Quitchupah Creek Road, UTU-57907, Fishlake National Forest and Bureau of Land Management, Richfield District, Sevier and Emery Counties, Utah

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT-050-1430-01-24-1A]

Quitchupah Creek Road, UTU-57907, Fishlake National Forest and

Bureau of Land Management, Richfield District, Sevier and Emery

Counties, Utah

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a third-party environmental impact

statement.

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SUMMARY: The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management will jointly

direct preparation of a Third-Party Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) to document the analysis and disclose the environmental and human

effects of proposed actions to upgrade and realign an existing road/

trail through Quitchupah Canyon, Sevier and Emery Counties, Utah. The

road crosses public land parcels administered by the Forest Service,

the Bureau of Land Management, and the State of Utah, as well as land

that is privately owned.

The 9.2-mile Quitchupah Creek Road would connect State Road 10 in T

22 S, R 6 E, Section 30 of Emery County, with an existing Sevier County

road in T 22 S, R 4 E, Section 11. This Sevier County road in

Convulsion Canyon is utilized predominantly for hauling coal from the

SUFCO Mine.

Currently, the Quitchupah Creek Road is unpaved, and is only

maintained over the lower 3 to 4 miles.

Within the Quitchupah Creek canyon area, steep cut slopes, the

incised stream channel, and erodible soils have recently rendered the

road impassable by vehicles. Livestock are trailed through the canyon

seasonally; other users are primarily local recreationists and/or

hunters.

Agency Decisions

Separate Records of Decision would be issued by the Forest Service

and Bureau of Land Management on whether or not to grant right-of-way

to Sevier County and under what terms and conditions.

DATES: Written comments concerning the scope of the analysis described

in this Notice should be received on or before July 31, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to JBR Environmental Consultants,

Inc., 8160 South Highland Drive, Suite A-4, Sandy, Utah 84093.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kay Erickson, Bureau of Land

Management, Richfield District, (435) 896-1500; or Linda Jackson,

Fishlake National Forest, Richfield, (435) 896-9233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Sevier County has proposed to upgrade the

Quitchupah Creek Road as an additional, shorter haul road for trucks

entering Emery County from Canyon Fuels' SUFCO Mine. The Mine would be

the primary user of the upgraded road. The road would also provide

access to the Accord Lakes area, and a shorter route for those in the

Emery area traveling west toward Salina and I-15.

The proposed project would generally follow the existing Quitchupah

Creek Road alignment. However, where needed to avoid archeological

sites or other constraints to widening, short reaches of the road are

proposed to be realigned. Given the proximity of the existing road with

Quitchupah Creek in the narrow canyon bottom, it is anticipated that

stream crossings would be required.

When completed, the road would have a 26-foot wide paved surface.

The corridor width to be disturbed during construction would be

expected to average about 100 feet. In addition, several construction

equipment staging areas would be required, and would be located along

the road corridor. Borrow sites to obtain fill material would also be

needed and they may be located adjacent to the project area. The

disturbed area associated with this project is expected to be less than

200 acres.

Preliminary Issues

Initially identified issues of concern include: archaeological

resources, wildlife, livestock, land use, sensitive species, wetlands

and riparian habitat, stream quality, and socioeconomics.

Possible Alternatives

The EIS will analyze the Proposed Action and No Action

Alternatives. Other alternatives may include altering portions of the

route, or designing parameters to provide mitigation for resources of

concern.

Tentative Project Schedule

The tentative project schedule is as follows:

Begin Public Comment Period--July, 1999.

Hold Public Scoping Meetings--July, 1999.

File Draft EIS--March, 2000.

File Final EIS--June, 2000.

Record of Decision--July, 2000.

Public Scoping Meetings

Two public scoping meetings will be held in Utah, each an open

house type meeting from 7:00 p.m.--9:00 p.m. The open house will

include displays explaining the project and a forum for commenting on

the project. The meetings will be held as follows:

July 21, 1999--Museum of the San Rafael, Castle Dale,

Utah.

July 22, 1999--Quality Inn, Richfield, Utah.

Public Input Requested

Comments concerning the Proposed Action and EIS should address

issues to be considered, feasible alternatives to examine, possible

mitigation, and information relevant to or having bearing on the

Proposed Action.

Dated: June 23, 1999.

Ron Sanden,

Acting Forest Supervisor, Fishlake National Forest.

Dave Henderson,

Acting Field Manager, Richfield Bureau of Land Management Field Office.

[FR Doc. 99-16713 Filed 6-30-99; 8:45 am]

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