60618 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Notices 

• Reduce the amount of fuel that 

currently exists and that created by 

vegetation treatment activities. 

Treatment could include lopping, 

chipping, crushing, piling and burning; 

creating fuel breaks along roads and 

adjacent to private property, particularly 

those properties with houses and 

subdivisions. Prescribed broadcast 

burning of up to 14,200 acres is also 

planned to not only reduce fuel levels, 

but also benefit big game and other 

wildlife resources. 

• Thin and harvest approximately 

23,500 acres of pine stands using a 

variety of treatments to reduce the 

overall density of pine trees and create 

a mosaic of structural stages across the 

landscape. Both commercial and noncommercial sized trees would be 

removed utilizing multiple contracts 

including stewardship, timber sale, and 

service contracts. 

Responsible Official 

Robert J. Thompson, District Ranger, 

Mystic Ranger District, Black Hills 

National Forest, 8221 South Highway 

16, Rapid City, SD 57702. 

Nature of Decision To Be Made 

The decision to be made is whether or 

not to implement the proposed action or 

possible alternative at this time. 

Scoping Process 

Comments and input regarding the 

proposal will be received via direct 

mailing from the public, other groups 

and agencies during the initial public 

comment period in October and 

November 2007. If you would like to be 

more involved, a public meeting is 

scheduled for Thursday November 8, 

2007 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the City 

Hall conference room in Hill City, South 

Dakota. Comments submitted based on 

this NOI will be most useful if received 

within 30 days from the date of this 

notice. Response to the draft EIS will be 

sought from the interested public 

beginning in February 2008. 

Comment Requested 

This NOI provides information that 

the agency will prepare an 

environmental impact statement in 

response to public comment and 

feedback during the October and 

November 2007 scoping period. 

Comments received will assist the 

planning team to identify key issues and 

opportunities used to refine the 

proposal or possible alternatives. 

Comments on the DEIS will be 

requested during the 45 day comment 

period following the Notice of 

Availability, expected to be published 

in the Federal Register in February 2008 

(See discussion below). 

Early Notice of Importance of Public 

Participation in Subsequent 

Environmental Review: The Forest 

Service believes, at this early stage, it is 

important to give reviewers notice of 

several court rulings related to public 

participation in the environmental 

review process. First, reviewers of draft 

environmental impact statements must 

structure their participation in the 

environmental review of the proposal so 

that it is meaningful and alerts an 

agency to the reviewer’s position and 

contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear 

Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 533 

(1978). Also, environmental objections 

that could be raised at the draft 

environmental impact statement stage 

but that are not raised until after 

completion of the final environmental 

impact statement may be waived or 

dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon 

v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 

1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. 

Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. 

Wis. 1980). Because of these court 

rulings, it is very important that those 

interested in this proposed action 

participate by the close of the 45-day 

comment period so that substantive 

comments and objections are made 

available to the Forest Service at a time 

when it can meaningfully consider them 

and respond to them in the final 

environmental impact statement. 

To assist the Forest Service in 

identifying and considering issues and 

concerns on the proposed action, 

comments on the draft environmental 

impact statement 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 environmental 

impact statement 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. 

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; 

Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, section 21) 

Dated: October 17, 2007. 

Craig Bobzien, 

Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest. 

[FR Doc. 07–5273 Filed 10–24–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Lassen National Forest, California, 

Lassen National Forest Public Wheeled 

Motorized Travel Management EIS 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement. 

SUMMARY: The Lassen National Forest 

(LNF) will prepare an Environmental 

Impact Statement to disclose the 

impacts associated with the following 

proposed actions: 1. The prohibition of 

wheeled motorized vehicle travel off 

designated National Forest System 

(NFS) roads, NFS trails and areas by the 

public except as allowed by permit or 

other authorization. 2. The addition of 

approximately 37 miles of unauthorized 

routes to the NFS of roads and 

motorized trails. 3. The addition of 

approximately 26 acres for open riding 

(10 areas), where use of wheeled 

motorized vehicles by the public would 

be allowed anywhere within the 

specifically delineated area. 4. Allowing 

non-highway legal vehicle use on 

approximately 12 miles of existing NFS 

roads where such use is currently 

prohibited. 

DATES: The comment period on the 

proposed action will extend 30 days 

from the date the Notice of Intent is 

published in the Federal Register. 

Completion of the Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 

is expected in March of 2008 and the 

Final Environmental Impact Statement 

(FEIS) is expected in June of 2008. 

ADDRESSES: Send electronic comments 

to: ltmrd@fs.fed.us. Send written 

comments to: Travel Management Team, 

Lassen National Forest, 2550 Riverside 

Drive, Susanville, CA 96130. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Allen Nosler, Lassen National Forest, 

2550 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 

96130. Phone: (530) 252–6637. E-mail: 

anosler@fs.fed.us. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Over the past few decades, the 

availability and capability of motorized 

vehicles, particularly off-highway 

vehicles (OHVs) and sport utility 

vehicles (SUVs) has increased 

tremendously. Nationally, the number 

of OHV users has climbed sevenfold in 

the past 30 years, from approximately 5 

million in 1972 to 36 million in 2000. 

The ten states with the largest 

population also have the most OHV 

users. California has 4.35 million OHV 

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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Notices 60619 

users accounting for almost 11% of the 

U.S. total (Off-Highway Vehicle 

Recreation in the United States, Regions 

and States: A National Report from the 

National Survey on Recreation and the 

Environment (NSRE), Cordell, Betz, 

Green and Owens, June 2005). There 

were 786,914 all terrain vehicles (ATVs) 

and OHV motorcycles registered in 

2004, up 330% since 1980. Annual sales 

of ATVs and OHV motorcycles in 

California were the highest in the U.S. 

for the last 5 years. Four-wheel drive 

vehicle sales in California also increased 

by 1500% to 3,046,866 from 1989 to 

2002. 

OHV recreation provides riding 

opportunities to some of California’s 

most scenic areas. However, unmanaged 

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 soils. Riparian areas and aquatic 

dependent species are particularly 

vulnerable to OHV use. Unmanaged 

recreation, including impacts from 

OHVs, is one of ‘‘Four Key Threats 

Facing the Nation’s Forests and 

Grasslands’’ (USDA Forest Service, June 

2004). 

In January 2001, the Regional Forester 

issued management direction of all 

California national forests to prohibit 

OHV travel off designated routes and 

areas (FEIS for the Sierra Nevada 

Framework Project). This direction was 

re-affirmed in January 2004 with a 

supplemental FEIS for the Sierra 

Nevada Framework Project. On August 

11, 2003, the Pacific Southwest Region 

of the Forest Service entered into a 

Memorandum of Intent (MOI) with the 

California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle 

Recreation Commission, and the OffHighway Motor Vehicle Recreation 

Division of the California Department of 

Parks and Recreation. That MOI set in 

motion a region-wide effort to 

‘‘Designate OHV roads, trails, and any 

specifically defined open areas for 

motorized wheeled vehicles on maps of 

the 18 National Forests in California by 

2007.’’

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 those roads, trails, and 

areas that are open to motor vehicle use 

by the public on National Forests. 

Designations will be made by class of 

vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of 

year. The final rule prohibits the use of 

motor vehicles by the public off the 

designated system as well as use of 

motor vehicles on routes and in areas 

that are not designated. 

On some NFS lands, long managed as 

open to cross-country motor vehicle 

travel, repeated use has resulted in 

unplanned and unauthorized roads and 

trails. These routes generally developed 

without environmental analysis or 

public involvement, and do not have the 

same status as NFS roads and NFS trails 

included in the forest transportation 

system. Nevertheless, some 

unauthorized routes are well-sited, 

provide excellent opportunities for 

outdoor recreation by motorized and 

non-motorized users, and would 

enhance the National Forest system of 

designated roads, trails and areas. Other 

unauthorized routes are poorly located 

and cause unacceptable impacts. Only 

NFS roads, NFS trails and open riding 

areas can be designated for wheeled 

motorized vehicle use. In order for an 

unauthorized route to be designated for 

use by the public, it must be added to 

the national forest transportation system 

(NFTS). 

In accordance with the MOI, the LNF 

recently completed an inventory of 

unauthorized routes on NFS lands and 

identified approximately 1,145 miles of 

unauthorized routes. The LNF then used 

an interdisciplinary process to conduct 

travel analysis that included working 

with the public to determine whether 

any of the unauthorized routes should 

be proposed for addition to the LNF 

transportation system. Travel analysis 

developed a number of routes which 

could be considered in this or future 

decisions on the NFTS at the discretion 

of the Responsible Official. Roads, trails 

and areas that are currently part of the 

LNF transportation system and are open 

to wheeled motorized vehicle travel will 

remain designated for such use except 

as described below under the Proposed 

Action. This proposal focuses only on 

the prohibition of wheeled motorized 

vehicle travel off designated routes and 

areas and other needed changes to the 

LNF transportation system, including 

the addition of some user-created routes 

to the LNF transportation system and 

minor changes to existing motor vehicle 

restrictions. The proposed action is 

being carried forward in accordance 

with the Travel Management Rule (36 

CFR Part 212). 

In accordance with the rule, following 

a decision on this proposal, the Lassen 

National Forest will publish a Motor 

Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) identifying 

all LNF roads, trails and areas that are 

designated open for motor vehicle use 

by the public. The MVUM shall specify 

the classes of vehicles and, if 

appropriate, the times of year for which 

use is authorized. The MVUM will be 

updated and published annually (or 

more frequently if needed) when 

changes to the Forest’s transportation 

system are made. Future decisions 

associated with changes to the MVUM 

may trigger the need for documentation 

of additional environmental analysis. 

Purpose and Need for Action 

The following needs have been 

identified for this proposal: 

1. There is a need for regulation of 

unmanaged wheeled motorized vehicle 

travel by the public. Currently, wheeled 

motorized vehicle travel by the public is 

temporarily prohibited off existing 

routes and areas by Forest Order #06–

07–1. The Forest Order became effective 

on July 12, 2007. Prior to that date, 

wheeled motorized vehicle travel off 

road was permitted in many LNF areas. 

In their enjoyment of the National 

Forest, motorized vehicle recreationists 

have created numerous unauthorized 

routes. The number of such routes 

continues to grow each year with many 

routes having environmental impacts 

and safety concerns that have not been 

addressed. The Travel Management 

Rule, 36 CFR part 212, provides policy 

for ending this trend of unauthorized 

route proliferation and managing the 

Forest transportation system in a 

sustainable manner through the 

designation of motorized NFS roads, 

trails and areas, and the prohibition of 

cross-country travel. 

2. There is a need for limited changes 

and additions to the LNF transportation 

system to: 

2.1. Provide wheeled motorized 

access to dispersed recreation 

opportunities (camping, hunting, 

fishing, hiking, horseback riding, etc.) 

2.2. Provide a diversity of wheeled 

motorized recreation opportunities (4X4 

vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, passenger 

vehicles, etc.) 

It is Forest Service policy to provide 

a diversity of motorized road and trail 

opportunities for experiencing a variety 

of environments and modes of travel 

consistent with the LNF land capability 

(FSM 2353.03(2)). In meeting these 

needs the proposed action must also 

achieve the following purposes: 

A. Avoid impacts to cultural 

resources. 

B. Provide for public safety. 

C. Provide for a diversity of 

recreational opportunities. 

D. Assure appropriate access to public 

and private lands. 

E. Provide for adequate maintenance 

and administration of roads, trails and 

areas based on availability of resources 

and funding to do so. 

F. Minimize damage to soil, 

vegetation and other forest resources. 

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60620 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Notices 

G. Minimize impacts to wildlife and 

significant degradation of wildlife 

habitat. 

H. Minimize conflicts between 

wheeled motor vehicle use and existing 

or proposed recreational uses of NFS 

lands or neighboring federal lands. 

I. Minimize conflicts among different 

classes of wheeled motor vehicle uses of 

NFS lands or neighboring federal lands. 

J. Address compatibility of wheeled 

motor vehicle use with existing 

conditions in populated areas, taking 

into account sound, emissions, etc. 

K. Have valid existing rights of use 

and access (rights-of-way). 

L. Minimize trespass on private and 

other adjacent non-NFS lands. 

Proposed Action 

1. Prohibition of wheeled motorized 

vehicle travel off the designated NFS 

roads, NFS trails and areas by the public 

except as allowed by permit or other 

authorization. 

2. Additions to the National Forest 

Transportation System—The LNF 

currently manages and maintains 

approximately 3629 miles of NFS roads 

and 55 miles of NFS motorized trails. 

Based on the stated purpose and need 

for action, and as a result of the recent 

travel analysis process, the LNF 

proposes to add approximately 30 miles 

of existing unauthorized routes to its NF 

road system and approximately 7 miles 

to its NF motorized trail system. These 

additions would bring the total NFS 

roads to approximately 3,659 miles and 

the NFS motorized trails to 62 miles. 

The proposed additions to the 

additional NF road and NF motorized 

trail systems are listed below along with 

the permitted vehicle class and season 

of use. 

TABLE 1.—PROPOSED NFS MOTORIZED ROAD ADDITIONS

Route ID Length 

(miles) 

Permitted vehicle 

class Season of use 

290407UC01 ............................................ 0.4004 All ............................................................. Year round. 

310716UC01 ............................................ 0.0107 All ............................................................. Year round. 

310716UC02 ............................................ 0.0506 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB412 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB414 ................................................... 0.8733 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB416 ................................................... 0.1164 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB685 ................................................... 0.0099 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB686 ................................................... 0.0021 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB707 ................................................... 0.0821 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB707A ................................................. 0.0476 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB752 ................................................... 0.0314 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB797 ................................................... 0.0347 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB798 ................................................... 0.1109 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB799 ................................................... 0.0239 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB800 ................................................... 0.2112 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB806 ................................................... 0.0564 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBB809 ................................................... 0.82 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBC022 ................................................... 0.0348 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBC105 ................................................... 0.2778 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBC115 ................................................... 0.3238 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA106 .................................................... 0.292 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA107 .................................................... 0.2375 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA113 .................................................... 0.1795 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA114 .................................................... 0.2032 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA115 .................................................... 0.1555 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA120 .................................................... 0.1528 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA121 .................................................... 0.3526 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA121 .................................................... 0.0168 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA121–1 ................................................ 0.1019 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA122 .................................................... 0.0486 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA123 .................................................... 0.1214 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA124 .................................................... 0.1409 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA127 .................................................... 0.9703 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA136 .................................................... 0.0683 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA156 .................................................... 0.1152 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA158 .................................................... 0.0802 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA163 .................................................... 0.0952 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA164 .................................................... 0.0711 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA171 .................................................... 0.3349 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA252 .................................................... 0.0833 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA254 .................................................... 0.0949 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA257 .................................................... 0.2861 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA272B ................................................. 0.5626 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA488 .................................................... 0.1443 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA488–1 ................................................ 0.1367 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA489A ................................................. 0.0996 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA489B ................................................. 0.081 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UMN003 ................................................... 0.0659 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UMN004 ................................................... 0.1862 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UMN005 ................................................... 0.054 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UMN008 ................................................... 0.3266 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UMN009 ................................................... 0.2773 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UMN010 ................................................... 0.0271 All ............................................................. Year round. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Notices 60621 

TABLE 1.—PROPOSED NFS MOTORIZED ROAD ADDITIONS—Continued 

Route ID Length 

(miles) 

Permitted vehicle 

class Season of use 

UMN012 ................................................... 0.0409 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UMN805 ................................................... 0.5868 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNE080 ................................................... 0.1098 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNE087 ................................................... 0.0235 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNH001 ................................................... 1.0481 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNH006 ................................................... 1.1766 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNHO19 .................................................. 0.4891 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNH026 ................................................... 0.5648 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNH529 ................................................... 0.2216 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNH533 ................................................... 1.0575 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNH534 ................................................... 0.6381 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNH535 ................................................... 0.2756 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNH541 ................................................... 0.2311 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNH543 ................................................... 0.7002 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNH546 ................................................... 0.231 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNH548 ................................................... 0.7396 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNH550 ................................................... 0.2728 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNH552 ................................................... 0.0614 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNO170 ................................................... 0.8193 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNO171 ................................................... 0.5343 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UN0178 .................................................... 0.5094 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNO180 ................................................... 0.3356 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UN0216 .................................................... 0.3619 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UN0219 .................................................... 0.106 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UN0220 .................................................... 0.8504 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UN0221 .................................................... 0.1942 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UN0222 .................................................... 1.1577 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UN0229 .................................................... 1.18 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UN0230 .................................................... 0.1106 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UN0275 .................................................... 0.4896 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW100 .................................................. 0.4022 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW113 .................................................. 0.2267 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW318 .................................................. 0.1526 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW337 .................................................. 0.1043 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW338 .................................................. 0.7712 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW339 .................................................. 0.2989 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW340 .................................................. 0.3278 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW342 .................................................. 0.1635 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW353 .................................................. 0.2301 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW355 .................................................. 0.5582 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW356 .................................................. 0.443 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW358 .................................................. 0.2471 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW359 .................................................. 0.2005 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW364 .................................................. 0.2813 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW506C ................................................ 0.1385 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW602 .................................................. 0.084 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW675 .................................................. 0.1212 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW676 .................................................. 0.1293 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW804 .................................................. 0.2822 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNW805 .................................................. 0.3495 All ............................................................. Year round. 

Total .................................................. 30.3383 

TABLE 2.—PROPOSED NFS MOTORIZED TRAIL ADDITIONS

Route ID Length 

(miles) 

Permitted vehicle 

class Season of use 

280310UC03 ............................................ 0.2306 All* ........................................................... Year round. 

UAP205 ................................................... 0.0653 Vehicles less than 50 inches in width ..... Year round. 

UAP206 ................................................... 0.6591 Vehicles less than 50 inches in width ..... Year round. 

UBC046 ................................................... 0.0937 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBC053 ................................................... 0.5811 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBC057 ................................................... 0.2671 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UBC058 ................................................... 0.3758 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC001 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC002 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC003 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC004 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC009 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC010 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

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60622 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Notices 

TABLE 2.—PROPOSED NFS MOTORIZED TRAIL ADDITIONS—Continued 

Route ID Length 

(miles) 

Permitted vehicle 

class Season of use 

UDC011 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC012 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC013 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC014 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC015 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC016 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC017 ................................................... 0.0379 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC021 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC022 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC023 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC024 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC045 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC046 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC049 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC047 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC048 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC052 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC053 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC054 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC055 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC056 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC057 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC058 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC059 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC060 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC061 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC062 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC063 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC064 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC065 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC066 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC067 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC025 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC026 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC027 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC028 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC034 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC044 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC031 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC032 ................................................... 0.0095 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UDC043 ................................................... 0.0284 All ............................................................. Year round. 

ULA172 .................................................... 0.9473 Vehicles less than 50 inches in width ..... Year round. 

ULA175 .................................................... 0.3724 Vehicles less than 50 inches in width ..... Year round. 

ULA177 .................................................... 0.4268 Vehicles less than 50 inches in width ..... Year round. 

ULA187 .................................................... 0.1228 Motorcycle ............................................... Year round. 

ULA190 .................................................... 0.9158 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNE392 ................................................... 0.3182 All ............................................................. Year round. 

UNE394 ................................................... 0.9117 All ............................................................. Year round. 

Total .................................................. 7.1223 

*

All approved motorized trail modes of travel. 

3. Motorized Open Riding Area 

Additions—The Lassen National Forest 

currently has no areas designated open 

to wheeled motorized vehicle use. The 

Lassen National Forest proposes to 

designate 10 specifically delineated 

areas open to wheeled motorized 

vehicle travel for a total of 26 acres. The 

motorized areas are listed below along 

with the permitted vehicle class and 

season of use. 

TABLE 3.—PROPOSED NFS MOTORIZED OPEN RIDING AREA ADDITIONS

Area name Acreage Permitted vehicle class Season of use 

West Dusty Cinder Pit ................................................... 1 .91 Less than 50 inches ....................................................... 4/1 to 11/1. 

Lost Lake Cinder Pit ...................................................... 2 .54 Less than 50 inches ....................................................... 4/1 to 11/1. 

West Brown Ranch ........................................................ 1 .76 Less than 50 inches ....................................................... 4/1 to 11/1. 

Sandy Beach West ........................................................ 1 .10 Less than 50 inches ....................................................... 4/1 to 11/1. 

Sandy Beach East ......................................................... 4 .96 Less than 50 inches ....................................................... 4/1 to 11/1. 

East McCoy .................................................................... 3 .02 All ................................................................................... 4/1 to 11/1. 

South Old Station ........................................................... 4 .29 All ................................................................................... 4/1 to 11/1. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Notices 60623 

TABLE 3.—PROPOSED NFS MOTORIZED OPEN RIDING AREA ADDITIONS—Continued 

Area name Acreage Permitted vehicle class Season of use 

Potato Butte ................................................................... 4 .32 Less than 50 inches ....................................................... 4/1 to 11/1. 

Little Antelope Valley Pit ................................................ 0 .85 Less than 50 inches ....................................................... 4/1 to 11/1. 

Butte Valley .................................................................... 1 .13 Less than 50 inches ....................................................... 4/1 to 11/1. 

Total ........................................................................ 25 .88 

4. Allowing Non-Highway Legal 

Vehicle Access on NFS Roads That Are 

Maintained for Use by Highway Legal 

Vehicles. The LNF believes the roads 

listed in the table below would enhance 

wheeled motorized recreation 

opportunities for the public if they were 

open to use by all vehicle classes. The 

LNF will evaluate the safety hazards 

associated with allowing highway legal 

and non-highway legal vehicle use by 

the public on these roads. The LNF may 

allow segments of these roads as open 

to all vehicles where it is determined 

that it will not create a traffic safety 

hazard or that hazards can be mitigated. 

TABLE 4.—NFS ROAD SEGMENTS CURRENTLY OPEN TO HIGHWAY LEGAL VEHICLES ONLY PROPOSED FOR DESIGNATION

AS OPEN TO ALL VEHICLES

Route ID Route segment Length 

(miles) 

Current permitted 

vehicle class 

Proposed permitted 

vehicle class 

Season 

of use 

31N17/DR17 ...... From 30N17 to 31N45 (Dry Lake) ....................... 1.83 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round. 

32N10/DR10 ...... From 32N10A to 31N24 (Silver Lake, Rocky 

Knoll).

1.69 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round. 

32N10/DR10 ...... From 31N24 to 31N25 (Stephens Camp) ............ 1.15 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round.

32N10C .............. (Caribou Lake Spur) ............................................. 0.18 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round. 

29N03 ................ From 29N20Y to 29N03B (Roxie Peconom) ....... 1.24 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round. 

32N08 ................ From CA 44 to 32N23 (Bogard Work Center) ..... 0.81 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round. 

32N10/DR10 ...... From CA 44 to 32N22 (Bogard Rest Area) ......... 1.34 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round.

32N10/DR10 ...... From 31N15 to 31N28 (Stephens Camp) ............ 0.14 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round.

32N22 ................ From 32N53 to UNE394 (Bogard Rest Area) ...... 0.19 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round. 

32N22 ................ From 32N10/DR10 to 32N29 (Bogard Rest Area) 0.14 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round. 

32N60 ................ From 32N73Y to 32N73Y (Grays Flat) ................ 1.76 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round. 

32N12 ................ From 32N42Y to 31N13 (Twin Bridges) .............. 0,28 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round. 

32N12 ................ From 32N38 to 32N42Y (Twin Bridges, Badger 

Mountain north).

1.60 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round. 

32N13 ................ From 32N12 to 32N12Y (Twin Bridges) .............. 1.46 Highway legal only All .......................... Year round. 

Total ............ .......................................................................... 12.81 

Maps and tables describing in detail 

both the LNF transportation system and 

the proposed action can found at: 

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/1asses/ 

12rotects/NEPA_proiectshoute/ 

index.php. 

In addition, maps will be available for 

viewing at: 

Lassen National Forest, Region 5, 2550 

Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 

96130. 

Almanor Ranger District, 900 E. HWY 

36, Chester, CA 96020. 

Eagle Lake Ranger District, 477–050 

Eagle Lake Road, Susanville, CA 

96130. 

Hat Creek Ranger District, 43225 E. 

HWY 299, Fall River Mills, CA 96028. 

Responsible Official 

Jack Walton, Acting Forest Supervisor, 

Supervisor’s Office, Lassen National 

Forest, Region 5, 2550 Riverside 

Drive, Susanville, CA 96130. 

Nature of 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 

make changes to the existing Lassen 

National Forest Transportation System 

and prohibit cross country wheeled 

motorized vehicle travel by the public 

off the designated system. Once the 

decision is made, the Lassen National 

Forest will publish a Motor Vehicle Use 

Map (MVUM) identifying the roads, 

trails and areas that are designated as 

open to the public for motor vehicle use. 

The MVUM shall specify the classes of 

vehicles and, if appropriate, the times of 

year for which use is authorized. 

Scoping Process 

Public participation will be especially 

important at several points during the 

analysis. The Forest Service will be 

seeking information, comments, and 

assistance from the federal, state, and 

local agencies and other individuals or 

organizations who may be interested in 

or affected by the proposed action. 

The Notice of Intent is expected to be 

published in the Federal Register on 

October 24, 2007. The comment period 

on the proposed action will extend 30 

days from the date the Notice of Intent 

is published in the Federal Register. 

The draft environmental impact 

statement is expected to be filed with 

the Environmental Protection Agency 

(EPA) and to be available for public 

review by March 7, 2008. EPA will 

publish a notice of availability (NOA) of 

the draft EIS in the Federal Register. 

The comment period on the draft EIS 

will extend 45 days from the date the 

EPA publishes the NOA in the Federal 

Register. At that time, copies of the draft 

EIS will be distributed to interested and 

affected agencies, organizations, and 

members of the public for their review 

and comment. It is very important that 

those interested in the management of 

the Lassen National Forest participate at 

that time. Submission of comments in 

response to the draft EIS is a 

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60624 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 206 / Thursday, October 25, 2007 / Notices 

prerequisite for eligibility to appeal 

under the 36 CFR part 215 regulations. 

The final EIS is scheduled to be 

completed in June 2008. In the final EIS, 

the Forest Service will respond to 

comments received during the comment 

period that pertain to the environmental 

consequences discussed in the draft EIS 

and applicable laws, regulations, and 

policies considered in making the 

decision. 

Comment Requested 

This notice of intent initiates the 

scoping process which guides the 

development of the environmental 

impact statement. Comments received, 

including the names and addresses of 

those who comment, will be considered 

part of the public record on this 

proposal and will be available for public 

inspection. 

The Forest Service believes, at this 

early stage, it is important to give 

reviewers notice of several court rulings 

related to public participation in the 

environmental review process. First, 

reviewers of draft environmental impact 

statements must structure their 

participation in the environmental 

review of the proposal so that it is 

meaningful and alerts an agency to the 

reviewer’s position and contentions. 

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. 

NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, 

environmental objections that could be 

raised at the draft environmental impact 

statement stage, but that are not raised 

until after completion of the final 

environmental impact statement may be 

waived or dismissed by the courts. City 

of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 

1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin 

Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 

1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of 

these court rulings, it is very important 

that those interested in this proposed 

action participate by the close of the 45 

day comment period so that substantive 

comments and objections are made 

available to the Forest Service at a time 

when it can meaningfully consider them 

and respond to them in the final 

environmental impact statement. 

To assist the Forest Service in 

identifying and considering issues and 

concerns on the proposed action, 

comments on the draft environmental 

impact statement should be as specific 

as possible. It is also helpful if 

comments refer to specific pages or 

chapters of the draft environmental 

impact statement. Comments may also 

address the adequacy of the draft 

environmental impact statement 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. 

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; 

Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, section 21) 

Jack T. Walton, 

Acting, Lassen National Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. 07–5272 Filed 10–24–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory 

Committee 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Lake Tahoe Basin Federal 

Advisory Committee will hold a 

meeting on November 13, 2007 at the 

US Forest Service Office, 35 College 

Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 96150. 

This Committee, established by the 

Secretary of Agriculture on December 

15, 1998 (64 FR 2876), is chartered to 

provide advice to the Secretary on 

implementing the terms of the Federal 

Interagency Partnership on the Lake 

Tahoe Region and other matters raised 

by the Secretary. 

DATES: The meeting will be held 

November 13, 2007, beginning at 1 p.m. 

and ending at 4 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the US Forest Service Office, 35 College 

Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA, 96150. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Arla 

Haines, Lake Tahoe Basin Management 

Unit, Forest Service, 35 College Drive, 

South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, (530) 543- 

2773. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Items to 

be covered on the agenda include: 1) 

Preliminary presentation by Tahoe 

Basin agencies of the Southern Nevada 

Public Land Management Act 

(SNPLMA) Round 9 hazardous fuels 

reduction and wildfire prevention 

projects; 2) Lake Tahoe SNPLMA Round 

9 science themes; Lake Tahoe SNPLMA 

Round 9 project nomination form and 

Round 9 calendar/timeframes; and 3) 

Public Comment. All Lake Tahoe Basin 

Federal Advisory Committee meetings 

are open to the public. Interested 

citizens are encouraged to attend at the 

above address. Issues may be brought to 

the attention of the Committee during 

the open public comment period at the 

meeting or by filing written statements 

with the secretary for the Committee 

before or after the meeting. Please refer 

any written comments to the Lake 

Tahoe Basin Management Unit at the 

contact address stated above. 

Dated: October 18, 2007. 

Terri Marceron, 

Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. 07–5274 Filed 10–24–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

Submission for OMB Review; 

Comment Request 

The Department of Commerce will 

submit to the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) for clearance the 

following proposal for collection of 

information under the provisions of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 

Chapter 35). 

Agency: National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 

Title: South Pacific Tuna Act. 

Form Number(s): None. 

OMB Approval Number: 0648–0218. 

Type of Request: Regular submission. 

Burden Hours: 199. 

Number of Respondents: 22. 

Average Hours Per Response License 

application, 15 minute; regional 

application/VMS registration, 45 

minutes; purse seine transshipment 

logsheet, 1 hour; and unloading 

logsheet, 30 minutes. 

Needs and Uses: The National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration collects license, 

registration, catch, and unloading 

information from purse seine vessels 

fishing within a large region of the 

central and western Pacific Ocean 

governed by the Treaty of Fisheries 

between the governments of Certain 

Pacific Island States and the government 

of the United States of America. The 

information collected is required to 

meet obligations under the Treaty. 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit organizations. 

Frequency: Annually and on occasion. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory. 

OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, 

(202) 395–3897. 

Copies of the above information 

collection proposal can be obtained by 

calling or writing Diana Hynek, 

Departmental Paperwork Clearance 

Officer, (202) 482–0266, Department of 

Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and 

Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, 

DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 

dHynek@doc.gov). 

Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent 

within 30 days of publication of this 

notice to David Rostker, OMB Desk 

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