[Federal Register: June 21, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 120)]
[Notices]               
[Page 42309-42310]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21jn02-131]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

 
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Rim of the World Scenic Trail on the San Bernardino National 
Forest, San Bernardino County, CA

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) DOT and U.S. Forest 
Service (USDA).

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Highway Administration and the USDA Forest Service 
(joint lead agencies) will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) on a proposal to construct approximately 44 miles of non-
motorized, multi-use trails on National Forest land in San Bernardino 
County.

DATES: Submit comments on or before August 5, 2002. Public meeting/Open 
House dates are:

    1. July 17, 2002, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Lake Arrowhead, CA.
    2. July 18, 2002, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Fawnskin, CA.
    The Draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for public review during 
the spring of 2003. At that time, EPA will publish a Notice of 
Availability of the Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The comment 
period on the Draft EIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA publishes 
the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The Final EIS is 
scheduled to be completed in the winter of 2003.

ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this notice to Gene 
Zimmerman, Forest Supervisor, San Bernardino National Forest, 1824 S. 
Commercenter Circle, San Bernardino, CA 92408. E-mail comments may be 
sent to rimoftheworldcomments@yahoo.com.
    Meeting locations are:
1. Lake Arrowhead--Lake Arrowhead Resort, 27984 Highway 189, Lake 
Arrowhead, CA 92352
2. Fawnskin--Big Bear Discovery Center, 1020 Highway 38, Fawnskin, CA 
92333

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tay Dam, Senior Transportation 
Engineer, Federal Highway Administration, (213) 202-3954 or Mike 
Florey, San Bernardino National Forest Engineer, (909) 884-6634.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Forest visitors and local residents have 
identified the need for additional non-motorized, multi-user trails in 
the Big Bear and Back Country Management Areas (MA's) of the San 
Bernardino National Forest. In addition, the San Bernardino National 
Forest Plan (Forest Plan) identified the need to increase the miles of 
trail in these MA's to offer improved non-motorized recreation 
opportunities. The purpose of this action is to develop a trail system 
from Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area to the Big Bear area, 
providing a primitive, backcountry experience with

[[Page 42310]]

moderate to difficult opportunities. The trail access would be located 
between Silverwood Lake Recreation Area and Big Bear.
    The trail would be three to five feet in width and would provide 
varying degrees of difficulty. In some areas, the trail would utilize 
short sections of existing roads. Information and interpretive signs 
would be placed at appropriate locations along the trail corridor and 
at access points (e.g. road intersections, trailheads, parking lots, 
etc.). The trail would include construction of up to 12 trailheads, 
accommodating three to ten vehicles each. This proposal includes the 
construction of four spur trails that would provide access for the 
mountain communities and to several points of interest. These spurs 
would connect the trail to Green Valley Lake, Butler Peak, Tunnel Two 
ridge, and Valley of Enchantment/Breezy Point. Alternatives have not 
been identified at this time. The FHWA and the Forest Service invite 
public comments on potential alternatives for the trail.
    Construction would begin in late fall of 2003 or spring of 2004, 
with completion of the entire system by 2005.
    As additional funding becomes available, the Forest would consider 
enhancing interpretation opportunities on the trail. The actions would 
be subject to separate environmental review. Construction of facilities 
along the trail or at access points (e.g. water and toilets) is not 
planned at this time.

Authorization

    National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 
4321-4346), Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 
1500-1508); U.S. Department of Agriculture NEPA Policies and Procedures 
(7 CFR part 1b).

Reviewer's Obligation

    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 the 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 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. Wisc. 1980). Because of these court rulings, it is 
very important that those interested in this proposed action 
participate by the close of the comment period so that substantive 
comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service at the 
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. Reviewer 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.
    [Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, 
Highway Research, Planning, and Construction. The regulations 
implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding intergovernmental 
consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program.]

Jeffrey W. Kolb,
Chief, District Operations--South.
Gene Zimmerman,
Forest Supervisor, San Bernardino NF.
[FR Doc. 02-15643 Filed 6-20-02; 8:45 am]
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