Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Uncompahgre Field Office, Colorado, 35793-35796 [2016-13131]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 107 / Friday, June 3, 2016 / Notices
https://www.regulations.gov, or by
appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4
p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays, at the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Division of
Management Authority, 5275 Leesburg
Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803;
telephone 703–358–2095.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brenda Tapia, (703) 358–2104
(telephone); (703) 358–2281 (fax);
DMAFR@fws.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Comment Procedures
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A. How do I request copies of
applications or comment on submitted
applications?
Send your request for copies of
applications or comments and materials
concerning any of the applications to
the contact listed under ADDRESSES.
Please include the Federal Register
notice publication date, the PRTnumber, and the name of the applicant
in your request or submission. We will
not consider requests or comments sent
to an email or address not listed under
ADDRESSES. If you provide an email
address in your request for copies of
applications, we will attempt to respond
to your request electronically.
Please make your requests or
comments as specific as possible. Please
confine your comments to issues for
which we seek comments in this notice,
and explain the basis for your
comments. Include sufficient
information with your comments to
allow us to authenticate any scientific or
commercial data you include.
The comments and recommendations
that will be most useful and likely to
influence agency decisions are: (1)
Those supported by quantitative
information or studies; and (2) Those
that include citations to, and analyses
of, the applicable laws and regulations.
We will not consider or include in our
administrative record comments we
receive after the close of the comment
period (see DATES) or comments
delivered to an address other than those
listed above (see ADDRESSES).
B. May I review comments submitted by
others?
Comments, including names and
street addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review at the street
address listed under ADDRESSES. The
public may review documents and other
information applicants have sent in
support of the application unless our
allowing viewing would violate the
Privacy Act or Freedom of Information
Act. Before including your address,
phone number, email address, or other
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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.
II. Background
To help us carry out our conservation
responsibilities for affected species, and
in consideration of section 10(a)(1)(A) of
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), along
with Executive Order 13576,
‘‘Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and
Accountable Government,’’ and the
President’s Memorandum for the Heads
of Executive Departments and Agencies
of January 21, 2009—Transparency and
Open Government (74 FR 4685; January
26, 2009), which call on all Federal
agencies to promote openness and
transparency in Government by
disclosing information to the public, we
invite public comment on these permit
applications before final action is taken.
III. Permit Applications
Endangered Species
Applicant: San Diego Zoo, San Diego,
CA; PRT–68861B
The applicant requests an amendment
of their permit to export one male
yellow-footed rock wallaby (Petrogale
xanthopus xanthopus) for the purpose
of enhancement of the survival of the
species. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 1-year period.
Applicant: Greenville Zoo, Greenville,
SC; PRT–91101B
The applicant requests a permit to
import one male captive-bred, Amur
leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) for
the purpose of enhancement of the
survival of the species. This notification
covers activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 1-year period.
Applicant: Zoological Society of San
Diego, San Diego, CA; PRT–88300B
The applicant requests a permit to
import two female captive-bred Amur
leopards (Panthera pardus orientalis)
for the purpose of enhancement of the
survival of the species. This notification
covers activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 1-year period.
Applicant: Micanopy Zoological
Preserve, Micanopy, FL; PRT–84541B
The applicant requests a permit to
import one female captive-bred babirusa
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(Babyrousa celebensis) for the purpose
of enhancement of the survival of the
species through captive propagation and
zoological display.
Applicant: Tiger World Inc., Rockwell,
NC; PRT–97961A
The applicant requests an amendment
of their captive-bred wildlife
registration under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for
the following species to enhance species
propagation or survival: African lion
(Panthera leo), black-and-white ruffed
lemur (Varecia variegata), ring-tailed
lemur (Lemur catta), red ruffed lemur
(Varecia rubra), mandrill (Mandrillus
sphinx), lar gibbon (Hylobates lar),
clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa),
leopard (Panthera pardus), snow
leopard (Uncia uncia), Galapagos
tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra), and
radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata).
This notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5year period.
Applicant: Milwaukee County
Zoological Gardens, Milwaukee, WI;
PRT–85795B
On April 22, 2016, we published a
Federal Register notice inviting the
public to comment for a permit to
conduct certain activities with
endangered species (78 FR 23745). We
are now reopening the comment period
to allow the public the opportunity to
review additional information that was
mistakenly omitted from the application
for the request for a permit to import
one female captive-bred snow leopard
(Uncia uncia) for the purpose of
enhancement of the survival of the
species. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 1-year period.
Brenda Tapia,
Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch
of Permits, Division of Management
Authority.
[FR Doc. 2016–13151 Filed 6–2–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCOS05000 L16100000.DP0000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Resource Management Plan and Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Uncompahgre Field Office,
Colorado
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 107 / Friday, June 3, 2016 / Notices
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 Uncompahgre Planning
Area and by this notice is announcing
the opening of the public comment
period.
DATES: To ensure that comments will be
considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft RMP/EIS
within 90 days following the date the
Environmental Protection Agency
publishes this notice of the Draft RMP/
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 Uncompahgre Draft RMP/
EIS by any of the following methods:
• Email: uformp@blm.gov.
• Mail: Uncompahgre RMP, 2465
South Townsend Avenue, Montrose, CO
81401.
• Fax: 970–240–5368.
Copies of the Uncompahgre Draft
RMP/EIS are available in the
Uncompahgre Field Office at the above
address or on the RMP Web site at:
https://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo/
uncompahgre_rmp.htm; or at:
www.uformp.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina
Jones, Southwest District NEPA
Coordinator; telephone 970–240–5300;
see above for address and email. 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 BLM
prepared the Uncompahgre Draft RMP/
EIS to evaluate and revise the
management strategy for resources,
resource uses, and special designations
within the Uncompahgre planning area.
Existing management decisions for
public lands and resources in the
Uncompahgre planning area are
described in two documents: the 1985
San Juan/San Miguel RMP, as amended;
and the 1989 Uncompahgre Basin RMP,
as amended.
The Uncompahgre planning area
includes approximately 3.1 million
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SUMMARY:
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acres of land managed by the BLM, U.S.
Forest Service (portions of the Grand
Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison
National Forest), National Park Service
(Black Canyon of the Gunnison National
Park, and portions of Curecanti National
Recreation Area), U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation, State of Colorado
(including Ridgway, Crawford, and
Paonia State Parks), and local and
private lands all of which are located in
southwestern Colorado, in Montrose,
Delta, Gunnison, Ouray, San Miguel and
Mesa counties. The Gunnison Gorge
National Conservation Area (NCA) and
the Dominguez-Escalante NCA are not
within the planning area for this Draft
RMP/EIS. The Uncompahgre RMP will
determine management for
approximately 675,800 acres of BLMadministered surface lands and for
approximately 971,220 acres of Federal
mineral estate.
The formal public scoping process for
the Uncompahgre RMP began February
25, 2010, with the publication of a
Notice of Intent in the Federal Register
(75 FR 8739). The BLM held seven
scoping open houses in January and
February 2010. The BLM used public
scoping comments to help identify
planning issues that led to the
formulation of alternatives and framed
the scope of analysis in the Draft RMP/
EIS. The BLM also used the scoping
process to introduce the public to the
preliminary planning criteria, which set
limits on the scope of the Draft RMP/
EIS.
Major issues considered in the Draft
RMP/EIS include management of
biological resources including special
status species, renewable and nonrenewable energy, minerals, human
activities and uses including livestock
and recreation, utility/energy corridors
and rights-of-way (ROW), and cultural
resources. The RMP also addresses
decisions regarding Wild and Scenic
Rivers, the Old Spanish National
Historic Trail, and lands with
wilderness characteristics. The Draft
RMP/EIS evaluates in detail the No
Action Alternative (Alternative A), three
action alternatives (Alternatives B, C
and D), and sub-alternative (B.1). The
BLM identified Alternative D as the
Preferred Alternative. This alternative,
however, does not represent the final
agency direction, and the Proposed RMP
may reflect changes or adjustments
based on information received during
public comment on the Draft RMP/EIS,
new information, or changes in the BLM
policies or priorities. The Proposed
RMP may include objectives and actions
described in any of the alternatives
analyzed in the Draft.
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Alternative A retains the current
management goals, objectives, and
direction specified in the 1985 San
Juan/San Miguel RMP and the 1989
Uncompahgre Basin RMP. Alternative B
emphasizes improving, rehabilitating
and restoring resources; sustaining the
ecological integrity of habitats for all
priority plant, wildlife and fish species;
and allowing appropriate development
scenarios for allowable uses (such as
mineral leasing, locatable mineral
development, recreation,
communication sites and livestock
grazing). Alternative B.1 is a subset of
Alternative B, and specifically addresses
oil and gas leasing and development in
the North Fork and Smith Fork
drainages of the Gunnison River. Certain
areas would be closed to oil and gas
leasing and this alternative would
impose development setbacks with
strict surface use restrictions in places
where leasing might be allowed to
occur. Alternative C emphasizes the
appropriate mix of uses that maximize
utilization of resources while protecting
land health. The appropriate
development scenarios for allowable
uses emphasize maximizing resource
production in an environmentally
responsible manner, while maintaining
the basic protection needed to sustain
resources, including mitigating impacts
on land health. Alternative D
emphasizes balancing resources and
resource use among competing human
interests, land uses, and the
conservation of natural and cultural
resource values, while sustaining and
enhancing ecological integrity across the
landscape, including plant, wildlife,
and fish habitat. This alternative
incorporates a balanced level of
protection, restoration, enhancement
and use of resources and services to
meet ongoing programs and land uses.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 3461.2–1(a)(2),
this notice announces a concurrent
public comment period on the
application of unsuitability criteria to
lands with coal development potential.
Maps and other information describing
the results of the application of
unsuitability criteria are available at the
BLM Uncompahgre Field Office.
The Uncompahgre planning area has
all or portions of five Wilderness Study
Areas (Needle Rock, Adobe Badlands,
Camel Back, Sewemup Mesa, Dolores
River Canyons), as well as the
congressionally designated Tabeguache
Area. This RMP analyses seven areas
identified as lands with wilderness
characteristics. Also, this RMP analyzes
eligible water segments for
recommendation for inclusion in the
National Wild and Scenic River System.
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 107 / Friday, June 3, 2016 / Notices
Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7–2(b), this
notice announces a concurrent public
comment period on the proposed Areas
of Critical Environmental Concern
(ACEC). The BLM analyzed 19 potential
ACECs meeting the relevance and
importance criteria within the range of
alternatives. The alternative where each
ACEC is considered, as well as the
largest size and most restrictive
limitations under consideration for each
potential ACEC within the range of
alternatives are as follows:
• Adobe Badlands ACEC, 6,370 acres,
Alternatives A, C, D: ROW avoidance;
close to coal leasing; recommend for
withdrawal from locatable mineral
entry; close to mineral materials
disposal; close to non-energy solid
mineral leasing; close to motorized and
mechanized travel; Visual Resource
Management (VRM) Class I; close to
major utility development; manage for
day use only; prohibit camping and
campfires; No Surface Occupancy (NSO)
for fluid minerals; Site Specific
Relocation (SSR) for non-fluid mineral
activities.
• Fairview South ACEC, up to 4,250
acres, Alternatives A, B, C, D: ROW
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal
from locatable mineral entry; close to
mineral materials disposal; close to nonenergy solid mineral leasing; close to
motorized and mechanized travel;
designated trail systems for nonmotorized and non-mechanized travel;
VRM Class III; close to sheep and cattle
grazing; day use only; prohibit camping
and campfires; prohibit wood collecting;
close to wood product sales and/or
harvest; NSO for fluid minerals; No
Ground Disturbance (NGD) for non-fluid
mineral activities.
• Needle Rock ACEC, 80 acres,
Alternatives A, B, C, D: ROW exclusion;
recommend for withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry; close to mineral
materials disposal; close to non-energy
solid mineral leasing; close to livestock
grazing; limit motorized and
mechanized travel to designated routes;
VRM Class I; day use only; prohibit
camping, prohibit open campfires
(require use of stoves or grills); prohibit
wood collecting; close to wood product
sales and/or harvest; prohibit rock
climbing; provide adequate protection
(signing, stipulations, barricades and
fences) to protect sensitive species and
their habitats; NSO for fluid minerals;
SSR for non-fluid mineral activities.
• San Miguel River ACEC, up to
35,480 acres, Alternatives A, B, C, D:
ROW exclusion; recommend for
withdrawal from locatable mineral
entry; close to mineral materials
disposal; close to non-energy solid
mineral leasing; close to coal leasing;
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VRM Class II and III; close to wood
product sales and/or harvest; allow onsite collection of dead and downed
wood for campfires (fire pans required);
close to livestock grazing; limit camping
to designated sites and areas; limit
camping to no longer than 7 consecutive
days at any one location and prohibit
return to that location for 30 days;
prohibit target shooting; close to
recreational mining; limit motorized
and mechanized travel to designated
routes; locate facility development
outside the 100-year floodplain; prohibit
BLM-permitted actions (such as ROWs,
bike trails and camping areas) in relic
riparian communities; close to fluid
mineral leasing and geophysical
exploration; provide informational and
interpretive signs; designated trail
systems, restrooms, barricades and
fences, as needed for enhanced visitor
use, enjoyment, and safety and to
protect sensitive species and their
habitats.
• Coyote Wash ACEC, 2,100 acres,
Alternative B: ROW exclusion;
recommend for withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry; close to mineral
materials disposal; close to non-energy
solid mineral leasing; VRM Class II;
NSO for fluid minerals; NGD for nonfluid mineral activities; provide
facilities (e.g., informational and
interpretive signs, designated trail
systems, camping areas, restrooms,
barricades and fences) for resource
protection.
• Dolores River Slickrock Canyon
ACEC, up to 10,670 acres, Alternatives
B, D: ROW exclusion; recommend for
withdrawal from locatable mineral
entry; close to mineral materials
disposal; close to non-energy solid
mineral leasing; VRM Class II; close to
recreational mining; close to motorized
and mechanized travel; provide
facilities (informational/interpretive
signs, designated trail systems, camping
areas, restrooms, barricades, fences) as
needed for resource protection; camping
only in designated sites and areas,
prohibit open campfires (fire pans,
stoves, or grills required); close to wood
product sales and/or harvest; require
porta-potties for overnight use if
restroom is not available; no leasing of
fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid
mineral activities.
• East Paradox ACEC, 7,360 acres,
Alternative B: ROW exclusion;
recommend for withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry; close to mineral
materials disposal; close to non-energy
solid mineral leasing; VRM Class III;
limit motorized and mechanized travel
to designated routes; close to camping;
close to coal leasing; NSO for fluid
minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral
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35795
activities; provide adequate protection
(signs, use stipulations, barricades and
fences, as needed) to protect sensitive
species and their habitats; on 1,810
acres limit all travel (motorized,
mechanized, pedestrian and equestrian)
to designated routes.
• Biological Soil Crust ACEC, 1,900
acres, Alternative D: ROW exclusion;
close to mineral materials disposal;
close to non-energy solid mineral
leasing; recommend for withdrawal
from locatable mineral entry; VRM Class
II; locate livestock salt/mineral
supplement sites and water sites farther
than 0.25 mile from the boundary of the
gypsipherous soils (allow existing
livestock watering reservoirs closer than
0.25 mile from the gypsipherous soils to
remain); limit motorized and
mechanized travel to designated routes;
manage for day use only; prohibit
camping; NSO for fluid minerals; SSR
for non-fluid mineral activities.
• La Sal Creek ACEC, 10,490 acres,
Alternative B: ROW exclusion;
recommend for withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry; close to mineral
materials disposal; close to non-energy
solid mineral leasing; VRM Class II;
limit motorized and mechanized travel
to designated routes; allow camping
only in designated sites and areas;
provide facilities (e.g., informational
and interpretive signs, designated trail
systems, camping areas, restrooms,
barricades and fences, as needed) for
resource protection; NSO for fluid
minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral
activities.
• Lower Uncompahgre Plateau ACEC,
31,810 acres, Alternative B: ROW
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal
from locatable mineral entry; close to
mineral materials disposal; close to nonenergy solid mineral leasing; VRM Class
III; limit motorized and mechanized
travel to designated routes; provide
facilities (e.g., informational and
interpretive signs, designated trail
systems, camping areas, restrooms,
barricades and fences, as needed) to
provide resource protection; NSO for
fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid
mineral activities.
• Paradox Rock Art ACEC, 1,080
acres, Alternatives B, D: ROW
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal
from locatable mineral entry; close to
mineral materials disposal; close to nonenergy solid mineral leasing; VRM Class
II; limit motorized and mechanized
travel to designated routes; provide
facilities (e.g., informational and
interpretive signs, designated trail
systems and camping areas, and
restrooms, as needed) for resource
protection; provide adequate protection
(signs, use stipulations, barricades and
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 107 / Friday, June 3, 2016 / Notices
fences, as needed) to protect sites; allow
camping only in designated sites and
areas; prohibit target shooting; close to
rock climbing; issue no Special
Recreation Permits (SRP); NSO for fluid
minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral
activities.
• Roubideau-Potter-Monitor ACEC,
20,430 acres, Alternative B: ROW
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal
from locatable mineral entry; close to
mineral materials disposal; close to nonenergy solid mineral leasing; VRM Class
II; limit motorized and mechanized
travel to designated routes; provide
adequate protection (signs, use
stipulations, barricades and fences, as
needed) to protect sensitive species and
their habitats; issue no SRP for
competitive events; prohibit target
shooting; close to wood product sales
and/or harvest and Christmas tree
cutting; close to recreational mining;
close to fluid mineral leasing; NGD for
non-fluid mineral activities.
• Roubideau Corridors ACEC, 8,720
acres, Alternative D: ROW avoidance;
recommend for withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry; close to mineral
materials disposal; close to non-energy
solid mineral leasing; VRM Class III;
limit motorized and mechanized travel
to designated routes; provide adequate
protection (signs, use stipulations,
barricades and fences, as needed) to
protect sensitive species and their
habitats; close to wood product sales
and/or harvest and Christmas tree
cutting; NSO for fluid minerals; SSR for
non-fluid mineral activities.
• Salt Desert Shrub Ecosystem ACEC,
34,510 acres, Alternative B: ROW
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal
from locatable mineral entry; close to
mineral materials disposal; close to nonenergy solid mineral leasing; VRM Class
III; limit motorized and mechanized
travel to designated routes; provide such
facilities as informational and
interpretive signs, barricades and
fences, as needed to protect resources;
manage for day use only: Prohibit
camping and open campfires (require
use of stoves or grills); prohibit wood
collecting; close to coal leasing; NSO for
fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid
mineral activities.
• San Miguel Gunnison Sage-Grouse
ACEC, 470 acres, Alternative B: ROW
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal
from locatable mineral entry; close to
mineral materials disposal; close to nonenergy solid mineral leasing; manage as
VRM Class III; limit motorized and
mechanized travel to designated routes;
close to motorized and mechanized
travel April 1 to July 15 (during sagegrouse strutting, nesting and broodrearing season) to prevent disturbance to
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breeding sage-grouse; follow
recommendations in San Miguel Basin
Gunnison Sage-Grouse Conservation
Plan (San Miguel Basin Gunnison SageGrouse Working Group 2009); manage
vegetation for optimal Gunnison SageGrouse habitat; provide adequate
protection (signs, use stipulations,
barricades and fences, as needed) to
protect sensitive species and their
habitats; close to leasing for fluid
minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral
activities.
• Sims-Cerro Gunnison Sage-Grouse
ACEC, 25,620 acres, Alternative B: ROW
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal
from locatable mineral entry; close to
mineral materials disposal; close to nonenergy solid mineral leasing; VRM Class
III; manage vegetation for optimal
Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat; limit
motorized and mechanized travel to
designated routes; close to motorized
and mechanized travel April 1 to July 15
(during sage-grouse strutting, nesting
and brood-rearing season); provide
adequate protection (signs, use
stipulations, barricades and fences, as
needed) to protect sensitive species and
their habitats; develop a Sims-Cerro
Gunnison Sage-Grouse Conservation
Plan; close to leasing for fluid minerals;
NGD for non-fluid mineral activities.
• Tabeguache Pueblos and
Tabeguache Caves ACEC, 26,400 acres,
Alternative B: ROW exclusion;
recommend for withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry; close to mineral
materials disposal; close to non-energy
solid mineral leasing; VRM Class I
(5,260 acres),VRM Class II (21,140
acres); limit motorized and mechanized
travel to designated routes; provide
adequate protection (signs, use
stipulations, barricades and fences, as
needed) to protect sensitive sites; NSO
for fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid
mineral activities.
• Tabeguache Creek ACEC, 560 acres,
Alternative A: VRM Class II; close to
Off-Road Vehicle use; NSO for fluid
minerals.
• West Paradox ACEC, 5,190 acres,
Alternative B: ROW exclusion;
recommend for withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry; close to mineral
materials disposal; close to non-energy
solid mineral leasing; VRM Class III;
limit motorized and mechanized travel
to designated routes; close to rock
climbing during peregrine falcon
breeding season (March 1 to August 15)
if birds are present; provide facilities
(e.g., informational and interpretive
signs, designated trail systems, camping
areas and restrooms, as needed) for
resource protection; provide adequate
protection (signs, use stipulations,
barricades and fences, as needed) to
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protect sensitive species and their
habitats; allow camping only in
designated sites and areas; NSO for fluid
minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral
activities.
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 (8 a.m. to 4 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, 43 CFR 1610.5.
Ruth Welch,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016–13131 Filed 6–2–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLORM05000.L63340000.DU0000.
16XL1116AF; HAG 16–0047]
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Medford District Resource
Management Plan Amendment and
Environmental Assessment: Table
Rocks Area of Critical Environmental
Concern Proposed Boundary Change
and Supplementary Rules
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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)
Amendment and Draft Environmental
Assessment (EA) titled Medford District
RMP Amendment and EA: Table Rocks
Area of Critical Environmental Concern
(ACEC) Proposed Boundary Change and
Supplementary Rules and, by this
notice, is announcing the opening of the
comment period.
SUMMARY:
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03JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 107 (Friday, June 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35793-35796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13131]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCOS05000 L16100000.DP0000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan and
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Uncompahgre Field Office,
Colorado
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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[[Page 35794]]
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 Uncompahgre Planning Area and by this notice is
announcing the opening of the public comment period.
DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft RMP/EIS within 90 days following the date
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes this notice of the Draft
RMP/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 Uncompahgre Draft
RMP/EIS by any of the following methods:
Email: uformp@blm.gov.
Mail: Uncompahgre RMP, 2465 South Townsend Avenue,
Montrose, CO 81401.
Fax: 970-240-5368.
Copies of the Uncompahgre Draft RMP/EIS are available in the
Uncompahgre Field Office at the above address or on the RMP Web site
at: https://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ufo/uncompahgre_rmp.htm; or at:
www.uformp.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Jones, Southwest District NEPA
Coordinator; telephone 970-240-5300; see above for address and email.
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 BLM prepared the Uncompahgre Draft RMP/
EIS to evaluate and revise the management strategy for resources,
resource uses, and special designations within the Uncompahgre planning
area. Existing management decisions for public lands and resources in
the Uncompahgre planning area are described in two documents: the 1985
San Juan/San Miguel RMP, as amended; and the 1989 Uncompahgre Basin
RMP, as amended.
The Uncompahgre planning area includes approximately 3.1 million
acres of land managed by the BLM, U.S. Forest Service (portions of the
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest), National Park
Service (Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and portions of
Curecanti National Recreation Area), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, State
of Colorado (including Ridgway, Crawford, and Paonia State Parks), and
local and private lands all of which are located in southwestern
Colorado, in Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, Ouray, San Miguel and Mesa
counties. The Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (NCA) and the
Dominguez-Escalante NCA are not within the planning area for this Draft
RMP/EIS. The Uncompahgre RMP will determine management for
approximately 675,800 acres of BLM-administered surface lands and for
approximately 971,220 acres of Federal mineral estate.
The formal public scoping process for the Uncompahgre RMP began
February 25, 2010, with the publication of a Notice of Intent in the
Federal Register (75 FR 8739). The BLM held seven scoping open houses
in January and February 2010. The BLM used public scoping comments to
help identify planning issues that led to the formulation of
alternatives and framed the scope of analysis in the Draft RMP/EIS. The
BLM also used the scoping process to introduce the public to the
preliminary planning criteria, which set limits on the scope of the
Draft RMP/EIS.
Major issues considered in the Draft RMP/EIS include management of
biological resources including special status species, renewable and
non-renewable energy, minerals, human activities and uses including
livestock and recreation, utility/energy corridors and rights-of-way
(ROW), and cultural resources. The RMP also addresses decisions
regarding Wild and Scenic Rivers, the Old Spanish National Historic
Trail, and lands with wilderness characteristics. The Draft RMP/EIS
evaluates in detail the No Action Alternative (Alternative A), three
action alternatives (Alternatives B, C and D), and sub-alternative
(B.1). The BLM identified Alternative D as the Preferred Alternative.
This alternative, however, does not represent the final agency
direction, and the Proposed RMP may reflect changes or adjustments
based on information received during public comment on the Draft RMP/
EIS, new information, or changes in the BLM policies or priorities. The
Proposed RMP may include objectives and actions described in any of the
alternatives analyzed in the Draft.
Alternative A retains the current management goals, objectives, and
direction specified in the 1985 San Juan/San Miguel RMP and the 1989
Uncompahgre Basin RMP. Alternative B emphasizes improving,
rehabilitating and restoring resources; sustaining the ecological
integrity of habitats for all priority plant, wildlife and fish
species; and allowing appropriate development scenarios for allowable
uses (such as mineral leasing, locatable mineral development,
recreation, communication sites and livestock grazing). Alternative B.1
is a subset of Alternative B, and specifically addresses oil and gas
leasing and development in the North Fork and Smith Fork drainages of
the Gunnison River. Certain areas would be closed to oil and gas
leasing and this alternative would impose development setbacks with
strict surface use restrictions in places where leasing might be
allowed to occur. Alternative C emphasizes the appropriate mix of uses
that maximize utilization of resources while protecting land health.
The appropriate development scenarios for allowable uses emphasize
maximizing resource production in an environmentally responsible
manner, while maintaining the basic protection needed to sustain
resources, including mitigating impacts on land health. Alternative D
emphasizes balancing resources and resource use among competing human
interests, land uses, and the conservation of natural and cultural
resource values, while sustaining and enhancing ecological integrity
across the landscape, including plant, wildlife, and fish habitat. This
alternative incorporates a balanced level of protection, restoration,
enhancement and use of resources and services to meet ongoing programs
and land uses.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 3461.2-1(a)(2), this notice announces a
concurrent public comment period on the application of unsuitability
criteria to lands with coal development potential. Maps and other
information describing the results of the application of unsuitability
criteria are available at the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office.
The Uncompahgre planning area has all or portions of five
Wilderness Study Areas (Needle Rock, Adobe Badlands, Camel Back,
Sewemup Mesa, Dolores River Canyons), as well as the congressionally
designated Tabeguache Area. This RMP analyses seven areas identified as
lands with wilderness characteristics. Also, this RMP analyzes eligible
water segments for recommendation for inclusion in the National Wild
and Scenic River System.
[[Page 35795]]
Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), this notice announces a concurrent
public comment period on the proposed Areas of Critical Environmental
Concern (ACEC). The BLM analyzed 19 potential ACECs meeting the
relevance and importance criteria within the range of alternatives. The
alternative where each ACEC is considered, as well as the largest size
and most restrictive limitations under consideration for each potential
ACEC within the range of alternatives are as follows:
Adobe Badlands ACEC, 6,370 acres, Alternatives A, C, D:
ROW avoidance; close to coal leasing; recommend for withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to
non-energy solid mineral leasing; close to motorized and mechanized
travel; Visual Resource Management (VRM) Class I; close to major
utility development; manage for day use only; prohibit camping and
campfires; No Surface Occupancy (NSO) for fluid minerals; Site Specific
Relocation (SSR) for non-fluid mineral activities.
Fairview South ACEC, up to 4,250 acres, Alternatives A, B,
C, D: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral
entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid
mineral leasing; close to motorized and mechanized travel; designated
trail systems for non-motorized and non-mechanized travel; VRM Class
III; close to sheep and cattle grazing; day use only; prohibit camping
and campfires; prohibit wood collecting; close to wood product sales
and/or harvest; NSO for fluid minerals; No Ground Disturbance (NGD) for
non-fluid mineral activities.
Needle Rock ACEC, 80 acres, Alternatives A, B, C, D: ROW
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral
leasing; close to livestock grazing; limit motorized and mechanized
travel to designated routes; VRM Class I; day use only; prohibit
camping, prohibit open campfires (require use of stoves or grills);
prohibit wood collecting; close to wood product sales and/or harvest;
prohibit rock climbing; provide adequate protection (signing,
stipulations, barricades and fences) to protect sensitive species and
their habitats; NSO for fluid minerals; SSR for non-fluid mineral
activities.
San Miguel River ACEC, up to 35,480 acres, Alternatives A,
B, C, D: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral
entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid
mineral leasing; close to coal leasing; VRM Class II and III; close to
wood product sales and/or harvest; allow on-site collection of dead and
downed wood for campfires (fire pans required); close to livestock
grazing; limit camping to designated sites and areas; limit camping to
no longer than 7 consecutive days at any one location and prohibit
return to that location for 30 days; prohibit target shooting; close to
recreational mining; limit motorized and mechanized travel to
designated routes; locate facility development outside the 100-year
floodplain; prohibit BLM-permitted actions (such as ROWs, bike trails
and camping areas) in relic riparian communities; close to fluid
mineral leasing and geophysical exploration; provide informational and
interpretive signs; designated trail systems, restrooms, barricades and
fences, as needed for enhanced visitor use, enjoyment, and safety and
to protect sensitive species and their habitats.
Coyote Wash ACEC, 2,100 acres, Alternative B: ROW
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral
leasing; VRM Class II; NSO for fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid
mineral activities; provide facilities (e.g., informational and
interpretive signs, designated trail systems, camping areas, restrooms,
barricades and fences) for resource protection.
Dolores River Slickrock Canyon ACEC, up to 10,670 acres,
Alternatives B, D: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to
non-energy solid mineral leasing; VRM Class II; close to recreational
mining; close to motorized and mechanized travel; provide facilities
(informational/interpretive signs, designated trail systems, camping
areas, restrooms, barricades, fences) as needed for resource
protection; camping only in designated sites and areas, prohibit open
campfires (fire pans, stoves, or grills required); close to wood
product sales and/or harvest; require porta-potties for overnight use
if restroom is not available; no leasing of fluid minerals; NGD for
non-fluid mineral activities.
East Paradox ACEC, 7,360 acres, Alternative B: ROW
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral
leasing; VRM Class III; limit motorized and mechanized travel to
designated routes; close to camping; close to coal leasing; NSO for
fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral activities; provide adequate
protection (signs, use stipulations, barricades and fences, as needed)
to protect sensitive species and their habitats; on 1,810 acres limit
all travel (motorized, mechanized, pedestrian and equestrian) to
designated routes.
Biological Soil Crust ACEC, 1,900 acres, Alternative D:
ROW exclusion; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy
solid mineral leasing; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral
entry; VRM Class II; locate livestock salt/mineral supplement sites and
water sites farther than 0.25 mile from the boundary of the
gypsipherous soils (allow existing livestock watering reservoirs closer
than 0.25 mile from the gypsipherous soils to remain); limit motorized
and mechanized travel to designated routes; manage for day use only;
prohibit camping; NSO for fluid minerals; SSR for non-fluid mineral
activities.
La Sal Creek ACEC, 10,490 acres, Alternative B: ROW
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral
leasing; VRM Class II; limit motorized and mechanized travel to
designated routes; allow camping only in designated sites and areas;
provide facilities (e.g., informational and interpretive signs,
designated trail systems, camping areas, restrooms, barricades and
fences, as needed) for resource protection; NSO for fluid minerals; NGD
for non-fluid mineral activities.
Lower Uncompahgre Plateau ACEC, 31,810 acres, Alternative
B: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral
entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid
mineral leasing; VRM Class III; limit motorized and mechanized travel
to designated routes; provide facilities (e.g., informational and
interpretive signs, designated trail systems, camping areas, restrooms,
barricades and fences, as needed) to provide resource protection; NSO
for fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral activities.
Paradox Rock Art ACEC, 1,080 acres, Alternatives B, D: ROW
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral
leasing; VRM Class II; limit motorized and mechanized travel to
designated routes; provide facilities (e.g., informational and
interpretive signs, designated trail systems and camping areas, and
restrooms, as needed) for resource protection; provide adequate
protection (signs, use stipulations, barricades and
[[Page 35796]]
fences, as needed) to protect sites; allow camping only in designated
sites and areas; prohibit target shooting; close to rock climbing;
issue no Special Recreation Permits (SRP); NSO for fluid minerals; NGD
for non-fluid mineral activities.
Roubideau-Potter-Monitor ACEC, 20,430 acres, Alternative
B: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral
entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid
mineral leasing; VRM Class II; limit motorized and mechanized travel to
designated routes; provide adequate protection (signs, use
stipulations, barricades and fences, as needed) to protect sensitive
species and their habitats; issue no SRP for competitive events;
prohibit target shooting; close to wood product sales and/or harvest
and Christmas tree cutting; close to recreational mining; close to
fluid mineral leasing; NGD for non-fluid mineral activities.
Roubideau Corridors ACEC, 8,720 acres, Alternative D: ROW
avoidance; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral
leasing; VRM Class III; limit motorized and mechanized travel to
designated routes; provide adequate protection (signs, use
stipulations, barricades and fences, as needed) to protect sensitive
species and their habitats; close to wood product sales and/or harvest
and Christmas tree cutting; NSO for fluid minerals; SSR for non-fluid
mineral activities.
Salt Desert Shrub Ecosystem ACEC, 34,510 acres,
Alternative B: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable
mineral entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy
solid mineral leasing; VRM Class III; limit motorized and mechanized
travel to designated routes; provide such facilities as informational
and interpretive signs, barricades and fences, as needed to protect
resources; manage for day use only: Prohibit camping and open campfires
(require use of stoves or grills); prohibit wood collecting; close to
coal leasing; NSO for fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral
activities.
San Miguel Gunnison Sage-Grouse ACEC, 470 acres,
Alternative B: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable
mineral entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy
solid mineral leasing; manage as VRM Class III; limit motorized and
mechanized travel to designated routes; close to motorized and
mechanized travel April 1 to July 15 (during sage-grouse strutting,
nesting and brood-rearing season) to prevent disturbance to breeding
sage-grouse; follow recommendations in San Miguel Basin Gunnison Sage-
Grouse Conservation Plan (San Miguel Basin Gunnison Sage-Grouse Working
Group 2009); manage vegetation for optimal Gunnison Sage-Grouse
habitat; provide adequate protection (signs, use stipulations,
barricades and fences, as needed) to protect sensitive species and
their habitats; close to leasing for fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid
mineral activities.
Sims-Cerro Gunnison Sage-Grouse ACEC, 25,620 acres,
Alternative B: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable
mineral entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy
solid mineral leasing; VRM Class III; manage vegetation for optimal
Gunnison Sage-Grouse habitat; limit motorized and mechanized travel to
designated routes; close to motorized and mechanized travel April 1 to
July 15 (during sage-grouse strutting, nesting and brood-rearing
season); provide adequate protection (signs, use stipulations,
barricades and fences, as needed) to protect sensitive species and
their habitats; develop a Sims-Cerro Gunnison Sage-Grouse Conservation
Plan; close to leasing for fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral
activities.
Tabeguache Pueblos and Tabeguache Caves ACEC, 26,400
acres, Alternative B: ROW exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from
locatable mineral entry; close to mineral materials disposal; close to
non-energy solid mineral leasing; VRM Class I (5,260 acres),VRM Class
II (21,140 acres); limit motorized and mechanized travel to designated
routes; provide adequate protection (signs, use stipulations,
barricades and fences, as needed) to protect sensitive sites; NSO for
fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral activities.
Tabeguache Creek ACEC, 560 acres, Alternative A: VRM Class
II; close to Off-Road Vehicle use; NSO for fluid minerals.
West Paradox ACEC, 5,190 acres, Alternative B: ROW
exclusion; recommend for withdrawal from locatable mineral entry; close
to mineral materials disposal; close to non-energy solid mineral
leasing; VRM Class III; limit motorized and mechanized travel to
designated routes; close to rock climbing during peregrine falcon
breeding season (March 1 to August 15) if birds are present; provide
facilities (e.g., informational and interpretive signs, designated
trail systems, camping areas and restrooms, as needed) for resource
protection; provide adequate protection (signs, use stipulations,
barricades and fences, as needed) to protect sensitive species and
their habitats; allow camping only in designated sites and areas; NSO
for fluid minerals; NGD for non-fluid mineral activities.
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 (8 a.m. to 4 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, 43 CFR
1610.5.
Ruth Welch,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-13131 Filed 6-2-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P
