Notice of Availability of the Bay Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, 69225-69226 [E7-23719]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 235 / Friday, December 7, 2007 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management Emergency Closure Notice Bureau of Land Management, Folsom Field Office, California, Interior. ACTION: Emergency closure of public lands in Yuba County, California. pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that two parcels of public land are temporarily closed to all motorized vehicle use. The purpose of this emergency order is to protect federallylisted anadromous fish species, specifically Central Valley fall-run chinook salmon (federal candidate species), Central Valley spring-run chinook salmon (federally threatened), and Central Valley steelhead (federally threatened). The closed area, approximately 160 acres, is described as follows: All public lands in T16N, R5E, Section 22 and lands in T16N, R5E, Section 27, Lots 7 and 8, and the riverbed between the above stated lands. Closure signs will be posted at main entry points to these areas. Maps of the closure area may be obtained from the Folsom Field Office, 63 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630. Phone: (916) 985– 4474. DATES: The closure will take effect immediately, and will remain in effect for less than six months until the Sierra Resource Management Plan and supplemental rules relevant to this closure are finalized. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Haigh, Bureau of Land Management, 63 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630. Phone: (916) 985–4474. Discussion of the Rules: Under the authority of 43 CFR 8364.1(a) and 8341.2, the Bureau of Land Management will enforce the following rules on public lands within the closed area: One must not enter the closed area with a motorized vehicle. Exemptions: This closure order does not apply to: (1) Any federal, state or local government law enforcement officer engaged in enforcing this closure order or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force while in the performance of an official duty; and (2) Any BLM employee, agent, or contractor while in the performance of an official duty, or any person expressly authorized by BLM. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BLM is implementing this action on 160 acres of public land in Yuba County, California. BLM has observed motorized vehicles entering the river over salmon and steelhead spawning redds. Salmon VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:30 Dec 06, 2007 Jkt 214001 and steelhead spawning in this reach of the river are all listed in some capacity by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This reach of the river is also designated as critical habitat for these species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Motorized use is adversely impacting spawning habitat and redds for these anadromous fish species. Consequently, this area is being closed to motorized use. Penalties: The authority for this closure is found under section 303(a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S. 1733(a), 43 CFR 8341.2, and 43 CFR 8364.1(a)). Any person who violates this closure may be tried before a United States Magistrate and fined no more than $1,000 or imprisoned for no more than 12 months or both. Such violations may also be subject to the enhanced fines provided for by 18 U.S.C. 3571. Dated: November 15, 2007. William S. Haigh, Manager, Folsom Field Office. [FR Doc. 07–5952 Filed 12–6–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [AK–040–07–1610–DQ–087L] Notice of Availability of the Bay Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: 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) has prepared a proposed Resource Management Plan/ Final Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the Bay planning area, located in southwest Alaska. DATES: BLM Planning Regulations (43 CFR 1610.5–2) state that any person who participated in the planning process, and has an interest that is or may be adversely affected, may protest the BLM’s approval or amendment of an RMP. That person must file a protest within 30 days of the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. Instructions for filing protests are described in the Dear Reader letter of the Bay Proposed RMP/ PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 69225 Final EIS and in the ‘‘Additional Protest Information’’ section of this notice. Please consult BLM’s Planning Regulations at 43 CFR 1610.5–2 for further instructions on protests. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chuck Denton, BLM Anchorage Field Office, 6881 Abbott Loop Road, Anchorage, AK 99507, (907) 267–1246 or (800) 478–1263. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bay planning area includes 1,927,083 acres of BLM-administered public lands and resources in the Bristol Bay and Goodnews Bay areas of southwest Alaska. The Bay Proposed RMP/Final EIS focuses on the principles of multiple use and sustained yield as prescribed by Section 202 of FLPMA. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS considers and analyzes four alternatives, including a No Action and a Preferred Alternative. The alternatives provide for an array of variable levels of commodity production and resource protection. The alternatives were developed based on public scoping and participation, as required by the BLM’s Land Use Planning Handbook (H–1601– 1). The public involvement and collaboration process included nine public scoping meetings, six public meetings on the Draft RMP/EIS, and meetings with other interested parties. The BLM consulted with Alaska Native tribes; federal, state, and local government agencies; elected community officials; and the BLM’s Alaska Resource Advisory Council. Involvement with the State of Alaska throughout the planning process was achieved through a joint BLM/State position, which provided a liaison between the State and the BLM. Primary issues addressed through this planning process include: (1) Natural resources protection, primarily water and fisheries resources, due to the proposed lifting of land withdrawals and possible locatable mining exploration and development on BLMand State of Alaska-managed lands; (2) social and economic conditions, including subsistence resources; and (3) ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Concern) determination. In addition to these issues, the Bay Proposed RMP/Final EIS addresses management of various program areas such as vegetation, fish and wildlife habitat, fire management, cultural resources, visual resources, forest resources, and realty. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS also resulted in development of required operating procedures (ROPs), which are requirements, procedures, management practices, or design features the BLM E:\FR\FM\07DEN1.SGM 07DEN1 pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES 69226 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 235 / Friday, December 7, 2007 / Notices adopts as operational requirements for permitted activities. The ROPs were developed to ensure that Alaska Statewide Land Health Standards are met. As required by 43 CFR 1610.7–2, areas with potential for designation as ACECs were considered during the Bay planning process. The preferred alternative recommends the designation of one ACEC, known as the Carter Spit ACEC. Final acreage for the proposed 36,220-acre Carter Spit ACEC will depend on the result of land conveyance to the State of Alaska and Native corporations. This ACEC is proposed to provide additional protections for Steller’s eiders (Polysticta stelleri), a federally-listed migratory bird species, and coastal salt-marsh habitat in the Goodnews Bay area. Use limitations within the boundary of the ACEC include: • Limited OHV (off-highway vehicle) designation. • Avoidance Area for rights-of-ways. • Open to fluid mineral leasing subject to special stipulations. • Open to locatable mineral entry subject to required operating procedures. • Closed to salable mineral activities. All comments received on the plan were analyzed and evaluated. Substantive comments and the BLM’s responses to those comments can be found in the appendices of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. Comments on the Draft RMP/EIS received from the public and BLM review comments were incorporated into the Proposed RMP/ Final EIS. Public comments resulted in changes to the preferred alternative through the addition of clarifying text and additional analysis of impacts, and contributed to the adjustment of the boundary of the proposed Carter Spit ACEC. A summary of these changes follows the Executive Summary of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. Copies of the Bay Proposed RMP/ Final EIS have been sent to affected federal, state, and local government agencies and to interested parties. The document is available for public inspection at the BLM Anchorage Field Office, 6881 Abbott Loop Road, Anchorage, AK, during normal business hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Interested persons may also view the document on the Internet at https:// www.blm.gov/ak, or at one of the following locations in Alaska: BLM Alaska State Office (Anchorage), Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (University of Alaska Anchorage), Z.J. Loussac Library (Anchorage), Dillingham Public Library, VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:30 Dec 06, 2007 Jkt 214001 Naknek Public Library, Homer Public Library, City of Goodnews Bay, City of New Stuyahok, City of Quinhagak, and Lake and Peninsula Borough Planning Department (King Salmon). Additional Protest Information: Emailed and faxed protests will not be accepted as valid protests unless the protesting party also provides a copy of the original letter postmarked by the close of the protest period. Under these conditions, the BLM will consider the emailed or faxed protest as an advance copy and it will receive full consideration. Please direct faxed protests to the attention of the BLM protest coordinator at (202) 452–5112, and e-mails to Brenda_HudgensWilliams@blm.gov. All protests, including the follow up letter (if faxing or e-mailing), must be in writing and mailed to one of the following addresses: Regular Mail: Director (210), Attn: Brenda Williams, P.O. Box 66538, Washington, DC 20035. Overnight Mail: Director (210), Attn: Brenda Williams, 1620 L Street NW., Suite 1075, Washington, DC 20036. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your protest, you should be aware that your entire protest—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Dated: June 7, 2007. Gust C. Panos, Associate State Director. Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the Federal Register on Monday, December 3, 2007. [FR Doc. E7–23719 Filed 12–6–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CA–670–07–1610–DQ] Notice of Availability of Eastern San Diego County Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, California Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Eastern San Diego County planning area managed by the El Centro Field Office. DATES: BLM Planning Regulations set forth the provisions applicable to protests (43 CFR 1610.5–2). A person who meets the conditions as described in the regulations cited above, and who wishes to file a protest, must file said protest within 30 days of the date this notice is published in the Federal Register. Additional information on protests is set forth in the Dear Reader letter of the Eastern San Diego County Proposed RMP and Final EIS and in the Supplementary Information section of this notice. To ensure compliance with the protest regulations, please consult BLM’s Planning Regulations at 43 CFR 1610.5–2. ADDRESSES: A copy of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS has been sent to affected Federal, State and local government agencies and interested parties. The document will be available electronically at the following Eastern San Diego County RMP Web site: https://www.ca.blm.gov/elcentro. Copies of the PRMP/FEIS will be available for public inspection at the following locations: • Bureau of Land Management, California State Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W–1834, Sacramento, CA 95825. • Bureau of Land Management, El Centro Field Office, 1661 S. 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Dreyfuss, Eastern San Diego County RMP Team Leader, at (760) 337–4400, Bureau of Land Management, 1661 S. 4th Street, El Centro, CA 92243; caesdrmp@ca.blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area for the Eastern San Diego County RMP is the El Centro Field Office’s area of management responsibility. A total of approximately 103,000 acres of public lands are administered by the BLM in the planning area. The decisions in the RMP will only apply to BLM-administered lands and mineral estate in the planning area. The Eastern San Diego County Proposed RMP and Final EIS have been developed through collaborative planning and consider four alternatives. Primary issues include: renewable energy, sensitive natural and cultural resources, livestock grazing, energy and mineral development, visual resources, E:\FR\FM\07DEN1.SGM 07DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 235 (Friday, December 7, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69225-69226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-23719]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AK-040-07-1610-DQ-087L]


Notice of Availability of the Bay Proposed Resource Management 
Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement

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) has prepared a proposed Resource Management Plan/
Final Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the Bay planning 
area, located in southwest Alaska.

DATES: BLM Planning Regulations (43 CFR 1610.5-2) state that any person 
who participated in the planning process, and has an interest that is 
or may be adversely affected, may protest the BLM's approval or 
amendment of an RMP. That person must file a protest within 30 days of 
the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register. Instructions for filing protests 
are described in the Dear Reader letter of the Bay Proposed RMP/Final 
EIS and in the ``Additional Protest Information'' section of this 
notice. Please consult BLM's Planning Regulations at 43 CFR 1610.5-2 
for further instructions on protests.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chuck Denton, BLM Anchorage Field 
Office, 6881 Abbott Loop Road, Anchorage, AK 99507, (907) 267-1246 or 
(800) 478-1263.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bay planning area includes 1,927,083 
acres of BLM-administered public lands and resources in the Bristol Bay 
and Goodnews Bay areas of southwest Alaska. The Bay Proposed RMP/Final 
EIS focuses on the principles of multiple use and sustained yield as 
prescribed by Section 202 of FLPMA. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS 
considers and analyzes four alternatives, including a No Action and a 
Preferred Alternative. The alternatives provide for an array of 
variable levels of commodity production and resource protection.
    The alternatives were developed based on public scoping and 
participation, as required by the BLM's Land Use Planning Handbook (H-
1601-1). The public involvement and collaboration process included nine 
public scoping meetings, six public meetings on the Draft RMP/EIS, and 
meetings with other interested parties. The BLM consulted with Alaska 
Native tribes; federal, state, and local government agencies; elected 
community officials; and the BLM's Alaska Resource Advisory Council. 
Involvement with the State of Alaska throughout the planning process 
was achieved through a joint BLM/State position, which provided a 
liaison between the State and the BLM.
    Primary issues addressed through this planning process include: (1) 
Natural resources protection, primarily water and fisheries resources, 
due to the proposed lifting of land withdrawals and possible locatable 
mining exploration and development on BLM- and State of Alaska-managed 
lands; (2) social and economic conditions, including subsistence 
resources; and (3) ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Concern) 
determination.
    In addition to these issues, the Bay Proposed RMP/Final EIS 
addresses management of various program areas such as vegetation, fish 
and wildlife habitat, fire management, cultural resources, visual 
resources, forest resources, and realty. The Proposed RMP/Final EIS 
also resulted in development of required operating procedures (ROPs), 
which are requirements, procedures, management practices, or design 
features the BLM

[[Page 69226]]

adopts as operational requirements for permitted activities. The ROPs 
were developed to ensure that Alaska Statewide Land Health Standards 
are met.
    As required by 43 CFR 1610.7-2, areas with potential for 
designation as ACECs were considered during the Bay planning process. 
The preferred alternative recommends the designation of one ACEC, known 
as the Carter Spit ACEC. Final acreage for the proposed 36,220-acre 
Carter Spit ACEC will depend on the result of land conveyance to the 
State of Alaska and Native corporations. This ACEC is proposed to 
provide additional protections for Steller's eiders (Polysticta 
stelleri), a federally-listed migratory bird species, and coastal salt-
marsh habitat in the Goodnews Bay area. Use limitations within the 
boundary of the ACEC include:
     Limited OHV (off-highway vehicle) designation.
     Avoidance Area for rights-of-ways.
     Open to fluid mineral leasing subject to special 
stipulations.
     Open to locatable mineral entry subject to required 
operating procedures.
     Closed to salable mineral activities.
    All comments received on the plan were analyzed and evaluated. 
Substantive comments and the BLM's responses to those comments can be 
found in the appendices of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. Comments on the 
Draft RMP/EIS received from the public and BLM review comments were 
incorporated into the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. Public comments resulted 
in changes to the preferred alternative through the addition of 
clarifying text and additional analysis of impacts, and contributed to 
the adjustment of the boundary of the proposed Carter Spit ACEC. A 
summary of these changes follows the Executive Summary of the Proposed 
RMP/Final EIS.
    Copies of the Bay Proposed RMP/Final EIS have been sent to affected 
federal, state, and local government agencies and to interested 
parties. The document is available for public inspection at the BLM 
Anchorage Field Office, 6881 Abbott Loop Road, Anchorage, AK, during 
normal business hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except holidays. Interested persons may also view the document on the 
Internet at https://www.blm.gov/ak, or at one of the following locations 
in Alaska: BLM Alaska State Office (Anchorage), Alaska Resources 
Library and Information Services (University of Alaska Anchorage), Z.J. 
Loussac Library (Anchorage), Dillingham Public Library, Naknek Public 
Library, Homer Public Library, City of Goodnews Bay, City of New 
Stuyahok, City of Quinhagak, and Lake and Peninsula Borough Planning 
Department (King Salmon).
    Additional Protest Information: E-mailed and faxed protests will 
not be accepted as valid protests unless the protesting party also 
provides a copy of the original letter postmarked by the close of the 
protest period. Under these conditions, the BLM will consider the e-
mailed or faxed protest as an advance copy and it will receive full 
consideration. Please direct faxed protests to the attention of the BLM 
protest coordinator at (202) 452-5112, and e-mails to Brenda--Hudgens-
Williams@blm.gov. All protests, including the follow up letter (if 
faxing or e-mailing), must be in writing and mailed to one of the 
following addresses:
    Regular Mail: Director (210), Attn: Brenda Williams, P.O. Box 
66538, Washington, DC 20035.
    Overnight Mail: Director (210), Attn: Brenda Williams, 1620 L 
Street NW., Suite 1075, Washington, DC 20036.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your protest, you should be 
aware that your entire protest--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: June 7, 2007.
Gust C. Panos,
Associate State Director.

    Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register on Monday, December 3, 2007.
 [FR Doc. E7-23719 Filed 12-6-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P
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