Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the North Steens Ecosystem Restoration Project, 46237-46238 [E7-16126]

Download as PDF ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 159 / Friday, August 17, 2007 / Notices three-year term would begin January 1, 2008. The five positions to be filled include: —One non-renewable resources representative. —One recreation representative. —Two public-at-large representatives. —One wildlife interests. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The California Desert District Advisory Council is comprised of 15 private individuals who represent different interests and advise BLM officials on policies and programs concerning the management of 11 million acres of public land in southern California. The Council meets in formal session three to four times each year in various locations throughout the California Desert District. Council members serve without compensation except for reimbursement of travel expenditures incurred in the course of their duties. Members serve three-year terms and may be nominated for reappointment for an additional three-year term. Section 309 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) directs the Secretary of the Interior to involve the public in planning and issues related to management of BLM administered lands. The Secretary also selects council nominees consistent with the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which requires nominees appointed to the council be balanced in terms of points of view and representative of the various interests concerned with the management of the public lands. The Council also is balanced geographically, and BLM will try to find qualified representatives from areas throughout the California Desert District. The District covers portions of eight counties, and includes over 11 million acres of public land in the California Desert Conservation Area and 300,000 acres of scattered parcels in San Diego, western Riverside, western San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties (known as the South Coast). Any group or individual may nominate a qualified person, based upon their education, training, and knowledge of BLM, the California Desert, and the issues involving BLMadministered public lands throughout southern California. Qualified individuals also may nominate themselves. Nominations must include the name of the nominee; work and home addresses and telephone numbers; a biographical sketch that includes the nominee’s work and public service record; any applicable outside interests or other information that demonstrates VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:36 Aug 16, 2007 Jkt 211001 the nominees qualifications for the position; and the specific category of interest in which the nominee is best qualified to offer advice and council. Nominees may contact the BLM California Desert District External Affairs staff at (951) 697–5217 or write to the address below and request a copy of the nomination form. All nominations must be accompanied by letters of reference from represented interests, organizations, or elected officials supporting the nomination. Individuals nominating themselves must provide at least one letter of recommendation. Advisory Council members are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, generally in late January or early February. ADDRESSES: Nominations should be sent to the District Manager, Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Razo, BLM California Desert District External Affairs (951) 697–5217. Dated: July 26, 2007. Steven J. Borchard, District Manager. [FR Doc. 07–3891 Filed 8–16–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–M DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [OR–027–1110–JM–H2KO; G–06–HAG– 0139] Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for the North Steens Ecosystem Restoration Project Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, and the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act (Steens Act) of 2000, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze potential effects of implementing the North Steens Ecosystem Restoration Project (North Steens Project). The proposed project area lies within the Andrews Management Unit (AMU) and the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area (CMPA), designated October 30, 2000 by Act of Congress. PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 46237 The North Steens Project is located in Harney County, Oregon, and affects approximately 336,000 acres of public and private lands. DATES: The Final EIS will be available for a 30-day period of availability with the publishing of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: North Steens Project EIS Lead, BLM, Burns District Office, 28910 Hwy 20 West, Hines, Oregon 97738; (541) 573– 4543; Fax (541) 573–4411; or e-mail (ornseis@blm.gov). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The North Steens Project is a proposed landscapelevel project utilizing a combination of western juniper treatments (mechanical and nonmechanical methods) and wildland (prescribed and natural) fire to treat fuels and to restore sagebrush/ steppe habitat. Implementation of the project would reduce the increasing adverse influence of western juniper in mountain big sagebrush, low sagebrush, quaking aspen, mountain mahogany, old growth juniper (over 120 years old), and riparian plant communities. Section 113(c) of the Steens Act states, ‘‘The Secretary shall emphasize the restoration of the historic fire regime in the Cooperative Management and Protection Area and the resulting native vegetation communities through active management of western juniper on a landscape level. Management measures shall include the use of natural and prescribed burning.’’ The Resource Management Plans for the CMPA and AMU contain overall direction and guidance for proposed management actions such as those analyzed in the North Steens Project EIS. Management actions analyzed include seeding of native species, reduction of western juniper (less than 120 yrs old), fencing, and management of wildland fire. Preliminary issues and management concerns were identified by BLM personnel and through public scoping. Major issues addressed in the EIS include management of woodlands, rangeland vegetation, Steens Mountain Wilderness, Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs), Wild and Scenic River corridors, wildlife habitat, special status species, wildland fire/fuels, recreation, cultural resources, noxious weeds, water quality/aquatic resources/ fisheries, biological soil crusts, and social and economic values. The EIS also considered American Indian traditional practices. An interdisciplinary approach was used to develop the Final EIS. Government agencies having specific expertise or interests in the project were E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1 ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES 46238 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 159 / Friday, August 17, 2007 / Notices invited to participate as cooperating agencies. The public and interest groups have been provided opportunities to participate during formal comment periods and during Steens Mountain Advisory Council meetings. The Final EIS evaluates six alternative management approaches including a No Action Alternative. A Preferred Alternative is proposed in the Final EIS. The three features of the Preferred Alternative are: (1) The Full Treatment Alternative would be implemented in all portions of the project area including WSAs, but excluding Steens Mountain Wilderness; (2) The Continuation of Current Management Alternative would be selected for the Steens Mountain Wilderness; (3) Future proposals in Steens Mountain Wilderness would be in conformance with the Steens Act and the Wilderness Act. Copies of the Final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, State, Tribal and local government agencies and to interested parties. The Final EIS is available for public inspection at the BLM Burns District Office in Hines, Oregon, during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays). Comments received from the public and internal BLM review comments on the Draft EIS were incorporated into the Final EIS, where appropriate. Public input during scoping as well as internal scoping identified at least 20 issues for analysis in the EIS. These issues are outlined in Chapter 1 of the Final EIS. Opportunities for public involvement to date in the process have included two separate public scoping periods, a 45day comment period on the Draft EIS which included two public meetings. In addition, the Steens Mountain Advisory Council has participated in the process and made a specific recommendation which supports the Preferred Alternative. Public comments on the Draft EIS received during the 45-day comment period were reviewed by BLM specialists and cooperating agencies. Responses to public comments as well as summarized versions of the public comments are included in the Final EIS. Changes to the EIS made between Draft and Final were based on public comments and internal review. Meetings were held and coordination has been conducted with Harney County Commissioner, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Eastern Oregon Agricultural VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:36 Aug 16, 2007 Jkt 211001 Research Center, Burns Paiute Tribe, and Harney Soil and Water Conservation District. Karla Bird, Andrews Resource Area Field Manager. [FR Doc. E7–16126 Filed 8–16–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–33–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [AZ–910–0777–XP–241A] State of Arizona Resource Advisory Council Meeting Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Arizona Resource Advisory Council Meeting. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet on September 6, 2007, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the BLM National Training Center located at 9828 North 31st Avenue in Phoenix from 8 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. Morning agenda items include: Review of the June 8, 2007, meeting minutes for RAC and Recreation Resource Advisory Council (RRAC) business; BLM State Director’s update on statewide issues; presentations on: the BLM wilderness program in Arizona, how recreation benefits communities, and Arizona water rights; RAC questions on BLM Field Managers Rangeland Resource Team proposals; and, reports by RAC working groups. A public comment period will be provided at 11:30 a.m. on September 6, 2007, for any interested publics who wish to address the Council on BLM programs and business. Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, the RAC has been designated the RRAC, and has the authority to review all BLM and Forest Service (FS) recreation fee proposals in Arizona. The afternoon meeting agenda on September 6 will include discussion and review of the Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) Working Group Report, the Fiscal Year 2008 (Tentative) quarterly schedule for BLM and FS recreation fee proposals, and one FS fee proposal in Arizona: (1) Upper Salt River Canyon Wilderness Private River Permit System—(Tonto National Forest). The Forest Service is considering a change for the Private Permit Fees for running PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the Upper Salt River through the Salt River Canyon Wilderness from March 1 to May 15 each year. The application fee of $10 will remain the same. The permit fee is proposed from the current $75 to a fee of $125. The purpose of the proposed fee increase is to help better cover the cost of managing the river program for the Upper Salt River Canyon Wilderness. The proposed fees are in line with those charged by other Forest Service and Federal Government agencies for similar river permits in the western United States. Following the FS proposals, the RRAC will open the meeting to public comments on the fee proposal. After completing their RRAC business, the BLM RAC will reconvene to provide recommendations to the RAC Designated Federal Official on the fee proposal and discuss future RAC meetings and locations. DATES: Effective Date: September 6, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Stevens, Bureau of Land Management, Arizona State Office, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, Arizona 85004–4427, 602– 417–9504. Elaine Y. Zielinski, State Director. [FR Doc. 07–4026 Filed 8–16–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–32–M DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [AZ–110–07–1430–EU; AZA–33756] Notice of Realty Action; Proposed Competitive Sale of Public Land; Mohave County, AZ Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Realty Action. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Two parcels of public land totaling 118.82 acres in Mohave County, Arizona are being considered for competitive sale under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), at no less than the appraised fair market value. DATES: In order to ensure consideration in the environmental analysis of the proposed sale, comments must be received by October 1, 2007. ADDRESSES: Address all comments concerning this Notice to Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona Strip Field Office, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790. E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 159 (Friday, August 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46237-46238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16126]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR-027-1110-JM-H2KO; G-06-HAG-0139]


Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for the North Steens Ecosystem Restoration Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, and the 
Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act (Steens Act) 
of 2000, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze potential effects of 
implementing the North Steens Ecosystem Restoration Project (North 
Steens Project). The proposed project area lies within the Andrews 
Management Unit (AMU) and the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management 
and Protection Area (CMPA), designated October 30, 2000 by Act of 
Congress. The North Steens Project is located in Harney County, Oregon, 
and affects approximately 336,000 acres of public and private lands.

DATES: The Final EIS will be available for a 30-day period of 
availability with the publishing of the Environmental Protection 
Agency's Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: North Steens Project EIS Lead, BLM, 
Burns District Office, 28910 Hwy 20 West, Hines, Oregon 97738; (541) 
573-4543; Fax (541) 573-4411; or e-mail (ornseis@blm.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The North Steens Project is a proposed 
landscape-level project utilizing a combination of western juniper 
treatments (mechanical and nonmechanical methods) and wildland 
(prescribed and natural) fire to treat fuels and to restore sagebrush/
steppe habitat. Implementation of the project would reduce the 
increasing adverse influence of western juniper in mountain big 
sagebrush, low sagebrush, quaking aspen, mountain mahogany, old growth 
juniper (over 120 years old), and riparian plant communities.
    Section 113(c) of the Steens Act states, ``The Secretary shall 
emphasize the restoration of the historic fire regime in the 
Cooperative Management and Protection Area and the resulting native 
vegetation communities through active management of western juniper on 
a landscape level. Management measures shall include the use of natural 
and prescribed burning.''
    The Resource Management Plans for the CMPA and AMU contain overall 
direction and guidance for proposed management actions such as those 
analyzed in the North Steens Project EIS. Management actions analyzed 
include seeding of native species, reduction of western juniper (less 
than 120 yrs old), fencing, and management of wildland fire. 
Preliminary issues and management concerns were identified by BLM 
personnel and through public scoping. Major issues addressed in the EIS 
include management of woodlands, rangeland vegetation, Steens Mountain 
Wilderness, Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs), Wild and Scenic River 
corridors, wildlife habitat, special status species, wildland fire/
fuels, recreation, cultural resources, noxious weeds, water quality/
aquatic resources/fisheries, biological soil crusts, and social and 
economic values. The EIS also considered American Indian traditional 
practices. An interdisciplinary approach was used to develop the Final 
EIS.
    Government agencies having specific expertise or interests in the 
project were

[[Page 46238]]

invited to participate as cooperating agencies. The public and interest 
groups have been provided opportunities to participate during formal 
comment periods and during Steens Mountain Advisory Council meetings.
    The Final EIS evaluates six alternative management approaches 
including a No Action Alternative. A Preferred Alternative is proposed 
in the Final EIS. The three features of the Preferred Alternative are: 
(1) The Full Treatment Alternative would be implemented in all portions 
of the project area including WSAs, but excluding Steens Mountain 
Wilderness; (2) The Continuation of Current Management Alternative 
would be selected for the Steens Mountain Wilderness; (3) Future 
proposals in Steens Mountain Wilderness would be in conformance with 
the Steens Act and the Wilderness Act.
    Copies of the Final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, State, 
Tribal and local government agencies and to interested parties. The 
Final EIS is available for public inspection at the BLM Burns District 
Office in Hines, Oregon, during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays). Comments received 
from the public and internal BLM review comments on the Draft EIS were 
incorporated into the Final EIS, where appropriate.
    Public input during scoping as well as internal scoping identified 
at least 20 issues for analysis in the EIS. These issues are outlined 
in Chapter 1 of the Final EIS.
    Opportunities for public involvement to date in the process have 
included two separate public scoping periods, a 45-day comment period 
on the Draft EIS which included two public meetings. In addition, the 
Steens Mountain Advisory Council has participated in the process and 
made a specific recommendation which supports the Preferred 
Alternative.
    Public comments on the Draft EIS received during the 45-day comment 
period were reviewed by BLM specialists and cooperating agencies. 
Responses to public comments as well as summarized versions of the 
public comments are included in the Final EIS. Changes to the EIS made 
between Draft and Final were based on public comments and internal 
review. Meetings were held and coordination has been conducted with 
Harney County Commissioner, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services, Oregon Department of 
Environmental Quality, Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, 
Burns Paiute Tribe, and Harney Soil and Water Conservation District.

Karla Bird,
Andrews Resource Area Field Manager.
 [FR Doc. E7-16126 Filed 8-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P
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