Notice of Availability of Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Idaho, 11139-11140 [E8-3942]

Download as PDF rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 41 / Friday, February 29, 2008 / Notices Pocatello, Idaho 83204, phone 208–478– 6340, or at https://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/ prog/planning/ firefuels_and_related.html via the internet. Upon request additional copies in both paper and digital format are available in limited numbers. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Lee Smith, FMDA Project Manager, 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, Idaho 83204, phone 208–478–6392, email Terry_Lee_Smith@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of the FMDA FEIS have been sent to affected Tribes, Federal, State, and local government agencies and to interested parties. The FMDA FEIS was developed with broad public participation through a five year collaborative planning process. It addresses management on approximately 5 million acres of public land comprising the Burley, Shoshone, Pocatello and Upper Snake Field Offices in south-central and eastern Idaho. The FMDA FEIS would incorporate the National Fire Plan’s Cohesive Strategy and the Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy into existing BLM land use plans. The FEIS displays the environmental effects of implementing those amended plans. The purpose of the proposed fire management plan amendments is to: • Establish fire management guidance, objectives, policies, and management actions; • Identify resource goals and methods, including desired future condition of the fire-related vegetation resources, and management actions necessary to achieve objectives; • Form the basis to update fire management plans and integrate them with allotment management plans, wildlife management plans, recreation management plans, Idaho Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing, and other applicable plans, to the greatest extent possible; and • Provide consistent land use plan level direction to enable incremental steps toward a long-term resource goal of conditions that minimize risk to human life and property and maintain or restore vegetation that is resistant to catastrophic wildfire. Five alternatives were analyzed in the FEIS. Alternative A, the No Action alternative, reflects current Land Use Plan direction, emphasizes wildland fire suppression, and minimizes the use of wildland fire for resource benefit. Alternative B emphasizes the increased use of fire, including prescribed fire and wildland fire use to more closely approximate the historical role of fire and the preparation of sites for VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:22 Feb 28, 2008 Jkt 214001 restoration treatments. Alternative C identifies full implementation of the Cohesive Strategy from the National Fire Plan (treats more acres with prescribed fire than the other alternatives). Alternative D focuses on maintaining or restoring the sagebrush steppe ecosystem and its associated wildlife species, including sage grouse. Alternative E, the proposed plan amendment, proposes maintaining or restoring the sagebrush steppe ecosystem and its associated wildlife species, including sage grouse as well as the maintenance and restoration of forested vegetation types. The Draft Plan Amendment/DEIS was released to the public on November 5, 2004 for a 90-day public comment period. Copies of the Draft Plan Amendment/DEIS were mailed to interested publics, the document was posted on the BLM Idaho internet site, news releases were published in area local newspapers announcing the availability of the document. In early December 2004, public meetings were held in Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Boise, and Twin Falls, Idaho to facilitate public review and comment by providing summary information and answering questions during the public comment period. Based on public comments, Alternative E was developed from a combination of Alternative D with the forested vegetation component of Alternative C to provide an alternative that focuses on the fire management needs of both forested and rangeland vegetation types. Alternative E is analyzed in the FMDA FEIS. Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM regarding the FMDA FEIS may be found at 43 CFR 1610.5–2. Electronic mail and facsimile protests will be considered only if the protesting party provides BLM with the original letter by either regular or overnight mail postmarked by the close of the protest period. Under those conditions, the BLM will consider the electronic or faxed version as an advance copy, and it will receive full consideration. If you wish to provide the BLM with such advance notification, please direct faxed protests to the attention of the BLM Protest Coordinator at (202) 452–5112 and electronic mails to Brenda_HudgensWilliams@blm.gov. All protests, including the follow-up letter (if electronically mailed or faxed) must be in writing and mailed to one of the following addresses: Regular Mail, Director (210), Attn: Brenda Hudgens-Williams, P.O. Box 66538, Washington, DC 20036. PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 11139 Overnight Mail, Director (210), Attn: Brenda Hudgens-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 in your protest to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Thomas H. Dyer, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Director. [FR Doc. E8–3784 Filed 2–27–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [ID 111 1610 DQ 049D DBG071006] Notice of Availability of Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Idaho Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement (PRMP/FEIS) for the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA). DATES: The BLM Planning regulations (43CFR 1610.5–2) state that any person who participated in the planning process and has an interest that may be adversely affected may protest the BLM’s Proposed RMP. The protest must be filed within 30 days of the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes this Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. Instructions for filing protests are described in the Dear Reader letter of the NCA PRMP/FEIS and in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Sullivan, NCA Manager, BLM Four Rivers Field Office, 3948 Development Ave., Boise, Idaho 83705, phone 208– E:\FR\FM\29FEN1.SGM 29FEN1 11140 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 41 / Friday, February 29, 2008 / Notices 384–3300; e-mail address: John_Sullivan@blm.gov. The NCA encompasses approximately 484,000 acres of public land extending along 81 miles of the Snake River south of Boise, Idaho. The NCA was established on August 4, 1993 by Public Law 103–64 for the purpose of conserving, protecting, and enhancing North America’s densest concentration of nesting and migrating raptor populations and habitats, and the natural and environmental resources and values associated with the area. Key components of the proposed plan include land allocations and management guidance that provide for: • Reducing further wildfire-related loss of native shrub habitat through aggressive wildfire suppression; however, it is anticipated that about 30,000 additional acres of remnant shrub habitat could potentially be lost to wildfire. • Restoring 130,000 acres of degraded shrub habitat to stabilize small mammal populations which provide prey for raptors. • Completing 100,000 acres of fuels management projects to protect the economic and ecological investments made in the habitat restoration program. • Restricting or modifying currently authorized National Guard military training activities, including the restriction of off-road vehicle maneuver training on 22,300 acres; limiting vehicle maneuver training to non-shrub areas in the remaining maneuver areas to protect remnant shrub communities; and providing 4,100 additional acres to enhance military maneuvers. • Remove the Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) designation for the Guffey Butte—Black Butte Archaeological District ACEC to eliminate redundant protective designations. The Guffey Butte—Black Butte Archaeological District ACEC was designated prior to establishment of the NCA in 1993. The protective withdrawal language included in the ACEC designation is redundant with those protections provided by the NCAenabling Act and the Archaeological District designation and is therefore unneccessary. Copies of the NCA Proposed RMP/ FEIS have been sent to affected Federal, State, and Local Government agencies and to interested organizations and individuals. Copies of the Proposed RMP/FEIS are available for public inspection at the BLM Boise District Office, 3948 Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705. Interested persons may also view the Proposed RMP/FEIS on the rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:22 Feb 28, 2008 Jkt 214001 Internet at https://www.id.blm.gov/id/st/ en/prop/planning.1.html. Changes were incorporated into the proposed plan based on public comments and internal BLM review of the Draft RMP and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Public comments resulted in BLM incorporating in the Proposed Alternative a new utility corridor south of the Snake River to be consistent with proposals being evaluated in the WestWide Energy Corridor Study EIS. Further, BLM removed from the Proposed Alternative the proposed expansion of the existing shooting management area. No other proposed land use decisions were significantly affected, but comments did result in BLM adding clarifying language to certain sections. As noted above, instructions for filing protests with the Director of the BLM regarding the Proposed RMP/FEIS may be found at 43 CFR 1610.5–2. E-mail and faxed protests will not be accepted as valid protests unless the protesting party also provides the original letter by either regular or overnight mail postmarked by the close of the protest period. Under these conditions the BLM will consider the e-mail or faxed protest as an advanced copy, and it will receive full consideration. If you wish to provide the BLM with such advance notification, please direct faxed protests to the attention of the BLM Protest Coordinator at (202) 452–5112 and emails to Brenda_HudgensWilliams@blm.gov. All protests, including the follow-up letter (if emailing or faxing) must be in writing and mailed to the following address: Regular mail Overnight mail Diretor (210), Attention: Brenda Hudgens-Williams, P.O. Box 66538, Washington, DC 20035.. Director (210), Attention: Brenda Hudgens-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 in your protest to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Following resolution of any protests of the proposed decision, a record of decision will be signed by the BLM Idaho State Director. A notice of availability of the record of decision PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 will be published in the Federal Register and will be made available through local media. Thomas H. Dyer, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Director. [FR Doc. E8–3942 Filed 2–28–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [AK–024–1610–DO–094L] Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for BLM-Alaska’s Eastern Interior Planning Area Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Eastern Interior Field Office, Fairbanks, Alaska, intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) with an associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Eastern Interior Planning Area and by this notice announces the beginning of the public scoping period. Public scoping meetings will be held in Fairbanks, Delta Junction, Tok, Eagle, Chicken, Central, and Anchorage. Additional public scoping meetings may be held at Circle, Chalkyitsik, Fort Yukon, Stevens Village, Beaver, Birch Creek and other locations to be determined at a later date. The RMP will replace the existing Steese National Conservation Area Resource Management Plan, the White Mountains National Recreation Area Resource Management Plan, and the Fortymile Management Framework Plan. The RMP will also make land use decisions on previously unplanned public lands in the Upper Black River subunit. DATES: The public scoping period will begin with the publication of this notice. Formal scoping will end on July 1, 2008. The BLM will announce public scoping meetings to identify relevant issues through local news media, newsletters, and the BLM Web site, https://www.blm.gov/ak, at least 15 days prior to the first meeting. We will provide formal opportunities for public participation after release of the Draft RMP/EIS. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • E-mail: eirmp_comments@blm.gov. • Fax: (907) 474–2282. E:\FR\FM\29FEN1.SGM 29FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 41 (Friday, February 29, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11139-11140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3942]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID 111 1610 DQ 049D DBG071006]


Notice of Availability of Snake River Birds of Prey National 
Conservation Area Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final 
Environmental Impact Statement, Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) has prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (PRMP/FEIS) for the Snake River Birds of 
Prey National Conservation Area (NCA).

DATES: The BLM Planning regulations (43CFR 1610.5-2) state that any 
person who participated in the planning process and has an interest 
that may be adversely affected may protest the BLM's Proposed RMP. The 
protest must be filed within 30 days of the date that the Environmental 
Protection Agency publishes this Notice of Availability in the Federal 
Register.
    Instructions for filing protests are described in the Dear Reader 
letter of the NCA PRMP/FEIS and in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Sullivan, NCA Manager, BLM Four 
Rivers Field Office, 3948 Development Ave., Boise, Idaho 83705, phone 
208-

[[Page 11140]]

384-3300; e-mail address: John_Sullivan@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NCA encompasses approximately 484,000 
acres of public land extending along 81 miles of the Snake River south 
of Boise, Idaho. The NCA was established on August 4, 1993 by Public 
Law 103-64 for the purpose of conserving, protecting, and enhancing 
North America's densest concentration of nesting and migrating raptor 
populations and habitats, and the natural and environmental resources 
and values associated with the area.
    Key components of the proposed plan include land allocations and 
management guidance that provide for:
     Reducing further wildfire-related loss of native shrub 
habitat through aggressive wildfire suppression; however, it is 
anticipated that about 30,000 additional acres of remnant shrub habitat 
could potentially be lost to wildfire.
     Restoring 130,000 acres of degraded shrub habitat to 
stabilize small mammal populations which provide prey for raptors.
     Completing 100,000 acres of fuels management projects to 
protect the economic and ecological investments made in the habitat 
restoration program.
     Restricting or modifying currently authorized National 
Guard military training activities, including the restriction of off-
road vehicle maneuver training on 22,300 acres; limiting vehicle 
maneuver training to non-shrub areas in the remaining maneuver areas to 
protect remnant shrub communities; and providing 4,100 additional acres 
to enhance military maneuvers.
     Remove the Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) 
designation for the Guffey Butte--Black Butte Archaeological District 
ACEC to eliminate redundant protective designations. The Guffey Butte--
Black Butte Archaeological District ACEC was designated prior to 
establishment of the NCA in 1993. The protective withdrawal language 
included in the ACEC designation is redundant with those protections 
provided by the NCA-enabling Act and the Archaeological District 
designation and is therefore unneccessary.
    Copies of the NCA Proposed RMP/FEIS have been sent to affected 
Federal, State, and Local Government agencies and to interested 
organizations and individuals. Copies of the Proposed RMP/FEIS are 
available for public inspection at the BLM Boise District Office, 3948 
Development Ave., Boise, ID 83705. Interested persons may also view the 
Proposed RMP/FEIS on the Internet at https://www.id.blm.gov/id/st/en/
prop/planning.1.html. Changes were incorporated into the proposed plan 
based on public comments and internal BLM review of the Draft RMP and 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Public comments resulted in BLM 
incorporating in the Proposed Alternative a new utility corridor south 
of the Snake River to be consistent with proposals being evaluated in 
the West-Wide Energy Corridor Study EIS. Further, BLM removed from the 
Proposed Alternative the proposed expansion of the existing shooting 
management area. No other proposed land use decisions were 
significantly affected, but comments did result in BLM adding 
clarifying language to certain sections.
    As noted above, instructions for filing protests with the Director 
of the BLM regarding the Proposed RMP/FEIS may be found at 43 CFR 
1610.5-2. E-mail and faxed protests will not be accepted as valid 
protests unless the protesting party also provides the original letter 
by either regular or overnight mail postmarked by the close of the 
protest period. Under these conditions the BLM will consider the e-mail 
or faxed protest as an advanced copy, and it will receive full 
consideration. If you wish to provide the BLM with such advance 
notification, 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 e-
mailing or faxing) must be in writing and mailed to the following 
address:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Regular mail                        Overnight mail
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diretor (210), Attention: Brenda Hudgens-   Director (210), Attention:
 Williams, P.O. Box 66538, Washington, DC    Brenda Hudgens-Williams,
 20035..                                     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 in your protest to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.
    Following resolution of any protests of the proposed decision, a 
record of decision will be signed by the BLM Idaho State Director. A 
notice of availability of the record of decision will be published in 
the Federal Register and will be made available through local media.

Thomas H. Dyer,
Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Director.
[FR Doc. E8-3942 Filed 2-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P
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