Cleghorn to Cactus Off-Highway Vehicle Trail San Bernardino National Forest, San Bernardino County, California; Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 169 (Thursday, August 31, 1995)]

[Notices]

[Pages 45396-45397]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 95-21640]

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Notices

Federal Register

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Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 169 / Thursday, August 31, 1995 /

Notices

[[Page 45396]]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Cleghorn to Cactus Off-Highway Vehicle Trail San Bernardino

National Forest, San Bernardino County, California; Notice of Intent To

Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report

SUMMARY: The San Bernardino National Forest will prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

in conjunction with California Department of Parks and Recreation on a

proposal to complete sections of the off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail

system and address issues related to OHV use which have come forward

since the Forest's Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) was

approved on January 27, 1989. The LRMP Record of Decision (ROD) calls

for construction of twelve miles of OHV trail per year with a goal of

387 miles of designated OHV trail.

This proposal will continue to implement the direction from the

LRMP to develop an integrated OHV trail system of long distance travel

opportunities and loop trails along with associated recreational

facilities. It will evaluate a range of alternatives, including no

action. This EIS and ROD will amend the LRMP and establish additional

direction for the Forest's OHV program. This analysis will tier to the

LRMP Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS).

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis should be received

in writing by October 6, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Direct questions about the proposed action and preparation of the EIS

to John Wambaugh, Off-Highway Vehicle Program Manager, San Bernardino

National Forest, 1824 S. Commercenter Circle, San Bernardino, CA 92408-

3430 or call (909) 884-6634, ext 3146.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest has been assessing the affects of

constructing two separate OHV trails since March 1994. These proposals

were known as; the Cleghorn Ridge-Hwy 138 Tunnel and Cactus-Rattlesnake

OHV Trails. The Forest has previously conducted public meetings and

field trips to discuss the nature and scope of the projects when they

were being analyzed as separate environmental assessments (EA's). The

previous scoping process showed that it would be best to combine the

two proposals to better evaluate the cumulative effects. An EIS was

determined to be necessary because of the potential of not being able

to mitigate all effects to a level of non-significance. In response to

public interest in the overall scope of the Forest's OHV program, this

proposal will include additional areas of analysis for trail linkages

and trail loops on the Arrowhead, Big Bear, and Cajon Ranger Districts.

In addition to these proposed trails, development of one staging area

is proposed on the Cajon Ranger District.

The completion of these trail segments and staging area will

provide the opportunity for longer trail riding by connecting isolated

segments of the Forest's OHV trail system. The development of a well

planned and designed trail system will improve the Forest's ability to

manage OHV use, protect resources, minimize conflicts with other Forest

uses, and enhance the recreational opportunity for OHV enthusiasts.

DECISION TO BE MADE: To determine if and where additional trail

segments should be constructed and additional roads designated for the

purpose of providing an integrated OHV trail system for vehicles 50''

and under in width. A determination will also be made as to whether and

where to construct a staging area and associated recreation facilities.

SCOPING PROCESS: Public scoping will be initiated with the publication

of this notice in the Federal Register. Letters inviting suggestions or

comments will be sent to individuals and groups on the Forest's mailing

list that are interested in OHV activities and its relation to Forest

management. Additional scoping will be conducted by providing written

notice to local newspapers. Open houses are scheduled for September 8,

9, 15, and 16, 1995, to provide more detailed information about the

proposal and to allow the public to ask questions.

PRELIMINARY ISSUES AND ALTERNATIVES: Preliminary issues that have been

identified are:

--effects of OHV use on threatened and endangered animal species,

specifically the California spotted owl and the southern bald eagle

--cumulative effects of linking OHV trails together

--effects of OHV use adjacent to the Pacific Crest National Scenic

Trail

--effects of OHV use on other recreational uses of the Forest

--potential impacts to threatened, endangered, and sensitive, plant

species

--impacts to archeological resources

--effects of motorized use in riparian areas

Preliminary alternatives that have been developed are:

1. No Action. All OHV trail designations would be retained in their

current status. New OHV trails would not be constructed. Opportunities

to designate roads for OHV use or to close roads that present resource

concerns would not be implemented. Temporary designations would remain

temporary. Resource protection measures associated with the designated

OHV trail system and closure of unauthorized trails adjacent to the

designated system would continue at its present level. There are

currently 284 miles of Forest roads and trails designated of OHV use.

2. Establish Designated Routes Without New Construction. This

alternative would designate 37 miles of Maintenance Level (ML) II

roads, 16 miles of ML III roads, and 10 miles of State Highway or

County roads, in addition to the 284 miles currently designated for a

total of 347 miles.

3. Establish Designated Routes Within ``Potential Tie'' Planning

Areas as identified in the LRMP. This alternative proposes utilizing

the current system mileage of 284 miles, plus construction of 11 miles

of new 50'' wide trail, designation of 14 miles of ML II roads,

designation of 10 miles of ML III roads, designate one-half mile of

State Highway or County road, designate 14 miles of roads that are not

recognized as part of the Forest's road inventory, and designate 7

miles of trails that are currently not recognized as part of the

Forest's trail inventory for a total of 340.5 miles. An OHV staging

area site

[[Page 45397]]

will be analyzed for development on the Cajon Ranger District.

4. Establish Designated Routes outside of the ``Potential Tie''

planning areas identified in the LRMP. Linkages are within areas

designated for motorized use in the LRMP. Use of lands other than

Federal ownership is considered to complete trail linkages. This

alternative proposes utilizing the current system mileage of 284 miles,

plus construction of 2 miles of new 50'' wide trail, designation of 11

miles of ML II roads, designation of 12 miles of ML III roads,

designate 18 miles of roads that are not recognized as part of the

Forest's road inventory, designate 7 miles of trails that are currently

not recognized as part of the Forest's trail inventory, incorporates 3

miles of trail that are under other ownership, and remove 13 miles of

OHV road from the designated trail system. This alternative proposes a

total of 324 miles. An OHV staging area site will be analyzed for

development on the Cajon Ranger District.

5. Establish Designated Routes by using areas within and outside of

the ``Potential Tie'' planning areas identified in the LRMP to form

trail loops. Linkages are within areas designated for motorized use in

LRMP. Use of lands other than Federal ownership is considered to

complete trail linkages. This alternative proposes utilizing the

current system mileage of 284 miles, plus construction of 12 miles of

new 50'' wide trail, designation of 28 miles of ML II roads,

designation of 10 miles of ML III roads, designate 18 miles of roads

that are not recognized as part of the Forest's road inventory,

designate 7 miles of trails that are currently not recognized as part

of the Forest's trail inventory, and incorporate 3 miles of trail that

are on non-Federal ownership for a total of 362 miles. An OHV staging

area site will be analyzed for development on the Cajon Ranger

District.

LEAD AGENCY: The lead agency for this proposal is the United States

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.

PERMITS OR LICENSES REQUIRED FOR IMPLEMENTATION: Encroachment permits

from the California Department of Transportation will need to be

obtained to cross State Highway 18 near Cactus Flats and to construct

two tunnel underpasses on State Highway 138 if these proposals are

implemented.

If an alternative with trail linkage across state or private lands

in or adjacent to the Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area is

selected, additional agreements, easements, and right-of-ways will be

needed from these agencies.

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 important 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 supplemental 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.

The Draft EIS is expected to be available for public review by

January 1996. The comment period on the draft environmental impact

statement will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection

Agency publishes the notice of its availability in the Federal

Register. The final environmental impact statement is expected to be

available about March 1996.

COMMENT PERIOD CONCERNING THIS NOTICE: Comments concerning the scope of

analysis of the draft EIS/EIR must be received by October 6, 1995.

Submit written comments and suggestions concerning the scope of the

analysis for the Cleghorn to Cactus OHV Trail proposal to Gene

Zimmerman, Forest Supervisor, San Bernardino National Forest, 1824 S.

Commercenter Circle, San Bernardino, CA 92408-3430.

Dated: August 23, 1995.

Gene Zimmerman,

Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 95-21640 Filed 8-30-95; 8:45 am]

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