Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area in Colorado, 29153-29155 [2013-11776]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 96 / Friday, May 17, 2013 / Notices
fewer acres of Reclamation land than
Alternative B. The preferred alternative
considered factors to avoid, minimize,
and mitigate identified impacts to
resources such as visual, noise, and
wildlife. The preferred alternative
removed turbines in the northwest
section of the Project site due to
identified golden eagle nests. These
removals also addressed noise and
visual concerns from the National Park
Service, Lake Mead National Recreation
Area. The preferred alternative also
implements a minimum @-mile set back
from private land and in some instances
a larger distance due to visual and noise
resource concerns. To further protect
golden eagles, this alternative excludes
turbines within a 1.25-mile area around
golden eagle nests in the northwest
portion of the proposed facility and
provides an additional buffer that
curtails turbine operation during nesting
season and eagle activity, i.e., during
daylight hours. The preferred alternative
allows for flexibility on the size and
number of turbines (1.5 MW to 3.0 MW)
to allow the developer to meet
Western’s 425 MW or 500 MW
nameplate capacity. The generation size
depends on the interconnection to
either the 345-kV or 500-kV
transmission line.
The BLM has consulted, and will
continue to consult, with Indian tribes
on a government-to-government basis in
accordance with Executive Order 13175
and other policies. Tribal concerns,
including impacts on Indian trust assets
and potential impacts to cultural
resources were, and will continue to be,
given due consideration.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6 and 1506.10.
Raymond Suazo,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013–11826 Filed 5–16–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–32–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Resource Management Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Dominguez-Escalante National
Conservation Area in Colorado
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976, as
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:20 May 16, 2013
Jkt 229001
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 the notice of the Draft
RMP/Draft 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 mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the D–E NCA Draft RMP/Draft
EIS by any of the following methods:
• via the RMP Web site: https://
www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/denca/
denca_rmp.html.
• email: dencarmp@blm.gov.
• fax: 970–244–3083.
• mail: BLM—D–E NCA RMP, 2815 H
Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506.
Copies of the D–E NCA Draft RMP/
Draft EIS are available in the BLM’s
Grand Junction Field Office at 2815 H
Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506; the
BLM’s Uncompahgre Field Office at
2465 South Townsend Ave., Montrose,
CO 81401; or on the Web site: https://
www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/denca/
denca_rmp.html.
DATES:
Ben
Blom, Planning Team Lead; telephone:
970–244–3188; Grand Junction Field
Office: see address above; email:
bblom@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 BLM
prepared the D–E NCA Draft RMP/Draft
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
[LLCON06000 L16100000.DP0000]
SUMMARY:
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft
Resource Management Plan (RMP) and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the Dominguez-Escalante
National Conservation Area (D–E NCA)
and by this notice is announcing the
opening of the public comment period.
Congress designated the D–E NCA, as
well as the Dominguez Canyon
Wilderness (Wilderness), through the
Omnibus Public Lands Management Act
of 2009 (Omnibus Act). The Omnibus
Act also established the purpose of the
D–E NCA to ‘‘conserve and protect for
the benefit and enjoyment of present
and future generations—the unique and
important resources and values of the
land and the water resources of area
streams.’’
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29153
EIS to evaluate and revise the current
management decisions for public lands
and resources within the D–E NCA
planning area. A National Conservation
Area, such as the D–E NCA, is an area
designated by Congress, generally, to
conserve, protect, enhance, and
properly manage the resources and
values for which it was designated for
the benefit and enjoyment of present
and future generations. The D–E NCA
was established by the Omnibus Public
Lands Management Act of 2009. The
D–E NCA is currently managed under
the 1987 Grand Junction Record of
Decision and Approved RMP, as
amended; the 1989 Uncompahgre Basin
Record of Decision and Approved RMP,
as amended; and the BLM’s 2010
Interim Management Policy for the D–E
NCA and Dominguez Canyon
Wilderness. Decisions made through
this planning process must also stay
within the framework outlined in the
enabling legislation which created this
NCA.
The D–E NCA planning area includes
approximately 218,000 acres of State,
private and BLM-managed public lands
located in Delta, Mesa, and Montrose
counties in western Colorado. Within
the D–E NCA planning area, the BLM
administers approximately 210,000
acres of federal surface and subsurface
estate. Management decisions made as a
result of the RMP will apply only to the
BLM-administered public lands in the
D–E NCA planning area.
The formal public scoping process for
the RMP/EIS began on August 3, 2010,
with the publication of a Notice of
Intent in the Federal Register, and
ended on October 1, 2010. The Secretary
of the Interior established an advisory
council composed of ten residents
representing various communities and
interests throughout the surrounding
three-county area to assist the BLM in
developing and implementing this
RMP/EIS. The council met 24 times in
2011 and 2012, with all meetings open
to the public.
The BLM held two public workshops
for travel management data collection in
fall 2010 to give the public an
opportunity to review the route
inventory for completeness and
accuracy, as well as offer suggestions for
changes to current routes or the addition
of new routes that would complement
the existing system. The BLM held two
additional workshops regarding
socioeconomics in fall 2011.
Over the course of the planning
process, the BLM maintained a Plan
Web site, produced a series of monthly
newsletters, distributed press releases,
and conducted radio interviews. All
materials will be available on the D–E
E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM
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29154
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 96 / Friday, May 17, 2013 / Notices
NCA RMP Web site, and the public will
have the opportunity to comment
online. Paper copies and CDs of the
Draft RMP will be available at BLM
Field Offices in Montrose and Grand
Junction, Colorado. Major issues
considered in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS
include geological and paleontological
resources; vegetation and soils; wildlife
and terrestrial habitat; aquatic, wetlands
and riparian areas; water resources;
cultural resources; wilderness; lands
with wilderness characteristics; visual
resources; recreation; science and
education; livestock grazing;
transportation and travel management;
lands and realty; and special
designations.
The Draft RMP/Draft EIS evaluates, in
detail, five alternatives, including the
No Action Alternative (Alternative A)
and four action alternatives
(Alternatives B, C, D, and E). The BLM
has identified Alternative E as the
preferred alternative. Identification of
this alternative, however, does not
represent final agency direction, and the
Proposed RMP may reflect changes or
adjustments based on information
received from 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. Alternative A
would retain the current management
goals, objectives and direction specified
in the 1987 Grand Junction RMP and
1989 Uncompahgre Basin RMP, where
the management is consistent with the
Omnibus Act. Alternative B focuses on
allowing natural processes to influence
the condition of resources, which would
involve placing additional restrictions
on allowable uses to manage the D–E
NCA. Recreation would be managed
largely through Extensive Recreation
Management Areas, where the BLM
would commit to providing activity
opportunities but not specific recreation
outcomes or settings. Alternative C
emphasizes active management for
biological restoration and cultural
resource protection. The BLM would set
objectives that provide a high level of
resource protection and restoration.
Only two areas would be managed as
Special Recreation Management Areas,
with the rest of the D–E NCA not
managed as recreation areas. Alternative
D would also emphasize an active
management approach for biological
restoration and cultural resource
protection, but with objectives that
provide a lower level of restoration and
protection for those resources as
compared to Alternative C. Resource
uses, particularly trail-based recreation
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:20 May 16, 2013
Jkt 229001
and livestock grazing, would be
emphasized. The enabling legislation for
the D–E NCA identified livestock
grazing as a use of the D–E NCA that
shall be managed similarly to how it is
managed on other lands under the
BLM’s jurisdiction.
The BLM’s identified preferred
alternative is Alternative E, which is a
mix of the other four alternatives that is
based on the draft impact assessment.
Under this alternative, the BLM would
set measurable goals for biological
restoration and cultural resource
protection. Objectives for resource
protection and restoration would be less
ambitious than in Alternative C but
more ambitious than in Alternative D.
Recreation would be managed by using
a mix of Extensive Recreation
Management Areas (3) and Special
Recreation Management Areas (4).
Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7–2(b), this
notice announces a concurrent public
comment period on proposed Areas of
Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC).
There are currently two ACECs within
the D–E NCA. These are the Gunnison
Gravels ACEC (5 acres) and the
Escalante Canyon ACEC (1.895 acres).
Under Alternative E (the BLM preferred
alternative), the BLM would retain the
Escalante Canyon ACEC and propose
one new ACEC, the River Rims ACEC.
Proposed ACECs and the resource use
limitations that would occur if formally
designated are as follows:
• Big Dominguez Canyon ACEC—
5,626 acres, Alternative C: manage
livestock grazing and trailing to protect
unique and sensitive rare plants and
vegetative communities; minimize
impacts to rare plants and vegetative
communities from recreation use
through route designation and group
size limitations.
• Escalante Canyon ACEC—1,895
acres in Alternative A, 2,281 acres in
Alternative C and E, and 11,202 acres in
Alternative D: continue livestock
grazing at current levels, unless studies
determine that threatened and
endangered plant species and unique
plant associations or their potential
habitats are being degraded (Alternative
A); manage livestock grazing and
trailing in the Escalante Canyon ACEC
to protect unique and sensitive plant
resources (Alternatives C, D, and E);
provide informational signs to identify
potential recreational hazards
(Alternatives A, C, D, and E); prohibit
woodland harvests, so as to prevent
accidental destruction of listed species
and unique plant associations
(Alternatives A, C, D, and E); prohibit
surface occupancy (Alternative A);
prohibit surface-disturbing activities
(Alternative C); apply site-specific
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relocation restrictions (Alternatives D
and E); close the area to development of
major utilities to prevent accidental
destruction of listed species and unique
plant associations and maintain scenic
qualities (Alternative A); provide the
public with outdoor classroom
opportunities related to the area’s
unique and sensitive plants, wildlife,
fish, geological and cultural resources
(Alternatives D and E); reduce, as much
as practicable, barriers to fish and
wildlife movement through Escalante
Canyon (Alternatives D and E).
• Gibbler Mountain ACEC—1,310
acres, Alternative D: prohibit surfacedisturbing activities within 100 meters
of known, significant paleontological
sites and within 200 meters of BLM
sensitive plant occurrences; reduce, as
much as practicable, route density
within 200 meters of BLM sensitive
plant occurrences.
• Gunnison Gravels ACEC—5 acres in
Alternative A, 15 acres in Alternative D:
prohibit surface occupancy (Alternative
A); prohibit surface-disturbing activities
(Alternative D); close the area to mineral
materials sales or free use permits
(Alternative A); prohibit the collection
of rocks and minerals (Alternative D);
manage as unsuitable for public utilities
(Alternative A).
• Gunnison River ACEC—17,316
acres, Alternative D: prohibit surfacedisturbing activities; manage livestock
grazing and trailing to protect unique
and sensitive plant and wildlife
resources; manage the hydrological and
riparian resources of the Gunnison River
to promote delisting of federally listed
fish species; reduce, as much as
practicable, route density within 200
meters of Colorado hookless cactus.
• River Rims ACEC—4,916 acres in
Alternative C; 5,405 acres in Alternative
E: prohibit surface-disturbing activities
(Alternatives C and E); manage livestock
grazing and trailing to protect unique
and sensitive plant resources
(Alternatives C and E); prohibit
commercial, organized group, and
competitive special recreation permits
(Alternative C); prohibit competitive
special recreation permits but allow
low-impact commercial and organized
group special recreation permits
(Alternative D); close all BLM routes to
the public within 200 meters of
Colorado hookless cactus (Alternatives
C and E).
Please note that public comments and
information submitted, including
names, street addresses, and email
addresses of persons who submit
comments, will be available for public
review and disclosure at the above
address during regular business hours
E:\FR\FM\17MYN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 96 / Friday, May 17, 2013 / Notices
(8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), Monday
through Friday, except holidays.
Before including your address, phone
number, email 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, 40 CFR 1506.10,
43 CFR 1610.2.
Helen M. Hankins,
BLM Colorado State Director.
BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLMT926000–L143000000–NJ0000]
Notice of Filing of Plats of Survey;
Montana
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of filing of plats of
survey.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) will file the plat of
survey of the lands described below in
the BLM Montana State Office, Billings,
Montana, on June 17, 2013.
DATES: Protests of the survey must be
filed before June 17, 2013 to be
considered.
Protests of the survey
should be sent to the Branch of
Cadastral Survey, Bureau of Land
Management, 5001 Southgate Drive,
Billings, Montana 59101–4669.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Marvin Montoya, Cadastral Surveyor,
Branch of Cadastral Survey, Bureau of
Land Management, 5001 Southgate
Drive, Billings, Montana 59101–4669,
telephone (406) 896–5124 or (406) 896–
5009, Marvin_Montoya@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: This
survey was executed at the request of
wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
15:20 May 16, 2013
Jkt 229001
20005; or by fax, 202–371–6447. Written
or faxed comments should be submitted
by June 3, 2013. Before including your
address, phone number, email 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.
Dated: April 23, 2013.
J. Paul Loether,
Chief, National Register of Historic Places/
National Historic Landmarks Program.
ALASKA
Lake and Peninsula Borough-Census Area
Wassillie Trefon Dena’ina Fish Cache, One
Park Pl., Port Alsworth, 13000348
ARKANSAS
Conway County
Moose Addition Neighborhood Historic
District, Roughly bounded by W. Valley, S.
Moose, Green, Brown & S. Division Sts.,
Morrillton, 13000349
Hempstead County
Authority: 43 U.S.C. chapter 3.
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
Principal Meridian
T. 2 S., R. 3 W.
The plat, in two sheets, representing the
dependent resurvey of M.S. No. 551,
Strawberry Lode; M.S. No. 780, Strawberry
Lode; M.S. No.781, Strawberry Extension
Lode; M.S. No. 2599B, Clipper Mill Site; M.S.
No. 2617B, Rustler Mill Site; M.S. No. 5855B,
Cleveland Mill Site and portions of M.S. No.
5303, Pony Lode and M.S. No. 6937, Pan
American Lode, Township 2 South, Range 3
West, Principal Meridian, Montana, was
accepted May 7, 2013.
We will place a copy of the plat, in
two sheets, and related field notes we
described in the open files. They will be
available to the public as a matter of
information. If the BLM receives a
protest against this survey, as shown on
this plat, in two sheets, prior to the date
of the official filing, we will stay the
filing pending our consideration of the
protest. We will not officially file this
plat, in two sheets, until the day after
we have accepted or dismissed all
protests and they have become final,
including decisions or appeals.
[FR Doc. 2013–11776 Filed 5–16–13; 8:45 am]
ADDRESSES:
the Bureau of Land Management, Dillon
Field Office Manager, Dillon, Montana,
and was necessary to determine Federal
interest lands.
The lands we surveyed are:
29155
James D. Claflin,
Chief Cadastral Surveyor, Division of
Resources.
[FR Doc. 2013–11781 Filed 5–16–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
[NPS–WASO–NRNHL–12901;
PPWOCRADI0, PCU00RP14.R50000]
Mounds Cemetery, Address Restricted,
Columbus, 13000350
Logan County
Booneville Commercial Historic District, E.
side of 100 & 200 blks. of N. Broadway
Ave., Booneville, 13000351
HAWAII
Honolulu County
Marconi Wireless Telegraphy Station, 56–
1095 Kamehameha Hwy., Kahuku,
13000352
IDAHO
National Register of Historic Places;
Notification of Pending Nominations
and Related Actions
Nominations for the following
properties being considered for listing
or related actions in the National
Register were received by the National
Park Service before April 20, 2013.
Pursuant to section 60.13 of 36 CFR part
60, written comments are being
accepted concerning the significance of
the nominated properties under the
National Register criteria for evaluation.
Comments may be forwarded by United
States Postal Service, to the National
Register of Historic Places, National
Park Service, 1849 C St. NW., MS 2280,
Washington, DC 20240; by all other
carriers, National Register of Historic
Places, National Park Service,1201 Eye
St. NW., 8th floor, Washington, DC
PO 00000
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Payette County
St. John’s Church, 350 N. 4th St., Payette,
13000353
NEW JERSEY
Essex County
Pleasant Days, 274 Old Short Hills Rd.,
Millburn, 13000354
Mercer County
Trenton Ferry Historic District, Roughly
bounded by S. Broad & Federal Sts.,
Delaware R. & Amtrak NW. Corridor,
Trenton, 13000355
NEW YORK
Herkimer County
Brace Farm, 428 Brace Rd., Meetinghouse
Green, 13000356
Meetinghouse Green Road Cemetery, Cross &
Meeting House Rds., Meetinghouse Green,
13000357
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 96 (Friday, May 17, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29153-29155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11776]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCON06000 L16100000.DP0000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement for the Dominguez-Escalante National
Conservation Area in Colorado
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a
Draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area
(D-E NCA) and by this notice is announcing the opening of the public
comment period. Congress designated the D-E NCA, as well as the
Dominguez Canyon Wilderness (Wilderness), through the Omnibus Public
Lands Management Act of 2009 (Omnibus Act). The Omnibus Act also
established the purpose of the D-E NCA to ``conserve and protect for
the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations--the unique
and important resources and values of the land and the water resources
of area streams.''
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 the notice of
the Draft RMP/Draft 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 mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the D-E NCA Draft RMP/
Draft EIS by any of the following methods:
via the RMP Web site: https://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/denca/denca_rmp.html.
email: dencarmp@blm.gov.
fax: 970-244-3083.
mail: BLM--D-E NCA RMP, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction,
Colorado 81506.
Copies of the D-E NCA Draft RMP/Draft EIS are available in the
BLM's Grand Junction Field Office at 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO
81506; the BLM's Uncompahgre Field Office at 2465 South Townsend Ave.,
Montrose, CO 81401; or on the Web site: https://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/denca/denca_rmp.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben Blom, Planning Team Lead;
telephone: 970-244-3188; Grand Junction Field Office: see address
above; email: bblom@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 BLM prepared the D-E NCA Draft RMP/Draft
EIS to evaluate and revise the current management decisions for public
lands and resources within the D-E NCA planning area. A National
Conservation Area, such as the D-E NCA, is an area designated by
Congress, generally, to conserve, protect, enhance, and properly manage
the resources and values for which it was designated for the benefit
and enjoyment of present and future generations. The D-E NCA was
established by the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009. The D-E
NCA is currently managed under the 1987 Grand Junction Record of
Decision and Approved RMP, as amended; the 1989 Uncompahgre Basin
Record of Decision and Approved RMP, as amended; and the BLM's 2010
Interim Management Policy for the D-E NCA and Dominguez Canyon
Wilderness. Decisions made through this planning process must also stay
within the framework outlined in the enabling legislation which created
this NCA.
The D-E NCA planning area includes approximately 218,000 acres of
State, private and BLM-managed public lands located in Delta, Mesa, and
Montrose counties in western Colorado. Within the D-E NCA planning
area, the BLM administers approximately 210,000 acres of federal
surface and subsurface estate. Management decisions made as a result of
the RMP will apply only to the BLM-administered public lands in the D-E
NCA planning area.
The formal public scoping process for the RMP/EIS began on August
3, 2010, with the publication of a Notice of Intent in the Federal
Register, and ended on October 1, 2010. The Secretary of the Interior
established an advisory council composed of ten residents representing
various communities and interests throughout the surrounding three-
county area to assist the BLM in developing and implementing this RMP/
EIS. The council met 24 times in 2011 and 2012, with all meetings open
to the public.
The BLM held two public workshops for travel management data
collection in fall 2010 to give the public an opportunity to review the
route inventory for completeness and accuracy, as well as offer
suggestions for changes to current routes or the addition of new routes
that would complement the existing system. The BLM held two additional
workshops regarding socioeconomics in fall 2011.
Over the course of the planning process, the BLM maintained a Plan
Web site, produced a series of monthly newsletters, distributed press
releases, and conducted radio interviews. All materials will be
available on the D-E
[[Page 29154]]
NCA RMP Web site, and the public will have the opportunity to comment
online. Paper copies and CDs of the Draft RMP will be available at BLM
Field Offices in Montrose and Grand Junction, Colorado. Major issues
considered in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS include geological and
paleontological resources; vegetation and soils; wildlife and
terrestrial habitat; aquatic, wetlands and riparian areas; water
resources; cultural resources; wilderness; lands with wilderness
characteristics; visual resources; recreation; science and education;
livestock grazing; transportation and travel management; lands and
realty; and special designations.
The Draft RMP/Draft EIS evaluates, in detail, five alternatives,
including the No Action Alternative (Alternative A) and four action
alternatives (Alternatives B, C, D, and E). The BLM has identified
Alternative E as the preferred alternative. Identification of this
alternative, however, does not represent final agency direction, and
the Proposed RMP may reflect changes or adjustments based on
information received from 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.
Alternative A would retain the current management goals, objectives and
direction specified in the 1987 Grand Junction RMP and 1989 Uncompahgre
Basin RMP, where the management is consistent with the Omnibus Act.
Alternative B focuses on allowing natural processes to influence the
condition of resources, which would involve placing additional
restrictions on allowable uses to manage the D-E NCA. Recreation would
be managed largely through Extensive Recreation Management Areas, where
the BLM would commit to providing activity opportunities but not
specific recreation outcomes or settings. Alternative C emphasizes
active management for biological restoration and cultural resource
protection. The BLM would set objectives that provide a high level of
resource protection and restoration. Only two areas would be managed as
Special Recreation Management Areas, with the rest of the D-E NCA not
managed as recreation areas. Alternative D would also emphasize an
active management approach for biological restoration and cultural
resource protection, but with objectives that provide a lower level of
restoration and protection for those resources as compared to
Alternative C. Resource uses, particularly trail-based recreation and
livestock grazing, would be emphasized. The enabling legislation for
the D-E NCA identified livestock grazing as a use of the D-E NCA that
shall be managed similarly to how it is managed on other lands under
the BLM's jurisdiction.
The BLM's identified preferred alternative is Alternative E, which
is a mix of the other four alternatives that is based on the draft
impact assessment. Under this alternative, the BLM would set measurable
goals for biological restoration and cultural resource protection.
Objectives for resource protection and restoration would be less
ambitious than in Alternative C but more ambitious than in Alternative
D. Recreation would be managed by using a mix of Extensive Recreation
Management Areas (3) and Special Recreation Management Areas (4).
Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), this notice announces a concurrent
public comment period on proposed Areas of Critical Environmental
Concern (ACEC). There are currently two ACECs within the D-E NCA. These
are the Gunnison Gravels ACEC (5 acres) and the Escalante Canyon ACEC
(1.895 acres). Under Alternative E (the BLM preferred alternative), the
BLM would retain the Escalante Canyon ACEC and propose one new ACEC,
the River Rims ACEC. Proposed ACECs and the resource use limitations
that would occur if formally designated are as follows:
Big Dominguez Canyon ACEC--5,626 acres, Alternative C:
manage livestock grazing and trailing to protect unique and sensitive
rare plants and vegetative communities; minimize impacts to rare plants
and vegetative communities from recreation use through route
designation and group size limitations.
Escalante Canyon ACEC--1,895 acres in Alternative A, 2,281
acres in Alternative C and E, and 11,202 acres in Alternative D:
continue livestock grazing at current levels, unless studies determine
that threatened and endangered plant species and unique plant
associations or their potential habitats are being degraded
(Alternative A); manage livestock grazing and trailing in the Escalante
Canyon ACEC to protect unique and sensitive plant resources
(Alternatives C, D, and E); provide informational signs to identify
potential recreational hazards (Alternatives A, C, D, and E); prohibit
woodland harvests, so as to prevent accidental destruction of listed
species and unique plant associations (Alternatives A, C, D, and E);
prohibit surface occupancy (Alternative A); prohibit surface-disturbing
activities (Alternative C); apply site-specific relocation restrictions
(Alternatives D and E); close the area to development of major
utilities to prevent accidental destruction of listed species and
unique plant associations and maintain scenic qualities (Alternative
A); provide the public with outdoor classroom opportunities related to
the area's unique and sensitive plants, wildlife, fish, geological and
cultural resources (Alternatives D and E); reduce, as much as
practicable, barriers to fish and wildlife movement through Escalante
Canyon (Alternatives D and E).
Gibbler Mountain ACEC--1,310 acres, Alternative D:
prohibit surface-disturbing activities within 100 meters of known,
significant paleontological sites and within 200 meters of BLM
sensitive plant occurrences; reduce, as much as practicable, route
density within 200 meters of BLM sensitive plant occurrences.
Gunnison Gravels ACEC--5 acres in Alternative A, 15 acres
in Alternative D: prohibit surface occupancy (Alternative A); prohibit
surface-disturbing activities (Alternative D); close the area to
mineral materials sales or free use permits (Alternative A); prohibit
the collection of rocks and minerals (Alternative D); manage as
unsuitable for public utilities (Alternative A).
Gunnison River ACEC--17,316 acres, Alternative D: prohibit
surface-disturbing activities; manage livestock grazing and trailing to
protect unique and sensitive plant and wildlife resources; manage the
hydrological and riparian resources of the Gunnison River to promote
delisting of federally listed fish species; reduce, as much as
practicable, route density within 200 meters of Colorado hookless
cactus.
River Rims ACEC--4,916 acres in Alternative C; 5,405 acres
in Alternative E: prohibit surface-disturbing activities (Alternatives
C and E); manage livestock grazing and trailing to protect unique and
sensitive plant resources (Alternatives C and E); prohibit commercial,
organized group, and competitive special recreation permits
(Alternative C); prohibit competitive special recreation permits but
allow low-impact commercial and organized group special recreation
permits (Alternative D); close all BLM routes to the public within 200
meters of Colorado hookless cactus (Alternatives C and E).
Please note that public comments and information submitted,
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who
submit comments, will be available for public review and disclosure at
the above address during regular business hours
[[Page 29155]]
(8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Before including your address, phone number, email 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, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2.
Helen M. Hankins,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-11776 Filed 5-16-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P
