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 Proposed Resource Management Plans and Final Environmental Impact Statement, 44326-44327 [2019-18243]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44326-44327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18243]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[19X 1109AF LLUT930000 Ll6100000.DQ0000.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 Proposed Resource Management Plans and Final 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY:  Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:  Notice of availability.

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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 the Proposed Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the GSENM Grand Staircase, 
Kaiparowits, and Escalante Canyons Units, and Federal lands excluded 
from the Monument by Proclamation 9682 (Kanab-Escalante Planning Area 
(KEPA), and by this notice is announcing its availability and the 
opening of a protest period concerning the Proposed RMPs. In accordance 
with the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation 
Act of 2019, this notice also announces the opening of a 60-day public 
comment period regarding the proposed closure of recreational target 
shooting within at least 0.25 miles of residences, campgrounds, and 
developed recreation facilities in GSENM and KEPA.

DATES: The BLM planning regulations state that any person who meets the 
conditions as described in the regulations may protest the BLM's 
Proposed RMPs and Final EIS. A person who meets the conditions and 
files a protest must file the protest within 30 days of the date that 
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register.
    To ensure that comments on the proposed target shooting closure 
will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments by October 
22, 2019.

ADDRESSES: The Proposed RMPs and Final EIS is available on the BLM 
ePlanning project website at https://go.usa.gov/xVCGJ. Click the 
``Documents & Reports'' link on the left side of the screen to find the 
electronic versions of these materials. Hard copies of the Proposed 
RMPs and Final EIS are available for public inspection at the Kanab 
Field Office.
    Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM 
regarding the Proposed RMPs may be found online at https://www.blm.gov/filing-a-plan-protest and at 43 CFR 1610.5-2.
    You may submit comments on the proposed target shooting closure 
using either of the following methods:
    Email: [email protected].
    Mail: BLM, Kanab Field Office, 669 South Highway 89A, Kanab, UT 
84741, Attn: Harry Barber.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Harry Barber, 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 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 1.87 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 proper care and management of the 
objects and values identified in Proclamations 6920, as modified by 
Proclamation 9682. For lands in the KEPA, this planning effort is 
needed 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.
    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/EIS. Issues identified include 
management of

[[Page 44327]]

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.
    The formal public scoping process for the RMPs and EIS began on 
January 16, 2018, with publication of a Notice of Intent in the Federal 
Register (83 FR 2179) and ended on April 11, 2018. The BLM held public 
scoping meetings in Kanab and Escalante, Utah, in March 2018. The 
Notice of Availability for the Draft RMPs/EIS was published on August 
17, 2018 (83 FR 41108), followed by a Notice of Error, on August 31, 
2019 (83 FR 44659), that extended the public comment period on the 
Draft RMPs/EIS. The BLM accepted public comments on the range of 
alternatives, effects analysis and Draft RMPs for 105 days, ending on 
November 30, 2018. During the public comment period, public meetings 
were held in Kanab and Escalante, Utah.
    The Draft RMPs/EIS evaluated 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. Comments on the Draft RMPs/
EIS received from the public, the Utah Resource Advisory Council, 
cooperating agencies and tribes, and internal BLM review were 
considered and incorporated as appropriate into the Proposed RMPs/Final 
EIS. Public comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text, but 
did not significantly change the range of alternatives considered. 
Alternative E was developed in response to comments received on the 
Draft RMPs/EIS and includes elements of Alternatives A, B, C, and D. 
The BLM has identified Alternative E as the agency's Proposed RMPs. 
Identification of this alternative, however, does not represent final 
agency direction.
    In the Proposed RMPs, the BLM proposes that recreational target 
shooting shall not be allowed on certain lands managed by the BLM in 
both GSENM and KEPA. As proposed, target shooting would generally be 
allowed, but would be prohibited within at least 0.25 miles of 
residences, campgrounds, and developed recreation facilities. The 
proposed closure would provide for public safety near residences, 
campgrounds and developed recreation facilities. The proposed closure 
would also enhance the safety of the public visiting campgrounds and 
developed recreation facilities in GSENM and KEPA, which would improve 
their experience.
    In accordance with the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, 
Management, and Recreation Act of 2019, the BLM is announcing the 
opening of a 60-day public comment period on the proposed target 
shooting closure. As such, the BLM is only accepting comments on the 
proposed target shooting closure. All comments must be received by the 
date set forth in the DATES section above and must be submitted using 
one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above.
    All protests must be in writing and submitted, as set forth in the 
DATES and ADDRESSES sections above.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6 40 CFR 1506.10 43 CFR 1610.2 and 36 
CFR 219.59.

Edwin L. Roberson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019-18243 Filed 8-22-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P