Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact South Fowl ...

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TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................... 3 DECISION................................................................................................................................... 11 REASONS FOR THE DECISION............................................................................................ 15 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED IN DETAIL...................................................................... 25 CONSISTENCY WITH NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT ACT THE FOREST PLAN AND OTHER LAWS..................................................................................... 27 FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT........................................................................... 30 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION............................................................................................. 40 REFERENCES CITED.............................................................................................................. 40 APPEAL RIGHTS...................................................................................................................... 41 APPENDIX A – Photo Series of Decision APPENDIX B – Design Elements, Mitigation Measures, Monitoring APPENDIX C – Map APPENDIX D – Response to Comments The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
INTRODUCTION This document describes the decision I have made regarding safe snowmobile access to South Fowl Lake from the McFarland Lake area, on the Superior National Forest. This document also describes my reasons for the decision, and finding that an environmental impact statement is not needed. This finding is in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, other laws, regulation and policy. This decision and finding are based on my knowledge of the Upper Arrowhead Trail (Cook County #16) area, my review of the South Fowl Lake Snowmobile Access Environmental Assessment (S. Fowl EA), the Biological Evaluation, the project record and the 2004 Superior National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan). The South Fowl Snowmobile Access project has been one of the more interesting in my career. It is something that should have been dealt with long ago, however it wasn’t. It is a fairly simple proposal, however it has stirred personal emotion that has been decades in building. It seemed the more I worked with the public to find a common solution, the more polarized they became. This decision will be fully welcomed and completely rejected, absolutely right and horribly wrong. A portion of the public will cheer, the rest will jeer. Some will claim victory, others will cry foul. To help understand why we are where we are, I am providing some background. Why here and why now? The genesis of this project began in 2003 when an existing snowmobile trail, sometimes known as the “Tilbury Trail”, was brought to my attention. I had decided to step up winter patrol of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) to ensure integrity of the wilderness during the off peak months. Through our patrol, a member of the public mentioned the existence of a trail that traveled across Royal Lake. During inspection, it was determined the trail crossed a corner of the Wilderness and therefore would need to be closed. Figure 2. Map showing historic Tilbury Trail in relation to Royal Lake Tilbury Trail connected McFarland Lake with South Fowl Lake (see Figure 1). It should be pointed out here that South Fowl Lake is the eastern most lake in a chain of 3
Page 1: United States Department of Agricul
Page 5 and 6: Logged Area Logging trail ends here
Page 7 and 8: the “Lands Nobody Wanted”. This
Page 9 and 10: Congress clearly intended that land
Page 11 and 12: BWCAW) was revised following the co
Page 13 and 14: I am also approving the closure of
Page 15 and 16: Appendix A includes photos and disc
Page 17 and 18: has led me to believe those impacts
Page 19 and 20: Figure 7. Photo showing Tilbury Tra
Page 21 and 22: I will also mention that during thi
Page 23 and 24: “The Forest Service's oversight f
Page 25 and 26: “That is why it is so critical th
Page 27 and 28: CONSISTENCY WITH NATIONAL FOREST MA
Page 29 and 30: as orienteering, hunting, fishing,
Page 31 and 32: Royal Lake would not be affected by
Page 33 and 34: closure or the trail will be oblite
Page 35 and 36: soils. Where located on the bench a
Page 37 and 38: snowmobiles tried to ride down the
Page 39 and 40: Snowmobile Access Environmental Ass
Page 41 and 42: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact South Fowl ...

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