Notice of Availability of the Casper Draft Resource Management Plan and Associated Environmental Impact Statement, Wyoming, 41464-41466 [E6-11583]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
41464
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 140 / Friday, July 21, 2006 / Notices
entire Marin Islands Refuge and State
Ecological Reserve under the National
Wildlife Refuge System Administration
Act, as amended, and pursuant to a
memorandum of understanding with
other landowning agencies.
The Refuge supports one of the largest
heron and egret colonies in northern
California. The primary purpose of the
Refuge is ‘‘to protect an important
existing egret and heron rookery on
West Marin Island and to increase
colonial nesting bird use on East Marin
Islands,’’ as described in the 1992
Environmental Assessment.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES_1
Proposed Action
The Proposed Action is to provide an
integrated set of management actions
consistent with the purposes for which
the Refuge was established; the
mandates of the Refuge System; and the
vision, goals, and objectives defined in
the CCP. The CCP identifies the Refuge’s
roles in support of the mission of the
Refuge System and describes the
Service’s proposed management actions.
The CCP must be consistent with sound
principles of fish and wildlife science
and conservation, and legal mandates
and Service policies. In addition to
outlining refuge management direction
for conserving wildlife and their
habitats, CCPs identify wildlifedependent recreational opportunities
available to the public.
Alternatives
The Draft CCP/EA identifies and
evaluates 3 alternatives for managing
Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge
for the next 15 years. Each alternative
describes a combination of wildlife,
habitat, and public use management
prescriptions designed to achieve
Refuge purposes. Of the alternatives
described below, the Service believes
Alternative C would best achieve the
purposes of the Refuge, and is, therefore
identified as the Preferred Alternative.
Alternative A, the no-action
alternative, assumes no change from
current management programs and is
considered the baseline to compare
other alternatives. Under this
alternative, the focus of the Refuge
would be to continue to maintain and
restore native coastal scrub and oak
woodland habitat for migratory birds.
The Refuge would remain closed to the
public other than existing, supervised
volunteer opportunities and fishing in
the Refuge’s submerged area. Wildlife
observation and photography would not
be allowed on the Refuge’s islands.
Alternative B would accelerate habitat
restoration of the coastal scrub and oak
woodland habitat to provide potential
habitat for the migratory birds that nest
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:59 Jul 20, 2006
Jkt 208001
at the Refuge. The Refuge would remain
closed to public access under this
Alternative, but fishing from boats
would continue. Impacts from
trespassing would be reduced through
increased law enforcement monitoring.
Raven predation of the heron and egret
colonies would be monitored to
determine declines in the colonies’
population.
Alternative C, the preferred
alternative, would also include
accelerated habitat restoration,
increased law enforcement monitoring,
fishing from boats, and raven predation
monitoring. In addition, public use,
environmental education, and cultural
resource preservation would be
provided. Guided tours would be
established to provide wildlife
observation, environmental education,
and cultural resource interpretation
opportunities. Off-refuge environmental
education opportunities include school
and community presentations. Cultural
resources on the Refuge will be assessed
and preserved according to regulatory
requirements.
Public Comments
After the review and comment period
ends for this Draft CCP/EA, comments
will be analyzed by the Service and
addressed in the Final CCP/EA. All
comments received from individuals,
including names and addresses, become
part of the official public record and
may be released. Requests for such
comments will be handled in
accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act, the Council on
Environmental Quality’s NEPA
regulations, and Service and
Departmental policies and procedures.
Ken McDermond,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada
Operations Office, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. E6–11597 Filed 7–20–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY–060–1610–DP]
Notice of Availability of the Casper
Draft Resource Management Plan and
Associated Environmental Impact
Statement, Wyoming
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of
the Draft Casper Resource Management
Plan\Environmental Impact Statement
(Draft RMP\EIS).
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00050
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
SUMMARY: In accordance with Section
202 of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (FLPMA) the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM), in
cooperation with the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), National Park
Service (NPS), State of Wyoming,
county governments, and conservation
districts located in the planning area,
has prepared a draft revision to the
Casper RMP and associated
environmental impact statement. By this
notice, the BLM announces the
availability of the Draft Casper RMP/EIS
for public review and the opening of the
period during which the public may
submit their comments to the BLM.
Consistent with Federal regulations, the
BLM announces that a public hearing
regarding coal leasing will be scheduled
during the public review period and
prior to the approval of the final RMP.
DATES: The Draft Casper RMP/EIS will
be available for review for 90 calendar
days from the date the EPA publishes
the NOA in the Federal Register. The
BLM can best utilize your comments
and resource information submissions if
received within the review period.
All meetings or hearings and any
other public involvement opportunities
to submit comments on the Draft
RMP\EIS will be announced at least 15
days in advance through public notices,
media news releases, Casper RMP Web
site announcements, or mailings.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the Draft
RMP\EIS has been sent to affected
Federal, State, and local Government
agencies and to interested parties. The
document will be available
electronically on the following Web site:
https://www.blm.gov/rmp/casper. Copies
of the Draft RMP\EIS will be available
for public inspection at the following
locations:
• Bureau of Land Management,
Wyoming State Office, 5353
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming
82003.
• Bureau of Land Management,
Casper Field Office, 2987 Prospector
Drive, Casper, Wyoming 82604.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Linda Slone, Project Manager, BLM
Casper Field Office, 2987 Prospector
Drive, Casper, WY 82604. Requests for
information may be sent electronically
to CRMP_wymail@blm.gov with
‘‘Attention: Casper RMP Information
Request’’ in the subject line. Ms. Slone
may also be reached at (307) 261–7520.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft
RMP\EIS describes and analyzes
alternatives for the planning and
management of public lands and
E:\FR\FM\21JYN1.SGM
21JYN1
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES_1
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 140 / Friday, July 21, 2006 / Notices
resources administered by the BLM
Casper Field Office. The administrative
area is located in east-central Wyoming
and includes approximately 8.5 million
acres of land in most of Natrona County,
and all of Converse, Goshen, and Platte
Counties. Public land in the
southwestern corner of Natrona County
is administered by the BLM’s Lander
Field Office. Within the Casper
administrative area, the BLM
administers approximately 1.4 million
acres of BLM-administered public land
surface and 4.7 million acres of Federal
mineral estate.
Cooperating agencies under NEPA in
the preparation of the Draft RMP\EIS
included the Environmental Protection
Agency; National Park Service, Fort
Laramie National Historic Site; State of
Wyoming; Converse, Natrona, and Platte
Counties; and Converse, Natrona,
Lingle-Fort Laramie, North Platte
Valley, and South Goshen Conservation
Districts. The Draft RMP\EIS documents
the direct, indirect, and cumulative
environmental impacts of five
alternatives for management of BLMadministered public lands within the
Casper Field Office. When completed,
the revised RMP will fulfill the
obligations set forth by the NEPA, the
FLPMA, and associated Federal
regulations. Because the Draft RMP\EIS
addresses coal leasing and to meet
requirements found at 43 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) 1610.2, a
hearing will be combined with a public
meeting to be scheduled and announced
during the comment period allotted in
this notice. In 1985 the BLM approved
the Platte River RMP that established
management direction for the surface
and mineral estates and associated
resources administered by the BLM
Casper Field Office, Wyoming. In
September 2000 an evaluation of the
Platte River RMP, predecessor to the
Casper RMP, was completed. The
evaluation concluded that the RMP
needed revising to address changing
conditions and demands on the area’s
resources.
Under the provisions found at 43
CFR1610.2 the BLM published a Notice
of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register,
November 20, 2003, announcing that it
would prepare a revised plan and
associated EIS that would be used to
review and analyze current conditions,
consider new data, new or revised
policies and circumstances affecting the
entire or major portions of the
geographic area addressed in the Platte
River RMP. To reflect changes in
administrative units, the BLM also
established that the revised plan would
henceforth be known as the Casper
RMP. The Draft RMP\EIS describes the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:59 Jul 20, 2006
Jkt 208001
physical, mineral, biological, heritage
and visual, land, and socioeconomic
resources in and around the planning
area. The focus for impact analysis is
based on resource issues and concerns
identified during scoping and public
involvement activities and
opportunities. Potential impacts of
concern regarding possible management
direction and planning decisions (not in
priority order) are:
(1) Energy and mineral resource
exploration and development;
(2) Land ownership adjustments and
access/transportation on BLM lands;
(3) Fire management, including
wildland-urban interface;
(4) Wildlife habitat and management
of crucial habitat and migration
corridors;
(5) Management and the cumulative
effects of land uses and human activities
on threatened, endangered, candidate,
and sensitive species and their habitat;
(6) Livestock grazing and management
of vegetation, including impacts of
invasive, nonnative species;
(7) Air and water quality; and
(8) Management of cultural, including
National Historic Trails and
paleontological resources, recreation
and off-highway vehicle management,
and visual resource management.
Four alternatives and a Preferred
Alternative were developed and are
analyzed in detail:
1. Alternative A. Continuation of
Existing Management Direction or the
‘‘No Action’’ Alternative continues to
balance the use and development of
resources.
2. Alternative B. Emphasizes
conservation of physical, biological, and
heritage resources with constraints on
resource uses.
3. Alternative C. Provides physical,
biological, and heritage resource
conservation similar to current
management while allowing for more
recreation experiences.
4. Alternative D. Emphasizes resource
uses (e.g., energy and mineral
development, recreation, and forest
products).
5. Alternative E. Preferred Alternative
conserves physical, biological, and
heritage resources while emphasizing
moderate constraints.
There are currently two areas of
critical environmental concern (ACECs),
Jackson Canyon and Salt Creek
Hazardous ACECs, totaling
approximately 249,350 acres of mixed
Federal surface and private land
ownership as established in the Platte
River RMP (1985). There are five
potential ACECs proposed in the draft
Casper RMP. These are:
• Alcova Fossil Area—(7,073 acres;
mostly federal surface) Values of
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
41465
concern include rare fossil tracks and
additional fossils from two geological
periods;
• Black-tailed Prairie Dog Complex—
(22,937 acres; mostly non-federal
surface) Values of concern include
protection of habitat and other species
dependent on prairie dog colonies;
• Cedar Ridge—(21,742 acres; over 60
percent Federal surface) Values of
concern include historic cultural
resources, including traditional
ceremonial sites in use by the Shoshone,
Arapaho and other tribes;
• North Platte River—(85,392 acres;
mostly non-Federal surface) Values of
concern include fisheries and wildlife
habitats and high recreational and
scenic values; and
• South Bighorns/Red Wall—(369,325
acres; over 55 percent Federal surface)
Values of concern include crucial
wildlife habitat, cultural resources,
intact vegetation communities and
outstanding scenery.
Alternative E proposes to maintain
ACEC status for Jackson Canyon;
remove ACEC status for Salt Creek
Hazardous Area; and add the following
to be managed as ACECs in the future:
Alcova Fossil Area. The following areas
would be established as special
management areas (SMAs): Bates Hole,
Salt Creek, Sand Hills, South Bighorns/
Red Wall, and Wind River Basin.
Agency Preferred Alternative: BLM’s
preferred alternative is Alternative E.
The Casper Draft RMP\EIS considers,
and is in conformance with, BLM’s
National Fire Plan and Healthy Forest
Initiative. The National Energy Policy is
also considered. The potential for
energy development in the planning
area is high, both north and west of
Casper, Wyoming. Based on the high
potential within the area administered
by the Casper Field Office, the Draft
RMP\EIS considers oil and gas, coal, and
wind energy development in support of
the National Energy Plan.
Since the publication of the NOI in
the Federal Register, open houses,
surveys, and mailings have been
conducted to solicit comments and
input. The Casper Field Office has been
coordinating with various county
governments, conservation districts, and
the State of Wyoming throughout the
development of the Draft RMP\EIS.
Tribal governments with interests in the
Casper area were also contacted.
Starting November 20, 2003, the date
that BLM’s NOI was published in the
Federal Register, the BLM has solicited
for and received in excess of 500
comments from interested parties. In
addition, a series of public meetings
were held to provide the public with an
opportunity to acquire information
E:\FR\FM\21JYN1.SGM
21JYN1
41466
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 140 / Friday, July 21, 2006 / Notices
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES_1
about the RMP revision process, as well
as provide the public with an
opportunity to submit comments. Public
meetings were held in: Wheatland,
Wyoming, November 10, 2003;
Torrington, Wyoming, November 11,
2003; Douglas, Wyoming, November 12,
2003; and Casper, Wyoming, November
13, 2003. All comments presented
throughout the process have been
considered. Background information
and maps used in developing the Draft
RMP\EIS are available for public
viewing at the Casper Field Office.
How To Submit Comments
The BLM encourages you to review
the Casper Draft RMP\EIS, attend public
meetings or hearings, and submit your
comments. Written comments may be
submitted as follows:
1. The Casper RMP Revision Web site
at https://www.blm.gov/rmp/casper/ is
designed to allow commenters to submit
comments electronically by resource
subject directly onto a comment form
posted on the Web site;
2. Comments may be uploaded in an
electronic file directly to the above Web
site;
3. Written comments may be mailed
directly, or delivered to, the BLM at:
Casper RMP/EIS, Bureau of Land
Management Casper Field Office, 2987
Prospector Drive, Casper, WY 82604–
2968.
4. Comments may be sent by facsimile
to (307) 261–7587; or
5. Written comments may be
submitted during the public meetings
and hearings that will be held at a later
date.
BLM will only accept comments on
the Casper RMP and DEIS if they are
submitted in the methods described
above. To be given consideration by
BLM all DEIS comment submittals must
include the commenter’s name and
street address. Whenever possible,
please include reference to either the
page or section in the document to
which the comment applies. To
facilitate analysis of comments and
information submitted, we strongly
encourage the public to submit
comments in an electronic format
through either the Web site or electronic
mail.
Our practice is to make comments,
including the names and street
addresses of each respondent, available
for public review at the BLM office
listed above during business hours (7:45
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through
Friday, except for Federal holidays.
Your comments may be published as
part of the EIS process. Individual
respondents may request
confidentiality. If you wish to withhold
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:31 Jul 20, 2006
Jkt 208001
your name or street address or both from
public review or from disclosure under
the Freedom of Information Act, you
must state this prominently at the
beginning of your written comments.
Such requests will be honored to the
extent allowed by law. Anonymous
comments will not be considered. All
submissions from organizations or
businesses will be made available for
public inspection in their entirety.
Dated: July 10, 2006.
Mark E. Johnson,
Coos Bay District Manager.
[FR Doc. E6–11566 Filed 7–20–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–33–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[UT–060–06–1430; UTU–81536]
Dated: April 21, 2006.
Donald A. Simpson,
Acting Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. E6–11583 Filed 7–20–06; 8:45 am]
Notice of Realty Action; Cancellation;
Noncompetitive Lease of Public Land;
Grand County, UT
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
AGENCY:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[OR 120 5882 CD99; HAG# 6–161]
Notice of Public Meeting, Coos Bay
Resource Advisory Committee Meeting
Bureau of Land Management,
Department of the Interior.
AGENCY:
Notice of Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Coos Bay District
Resource Advisory Committee (RAC)
Meeting as identified in Section
205(f)(2) of the Secure Rural Schools
and Community Self-Determination Act
of 2000, Public Law 106–393.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The BLM Coos Bay District
RAC is scheduled to meet on August 3,
2006 from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the
BLM Coos Bay District Office. The BLM
Office is located at 1300 Airport Lane in
North Bend, Oregon. The purpose of
this meeting will be for the RAC to
recommend funding for Title II projects,
as identified under Public Law 106–393.
There will be an opportunity for the
public to address the RAC at
approximately 11 a.m. at this meeting.
The RAC may also meet on August 10,
2006 for the same purpose. The need for
this meeting will be dependent upon the
progress made in making
recommendations at the August 3, 2006
meeting. The scheduled meeting time
and location for the August 10, 2006
meeting will be the same as for the
meeting scheduled on August 3, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mark Johnson, Coos Bay District
Manager, at (541) 756–0100 or Glenn
Harkleroad, District Restoration
Coordinator, at (541) 751–4361 or
glenn_harkleroad@or.blm.gov. The
mailing address for the BLM Coos Bay
District Office is 1300 Airport Lane,
North Bend, Oregon 97459.
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Realty Action;
Cancellation.
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
cancellation of the Notice of Realty
Action published in the Federal
Register on March 14, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary von Koch, Realty Specialist, Moab
Field Office, 435–259–2128.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
decision to cancel the Notice of Realty
Action is based on the comments
received during the 45-day comment
period. Interested parties pointed out
uncertainties with allocation of water
rights that are critical for the proposed
agricultural lease, they objected to
BLM’s determination that no
competitive interests exist, and stated
that the separation of public and State
Trust lands for a separate use from the
private lands will create haphazard
inholdings and access problems for
private landowners and grazing
permittees. BLM has determined that
cancellation of the NORA and
continued management of the parcels
for existing uses, pending exchange
with State Trust, is in the public
interest.
Dated: June 27, 2006.
A. Lynn Jackson,
Assistant Field Manager, Resources.
[FR Doc. 06–6388 Filed 7–20–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–M
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Construction of New Utah Museum of
Natural History, Draft Environmental
Impact Statement, Salt Lake County,
UT
National Park Service,
Department of Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\21JYN1.SGM
21JYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 140 (Friday, July 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41464-41466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11583]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY-060-1610-DP]
Notice of Availability of the Casper Draft Resource Management
Plan and Associated Environmental Impact Statement, Wyoming
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Casper Resource
Management Plan\Environmental Impact Statement (Draft RMP\EIS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 202 of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (FLPMA) the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in cooperation
with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Park Service
(NPS), State of Wyoming, county governments, and conservation districts
located in the planning area, has prepared a draft revision to the
Casper RMP and associated environmental impact statement. By this
notice, the BLM announces the availability of the Draft Casper RMP/EIS
for public review and the opening of the period during which the public
may submit their comments to the BLM. Consistent with Federal
regulations, the BLM announces that a public hearing regarding coal
leasing will be scheduled during the public review period and prior to
the approval of the final RMP.
DATES: The Draft Casper RMP/EIS will be available for review for 90
calendar days from the date the EPA publishes the NOA in the Federal
Register. The BLM can best utilize your comments and resource
information submissions if received within the review period.
All meetings or hearings and any other public involvement
opportunities to submit comments on the Draft RMP\EIS will be announced
at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media news
releases, Casper RMP Web site announcements, or mailings.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the Draft RMP\EIS has been sent to affected
Federal, State, and local Government agencies and to interested
parties. The document will be available electronically on the following
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/rmp/casper. Copies of the Draft
RMP[bs]EIS will be available for public inspection at
the following locations:
Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, 5353
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003.
Bureau of Land Management, Casper Field Office, 2987
Prospector Drive, Casper, Wyoming 82604.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Linda Slone, Project Manager, BLM
Casper Field Office, 2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, WY 82604. Requests
for information may be sent electronically to CRMP_wymail@blm.gov with
``Attention: Casper RMP Information Request'' in the subject line. Ms.
Slone may also be reached at (307) 261-7520.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft RMP[bs]EIS
describes and analyzes alternatives for the planning and management of
public lands and
[[Page 41465]]
resources administered by the BLM Casper Field Office. The
administrative area is located in east-central Wyoming and includes
approximately 8.5 million acres of land in most of Natrona County, and
all of Converse, Goshen, and Platte Counties. Public land in the
southwestern corner of Natrona County is administered by the BLM's
Lander Field Office. Within the Casper administrative area, the BLM
administers approximately 1.4 million acres of BLM-administered public
land surface and 4.7 million acres of Federal mineral estate.
Cooperating agencies under NEPA in the preparation of the Draft
RMP[bs]EIS included the Environmental Protection
Agency; National Park Service, Fort Laramie National Historic Site;
State of Wyoming; Converse, Natrona, and Platte Counties; and Converse,
Natrona, Lingle-Fort Laramie, North Platte Valley, and South Goshen
Conservation Districts. The Draft RMP[bs]EIS documents
the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of five
alternatives for management of BLM-administered public lands within the
Casper Field Office. When completed, the revised RMP will fulfill the
obligations set forth by the NEPA, the FLPMA, and associated Federal
regulations. Because the Draft RMP[bs]EIS addresses
coal leasing and to meet requirements found at 43 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) 1610.2, a hearing will be combined with a public
meeting to be scheduled and announced during the comment period
allotted in this notice. In 1985 the BLM approved the Platte River RMP
that established management direction for the surface and mineral
estates and associated resources administered by the BLM Casper Field
Office, Wyoming. In September 2000 an evaluation of the Platte River
RMP, predecessor to the Casper RMP, was completed. The evaluation
concluded that the RMP needed revising to address changing conditions
and demands on the area's resources.
Under the provisions found at 43 CFR1610.2 the BLM published a
Notice of Intent (NOI) in the Federal Register, November 20, 2003,
announcing that it would prepare a revised plan and associated EIS that
would be used to review and analyze current conditions, consider new
data, new or revised policies and circumstances affecting the entire or
major portions of the geographic area addressed in the Platte River
RMP. To reflect changes in administrative units, the BLM also
established that the revised plan would henceforth be known as the
Casper RMP. The Draft RMP[bs]EIS describes the
physical, mineral, biological, heritage and visual, land, and
socioeconomic resources in and around the planning area. The focus for
impact analysis is based on resource issues and concerns identified
during scoping and public involvement activities and opportunities.
Potential impacts of concern regarding possible management direction
and planning decisions (not in priority order) are:
(1) Energy and mineral resource exploration and development;
(2) Land ownership adjustments and access/transportation on BLM
lands;
(3) Fire management, including wildland-urban interface;
(4) Wildlife habitat and management of crucial habitat and
migration corridors;
(5) Management and the cumulative effects of land uses and human
activities on threatened, endangered, candidate, and sensitive species
and their habitat;
(6) Livestock grazing and management of vegetation, including
impacts of invasive, nonnative species;
(7) Air and water quality; and
(8) Management of cultural, including National Historic Trails and
paleontological resources, recreation and off-highway vehicle
management, and visual resource management.
Four alternatives and a Preferred Alternative were developed and
are analyzed in detail:
1. Alternative A. Continuation of Existing Management Direction or
the ``No Action'' Alternative continues to balance the use and
development of resources.
2. Alternative B. Emphasizes conservation of physical, biological,
and heritage resources with constraints on resource uses.
3. Alternative C. Provides physical, biological, and heritage
resource conservation similar to current management while allowing for
more recreation experiences.
4. Alternative D. Emphasizes resource uses (e.g., energy and
mineral development, recreation, and forest products).
5. Alternative E. Preferred Alternative conserves physical,
biological, and heritage resources while emphasizing moderate
constraints.
There are currently two areas of critical environmental concern
(ACECs), Jackson Canyon and Salt Creek Hazardous ACECs, totaling
approximately 249,350 acres of mixed Federal surface and private land
ownership as established in the Platte River RMP (1985). There are five
potential ACECs proposed in the draft Casper RMP. These are:
Alcova Fossil Area--(7,073 acres; mostly federal surface)
Values of concern include rare fossil tracks and additional fossils
from two geological periods;
Black-tailed Prairie Dog Complex--(22,937 acres; mostly
non-federal surface) Values of concern include protection of habitat
and other species dependent on prairie dog colonies;
Cedar Ridge--(21,742 acres; over 60 percent Federal
surface) Values of concern include historic cultural resources,
including traditional ceremonial sites in use by the Shoshone, Arapaho
and other tribes;
North Platte River--(85,392 acres; mostly non-Federal
surface) Values of concern include fisheries and wildlife habitats and
high recreational and scenic values; and
South Bighorns/Red Wall--(369,325 acres; over 55 percent
Federal surface) Values of concern include crucial wildlife habitat,
cultural resources, intact vegetation communities and outstanding
scenery.
Alternative E proposes to maintain ACEC status for Jackson Canyon;
remove ACEC status for Salt Creek Hazardous Area; and add the following
to be managed as ACECs in the future: Alcova Fossil Area. The following
areas would be established as special management areas (SMAs): Bates
Hole, Salt Creek, Sand Hills, South Bighorns/Red Wall, and Wind River
Basin.
Agency Preferred Alternative: BLM's preferred alternative is
Alternative E.
The Casper Draft RMP[bs]EIS considers, and is in
conformance with, BLM's National Fire Plan and Healthy Forest
Initiative. The National Energy Policy is also considered. The
potential for energy development in the planning area is high, both
north and west of Casper, Wyoming. Based on the high potential within
the area administered by the Casper Field Office, the Draft
RMP[bs]EIS considers oil and gas, coal, and wind
energy development in support of the National Energy Plan.
Since the publication of the NOI in the Federal Register, open
houses, surveys, and mailings have been conducted to solicit comments
and input. The Casper Field Office has been coordinating with various
county governments, conservation districts, and the State of Wyoming
throughout the development of the Draft RMP[bs]EIS.
Tribal governments with interests in the Casper area were also
contacted. Starting November 20, 2003, the date that BLM's NOI was
published in the Federal Register, the BLM has solicited for and
received in excess of 500 comments from interested parties. In
addition, a series of public meetings were held to provide the public
with an opportunity to acquire information
[[Page 41466]]
about the RMP revision process, as well as provide the public with an
opportunity to submit comments. Public meetings were held in:
Wheatland, Wyoming, November 10, 2003; Torrington, Wyoming, November
11, 2003; Douglas, Wyoming, November 12, 2003; and Casper, Wyoming,
November 13, 2003. All comments presented throughout the process have
been considered. Background information and maps used in developing the
Draft RMP[bs]EIS are available for public viewing at
the Casper Field Office.
How To Submit Comments
The BLM encourages you to review the Casper Draft
RMP[bs]EIS, attend public meetings or hearings, and
submit your comments. Written comments may be submitted as follows:
1. The Casper RMP Revision Web site at https://www.blm.gov/rmp/
casper/ is designed to allow commenters to submit comments
electronically by resource subject directly onto a comment form posted
on the Web site;
2. Comments may be uploaded in an electronic file directly to the
above Web site;
3. Written comments may be mailed directly, or delivered to, the
BLM at: Casper RMP/EIS, Bureau of Land Management Casper Field Office,
2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, WY 82604-2968.
4. Comments may be sent by facsimile to (307) 261-7587; or
5. Written comments may be submitted during the public meetings and
hearings that will be held at a later date.
BLM will only accept comments on the Casper RMP and DEIS if they
are submitted in the methods described above. To be given consideration
by BLM all DEIS comment submittals must include the commenter's name
and street address. Whenever possible, please include reference to
either the page or section in the document to which the comment
applies. To facilitate analysis of comments and information submitted,
we strongly encourage the public to submit comments in an electronic
format through either the Web site or electronic mail.
Our practice is to make comments, including the names and street
addresses of each respondent, available for public review at the BLM
office listed above during business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.),
Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays. Your comments may
be published as part of the EIS process. Individual respondents may
request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street
address or both from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom
of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of
your written comments. Such requests will be honored to the extent
allowed by law. Anonymous comments will not be considered. All
submissions from organizations or businesses will be made available for
public inspection in their entirety.
Dated: April 21, 2006.
Donald A. Simpson,
Acting Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. E6-11583 Filed 7-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
