[Federal Register: August 20, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 161)]
[Notices]
[Page 51628-51629]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20au04-27]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Ashley National Forest, Flaming Gorge Ranger District, Utah,
Cedar Springs Marina Upgrade
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.
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SUMMARY: The proposed action has several parts. It is to resolve dry
storage issues, provide suitable shop area including storage, provide a
convenience store near the parking lot, provide more adequate boat
slippage and also provide more adequate boat sanitation facilities.
Other parts of the proposed action are to enlarge the present footprint
(acreage) of the marina facilities to accommodate the improvements and
to also reissue the special use permit for 25 years.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by 45 days after the legal notice in the Vernal Express on August 18,
2004. The draft environmental impact statement is expected May 2005 and
the final environmental impact statement is expected in September 2005.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Jeff Schramm, Flaming Gorge
District Ranger, Flaming Gorge Ranger District, and P.O. Box 279,
Manila, UT 84046.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Gossman, ID Team Leader, at
Flaming Gorge Ranger District, P.O. Box 279, Manila, UT 84046 or
telephone at (435) 781-5282.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action: The Purpose and Need for this project
is to provide the public with more adequate recreation facilities and
more adequate complimentary services at the Cedar Springs Marina
situated on the Flaming Gorge Reservoir within the Flaming Gorge
National Recreation Area.
Proposed Action: To fulfill the purpose and need the following
actions are proposed and effects will be analyzed:
(1) Extend power to Buckskin Cove, to power adequate boat security,
dewatering, and general use facilities for the boats held in the
Buckskin Cove slips. This extension would be underground and
approximately \1/4\ mile long.
(2) Move 40 boat slips to the Buckskin Cove after the power line is
established. If in the future the water levels continue to drop,
compromising additional present boat slips, then up to 40 additional
boat slips could be moved to Buckskin Cove.
(3) Allow the proponent to provide a suitable shop building for
boat maintenance and equipment and tool storage.
(4) Allow the proponent to provide an adequate dry storage area for
boats.
(5) Enlarge the footprint of the SUP to accommodate the
improvements being made.
(6) Re-issue the Special Use Permit for a 25-year period.
(7) Allow the proponent to provide a convenience store and
restaurant near the parking lot.
Possible Alternatives: Based on the preliminary analysis the
following potential alternatives to the proposed action have been
formulated:
No Action Alternative--The Marina would continue as it is.
Congestion would continue and current facilities would continue to
deteriorate and public service would continue to be inadequate based on
the Forest Plan, National Recreation Area Management Plan and public
demand.
Alternative 3, Partial Marina Upgrade--Develop dries storage and
run power to Buckskin Cove. This alternative would relieve some
congestion and partially respond to the direction given by the National
[[Page 51629]]
Recreation Area Management Plan. There would be no new convenience
store or new shop building.
Responsible Official: The Ashley National Forest Supervisor, George
Weldon is the responsible official. The address is Ashley National
Forest, 355 N. Vernal Ave., Vernal, UT 84078.
Nature of Decision To Be Made: The decision to be made is whether
to allow the upgrade of the Cedar Springs Marina, and whether to re-
issue the Special Use Permit for 25 years, and also whether to increase
the footprint (acreage) of the Special Use Permit as is proposed or to
allow partial upgrade of the marina as in Alternative 3 or to not allow
the upgrade as is found in the No Action Alternative.
Scoping Process: A scoping letter will be sent to interested
parties. The letter will discuss the proposed project and purpose and
need along with issues related to the project.
Preliminary Issues: The following are preliminary issues from early
analysis. Fluctuating water levels have reduced public service at the
marina, there is extreme parking congestion, antiquated facilities
limit the proponents ability to provide valuable services to the
public, compliance with the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
Management Plan, and the strong public demand for marina services.
Permits or Licenses Required: Army Corp of Engineers 404 permit
Comment Requested: This notice of intent initiates the scoping
process which guides the development of the environmental impact
statement.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A draft environmental impact statement will be
prepared for comment. The comment period on the draft environmental
impact statement will be 45 days from the date the Environmental
Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in the Federal
Register.
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 an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRCD, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental impact statement state 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). Because of these court rulings,
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 45 day comment period so that
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest
Service at a 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. 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.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal
and will be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21)
Dated: August 11, 2004.
Eileen Richmond,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 04-19058 Filed 8-19-04; 8:45 am]
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