed to all wheeled motorized use within the Blue-Grass BMU. Closing the roads would allow the Forest Service to meet the requirements of at least 55 percent of the BMU as core area habitat, and no more than 26 percent of the BMU having a total motorized route density (TMRD) greater than 2 miles per square mile, as specified in the Access Amendment. The means by which motorized road closure would take place would vary by site and would include both decommissioning and long-term storage. Decommissioning involves permanently removing a road from the Forest Service transportation system. Long-term storage involves rendering a road undrivable. Roads stored for creation of grizzly bear core habitat would remain stored for a minimum of ten years. On-the-ground road work is typically the same or very similar for decommissioning and long-term storage, as both are intended to prevent future failures and erosion hazards. Both methods may involve one or a combination of the following treatments: Fully or partially recontouring the road prism, ripping the road surface, removing culverts and recontouring stream crossings, planting and seeding, mulching, or slashing disturbed areas. All roads proposed for motorized closure under the Proposed Action are currently classified as seasonally restricted Forest Service roads. Administrative motorized use of these roads is permitted between April 1 and November 15; non-motorized public access on these roads is permitted year-round. Alternatives The Agencies developed alternatives to the Proposed Action described above and disclose the environmental impacts of these alternatives in the Draft EIS. In addition to the No-Action Alternative (Alternative 1) and the Proposed Action (Alternative 2), there are two other action alternatives analyzed: Modified Proposed Action (Alternative 3) and Blue-Grass BMU West-East Open Access (Alternative 4). The No-Action Alternative (Alternative 1) represents the effects of not implementing the proposed repair and maintenance of Bog Creek Road and motorized closure of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads, while taking into account the effects of other past, ongoing, and reasonably foreseeable activities occurring in the area. This alternative proposes that no repair and maintenance activities would occur on the 5.6-mile section of Bog Creek Road and that the 26 miles of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads would continue to be available for motorized use in accordance with seasonal access restrictions. There would be no change in Forest Service management of the roads and CBP activities in the Blue-Grass BMU. Although the Forest Service would continue to examine road closure options to meet Access Amendment requirements within the Blue-Grass BMU under the No-Action Alternative, compliance with the Access Amendment standards would not change until currently unidentified other viable road closure options are implemented. Alternative 3 is a modified version of the Proposed Action that would close a different set of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads to motorized access. The repair and maintenance activities proposed for Bog Creek Road and the administrative open designation for Bog Creek Road and Blue Joe Creek Road are the same as described under the Proposed Action. Under Alternative 3, approximately 25 miles of Forest Service roads would be closed to all motorized use by the Forest Service within the Blue-Grass BMU. This would allow the Forest Service to meet the Access Amendment grizzly bear core area habitat requirement of 55 percent and the TMRD requirement of 26 percent. Two of the nine roads proposed for motorized road closure under Alternative 3 would be different from [[Page 25474]] the roads proposed for closure under the Proposed Action. These roads were included in this alternative because closing these roads would create more grizzly bear core area habitat in upper Grass Creek, a place that has been heavily and continuously used by grizzly bears since at least the 1980s. All roads proposed for motorized closure under Alternative 3 are classified as seasonally restricted Forest Service roads. Administrative motorized use of these roads is permitted between April 1 and November 15. Non-motorized public access on these roads is permitted year-round. Alternative 4 is a modified version of the Proposed Action that would open Bog Creek Road and roads along the eastern approach to Bog Creek Road to public motorized access. Under Alternative 4, Bog Creek Road repair and maintenance and the motorized closure of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads would be identical to the Proposed Action. After repair of Bog Creek Road is completed, Alternative 4 would designate the 5.6 miles of the repaired Bog Creek Road as open for public motorized access year-round. However, winter motorized snowmobile use by the public is currently not allowed on Bog Creek Road as a result of rulings by the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Washington on November 7, 2006, and February 27, 2007, relating to recovery of Selkirk Mountain woodland caribou and the potential impacts of snowmobile use within the recovery area. Approximately 7.4 miles of Blue Joe Creek Road would change to an administrative open designation (as-needed administrative motorized access). Additionally, the designation of roads along the eastern approach to Bog Creek Road (1 mile of FSR 2546 and FSRs 1011, 636, and 1009) would also change from the current seasonally restricted designation (limited motorized access) to an open road designation (public motorized access) to allow for continuous public motorized travel across the Blue-Grass BMU. Under Alternative 4, the same 26 miles of seasonally restricted Forest Service roads as identified in the Proposed Action would be closed to all wheeled motorized use within the Blue-Grass BMU. The Draft EIS addresses the potential impacts from the Proposed Action and alternatives. Evaluations were conducted on various resources present in the Blue-Grass BMU, including: Threatened and endangered species, wildlife, fish, special-status plants, water, soils, recreation, and heritage. A preferred alternative to the Proposed Action has not yet been identified by the Agencies. Public Comment and Open Houses The Draft EIS is available for public comment. The Agencies invite comments on all aspects of the Draft EIS. Comments that will provide the most assistance to the Agencies will reference a specific section of the Draft EIS, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include data, information, or authority that supports such recommended change. Substantive comments received during the comment period will be addressed in the Final EIS. The Final EIS will be made available to the public through a Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register. This project is subject to 36 CFR part 218, subparts A and B of the Forest Service's Project-level Pre-decisional Administrative Review Process. Pursuant to 36 CFR part 218, only those who provide timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project during a comment period are eligible to file an objection with the Forest Service. Comments received regarding this Draft EIS are considered part of the administrative record for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review. Within this context, a commenter's personally identifiable information, such as name and contact information, may be released to a third party upon request under the Freedom of Information Act. Comments submitted anonymously, without a name and contact information, will be accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide the commenter with standing to participate in the Forest Service objection process. The Agencies will hold three public open houses to inform the public and solicit comments about the Draft EIS. The open houses will include displays and handouts and will provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions and submit written comments on the Draft EIS. Open house schedule is as follows: June 19, 2018, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Priest Lake Ranger District--32203 Highway 57, Priest River, Idaho; June 20, 2018, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Sandpoint Ranger District--1602 Ontario Street, Sandpoint, Idaho; June 21, 2018, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Bonners Ferry Ranger District--6286 Main Street, Bonners Ferry, Idaho. This process is being conducted pursuant to the NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the President's Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), DHS Directive 023-01 and Instruction 023-01-001-01, and CBP and Forest Service NEPA guidelines. Prior Public Scoping Public scoping for the Bog Creek Road repair and maintenance proposal was initially conducted by CBP in February and March of 2013. Information gathered from the initial scoping effort was used to inform the Agencies about what level of NEPA analysis was necessary to evaluate the proposed project. The initial scoping information included the possibility that road closures may become part of the proposed action, but did not include specific motorized road closure information. Using initial scoping information, the Agencies determined that the NEPA analysis would be conducted through an EIS process. The Notice of Intent (NOI) stating that CBP and the Forest Service planned to prepare an EIS for the Bog Creek Road Project was published in the Federal Register on April 27, 2016 (81 FR 24839). The NOI asked for public comment on the proposal from April 27 to May 27, 2016. The Proposed Action described in the NOI included both repair and maintenance of Bog Creek Road and motorized road closures of specific road segments in the Blue-Grass BMU. In total, 17 comment letters were received during the NOI scoping period. All scoping comments submitted during the initial scoping and NOI scoping were included in issue development for the current EIS process. A Scoping Report that summarizes both scoping efforts is available for review as part of the project record. The Scoping Report is available on the CBP public website: https://www.cbp.gov/document/environmental-assessments/bog-creek-road-project-environmental-impact-statement. Public Involvement in Historic Preservation Activities Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requires Federal agencies to review all actions which may affect resources listed on, or eligible for, the National Register of Historic Places in order to take into account the effects of their undertakings on historic properties. In accordance with NHPA, the Agencies seek to obtain public comments on historic preservation issues related to the road repair and closure of roads for motorized use. This process will also afford the Idaho State Historic Preservation Officer and tribal [[Page 25475]] governments a reasonable opportunity to comment on such undertakings. Next Steps After the public review period is complete and the Agencies have reviewed the results, a list of comments and responses will be compiled and included in the Final EIS. The Agencies will select a preferred alternative that will be set forth in the Final EIS and Draft Record of Decision (ROD). The Final EIS and Draft ROD will be made available to the public through an NOA in the Federal Register. Dated: May 25, 2018. Karl H. Calvo, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Facilities and Asset Management, Office of Enterprise Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Gregory C. Smith, Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System, U.S. Forest Service. [FR Doc. 2018-11766 Filed 5-31-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9111-14-P
![25472 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 106 / Friday, June 1, 2018 / Notices
Anyone wishing to employ this entity Canadian border, on land within the public open house. See SUPPLEMENTARY
to conduct laboratory analyses and Blue-Grass Bear Management Unit INFORMATION for information on the
gauger services should request and (BMU) that is managed by the Forest public comment process. Please submit
receive written assurances from the Service; and closing for motorized use your written comments using one of the
entity that it is accredited or approved additional roads within the Blue-Grass following methods:
by the U.S. Customs and Border BMU to comply with the Forest Plan • Mail: Bog Creek Road EIS, P.O. Box
Protection to conduct the specific test or Amendments for Motorized Access 643, Flagstaff, Arizona 86002–0643;
gauger service requested. Alternatively, Management within the Selkirk and • Email: SPWBogCreekEIS@
inquiries regarding the specific test or Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear Recovery cbp.dhs.gov;
gauger service this entity is accredited Zones and to reduce road density in the • Hand delivered to any of the Forest
or approved to perform may be directed Blue-Grass BMU. This notice initiates Service locations where CD–ROM and
to the U.S. Customs and Border the public review process for the Draft print copies of the Draft EIS are
Protection by calling (202) 344–1060. EIS. This process is conducted pursuant available; or
The inquiry may also be sent to to the National Environmental Policy • FAX: 208–765–7426.
cbp.labhq@dhs.gov. Please reference the Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the President’s For Public Open Houses: Public open
website listed below for a complete Council on Environmental Quality houses will be held at the following
listing of CBP approved gaugers and regulations for Implementing the NEPA, locations:
accredited laboratories. http:// and CBP and Forest Service NEPA • Priest Lake, Idaho: Priest Lake
www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/ guidelines. The purpose of the public Ranger District—32203 Highway 57,
documents/gaulist_3.pdf. review process is to solicit public Priest River, Idaho;
Dated: May 1, 2018. comments regarding the Draft EIS. • Sandpoint, Idaho: Sandpoint
Dave Fluty, Additionally, this notice, in accordance Ranger District—1602 Ontario Street,
with the National Historic Preservation Sandpoint, Idaho;
Executive Director, Laboratories and
Scientific Services, Operations Support. Act, will allow members of the general • Bonners Ferry, Idaho: Bonners
public to provide comments to CBP and Ferry Ranger District—6286 Main Street,
[FR Doc. 2018–11850 Filed 5–31–18; 8:45 am]
the Forest Service regarding whether the Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
BILLING CODE 9111–14–P
Proposed Action may have any potential FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul
impacts on any historic resources. Enriquez, CBP, Border Patrol and Air
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND DATES: and Marine Program Management
SECURITY For Comments: To ensure Office, by telephone at 949–643–6365,
consideration, comments must be or email at Paul.Enriquez@cbp.dhs.gov.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection received by July 16, 2018. Comments Persons who require assistance
may be submitted as set forth in the accessing information, please contact
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ADDRESSES section of this document. the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
For Public Open Houses: Public open (USDA) Target Center at 202–720–2600
Forest Service houses will be held at the following (voice and TDD) or contact USDA
times: through the Federal Relay Service at
Notice of Availability of the Bog Creek • Priest Lake, Idaho: June 19, 2018, 800–877–8339.
Road Project Draft Environmental 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Impact Statement • Sandpoint, Idaho: June 20, 2018,
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Proposed Action
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border
Protection, Department of Homeland • Bonners Ferry, Idaho: June 21, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Security and U.S. Forest Service, 2018, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (CBP) and the U.S. Forest Service
Department of Agriculture. ADDRESSES: (Forest Service) Idaho Panhandle
ACTION: Notice of availability of Draft For Obtaining Copies of the Draft EIS: National Forests (IPNF) (collectively the
Environmental Impact Statement Electronic copies of the Draft EIS are Agencies) are proposing a road repair,
concerning the repair and maintenance available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/ maintenance, and motorized closure
of Bog Creek Road and closure of certain project/?project=41296 and https:// project in the Continental Mountain
roads within the Blue-Grass Bear www.cbp.gov/document/environmental- area of the Idaho Panhandle National
Management Unit in the Selkirk assessments/bog-creek-road-project- Forests within the Bonners Ferry and
Mountains in Boundary County, Idaho; environmental-impact-statement. Priest Lake Ranger Districts. The project
request for comments. CD–ROM and print copies are has two objectives: (1) To provide safe
available by sending a request to Paul east-west access for administrative use
SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Enriquez at Paul.Enriquez@cbp.dhs.gov (as explained below) to this section of
Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Forest or 949–643–6365 or at the following the U.S.-Canada border across the
Service (Forest Service) Idaho Forest Service locations: Selkirk Mountains, and (2) to meet
Panhandle National Forests (IPNF) • The IPNF Supervisors Office, 3815 grizzly bear motorized access standards
announce the availability of the Bog Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; within the Blue-Grass BMU of the
Creek Road Project Draft Environmental • Sandpoint Ranger District, 1602 Selkirk Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone in
Impact Statement (EIS) for public Ontario Street, Sandpoint, Idaho; order to comply with the Forest Plan
review. The Draft EIS identifies and • Bonners Ferry Ranger District, 6286 Amendments for Motorized Access
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
assesses potential impacts upon the Main Street, Bonners Ferry, Idaho; and Management within the Selkirk and
environment of: Repairing and • Priest Lake Ranger District, 32203 Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear Recovery
maintaining an approximately 5.6-mile Highway 57, Priest River, Idaho. Zones (Access Amendment).
section of the existing Bog Creek Road, For Submitting Comments: You may The Bog Creek Road Project Draft EIS
which is located in the Selkirk submit written comments on the Draft has been prepared to identify and assess
Mountains in Boundary County, Idaho, EIS during the 45-day comment period potential impacts from the Proposed
within approximately two miles of the by mail or email, or by attending a Action on the environment. The
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Proposed Action was developed through cut back to facilitate safe vehicle Administrative motorized use of these
collaborative efforts between CBP, the passage. roads is permitted between April 1 and
Forest Service, and the public, and was The second component is the change November 15; non-motorized public
designed to meet the goals and in motorized designation of Blue Joe access on these roads is permitted year-
objectives established for the project Creek Road (FSR 2546). Blue Joe Creek round.
while meeting as many other resource Road extends from the eastern terminus
of the Bog Creek Road, running 7.4 Alternatives
needs as possible. The Proposed Action
consists of three components: (1) Road miles alongside Blue Joe Creek, to the The Agencies developed alternatives
repair and maintenance of Bog Creek Continental Mine property. Blue Joe to the Proposed Action described above
Road and change in motorized use Creek Road is currently designated as and disclose the environmental impacts
designation; (2) change in motorized use seasonally restricted, and motorized of these alternatives in the Draft EIS. In
designation for Blue Joe Creek Road; access is limited to 57 vehicle round addition to the No-Action Alternative
and (3) motorized closure of selected trips per active bear year. Under the (Alternative 1) and the Proposed Action
seasonally restricted Forest Service Proposed Action, the current seasonal (Alternative 2), there are two other
roads. The Proposed Action is described restrictions that limit the number of action alternatives analyzed: Modified
below. motorized administrative trips along Proposed Action (Alternative 3) and
The first component is the repair and Blue Joe Creek Road would be removed. Blue-Grass BMU West-East Open Access
maintenance of an approximately 5.6- The road would be designated as (Alternative 4).
administrative open, which would The No-Action Alternative
mile section of Bog Creek Road (Forest
allow for as-needed administrative (Alternative 1) represents the effects of
Service Road [FSR] 1013), which would
motorized trips. This change in not implementing the proposed repair
be conducted to allow the road to meet and maintenance of Bog Creek Road and
Forest Service road maintenance level 2 designation, when combined with the
Bog Creek Road designation change, motorized closure of seasonally
standards and would generally allow restricted Forest Service roads, while
access for high-clearance vehicles. would allow for administrative trips by
private property owners to access their taking into account the effects of other
Maintenance level 2 roads are described past, ongoing, and reasonably
in Forest Service Handbook 7709.58. property within the Blue-Grass BMU.
The final component is the motorized foreseeable activities occurring in the
Bog Creek Road is currently designated area. This alternative proposes that no
closure of selected seasonally restricted
as a seasonally restricted road. repair and maintenance activities would
Forest Service roads. Under the
Motorized use by the Forest Service, occur on the 5.6-mile section of Bog
Proposed Action, approximately 26
CBP, law enforcement, and other Creek Road and that the 26 miles of
miles of seasonally restricted Forest
administrative agencies is permitted Service roads would be closed to all seasonally restricted Forest Service
between April 1 and November 15 wheeled motorized use within the Blue- roads would continue to be available for
(active bear year) but is limited to 57 Grass BMU. Closing the roads would motorized use in accordance with
administrative vehicle round trips per allow the Forest Service to meet the seasonal access restrictions. There
active bear year. After road repair requirements of at least 55 percent of would be no change in Forest Service
activities, the road designation would the BMU as core area habitat, and no management of the roads and CBP
change to administrative open (as- more than 26 percent of the BMU activities in the Blue-Grass BMU.
needed administrative motorized having a total motorized route density Although the Forest Service would
access). Under the administrative open (TMRD) greater than 2 miles per square continue to examine road closure
road designation, Bog Creek Road would mile, as specified in the Access options to meet Access Amendment
be open to as-needed administrative Amendment. The means by which requirements within the Blue-Grass
motorized access but not open to the motorized road closure would take BMU under the No-Action Alternative,
public for motorized travel. place would vary by site and would compliance with the Access
Repair and maintenance would include both decommissioning and Amendment standards would not
consist of grading and resurfacing areas long-term storage. Decommissioning change until currently unidentified
of the road that have been heavily involves permanently removing a road other viable road closure options are
eroded by surface water flows, filling from the Forest Service transportation implemented.
potholes, and removing protruding system. Long-term storage involves Alternative 3 is a modified version of
boulders. Repair would also include rendering a road undrivable. Roads the Proposed Action that would close a
installation of six new culverts and stored for creation of grizzly bear core different set of seasonally restricted
replacement of six of the existing 67 habitat would remain stored for a Forest Service roads to motorized
corrugated metal pipe culverts located minimum of ten years. On-the-ground access. The repair and maintenance
along the length of the roadway because road work is typically the same or very activities proposed for Bog Creek Road
they have partially rusted through, similar for decommissioning and long- and the administrative open designation
otherwise exceeded their usable life, or term storage, as both are intended to for Bog Creek Road and Blue Joe Creek
do not meet current design standards for prevent future failures and erosion Road are the same as described under
width and capacity. The most intensive hazards. Both methods may involve one the Proposed Action. Under Alternative
repair would occur at Spread Creek, or a combination of the following 3, approximately 25 miles of Forest
where a culvert failure and road treatments: Fully or partially Service roads would be closed to all
washout have made the road completely recontouring the road prism, ripping the motorized use by the Forest Service
impassable. The road would not be road surface, removing culverts and within the Blue-Grass BMU. This would
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
widened, but limited areas that no recontouring stream crossings, planting allow the Forest Service to meet the
longer meet minimum width and seeding, mulching, or slashing Access Amendment grizzly bear core
requirements may require cut and fill disturbed areas. area habitat requirement of 55 percent
work to achieve the desired road All roads proposed for motorized and the TMRD requirement of 26
operating and safety standards. Trees closure under the Proposed Action are percent. Two of the nine roads proposed
and other vegetation within the roadway currently classified as seasonally for motorized road closure under
and to either side would be grubbed or restricted Forest Service roads. Alternative 3 would be different from
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 106 / Friday, June 1, 2018 / Notices 25475
governments a reasonable opportunity proposed ITP amendments would (ITP) applications under section 10 of
to comment on such undertakings. address take of three endangered the Endangered Species Act, as
species: The Hawaiian hoary bat, the amended (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Next Steps
Hawaiian goose, and the Hawaiian The applications are for four wind
After the public review period is petrel. energy projects in Hawai‘i. The
complete and the Agencies have DATES: The public scoping period begins proposed ITPs (involving one new and
reviewed the results, a list of comments with the publication of this notice in the three amended ITPs) would authorize
and responses will be compiled and Federal Register and will continue take of the endangered Hawaiian hoary
included in the Final EIS. The Agencies through July 2, 2018. The Service will bat (ōpe‘ape‘a in Hawaiian; Lasiurus
will select a preferred alternative that consider all written comments on the cinereus semotus), the endangered
will be set forth in the Final EIS and scope of the analysis that are received
Hawaiian goose (nēnē in Hawaiian;
Draft Record of Decision (ROD). The Branta sandvicensis), and the
or postmarked by this date.
Final EIS and Draft ROD will be made Public meetings: The Service will endangered Hawaiian petrel (‘ua‘u in
available to the public through an NOA hold three public scoping meetings, one Hawaiian; Pterodroma sandwichensis).
in the Federal Register. The Service provides this notice to (1)
each on the islands of Hawai‘i, Maui,
Dated: May 25, 2018.
advise other Federal and State agencies,
and O‘ahu, at the following times during
local governments, and the general
Karl H. Calvo, the scoping period:
public of our intent to prepare a
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Facilities • Hawai‘i: June 18, 2018, 6 to 8 p.m.
programmatic environmental impact
and Asset Management, Office of Enterprise • Maui: June 20, 2018, 6 to 8 p.m.
• O‘ahu: June 21, 2018 6 to 8 p.m. statement (PEIS); (2) announce the
Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
initiation of a 30-day scoping period;
Gregory C. Smith, ADDRESSES: To request further
and (3) request information and
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National information or submit written recommendations on the scope of the
Forest System, U.S. Forest Service. comments, please use one of the issues to be included in the PEIS,
[FR Doc. 2018–11766 Filed 5–31–18; 8:45 am] following methods. Please include including input on the appropriateness
BILLING CODE 9111–14–P ‘‘Wind Energy HCPs and PEIS Scoping’’ of our intent to develop a single PEIS
in the subject line of your request, addressing project-specific alternatives
message, or comment. and cumulative impacts of the four
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR • U.S. Mail: Field Supervisor, U.S. separate permit decisions, instead of
Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific preparing an individual EIS for each of
Fish and Wildlife Service Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, 300 the proposed permit actions. The four
Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3–122, wind energy facilities are already
[FWS–R1–ES–2018–N007]; Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96850. constructed and in operation. Therefore,
[FXES11140100000–189–FF01E00000] • Email: HIwindPEIS@fws.gov. the PEIS will address only effects
• Fax: 808–792–9580, Attn: Field associated with the operation of the four
Notice of Intent To Prepare a
Supervisor. wind energy projects.
Programmatic Environmental Impact • Internet: You may obtain copies of
Statement Addressing the Issuance of The PEIS will serve as the Service’s
this notice from the Service’s Pacific documentation of compliance with
Incidental Take Permits for Four Wind Islands Fish and Wildlife Office in
Energy Projects in Hawai‘i NEPA. The Service believes a
Honolulu, Hawai‘i, or on the internet at programmatic NEPA analysis of similar
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/. wind energy project-related permit
Interior. Public meetings: The three public decisions provides the following
ACTION: Notice of intent; notice of public
scoping meetings will be held at the benefits: A comprehensive analysis of
scoping meetings; request for comments. following locations: cumulative impacts across all projects; a
• Hawai‘i: Na‘alehu Community reduction in duplicative efforts between
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Center, 95–5635 Mamalahoa Hwy., projects; improved consistency in the
Wildlife Service (Service), intend to Na‘alehu, Hawai‘i, HI 96772. analysis; and a more efficient and
prepare a draft programmatic • Maui: Malcolm Center, 1305 North comprehensive solicitation of public
environmental impact statement Holopono Street, Suite 5, Kı̄hei, Maui, input.
addressing the potential impacts on the HI 96753
human environment caused by • O‘ahu: Sunset Beach Recreation Background
alternatives described in habitat Center, 59–540 Kamehameha Hwy., Section 9 of the ESA prohibits ‘‘take’’
conservation plans (HCPs) for four Haleiwa, O‘ahu, HI 96712 of fish and wildlife species listed as
similar wind energy projects. The HCPs FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: endangered or threatened. Under
were submitted to the Service in Darren LeBlanc, at 808–792–9403, or section 3 of the ESA, the term ‘‘take’’
support of requests for incidental take Michelle Bogardus at 808–792–9473. means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt,
permits (ITPs) under the Endangered Persons who use a telecommunications shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or
Species Act authorizing the take of device for the deaf (TDD) may call the collect, or attempt to engage in any such
endangered species. The proposed Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800– conduct (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)). The term
permit actions involve a new HCP for 877–8339 during normal business ‘‘harm’’ is further defined by regulation
the Pakini Nui Wind Farm on the Island hours. Also, FRS is available 24 hours in title 50 of the Code of Federal
of Hawai‘i and major amendments to a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message Regulations as an act that actually kills
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
three existing HCPs addressing the or question. You will receive a reply or injures wildlife. Such act may
Auwahi Wind and Kaheawa Wind during normal business hours. include significant habitat modification
Power II projects, both located on Maui, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the or degradation where it actually kills or
and the Kawailoa Wind Power project, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are injures wildlife by significantly
located on O‘ahu. All four wind energy initiating the National Environmental impairing essential behavioral patterns,
facilities are already constructed and in Policy Act (NEPA) compliance process including breeding, feeding, or
operation. The proposed ITP and related to four incidental take permit sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). The term
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Document Created: 2018-06-01 01:30:19
Document Modified: 2018-06-01 01:30:19
| 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 availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement concerning the repair and maintenance of Bog Creek Road and closure of certain roads within the Blue-Grass Bear Management Unit in the Selkirk Mountains in Boundary County, Idaho; request for comments. | |
| Dates | For Comments: To ensure consideration, comments must be received by | |
| Contact | Paul Enriquez, CBP, Border Patrol and Air and Marine Program Management Office, by telephone at 949-643-6365, or email at [email protected] Persons who require assistance accessing information, please contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Target Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 25472 |
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