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FOREST SERVICE MANUAL
INTERMOUNTAIN REGION (REGION 4)
OGDEN, UT
FSM 7700 – TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
CHAPTER 7740 – FEDERAL LANDS HIGHWAY PROGRAMS
Supplement No.: 7700-2004-1
Effective Date: March 8, 2004
Duration: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: JACK G. TROYER
Regional Forester
Date Approved: 02/23/2004
Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by Title and calendar year.
Post by document; remove entire document and replace it with this supplement. Retain this
transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last supplement to this title was 7700-92-2
to FSM 7730.
New Document(s):
7740
6 Pages
Superseded Document(s) by
Issuance Number and
Effective Date
7740 (Supplement 7700-91-1, 8/1/91)
5 Pages
Digest:
7740 - This is a technical supplement that converts the format and style of this Regional directive
to the new FSM template using the agency’s current cooperate word processing software.
Although some minor typographical and technical errors have been corrected, this supplement
contains no changes to the substantive direction in this title.
R4 SUPPLEMENT 7700-2004-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 3/8/2004
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSM 7700 – TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
CHAPTER 7740 – FEDERAL LANDS HIGHWAY PROGRAMS
7740.43 - Regional Forester
The Regional Forester is responsible for all phases of the Federal Lands Highway program,
including Forest Highways and Public Lands Highways involving National Forest System lands
and resources in the Intermountain Region. This includes program planning, project selection,
concurrence on location and design criteria, letter of consent on plans, specifications and rights
of way easements, construction and acceptance of completed projects.
In implementing the Nationwide Action Plan and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
with FHWA, all items identified as being Forest Service responsibility shall be the responsibility
of the Regional Forester.
The Regional Forester is the authority for all matters of policy, procedure, resource and
environmental questions other than day-to-day activities of the Social, Economic, and
Environmental (SEE) Team. Specific authorities and delegations in the Regional Office are as
follows:
1. Regional Forester. Recommends Forest Highway designation changes to FHWA.
2. Director of Recreation and Lands. Issues letter of consent.
3. Director of Engineering.
a. Approves list of Region 4 priority projects for consideration at annual tri-agency
program meeting.
b. Represents the Region at the annual tri-agency program meeting. Approves the
agreed upon construction program for the Forest Service.
c. Represents the Region on project field reviews, hearings and public involvement
sessions and plan-in-hand reviews.
d. Designates the project SEE Team and Field Representative (usually Forest
Engineer) with concurrence of the Forest Supervisor.
e. Approves Project Plans and Specifications with concurrence of the Forest
Supervisor.
f. Recommends acceptance of complete project to FHWA with concurrence of the
Forest Supervisor.
Exhibit 01 shows the process steps in Forest Highway Program development, and Forest and
Regional Office responsibilities in carrying out the program.
R4 SUPPLEMENT 7700-2004-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 3/8/2004
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
7740
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FSM 7700 – TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
CHAPTER 7740 – FEDERAL LANDS HIGHWAY PROGRAMS
7740.44 - Forest Supervisor
The Forest Supervisor is responsible for identifying Forest Highway and other transportation
needs to serve land and resource management needs on the Forest. This includes incorporating
Forest Highway needs into the Forest Plan, and for periodically supplying resource and
utilization data for use in project evaluation.
The Forest Supervisor recommends changes in Forest Highway designation to Director of
Engineering for evaluation.
Project development is the responsibility of Federal Highway Administration. However, the
Forest has responsibility for the following actions on individual Forest Highway projects:
1. Recommends SEE Team Representative and Field Representative (usually the Forest
Engineer) to Director of Engineering.
2. The Forest SEE Team representative conveys Forest environmental and resource
concerns to FHWA through the SEE Team.
3. Attends plan-in-hand and concurs with final plans. Recommends approval to Director
of Engineering.
4. Checks rights-of-way status and drafts stipulations and letter of consent for Director of
Recreation and Lands.
5. Field Representative monitors construction and concurs with completed project.
Forest recommends acceptance of completed project to Director of Engineering.
6. Forest refers question of policy or procedure to the Regional Forester for disposition.
R4 SUPPLEMENT 7700-2004-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 3/8/2004
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSM 7700 – TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
CHAPTER 7740 – FEDERAL LANDS HIGHWAY PROGRAMS
7740.43 - Exhibit 01
FOREST & REGIONAL OFFICE RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE FOREST HIGHWAY PROGRAM
FOREST
Provide Forest data defined by
criteria for designation. Identify
Forest Highway needs in the
Forest Plan. Recommend
changes to Director,
Engineering.
PROCESS STEPS
FOREST HIGHWAY
STUDIES FOR
DESIGNATION
REGIONAL OFFICE
Director, Engineering assembles
data, assures compliance
w/criteria, and evaluates routes.
Regional Forester selects routes
and recommends to FHWA.
FHWA DESIGNATED
FOREST HIGHWAY ROUTES
Gather data for project criteria.
Evaluate project according to
established criteria. Establish
Forest priorities. Work w/local
jurisdictions to clarify R/W and
other issues. Recommends
projects to Director,
Engineering.
*******************************
TRI-AGENCIES MEET
ANNUALLY TO SELECT
PROJECTS FOR MULTIYEAR PROGRAM
FHWA DESIGNATES MULTIYEAR FOREST HIGHWAY
PROGRAM FOR PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT
******************************
Coordinate w/States, other
Regions, & FHWA on multi-year
Forest Highway Program. Director
Engineering develops and
approves projects for multi-year
program.
*******************************
FHWA BEGINS INDIVIDUAL
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Supervisor recommends FS
SEE Team Representative.
FHWA ESTABLISHED
PROJECT SEE TEAM
Director Engineering Designates
project SEE Team Representative
in cooperation with Forest
Supervisor.
All coordination w/FHWA is
through SEE Team
Representative in consultation
with Director Engineering. SEE
Team Representative uses
appropriate Line and Staff as
needed. Develops project
requirements & 4(f) statement, if
applicable, sends to RO for
transmission to FHWA.
SEE TEAM INITIATES
STUDIES OF EFFECTS
Director Engineering monitors
coordination between SEE Team
Representative and FHWA.
Assures compliance w/policy &
FHWA MOU. Transmits 4(f)
statement and project
requirements to FHWA.
R4 SUPPLEMENT 7700-2004-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 3/8/2004
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSM 7700 – TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
CHAPTER 7740 – FEDERAL LANDS HIGHWAY PROGRAMS
7740.43 - Exhibit 01--Continued
FOREST & REGIONAL OFFICE RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE FOREST HIGHWAY PROGRAM
FOREST
PROCESS STEPS
REGIONAL OFFICE
SEE Team Representative works
with FHWA as needed. SEE
Team Representative provides
Forest data and Forest
recommendations to FHWA.
FHWA PREPARES
ENVIRONMENTAL
DOCUMENTS
Coordinate with FHWA and
Forest as needed. Review
documents to assure FS
concerns are addressed.
SEE Team Representative
attends if requested. Represents
Forest, Forest Plan & resource
data.
FHWA CONDUCTS PUBLIC
HEARINGS
Attend hearings as desirable.
Represent Regional Forester.
SEE Team Representative
consults w/FHWA as needed.
Assures FS needs are
appropriately protected. Keeps
Director Engineering informed of
problems.
FHWA PERFORMS DATA
COLLECTION, SURVEY &
DESIGN
Coordinate with SEE Team
Representative and FHWA.
Provide technical assistance and
advice as requested.
SEE Team Representative and
other interested line/staff attend
to assure Forest concerns are
properly addressed.
FHWA CONDUCTS PLAN IN
HAND FIELD REVIEWS
Director Engineering attends to
assure FS concerns are properly
addressed.
Review plans & specs to assure
FS requirements are included.
Forest recommends approval to
the Director Engineering.
FHWA DOES FINAL DESIGN
Director Engineering with
concurrence of Forest Supervisor
approves Project Plans &
Specifications.
Forest reviews R/W needs and
checks lands status. Draft the
Letter of Consent.
COOPERATOR PRODUCE
PRIVATE ROW FHWA
ISSUES DOT EASEMENT
Director Recreation and Lands
issues Letter of Consent
authorizing FHWA to issue DOT
easement.
Director Engineering Designates
project SEE Team Representative
in cooperation with Forest
Supervisor.
R4 SUPPLEMENT 7700-2004-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 3/8/2004
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSM 7700 – TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
CHAPTER 7740 – FEDERAL LANDS HIGHWAY PROGRAMS
7740.43 - Exhibit 01--Continued
FOREST & REGIONAL OFFICE RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE FOREST HIGHWAY PROGRAM
FOREST
PROCESS STEPS
REGIONAL OFFICE
Recommend FS Project Field
FHWA AWARDS CONTRACT
Representative (Usually continue
& CONSTRUCTION BEGINS
w/the SEE Team Representative;
i.e. Forest Engineer). Attends Prework Conference. Monitor
construction for compliance with
design. Issue FS permits as
needed in conformance
w/stipulations.
Director Engineering designates
FS Project Files Representative
(Usually the Forest Engineer) in
cooperation with Forest
Supervisor.
Project Field Representative
concurs. Forest Supervisor
recommends approval to the
Director Engineering.
FINAL COMPLETED
PROJECT
Director Engineering attends final
inspection and in cooperation with
Forest Supervisor recommends
acceptance to FHWA.
Periodically review project as
desirable to evaluate whether
project meets objectives.
Recommend needed action to
Director of Engineering.
POST CONSTRUCTION
MONITORING
Initiate action as needed.