Notice of Availability of Draft Resource Management Plans and Associated Environmental Impact Statement for the Bighorn Basin Resource Management Plan Revision Project, Cody and Worland Field Offices, Wyoming, 22721-22723 [2011-9703]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 78 / Friday, April 22, 2011 / Notices
For background information on the
Draft Revised Recovery Plan, see our
September 15, 2010, Federal Register
notice (75 FR 56131). The version of
Appendix C contained in the Draft
Revised Recovery Plan described the
modeling framework under
development for evaluation of habitat
conservation measures for the spotted
owl. Since that was written, we have
completed development and testing of
this modeling framework for public
review and comment. Once comments
have been considered and incorporated
as appropriate, this modeling framework
will have a wide variety of applications
in support of spotted owl recovery.
The revised Appendix C, which is
now available for comment, describes
the three-part modeling framework,
which includes: A spotted owl habitat
suitability model; a spotted owl
conservation planning model that can
be used to design habitat conservation
network scenarios; and a spotted owl
population simulation model to predict
relative population responses to
different habitat conservation network
scenarios and conservation measures.
To test the modeling framework’s ability
to evaluate the influence of habitat
conservation network size and spatial
distribution on spotted owl population
performance, revised Appendix C also
describes the results of an analysis of 10
different habitat conservation network
scenarios under different conditions.
We are seeking comments on the
modeling process, our test results and
other aspects of revised Appendix C.
We anticipate revising recovery action
4 in the Revised Recovery Plan to reflect
completion of development and testing
of the modeling framework as part of
recovery plan development.
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Public Availability of 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
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you may ask us in your comment
to withhold personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Authority
The authority for this action is section
4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16
U.S.C. 1533(f).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
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Dated: April 1, 2011.
Richard Hannan,
Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2011–9864 Filed 4–21–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWYR0000.L16100000.DP0000.
LXSS042K0000]
Notice of Availability of Draft Resource
Management Plans and Associated
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Bighorn Basin Resource
Management Plan Revision Project,
Cody and Worland Field Offices,
Wyoming
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has
prepared a Draft Resource Management
Plan (RMP) for the Cody Field Office, a
Draft RMP for the Worland Field Office,
and an associated Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS). The two Draft
RMPs and the associated Draft EIS
comprise the Bighorn Basin RMP
Revision Project (Project). By this
notice, the BLM is announcing the
opening of a 90-day comment period.
DATES: To ensure that comments are
considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft RMPs/
EIS within 90 days following the date
the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes its notice of the Draft RMPs/
EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM
will announce future meetings or
hearings and any other public
participation activities at least 15 days
in advance through public notices,
media releases, and/or the Project Web
site at https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/
programs/Planning/RMPs/bighorn.html.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written
comments related to the Project Draft
RMPs/EIS by any of the following
methods:
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/
en/programs/Planning/RMPs/
bighorn.html.
E-mail: BBRMP_WYMail@blm.gov.
Mail: Worland Field Office, Attn:
RMP Project Manager, 101 South 23rd
Street, P.O. Box 119, Worland,
Wyoming 82401.
SUMMARY:
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Copies of the Draft RMPs/EIS are
available at the following locations:
• Bureau of Land Management,
Wyoming State Office, 5353
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming
82003.
• Bureau of Land Management, Cody
Field Office, 1002 Blackburn Avenue,
Cody, Wyoming 82414.
• Bureau of Land Management,
Worland Field Office, 101 South 23rd
Street, Worland, Wyoming 82401.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Caleb Hiner, RMP Project Manager,
telephone (307) 347–5171; address P.O.
Box 119, 101 South 23rd Street,
Worland, Wyoming 82401; e-mail
caleb_hiner@blm.gov. Persons who use
a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
1–800–877–8339 to contact the above
individual during normal business
hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, to leave a message
or question with the above individual.
You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Planning Area for the Project includes
lands within the BLM Cody and
Worland Field Offices’ administrative
boundaries, in of Big Horn, Park,
Washakie Counties, and Hot Springs
Counties in north-central Wyoming. The
Planning Area includes all lands,
regardless of jurisdiction, totaling 5.6
million acres; however, the BLM will
only make decisions on lands that fall
under the BLM’s jurisdiction. Lands
within the Planning Area under the
BLM’s jurisdiction make up the
Decision Area. The Decision Area
consists of BLM-administered surface,
totaling 3.2 million acres, and the
Federal mineral estate, totaling 4.2
million acres. The revised RMPs will
replace the Washakie and Grass Creek
RMPs in Worland, Wyoming, and the
Cody RMP in Cody, Wyoming.
The Draft RMPs/EIS includes a series
of management actions, within four
management alternatives, including the
No Action Alternative, designed to
address management challenges and
issues raised during scoping, including,
but not limited to: Recreation, Areas of
Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC),
wildlife habitats, livestock grazing,
energy development, air quality and
global climate change, and lands with
wilderness characteristics and Wild
Lands. The four alternatives are:
• Alternative A: Continue existing
management practices (No Action
Alternative);
• Alternative B: Foster conservation
of natural and cultural resources while
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 78 / Friday, April 22, 2011 / Notices
providing for compatible development
and use;
• Alternative C: Emphasize resource
development and use; and
• Alternative D: Provide development
opportunities while protecting sensitive
resources (Preferred Alternative).
The Preferred Alternative has been
identified as described in 40 CFR
1502.14(e). However, identification of a
Preferred Alternative does not represent
the final agency decision. The BLM
encourages comments on all alternatives
and management actions described in
the Draft RMPs/EIS and will assess and
consider public comments properly
received.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7–2(b), this
notice announces a concurrent public
comment period on proposed ACECs. A
total of 18 ACECs are proposed in the
Draft RMPs/EIS, 9 of which are existing
ACECs. The proposed ACECs and the
proposed resource use limitations that
will occur for each proposed ACEC if
formally designated are:
• Big Cedar Ridge (264 acres):
Value(s) of Concern—Paleontological.
Proposed Use Limitation(s)—Right-ofway (ROW) exclusion area, a no-surface
occupancy (NSO) restriction applied to
fluid mineral leases, closed to
geophysical exploration, closed to
mineral material disposals and related
exploration and development activities,
motorized vehicle use limited to
existing roads and trails, and pursue a
withdrawal from appropriation under
the mining laws.
• Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite
(1,798 acres): Value(s) of Concern—
Paleontological. Proposed Use
Limitation(s)—Closed to surfacedisturbing activities except to enhance
public education, heavy equipment
restriction on fire suppression activities,
motorized vehicle use limited to
designated roads and trails, interpretive
area closed to livestock grazing, an NSO
restriction applied to fluid mineral
leases, and pursue a withdrawal from
appropriation under the mining laws.
• Sheep Mountain Anticline (11,528
acres): Value(s) of Concern—Geologic,
Caves, Cultural and Scenic. Proposed
Use Limitation(s)—Motorized vehicle
use limited to designated roads and
trails, generally closed to surfacedisturbing activities, unavailable for
fluid mineral leasing, and pursue a
withdrawal from appropriation under
the mining laws.
• Spanish Point Karst (6,627 acres):
Value(s) of Concern—Caves,
Recreational, Sinking Stream Segments
and Water Quality. Proposed Use
Limitation(s)—Unavailable for fluid
mineral leasing, closed to geophysical
exploration, closed to off highway
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vehicle use, ROW avoidance/mitigation
area, and pursue a withdrawal from
appropriation under the mining laws.
• Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area (5,517
acres with an expansion to 15,246
acres): Value(s) of Concern—
Paleontological. Proposed Use
Limitation(s)—Closed to mineral
material disposals, unavailable for fluid
mineral leasing, ROW avoidance/
mitigation area, and pursue a
withdrawal from appropriation under
the mining laws.
• Carter Mountain (10,867 acres with
an expansion to 16,573 acres): Value(s)
of Concern—Vegetation, Wildlife,
Cultural, Recreational, Special Status
Species, Watershed and Soils. Proposed
Use Limitation(s)—Heavy equipment
restriction on fire suppression activities,
ROW avoidance/mitigation area,
motorized vehicle use limited to
designated roads and trails, closed to
surface-disturbing activities on slopes
greater than 7 percent, unavailable for
fluid mineral leasing, closed to mineral
material disposals, and pursue a
withdrawal from appropriation under
the mining laws.
• Five Springs Falls (163 acres with
an expansion to 1,809 acres): Value(s) of
Concern—Recreational, Scenic, Special
Status Species, Geologic and Public
Safety. Proposed Use Limitation(s)—
Heavy equipment restriction on fire
suppression activities, ROW avoidance/
mitigation area, climbing not allowed on
the cliff that forms the falls, motorized
vehicle use limited to designated roads
and trails, and unavailable for fluid
mineral leasing.
• Little Mountain (21,475 acres with
an expansion to 69,110 acres): Value(s)
of Concern—Caves, Cultural,
Paleontological, Scenic, Recreational,
Special Status Species, Vegetation and
Wildlife. Proposed Use Limitation(s)—
Heavy equipment restriction for fire
suppression activities, motorized
vehicle use limited to designated roads
and trails, a ROW avoidance/mitigation
area, unavailable for fluid mineral
leasing, and pursue a withdrawal from
appropriation under the mining laws.
• Upper Owl Creek Area (13,057 acres
with an expansion to 32,777): Value(s)
of Concern—Cultural, Fish,
Recreational, Scenic, Soils, Special
Status Species, Vegetation and Wildlife.
Proposed Use Limitation(s)—Motorized
vehicle use limited to designated roads
and trails, closed to surface-disturbing
activities, pursue a withdrawal from
appropriation under the mining laws for
13,238 acres, ROW avoidance/
mitigation area, and unavailable for
fluid mineral leasing.
• Chapman Bench (23,976 acres):
Value(s) of Concern—Special Status
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Species, Vegetation, and Wildlife.
Proposed Use Limitation(s)—Motorized
vehicle use limited to existing roads and
trails pursue a withdrawal from
appropriation under the mining laws,
closed to mineral material disposals,
unavailable for fluid mineral leasing,
closed to surface-disturbing activities,
and ROW avoidance/mitigation area.
• Clarks Fork Basin/Polecat Bench
West Paleontological Area (23,895
acres): Value(s) of Concern—
Paleontological and Scenic. Proposed
Use Limitation(s)—Closed to surfacedisturbing activities, closed to mineral
material disposals, unavailable for fluid
mineral leasing, pursue a withdrawal
from appropriation under the mining
laws, motorized vehicle use limited to
designated roads and trails, and
renewable energy ROW exclusion area.
• Clarks Fork Canyon (12,259 acres):
Value(s) of Concern—Geologic, Open
Space, Recreational, Special Status
Species, and Wildlife. Proposed Use
Limitation(s)—Close 1,211 acres to
motorized vehicle use with the
remainder limited to designated roads
and trails, closed to surface-disturbing
activities, closed to mineral material
disposals, closed to geophysical
exploration, unavailable for fluid
mineral leasing, pursue a withdrawal
from appropriation under the mining
laws, renewable energy ROW exclusion
area, and ROW avoidance/mitigation
area.
• Foster Gulch Paleontological Area
(27,302 acres): Value(s) of Concern—
Paleontological and Scenic. Proposed
Use Limitation(s)—Renewable energy
ROW exclusion area, motorized vehicle
use limited to designated roads and
trails, closed to surface-disturbing
activities, closed to mineral material
disposals, unavailable for fluid mineral
leasing, and pursue a withdrawal from
appropriation under the mining laws.
• McCullough Peaks South
Paleontological Area (6,994 acres):
Value(s) of Concern—Paleontological
and Scenic. Proposed Use
Limitation(s)—Unavailable for fluid
mineral leasing, pursue a withdrawal
from appropriation under the mining
laws, closed to mineral material
disposals, renewable energy ROW
avoidance/mitigation area, motorized
vehicle use limited to designated roads
and trails, closed to surface-disturbing
activities, and ROW avoidance/
mitigation area.
• Rainbow Canyon (1,433 acres):
Value(s) of Concern—Geologic,
Paleontological, and Scenic. Proposed
Use Limitation(s)—Unavailable for fluid
mineral leasing, pursue a withdrawal
from appropriation under the mining
laws, closed to mineral material
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 78 / Friday, April 22, 2011 / Notices
disposals, renewable energy ROW
avoidance/mitigation area, motorized
vehicle use limited to designated roads
and trails, closed to surface-disturbing
activities, and ROW avoidance/
mitigation area.
• Rattlesnake Mountain (19,119
acres): Value(s) of Concern—Special
Status Species, Vegetation and Wildlife.
Proposed Use Limitation(s)—Motorized
vehicle use limited to designated roads
and trails, closed to mineral material
disposals, unavailable for fluid mineral
leasing, closed to surface-disturbing
activities, ROW exclusion area, and
pursue a withdrawal from appropriation
under the mining laws.
• Sheep Mountain (25,153 acres):
Value(s) of Concern—Special Status
Species, Vegetation and Wildlife.
Proposed Use Limitation(s)—Motorized
vehicle use limited to designated roads
and trails, unavailable for fluid mineral
leasing, closed to mineral material
disposals, pursue a withdrawal from
appropriation under the mining laws,
closed to surface-disturbing activities,
and ROW avoidance/mitigation area.
• Paleocene and Eocene Thermal
Maximum (14,906 acres): Value(s) of
Concern—Paleontological. Proposed
Use Limitation(s)—NSO restriction
applied to fluid mineral leases, and
closed to mineral material disposals.
Alternative A proposes to maintain
the nine existing ACECs. Alternative B
proposes to establish all of the ACECs
listed above, with expansions, except
Paleocene and Eocene Thermal
Maximum. Alternative C proposes to
maintain only Spanish Point Karst and
Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area as ACECs.
Alternative D, the Preferred Alternative,
proposes ACEC designation for Big
Cedar Ridge (264 acres); Red Gulch
Dinosaur Tracksite (1,798 acres); Sheep
Mountain Anticline (11,528 acres);
Spanish Point Karst (6,627 acres);
Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area (5,517
acres); Carter Mountain (10,867 acres);
Five Springs Falls (163 acres); Little
Mountain (21,475 acres); Upper Owl
Creek (13,057 acres); Clarks Fork
Canyon (2,724 acres); Sheep Mountain
(14,201 acres); and Paleocene, Eocene
Thermal Maximum (14,906 acres) for a
total of 103,087 acres proposed to be
managed as ACECs.
The BLM initiated a Wild and Scenic
Rivers (WSR) review of all BLMadministered public lands along
waterways within the Worland and
Cody planning areas. The BLM requests
the public to submit information
regarding the suitability of eligible river
segments for inclusion in the National
Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The
BLM will use comments submitted
during the announced comment period
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to gather additional data to determine
suitability for inclusion into the
National Wild and Scenic Rivers
System. You may submit comments in
writing to the BLM at any public
meeting, or you may submit them to the
BLM using one of the methods listed in
the ADDRESSES section above. In order to
reduce the use of paper and control
costs, the BLM strongly encourages the
public to submit comments
electronically at the project Web site or
via e-mail. Only comments submitted
using the methods described in the
ADDRESSES section above will be
accepted. Comments submitted must
include the commenter’s name and
street address. Whenever possible,
please include reference to either the
page or section in the Draft RMPs/EIS to
which the comment applies. Please note
that public comments and information
submitted—including names, street
addresses and e-mail addresses of
persons who submit comments—will be
available for public review and
disclosure at the above address during
regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.),
Monday through Friday, except
holidays.
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.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 1506.10 and 43
CFR 1610.2, 1610.7–2 and 8350.
Ruth Welch,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011–9703 Filed 4–21–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWYD01000–2009–LL13100000–NB0000–
LXSI016K0000]
Notice of Meetings of the Pinedale
Anticline Working Group, Wyoming
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory
Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of
SUMMARY:
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Land Management (BLM) announces
that the Pinedale Anticline Working
Group (PAWG) will conduct meetings
and a field tour in Pinedale, Wyoming.
All meetings and tours are open to the
public.
The PAWG will meet on the
following dates: August 3, 2011, and
November 8, 2011, beginning at 9 a.m.
Mountain Time at the BLM Pinedale
Field Office. A field tour of the Pinedale
Anticline Project Area (PAPA) will also
be held on August 2, 2011 at 10 a.m.
Mountain Time. Members of the public
are asked to RSVP no later than 1 week
prior to the field tour to Shelley
Gregory, BLM Pinedale Field Office,
P.O. Box 768, Pinedale, Wyoming
82941; 307–315–0612;
ssgregory@blm.gov.
DATES:
BLM Pinedale Field Office,
1625 West Pine Street, Pinedale,
Wyoming.
ADDRESSES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shelley Gregory, BLM Pinedale Field
Office, 1625 West Pine Street, P.O. Box
768, Pinedale, Wyoming 82941; 307–
315–0612; ssgregory@blm.gov. Persons
who use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD), may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
1–800–877–8339 to contact the above
individual during normal business
hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, to leave a message
or question with the above individual.
You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
The
PAWG was established by the
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Record of Decision (ROD) for the PAPA
on July 27, 2000, and carried forward
with the release of the ROD for the
PAPA Supplemental EIS on September
12, 2008.
The PAWG is a FACA-chartered
group which develops
recommendations and provides advice
to the BLM on mitigation, monitoring,
and adaptive management issues as oil
and gas development in the PAPA
proceeds.
Additional information about the
PAWG can be found at: https://
www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/field_offices/
pinedale/pawg.html.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Donald A. Simpson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011–9704 Filed 4–21–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 78 (Friday, April 22, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22721-22723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9703]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWYR0000.L16100000.DP0000.LXSS042K0000]
Notice of Availability of Draft Resource Management Plans and
Associated Environmental Impact Statement for the Bighorn Basin
Resource Management Plan Revision Project, Cody and Worland Field
Offices, Wyoming
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Cody Field
Office, a Draft RMP for the Worland Field Office, and an associated
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The two Draft RMPs and the
associated Draft EIS comprise the Bighorn Basin RMP Revision Project
(Project). By this notice, the BLM is announcing the opening of a 90-
day comment period.
DATES: To ensure that comments are considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft RMPs/EIS within 90 days following the
date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its notice of the
Draft RMPs/EIS in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future
meetings or hearings and any other public participation activities at
least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or
the Project Web site at https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Planning/RMPs/bighorn.html.
ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments related to the Project Draft
RMPs/EIS by any of the following methods:
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/Planning/RMPs/bighorn.html.
E-mail: BBRMP_WYMail@blm.gov.
Mail: Worland Field Office, Attn: RMP Project Manager, 101 South
23rd Street, P.O. Box 119, Worland, Wyoming 82401.
Copies of the Draft RMPs/EIS are available at the following
locations:
Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, 5353
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003.
Bureau of Land Management, Cody Field Office, 1002
Blackburn Avenue, Cody, Wyoming 82414.
Bureau of Land Management, Worland Field Office, 101 South
23rd Street, Worland, Wyoming 82401.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caleb Hiner, RMP Project Manager,
telephone (307) 347-5171; address P.O. Box 119, 101 South 23rd Street,
Worland, Wyoming 82401; e-mail caleb_hiner@blm.gov. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Planning Area for the Project includes
lands within the BLM Cody and Worland Field Offices' administrative
boundaries, in of Big Horn, Park, Washakie Counties, and Hot Springs
Counties in north-central Wyoming. The Planning Area includes all
lands, regardless of jurisdiction, totaling 5.6 million acres; however,
the BLM will only make decisions on lands that fall under the BLM's
jurisdiction. Lands within the Planning Area under the BLM's
jurisdiction make up the Decision Area. The Decision Area consists of
BLM-administered surface, totaling 3.2 million acres, and the Federal
mineral estate, totaling 4.2 million acres. The revised RMPs will
replace the Washakie and Grass Creek RMPs in Worland, Wyoming, and the
Cody RMP in Cody, Wyoming.
The Draft RMPs/EIS includes a series of management actions, within
four management alternatives, including the No Action Alternative,
designed to address management challenges and issues raised during
scoping, including, but not limited to: Recreation, Areas of Critical
Environmental Concern (ACEC), wildlife habitats, livestock grazing,
energy development, air quality and global climate change, and lands
with wilderness characteristics and Wild Lands. The four alternatives
are:
Alternative A: Continue existing management practices (No
Action Alternative);
Alternative B: Foster conservation of natural and cultural
resources while
[[Page 22722]]
providing for compatible development and use;
Alternative C: Emphasize resource development and use; and
Alternative D: Provide development opportunities while
protecting sensitive resources (Preferred Alternative).
The Preferred Alternative has been identified as described in 40
CFR 1502.14(e). However, identification of a Preferred Alternative does
not represent the final agency decision. The BLM encourages comments on
all alternatives and management actions described in the Draft RMPs/EIS
and will assess and consider public comments properly received.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), this notice announces a concurrent
public comment period on proposed ACECs. A total of 18 ACECs are
proposed in the Draft RMPs/EIS, 9 of which are existing ACECs. The
proposed ACECs and the proposed resource use limitations that will
occur for each proposed ACEC if formally designated are:
Big Cedar Ridge (264 acres): Value(s) of Concern--
Paleontological. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--Right-of-way (ROW)
exclusion area, a no-surface occupancy (NSO) restriction applied to
fluid mineral leases, closed to geophysical exploration, closed to
mineral material disposals and related exploration and development
activities, motorized vehicle use limited to existing roads and trails,
and pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws.
Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite (1,798 acres): Value(s) of
Concern--Paleontological. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--Closed to
surface-disturbing activities except to enhance public education, heavy
equipment restriction on fire suppression activities, motorized vehicle
use limited to designated roads and trails, interpretive area closed to
livestock grazing, an NSO restriction applied to fluid mineral leases,
and pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws.
Sheep Mountain Anticline (11,528 acres): Value(s) of
Concern--Geologic, Caves, Cultural and Scenic. Proposed Use
Limitation(s)--Motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and
trails, generally closed to surface-disturbing activities, unavailable
for fluid mineral leasing, and pursue a withdrawal from appropriation
under the mining laws.
Spanish Point Karst (6,627 acres): Value(s) of Concern--
Caves, Recreational, Sinking Stream Segments and Water Quality.
Proposed Use Limitation(s)--Unavailable for fluid mineral leasing,
closed to geophysical exploration, closed to off highway vehicle use,
ROW avoidance/mitigation area, and pursue a withdrawal from
appropriation under the mining laws.
Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area (5,517 acres with an expansion to
15,246 acres): Value(s) of Concern--Paleontological. Proposed Use
Limitation(s)--Closed to mineral material disposals, unavailable for
fluid mineral leasing, ROW avoidance/mitigation area, and pursue a
withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws.
Carter Mountain (10,867 acres with an expansion to 16,573
acres): Value(s) of Concern--Vegetation, Wildlife, Cultural,
Recreational, Special Status Species, Watershed and Soils. Proposed Use
Limitation(s)--Heavy equipment restriction on fire suppression
activities, ROW avoidance/mitigation area, motorized vehicle use
limited to designated roads and trails, closed to surface-disturbing
activities on slopes greater than 7 percent, unavailable for fluid
mineral leasing, closed to mineral material disposals, and pursue a
withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws.
Five Springs Falls (163 acres with an expansion to 1,809
acres): Value(s) of Concern--Recreational, Scenic, Special Status
Species, Geologic and Public Safety. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--Heavy
equipment restriction on fire suppression activities, ROW avoidance/
mitigation area, climbing not allowed on the cliff that forms the
falls, motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and trails,
and unavailable for fluid mineral leasing.
Little Mountain (21,475 acres with an expansion to 69,110
acres): Value(s) of Concern--Caves, Cultural, Paleontological, Scenic,
Recreational, Special Status Species, Vegetation and Wildlife. Proposed
Use Limitation(s)--Heavy equipment restriction for fire suppression
activities, motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and
trails, a ROW avoidance/mitigation area, unavailable for fluid mineral
leasing, and pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the mining
laws.
Upper Owl Creek Area (13,057 acres with an expansion to
32,777): Value(s) of Concern--Cultural, Fish, Recreational, Scenic,
Soils, Special Status Species, Vegetation and Wildlife. Proposed Use
Limitation(s)--Motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and
trails, closed to surface-disturbing activities, pursue a withdrawal
from appropriation under the mining laws for 13,238 acres, ROW
avoidance/mitigation area, and unavailable for fluid mineral leasing.
Chapman Bench (23,976 acres): Value(s) of Concern--Special
Status Species, Vegetation, and Wildlife. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--
Motorized vehicle use limited to existing roads and trails pursue a
withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws, closed to mineral
material disposals, unavailable for fluid mineral leasing, closed to
surface-disturbing activities, and ROW avoidance/mitigation area.
Clarks Fork Basin/Polecat Bench West Paleontological Area
(23,895 acres): Value(s) of Concern--Paleontological and Scenic.
Proposed Use Limitation(s)--Closed to surface-disturbing activities,
closed to mineral material disposals, unavailable for fluid mineral
leasing, pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws,
motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and trails, and
renewable energy ROW exclusion area.
Clarks Fork Canyon (12,259 acres): Value(s) of Concern--
Geologic, Open Space, Recreational, Special Status Species, and
Wildlife. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--Close 1,211 acres to motorized
vehicle use with the remainder limited to designated roads and trails,
closed to surface-disturbing activities, closed to mineral material
disposals, closed to geophysical exploration, unavailable for fluid
mineral leasing, pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the
mining laws, renewable energy ROW exclusion area, and ROW avoidance/
mitigation area.
Foster Gulch Paleontological Area (27,302 acres): Value(s)
of Concern--Paleontological and Scenic. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--
Renewable energy ROW exclusion area, motorized vehicle use limited to
designated roads and trails, closed to surface-disturbing activities,
closed to mineral material disposals, unavailable for fluid mineral
leasing, and pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the mining
laws.
McCullough Peaks South Paleontological Area (6,994 acres):
Value(s) of Concern--Paleontological and Scenic. Proposed Use
Limitation(s)--Unavailable for fluid mineral leasing, pursue a
withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws, closed to mineral
material disposals, renewable energy ROW avoidance/mitigation area,
motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and trails, closed to
surface-disturbing activities, and ROW avoidance/mitigation area.
Rainbow Canyon (1,433 acres): Value(s) of Concern--
Geologic, Paleontological, and Scenic. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--
Unavailable for fluid mineral leasing, pursue a withdrawal from
appropriation under the mining laws, closed to mineral material
[[Page 22723]]
disposals, renewable energy ROW avoidance/mitigation area, motorized
vehicle use limited to designated roads and trails, closed to surface-
disturbing activities, and ROW avoidance/mitigation area.
Rattlesnake Mountain (19,119 acres): Value(s) of Concern--
Special Status Species, Vegetation and Wildlife. Proposed Use
Limitation(s)--Motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and
trails, closed to mineral material disposals, unavailable for fluid
mineral leasing, closed to surface-disturbing activities, ROW exclusion
area, and pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the mining laws.
Sheep Mountain (25,153 acres): Value(s) of Concern--
Special Status Species, Vegetation and Wildlife. Proposed Use
Limitation(s)--Motorized vehicle use limited to designated roads and
trails, unavailable for fluid mineral leasing, closed to mineral
material disposals, pursue a withdrawal from appropriation under the
mining laws, closed to surface-disturbing activities, and ROW
avoidance/mitigation area.
Paleocene and Eocene Thermal Maximum (14,906 acres):
Value(s) of Concern--Paleontological. Proposed Use Limitation(s)--NSO
restriction applied to fluid mineral leases, and closed to mineral
material disposals.
Alternative A proposes to maintain the nine existing ACECs.
Alternative B proposes to establish all of the ACECs listed above, with
expansions, except Paleocene and Eocene Thermal Maximum. Alternative C
proposes to maintain only Spanish Point Karst and Brown/Howe Dinosaur
Area as ACECs. Alternative D, the Preferred Alternative, proposes ACEC
designation for Big Cedar Ridge (264 acres); Red Gulch Dinosaur
Tracksite (1,798 acres); Sheep Mountain Anticline (11,528 acres);
Spanish Point Karst (6,627 acres); Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area (5,517
acres); Carter Mountain (10,867 acres); Five Springs Falls (163 acres);
Little Mountain (21,475 acres); Upper Owl Creek (13,057 acres); Clarks
Fork Canyon (2,724 acres); Sheep Mountain (14,201 acres); and
Paleocene, Eocene Thermal Maximum (14,906 acres) for a total of 103,087
acres proposed to be managed as ACECs.
The BLM initiated a Wild and Scenic Rivers (WSR) review of all BLM-
administered public lands along waterways within the Worland and Cody
planning areas. The BLM requests the public to submit information
regarding the suitability of eligible river segments for inclusion in
the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The BLM will use comments
submitted during the announced comment period to gather additional data
to determine suitability for inclusion into the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers System. You may submit comments in writing to the BLM at
any public meeting, or you may submit them to the BLM using one of the
methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. In order to reduce the
use of paper and control costs, the BLM strongly encourages the public
to submit comments electronically at the project Web site or via e-
mail. Only comments submitted using the methods described in the
ADDRESSES section above will be accepted. Comments submitted must
include the commenter's name and street address. Whenever possible,
please include reference to either the page or section in the Draft
RMPs/EIS to which the comment applies. Please note that public comments
and information submitted--including names, street addresses and e-mail
addresses of persons who submit comments--will be available for public
review and disclosure at the above address during regular business
hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
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.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 1506.10 and 43 CFR 1610.2, 1610.7-2
and 8350.
Ruth Welch,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-9703 Filed 4-21-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
