Rio Sabana Day Use Picnic Area, Caribbean National Forest, Naguabo, Puerto Rico; Revised Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

Rio Sabana Day Use Picnic Area, Caribbean National Forest,

Naguabo, Puerto Rico; Revised Notice of Intent To Prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revised Notice; extension of time for submitting scoping

comments.

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SUMMARY: Due to the passing of Hurricane Georges over the island of

Puerto Rico, on September 21st, 1998, the Forest Service is extending

the time for submitting scoping comments concerning the environmental

analysis for the Rio Sabana Day Use Picnic Area, on the Caribbean

National Forest. Additionally, this notice corrects the location of the

proposed project site, as published in the Federal Register on Friday,

September 18th, 1998, Vol. 63, No. 181. The location of project site

should read as follows: from entrance gate at Highway #191, Km. 21.3 to

project site, Km. 20.0, in the Cubuy sector of the Municipality of

Naguabo.

DATES: (a) Comments to be incorporated into the draft environmental

impact statement should be received by January 8th 1999 to ensure

timely consideration. (b) Comments to be incorporated into the final

environmental impact statement should be received 45 days following the

publication of Notice of Availability of the draft environmental impact

statement, approximately the first week of March 31, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Abigail Rivera, Team Leader;

Caribbean National Forest, P.O. Box 490, Palmer, Puerto Rico 00721.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Abigail Rivera, Rio Sabana Picnic Area EIS Team Leader, 787 888-5643.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Caribbean National Forest is proposing:

(a) to develop a day use picnic area located in the vicinity of the Rio

Sabana Bridge, on the southern end of Highway #191, at Km. 20.0, in the

Cubuy Sector of the Municipality of Naguabo; (b) the rehabilitation of

2.5 miles of the Rio Sabana Trail #6 and trailhead; (c) repair and

reconstruction of 0.8 miles of entrance road, located on Hwy. #191, Km.

21.3, to project site. Km. 20.0; Currently, the area has not been

developed for recreation but receives heavy use. This use, coupled with

a sensitive ecosystem in which it is located, gives rise to a potential

conflict between the need to protect and conserve natural resources and

the need to provide a well managed natural setting where our customers

can enjoy a satisfying recreational experience.

On April 13, 1992, U.S. District Judge Guierbolini permanently

enjoined and restrained the U.S. Forest Service and the Federal Highway

Administration from proceeding with construction activities on the

closed portion of Highway P.R. #191, from Km. 13.5 to Km. 20, until

completion of an environmental impact statement. The proposed project

is located on a segment of Hwy. #191 that is outside of the area under

court order.

The proposed action would meet the objectives of: (a) correcting

the current managerial situation and social settings in relation to the

physical setting and actual use; (b) protect the natural resources in

the vicinity; (c) increase Forest Service presence on the southern end

of the Forest, which currently is minimal.

The EIS will be prepared in accordance with the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Forest Management Act

(NFMA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The U.S. Forest Service

will be the lead agency and the Puerto Rico Department of Public

Transportation (DTOP) will be a cooperating agency.

Public participation will be especially important at several points

during analysis. The first point is when scoping officially begins (40

dCFR 1501.7). The Forest Service will be seeking information, comments,

and assistance from Federal, State and local agencies, and other

individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected by

the proposed action. Comments must be received by January 8th, 1999.

This input will be used in preparation of the draft environmental

impact statement (DEIS). The scoping process will include: (1)

Identifying potential issues; (2) Identifying issues to be analyzed in

depth; (3) Eliminating insignificant issues or those which have been

covered by a relevant previous environmental process; (4) Exploring

additional alternatives; (5) Identifying potential environmental

effects of the proposed action and alternatives (i.e., direct,

indirect, and cumulative effects and connected actions). Public

participation will include notifying interested and affected publics of

the proposed action in person and/or by mail. News releases will be

used to provide general notice to the public.

The following preliminary issues have been identified through

internal scoping: (1) Possible effects of development of picnic area

and reconstruction of Rd. #191 on the threatened and endangered species

identified in the project area; (2) Possible effects on natural

resources due to an increase in visitors to picnic area and trail; (3)

Reconstruction of the historic CCC Rio Sabana Trail, which connects

with the Tradewinds/El Toro Trail, may generate greater use than is

allowed in the proposed Wilderness Management Area; (4) Security issues

in the area in relation to 24-hour presence of Forest Service hosts of

volunteers; (5) Potential hazards to Forest users caused by a nearby

water impoundment and transmission facility, located on private land.

A draft environmental impact statement is expected to be available

for public review, for 45 days, in February 1999.

It is very important that those interested in this proposed action

participate at that time. Upon release of the draft environmental

impact statement, project for February 1999 reviewers should 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,

(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). It is also helpful if comments

refer to specific

[[Page 70386]]

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.)

After the comment period on the draft environmental impact

statement ends, the comments will be analyzed, considered, and

responded to by the Forest Service in preparing the final environmental

impact statement. The final environmental impact statement is scheduled

to be completed by May 1999. The Responsible Official will consider the

comments, responses, environmental consequences discussed in the final

environmental impact statement, and applicable laws, regulations, and

policies in making a decision. The Responsible Official will document

the decision and rationale for the decision in a Record of Decision.

The decision will be subject to appeal in accordance with 36 CFR 215.

The Responsible Official is: Pablo Cruz, Forest Supervisor,

Caribbean National Forest, P.O. Box 490, Palmer, Puerto Rico 00721.

Dated: November 23, 1998.

Pablo Cruz,

Forest Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 98-33650 Filed 12-18-98; 8:45 am]

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