[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45759-45761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18553]
[[Page 45759]]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Angeles National Forest; Los Angeles County, CA Williamson Rock/
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) Project EIS
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: The Angeles National Forest proposes to provide limited,
managed recreational activities in the vicinity of Williamson Rock. The
proposed action would include allowing access to the Pacific Crest
National Scenic Trail (PCT) and limited access to Williamson Rock for
rock climbing, while protecting the federally listed mountain yellow-
legged frog (MYLF) and other unique resources. The area has been closed
to the public since 2006, either by Forest Order or court injunction,
to protect the MYLF.
The project was originally proposed as an environmental assessment,
and an opportunity for public scoping comments was provided from
December 18, 2013 through January 24, 2014. Preliminary issues
identified during scoping indicated that there may be significant
effects resulting from the proposed action. Responsible official,
Forest Supervisor Thomas A. Contreras, has decided to prepare an EIS
instead of an EA for this project. The proposed action in the EA has
been modified for the EIS.
DATES: Comments on the proposed action should be submitted within 30
days of the date of publication of this Notice of Intent in the Federal
Register. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is expected to
be available for public review in Spring 2015 and the Final EIS is
expected in Fall 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
Mailed to the Angeles National Forest; Attn: Jose
Henriquez, Williamson Rock/PCT ID Team; 701 N. Santa Anita Avenue,
Arcadia, CA 91006;
Delivered to the address shown above during business hours
(M-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.);
Submitted electronically, in common formats (.doc, .pdf,
.rtf, .txt), to: [email protected] with
Subject: Williamson Rock.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jose Henriquez, 701 N. Santa Anita
Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006; (626) 574-5277. A scoping package, maps and
other information are online at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=43405.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
General Background: Williamson Rock is a well-known High Country
recreation area used predominately for rock climbing, located within
the Santa Clara-Mojave Rivers Ranger District, in upper Little Rock
Canyon. It has been utilized by climbers since the 1960's and is
regarded as one of the unique rock climbing resources in southern
California, due to its mild summer temperatures and close proximity to
urban centers. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) traverses
the project area, paralleling and periodically crossing Little Rock
Creek and its tributaries for approximately 2 miles. The mountain
yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa--MYLF) occupies habitat in Little Rock
Creek, within the Williamson Rock area. The area is also home to a
nesting pair of peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus), as well as a
Forest Service Sensitive plant species, Johnston's buckwheat (Eriogonum
microthecum var. johnstonii).
Purpose and Need for Action: The Forest Service continues to
receive high demand for the resumption of recreation opportunities in
the Williamson Rock area. Specifically, there is a need for the public
use and enjoyment of the PCT where it passes through the project area,
in accordance with the management objectives specified in the PCTA/
Forest Service Memorandum of Understanding and PCT Comprehensive
Management Plan. Consistent with the Angeles National Forest Land
Management Plan recreation goals and objectives, there is also a need
for a quality, sustainable rock climbing opportunity at Williamson
Rock.
In achieving these needs, this proposal and any alternatives must
achieve the following purposes:
Provide protective measures for the federally listed MYLF,
and the Primary Constituent Elements of the Designated Critical Habitat
in the project area.
Protect other listed or otherwise unique resources in the
Williamson Rock area (specifically: Peregrine falcon, Johnston's
buckwheat, and an eligible Wild and Scenic River).
Monitor recreation activity to manage compliance of
natural resource protective measures.
Proposed Action: In meeting the needs for action, the following
measures are proposed:
1. Implement long-term closure of Little Rock Creek corridor and
adjacent areas.
Implement a long-term closure of the stream corridor (10
meters beyond high water mark) within MYLF Designated Critical Habitat
(DCH) and adjacent areas between the stream corridor and CA-2 within
Section 12, T. 3N, R. 10W and Section 7, T.3N, R. 11W as shown on maps
#1 and #2 (see http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=43405). These are areas that have historically
provided direct human access into the DCH, or contain climbing routes
within the stream habitat. The closure would include all stream-based
rock climbing routes (e.g. the ``Stream Wall'' and ``London Wall''), as
well as the area of ``user-created'' braided trails and paths along
scree slopes between CA-2 and Williamson Rock. Exceptions to this
closure are as follows:
[cir] Exception: The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) is
within the proposed closure area, and would remain open year around
(see further discussion of the PCT below).
[cir] Exception: The Long Trail, a new system trail which would
access the Williamson Rock Visitor Use Permit Area, would be within the
proposed closure boundaries, and would remain open from August 1 to
November 15 to people having a valid Visitor Use Permit (see further
discussion of the Long Trail below).
2. Implement a visitor use permit system and seasonal closures for
the Williamson Rock Visitor Use Permit Area.
Designate a day-use Visitor Use Permit Area that
encompasses the Williamson Rock Trailhead and parking, the Long Trail,
and the Williamson Rock climbing areas as shown on maps #1 and
#2 (see http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=43405). Visitors to this area would be required to
obtain a Visitor Use Permit through the National Recreation Reservation
Service (NRRS).
A seasonal closure of the Visitor Use Permit Area would be
implemented from November 16 to July 31, to minimize impacts to MYLF
and/or peregrine falcons.
During the open season (August 1 to November 15), Visitor
Use Permits would be reserved in advance through NRRS online or by
calling the NRRS toll-free number. Permits would not be issued by local
Forest Service offices.
At least one Forest Service site manager with citation
authorization would be onsite each day that the Visitor Use Permit Area
is open. Funding for this site management would be provided by a
combination of grants, partner contributions, user fees, and federal
budget allocations.
The Forest Service would use the NRRS system to provide
permit users
[[Page 45760]]
with educational information about the area, including regulations,
human waste disposal requirements, and resource protection concerns and
requirements.
A limited number of permits would be issued each day,
based on site capacity (including parking capacity at the Kratka Ridge
parking lot on CA-2). The permit system would be governed by an
``either/or'' quota mechanism that would initially issue permits each
day for no more than 90 persons to access the rock and no more than 30
vehicles (based on available number of parking stalls) to park at the
designated trail head.
The number of visitor use permits issued would be adjusted
up or down as determined by an adaptive management process that would
consider the following three metrics/indicators:
[cir] MYLF population reports
[cir] Permit compliance
[cir] Available funding for onsite Forest Service management
Dogs and other domestic animals would be prohibited (PCT
exempt), unless they are service animals covered under DOJ 28 CFR Part
35.136--also applies to federal agencies under Section 504.
3. Provide developed recreation facilities to access Williamson
Rock.
Establish a system trail (approximately 1.2 miles in
length) to the east side of Williamson Rock from the Kratka Ridge
parking lot, partially using abandoned logging road segments and the
user-created trail alignment currently referred to as the Long Trail
(see map #2 at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=43405 =43405).
The Long Trail would cross Little Rock Creek in two places
(referred to in this analysis as the 1st and 2nd crossings). At the 2nd
crossing, install a removable 3'-4' wide by approximately 14' long
stream crossing platform. The platform would be built so that it could
be easily removed and re-installed based on the seasonal closure
periods. See sample images of platform crossings in the fact sheet
posted at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=43405.
At the 1st stream crossing, materials deposited over
several years create an artificial bridge that would continue to be
used as a stream crossing. The material keeps people out of the stream,
and it has also been determined that removing the material could create
more resource damage than if left in place.
Place interpretive signage and barriers to discourage
entry into closure areas and encourage resource protection.
At the terminus of the Long Trail at Williamson Rock,
install an information kiosk displaying a map of the existing climbing
routes available for use, site use etiquette and rules, and clearly
identified closed areas.
4. Construct Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail bridge.
Construct a bridge for PCT users at the point where the
trail crosses Little Rock Creek within the closure area (SW \1/4\,
Section 12, T. 3N, R. 10W). See map and image of proposed bridge
location in the fact sheet posted at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=43405.
5. Manage human waste.
Removal of human waste would be required in the Williamson
Rock Visitor Use Permit Area and along the Long Trail corridor. Permit
holders must bag and remove all human waste (feces) and toilet paper,
and deposit in a disposal container to be installed at the Kratka Ridge
trailhead/parking area. The presence of human waste in these areas
would be monitored to determine compliance.
Install a vault toilet at the Kratka Ridge trailhead/
parking area.
Provide interpretive signing within the Visitor Use Permit
Area, trailhead/parking area, and along the Long Trail regarding human
waste disposal requirements.
Hikers on the PCT would be required to deposit human body
waste in cat-holes dug at least 100 feet from any surface freshwater
source, and to remove toilet paper as trash.
6. Implement botanical resource requirements (Include in all action
alternatives).
Sensitive plant species found within the project area
shall be flagged and avoided prior to, and during construction
activities.
(1) All heavy equipment and vegetation maintenance tools
(e.g., chain saws, hand clippers, pruners) shall be cleaned prior to
entering National Forest System lands. (2) Any transport vehicles that
have operated in an off-road area since that vehicle's last washing
shall be cleaned prior to entering National Forest System lands.
Cutting or removal of trees shall be done by or under the
direction of a silviculturist.
Install and maintain appropriate weed free erosion/
sediment control measures, as needed per the erosion control plan,
throughout the duration of work activities. Wattles or hay bales shall
be made of rice straw and netted in biodegradable material.
If necessary, barriers will be installed or replaced to
limit unauthorized off-highway vehicle activity after trail
construction activities.
During the growing season following trail construction, a
survey for weed species would be conducted along the trail and
associated disturbance areas to ensure that new/expanding weed species
are removed/controlled.
7. Prevent access to user-created trails.
Install natural barriers at access points to user-created
trails within the project area, to prevent use and encourage natural
regeneration.
Monitor trespass activity to determine if additional
measures would be needed.
8. Develop a monitoring and adaptive management plan.
A monitoring and adaptive management plan for the closure
area and Williamson Rock Visitor User Permit Area would be developed
and adopted as a part of implementation, to determine appropriate use
levels and seasons over time.
Possible Alternatives: In addition to the proposed action, the EIS
will evaluate the required No Action alternative and will likely
consider other alternatives identified through the interdisciplinary
process and public participation.
Responsible Official: Thomas A. Contreras, Forest Supervisor,
Angeles National Forest, Supervisor's Office, 701 N. Santa Anita
Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006.
Nature of Decision to be Made: The responsible official will decide
whether to adopt and implement the proposed action, or an alternative
to the proposed action, or take no action with respect to the
Williamson Rock/PCT project.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. The Forest
Service is soliciting comments from federal, state and local agencies
and other individuals or organizations that may be interested in or
affected by implementation of the proposed project.
Public questions and comments regarding this proposal are an
integral part of this environmental analysis process. Input provided by
interested and/or affected individuals, organizations and governmental
agencies will be used to identify resource issues that will be analyzed
in the environmental impact statement. The Forest Service will identify
significant issues raised during the scoping process, and use them to
formulate alternatives, prescribe mitigation measures and project
design
[[Page 45761]]
features, or analyze environmental effects.
We are particularly interested in hearing about any potential
issues, which are defined as points of discussion, dispute, or debate
about the effects of the proposed action. Your participation will help
the interdisciplinary team develop effective, issue-driven alternatives
and mitigations to the proposed action as needed. It is important that
reviewers provide their comments at such times and in such a manner
that they are useful to the agency's preparation of the environmental
impact statement. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the
close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the
reviewer's concerns and contentions.
The project was originally proposed as an environmental assessment,
and an opportunity for public scoping comments was provided between
December 18, 2013 and January 24, 2014. The proposed action in the EA
has been modified for the EIS. If you previously commented on the
project, your comments have been and will continue to be considered in
the development of alternatives. In order to move forward with this
project, we ask that you do not repeat your comments. Following
alternative development, the Forest Service will be providing another
opportunity to comment on the alternatives and analysis. If you have
any new comments, we welcome those at this time.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public project
record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide
the agency with the ability to provide the respondent with subsequent
environmental documents.
Dated: July 29, 2014.
Thomas A. Contreras,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014-18553 Filed 8-5-14; 8:45 am]
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