Vicinity Map2008 Ironton Ranger District

RTP Grant ProposalHanging Rock Improvements

United States ForestDepartment of ServiceAgriculture

Wayne National ForestIronton Ranger District

6518 State Route 93Pedro OH 45659-8912(740) 534-6500(740) 534-6565 Fax(800) 877-8339 TTY

SCOPING INVITATIONFOR HANGING ROCK ATV TRAIL AREA IMPROVEMENTS

SEPTEMBER 15, 2010You are invited to submit comments on a proposal by the Forest Service to make improvementsto the Hanging Rock ATV area. This proposal includes expansion of the existing ATV parkinglot and trail system, improvement of access to existing ATV trail from dispersed camping sites oradjacent public roads, installation of a water line and the improvement of access to fishingponds. The Sperry Fork extension is part of the future connection to our Pine Creek trail systemand is a new trail in undisturbed woodland. The Sperry Fork Bridge crosses to SR 650. Otheraccesses will be re-constructed on or adjacent to existing trails for long-term maintenance,hardened and signed. We propose to install a waterline along FR 105 from State Route 650 tothe parking area.

We would like to hear yourcomments. When submittingcomments, be sure to include yourname, current physical mailingaddress, and signature or otherverification of identity. Please makeyour comments specific to theproposed action described above.This may be your only opportunityto comment on this project. Sendcomments to Marsha Wikle at theabove address by October 15, 2010,or submit comments electronicallyto:comments-eastern-wayne-ironton©fs.fed.us .

A copy of this scoping notice isavailable athttp://www. fs. fed. us/r9/wayne/proj ects/ironton district/irontonproj cct.html, or is available in hard copyupon request.

USDA;liraIt's Cool to Be Safe Printed on Recycled Paper

Purpose and Need: Off-road vehicle use has escalated since the 1988 Wayne National ForestLand and Resource Management Plan, as evidenced by yearly increases in permits sold by theWayne National Forest (fee use program begun in 1998) and by estimates from the OhioDepartment of Natural Resources. The Ironton Ranger District has two ATV trail areasseparated by approximately 12 miles. The construction of the Kosmos ATV Trail Extension in2008-2009 will increase rider opportunities on the District, but will not connect to the HangingRock ATV Trail.

The access road to the Hanging Rock ATV Area was originally constructed in the 1950s for theextraction of coal and is presently a Maintenance Level 5 road. In 1999 a small parking lot wasconstructed for ATV riders. Three toilet facilities were added between 2002 and 2005. As ATVuse has grown and our facilities have not, most riders must park along the access road, then ridetheir ATVs to the nearest trail access. Riding on the main access road is unsafe and againstForest guideline GFW-TRANS-7: Avoid co-locating motorized trails with Maintenance Level 2to 5 roads. While we encourage riders to ride only on marked trails, we have not providedadequate parking areas with legal trail access. Riding on forest roads to reach ATV trail isunsafe.

Non-native invasive species are very common in disturbed areas such as Hanging Rock. Whilecontrol practices are increasing on the Forest, it is recommended that vehicles be washedfrequently so that seed from one area is not spread to other areas. Parking lot construction alsoaffords us the opportunity to eradicate honeysuckle and not to disturb currently open areas,which are developing into a meadow and a wet bog area.

Summary of Proposed Action. This proposed action includes expansion of the existing ATVparking lot, improvement of access to existing ATV trail from dispersed camping sites oradjacent public roads, future installation of a water line following the 105 road corridor and awashing station at the parking lot, construction of the Sperry Fork Extension, the first piece ofthe Pine Grove connector off the Oak Spur, installation of a bridge at Sperry Fork, and theimprovement of access to fishing ponds. Other accesses will be re-constructed on or adjacent toexisting trails, hardened and signed.

Detail on Proposed Hanging Rock Improvements Projects2010 NEPA Analysis

Parking LotWe propose expanding the size of the existing parking lot to take advantage of the existing toiletfacility, bulletin board and loading ramp already in place. The existing parking lot isapproximately .5 acres. The expansion will be .7 acres for a total of approximately 1.2 acres.

Trail Access:Preventive maintenance on the northern section of FR 105 to prevent erosion and allowaccess for maintenance. Need "Authorized Vehicles Only. Foot Travel Welcome" sign.Access to Lakeview Trail going west from dispersed camping and last SST on FR 105.

3. Access to Hanging Rock Trail from dispersed camping along FR 105 west of Pond 18.Harden, sign for <50" and "To Trail.

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This access is east of Pond 18 and connects a dispersed site to Hanging Rock trail.Access to Sawmill Trail on east side of FR 105 east of Pond 22.Lengthen Spur B approximately 1000 feet to junction of Pond 14 and unnumbered pond.Add trail access to Hanging Rock Trail from new End of Spur Road B. This is thelongest access and is approximately .25 mile. Need dispersed camping sign; <50" sign.Access to turn out on Rock Hollow Road from Hanging Rock Trail. This is presentlyused for maintenance access and is approximately 100 feet in length.

8. Sperry Fork Extension brings the existing trail to the edge of the Hanging Rock area.Further improvements will connect this trail to Pine Grove and the Fox Hollow systemvia the Sperry Fork Bridge.

WaterlineA waterline will be constructed within the corridor of FR 105. A washing station would beapproximately 50 foot square and bedded with large gravels (3-5") so to discourage germinationof seeds.

Pond Access

FR 105 to Pond 25. This access departs from a dispersed site and follows the contourapproximately 800 feet to a bench on the lake. It will be ATV and foot travel only. Need"To Trail" sign and "Pond 25" sign.

FR 105 to Pond 18. This access is existing but needs shaped and hardened to preventerosion. Some clearing could be clone to widen access at the water's edge. This access isfor trucks.

Spur B to Pond 12 — truck access, grade (has exposed rock); need turnouts for water;harden surface and parking area at bottom; close extra access in forks at top.

Spur B to Pond 14 — Spur B will be extended less than 1000 feet. Need to build up"landing" at edge of pond to allow easier handicap access. ATV trail will parallelExtension of Spur B and continue another .25 miles to Hanging Rock Trail.

FR 105 to Pond 7 — ATV access only, harden to pond's edge; barricade at road with<50" sign; "Pond 7" sign

FR 105 to Pond 4, 5 and 6 -- two accesses — clear honeysuckle to both ponds; add spur toPond 4.

Actions common to all proposed developments

The primary actions required to develop these improvements include

• Clearing vegetation as necessary within the boundaries of the improvements,which are noted on the attached map. Some vegetation will be cut, allowed tocure, and burned in a brush pile. The clearing at the parking lot may be done as aprescribed burn, with Forest Road 105 and the Gas Well trail as tire lines.

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grading the parking lot or trails as necessary; installing drainage as necessary,including ditches and culverts under the existing trail;

surfacing the parking lots and trail connectors as necessary with several sizes ofrock or pavement;

signage to instruct riders to stay on the designated trail and to denote appropriatemeans to use fishing access trails (i.e. foot or ATV access only).

Erosion control to protect fishable ponds.

Your comments: You are invited to provide public comments on the proposed Hanging RockImprovements project on the Ironton Ranger District. Please take a few minutes to review theinformation and provide comments about the proposed activity. It is most helpful if yourcomments are within the scope of the purpose and need, are specific to the proposed action, andinclude supporting reasons for me to consider.

Please provide your comments by October 15, 2010, and when submitting comments be sure toinclude your name, current physical mailing address, and signature or other verification ofidentity. Please make your comments specific to this proposed action, addressing the proposedHanging Rock Improvements Project. Send comments to Ironton District Ranger at the aboveaddress, or submit comments electronically to comments-eastern-wayne-irontonAfsfed.us.

Comments received in response to this solicitation, including the names and addresses of thosewho comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposed action and will beavailable for public inspection. Pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any person may request the agencyto withhold a submission from the public record by showing how the Freedom of InformationAct (FOIA) permits such confidentiality. Persons requesting such confidentiality should beaware that, under FOIA, confidentiality may be granted in only very limited circumstances, suchas to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service will inform the requester of the agency's decisionregarding the request for confidentiality, and if denied, the Agency will return the submissionand noti fy the requester that the comments may be resubmitted with or without name and addresswithin five (lays.

If you have no comments at this time, but wish to remain on the mailing list for this project,please call or write to show your interest. Thank you for your interest in the Wayne NationalForest.

Sincerely,

/s/Tim SloneTIMOTHY D. SLONEIronton District RangerEnclosure

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