[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 27715-27717] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-12857] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Notice of Intent AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Revision of notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On May 13, 1992, the Forest Service filed a notice of intent in the Federal Register to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze revision of management guidelines for the Desolation Wilderness on the Pacific and Placerville Ranger Districts of the Eldorado National Forest and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, El Dorado County, California. A subsequent notice was filed on May 2, 1994, because the draft EIS was delayed more than 6 months. This notice is being filed because the EIS has been delayed more than 6 months and because the responsible official has been changed. ADDRESSES: John Phipps, Forest Supervisor, Eldorado National Forest, ATTN: Desolation Wilderness EIS, 100 [[Page 27716]] Forni Rd. Placerville, CA 95667, phone 916-622-5061. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct questions about the proposed action and EIS to Karen Leyse, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, Eldorado National Forest, 100 Forni Rd. Placerville, CA 95667, phone 916-622-5061. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Eldorado National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (1989), the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Land and Resource Management Plan (1988), and the 1964 Wilderness Act have provided general management direction for Desolation Wilderness. The current Desolation Wilderness Management Plan was completed in 1978; both Forest Plans indicate the need to review the existing Desolation Wilderness Plan and to revise it as needed. The decision may result in amendment to the Forest Plans. A great deal of scoping has been completed since the original notice of intent was filed. Through scoping, the following issues have been identified: 1. Fire. Fire suppression has affected the development and maintenance of natural plant communities and the resulting ecosystems. Current fire management policy and suppression techniques are not consistent with maintaining natural processes and wilderness characteristics. 2. Fisheries. Stocking of fish in wilderness lakes provides recreational opportunities for the public, but this practice affects naturally occurring biodiversity and ecosystems, which are protected by wilderness designation. 3. Range. Current grazing practices may impact water quality, vegetation, meadow and riparian areas, wildlife, and archaeological sites. Grazing is a historical use; however, the presence of cattle disturbs some visitors. 4. Water quality. Current use and management practices may be creating unacceptable water quality conditions in the wilderness. 5. Wood fires. Many wilderness users value campfires as part of the wilderness experience; however, collection of firewood and presence of firerings, ashes, and other campfire debris degrades campsites and eliminates down, woody debris, an important part of the ecosystem. 6. Visitor impacts. Some areas of the wilderness, especially lakeshores and easily accessed sites, are being damaged by visitor use. Users, including recreational stock users, may impact the vegetation, soils, wildlife, and cultural sites. 7. Quotas and group size. The number and distribution of users and the size of groups (including stock) affect the values and character of the wilderness and the quality of the wilderness experience. 8. Aircraft overflights. Overflights are common and intrude on the wilderness experience. 9. Dogs. The presence of dogs disturbs some visitors, adds to sanitation problems, and may harass wildlife. 10. Recreational shooting. Some visitors feel that the responsible use of guns should be allowed. Others are disturbed by the noise and the harassment of wildlife and have expressed concern for their own safety. 11. Trails. Management and development of trailheads and trails may affect the amounts and patterns of use and the quality of the wilderness experience. In preparing the EIS, the Forest Service will be considering a range of alternatives for future management of the wilderness. The Forest Service is in the process of developing these alternatives, which range from maximum recreational use of the wilderness to maximum wilderness protection. These preliminary alternatives may be revised before the draft EIS is issued as new information is developed or new comments are received: Maximum Opportunity. This alternative would increase the use of the wilderness by expanding the trail system and signing, maintaining all trails, and upgrading unimproved trails. Camping would be allowed in all zones. Fisheries opportunities would be increased. Campfires would be permitted in designated firings, back country toilets would be installed, group sizes of 25 would be permitted, and quotas for overnight camping would be raised. There would be no limits on recreational shooting. There would be no group size limits for recreational stock. No fees would be charged. No Action. The current situation would continue unchanged. There would continue to be unlimited day use with quotas on overnight use in the 3-month summer period. Camping would be permitted in all zones. Maintenance and reconstruction of existing trails would continue. Fish stocking of lakes and operation of stream flow management dams would continue. Wood fires would continue to be prohibited. All fires, including lightening caused fires, would be suppressed. Sanitation recommendations would continue to include a 100-foot setback from water. There would be no limits on recreational shooting or recreational stock. The forests would continue to pursue charging a permit reservation fee. Enhanced Wilderness Experience. The quality of the wilderness experience would be improved by restricting the number of day users in heavily used areas and by slightly reducing the number of overnight users permitted over a 5-month summer period. Group sizes would be reduced in remote areas. The number of stock permitted per group would be limited, and recreational shooting would be limited during the heavy use season. There would be a leash requirement for dogs. Fish stocking would continue at reduced levels. Overnight wilderness permits would be issued by zone or by destination, with no camping in heaviest use areas. ``No trace'' wood fires would be allowed in designated areas. Several trails could be removed. Other trails would be made more primitive. Directional signing would be found only at major trail intersections. Prescribed natural fire would be allowed in areas of the wilderness where fire hazard is low. Physical Restoration. The number of day and overnight users would be further reduced from the Enhanced Wilderness Experience alternative during a 5-month summer quota period. Group sizes for users and stock would be reduced. Grazing would be permitted only where appropriate based on wilderness resource conditions. Recreational shooting would be prohibited. Camping and outfitter/guide use would be regulated by zone. Dogs would be required to be on a leash. Fish stocking would be reduced, and riparian areas would be revegetated. Some trails could be removed and others would be re-routed in sensitive areas. Planned and natural prescribed fire would be used to return areas of the wilderness to pre-historical conditions. Reservation and permit fees (if legal) would be collected. Enhanced Ecosystem. Group sizes for users and stock would be further reduced from the other alternatives, and the numbers of overall visitors would be reduced. Grazing would be permitted only where appropriate based on wilderness resources conditions. Stocking of non- indigenous fish species would be allowed only if the fish populations were adversely influenced by humans. Dogs would be required to be on a leash. Recreational shooting and campfires would be prohibited. The number of signs, stream maintenance dams, and trails would be reduced. Trails would be re-routed away from sensitive areas; stream crossings would be repaired; riparian areas would be revegetated. Planned and natural [[Page 27717]] prescribed fire would be used throughout the wilderness. Reservation and permit fees (if legal) would be collected. Maximum Wilderness Preservation. The wilderness would be managed for very primitive to pristine conditions. Stock and human use levels would be reduced. Dogs, shooting, and campfires would be prohibited. Signing, streamflow maintenance dams, some campsites, and many trails would be removed. Fish stocking would cease. Reservation and permit fees (if legal) would be collected. John Phipps, Forest Supervisor, Eldorado National Forest, and Robert E. Harris, Forest Supervisor, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, are the responsible officials. The draft EIS is expected to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to be available for public review by August 1995. At that time the 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 EPA's notice of availability appears in the Federal Register. It is very important that reviewers participate at that time. To be the most helpful, comments on the draft EIS should be as specific as possible and may address the adequacy of the statement or the merits of the alternatives discussed (see The Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3). In addition, Federal court decisions have established that reviewers of draft EIS's must structure their participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewers' position and contentions, Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978), and that environmental objections that could have been raised at the draft stage may be waived if not raised until after completion of the final EIS. Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). The reason for this is to ensure that substantive comments and objectives are made available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the final EIS. After the comment period ends on the draft EIS, the comments will be analyzed and considered by the Forest Service in preparing the final EIS. The final EIS is scheduled to be completed by January 1996. The Forest Service is required to respond in the final EIS to the comments received (40 CFR 1503.4). The responsible officials will consider the comments, responses, disclosure of environmental consequences, and applicable laws, regulations, and policies in making a decision regarding this proposal. The responsible officials will document the decision and rationale in the Record of Decision. That decision will be subject to appeal. Dated: May 15, 1995. Robert E. Harris, Forest Supervisor, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Dated: May 15, 1995. John Phipps, Forest Supervisor, Eldorado National Forest. [FR Doc. 95-12857 Filed 5-24-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M