[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12304-12306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6385]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Washington; Motorized Travel
Management
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Forest Supervisor of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National
Forest (OWNF) gives notice of the intent to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) on a Proposed Action to implement 36 CFR Parts
212, 251, 261, and 295; Travel Management: Designated Routes and Areas
for Motor Vehicle Use; Final Rule (Travel Management Rule) to designate
a system of roads, trails, and areas that are open to motor vehicle
use. Creating a new motor vehicle travel plan is necessary to improve
management and enforcement of off-highway vehicle (OHV) travel policy
on the Forest. Existing travel rules that were established in the
current Forest Plans did not anticipate the rapid increase in off-
highway vehicle use or the types of user conflicts and resource impacts
that have occurred in recent years. This notice announces the beginning
of scoping, describes the specific elements to be included in a new
travel plan, describes the decisions to be made, and estimates the
dates for filing the draft and final EIS. This notice also provides
information concerning public participation, and the names and
addresses of the agency officials who can provide information.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received
by May 7, 2009 so they can be fully considered. The draft environmental
impact statement is scheduled for completion by December 2009. The
final EIS is scheduled to be completed by July 2010.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to: Travel Management Planning Team,
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee,
Washington, 98801. Electronic comments may be sent to: [email protected].
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such a way that they are useful to the agency's preparation of
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's
concerns and contentions. The submission of timely and specific
comments can affect a reviewer's ability to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide
the respondent with standing to participate in subsequent
administrative review or judicial review.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action
may be directed to Bob Stoehr, Planning Team Leader at Okanogan-
Wenatchee National Forest, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, Washington,
98801; or by telephone: (509) 664-9384.
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 magnitude and intensity of motor vehicle use have increased to
the point where currently unrestricted cross-country motor vehicle use
is no longer able to protect resources. Unmanaged off-highway vehicle
(OHV) use has resulted in unplanned roads and trails, erosion,
watershed and habitat degradation, and impacts to cultural resource
sites. Compaction and erosion are the primary effects of OHV use on
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soils. Riparian areas and aquatic-dependent species are particularly
vulnerable to OHV use. In addition, some national forest visitors
report their ability to enjoy quiet recreational experiences is
affected by visitors using motor vehicles, resulting in user conflicts.
Current regulations prohibit trail construction and operation of
vehicles in a manner damaging to the land, vegetation or wildlife.
However, these regulations have not proven sufficient to control
proliferation of routes or environmental damage.
On November 9, 2005 the Forest Service published final travel
management regulations in the Federal Register (FR Vol. 70, No. 216,
Nov. 9, 2005, pp 68264-68291). This final Travel Management Rule
requires designation of roads, trails and areas that are open to motor
vehicle use on National Forest System lands. Designations will be made
by class of vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of year. Motor vehicle
use off designated roads and trails and outside designated areas would
then be prohibited by 36 CFR 261.13. The rule was adopted because of a
number of resource and social concerns related to motorized travel that
were detailed in the rule.
The following needs have been identified for this proposal:
1. There is a need to designate a sustainable system of roads,
trails and areas open to motor vehicles (except winter over-the-snow
use) that will provide legal public access, enhance regulation of
unmanaged motor vehicle travel, protect resources, and decrease
motorized conflicts on national forest system lands. This project will
not analyze or make any changes to current winter over-the-snow
motorized use.
2. There is a need to change the National Forest System of roads
and trails to designate motor vehicle route access to dispersed
recreation activities and to designate corridors for motorized access
to dispersed camping. Some dispersed recreation activities (e.g.
camping, fishing, horseback riding) depend on motor vehicle access.
Those activities are often accessed by short spurs that have been
created by the passage of motor vehicles. Many such unauthorized
``user-created'' routes are not part of the national forest
transportation system. If these access routes are not added to the
transportation system and designated on the motor vehicle use map, or
if corridors for motorized accesss to dispersed camping are not
designated, regulatory changes noted above would prohibit use of these
routes and preclude motor vehicle access to many dispersed recreation
activities.
3. There is a need to provide diverse motor vehicle recreation
opportunities, such as for 4x4 vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs and
passenger cars. There is also a need to provide opportunities for OHVs
operated by both licensed and unlicensed drivers. Part of this
diversity includes designating a system of reasonably safe ``motorized
mixed use'' national forest roads that recognizes Washington state law
that allows for non-highway legal OHVs and unlicensed operators.
Currently, there is a small number of specific roads authorized ofr
motorized mixed use. State law provides for the operation of OHVs on
non-highway roads on the national forest if the Forest Service
authorizes such use. This ``motorized mixed use'' allows concurrent use
of a road by highway legal and non-highway legal vehicles.
4. Current language in the Okanogan National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan (1989) and the Wenatchee National Forest Land
and Resource Management Plan (1990) (Forest Plans) needs to be amended
by deleting forest plan standards and gudelines that are not consistent
with the Travel Management Rule.
It will be a benefit for the Forest Service and public to have
greater certainty about which roads and trails are part of the managed
system of motorized and non-motorized routes. Greater certainty will be
provided by improved ability to prioritize and budget for road and
trail maintenance and to evaluate public safety hazards; improved
ability to focus on how and where to sustain and improve motorized and
non-motorized recreation opportunities on the Okanogan-Wenatchee
National Forest; improved ability to coordinate public access across
different land ownerships; improved public understanding and adherence
to travel rules, thus reducing the development of user-created routes;
and improved ability to reduce mortorized route and use impacts to
other resources values and Forest users.
Proposed Action
Based on the purpose and need for action and as a result of the
recent travel analysis process which the Okanogan-Wenatchee National
Forest began in 2006, the OWNF proposes the following changes to motor
vehicle use on specific roads, trails and areas within the non-
wilderness portion of the Forest. The proposed action will:
1. Designate a system of roads, trails and areas open for motor
vehicle use by vehicle class and season of use.
2. Designate corridors and motorized routes for access to dispersed
recreation.
3. Designate roads for motorized mixed use.
4. Amend the Okanogan Forest Plan and the Wenatchee Forest Plan to
designate roads, trails and areas open to motor vehicle use and
prohibit motorized travel off designated routes.
This proposed action is a starting point for discussions concerning
travel management on the OWNF, and alternatives to the proposed action
will be developed based on concerns raised by the public during
scoping. Details of the proposed action follow.
1. The designation of 22.4 miles of new or currently unauthorized
motorized trails to the National Forest System (NFS) of motorized
trails and two areas open to motorized cross-country travel.
2. The designation of motorized use by OHVs only on 115 miles of
NFS roads that are currently managed as closed to highway legal
vehicles.
3. The designation of 498.2 miles of NFS roads for motorized mixed
use.
4. The designation of 1,674 access routes on the NFS of roads and
trails to allow motorized vehicle access to dispersed recreation.
5. The designation of 698 miles of corridors (300 feet on each side
of the road centerline) along NFS roads to allow motorized access to
dispersed camping.
6. Once a system of roads, trails, and areas is designated as open
to motor vehicles, then motor vehicle use off the system would be
prohibited by regulation (36 CFR 261.13).
The proposed action does not analyze, restrict, nor make any
changes to the management of motorized winter over snow recreation. The
following uses are exempted by the Travel Management Rule and from the
proposed motor vehicle use designations:
1. Aircraft;
2. Watercraft;
3. Over-snow vehicles;
4. Limited administrative use by the Forest Service;
5. Use of any fire, military, emergency, or law enforcement vehicle
for emergency purposes;
6. Authorized use of any combat or combat support vehicle for
national defense purposes;
7. Law enforcement response to violations of law, including
pursuit; and
8. Motor vehicle use that is specifically authorized under a
written authorization under Federal law or regulations.
When a decision on the travel management proposal is made, the OWNF
will produce a motor vehicle use map (MVUM) depicting roads, trails,
and areas that are open to public
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motorized travel. The MVUM would be the primary tool used to determine
compliance and enforcement with motor vehicle use designations on the
ground. Currently, motorized travel on the OWNF is permitted unless
designated closed. Following the decision and publication of the MVUM,
motorized travel on the OWNF would be closed unless designated open.
Additional details and a full description of the proposed action
can be found on the Internet at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/okawen/travel-management. In addition, maps and details will be available for viewing
at Forest Service offices in Republic, Tonasket, Okanogan, Winthrop,
Chelan, Entiat, Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cle Elum, Naches, and North
Bend, Washington. Maps will also be available for viewing at public
libraries in Tonasket, Omak, Okanogan, Twisp, Winthrop, Chelan, Entiat,
Wenatchee, Cashmere, Leavenworth, Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Naches, Tieton,
Selah and Yakima, Washington.
Possible Alternatives
A full range of alternatives will be considered, including the
proposed action, no action, and additional alternatives that respond to
issues generated during the scoping process. The no action alternative
would maintain current allowances and restrictions for OHV use and
motorized cross-country travel described in the current Okanogan and
Wenatchee National Forest Plans and Okanogan National Forest Travel
Plan. All alternatives would comply with the Okanogan and Wenatchee
National Forest Plans.
Lead Agency
The Forest Service will be the lead agency in accordance with 40
CFR 1501.5(b), and is responsible for preparation of the environmental
impact statement (EIS).
Responsible Official
The Forest Supervisor for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest,
Rebecca Lockett Heath, will be the responsible official for this EIS
and its Record of Decision. As the Responsible Official, the Forest
Supervisor will document the decision and reasons for the decision in
the Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to Forest Service
Appeal Regulations (36 CFR Part 215).
Nature of the Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will decide whether to adopt and implement
the proposed action, an alternative to the proposed action, or take no
action to:
1. Designate where and under what conditions motor vehicles can be
used on specific roads, trails and areas.
2. Designate where and under what conditions motorized access for
dispersed recreation would be allowed.
3. Designate where and under what conditions motorized mixed use
would be allowed on NFS roads.
4. Determine whether or under what conditions to amend the Forest
Plans.
Preliminary Issues
Preliminary issues identified during the earlier public involvement
process include the following:
1. Motorized use on specific roads and trails may affect: Wildlife
(in particular grizzly bear and other focal species potentially
affected by travel corridor disturbance), soil erosion (compaction and
sedimentation), fish and aquatics species (sedimentation), and riparian
habitat;
2. Motorized use on specific roads or trails may cause social
conflicts between different recreational user groups;
3. Mixed motorized use on National Forest System roads may affect
the safety of all users;
4. Motorized use on specific roads and trails may affect the
resources and noise level on adjacent private land.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent (NOI) initiates the scoping process, which
guides development of the environmental impact statement.
The OWNF held 13 public meetings in central Washington and in the
Seattle, Washington area in 2006 and 2007 to help develop the proposed
action. These meetings were used to identify potential issues and
potential components of the proposed action.
The Forest Supervisor is seeking public and agency comment on the
proposed action to identify issues that arise from the proposed action.
These issues may lead to other alternatives, or additional mitigation
measures and monitoring requirements.
Comments are most valuable if they are site-specific. Comments
about existing or proposed conditions on individual routes, desired
motorized or non-motorized recreation opportunities, uses and impacts,
and route designations are being sought.
Public meetings to explain and gather comments about the proposed
action will be held at the following locations and dates from 5 p.m.
until 8:30 p.m.:
Ellensburg, WA, April 6, Hal Holmes Community Center.
Yakima, WA, April 7, Howard Johnson Ballroom.
Cashmere, WA, April 8, Apple Annie Antique Gallery.
Okanogan, WA, April 9, Okanogan County Agriplex.
Seattle, WA area: To be announced and posted on the Travel
Management Web site (http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/okawen/travel-management).
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for
comment. The comment period on the draft EIS will be 45 days from the
date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of
availability in the Federal Register. The draft EIS is expected to be
filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to be
available for public review in December 2009. The final EIS is expected
to be completed by July 2010.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns about the proposed action, comments on the draft EIS
should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments refer
to specific pages or chapters of the draft statement. Comments may also
address the adequacy of the draft EIS or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Dated: March 18, 2009.
Rebecca Lockett Heath,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E9-6385 Filed 3-23-09; 8:45 am]
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