12304 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 24, 2009 / Notices 

Following such a determination, to 

obtain an urgent removal extension on 

a NFS timber sale contract, a purchaser 

must make a written request to the 

contracting officer and include the 

following: 

• An explanation of why the harvest 

of undamaged (green) NFS timber 

within the term of the existing NFS 

contract(s) will prevent or otherwise 

impede the removal of damaged nonNFS timber in need of expeditious 

removal; and 

• Documentation that the 

manufacturing facilities or logging 

equipment capacity available to the 

purchaser would be insufficient to 

provide for both the rapid salvage of 

damaged non-NFS timber in need of 

expeditious removal and continued 

harvest of undamaged (green) NFS 

timber under contract with the Forest 

Service. 

The information is submitted by the 

purchaser in writing to the Forest 

Service contracting officer, who then 

verifies the legitimate need for the 

request of an urgent removal 

extension(s) in accordance with 

regulations at 36 CFR 223.53. 

No form is designated for the 

collection of this information. The 

information is collected in hard copy or 

by facsimile. Each request for an urgent 

removal extension is based upon a 

unique set of circumstances, no two 

requests are alike. There is no 

duplication of information and the 

information is only available from the 

timber sale purchaser. The Forest 

Service collects only the minimum 

amount of information necessary for the 

contracting officer to make a 

determination. Without the information, 

and the frequency at which it is 

collected, the Forest Service cannot 

assure that the statutory requirements of 

the National Forest Management Act are 

met. 

Estimate of Annual Burden: 6 hours. 

Type of Respondents: Timber sale 

contractors (individuals, for-profit 

businesses, and non-profit entities). 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Respondents: 25. 

Estimated Annual Number of 

Responses per Respondent: 1. 

Estimated Total Annual Burden on 

Respondents: 150 hours. 

Comment Is Invited 

Comment is invited on: (1) Whether 

this collection of information is 

necessary for the stated purposes and 

the proper performance of the functions 

of the agency, including whether the 

information will have practical or 

scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden of the 

collection of information, including the 

validity of the methodology and 

assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 

the quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected; and (4) 

ways to minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on 

respondents, including the use of 

automated, electronic, mechanical, or 

other technological collection 

techniques or other forms of information 

technology. 

All comments received in response to 

this notice, including names and 

addresses when provided, will be a 

matter of public record. Comments will 

be summarized and included in the 

submission request toward Office of 

Management and Budget approval. 

Dated: March 18, 2009. 

Richard W. Sowa, 

Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National 

Forest System. 

[FR Doc. E9–6388 Filed 3–23–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

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. 

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: OkaWenTravel-Management@fs.fed.us. 

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 crosscountry 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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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 24, 2009 / Notices 12305 

soils. Riparian areas and aquaticdependent 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 OkanoganWenatchee 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 OkanoganWenatchee National Forest began in 

2006, the OWNF proposes the following 

changes to motor vehicle use on specific 

roads, trails and areas within the nonwilderness 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 crosscountry 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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12306 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 24, 2009 / Notices 

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] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Notice of Availability (NOA) Record of 

Decision (ROD) for the Designation of 

Energy Corridors on Federal Land in 

the 11 Western States, Including 

Proposed Amendments to Selected 

Land Management Plans 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of availability of record 

of decision. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the 

National Forest Management Act 

(NFMA, 16 U.S.C. 1600–1614 et seq.), 

the Forest Service announces the 

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