Notice of Availability of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument-Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyon Units and Federal Lands Previously Included in the Monument That Are Excluded From the Boundaries Draft Resource Management Plans and Associated Environmental Impact Statement, 41108-41111 [2018-17751]
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41108
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2018 / Notices
between the national government and
the States, or the distribution of power
and responsibilities among various
levels of government. A federalism
summary impact statement is not
required.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Civil Justice Reform (Executive Order
12988)
Notice of Availability of the Grand
Staircase-Escalante National
Monument-Grand Staircase,
Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyon
Units and Federal Lands Previously
Included in the Monument That Are
Excluded From the Boundaries Draft
Resource Management Plans and
Associated Environmental Impact
Statement
This notice complies with the
requirements of Executive Order 12988.
Specifically, in issuing this notice, the
Department has taken the necessary
steps to eliminate drafting errors and
ambiguity, minimize potential litigation,
and provide a clear legal standard for
affected conduct as required by section
3 of Executive Order 12988.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
These rate adjustments do not affect
the collections of information which
have been approved by the Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB), under the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995. The OMB Control Number
is 1076–0141 and expires June 30, 2019.
National Environmental Policy Act
The Department has determined that
these rate adjustments do not constitute
a major Federal action significantly
affecting the quality of the human
environment and that no detailed
statement is required under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 4321–4370(d), pursuant to 43
CFR 46.210(i). In addition, the rate
adjustments do not present any of the 12
extraordinary circumstances listed at 43
CFR 46.215.
Data Quality Act
In developing this notice, we did not
conduct or use a study, experiment, or
survey requiring peer review under the
Data Quality Act (Pub. L. 106–554).
Dated: August 13, 2018.
Tara Sweeney,
Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2018–17724 Filed 8–16–18; 8:45 am]
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Bureau of Land Management
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
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Grand StaircaseEscalante National Monument (GSENM)
and Kanab Field Office (KFO) have
prepared Draft Resource Management
Plans (RMPs) and a Draft Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the GSENM
Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and
Escalante Canyons Units and Federal
lands excluded from the Monument by
Proclamation 9682 and by this notice
are 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 RMPs/
Draft EIS within 90 days of the date the
Environmental Protection Agency
publishes its Notice of Availability of
the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS in the Federal
Register. The BLM will announce future
meetings or hearings and any other
public involvement activities at least 15
days in advance through public notices,
media releases and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS by either of
the following methods:
• Website: https://goo.gl/EHvhbc
• Mail: 669 S Hwy. 89A, Kanab, UT
84741, Attn: Matt Betenson
Copies of the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS are
available at the following locations:
• Bureau of Land Management, Utah
State Office, 440 West 200 South,
Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Escalante Interagency Visitor Center,
755 West Main, Escalante, Utah
• Kanab Field Office, 669 South
Highway 89A, Kanab, Utah
The Draft RMPs/Draft EIS and
accompanying background documents
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Matt
Betenson, Associate Monument
Manager, telephone (435) 644–1200;
address 669 S Hwy. 89A, Kanab, UT
84741; email BLM_UT_CCD_
monuments@blm.gov. Persons who use
a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
contact the above individual during
normal business hours. The FRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
to leave a message or question for the
above individual. You will receive a
reply during normal business hours.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
[18X 1109AF LLUT930000
L16100000.DS0000.LXSSJ0640000]
SUMMARY:
are available on the ePlanning website
at: https://goo.gl/EHvhbc.
On
December 4, 2017, President Donald
Trump signed Presidential Proclamation
9682 modifying the boundaries of the
GSENM as established by Proclamation
6920 to exclude from designation and
reservation approximately 861,974 acres
of land. Lands that remain part of the
GSENM are included in three units,
known as the Grand Staircase,
Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons
Units and are reserved for the care and
management of the objects of historic
and scientific interest described in
Proclamation 6920, as modified by
Proclamation 9682. Lands that are
excluded from the Monument
boundaries are now referred to as the
Kanab-Escalante Planning Area (KEPA)
and are managed in accordance with the
BLM’s multiple-use mandate.
The planning area is located in Kane
and Garfield Counties, Utah, and
encompasses approximately 1.86
million acres of public land. For the
GSENM Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits,
and Escalante Canyons Units, this
planning effort, is needed to identify
goals, objectives, and management
actions necessary for the conservation,
protection, restoration, or enhancement
of the resources, objects, and values
identified in Proclamation 6920, as
modified by Proclamation 9682. For
lands excluded from the monument,
this planning effort is needed to
determine to identify goals, objectives,
and management actions necessary to
ensure that public lands and their
various resource values are utilized in
the combination that will best meet the
present and future needs of the
American people.
The entire planning area is currently
managed by the BLM and under the
Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument Management Plan (BLM
1999), as amended. This planning effort
would replace the existing Monument
Management Plan with four new RMPs.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2018 / Notices
Within the Draft EIS, the BLM is also
considering alternatives related to
livestock Grazing on 318,000 acres of
land within the Glen Canyon National
Recreation Area, 65,500 acres in the
Kanab Field Office and 2,300 acres in
the Arizona Strip Field Office. The EIS
includes information regarding the
environmental consequences of
implementing various livestock grazing
management actions on resources in
these areas. At the completion of this
planning process, the National Park
Service, who is cooperating with the
BLM on preparation of the NEPA
analysis, may adopt the EIS and prepare
a separate decision related to livestock
grazing for lands under NPS authority.
The BLM reviewed public scoping
comments to identify planning issues
that directed the formulation of
alternatives and framed the scope of
analysis in the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS.
Issues identified include management of
recreation and access; paleontological
and cultural resources; livestock
grazing; mineral resources; and wildlife,
Potential ACEC
Alternative B
(acres)
water, vegetation, and soil resources.
This planning effort also considers
management of lands with wilderness
characteristics and designation of Areas
of Critical Environmental Concern
(ACECs).
The Draft RMPs/Draft EIS evaluate
four alternatives in detail. Alternative A
is the No Action alternative, which is a
continuation of existing decisions in the
Monument Management Plan.
Alternative B generally focuses on
protection of resources (e.g., wildlife,
vegetation, cultural, etc.) while
providing for targeted resource use (e.g.,
rights-of-way, travel, mineral
development). Alternative C generally
represents a balance of resource
protection and resource use. Alternative
D generally focuses on maximizing
resource use (e.g., rights-of-way,
minerals development, livestock
grazing) while still providing for
resource protection as required by
applicable regulations, laws, policies,
plans, and guidance, including
protection of Monument objects within
Alternative C
(acres)
Relevant and important
values
30,460
Not Designated ...........
Historic and Cultural
Values.
Bulldog Bench ...............
361
Not Designated ...........
Historic and Cultural
Values.
Butler Valley ..................
15,899
Not Designated ...........
Scenic and Natural
Process or System.
Circle Cliffs ....................
26,706
26,706 .........................
Historic and Cultural,
Scenic, and Fish and
Wildlife Resources.
Cockscomb East ............
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Alvey Wash ....................
42,182
32,683 .........................
Fish and Wildlife Resources, Natural
Process or Systems,
Scenic, and Historic
and Cultural Value.
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41109
the GSENM Units. The BLM has
identified Alternative D as the preferred
alternative for purposes of public
comment and review. Identification of
this alternative, however, does not
represent final agency direction, and the
Proposed RMPs/Final EIS may include
management actions described in the
other analyzed alternatives.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7–2(b), the
BLM is required to publish a notice in
the Federal Register listing each ACEC
proposed and specifying the resource
use limitations which would occur if
the ACEC were formally designated.
This notice announces a concurrent
public comment period for potential
ACECs. There are no ACECs under
Alternative A. There are 14 potential
ACECs under Alternative B (totaling
308,044 acres), 5 potential ACECs under
Alternative C (totaling 130,997 acres),
and no potential ACECs under
Alternative D. Pertinent information
regarding ACECs, including proposed
designation acreage and resource use
limitations are included below:
Resource use limitations
• Prohibit exclusive commercial mineral material sites.
• Prohibit community mineral material pits larger than five acres in
size.
• Surface facilities incident to underground mining would be required
to avoid known and document archaeological sites.
• Stipulations would be necessary to mitigate adverse effects of subsidence.
• NSO for fluid mineral leasing.
• No rock climbing allowed within 100 meters of archaeological structures.
• No casual use collection of fossils or other paleontological materials.
• Require inventories of all paleontological resources prior to surface
disturbing activities to document significant invertebrate and
paleobotanical fossil sites, not just vertebrates.
• No casual use collection of fossils or other paleontological materials.
• Require inventories of all paleontological resources prior to surface
disturbing activities to document significant invertebrate and
paleobotanical fossil sites, not just vertebrates.
• Manage as VRM Class II.
• No collection of BLM or State sensitive plants without a research
permit.
• Prohibit vegetation treatments that are likely to harm, or will not
benefit, special status species plants in known suitable habitat.
• Prohibit exclusive commercial mineral material sites.
• Prohibit community mineral material pits larger than five acres in
size.
• NSO for fluid mineral leasing.
• No Casual Collection of petrified Wood.
• Avoid surface disturbance and placement of facilities near concentrations of petrified wood or in situ logs.
• No collection of BLM or State sensitive plants without a research
permit.
• Prohibit vegetation treatments that are likely to harm, or will not
benefit, special status species plants in known suitable habitat.
• Manage as VRM Class II.
• No casual use collection of fossils or other paleontological materials.
• Require inventories of all paleontological resources prior to surface
disturbing activities to document significant invertebrate and
paleobotanical fossil sites, not just vertebrates.
• Do not designate new OHV routes. OHV use limited to designated
routes.
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2018 / Notices
Potential ACEC
Alternative B
(acres)
Alternative C
(acres)
Relevant and important
values
Resource use limitations
• Prohibit exclusive commercial mineral material sites.
• Prohibit community mineral material pits larger than five acres in
size.
• NSO for fluid mineral leasing (Alternative B).
• CSU for fluid mineral leasing (Alternative C).
• Avoid vegetation treatments that disturb soils in previously untreated areas that are either Semidesert Shallow Loam (Pinyon-Juniper) or Semidesert Shallow Gypsum (Mormontea) Ecological
Sites; Limit method to hand-thinning (lop and scatter).
• No collection of BLM or State sensitive plants without a research
permit.
• Manage as VRM Class II.
• Prohibit exclusive commercial mineral material sites.
• Prohibit community mineral material pits larger than five acres in
size.
• NSO for fluid mineral leasing.
• Surface facilities incident to underground mining would be required
to avoid known and document archaeological sites.
• Stipulations would be necessary to mitigate adverse effects of subsidence.
• No rock climbing allowed within 100 meters of archaeological structures.
• Manage as VRM Class II.
• No collection of BLM or State sensitive plants without a research
permit.
• Manage as VRM Class II.
• No casual use collection of fossils or other paleontological materials.
• Require inventories of all paleontological resources prior to surface
disturbing activities to document significant invertebrate and
paleobotanical fossil sites, not just vertebrates.
• Manage all areas outside WSAs VRM Class II.
• Prohibit exclusive commercial mineral material sites.
• Prohibit community mineral material pits larger than 5 acres in size.
• NSO for fluid mineral leasing.
• No collection of BLM or State sensitive plants without a research
permit.
• Manage all areas outside WSAs VRM Class II.
• Closed or limited to designated routes.
40,476
40,476 .........................
Natural Process or
Systems, Scenic,
and Historic and Cultural Values.
Collet Top ......................
9,218
Not Designated ...........
Historic and Cultural
Values, Scenic, and
Natural Process or
Systems.
Henderson/Pardner .......
12,259
Not Designated ...........
Scenic and Historic
and Cultural Values.
Hole in the Rock Trail ....
61,064
Not Designated ...........
Historic and Cultural
Values and Natural
Process or System.
Paria River .....................
180
Not Designated ...........
Scorpion Flat/Dry Fork ..
Straight Cliffs/Fifty Mile
Bench.
30,691
21,357
Not Designated ...........
12,270 .........................
Scenic, Historic and
Cultural Values, Fish
Wildlife, Natural
Process or System.
Scenic .........................
Scenic and Historical
and Cultural Values.
Tibbet Head ...................
19,079
19,079 .........................
Historical and Cultural
Values and Natural
process or System.
Wahweap Hoodoos .......
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Cockscomb West ...........
130
Not Designated ...........
Natural Systems or
Process.
• Manage all areas outside WSAs VRM Class II.
• Prohibit exclusive commercial mineral material sites.
• Prohibit community mineral material pits larger than five acres in
size.
• NSO for fluid mineral leasing (Alternative B).
• CSU for fluid mineral leasing (Alternative C).
• Surface facilities incident to underground mining would be required
to avoid known and document archaeological sites.
• Stipulations would be necessary to mitigate adverse effects of subsidence.
• No rock climbing allowed within 100 meters of archaeological structures.
• Manage as VRM Class II.
• No collection of BLM or State sensitive plants without a research
permit. No casual use collection of fossils or other paleontological
materials.
• Require inventories of all paleontological resources prior to surface
disturbing activities to document significant invertebrate and
paleobotanical fossil sites, not just vertebrates.
• Recommend withdrawing from mineral entry.
• No rock climbing or rappelling within 100 meters of any hoodoo formation.
The application of the Federal coal
unsuitability criteria to portions of the
Southern Kaiparowits in the lands
excluded from the monument is
included in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS. As
required by 43 CFR 3461.2–1(a)(2), the
public is invited to comment on the
results of the application of the criteria
and the process used to derive these
results.
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 addresses provided in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice during
regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.),
Monday through Friday, except
holidays.
BLM Utah is soliciting comments on
the entire Draft RMPs/Draft EIS. Please
Before including your address, phone
number, email address or other personal
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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 may request to withhold your
personal identifying information from
public review, we cannot guarantee that
we will be able to do so.
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Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10
and 43 CFR 1610.2.
Edwin L. Roberson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2018–17751 Filed 8–16–18; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[18X 1109AF LLUT930000
L16100000.DS0000.LXSSJ0650000]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Bears
Ears National Monument Indian Creek
´
and Shash Jaa Units Monument
Management Plans and Associated
Environmental Impact Statement, Utah
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
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Canyon Country
District Office, in coordination with the
United States Forest Service (USFS),
Manti-La Sal National Forest, has
prepared Draft Monument Management
Plans (MMPs) and an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Bears
Ears National Monument (BENM)
´
Indian Creek and Shash Jaa Units. By
this Notice, the BLM 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 BENM Draft
MMPs/Draft EIS within 90 days of the
date the Environmental Protection
Agency publishes its Notice of
Availability of the BENM Draft MMPs/
Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The
BLM will announce future meetings or
hearings and any other public
involvement activities at least 15 days
in advance through public notices,
media releases and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on the BENM Draft MMPs/EIS by either
of these methods:
• Email: blm_ut_monticello_
monuments@blm.gov
• Mail: BLM, Canyon Country District
Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, Utah
84532, Attn: Lance Porter
Copies of the BENM Draft MMPs/
Draft EIS are available at the following
locations:
• Bureau of Land Management, Utah
State Office, 440 West 200 South,
Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah
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• Bureau of Land Management,
Monticello Field Office, 365 North
Main, Monticello, Utah
• Bureau of Land Management, Canyon
Country District Office, 82 E
Dogwood, Moab, Utah
• Manti-La-Sal National Forest, 559
West Price River Drive, Price, Utah
The BENM Draft MMPs/Draft EIS and
accompanying background documents
are available on the ePlanning website
at: https://goo.gl/uLrEae.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lance Porter, District Manager, BLM
Canyon Country District Office, 82 East
Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532, telephone
435–259–2100 or email l50porte@
blm.gov. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
contact the above individual during
normal business hours. The FRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
to leave a message or question for the
above individual. You will receive a
reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
December 4, 2017, President Donald
Trump signed Proclamation 9681
modifying the Bears Ears National
Monument designated by Proclamation
9558 to exclude from its designation
and reservation approximately
1,150,860 acres of land. The revised
BENM boundary includes two units—
´
Shash Jaa and Indian Creek Units—that
are reserved for the care and
management of the objects of historic
and scientific interest within their
boundaries. The planning area is located
entirely in San Juan County, Utah and
encompasses 169,289 acres of BLMmanaged lands and 32,587 acres of
National Forest System Lands. All of the
National Forest System Lands are
´
within the Shash Jaa Unit.
The BLM is the lead agency for the
preparation of the EIS, and the Forest
Service is participating as a cooperating
agency.
This planning effort is needed to
identify goals, objectives, and
management actions necessary for the
conservation, protection, restoration, or
enhancement of the resources, objects,
and values identified in Proclamation
9558, as modified by Proclamation
9681. The BENM is jointly managed by
the BLM and USFS under the
Monticello Resource Management Plan
(BLM 2008), as amended, and the Manti
La-Sal Land and Resource Management
Plan (LRMP), as amended (USFS 1986).
The MMPs would replace the existing
Monticello RMP for the BLMadministered lands within the BENM,
and would amend the existing Manti La-
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41111
Sal LRMP for USFS-administered lands
within the BENM.
Each agency will continue to manage
their lands within the monument
pursuant to their respective applicable
legal authorities. The responsible
official for the BLM is the Utah State
Director; the responsible official for the
USFS is the Manti-La Sal Forest
Supervisor. The USFS intends to use the
BLM’s EIS to make its decision for the
´
part of the Shash Jaa Unit MMP it
administers. The USFS will use the
BLM’s administrative review
procedures, as provided by the USFS
2012 Planning Rule, at 36 CFR
219.59(b).
The BLM and USFS have reviewed
public scoping comments to identify
planning issues that directed the
formulation of alternatives and framed
the scope of analysis in the Draft MMPs/
Draft EIS. Issues identified include
management of cultural resources,
including protection of American Indian
sacred sites, traditional cultural
properties, and access by members of
Indian tribes for traditional cultural and
customary uses; recreation and access;
livestock grazing; and wildlife, water,
vegetation, and soil resources. This
planning effort also considers
management of lands with wilderness
characteristics.
The Draft MMPs/Draft EIS evaluate
four alternatives in detail. Alternative A
is the No Action alternative, which is a
continuation of existing decisions in the
Monticello RMP and in the Manti-La Sal
Forest Plan, to the extent that those
decisions are compatible with the
proclamations. Alternative B
emphasizes resource protection and
conservation. It is the alternative which
imposes the greatest restrictions on
recreation and other uses. The BLM and
USFS would take a more active
management approach to ensure that
objects and values are conserved,
protected and restored. Alternative C
represents a balance among levels of
restriction on recreation and other uses
and emphasizes adaptive management
to protect the long-term sustainability of
Monument objects and values while
providing for other multiple uses.
Alternative D is the alternative with the
least restrictive management
prescriptions and utilizes a more
passive management strategy, with the
aim of minimizing the number of
changes in the BENM. The agencies
would focus on management actions
that preserve objects and values but do
not alter the existing character of the
landscape or limit future agency
discretion.
The BLM and USFS have identified
Alternative D as the preferred
E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41108-41111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17751]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[18X 1109AF LLUT930000 L16100000.DS0000.LXSSJ0640000]
Notice of Availability of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National
Monument-Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyon Units and
Federal Lands Previously Included in the Monument That Are Excluded
From the Boundaries Draft Resource Management Plans and Associated
Environmental Impact Statement
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) Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument (GSENM) and Kanab Field Office (KFO) have
prepared Draft Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the GSENM Grand Staircase,
Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units and Federal lands excluded
from the Monument by Proclamation 9682 and by this notice are
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 RMPs/Draft EIS within 90 days of the date
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of
Availability of the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The
BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public
involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public
notices, media releases and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS by
either of the following methods:
Website: https://goo.gl/EHvhbc
Mail: 669 S Hwy. 89A, Kanab, UT 84741, Attn: Matt Betenson
Copies of the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS are available at the following
locations:
Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, 440 West 200
South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah
Escalante Interagency Visitor Center, 755 West Main,
Escalante, Utah
Kanab Field Office, 669 South Highway 89A, Kanab, Utah
The Draft RMPs/Draft EIS and accompanying background documents are
available on the ePlanning website at: https://goo.gl/EHvhbc.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Betenson, Associate Monument
Manager, telephone (435) 644-1200; address 669 S Hwy. 89A, Kanab, UT
84741; email [email protected]. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during
normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, to leave a message or question for the above individual. You will
receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 4, 2017, President Donald Trump
signed Presidential Proclamation 9682 modifying the boundaries of the
GSENM as established by Proclamation 6920 to exclude from designation
and reservation approximately 861,974 acres of land. Lands that remain
part of the GSENM are included in three units, known as the Grand
Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units and are reserved
for the care and management of the objects of historic and scientific
interest described in Proclamation 6920, as modified by Proclamation
9682. Lands that are excluded from the Monument boundaries are now
referred to as the Kanab-Escalante Planning Area (KEPA) and are managed
in accordance with the BLM's multiple-use mandate.
The planning area is located in Kane and Garfield Counties, Utah,
and encompasses approximately 1.86 million acres of public land. For
the GSENM Grand Staircase, Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units,
this planning effort, is needed to identify goals, objectives, and
management actions necessary for the conservation, protection,
restoration, or enhancement of the resources, objects, and values
identified in Proclamation 6920, as modified by Proclamation 9682. For
lands excluded from the monument, this planning effort is needed to
determine to identify goals, objectives, and management actions
necessary to ensure that public lands and their various resource values
are utilized in the combination that will best meet the present and
future needs of the American people.
The entire planning area is currently managed by the BLM and under
the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan (BLM
1999), as amended. This planning effort would replace the existing
Monument Management Plan with four new RMPs.
[[Page 41109]]
Within the Draft EIS, the BLM is also considering alternatives
related to livestock Grazing on 318,000 acres of land within the Glen
Canyon National Recreation Area, 65,500 acres in the Kanab Field Office
and 2,300 acres in the Arizona Strip Field Office. The EIS includes
information regarding the environmental consequences of implementing
various livestock grazing management actions on resources in these
areas. At the completion of this planning process, the National Park
Service, who is cooperating with the BLM on preparation of the NEPA
analysis, may adopt the EIS and prepare a separate decision related to
livestock grazing for lands under NPS authority.
The BLM reviewed public scoping comments to identify planning
issues that directed the formulation of alternatives and framed the
scope of analysis in the Draft RMPs/Draft EIS. Issues identified
include management of recreation and access; paleontological and
cultural resources; livestock grazing; mineral resources; and wildlife,
water, vegetation, and soil resources. This planning effort also
considers management of lands with wilderness characteristics and
designation of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs).
The Draft RMPs/Draft EIS evaluate four alternatives in detail.
Alternative A is the No Action alternative, which is a continuation of
existing decisions in the Monument Management Plan. Alternative B
generally focuses on protection of resources (e.g., wildlife,
vegetation, cultural, etc.) while providing for targeted resource use
(e.g., rights-of-way, travel, mineral development). Alternative C
generally represents a balance of resource protection and resource use.
Alternative D generally focuses on maximizing resource use (e.g.,
rights-of-way, minerals development, livestock grazing) while still
providing for resource protection as required by applicable
regulations, laws, policies, plans, and guidance, including protection
of Monument objects within the GSENM Units. The BLM has identified
Alternative D as the preferred alternative for purposes of public
comment and review. Identification of this alternative, however, does
not represent final agency direction, and the Proposed RMPs/Final EIS
may include management actions described in the other analyzed
alternatives.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b), the BLM is required to publish a
notice in the Federal Register listing each ACEC proposed and
specifying the resource use limitations which would occur if the ACEC
were formally designated. This notice announces a concurrent public
comment period for potential ACECs. There are no ACECs under
Alternative A. There are 14 potential ACECs under Alternative B
(totaling 308,044 acres), 5 potential ACECs under Alternative C
(totaling 130,997 acres), and no potential ACECs under Alternative D.
Pertinent information regarding ACECs, including proposed designation
acreage and resource use limitations are included below:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Relevant and
Potential ACEC Alternative B Alternative C important Resource use limitations
(acres) (acres) values
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alvey Wash................... 30,460 Not Designated.. Historic and Prohibit exclusive
Cultural commercial mineral material
Values. sites.
Prohibit community
mineral material pits larger
than five acres in size.
Surface facilities
incident to underground
mining would be required to
avoid known and document
archaeological sites.
Stipulations would be
necessary to mitigate adverse
effects of subsidence.
NSO for fluid mineral
leasing.
No rock climbing
allowed within 100 meters of
archaeological structures.
No casual use
collection of fossils or
other paleontological
materials.
Require inventories
of all paleontological
resources prior to surface
disturbing activities to
document significant
invertebrate and
paleobotanical fossil sites,
not just vertebrates.
Bulldog Bench................ 361 Not Designated.. Historic and No casual use
Cultural collection of fossils or
Values. other paleontological
materials.
Require inventories
of all paleontological
resources prior to surface
disturbing activities to
document significant
invertebrate and
paleobotanical fossil sites,
not just vertebrates.
Butler Valley................ 15,899 Not Designated.. Scenic and Manage as VRM Class
Natural II.
Process or No collection of BLM
System. or State sensitive plants
without a research permit.
Prohibit vegetation
treatments that are likely to
harm, or will not benefit,
special status species plants
in known suitable habitat.
Circle Cliffs................ 26,706 26,706.......... Historic and Prohibit exclusive
Cultural, commercial mineral material
Scenic, and sites.
Fish and Prohibit community
Wildlife mineral material pits larger
Resources. than five acres in size.
NSO for fluid mineral
leasing.
No Casual Collection
of petrified Wood.
Avoid surface
disturbance and placement of
facilities near
concentrations of petrified
wood or in situ logs.
Cockscomb East............... 42,182 32,683.......... Fish and No collection of BLM
Wildlife or State sensitive plants
Resources, without a research permit.
Natural Prohibit vegetation
Process or treatments that are likely to
Systems, harm, or will not benefit,
Scenic, and special status species plants
Historic and in known suitable habitat.
Cultural Value. Manage as VRM Class
II.
No casual use
collection of fossils or
other paleontological
materials.
Require inventories
of all paleontological
resources prior to surface
disturbing activities to
document significant
invertebrate and
paleobotanical fossil sites,
not just vertebrates.
Do not designate new
OHV routes. OHV use limited
to designated routes.
[[Page 41110]]
Cockscomb West............... 40,476 40,476.......... Natural Process Prohibit exclusive
or Systems, commercial mineral material
Scenic, and sites.
Historic and Prohibit community
Cultural mineral material pits larger
Values. than five acres in size.
NSO for fluid mineral
leasing (Alternative B).
CSU for fluid mineral
leasing (Alternative C).
Avoid vegetation
treatments that disturb soils
in previously untreated areas
that are either Semidesert
Shallow Loam (Pinyon-Juniper)
or Semidesert Shallow Gypsum
(Mormontea) Ecological Sites;
Limit method to hand-thinning
(lop and scatter).
No collection of BLM
or State sensitive plants
without a research permit.
Manage as VRM Class
II.
Collet Top................... 9,218 Not Designated.. Historic and Prohibit exclusive
Cultural commercial mineral material
Values, sites.
Scenic, and Prohibit community
Natural mineral material pits larger
Process or than five acres in size.
Systems. NSO for fluid mineral
leasing.
Surface facilities
incident to underground
mining would be required to
avoid known and document
archaeological sites.
Stipulations would be
necessary to mitigate adverse
effects of subsidence.
No rock climbing
allowed within 100 meters of
archaeological structures.
Manage as VRM Class
II.
No collection of BLM
or State sensitive plants
without a research permit.
Henderson/Pardner............ 12,259 Not Designated.. Scenic and Manage as VRM Class
Historic and II.
Cultural No casual use
Values. collection of fossils or
other paleontological
materials.
Require inventories
of all paleontological
resources prior to surface
disturbing activities to
document significant
invertebrate and
paleobotanical fossil sites,
not just vertebrates.
Hole in the Rock Trail....... 61,064 Not Designated.. Historic and Manage all areas
Cultural outside WSAs VRM Class II.
Values and Prohibit exclusive
Natural commercial mineral material
Process or sites.
System. Prohibit community
mineral material pits larger
than 5 acres in size.
NSO for fluid mineral
leasing.
No collection of BLM
or State sensitive plants
without a research permit.
Paria River.................. 180 Not Designated.. Scenic, Manage all areas
Historic and outside WSAs VRM Class II.
Cultural Closed or limited to
Values, Fish designated routes.
Wildlife,
Natural
Process or
System.
Scorpion Flat/Dry Fork....... 30,691 Not Designated.. Scenic......... Manage all areas
outside WSAs VRM Class II.
Straight Cliffs/Fifty Mile 21,357 12,270.......... Scenic and Prohibit exclusive
Bench. Historical and commercial mineral material
Cultural sites.
Values. Prohibit community
mineral material pits larger
than five acres in size.
NSO for fluid mineral
leasing (Alternative B).
CSU for fluid mineral
leasing (Alternative C).
Surface facilities
incident to underground
mining would be required to
avoid known and document
archaeological sites.
Stipulations would be
necessary to mitigate adverse
effects of subsidence.
No rock climbing
allowed within 100 meters of
archaeological structures.
Manage as VRM Class
II.
Tibbet Head.................. 19,079 19,079.......... Historical and No collection of BLM
Cultural or State sensitive plants
Values and without a research permit. No
Natural casual use collection of
process or fossils or other
System. paleontological materials.
Require inventories
of all paleontological
resources prior to surface
disturbing activities to
document significant
invertebrate and
paleobotanical fossil sites,
not just vertebrates.
Wahweap Hoodoos.............. 130 Not Designated.. Natural Systems Recommend withdrawing
or Process. from mineral entry.
No rock climbing or
rappelling within 100 meters
of any hoodoo formation.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The application of the Federal coal unsuitability criteria to
portions of the Southern Kaiparowits in the lands excluded from the
monument is included in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS. As required by 43 CFR
3461.2-1(a)(2), the public is invited to comment on the results of the
application of the criteria and the process used to derive these
results.
BLM Utah is soliciting comments on the entire Draft RMPs/Draft EIS.
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
addresses provided in the ADDRESSES section of this notice 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 may
request to withhold your personal identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
[[Page 41111]]
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10 and 43 CFR 1610.2.
Edwin L. Roberson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-17751 Filed 8-16-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
