46238 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 154 / Friday, August 8, 2008 / Notices 

Dated: July 29, 2008. 

J. Sharon Heywood, 

Forest Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National 

Forest. 

[FR Doc. E8–17994 Filed 8–7–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Shasta-Trinity National Forest, 

California; Shasta-Trinity National 

Forest Motorized Travel Management 

EIS 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement. 

SUMMARY: The Shasta-Trinity National 

Forest (Forest) will prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement to 

disclose the impacts associated with the 

following proposed actions: 

1. Prohibition of cross-country 

motorized vehicle travel (with the 

exception of snowmobiles) off 

designated National Forest System 

(NFS) roads, NFS trails and areas by the 

public except as allowed by permit or 

other authorization (Travel Management 

Rule, 36 CFR Part 212, Subpart B). 

2. Amend the Forest Land and 

Resource Management Plan (Plan) to 

conform with the Travel Management 

Rule, Subpart B, by removing reference 

to OHV cross-country travel in the 

Forest Plan and include as a forest-wide 

standard ‘‘Prohibit wheeled vehicle 

travel off designated roads and trails 

except for administrative use or uses 

under permitted activities or within 

designated areas.’’

3. Add approximately 32 miles of 

existing unauthorized routes to the 

National Forest Transportation System 

(NFTS) as roads open to the public for 

wheeled motorized vehicle use by 

vehicle class and season of use. 

4. Add approximately 11 miles of 

existing unauthorized routes to the 

NFTS as motorized trails open to the 

public for wheeled motorized vehicle 

use by vehicle class and season of use. 

5. Restrict use below the high-water 

mark at Shasta Lake and Trinity Lake, 

(within the Shasta-Trinity National 

Recreation Area) to only highway legal 

vehicles and provide a maximum speed 

limit of 15 miles per hour (mph). 

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 January 2009 and the 

Final Environmental Impact Statement 

(FEIS) is expected in July 2009. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: 

Travel Management Team, ShastaTrinity National Forest, 3644 Avtech 

Parkway, Redding, CA 96002. Electronic 

comments may be submitted to 

comments-pacificsouthwest-shastatrinity@fs.fed.us with Subject: 

Motorized Travel. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Robert Remillard, Shasta-Trinity 

National Forest, 3644 Avtech Parkway, 

Redding, CA 96002, Phone: (530) 226–

2421, Fax: (530) 226–2470, e-mail: 

rremillard@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 

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 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. 

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). 

On August 11, 2003, the Pacific 

Southwest Region of the Forest Service 

entered into a Memorandum of Intent 

(MOT) with the California Off-Highway 

Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, 

and the Off-Highway 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 19 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 68264–6829 1). Subpart B of 

the final Travel Management Rule 

requires designation of those roads, 

trails, and areas that are open to motor 

vehicle use on National Forests. Route 

designations will be made by class of 

vehicle and, if appropriate, by time of 

year. The final rule allows for motor 

vehicle use only on designated system 

routes and in designated areas. 

On some NFS lands, long managed as 

open to cross-country motor vehicle 

travel, repeated use has resulted in 

unplanned, unauthorized, roads and 

trails. These routes generally were 

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 wellsited, 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 and NFS trails can be 

designated for wheeled motorized 

vehicle use. For an unauthorized route 

to be designated, it must first be added 

to the national forest transportation 

system (NFTS). 

In accordance with the Memorandum 

of Intent, the Forest recently completed 

an inventory of unauthorized routes on 

NFS lands and identified approximately 

5,085 unauthorized routes totaling 1,198 

miles. The Forest then used an 

interdisciplinary process to conduct 

travel analysis to determine whether 

any of the unauthorized routes should 

be proposed for addition to the NFTS in 

this proposed action. A number of 

routes were identified which could be 

considered in this or future decisions on 

the NFTS as a part of travel management 

on the Forest. The Responsible Official 

has made decisions on what, if any, 

changes to the existing NFTS would be 

a part of this proposed action. 

Roads, trails and areas that are 

currently part of the Forest 

transportation system and are open to 

wheeled motorized vehicle travel will 

remain designated for such unless 

changed by this proposal. This proposal 

focuses only on the prohibition of 

wheeled motorized vehicle travel off 


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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 154 / Friday, August 8, 2008 / Notices 46239 

designated routes and needed changes 

to the Forest transportation system, 

including the addition of some 

unauthorized routes to the Forest 

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, Subpart B). 

In accordance with the Travel 

Management Rule, following a decision 

on this proposal, the Forest will publish 

a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVTJM) 

identifying all Forest roads, trails and 

areas that are designated for motor 

vehicle use. The MVUM shall specify 

the classes of vehicles and, if 

appropriate, the times of year for which 

use is designated. Unauthorized routes 

not included in this proposal are not 

precluded from future consideration for 

addition to the NFTS and inclusion in 

a MVUM. Future decisions associated 

with changes to the MVIJM may trigger 

the need for documentation in an 

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 motorized vehicle travel by 

the public. In their enjoyment of the 

National Forest, motorized vehicle users 

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, Subpart B, 

provides policy for ending this trend of 

unauthorized route proliferation 

through designation of motorized NFS 

roads, trails and areas, and the 

prohibition of cross-country travel. 

2. There is a need for the Forest Plan 

to conform to the new Travel 

Management Rule, CFR Part 212, 

Subpart B. A review of the Forest Plan 

has found that it is not fully consistent 

with the new Travel Management Rule. 

Motorized vehicle travel by the public is 

authorized off designated routes in some 

areas of the Forest. For example, the 

Record of Decision (page 7), for the 

Forest Plan permits Off-HighwayVehicle (OHV) use as follows: 586,609 

acres closed; 1,259,688 acres restricted; 

and 275,250 acres open to OHV use. In 

addition the Forest Plan states on page 

3–16 ‘‘The Forest’s OHV Plan designates 

239,175 acres to cross-county travel.’’

This direction is in conflict with the 

Travel Management Rule at 36 CFR 

212.50(a) (Motor vehicle use off 

designated roads and trails and outside 

designated areas is prohibited by 36 

CFR 261.13). 

3. There is a need for changes and 

additions to the NFTS system to: 

3.1. Provide wheeled motorized 

access to dispersed recreation 

opportunities (camping, hunting, 

fishing, hiking, horseback riding, etc.) 

There is a need to maintain motor 

vehicle access to dispersed recreation 

activities that historically have been 

accessed by motor vehicles. A portion of 

known dispersed recreation activities 

are not located directly adjacent to an 

existing NFTS road or NFTS motorized 

trail. Some dispersed recreation 

activities depend on foot or horseback 

access, and some depend on motor 

vehicle access. Those activities accessed 

by motor vehicles consist of short spurs 

that have been created and maintained 

primarily by the passage of motorized 

vehicles. Many such ‘‘user-created’’

routes are not currently part of the 

NFTS. Without adding them to the 

NFTS, the regulatory changes noted 

above would make continued use of 

such routes illegal through the 

prohibition of cross country travel and 

would preclude access to many 

dispersed recreation activities. 

3.2. Provide a diversity of wheeled 

motorized recreation opportunities (4 x 

4 Vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, 

passenger vehicles, etc.). It is Forest 

Service policy to provide a diversity of 

road and trail opportunities for 

experiencing a variety of environments 

and modes of travel consistent with the 

National Forest recreation role and land 

capability (FSM 23 53.03(2)). 

Implementation of Subpart B of the 

Travel Management Rule will severely 

reduce motorized recreation 

opportunities relative to current levels. 

As a result, there is a need to consider 

limited changes and additions to the 

type of use permitted on existing NFTS 

roads as well as potential additions to 

the NFTS. 

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 adequate access to public 

and private lands. 

E. Provide for adequate maintenance 

and administration of designations 

based on availability of resources and 

funding to do so. Currently the Forest 

has a maintenance backlog for roads of 

approximately $137,000,000. Future 

road and trail budgets are expected to 

decrease from current levels. 

F. Minimize damage to soil, 

vegetation and other forest resources. 

G. Avoid harassment of wildlife and 

significant disruption of wildlife 

habitat. 

H. Minimize conflicts between 

wheeled motor vehicles and existing or 

proposed recreational uses of NFS 

lands. 

I. Minimize conflicts among different 

classes of wheeled motor vehicle uses of 

NFS lands or neighboring federal lands. 

J. Assure 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. Constrain the proposal to that 

which is within the capability of the 

Forest to analyze given: The ShastaTrinity National Forest MVUM 

publication deadline is December 2009, 

available funding (road and trail 

management budgets), and available 

resources (resource data and staff time). 

Proposed Action 

1. Prohibit cross-country motorized 

vehicle travel (with the exception of 

snowmobiles) off the designated NFTS 

roads, NFTS trails and areas by the 

public except as allowed by permit or 

other authorization. 

2. Amend the Forest Plan to be 

consistent with the Travel Management 

Rule (36 CFR Part 212, Subpart B) 

prohibiting cross-county motorized 

vehicle travel off designated NFS roads 

and NFTS trails outside of designated 

areas by removing reference to OHV 

cross country travel in the Forest Plan 

and including as a forest-wide standard 

‘‘Prohibit wheeled vehicle travel off 

designated roads and trails except for 

administrative use or uses under 

permitted activities or within 

designated areas.’’

3. Add approximately 32 miles of 

existing unauthorized routes as National 

Forest Transportation System (NFTS) 

roads classified as open to all vehicle 

classes, both highway legal and nonhighway legal, as shown in Table 1. 

With these additions, roads open to all 

vehicle classes will be approximately 

3,818 miles. Forest roads maintained for 

low clearance passenger cars are subject 

to State traffic laws (36 CFR 212.5(a)(1)). 

As a result, such roads are open to 

highway legal vehicles only. These 

additions would bring the total of all 

NFTS roads to approximately 5,177 

miles. The NFTS road additions are 

listed below along with the permitted 

vehicle class and, if applicable, season 

of use. 


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46240 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 154 / Friday, August 8, 2008 / Notices 

TABLE 1—PROPOSED NFS MOTORIZED ROAD ADDITIONS

Route ID Miles 

(length) 

Permitted 

vehicle 

class 

Season of use 

JG3O ....................................................................... 0.18 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

JG31 ....................................................................... 0.21 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

JM244 ..................................................................... 0.96 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

JM25 ....................................................................... 0.19 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

JM72 ....................................................................... 0.06 All ........................................................................... August 2 to December 31. 

NRA1 ...................................................................... 0.60 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

NRA2 ...................................................................... 0.30 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

NRA3 ...................................................................... 0.22 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

PM2004 ................................................................... 0.32 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

PM304 ..................................................................... 0.03 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

SE194 ..................................................................... 0.04 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

SE314 ..................................................................... 0.07 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

SE416 ..................................................................... 2.04 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

SE476 ..................................................................... 0.16 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

SE477 ..................................................................... 0.15 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

SE508 ..................................................................... 0.12 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

SFMU12 .................................................................. 0.10 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

SFMU13 .................................................................. 0.26 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

SFMU17 .................................................................. 0.04 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

SFMU18 .................................................................. 0.03 All ........................................................................... August 16 to January 31. 

SFMU4 .................................................................... 0.02 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

SFMU5 .................................................................... 0.06 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

SFMU6 .................................................................... 0.02 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

SFMU7 .................................................................... 0.01 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

SW234 .................................................................... 0.14 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

TC1004 ................................................................... 0.12 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

TC1238 ................................................................... 0.04 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

TC349 ..................................................................... 0.12 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

1C828 ..................................................................... 0.08 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

TC838 ..................................................................... 0.14 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

TC899 ..................................................................... 0.06 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

TRMU2 .................................................................... 0.54 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

TRMU3 .................................................................... 0.15 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

TRMU5 .................................................................... 0.22 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

TRMU6 .................................................................... 0.05 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U1B005A ................................................................. 0.09 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

UIS39B .................................................................... 0.23 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

U27N02G ................................................................ 0.09 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U30N27S ................................................................ 0.05 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U30N29E ................................................................ 0.74 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

U34N26DA .............................................................. 0.26 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U34N26DAA ........................................................... 0.09 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U35N05A ................................................................ 1.74 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

U35N85A ................................................................ 0.19 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

U36N35AA .............................................................. 0.71 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U36N35AB .............................................................. 0.10 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U4ON13D ............................................................... 0.71 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

U40N35A ................................................................ 0.65 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U4ON84AA ............................................................. 1.59 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U4ON88XCB ........................................................... 0.49 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U4ON88XE ............................................................. 0.25 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U4ON91YA ............................................................. 0.63 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U414A ..................................................................... 0.59 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U414C ..................................................................... 0.19 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U414CA .................................................................. 0.12 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U414D ..................................................................... 0.15 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U414F ..................................................................... 0.18 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U414FA ................................................................... 0.04 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U41N18A ................................................................ 2.52 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U41N18AA .............................................................. 2.08 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U41N18AAD ........................................................... 0.82 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U41N55D ................................................................ 1.21 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U41N55E ................................................................ 1.60 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U42N18A ................................................................ 3.89 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U42N18AA .............................................................. 2.43 All ........................................................................... Yearlong. 

U4N12L ................................................................... 0.06 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

U4N12LA ................................................................ 0.06 All ........................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

Total miles ....................................................... 32.42 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
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4. Add approximately 11 miles of 

existing unauthorized routes as NFTS 

motorized trails, as shown in Table 2. 

This would bring the total NFTS 

motorized trails to 163 miles. 

Approximately 2 miles of motorized 

trails would be classified as open for 

‘‘All Trail Class Vehicles’’. The 

remaining 9 miles of motorized trails 

would be classified as open for 

‘‘Motorcycle only’’ or ‘‘Vehicles 50 

inches or less in width’’. The additional 

NFTS motorized trails are listed below 

along with the permitted vehicle class 

and, if applicable, season of use. 

TABLE 2—PROPOSED NFS MOTORIZED TRAIL ADDITIONS

Route ID Miles 

(length) 

Permitted 

vehicle 

class 

Season of use 

PM702 ................................... 0.04 All Trail Class Vehicles ............................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

RM026 ................................... 1.55 Vehicles 50′′ or less in width ...................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

RMO9O .................................. 0.07 All Trail Class Vehicles ............................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

RM1036 ................................. 2.16 All Trail Class Vehicles ............................................................................... Yearlong. 

RM1226 ................................. 0.10 All Trail Class Vehicles ............................................................................... Yearlong. 

RM706 ................................... 0.07 All Trail Class Vehicles ............................................................................... Yearlong. 

TC1098 .................................. 0.05 Vehicles 50′′ or less in width ...................................................................... Yearlong. 

TC1249 .................................. 0.04 All Trail Class Vehicles ............................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

TC1829 .................................. 0.14 All Trail Class Vehicles ............................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

TC319 .................................... 0.12 All Trail Class Vehicles ............................................................................... Yearlong. 

U29N28C ............................... 0.51 Motorcycle only ........................................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

U31NO2Q .............................. 0.28 Vehicles 50′′ or less in width ...................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

U4N12D ................................. 3.38 Vehicles 50′′ or less in width ...................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

UOHVO1X ............................. 0.36 Motorcycle only ........................................................................................... Yearlong. 

UOHVO2J .............................. 0.53 Vehicles 50′′ or less in width ...................................................................... Yearlong. 

UOHV18 ................................ 0.15 Vehicles 50′′ or less in width ...................................................................... Yearlong. 

UOHV5OA ............................. 0.43 Motorcycle only ........................................................................................... Yearlong. 

UOHV5OC ............................. 0.14 Motorcycle only ........................................................................................... Yearlong. 

UT29N3OHA .......................... 0.80 Vehicles 50′′ or less in width ...................................................................... July 10 to January 31. 

UT29N3OHAB ....................... 0.25 Vehicles 50′′ or less in width ...................................................................... Yearlong. 

Total miles ............................. 11.16 

5. Restrict use below the high-water 

mark at Shasta Lake and Trinity Lake, 

(within the Shasta-Trinity National 

Recreation Area) to only highway legal 

vehicles and provide a maximum speed 

limit of 15 mph (refer to Table 3). 

TABLE 3—VEHICLE CLASS ADDITIONS/PROHIBITIONS

Area Acreage 

Current 

permitted 

vehicle 

class 

Proposed 

permitted 

vehicle 

class 

Below the high-water mark at Shasta Lake and Trinity 

Lake (within the Shasta-Trinity National Recreation 

Area).

Varies based on water level All ................................ Highway legal vehicles. 

Speed limit not to exceed 

15 mph. 

Maps and tables describing in detail 

both the Forest transportation system 

and the proposed action can be found at 

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/shastatrinity/ 

news/ohv/index.shtml. 

In addition, maps will be available for 

viewing at: Supervisor’s Office ShastaTrinity National Forest, 3644 Avtech 

Parkway, Redding, CA, Shasta Lake 

Ranger Station, 14225 Holiday Road, 

Redding, CA 96003, Weaverville Ranger 

Station, P.O. Box 1190, 360 Main Street, 

Weaverville, CA 96093, Hayfork Ranger 

Station, P.O. Box 159, (111 Trinity 

Street), Hayfork, CA 96041, Mount 

Shasta Ranger Station, 204 West Alma, 

Mt. Shasta, CA 96067 

Responsible Official 

J. Sharon Heywood, Forest 

Supervisor, Shasta-Trinity National 

Forest, 3644 Avtech Parkway, Redding, 

CA 96002. 

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 existing prohibitions 

and allowances for public wheeled 

motorized vehicle travel within the 

existing NFTS and prohibit cross 

country wheeled motorized vehicle 

travel by the public off the designated 

system. Once the decision is made, the 

Forest will publish a MVUM identifying 

the roads, trails and areas that are 

designated for motor vehicle use. The 

MVUM shall specify the classes of 

vehicles and, if appropriate, the times of 

year for which use is designated. Future 

decisions associated with changes to the 

MVUM may trigger the need for 

documentation of environmental 

analysis. 

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 

August 7, 2008. 

The comment period on the proposed 

action will extend 30 days from the date 

the Notice of Intent is published in the 

Federal Register. 


pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
46242 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 154 / Friday, August 8, 2008 / Notices 

The draft EIS is expected to be filed 

with the Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) and to be available for 

public review by January 2009. EPA will 

publish a notice of availability of the 

draft EIS in the Federal Register. The 

comment period on the draft EIS will 

extend 45 days from the date the EPA 

notice appears 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 

Shasta-Trinity National Forest 

participate at that time. 

The final EIS is scheduled to be 

completed in July 2009. In the final EIS, 

the Forest Service will respond to 

comments received during the comment 

period that are: within the scope of the 

proposed action; specific to the 

proposed action; have a direct 

relationship to the proposed action; and 

include supporting reasons for the 

responsible official to consider. 

Submission of comments in response to 

the draft EIS is a prerequisite for 

eligibility to appeal under the 36 CFR 

part 215 regulations. 

Comment Requested 

This notice of intent initiates the 

scoping process which guides the 

development of the EIS. 

Early Notice of Importance of Public 

Participation in Subsequent 

Environmental Review: A draft EIS will 

be prepared for comment. The comment 

period on the draft environmental 

impact statement will be 45-days from 

the date the EPA publishes the notice of 

availability in the Federal Register. 

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 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 EIS. 

To assist the Forest Service in 

identifying and considering issues and 

concerns on 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 EIS. 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. 

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. 

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; 

Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section 

21) 

Dated: July 28, 2008. 

J. Sharon Heywood, 

Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. E8–17995 Filed 8–7–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

RIN 0596–AC54 

Sensitive Species and Endangered 

Species Act Section 7 Consultation 

Policy for National Forest System Land 

Management Planning Under the 2008 

Planning Rule 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of issuance of interim 

directive; request for comment. 

SUMMARY: The Forest Service has issued 

an interim directive (ID) 2670–2008–1 to 

the Forest Service Manual 2670, 

sections 45 and 46, to clarify sensitive 

species and Endangered Species Act 

policy responsibilities of Forest 

Supervisors and District Rangers when 

developing, amending, or revising Land 

Management Plans (LMPs) under the 

2008 Planning Rule, or carrying out 

projects and activities consistent with 

those LMPs (36 CFR part 219). 

DATES: This Interim Directive is 

effective August 8, 2008. Comments 

must be received in writing by 

September 8, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: 

Forest Service, USDA, Attn: Director 

Wildlife, Fish, Watershed, Air and Rare 

Plants, Mail Stop 1121, Washington, DC 

20250–1125. Comments may also be 

e-mailed to: 2670_comments@fs.fed.us. 

All comments, including names and 

addresses when provided, are placed in 

the record and are available for public 

inspection and copying. Persons 

wishing to inspect the comments are 

encouraged to call ahead, contacting 

Wayne Owen, 202–205–1262. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Marc Bosch, Wildlife, Fish, Watershed, 

Air and Rare Plants Staff, (202) 205–

1220. The ID 2670–2008–01 is available 

electronically from the Forest Service 

via the World Wide Web/Internet at 

http://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives and 

in this notice. Single paper copies of the 

amendment are also available by 

contacting Marc Bosch, Threatened, 

Endangered, and Sensitive Species 

National Program Leader, Wildlife, Fish, 

Watershed, Air and Rare Plants Staff, 

(Mail Stop 1121), Forest Service, 1400 

Independence Avenue, SW., 

Washington, DC 20250–1121. 

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 

Standard Time, Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

interim directive (ID) clarifies the 

responsibilities of Forest Supervisors 

when developing, amending, or revising 

Land Management Plans (LMPs) under 

the 2008 Planning Rule. This ID also 

clarifies responsibilities of Forest 

Supervisors and District Rangers when 

approving projects and activities 

consistent with those (36 CFR part 219). 

The intended effect of issuing this 

interim directive is to provide guidance 

to those Forest Service line officers and 

other agency employees who are 

developing and revising LMP’s under 

the 2008 Planning Rule regarding 

sensitive species and Endangered 

Species Act policy responsibilities. 

Because of pending LMP revisions, and 

to align agency policy with statutory 

and regulatory responsibilities, there is 

an immediate need to supersede the 

existing Forest Service Manual 

regarding policies that apply to such 

revisions. Public comments on this 

interim direction will be considered in 

the development of final direction. A 

comprehensive review of the entire FMS 

2670 chapter is being done, and further 

changes may result from that separate 

effort. 

The ID clarifies proper consideration 

of Forest Service manual direction for 


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