Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Kanab Field Office in Kane and Garfield Counties, UT, 58117-58121 [E7-20115]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 197 / Friday, October 12, 2007 / Notices useful and likely to influence decisions on management and protection of wild horses and burros are those that are either supported by quantitative information or studies or those that include citations to and analysis of applicable laws and regulations. Except for comments provided in electronic format, speakers should submit two copies of their written comments where feasible. The BLM will not necessarily consider comments received after the time indicated under the DATES section or at locations other than that listed in the ADDRESSES section. In the event there is a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for a copy of your comments, the BLM will make them available in their entirety, including your name and address. However, if you do not want the BLM to release your name and address in response to a FOIA request, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. The BLM will honor your request to the extent allowed by law. The BLM will release all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, in their entirety, including names and addresses. Electronic Access and Filing Address Speakers may transmit comments electronically via the Internet to: ramona_delorme@blm.gov. Please include the identifier ‘‘WH&B’’ in the subject of your message and your name and address in the body of your message. Dated: October 5, 2007. Todd S. Christensen, Acting Deputy, Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning. [FR Doc. E7–20108 Filed 10–11–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–84–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CO–922–08–1310–FI; COC67185] Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of proposed reinstatement of terminated oil and gas lease. jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2–3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:21 Oct 11, 2007 Jkt 214001 58117 petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease COC67185 from Klabzuba Oil and Gas, Inc. for lands in Moffat County, Colorado. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Land Management, Milada Krasilinec, Land Law Examiner, Branch of Fluid Minerals Adjudication, at 303.239.3767. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The lessee has agreed to the amended lease terms for rentals and royalties at rates of $10.00 per acre or fraction thereof, per year and 162⁄3 percent, respectively. The lessee has paid the required $500 administrative fee and $163 to reimburse the Department for the cost of this Federal Register notice. The lessee has met all the requirements for reinstatement of the lease as set out in Section 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188), and the Bureau of Land Management is proposing to reinstate lease COC67185 effective April 1, 2007, under the original terms and conditions of the lease and the increased rental and royalty rates cited above. The lessee has agreed to the amended lease terms for rentals and royalties at rates of $5.00 per acre or fraction thereof, per year and 162⁄3 percent, respectively. The lessee has paid the required $500 administrative fee and $163 to reimburse the Department for the cost of this Federal Register notice. The lessee has met all the requirements for reinstatement of the lease as set out in Section 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188), and the Bureau of Land Management is proposing to reinstate lease COC67178 effective April 1, 2007, under the original terms and conditions of the lease and the increased rental and royalty rates cited above. Dated: September 4, 2007. Milada Krasilinec, Land Law Examiner. [FR Doc. E7–20141 Filed 10–11–07; 8:45 am] Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Kanab Field Office in Kane and Garfield Counties, UT BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: September 4, 2007. Milada Krasilinec, Land Law Examiner. [FR Doc. E7–20143 Filed 10–11–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [UT0110–1610–029J] Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CO–922–08–1310–FI; COC67178] Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of proposed reinstatement of terminated oil and gas lease. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR 3108.2–3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease COC67178 from Klabzuba Oil and Gas, Inc. for lands in Moffat County, Colorado. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Land Management, Milada Krasilinec, Land Law Examiner, Branch of Fluid Minerals Adjudication, at 303.239.3767. PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hereby gives notice that the Kanab Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) is available for a 90-day public review and comment period. This notice also meets requirements in 43 CFR 1610.7–2(b) concerning designation of proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern ACECs) and specification of resource use limitations for each proposed ACEC. DATES: To ensure that your written comments on the DRMP/DEIS will be considered, they should be submitted to the BLM within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its notice of availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce public meetings and other public-involvement activities E:\FR\FM\12OCN1.SGM 12OCN1 58118 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 197 / Friday, October 12, 2007 / Notices at least 15 days in advance through public notices, news releases, direct mailings, and on the project Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/rmp/ut/kanab/. Public meetings will be held in Kanab, Panguitch, St. George, Escalante and Salt Lake City, Utah, and in other locations if warranted. ADDRESSES: Address written comments to: RMP Comments, Kanab Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, 318 North 100 East, Kanab, Utah 84741. Comments may also be faxed to the Field Office at 435–644–4620, or submitted electronically by e-mail at: UT_Kanab_Comments@blm.gov. Comments and information submitted on the DRMP/EIS, including names, email addresses, and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review and disclosure at the above address. The BLM will not accept anonymous comments. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have your name added to the Kanab RMP mailing list, visit the RMP Web site: https:// www.blm.gov/rmp/ut/kanab/. You may Values and use limitations also contact Keith Rigtrup, Land Use Planner, Kanab Field Office, 318 North 100 East, Kanab, Utah 84741, phone 435–644–4600. The DRMP/DEIS may be viewed and downloaded in portable document format (PDF) at the project Web site: https://www.blm.gov/rmp/ut/ kanab/. Copies of the DRMP/DEIS are also available at the BLM Kanab Field Office. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DRMP/DEIS addresses public lands and resources, including the Federal mineral estate, managed by the Kanab Field Office in Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah. These lands and resources are currently managed under five land use plans: Cedar-Beaver-Garfield-Antimony RMP (1986), Escalante Management Framework Plan (MFP) (1981), Paria MFP (1981), Vermilion MFP (1981), and Zion MFP (1981). The planning area includes approximately 550,000 acres of BLM-administered surface lands and an additional 96,600 acres of Federallyowned minerals under Federal, state, and private lands in the area. Decisions in the Kanab RMP will only apply to BLM-administered public lands and Federal mineral estate. The DRMP/DEIS proposes and analyzes four alternatives for future management of the public lands and resources in the planning area. • Alternative A (No Action): Proposes to continue existing management, which is defined by five existing land use plans currently prescribing the management of public lands and the Federal mineral estate within the Kanab Field Office. Alt. A (no action) Alt. B (preferred) • Alternative B (BLM’s Preferred Alternative): Proposes managing the public lands and Federal mineral estate for multiple uses and sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of the lands for present and future generations, balancing resource protection with resource or commodity production and use. • Alternative C: Proposes managing the lands and resources with an emphasis on resource protection, including managing for wilderness characteristics (naturalness, and outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation), ACECs, and Wild and Scenic Rivers. • Alternative D: Proposes managing the lands and resources with an emphasis on encouraging commodity production and use. Examples of issues considered in the DRMP/DEIS include access and transportation, recreation and offhighway vehicle management, special designations (including ACECs and suitability findings for eligible wild and scenic rivers, among others), range management and livestock, oil and gas leasing, mining, special status species, and non-WSA lands with wilderness characteristics. As required by law, the DRMP/DEIS considers the designation and protection of ACECs. ACEC values and resource use limitations vary by ACEC, and the ACECs themselves vary by alternative. (Refer to the table below.) More detailed management prescriptions in these areas are provided in the DRMP/DEIS. Alt. C Alt. D Water Canyon/South Fork Indian Canyon ACEC Values: Scenery, recreational, botanical, and biological values. Limitations: For alternatives where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below. Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Designations. Oil and Gas Leasing ........... Mineral Entry ....................... jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Other ................................... • 220 acres would be limited to existing roads and trails; 0 miles of open routes. • 220 acres overlapping with a Wilderness Study Area (WSA) would be closed to leasing. • 220 acres would be proposed for withdrawal. • Until an activity plan is developed, fire suppression would be determined on a case-bycase basis as an interim management tool. • 220 acres would be designated and managed as part of the Cottonwood Canyon ACEC. • 220 acres would be designated and managed as part of the Cottonwood Canyon ACEC. • 220 acres would be designated and managed as part of the Cottonwood Canyon ACEC. • 220 acres would be designated and managed as part of the Cottonwood Canyon ACEC. • 220 acres would be designated and managed as part of the Cottonwood Canyon ACEC. • 220 acres would be designated and managed as part of the Cottonwood Canyon ACEC. • 220 acres would be designated and managed as part of the Cottonwood Canyon ACEC. • 220 acres would be designated and managed as part of the Cottonwood Canyon ACEC. Cottonwood Canyon potential ACEC Values: Scenery, cultural resources, wildlife, and natural processes. VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:35 Oct 11, 2007 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\12OCN1.SGM 12OCN1 ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. 58119 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 197 / Friday, October 12, 2007 / Notices Values and use limitations Alt. A (no action) Alt. B (preferred) Alt. C Alt. D Limitations: For alternative(s) where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below. Visual Resource Management (VRM). ACEC not designated ....... • 2,400 acres would be Class I where the ACEC overlaps with a WSA. • 1,400 acres would be Class II. OHV Designations ............... ACEC not designated ....... Livestock Grazing ................ ACEC not designated ....... Rights Of Way (ROWs) ....... ACEC not designated ....... • 3,800 acres would be limited to designated routes, and 4 miles of open routes. • Water Canyon Allotment would be unavailable for livestock grazing. ACEC not designated ....... Oil and Gas Leasing ........... ACEC not designated ....... Mineral Entry ....................... ACEC not designated ....... Mineral Material Sales ........ ACEC not designated ....... Other ................................... ACEC not designated ....... • 3,700 acres would be Class I, where the ACEC overlaps with a WSA, suitable Wild and Scenic River segments, and lands with Wilderness Characteristics (WC)). • 100 acres would be Class II. • 3,800 acres would be closed. • Water Canyon Allotment would be unavailable for livestock grazing. • 3,800 acres would be closed to new ROWs. • 3,800 acres would be closed to leasing. • 1,400 acres would be open to leasing with major constraints (NSO). • 2,400 acres where the ACEC overlaps a WSA would be closed to leasing. • 3,800 acres would be • 3,800 acres would be proposed for withdrawal. proposed for withdrawal. • 3,800 acres would be • 3,800 acres would be closed. closed. • Retain all lands and in• Retain all lands and interests in land in Fedterests in land in Federal ownership. Work eral ownership. Work with the School and Inwith SITLA to acquire stitutional Trust Lands state inholdings. Administration (SITLA) to acquire state inholdings. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. Welsh’s Milkweed potential ACEC Values: Scenery, rare geologic feature, Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle, Welsh’s Milkweed. Limitations: For alternative(s) where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below. ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... OHV Designations ............... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... ROWs .................................. ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Oil and Gas Leasing ........... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Mineral Entry ....................... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Mineral Material Sales ........ ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Forest Product Sales .......... jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES VRM .................................... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:35 Oct 11, 2007 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • 1,250 acres would be Class I where the ACEC overlaps with a WSA. • 50 acres would be Class II. • 1,300 acres would be closed to OHV designations. • 1,300 acres would be closed to new ROWs. • 1,300 acres would be closed to leasing. • 1,300 acres would be proposed for withdrawal. • 1,300 acres would be closed. • 1,300 acres would be closed to forest product sales (woodcutting, posts, Christmas trees). E:\FR\FM\12OCN1.SGM 12OCN1 ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. 58120 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 197 / Friday, October 12, 2007 / Notices Values and use limitations Alt. A (no action) Alt. B (preferred) Alt. C Other ................................... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... • Retain all lands and interest in land in Federal ownership. • Close to wilding collection without a permit. • Prohibit motorized use in and through islands of vegetation in designated critical habitat for Welsh’s Milkweed (790 acres). Alt. D ACEC not designated. Vermilion Cliffs potential ACEC Values: Scenery, cultural resources, wildlife and natural process. Limitations: For alternative(s) where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below. VRM .................................... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... OHV Designations ............... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... ROWs .................................. ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Oil and Gas Leasing ........... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Mineral Entry ....................... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Other ................................... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... • 11,100 acres would be designated as Class I where the ACEC overlaps with WC. • 12,300 acres would be designated as Class II. • 11,100 acres would be closed (WC). • 12,300 acres would be limited to designated routes, and 49 miles of open routes. • 23,400 acres would be closed to new ROWs. • 12,300 acres would be open to leasing with major constraints (No Surface Occupancy (NSO)). • 11,100 acres would be closed to leasing: (WC). • 23,400 acres would be proposed for withdrawal. • Restrict climbing within spatial and seasonal buffers surrounding raptor nests. • Retain lands and interests in land in Federal ownership. Work with SITLA to acquire state inholdings. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. White Cliffs potential ACEC Values: Scenery, cultural resources, wildlife and natural processes. Limitations: For alternative(s) where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below. ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... OHV Designations ............... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... ROWs .................................. ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Oil and Gas Leasing ........... jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES VRM .................................... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Mineral Entry ....................... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:35 Oct 11, 2007 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 • 26,000 acres would be designated as Class I because it overlaps with WC. • 26,000 acres would be closed because it overlaps with WC. • 26,000 acres would be closed to new ROWs. • 26,000 acres would be closed to leasing because it overlaps with WC. • 26,000 acres would be proposed for withdrawal. E:\FR\FM\12OCN1.SGM 12OCN1 ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. 58121 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 197 / Friday, October 12, 2007 / Notices Values and use limitations Alt. A (no action) Alt. B (preferred) Other ................................... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Alt. C Alt. D • Restrict climbing within spatial and seasonal buffers surrounding raptor nests. • Retain lands and interests in land in Federal ownership. Work with SITLA to acquire state inholdings. ACEC not designated. Parunuweep Canyon potential ACEC Values: Scenery, cultural resources, and wildlife. Limitations: For alternative(s) where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below. ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... OHV Designations ............... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... ROWs .................................. ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Oil and Gas Leasing ........... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Mineral Entry ....................... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Other ................................... ACEC not designated ....... ACEC not designated ....... Total Acres Designated jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES VRM .................................... 220 acres .......................... 3,800 acres ....................... The application of the Federal coal unsuitability criteria to the Alton, Kaiparowits, and Kolob Coal Fields is included in Appendix F of the DRMP/ DEIS. As required by 43 CFR 3461.2– 1(a)(2), the public is invited to comment on the results of the application of the criteria and the process used to derive these results. The criteria are listed VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:35 Oct 11, 2007 Jkt 214001 • 6,100 acres would be designated as Class I because it overlaps with a WSA. • 6,100 acres would be closed because it overlaps with a WSA. • Avoid new ROWs in 6,100 acres. • 6,100 acres would be closed to leasing. • 6,100 acres would be proposed for withdrawal. • Limit camping associated with Special Recreation Permits (SRPs) to areas/sites identified during permitting. • Regulate rock climbing within 300 feet of cultural sites. Climbing routes that impact cultural resource sites would not be allowed, and climbing routes designed to access cultural resource sites would not be allowed unless under permit for scientific investigation. • Preclude SRP tours or visitation of sites without prior consultation/clearance with BLM archaeologists and other specialists. • Restrict climbing within spatial and seasonal buffers surrounding raptor nests. • Retain all lands and interest in lands in Federal ownership. ACEC not designated. 60,600 acres ..................... 0 under 43 CFR 3461.5. Additionally, any person who may be adversely affected by adoption of coal leasing decisions in the proposed plan may request a public PO 00000 ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. ACEC not designated. hearing on coal leasing potential before the DRMP/DEIS is finalized. Jeff Rawson, Utah Associate State Director. [FR Doc. E7–20115 Filed 10–11–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–$$–P Frm 00076 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\12OCN1.SGM 12OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 197 (Friday, October 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58117-58121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20115]

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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT0110-1610-029J]

Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Kanab Field Office in Kane
and Garfield Counties, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) hereby gives notice that the Kanab Draft Resource
Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) is
available for a 90-day public review and comment period. This notice
also meets requirements in 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b) concerning designation of
proposed Areas of Critical Environmental Concern ACECs) and
specification of resource use limitations for each proposed ACEC.

DATES: To ensure that your written comments on the DRMP/DEIS will be
considered, they should be submitted to the BLM within 90 days
following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its
notice of availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce
public meetings and other public-involvement activities

[[Page 58118]]

at least 15 days in advance through public notices, news releases,
direct mailings, and on the project Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/
rmp/ut/kanab/. Public meetings will be held in Kanab, Panguitch, St.
George, Escalante and Salt Lake City, Utah, and in other locations if
warranted.

ADDRESSES: Address written comments to: RMP Comments, Kanab Field
Office, Bureau of Land Management, 318 North 100 East, Kanab, Utah
84741. Comments may also be faxed to the Field Office at 435-644-4620,
or submitted electronically by e-mail at: UT--Kanab--Comments@blm.gov.
Comments and information submitted on the DRMP/EIS, including names,
email addresses, and street addresses of respondents, will be available
for public review and disclosure at the above address. The BLM will not
accept anonymous comments. Before including your address, phone number,
e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any
time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have
your name added to the Kanab RMP mailing list, visit the RMP Web site:
https://www.blm.gov/rmp/ut/kanab/. You may also contact Keith Rigtrup,
Land Use Planner, Kanab Field Office, 318 North 100 East, Kanab, Utah
84741, phone 435-644-4600. The DRMP/DEIS may be viewed and downloaded
in portable document format (PDF) at the project Web site: https://
www.blm.gov/rmp/ut/kanab/. Copies of the DRMP/DEIS are also available
at the BLM Kanab Field Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DRMP/DEIS addresses public lands and
resources, including the Federal mineral estate, managed by the Kanab
Field Office in Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah. These lands and
resources are currently managed under five land use plans: Cedar-
Beaver-Garfield-Antimony RMP (1986), Escalante Management Framework
Plan (MFP) (1981), Paria MFP (1981), Vermilion MFP (1981), and Zion MFP
(1981). The planning area includes approximately 550,000 acres of BLM-
administered surface lands and an additional 96,600 acres of Federally-
owned minerals under Federal, state, and private lands in the area.
Decisions in the Kanab RMP will only apply to BLM-administered public
lands and Federal mineral estate. The DRMP/DEIS proposes and analyzes
four alternatives for future management of the public lands and
resources in the planning area.
Alternative A (No Action): Proposes to continue existing
management, which is defined by five existing land use plans currently
prescribing the management of public lands and the Federal mineral
estate within the Kanab Field Office.
Alternative B (BLM's Preferred Alternative): Proposes
managing the public lands and Federal mineral estate for multiple uses
and sustaining the health, diversity, and productivity of the lands for
present and future generations, balancing resource protection with
resource or commodity production and use.
Alternative C: Proposes managing the lands and resources
with an emphasis on resource protection, including managing for
wilderness characteristics (naturalness, and outstanding opportunities
for solitude and primitive recreation), ACECs, and Wild and Scenic
Rivers.
Alternative D: Proposes managing the lands and resources
with an emphasis on encouraging commodity production and use.
Examples of issues considered in the DRMP/DEIS include access and
transportation, recreation and off-highway vehicle management, special
designations (including ACECs and suitability findings for eligible
wild and scenic rivers, among others), range management and livestock,
oil and gas leasing, mining, special status species, and non-WSA lands
with wilderness characteristics. As required by law, the DRMP/DEIS
considers the designation and protection of ACECs. ACEC values and
resource use limitations vary by ACEC, and the ACECs themselves vary by
alternative. (Refer to the table below.) More detailed management
prescriptions in these areas are provided in the DRMP/DEIS.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alt. A (no Alt. B
Values and use limitations action) (preferred) Alt. C Alt. D
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Water Canyon/South Fork Indian Canyon ACEC

Values: Scenery, recreational, botanical, and biological values.

Limitations: For alternatives where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) 220 acres 220 acres 220 acres ACEC not
Designations. would be limited would be would be designated.
to existing roads designated and designated and
and trails; 0 managed as part managed as part
miles of open of the Cottonwood of the Cottonwood
routes. Canyon ACEC. Canyon ACEC.
Oil and Gas Leasing............. 220 acres 220 acres 220 acres ACEC not
overlapping with would be would be designated.
a Wilderness designated and designated and
Study Area (WSA) managed as part managed as part
would be closed of the Cottonwood of the Cottonwood
to leasing. Canyon ACEC. Canyon ACEC.
Mineral Entry................... 220 acres 220 acres 220 acres ACEC not
would be proposed would be would be designated.
for withdrawal. designated and designated and
managed as part managed as part
of the Cottonwood of the Cottonwood
Canyon ACEC. Canyon ACEC.
Other........................... Until an 220 acres 220 acres ACEC not
activity plan is would be would be designated.
developed, fire designated and designated and
suppression would managed as part managed as part
be determined on of the Cottonwood of the Cottonwood
a case-by-case Canyon ACEC. Canyon ACEC.
basis as an
interim
management tool.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cottonwood Canyon potential ACEC

Values: Scenery, cultural resources, wildlife, and natural processes.

[[Page 58119]]

Limitations: For alternative(s) where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visual Resource Management (VRM) ACEC not 2,400 3,700 ACEC not
designated. acres would be acres would be designated.
Class I where the Class I, where
ACEC overlaps the ACEC overlaps
with a WSA. with a WSA,
1,400 suitable Wild and
acres would be Scenic River
Class II. segments, and
lands with
Wilderness
Characteristics
(WC)).
100 acres
would be Class II.
OHV Designations................ ACEC not 3,800 3,800 ACEC not
designated. acres would be acres would be designated.
limited to closed.
designated
routes, and 4
miles of open
routes.
Livestock Grazing............... ACEC not Water Water ACEC not
designated. Canyon Allotment Canyon Allotment designated.
would be would be
unavailable for unavailable for
livestock grazing. livestock grazing.
Rights Of Way (ROWs)............ ACEC not ACEC not 3,800 ACEC not
designated. designated. acres would be designated.
closed to new
ROWs.
Oil and Gas Leasing............. ACEC not 1,400 3,800 ACEC not
designated. acres would be acres would be designated.
open to leasing closed to leasing.
with major
constraints (NSO).
2,400
acres where the
ACEC overlaps a
WSA would be
closed to leasing.
Mineral Entry................... ACEC not 3,800 3,800 ACEC not
designated. acres would be acres would be designated.
proposed for proposed for
withdrawal. withdrawal.
Mineral Material Sales.......... ACEC not 3,800 3,800 ACEC not
designated. acres would be acres would be designated.
closed. closed.
Other........................... ACEC not Retain Retain ACEC not
designated. all lands and all lands and designated.
interests in land interests in land
in Federal in Federal
ownership. Work ownership. Work
with the School with SITLA to
and Institutional acquire state
Trust Lands inholdings.
Administration
(SITLA) to
acquire state
inholdings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welsh's Milkweed potential ACEC

Values: Scenery, rare geologic feature, Coral Pink Sand Dunes tiger beetle, Welsh's Milkweed.

[[Page 58120]]

Other........................... ACEC not ACEC not Retain ACEC not
designated. designated. all lands and designated.
interest in land
in Federal
ownership.
Close to
wilding
collection
without a permit.
Prohibit
motorized use in
and through
islands of
vegetation in
designated
critical habitat
for Welsh's
Milkweed (790
acres).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vermilion Cliffs potential ACEC

Values: Scenery, cultural resources, wildlife and natural process.

Limitations: For alternative(s) where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VRM............................. ACEC not ACEC not 11,100 ACEC not
designated. designated. acres would be designated.
designated as
Class I where the
ACEC overlaps
with WC.
12,300
acres would be
designated as
Class II.
OHV Designations................ ACEC not ACEC not 11,100 ACEC not
designated. designated. acres would be designated.
closed (WC).
12,300
acres would be
limited to
designated
routes, and 49
miles of open
routes.
ROWs............................ ACEC not ACEC not 23,400 ACEC not
designated. designated. acres would be designated.
closed to new
ROWs.
Oil and Gas Leasing............. ACEC not ACEC not 12,300 ACEC not
designated. designated. acres would be designated.
open to leasing
with major
constraints (No
Surface Occupancy
(NSO)).
11,100
acres would be
closed to
leasing: (WC).
Mineral Entry................... ACEC not ACEC not 23,400 ACEC not
designated. designated. acres would be designated.
proposed for
withdrawal.
Other........................... ACEC not ACEC not Restrict ACEC not
designated. designated. climbing within designated.
spatial and
seasonal buffers
surrounding
raptor nests.
Retain
lands and
interests in land
in Federal
ownership. Work
with SITLA to
acquire state
inholdings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
White Cliffs potential ACEC

Values: Scenery, cultural resources, wildlife and natural processes.

[[Page 58121]]

Other........................... ACEC not ACEC not Restrict ACEC not
designated. designated. climbing within designated.
spatial and
seasonal buffers
surrounding
raptor nests.
Retain
lands and
interests in land
in Federal
ownership. Work
with SITLA to
acquire state
inholdings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parunuweep Canyon potential ACEC

Values: Scenery, cultural resources, and wildlife.

Limitations: For alternative(s) where an ACEC would be designated, the management constraints are listed below.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VRM............................. ACEC not ACEC not 6,100 ACEC not
designated. designated. acres would be designated.
designated as
Class I because
it overlaps with
a WSA.
OHV Designations................ ACEC not ACEC not 6,100 ACEC not
designated. designated. acres would be designated.
closed because it
overlaps with a
WSA.
ROWs............................ ACEC not ACEC not Avoid new ACEC not
designated. designated. ROWs in 6,100 designated.
acres.
Oil and Gas Leasing............. ACEC not ACEC not 6,100 ACEC not
designated. designated. acres would be designated.
closed to leasing.
Mineral Entry................... ACEC not ACEC not 6,100 ACEC not
designated. designated. acres would be designated.
proposed for
withdrawal.
Other........................... ACEC not ACEC not Limit ACEC not
designated. designated. camping designated.
associated with
Special
Recreation
Permits (SRPs) to
areas/sites
identified during
permitting.
Regulate
rock climbing
within 300 feet
of cultural
sites. Climbing
routes that
impact cultural
resource sites
would not be
allowed, and
climbing routes
designed to
access cultural
resource sites
would not be
allowed unless
under permit for
scientific
investigation.
Preclude
SRP tours or
visitation of
sites without
prior
consultation/
clearance with
BLM
archaeologists
and other
specialists.
Restrict
climbing within
spatial and
seasonal buffers
surrounding
raptor nests.
Retain
all lands and
interest in lands
in Federal
ownership.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Acres Designated...... 220 acres......... 3,800 acres....... 60,600 acres...... 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The application of the Federal coal unsuitability criteria to the
Alton, Kaiparowits, and Kolob Coal Fields is included in Appendix F of
the DRMP/DEIS. As required by 43 CFR 3461.2-1(a)(2), the public is
invited to comment on the results of the application of the criteria
and the process used to derive these results. The criteria are listed
under 43 CFR 3461.5. Additionally, any person who may be adversely
affected by adoption of coal leasing decisions in the proposed plan may
request a public hearing on coal leasing potential before the DRMP/DEIS
is finalized.

Jeff Rawson,
Utah Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. E7-20115 Filed 10-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.