Notice of Availability of Draft Resource Management Plans and Associated Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Three Bureau of Land Management Field Offices in Northeast California and Northwest Nevada: the Eagle Lake Field Office; the Alturas Field Office; the Surprise Field Office, 25223-25224 [06-4033]

Download as PDF jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 82 / Friday, April 28, 2006 / Notices The DEIS analyzes the Permittees’ proposed HCP, as well as a full range of reasonable alternatives and the associated impacts of each. The Service has developed five alternatives for analysis, including two preferred alternatives (alternatives 4 and 5). Alternative 1—No Action. The NoAction alternative considers the likely outcome if the Service does not reaffirm the issued incidental take permits. Under this alternative, the two projects would not be constructed as currently proposed. Alternative 2—Development According to the Original Gulf Highlands Subdivision Plat. Portions of the Permittees’ properties were originally platted and zoned for single family residential development by the Baldwin County Planning Commission. This alternative would involve development according to the original subdivision of the lands, which included approximately 1,076 single family lots. In order to construct the 1,076 residences, it is likely that the permittees would need to apply for and receive incidental take permits for those lots platted in Alabama beach mouse habitat. Alternative 3—Development Entirely North of the Escarpment. This alternative would involve development of residential condominium buildings and infrastructure approximately 300 feet north of the escarpment for both projects. Alternative 3 also includes additional minimization measures such as elimination of surface parking and one access roadway. Alternative 4—Development Including a 909-foot Corridor Connecting Adjacent Primary/ Secondary Dunes and Escarpment to the Interior. This Alternative preserves a 909-foot undeveloped corridor on the west side of the proposed projects. This alternative provides for dedication of 100.8 acres of Permittee-owned lands into conservation status via covenants, conditions, and restrictions attached to the property, and conditions of any incidental take permit that might be issued. Alternative 5—Development Including 909-foot Corridor Connecting Adjacent Primary/Secondary Dunes and Escarpment to the Interior and Use of Parking Decks. This Alternative preserves a 909-foot undeveloped corridor on the west side of the proposed projects. This alternative provides for dedication of more 100.8 acres of Permittee-owned lands into conservation status via covenants, conditions, and restrictions attached to the property, and conditions of any incidental take permit that might be VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:14 Apr 27, 2006 Jkt 208001 issued. This alternative incorporates additional minimization by utilizing additional parking decking. However, the current zoning found on the site would not permit this alternative. While the permittees are seeking a zoning variance, this alternative may not be practicable. Additional alternatives are briefly discussed. These alternatives either resulted in greater impacts to resources (e.g., the placement of structures closer to the beach, resulting in increased impacts to sea turtles) or are not considered to be economically practicable. Persons wishing to provide relevant information and comments regarding the DEIS should submit these to the above address. For information, please contact the individual identified above in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. The environmental review of this project is being conducted in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), and with other appropriate Federal laws and regulations, policies, and procedures of the Service for compliance with those regulations. The purpose of the public meeting on June 26, 2006, at the Adult Activity Center, Gulf Shores, Alabama, is to seek public input on the DEIS, to identify concerns that may be considered in the preparation of the final EIS, and to ensure that the DEIS is thorough and balanced. We encourage comments from the public concerning the identification of public and agency concerns, the enumeration of environmental issues and alternatives examined in the DEIS, the elimination of non-significant issues from extensive review, and the identification of relevant issues. Dated: April 18, 2006. Cynthia K. Dohner, Acting Regional Director. [FR Doc. E6–6140 Filed 4–27–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P PO 00000 Frm 00091 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 25223 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CA–350–1610–DP] Notice of Availability of Draft Resource Management Plans and Associated Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Three Bureau of Land Management Field Offices in Northeast California and Northwest Nevada: the Eagle Lake Field Office; the Alturas Field Office; the Surprise Field Office Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and under the authority of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared three Draft Resource Management Plans/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) for public lands managed by the Eagle Lake Field Office, Susanville, Calif.; the Alturas Field Office, Alturas, Calif.; and the Surprise Field Office, Cedarville, Calif. These drafts are now available for public review. DATES: Written comments on the DRMP/ DEIS documents will be accepted for 90 days following the Environmental Protection Agency’s publication of the Notice of Availability of these DRMP/ DEIS documents in the Federal Register. Public meetings and any other public involvement activities will be announced at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media news releases and direct mailings. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: Resource Management Plan, Bureau of Land Management, 2950 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 96130, or via e-mail to: necarmp@ca.blm.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have your name added to the project mailing list, contact Jeff Fontana, Public Affairs Officer, Bureau of Land Management, 2950 Riverside Dr., Susanville, CA 96130, or e-mail your request to: necarmp@ca.blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Eagle Lake, Alturas and Surprise field office jurisdictions encompass approximately three million acres of Public Lands. The Eagle Lake Field Office is headquartered in Susanville, Calif.; the Alturas Field Office in Alturas, Calif.; and the Surprise Field Office in Cedarville, Calif. New DRMP/DEIS for lands administered by these offices have been developed based on current policies and E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1 jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES 25224 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 82 / Friday, April 28, 2006 / Notices regulations, changed circumstances and new information on natural resources and natural resource management. New resource management plans are needed because current management direction for the three field offices is contained in 18 separate land use plans and subsequent amendments. The RMPs will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by the NEPA, FLPMA, and BLM management policies. The BLM has worked collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best suited to address local, regional and national concerns. The BLM held six public scoping meetings and three field tours in August and September 2003 as part of the process to identify issues to be addressed in these resource management plans. Two internal scoping meetings were held in November of 2003 to solicit input from BLM staff and other agency personnel. Participants provided the BLM with comments and issues for the RMPs. BLM personnel have been in contact with a number of tribes, county governments and state and Federal agencies about the planning project. These entities have been invited to participate as cooperating agencies in the development of the DRMP/DEIS documents. To date, the BLM has received 32 letters, 73 comment forms and 1,300 e-mail messages. The DRMP describes five management alternatives, including the No Action Alternative (continuation of existing management). Alternatives 1, 2, 3, and the preferred alternative present a range of management scenarios with varying amounts of natural resource protection and focus. The preferred alternative for the Alturas FO includes the following Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC): Ash Valley ACEC—1322 acres (existing); Timbered Crater ACEC— 17,896 acres; Emigrant Trails ACEC— 1,750 acres; Mountain Peaks ACEC— 3,500 acres; Old Growth Juniper ACEC—3,115 acres; Mount Dome ACEC—1510 acres; Tablelands/Yankee Jim/Fitzhugh Creek ACEC—1,400 acres. Four additional ACECs: Lava, Pit River Canyon, Juniper Creek, and Beaver Creek, were considered but not included in the preferred alternative. The preferred alternative for the Eagle Lake FO includes the following ACECs: Pine Dunes ACEC/Research Natural Area (RNA)—2,887 acres; Eagle Lake Basin ACEC—34,320 acres; Susan River ACEC—2,495 acres; Willow Creek ACEC—2,130 acres; Lower Smoke Creek ACEC—894 acres; Buffalo Creek Canyons ACEC—36,515 acres; and North Dry Valley ACEC—10,156 acres. VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:14 Apr 27, 2006 Jkt 208001 One additional ACEC, Aspen Groves, was considered but not included in the preferred alternative. The preferred alternative for the Surprise FO includes the following ACECs: Massacre ACEC— 44,780 acres; Bitner ACEC—1,921 acres; and Rahilly-Gravelly ACEC—957 acres. Use of public lands within these ACECs would vary, depending on the resources and/or values identified in Chapter 2 of the Draft RMP/EIS, but would include limitations on off-highway vehicle use and ground-disturbing development projects. Please note that comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, are available for public review and release under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Individual respondents may request confidentiality by stating this request prominently at the beginning of their written comments. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. The BLM will not consider anonymous comments. All submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations and businesses will be made available for public inspection in their entirety. Printed and compact disc copies of the Draft RMP/Draft EIS documents have been sent to affected federal, tribal, state and local government agencies and to interested publics. The documents are available by contacting the Bureau of Land Management Eagle Lake Field Office, 2950 Riverside Dr., Susanville, CA 96130. Documents are available online at https://www.blm.gov/ca/pa/ planning/landuseplanning.html. Additionally, the documents may be reviewed at the following BLM offices: California State Office, Information Access Center, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, Calif.; Alturas Field Office, 708 West 12th St., Alturas, Calif.; and the Surprise Field Office, 602 Cressler St., Cedarville, Calif. Dated: August 5, 2005. Dayne Barron, Eagle Lake Field Office Manager. Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the Federal Register April 25, 2006. [FR Doc. 06–4033 Filed 4–27–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central and Western Gulf of Mexico, Oil and Gas Lease Sales for Years 2007–2012 Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior. ACTION: Call for information and nominations. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This Call for Information and Nominations (hereinafter referred to as ‘‘Call’’) is the initial step in a single multisale process covering all lease sales in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico (GOM) planning areas included in the draft proposed 2007–2012 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program (see Federal Register, February 10, 2006, pages 7064–7068.) Eleven lease sales are specifically covered by this Call: six in the Central GOM and five in the Western GOM. The new configuration of the Central and Western GOM planning areas was announced in the draft proposed 2007–2012 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The Central GOM planning area related to this Call includes portions of areas previously included in the Eastern and Western GOM planning areas. Simultaneously with this Call, MMS is preparing a multisale Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) covering the same eleven sales in the Central and Western GOM. For each of the eleven individual lease sales associated with this Call, the MMS will comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), and the Coastal Zone Management Act. DATES: Nominations and comments must be received no later than 30 days following publication of this document in the Federal Register at the address specified below. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on this Call, please contact Ms. Jane Burrell Johnson, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394, telephone (504) 736–2811. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Call is the fifth issuance of a Gulf of Mexico OCS Region multisale Call. In 1996, the MMS implemented two multisale Call processes for lease sales in the Central and Western GOM, respectively, in association with the 1997–2002 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program. In relation to the 2002–2007 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program, MMS implemented one multisale Call process for Central and Western GOM lease sales and one E:\FR\FM\28APN1.SGM 28APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 82 (Friday, April 28, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25223-25224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4033]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-350-1610-DP]


Notice of Availability of Draft Resource Management Plans and 
Associated Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Three Bureau of 
Land Management Field Offices in Northeast California and Northwest 
Nevada: the Eagle Lake Field Office; the Alturas Field Office; the 
Surprise Field Office

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, and under the authority of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared three Draft Resource Management Plans/Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) for public lands managed by the Eagle Lake 
Field Office, Susanville, Calif.; the Alturas Field Office, Alturas, 
Calif.; and the Surprise Field Office, Cedarville, Calif. These drafts 
are now available for public review.

DATES: Written comments on the DRMP/DEIS documents will be accepted for 
90 days following the Environmental Protection Agency's publication of 
the Notice of Availability of these DRMP/DEIS documents in the Federal 
Register. Public meetings and any other public involvement activities 
will be announced at least 15 days in advance through public notices, 
media news releases and direct mailings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: Resource Management 
Plan, Bureau of Land Management, 2950 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA 
96130, or via e-mail to: necarmp@ca.blm.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have 
your name added to the project mailing list, contact Jeff Fontana, 
Public Affairs Officer, Bureau of Land Management, 2950 Riverside Dr., 
Susanville, CA 96130, or e-mail your request to: necarmp@ca.blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Eagle Lake, Alturas and Surprise field 
office jurisdictions encompass approximately three million acres of 
Public Lands. The Eagle Lake Field Office is headquartered in 
Susanville, Calif.; the Alturas Field Office in Alturas, Calif.; and 
the Surprise Field Office in Cedarville, Calif. New DRMP/DEIS for lands 
administered by these offices have been developed based on current 
policies and

[[Page 25224]]

regulations, changed circumstances and new information on natural 
resources and natural resource management. New resource management 
plans are needed because current management direction for the three 
field offices is contained in 18 separate land use plans and subsequent 
amendments. The RMPs will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth 
by the NEPA, FLPMA, and BLM management policies. The BLM has worked 
collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management 
decisions that are best suited to address local, regional and national 
concerns.
    The BLM held six public scoping meetings and three field tours in 
August and September 2003 as part of the process to identify issues to 
be addressed in these resource management plans. Two internal scoping 
meetings were held in November of 2003 to solicit input from BLM staff 
and other agency personnel. Participants provided the BLM with comments 
and issues for the RMPs. BLM personnel have been in contact with a 
number of tribes, county governments and state and Federal agencies 
about the planning project. These entities have been invited to 
participate as cooperating agencies in the development of the DRMP/DEIS 
documents. To date, the BLM has received 32 letters, 73 comment forms 
and 1,300 e-mail messages.
    The DRMP describes five management alternatives, including the No 
Action Alternative (continuation of existing management). Alternatives 
1, 2, 3, and the preferred alternative present a range of management 
scenarios with varying amounts of natural resource protection and 
focus.
    The preferred alternative for the Alturas FO includes the following 
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC): Ash Valley ACEC--1322 
acres (existing); Timbered Crater ACEC--17,896 acres; Emigrant Trails 
ACEC--1,750 acres; Mountain Peaks ACEC--3,500 acres; Old Growth Juniper 
ACEC--3,115 acres; Mount Dome ACEC--1510 acres; Tablelands/Yankee Jim/
Fitzhugh Creek ACEC--1,400 acres. Four additional ACECs: Lava, Pit 
River Canyon, Juniper Creek, and Beaver Creek, were considered but not 
included in the preferred alternative.
    The preferred alternative for the Eagle Lake FO includes the 
following ACECs: Pine Dunes ACEC/Research Natural Area (RNA)--2,887 
acres; Eagle Lake Basin ACEC--34,320 acres; Susan River ACEC--2,495 
acres; Willow Creek ACEC--2,130 acres; Lower Smoke Creek ACEC--894 
acres; Buffalo Creek Canyons ACEC--36,515 acres; and North Dry Valley 
ACEC--10,156 acres. One additional ACEC, Aspen Groves, was considered 
but not included in the preferred alternative. The preferred 
alternative for the Surprise FO includes the following ACECs: Massacre 
ACEC--44,780 acres; Bitner ACEC--1,921 acres; and Rahilly-Gravelly 
ACEC--957 acres. Use of public lands within these ACECs would vary, 
depending on the resources and/or values identified in Chapter 2 of the 
Draft RMP/EIS, but would include limitations on off-highway vehicle use 
and ground-disturbing development projects.
    Please note that comments, including names and street addresses of 
respondents, are available for public review and release under the 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Individual respondents may request 
confidentiality by stating this request prominently at the beginning of 
their written comments. Such requests will be honored to the extent 
allowed by law. The BLM will not consider anonymous comments. All 
submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
and businesses will be made available for public inspection in their 
entirety.
    Printed and compact disc copies of the Draft RMP/Draft EIS 
documents have been sent to affected federal, tribal, state and local 
government agencies and to interested publics. The documents are 
available by contacting the Bureau of Land Management Eagle Lake Field 
Office, 2950 Riverside Dr., Susanville, CA 96130. Documents are 
available online at https://www.blm.gov/ca/pa/planning/
landuseplanning.html. Additionally, the documents may be reviewed at 
the following BLM offices: California State Office, Information Access 
Center, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, Calif.; Alturas Field Office, 708 
West 12th St., Alturas, Calif.; and the Surprise Field Office, 602 
Cressler St., Cedarville, Calif.

    Dated: August 5, 2005.
Dayne Barron,
Eagle Lake Field Office Manager.

    Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register April 25, 2006.
[FR Doc. 06-4033 Filed 4-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
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