26776 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 91 / Friday, May 11, 2007 / Notices 

Calif.). The court enjoined the USDA 

from implementing and utilizing the 

2005 Rule until it complies with the 

court’s opinion regarding the 

Administrative Procedures Act, the 

Endangered Species Act, and the 

National Environmental Policy Act. 

While the Agency is not in agreement 

with the Court’s decision, it has 

decided, in the interest of moving 

forward with land management 

planning, to prepare an environmental 

impact statement to comply with the 

court order. 

Estimated Dates 

The draft environmental impact 

statement is expected June, 2007, and 

the final environmental impact 

statement is expected November, 2007. 

Purpose and Need for Action 

The 2005 Rule at 36 CFR part 219 

resulted from a review of the National 

Forest System Land Management 

Planning Rule issued on November 9, 

2000 (2000 Rule) by Forest Service 

personnel at the direction of the Office 

of the Secretary. The review affirmed 

much of the 2000 Rule and the 

underlying concepts of sustainability, 

monitoring, evaluation, collaboration, 

and use of science. Although the 2000 

Rule was intended to simplify and 

streamline the development and 

amendment of land and resource 

management plans, the review 

concluded that the 2000 Rule was 

neither straightforward nor easy to 

implement. The review found the 

following: 

(1) The 2000 rule has both definitions 

and analytical requirements that are 

very complex, unclear, and, therefore, 

subject to inconsistent implementation 

across the agency; 

(2) Compliance with the regulatory 

direction on such matters as ecological 

sustainability and science consistency 

checks would be difficult, if not 

impossible, to accomplish; and 

(3) The complexity of the 2000 rule 

makes it difficult and expensive to 

implement. 

Based on the review and over two 

decades of experience with land 

management plans, the Agency 

promulgated a new planning rule that 

improved upon the 2000 rule by 

providing a planning process that was 

more readily understood and that was 

within the Agency’s capability to 

implement. The 2005 Rule also 

responded to additional needs 

identified through public comments 

received during the rulemaking. Under 

the 2005 rule: 

(1) Land management plans are 

strategic in nature; 

(2) Are adaptive and based on current 

information and science; 

(3) Guide sustainable management of 

National Forest System lands; and 

(4) The public is involved in 

planning; and 

(5) Planning must comply with all 

applicable laws, regulations, and 

policies. 

Proposed Action 

The Agency expects to publish a rule 

for comment in late June. 

Possible Alternatives 

Other than the Proposed Action and 

a No Action alternative, additional 

alternatives to this proposed action have 

not yet been identified. Issues with and 

alternatives to the proposed action will 

be framed during the internal and 

external scoping and public comment 

periods in the NEPA process. 

Responsible Official 

The responsible official is Mark Rey, 

Under Secretary for Natural Resources 

and Environment, USDA, 1400 

Independence Ave., SW., Washington, 

DC 20250. 

Nature of Decision to be Made 

The responsible official will 

promulgate a land management 

planning rule based on an alternative 

that meets the agency’s purpose and 

need. 

Scoping Process 

This Notice of Intent initiates the 

scoping process in compliance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act and 

its implementing regulations (40 CFR 

part 1500). As part of the scoping 

process, the Forest Service solicits 

public comment on the nature and 

scope of environmental, social, and 

economic issues that should be 

analyzed in the draft environmental 

impact statement. Scoping will include 

review of comments previously 

collected during promulgation of the 

2005 planning rule (70 FR 1022), agency 

planning directives (72 FR 4478, 71 FR 

10956, 71 FR 5124), and the Agency 

categorical exclusion for land 

management planning (71 FR 75481). 

The nature and scope of the analysis for 

the draft environmental impact 

statement will focus on the process for 

development, revision, and amendment 

of land management plans, and 

alternatives to it. Because of the 

extensive amount of public comment 

received on the 2005 planning rule, 

planning directives, and the Agency 

categorical exclusion for land 

management planning, no public 

meetings are planned for this scoping 

effort. 

Comment Requested 

Reviewers should provide their 

comments during the comment period. 

Timely comments will enable the 

Agency to analyze and respond to them 

at one time and to use them in the 

preparation of the environmental impact 

statement, thus avoiding undue delay in 

the decisionmaking process. 

Furthermore, specific and substantive 

comments will facilitate meaningful 

review and consideration. Reviewers 

have an obligation to structure their 

participation in the National 

Environmental Policy Act process so 

that it is meaningful and alerts the 

Agency to the reviewer’s position and 

contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear 

Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 

(1978). Dept. of Transportation v. Public 

Citizen, 541 U.S. 752, 764 (2004). 

Dated: April 27, 2007. 

Gregory Smith, 

Acting Deputy Chief, National Forest System. 

[FR Doc. E7–9078 Filed 5–10–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Olympic National Forest, Jefferson 

County, WA; Dosewallips Road 

Washout Project 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Revised Notice of intent to 

prepare an environmental impact 

statement. 

SUMMARY: On August 12, 2005, the 

USDA Forest Service (FS), Olympic 

National Forest (ONF), published a 

Notice of Intent in the Federal Register 

(70 FR 47171) to prepare an 

environmental impact statement (EIS) 

for the Dosewallips Road Washout 

Project. A revised Notice of Intent was 

published on August 26, 2005 in 

Federal Register (70 FR 50297). The FS 

and Western Federal Lands Highway 

Division (WFLHD) of the Federal 

Highway Administration (FHWA) 

further revise this Notice of Intent as 

follows. Except for the sections noted, 

all prior information remains the same. 

DATES: The draft EIS is expected to be 

released in July 2007, and the final EIS 

is expected to be released in May 2008. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Proposed Action 

The original proposed action to 

restore and rebuild the washed out 

section of Forest Service Road (FSR) 


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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 91 / Friday, May 11, 2007 / Notices 26777 

2610 using a low-water crossing has 

been dropped from further 

consideration. Instead, the ONF and 

WFLHD proposed to reestablish road 

access previously provided by FSR 2610 

to ONF and Olympic National Park 

(ONP) recreational facilities by rerouting 

the road above its former location along 

the hill-slope above and to the north of 

the washout. Approximately 0.8 mile of 

single-lane road with turnouts would be 

constructed using standard construction 

methods. Furthermore, the ONP and 

WFLHD propose to repair the damage to 

ONP’s Dosewallips Road in the vicinity 

of Dosewallips River Falls, about 0.85 

mile from the ONF/ONP boundary. This 

proposed action also includes a 

proposal to amend the Forest Plan only 

for the proposed repair on FSR 2610. 

Possible Alternatives 

The potential alternatives have 

changed since the last Notice of Intent 

for this proposed action was published. 

In addition to the proposed action, the 

possible alternatives to restore access 

along the damaged section of FSR 2610 

are: No action; reroute to restore access 

to cars, recreational vehicles, and 

trailers upslope of the damage with an 

emphasis to minimize the footprint of 

the road and thereby the resource 

impacts; and a bridge or causeway to 

restore access to cars, recreational 

vehicles and trailers. As in the case of 

the Proposed Action, the reroute 

alternative that would minimize the 

road footprint and impacts also includes 

proposals to amend the Forest Plan for 

the repair needed on FSR 2610. Any 

proposed amendments to the Forest 

Plan will be identified and analyzed in 

the EIS. Under all the action 

alternatives, the ONP proposes to repair 

the Dosewallips Road near the 

Dosewallips Falls. 

Lead and Cooperative Agencies 

The ONF (FS) and WFLHD (FHWA) 

will be co-lead agencies in preparation 

and completion of the EIS. The ONP 

(NPS) will be a cooperating agency in 

the completion of the EIS. 

Responsible Official 

Mr. Dale Hom, Forest Supervisor, will 

be th Responsible Official for the 

decisions of the FS. Mr. Hom’s contact 

information is Olympic National Forest, 

1835 Black Lake Blvd., SW., Suite A, 

Olympia, WA 98512. Ms. Clara Conner, 

Division Engineer, will be the 

Responsible Official for the decisions of 

FHWA. Ms. Conner’s contact 

information is Western Federal Lands 

Highway Division, 610 East Fifth St., 

Vancouver, WA 98661. Mr. Jonathon B. 

Jarvis, Regional Director of the NPS 

Pacific West Region, will be the 

Responsible Official for the decisions of 

the NPS. However, Mr. William G. 

Laitner, Park Superintendent, will be 

the implementing official for the NPS. 

Mr. Laitner;s contact information is 

Olympic National Park, 600 East Park 

Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98362. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim 

Davis, Project Leader, ONF, 1835 Black 

Lake Blvd., SW., Suite A, Olympia, 

Washington 98512; phone (360) 956–

2375; or e-mail tedavis@fs.fed.us. 

Dated: May 2, 2007. 

Dale Hom, 

Forest Supervisor, Olympic National Forest. 

[FR Doc. 07–2333 Filed 5–10–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Ravalli County Resource Advisory 

Committee 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Ravalli County Resource 

Advisory Committee will be meeting to 

discuss management of Dams in the 

Wilderness and hold a short public 

forum (question and answer session) 

The meeting is being held pursuant to 

the authorities in the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–463) and 

under the Secure Rural Schools and 

Community Self-Determination Act of 

2000 (Pub. L. 106–393). The meeting is 

open to the public. 

DATES: The meeting will be held on May 

22, 2007, 6:30 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Bitterroot National Forest 

Supervisor Office, Conference Room, 

1801 North First Street, Hamilton, 

Montana. Send written comments to 

Dan Ritter, District Ranger, Stevensville 

Ranger District, 88 Main Street, 

Stevensville, MT 59870. by facsimile 

(406) 777–7423, or electronically to 

dritter@fs.fed.us. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Daniel G. Ritter, Stevensville District 

Ranger and Designated Federal Officer, 

Phone: (406) 777–5461. 

Dated: May 4, 2007. 

Barry Paulson, 

Acting Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. 07–2332 Filed 5–10–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Notice of Proposed New Fee Sites; 

Federal Lands Recreation 

Enhancement Act, (Title VIII, Pub. L. 

108–447) 

AGENCY: Mendocino National Forest, 

USDA Forest Service. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed new fee 

sites. 

SUMMARY: The Mendocino National 

Forest is proposing to charge new fees 

at 14 developed recreation sites. Fees 

are assessed based on the level of 

amenities and services provided, cost of 

operation and maintenance, market 

assessment, and public comment. The 

fees listed are only proposed and will be 

determined upon further analysis and 

public comment. Funds from fees would 

be used for the continued operation and 

maintenance of these recreation sites. 

Pine Mountain Lookout will be 

available for overnight rental. The rental 

fee is recommended at $50 per night. 

Lookout rentals offer a unique 

experience and are a widely popular 

offering on National Forests. Pine 

Mountain was recently restored to 

maintain the lookout’s eligibility to the 

National Register of Historic Places. 

Fees would continue to help protect and 

maintain lookouts and their historic 

integrity. 

The following recreation sites are 

currently fee free but we are 

recommending fees be charged in the 

future: Davis Flat Campground, Dixie 

Glade Campground, Fouts Campground, 

Lake Red Bluff Boat Launch, Little 

Stony Campground, Mill Creek 

Campground, North Forth Campground, 

Sacramento River Boat Launch, South 

Fork Campground, Deer Valley 

Campground, Penny Pines Campground, 

Howard Lake Campground, Howard 

Meadows Campground, and Little Doe 

Campground. Improvements have been 

made at many of these campgrounds 

including installing new fire rings, 

picnic tables and some new toilets. 

Improvements at these campgrounds 

were to address sanitation and safety 

concerns, and improve deteriorating 

resource conditions and recreation 

experiences. A financial analysis is 

being completed to determine fee rates. 

The proposed fees to help maintain 

these sites would range between $5 and 

$8 a campsite. 

DATES: New fees would begin after 

October 1, 2007. The lookout rental will 

be listed with the National Recreation 

Reservation Service. 


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