Notice of Availability of the Draft Bakersfield Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement, California, 55941-55943 [2011-22961]
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 175 / Friday, September 9, 2011 / Notices
American religious and sacred sites and
their settings. Proposed use
limitation(s): right-of-way (ROW)
exclusion area, closed to all mineral
leases, closed to geophysical
exploration, closed to mineral material
disposals and related exploration and
development activities, closed to pursue
withdrawal from locatable mineral
entry, and motorized vehicle use limited
to designated roads and trails.
• Sweetwater Rocks, not designated
in the 1987 RMP. Alternative B
proposes 152,347 acres. Value(s) of
concern—geologic and visual resources
and recreational values. Proposed use
limitation(s): right-of-way (ROW)
exclusion area, closed to all mineral
leases, closed to geophysical
exploration, closed to mineral material
disposals and related exploration and
development activities, closed to pursue
withdrawal from locatable mineral
entry, and motorized vehicle use limited
to designated roads and trails.
• Regional Historic Trails and Early
Highways, not designated in the 1987
RMP. Alternative B proposes 89,016
acres. Value(s) of concern—historical/
cultural resources and their settings.
Proposed use limitation(s): right-of-way
(ROW) exclusion area, closed to all
mineral leases, closed to geophysical
exploration, closed to mineral material
disposals and related exploration and
development activities, closed to pursue
withdrawal from locatable mineral
entry, and motorized vehicle use limited
to designated roads and trails in a buffer
around the trails.
• Government Draw/Upper
Sweetwater sage-grouse, not designated
by the 1987 RMP. Alternative B
proposes 1,246,791 acres. Value(s) of
concern—Greater sage-grouse habitat.
Proposed use limitation(s): right-of-way
(ROW) exclusion area, closed to all
mineral leases, closed to geophysical
exploration, closed to mineral material
disposals and related exploration and
development activities, closed to pursue
withdrawal from locatable mineral
entry, and motorized vehicle use limited
to designated roads and trails.
Alternative A proposes to maintain
the nine existing ACECs. Alternative B
proposes to establish all of the ACECs
listed above and to pursue withdrawals
from locatable mineral entry for
1,396,844 acres. Alternative C proposes
to eliminate all ACECs and manage the
areas with standard stipulations (such
as a 1;-mile buffer on each side of the
national historic trails).
Alternative D, the preferred
alternative, proposes ACEC designation
for the following ACECs that are the
same as designated in the 1987 RMP:
Lander Slope (25,065 acres), Red
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Canyon (15,109 acres), Whiskey
Mountain (8,776 acres), and Beaver Rim
(6,421 acres). The following ACECs
were designated in the 1987 RMP but
expanded in the preferred alternative:
East Fork (4,431 acres plus 6,777 acres—
including acres that were transferred
from the Dubois Badlands ACEC
designated in 1987 but not in the
preferred alternative), and Green
Mountain (14,612 acres plus an
additional 6,777 acres). The preferred
alternative modifies the 1987 designated
South Pass Historic Mining Area to
include additional lands associated with
the congressionally designated trails for
a total of 124,229 acres. A portion of the
Government Draw/Upper Sweetwater
sage-grouse ACEC is identified for
management as a reference and
education area containing the Twin
Creek ACEC of 36,302 acres. The
preferred alternative did not adopt the
following ACECs proposed under
Alternative B: Cedar Ridge, Castle
Gardens, Sweetwater Rocks, Continental
Divide National Scenic Trail, Regional
Historic Trails and Early Highways, and
Government Draw/Upper Sweetwater
sage-grouse. 13,378 acres in ACECs are
closed to pursue withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry.
The BLM initiated a wild and scenic
rivers (WSR) review of all BLMadministered public lands along
waterways within the Lander Field
Office. 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 RMP/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
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55941
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. All submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, are
available for public inspection in their
entirety.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 1506.10; 43 CFR
1610.2, 1610.7–2 and 8350.
Donald A. Simpson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011–22946 Filed 9–7–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAC06000.L16100000.DP0000.
LXSS095B0000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Bakersfield Resource Management
Plan and Draft Environmental Impact
Statement, California
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has
prepared a Draft Resource Management
Plan (RMP) and Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Bakersfield Field
Office (FO) planning area and by this
notice is announcing the opening of the
comment period.
DATES: To ensure that comments will be
considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft RMP/
Draft EIS within 90 days following the
date the Environmental Protection
Agency publishes this notice of
availability 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,
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 175 / Friday, September 9, 2011 / Notices
media releases, the BLM Web page and/
or mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Bakersfield Resource
Management Plan, including potential
designation of areas of critical
environmental concern (ACEC), by any
of the following methods:
• E-mail: cacalrmp@ca.blm.gov.
• Fax: (661) 391–6143, Attention:
Bakersfield RMP.
• Mail: Bakersfield RMP, BLM
Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus
Drive, Bakersfield, California 93308.
Copies of the Bakersfield Draft RMP/
Draft EIS are available in the Bakersfield
FO at the above address; the California
State Office at 2800 Cottage Way, Suite
W 1834, Sacramento, CA 95825; and at
the BLM’s Web site https://
www.ca.blm.gov/bakersfield.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information contact Sue Porter,
Bakersfield Planning & Environmental
Coordinator, telephone: (661) 391–6000
or the Bakersfield FO RMP line at (661)
391–6022; address: Bakersfield Field
Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield,
California 93308; e-mail:
cacalrmp@ca.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 Draft
RMP/Draft EIS addresses public land
and resources managed by the
Bakersfield FO in an 8 county, 17
million acre region of central California
in Kings, San Luis Obispo, Santa
Barbara, Tulare, Ventura, Madera,
eastern Fresno, and western Kern
counties. The Bakersfield RMP will
replace the 1997 Caliente RMP and the
1984 Hollister RMP, as amended, for the
management of approximately 404,000
acres of public land and 1.2 million
acres of Federal mineral estate. The
Bakersfield RMP does not address
management of the California Coastal
National Monument or the Carrizo Plain
National Monument. Planning decisions
in the RMP will apply only to the BLMadministered public lands and mineral
estate in the planning area.
The purpose of the Bakersfield RMP
is to establish goals, objectives, and
management actions for BLM public
lands that address current issues,
knowledge, and conditions. The Draft
RMP/Draft EIS has been developed with
broad public participation in
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accordance with FLPMA and NEPA.
Preliminary planning issues were
presented for public review and
comment in the March 2008 Federal
Register Notice of Intent (NOI);
additional public comments were
solicited through scoping letters,
meetings, and the RMP Web site. Six
planning issues were identified through
the scoping process: (1) Access and
availability of public lands for
recreational and open spaces; (2)
balance between the travel network and
protection of natural and cultural
resources; (3) protection of threatened
and endangered species, critical habitat,
other biological resources, cultural and
paleontological resources in a multipleuse environment; (4) livestock grazing
management to provide for economic
benefit, rural lifestyles and vegetation
management while protecting other
resources; (5) balance between energy
development and other land use
authorizations with resource values; and
(6) climate change.
The Draft RMP/Draft EIS includes five
management alternatives:
• The No Action alternative
(Alternative A) would continue current
management under the existing 1997
Caliente RMP and 1984 Hollister RMP,
as amended.
• Alternative B balances resource
conservation and ecosystem health with
the production of commodities and
public use of the land. Alternative B is
the Preferred Alternative.
• Alternative C emphasizes
conserving cultural and natural
resources, maintaining functioning
natural systems, and restoring natural
systems that are degraded.
• Alternative D follows Alternative C
in all aspects except Alternative D
eliminates livestock grazing from BLM
managed lands in the planning area.
• Alternative E emphasizes the
production of natural resources,
commodities and public use
opportunities.
The Preferred Alternative has been
identified as described in 40 CFR
1502.14(e). Identification of this
alternative, however, does not represent
final agency direction, and the Proposed
RMP may reflect changes or adjustments
based on information received during
public comment, from new information,
or from changes in BLM policies or
priorities. The Proposed RMP may
include objectives and actions described
in the other analyzed alternatives. For
this reason, the BLM invites and
encourages comments on all
alternatives, objectives, and actions
described in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7–2(b), this
notice announces a concurrent public
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comment period on proposed ACECs.
Ten new ACEC designations are
proposed and five existing ACECs have
proposed boundary changes:
Ancient Lakeshores (1,985 acres): This
proposal combines the existing 402-acre
Alkali Sink and 40-acre Goose Lake
ACECs with lands at Atwell Island.
Relevant values are cultural, special
status species (wildlife and plants), and
plant community. Proposed limitations
address land use authorizations,
livestock grazing, mineral development
and recreation.
Bitter Creek (6,121 acres): This newly
proposed ACEC contains relevant values
of special status wildlife species.
Proposed limitations address land use
authorizations, mineral development
and recreation. Other restrictions
include closing public access to lands
adjacent to a national wildlife refuge.
Compensation Lands (283 acres):
Relevant values for this newly proposed
ACEC are special status wildlife and
plant species. Proposed limitations
address land use authorizations,
livestock grazing, mineral development,
and recreation. Other restrictions
include management to benefit species
identified in applicable US Fish and
Wildlife Service or California
Department of Fish and Game biological
opinions, agreements, or other
documents.
Cyrus Canyon (5,374 acres): Relevant
values for this newly proposed ACEC
are special status plant species.
Proposed limitations address land use
authorizations, livestock grazing,
mineral development and recreation.
Erskine Creek (4,019 acres): Relevant
values for this newly proposed ACEC
are special status wildlife and plant
species, geologic, and riparian.
Proposed limitations address land use
authorizations, livestock grazing,
mineral development and recreation.
Granite Cave (42 acres): Relevant
values for this newly proposed ACEC
are cultural and geologic. Proposed
limitations address land use
authorizations and mineral
development. Other restrictions include
prohibited public access.
Hopper Mountain (4,974 acres):
Relevant values for this newly proposed
ACEC are special status wildlife species.
Proposed limitations address land use
authorizations, livestock grazing,
mineral development, and recreation.
Other restrictions include potentially
restricting public access during condor
use periods.
Irish Hills (1,654 acres): Relevant
values for this newly proposed ACEC
are special status plant species and rare
plant communities. Proposed
limitations address land use
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authorizations, livestock grazing,
mineral development, and recreation.
Kaweah (27,041 acres): This proposal
incorporates an expansion of the
existing 26,468-acre Case Mountain
ACEC with the North Fork of the
Kaweah River. Relevant values are
cultural, historic, special status wildlife
and plant species, geologic, and
riparian. Proposed limitations address
land use authorizations, livestock
grazing, mineral development, and
recreation. Other restrictions include
closure or seasonal restrictions to
recreation sites along the North Fork of
the Kaweah River.
Kettleman Hills (13,695 acres): This
proposal expands the existing ACEC
through the addition of 3,901 acres.
Relevant values are special status
wildlife species, paleontological, and
plant community. Proposed limitations
address land use authorizations, mineral
development, and recreation.
Lokern-Buena Vista (15,465 acres):
This proposal combines the existing
Lokern ACEC with an additional 8,833
acres in the Buena Vista Hills. Relevant
values are special status wildlife and
plant species and plant community.
Proposed limitations address land use
authorizations, mineral development,
and recreation.
Los Osos (5 acres): Relevant values for
this newly proposed ACEC are cultural,
special status wildlife and plant species,
and plant community. Proposed
limitations address land use
authorizations, livestock grazing,
mineral development, and recreation.
Other restrictions include limiting
public access to pedestrians; crosscountry travel would be prohibited.
Piute Cypress (2,517 acres): This
proposal expands the existing ACEC by
1,413 acres. Relevant values are special
status plant species. Proposed
limitations address land use
authorizations, livestock grazing,
mineral development, and recreation.
Rusty Peak (787 acres): Relevant
values for this newly proposed ACEC
are special status plant species and rare
plant community. Proposed limitations
address land use authorizations,
livestock grazing and mineral
development.
Upper Cuyama Valley (8,935 acres):
Relevant values for this newly proposed
ACEC are special status wildlife and
plant species. Proposed limitations
address land use authorizations,
livestock grazing, mineral development,
and recreation.
Alternative B, the Preferred
Alternative, proposes ACEC designation
for Ancient Lakeshores; Bitter Creek;
Blue Ridge; Compensation Lands;
Cypress Mountain; Cyrus Canyon;
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Erskine Creek; Hopper Mountain; Horse
Canyon; Kaweah; Kettleman Hills;
Lokern-Buena Vista; Los Osos; Piute
Cypress; Point Sal; Tierra Redonda; and
Upper Cuyama Valley for a total of
99,619 acres proposed to be managed as
ACECs.
Lands with wilderness characteristics
are addressed in accordance with
Section 201 and 202 of FLPMA. The
Preferred Alternative would protect
approximately 3,470 acres of lands with
wilderness characteristics.
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.
Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 1506.10, and 43
CFR 1610.2.
[FR Doc. 2011–22961 Filed 9–7–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLAK910000 L13100000.DB0000
LXSINSSI0000]
Notice of Public Meeting, North Slope
Science Initiative—Science Technical
Advisory Panel
Bureau of Land Management,
Alaska State Office, North Slope Science
Initiative, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory
Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S.
Department of the Interior, North Slope
Science Initiative (NSSI)—Science
Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) will
meet as indicated below.
DATES: The meeting will be held Oct. 4
and 5, 2011, in Anchorage, Alaska. The
meetings will begin at 9 a.m. at the
SUMMARY:
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55943
Subsistence Board Room, 2nd Floor,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011
East Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska.
Public comment will be received
between 3 and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct.
4, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
F. Payne, Executive Director, North
Slope Science Initiative, AK–910, c/o
Bureau of Land Management, 222 W.
Seventh Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK
99513, (907) 271–3431 or e-mail
jpayne.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, seven 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 NSSI
STAP provides advice and
recommendations to the NSSI Oversight
Group regarding priority information
needs for management decisions across
the North Slope of Alaska. These
priority information needs may include
recommendations on inventory,
monitoring, and research activities that
contribute to informed resource
management decisions. This meeting
will include an overview of the recent
Oversight Group retreat, assignments to
review and provide recommendations
on the draft Arctic Landscape
Conservation Cooperation science
strategy and the status of the 2011 NSSI
Report to Congress.
All meetings are open to the public.
The public may present written
comments to the Science Technical
Advisory Panel through the Executive
Director, North Slope Science Initiative.
Each formal meeting will also have time
allotted for hearing public comments.
Depending on the number of persons
wishing to comment and time available,
the time for individual oral comments
may be limited. Individuals who plan to
attend and need special assistance, such
as sign language interpretation,
transportation, or other reasonable
accommodations, should contact the
Executive Director, North Slope Science
Initiative. 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
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 175 (Friday, September 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55941-55943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22961]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAC06000.L16100000.DP0000. LXSS095B0000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Bakersfield Resource
Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement, California
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has
prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Bakersfield Field Office (FO) planning
area and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment
period.
DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft RMP/Draft EIS within 90 days following
the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes this notice of
availability 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,
[[Page 55942]]
media releases, the BLM Web page and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Bakersfield Resource
Management Plan, including potential designation of areas of critical
environmental concern (ACEC), by any of the following methods:
E-mail: cacalrmp@ca.blm.gov.
Fax: (661) 391-6143, Attention: Bakersfield RMP.
Mail: Bakersfield RMP, BLM Bakersfield Field Office, 3801
Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, California 93308.
Copies of the Bakersfield Draft RMP/Draft EIS are available in the
Bakersfield FO at the above address; the California State Office at
2800 Cottage Way, Suite W 1834, Sacramento, CA 95825; and at the BLM's
Web site https://www.ca.blm.gov/bakersfield.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Sue
Porter, Bakersfield Planning & Environmental Coordinator, telephone:
(661) 391-6000 or the Bakersfield FO RMP line at (661) 391-6022;
address: Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield,
California 93308; e-mail: cacalrmp@ca.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 Draft RMP/Draft EIS addresses public
land and resources managed by the Bakersfield FO in an 8 county, 17
million acre region of central California in Kings, San Luis Obispo,
Santa Barbara, Tulare, Ventura, Madera, eastern Fresno, and western
Kern counties. The Bakersfield RMP will replace the 1997 Caliente RMP
and the 1984 Hollister RMP, as amended, for the management of
approximately 404,000 acres of public land and 1.2 million acres of
Federal mineral estate. The Bakersfield RMP does not address management
of the California Coastal National Monument or the Carrizo Plain
National Monument. Planning decisions in the RMP will apply only to the
BLM-administered public lands and mineral estate in the planning area.
The purpose of the Bakersfield RMP is to establish goals,
objectives, and management actions for BLM public lands that address
current issues, knowledge, and conditions. The Draft RMP/Draft EIS has
been developed with broad public participation in accordance with FLPMA
and NEPA. Preliminary planning issues were presented for public review
and comment in the March 2008 Federal Register Notice of Intent (NOI);
additional public comments were solicited through scoping letters,
meetings, and the RMP Web site. Six planning issues were identified
through the scoping process: (1) Access and availability of public
lands for recreational and open spaces; (2) balance between the travel
network and protection of natural and cultural resources; (3)
protection of threatened and endangered species, critical habitat,
other biological resources, cultural and paleontological resources in a
multiple-use environment; (4) livestock grazing management to provide
for economic benefit, rural lifestyles and vegetation management while
protecting other resources; (5) balance between energy development and
other land use authorizations with resource values; and (6) climate
change.
The Draft RMP/Draft EIS includes five management alternatives:
The No Action alternative (Alternative A) would continue
current management under the existing 1997 Caliente RMP and 1984
Hollister RMP, as amended.
Alternative B balances resource conservation and ecosystem
health with the production of commodities and public use of the land.
Alternative B is the Preferred Alternative.
Alternative C emphasizes conserving cultural and natural
resources, maintaining functioning natural systems, and restoring
natural systems that are degraded.
Alternative D follows Alternative C in all aspects except
Alternative D eliminates livestock grazing from BLM managed lands in
the planning area.
Alternative E emphasizes the production of natural
resources, commodities and public use opportunities.
The Preferred Alternative has been identified as described in 40
CFR 1502.14(e). Identification of this alternative, however, does not
represent final agency direction, and the Proposed RMP may reflect
changes or adjustments based on information received during public
comment, from new information, or from changes in BLM policies or
priorities. The Proposed RMP may include objectives and actions
described in the other analyzed alternatives. For this reason, the BLM
invites and encourages comments on all alternatives, objectives, and
actions described in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), this notice announces a concurrent
public comment period on proposed ACECs. Ten new ACEC designations are
proposed and five existing ACECs have proposed boundary changes:
Ancient Lakeshores (1,985 acres): This proposal combines the
existing 402-acre Alkali Sink and 40-acre Goose Lake ACECs with lands
at Atwell Island. Relevant values are cultural, special status species
(wildlife and plants), and plant community. Proposed limitations
address land use authorizations, livestock grazing, mineral development
and recreation.
Bitter Creek (6,121 acres): This newly proposed ACEC contains
relevant values of special status wildlife species. Proposed
limitations address land use authorizations, mineral development and
recreation. Other restrictions include closing public access to lands
adjacent to a national wildlife refuge.
Compensation Lands (283 acres): Relevant values for this newly
proposed ACEC are special status wildlife and plant species. Proposed
limitations address land use authorizations, livestock grazing, mineral
development, and recreation. Other restrictions include management to
benefit species identified in applicable US Fish and Wildlife Service
or California Department of Fish and Game biological opinions,
agreements, or other documents.
Cyrus Canyon (5,374 acres): Relevant values for this newly proposed
ACEC are special status plant species. Proposed limitations address
land use authorizations, livestock grazing, mineral development and
recreation.
Erskine Creek (4,019 acres): Relevant values for this newly
proposed ACEC are special status wildlife and plant species, geologic,
and riparian. Proposed limitations address land use authorizations,
livestock grazing, mineral development and recreation.
Granite Cave (42 acres): Relevant values for this newly proposed
ACEC are cultural and geologic. Proposed limitations address land use
authorizations and mineral development. Other restrictions include
prohibited public access.
Hopper Mountain (4,974 acres): Relevant values for this newly
proposed ACEC are special status wildlife species. Proposed limitations
address land use authorizations, livestock grazing, mineral
development, and recreation. Other restrictions include potentially
restricting public access during condor use periods.
Irish Hills (1,654 acres): Relevant values for this newly proposed
ACEC are special status plant species and rare plant communities.
Proposed limitations address land use
[[Page 55943]]
authorizations, livestock grazing, mineral development, and recreation.
Kaweah (27,041 acres): This proposal incorporates an expansion of
the existing 26,468-acre Case Mountain ACEC with the North Fork of the
Kaweah River. Relevant values are cultural, historic, special status
wildlife and plant species, geologic, and riparian. Proposed
limitations address land use authorizations, livestock grazing, mineral
development, and recreation. Other restrictions include closure or
seasonal restrictions to recreation sites along the North Fork of the
Kaweah River.
Kettleman Hills (13,695 acres): This proposal expands the existing
ACEC through the addition of 3,901 acres. Relevant values are special
status wildlife species, paleontological, and plant community. Proposed
limitations address land use authorizations, mineral development, and
recreation.
Lokern-Buena Vista (15,465 acres): This proposal combines the
existing Lokern ACEC with an additional 8,833 acres in the Buena Vista
Hills. Relevant values are special status wildlife and plant species
and plant community. Proposed limitations address land use
authorizations, mineral development, and recreation.
Los Osos (5 acres): Relevant values for this newly proposed ACEC
are cultural, special status wildlife and plant species, and plant
community. Proposed limitations address land use authorizations,
livestock grazing, mineral development, and recreation. Other
restrictions include limiting public access to pedestrians; cross-
country travel would be prohibited.
Piute Cypress (2,517 acres): This proposal expands the existing
ACEC by 1,413 acres. Relevant values are special status plant species.
Proposed limitations address land use authorizations, livestock
grazing, mineral development, and recreation.
Rusty Peak (787 acres): Relevant values for this newly proposed
ACEC are special status plant species and rare plant community.
Proposed limitations address land use authorizations, livestock grazing
and mineral development.
Upper Cuyama Valley (8,935 acres): Relevant values for this newly
proposed ACEC are special status wildlife and plant species. Proposed
limitations address land use authorizations, livestock grazing, mineral
development, and recreation.
Alternative B, the Preferred Alternative, proposes ACEC designation
for Ancient Lakeshores; Bitter Creek; Blue Ridge; Compensation Lands;
Cypress Mountain; Cyrus Canyon; Erskine Creek; Hopper Mountain; Horse
Canyon; Kaweah; Kettleman Hills; Lokern-Buena Vista; Los Osos; Piute
Cypress; Point Sal; Tierra Redonda; and Upper Cuyama Valley for a total
of 99,619 acres proposed to be managed as ACECs.
Lands with wilderness characteristics are addressed in accordance
with Section 201 and 202 of FLPMA. The Preferred Alternative would
protect approximately 3,470 acres of lands with wilderness
characteristics.
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.
Thomas Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 1506.10, and 43 CFR 1610.2.
[FR Doc. 2011-22961 Filed 9-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
