Notices. Notice and request for comments
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BILLING CODE 4311-AM-M DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [OR-958-6310-PF-24 1A] Submission to Office of Management and Budget—Information Collection, OMB Control Number 1004-0168 AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice and request for comments. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM)has submitted a request for an extension of an approved information collection to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)for approval. DATES: The OMB is required to respond to this request within 60 days but may respond after 30 days. Submit your comments to OMB at the address below by November 26, 2007 to receive maximum consideration. ADDRESSES: Send comments to the OMB, Interior Department Desk Officer (1004-0168), at OMB-OIRA via e-mail *OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov* or via facsimile at
(202)395-6566. Also please send a copy of your comments to BLM via Internet and include your name, address, and ATTN: 1004-0168 in your Internet message to *comments_washington@blm.gov* or via mail to: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Mail Stop 401LS, 1849 C Street, NW., ATTN: Bureau Information Collection Clearance Officer (WO-630), Washington, DC 20240. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may contact Ted Hudson to obtain copies and explanatory material on this information collection at
(202)452-5042. Persons who use a telecommunication device for the deaf
(TDD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS)on 1-800-877-8330, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to contact Mr. Hudson. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 9, 2006, the BLM published a notice in the **Federal Register** (71 FR 33481) requesting comments on the information collection. The comment period closed on August 8, 2006. The BLM did not receive any comments. We are soliciting comments on the following:
(a)Whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper functioning of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
(b)The accuracy of our estimates of the information collection burden, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions we use;
(c)Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and
(d)Ways to minimize the information collection burden on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. *Title:* Tramroads and Logging Roads (43 CFR part 2810). *OMB Control Number:* 1004-0168. *Abstract:* The BLM provides for tramroads and logging roads over the Revested Oregon and California Railroad and Reconveyed Coos Bay Wagon Road Grant Lands (O. and C. lands) 43 CFR part 2810, subpart 2812. These regulations implement the following statutes:
(1)Act of August 28, 1937 (43 U.S.C. 1181a & b); and
(2)The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1762). The BLM uses this information to approve use of BLM roads for access to timber on the O. and C. lands, and to determine the amount of charges for such use. *Burden Estimate Per Form:* We estimate the completion time for the form information that is submitted quarterly by the private sector as follows: Burden hours information collected Number of actions per year Burden hours per action Total annual burden hours
(a)Report of Road Use (2812-6) and related non-form information in 43 CFR part 2810 272 8 2,176 Totals 272 2,176 *Annual Responses:* 272. *Application Fee Per Response:* 0. *Annual Burden Hours:* 2,176. Dated: October 22, 2007. Ted R. Hudson, Acting Chief, Division of Regulatory Affairs. [FR Doc. E7-21079 Filed 10-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-84-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CO-800-1610-DP 016C] Notice of Availability of the Canyons of the Ancients Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Colorado AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 *et seq.* ) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 *et seq.* ), the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM)has prepared a Draft Resource Management Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) for the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. This notice also meets BLM requirements in 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b) concerning potential Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs). DATES: A 90-day public comment period will begin the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes their Notice of Availability in the **Federal Register** . The Canyon of the Ancients National Monument will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, local media news releases, and/or mailings, and posting on the project Web site at *http://www.blm.gov/rmp/canm* . Public meetings will be held in Cortez, Denver, and Durango, Colorado and in other locations, if warranted. ADDRESSES: The DRMP/DEIS will be posted on the Internet at: *http://www.blm.gov/rmp/canm/* . You may submit comments by any of the following methods: Web site: *http://www.blm.gov/rmp/canm/* . *Fax:*
(970)882-7035. *Mail:* Monument Manager, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323. Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the Anasazi Heritage Center, 27501 Hwy 184, Dolores, CO 81323. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised 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 from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Copies of the DRMP/DEIS are also available during regular business hours at the following locations: Anasazi Heritage Center, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323. Dolores Public Lands Center, 29211 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323. San Juan Public Lands Center, 15 Burnett Court, Durango, CO 81301. Dolores Public Library, 420 Railroad Ave., Dolores, CO 81323. Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park, Cortez, CO 81321. Mancos Public Library, 111 N. Main, Macos, CO 81328. Durango Public Library, 1188 E. 2nd Ave, Durango, CO 81301. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Musclow, Monument Planner, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323; Phone:
(970)882-5632. To have your name added to the Canyons of the Ancients Resource Management Plan mailing list or to view and download the DRMP/DEIS in portable document format
(PDF)go to the project Web site: *http://www.blm.gov/rmp/canm/* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area is located in Southwest Colorado in Dolores and Montezuma counties. The plan will provide a framework to guide subsequent management decisions on approximately 164,000 acres managed by the BLM. Within the Monument boundary, there are approximately 400 acres of National Park Service lands (Hovenweep National Monument) and 18,000 acres of private inholdings. The Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is currently being managing under the BLM 1985 San Juan/San Miguel RMP and the Interim Guidance provided after the Monument was established. • San Juan/San Miguel Resource Management Plan. The current RMP was approved in 1985 and has been amended five times. The Wilderness Study Areas
(WSA)within the Monument are being managed under interim guidance provided by the Interim Management Policy and Guidance for Lands under Wilderness Review until such time that Congress makes a final wilderness decision. The DRMP/DEIS discusses how those lands would be managed if Congress released them from wilderness study. The Canyons of the Ancients National Monument has worked extensively with the community, interested and affected publics, Native American tribes, and cooperating agencies in the development of the DRMP/DEIS. The Monument has conducted a broad community-based public input process. Cooperating agencies include The Colorado State Historical Society and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Five alternatives are analyzed in the DRMP/DEIS. • *Alternative I:* This is the No Action Alternative. This alternative is comprised of current management actions and goals and assumes existing or approved land uses would continue. Current management actions are assembled from three sources: Colorado Interim Management for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (BLM 2001f), Anasazi ACEC Plan Management Guideline (BLM 1986a), and San Juan/San Miguel RMP (BLM 1985). Under this alternative, cultural resource sites would continue to be developed for visiting and interpretation. • *Alternative II:* This alternative maximizes cultural resource protection by avoiding impacts to cultural resource communities, sites and isolated finds. This management strategy maintains large blocks of undisturbed land that provide information on not only individual sites and artifacts but also their interconnectedness (i.e., how they relate to each other). Alternative II would develop the “outdoor museum” concept for self-discovery of cultural and natural resources. The outdoor museum concept provides a backcountry experience to visiting publics. In addition, 13 cultural sites would be developed for public access, facilitating visitation through developed routes and interpretive signs. The development of these cultural resource sites would enhance front country visitor experiences. • *Alternative III:* This alternative emphasizes the protection of cultural resource communities and sites, while providing for resource use and development. This management strategy also maintains large blocks of undisturbed land, although not as large as Alternative II, and provides for the retrieval of information on not only individual sites but also their interconnectedness (i.e., how they relate to each other). Alternative III would develop the “outdoor museum” concept for self-discovery of cultural and natural resources in addition to developing 13-25 sites for public access. • *Alternative IV:* This alternative emphasizes the protection of cultural resource communities and sites while encouraging resource use and development. This management strategy maintains large blocks of undisturbed land, although not as large as Alternative II, and provides for the retrieval of information on not only individual sites but also their interconnectedness (i.e., how they relate to each other). Alternative IV would develop the “outdoor museum” concept for self-discovery of cultural and natural resources in addition to developing 13-25 sites for public access. • *Alternative V:* This is the Preferred Alternative. Alternative V represents the best fit between protection of objects of the Monument and the multiple use of all resources. Alternative V emphasizes the protection of cultural resource communities and sites, while providing for resource use and development. This management strategy maintains large blocks of undisturbed land, although not as large as Alternative II, and provides for the retrieval of information on not only individual sites and artifacts but also their interconnectedness (i.e., how they relate to each other). Alternative V would promote self-discovery through the “outdoor museum” concept, in addition to 13-25 cultural sites developed for public access. Section 202(c)(3) of FLPMA requires the DRMP/DEIS to examine the designation of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern
(ACEC)on BLM lands. The Monument was an Anasazi ACEC prior to being designated a Monument. The ACEC designation has continued but is considered of little value since the Monument designation provides protection of the same outstanding characteristics. Therefore, the Anasazi ACEC designation is proposed to be dropped in this plan. The Values and Limitations to protect the natural and cultural resources of the Monument are consistent with the previous ACEC. The McElmo Research Natural Area
(RNA)would continue its ACEC designation with four units proposed located immediately north of, and adjacent to, McElmo Canyon: • McElmo Unit (existing RNA, 427 acres), • McElmo Expansion Unit (2,738 acres), • Cannonball Mesa Unit (2,797 acres), and • Sand Canyon Unit (1,864 acres). All of the RNA units have the same values and use limitations. Potential ACEC acres vary by alternative as shown in the table below. Acres of BLM-Managed Surface Estate Proposed To Be Managed as ACECs Under the Alternatives in the Draft LMP/EIS Values and use limitations Alternative I (no action) Alternative II Alternative III Alternative IV Alternative V (preferred) McElmo RNA
(ACEC)427 7,826 427 7,297 7,826 *Values:* natural systems (sensitive plants) *Limitations:* apply a no surface occupancy (NSO/NGD) stipulation for areas not previously leased for oil and gas leasing and other surface disturbing activities. Manage as VRM I. Total Acres 427 7,826 427 427 7,826 Major issues considered in the DRMP/DEIS include: • *Cultural Issues:* Concerns included the protection/preservation of cultural resources for purposes of current and future scientific research, education, and Native American cultural heritage; development opportunities; access to cultural resource sites; and looting. • *General Recreation:* Concerns included permitted and restricted types of recreation and their allocated “zones” or locations, and related roads and transportation issues, such as motorized and mechanized access and limitations. • *Transportation Network:* Concerns included road closures and access, and road maintenance and improvements. • *Rangeland Management/Grazing:* Concerns included management for Land Health Standards, administration of grazing allotments, and evaluation of grazing impacts in terms of current standards and guidelines. • *Mineral Resources:* Concerns included limitations on oil and gas exploration and development, mitigation of impacts from existing and new mineral exploration and development. • *Visitor Use:* Concerns included visitor education opportunities, facility development and improvements, and commercial and not-for-profit tours. • *Soil, Water, and Air:* Concerns included the protection/preservation of soil, water, and air quality. Sally Wisely, Colorado State Director. [FR Doc. E7-21011 Filed 10-25-07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [UT050-1610-012J] Notice of Availability of the Draft Resource Management Plan
(DRMP)and Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS)for the Richfield Field Office in Garfield, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, and Wayne Counties, UT AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 *et seq.* ) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1701 *et seq.* ), the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM)hereby gives notice that the Richfield Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) is available for a 90-day public review and comment period. This notice also meets requirements in part 1610, 7-2(b) concerning potential Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs). DATES: To ensure that they will be considered, BLM must receive written comments on the DRMP/DEIS within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its notice of availability in the **Federal Register** . The BLM will announce public meetings and other public-involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, news releases, direct mailings, and on the project Web site at: *http://www.blm.gov/rmp/ut/richfield/* . Public meetings will be held in Junction, Loa, Manti, Richfield, and Salt Lake City, and in other locations if warranted. ADDRESSES: Address written comments to: RMP Comments, Richfield Field Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 150 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701. Comments may also be faxed to the Field Office at 435-896-1550, or submitted electronically by e-mail: *UT_Richfield_Comments@blm.gov* . Comments and information submitted on the Supplement to the Vernal Field Office DRMP/DEIS, including names, e-mail addresses, and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review and disclosure at the Vernal Field Office address listed below. The BLM will not accept anonymous comments. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, or to have your name added to the Richfield RMP mailing list, visit the RMP Web site: *http://www.blm.gov/rmp/ut/richfield/* . Or, you may contact Cornell Christensen, RMP Project Manager, Richfield BLM Field Office, 150 East 900 North, Richfield, Utah 84701, phone 435-896-1532. The DRMP/DEIS can be viewed and downloaded in portable document format
(PDF)at the project Web site: *http://www.blm.gov/rmp/ut/richfield/* . Copies of the DRMP/DEIS are also available at the Bureau of Land Management
(BLM)Richfield Field Office. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DRMP/DEIS addresses public lands and resources managed by the Richfield Field Office in Garfield, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier, and Wayne Counties, Utah. These lands and resources are currently managed under six old land use plans: Cedar-Beaver-Garfield-Antimony RMP (1986), Forest Management Framework Plan
(MFP)(1982), Henry Mountains MFP (1982), Mountain Valley MFP (1981), Parker Mountain MFP (1983), and San Rafael RMP (1991). The planning area includes approximately 2.1 million acres of BLM-administered surface lands and additional Federally-owned minerals under Federal, state, and private lands in the area. Decisions in the Richfield RMP will only apply to BLM-administered public lands and Federally-owned minerals. The DRMP/DEIS proposes and analyzes five alternatives for future management of the public lands and resources in the planning area. Alternative B is BLM's proposed action and the preferred alternative. Major issues considered in the DRMP/DEIS include oil and gas leasing, mining, range and livestock management, access and transportation, recreation and off-highway vehicle management, special status species, special designations (including Areas of Critical Environmental Concern [ACECs] and wild and scenic rivers), and lands with wilderness characteristics, among others. When completed, the new RMP will replace management decisions in the existing land use plans. As required by law, the DRMP/DEIS considers the designation and protection of ACECs. ACEC values and resource use limitations vary by ACEC, and the ACECs themselves vary by alternative. See table below. Acres of Public Land To Be Managed as ACECs Under the Alternatives in the Richfield DRMP/DEIS Values and use limitations Alt. N (no action) Alt. A Alt. B (preferred) Alts. C and D Badlands ACEC Values: Outstanding scenery, special status species, natural processes (wind erosion), riparian areas, relict vegetation. Limitations: Designate scenic areas outside Wilderness study Areas
(WSAs)as Visual Resource Management
(VRM)II, limit or close to Off-Highway Vehicle
(OHV)use, close to oil and gas leasing, propose withdrawal from mineral entry 0 0 0 88,900. Beaver Wash ACEC Values: Desert riparian community. Limitations: Close to OHV use, close to oil and gas leasing, close to livestock grazing, propose withdrawal from mineral entry 3,400 0 0 (Included in Dirty Devil/North Wash ACEC). Bull Creek ACEC Value: Cultural resources. Limitations: Limit off-highway vehicles to designated routes 0 0 0 4,800. Dirty Devil/North Wash ACEC: Values: Outstanding scenery, cultural resources, paleontological resources, wildlife, special status species, relict vegetation, riparian areas. Limitations: Designate scenic areas outside WSAs as VRM II, close to oil and gas leasing or lease with no surface occupancy and propose withdrawal from mineral entry. Permit no domestic sheep grazing. Close to OHV use or limit to designated routes 0 0 0 205,300. Fremont Gorge/Cockscomb Values ACEC: Cultural resources, outstanding scenery, riparian areas, special status plant species, wildlife. Limitations: Designate scenic areas outside WSAs as VRM II, open to oil and gas leasing with no surface occupancy and propose withdrawal from mineral entry. Close to OHV or limit to designated routes 0 0 0 34,300. Gilbert Badlands ACEC Values: Badlands geology. Limitations: Close to OHV use, designate open to oil and gas leasing with no surface occupancy, and propose withdrawal from mineral entry 3,700 0 0 (Included in Badlands ACEC). Henry Mountains ACEC Values: Outstanding scenery, cultural resources, wildlife, special status species, ecological values, riparian areas. Limitations: Designate scenic areas outside WSAs as VRM II, close to off-highway vehicles or limit to designated routes, close to oil and gas leasing, and propose withdrawal from mineral entry 0 0 0 288,200. Horseshoe Canyon ACEC Values: Outstanding scenery, cultural resources, special status species, riparian areas. Limitations: Designate scenic areas outside WSAs as VRM II, open to oil and gas leasing with no surface occupancy, and propose withdrawal from mineral entry 0 0 0 40,900. Kingston Canyon ACEC Values: Wildlife habitat and riparian areas. Limitations: Limit off-highway vehicles to designated routes and suppress unwanted fires 0 0 0 22,100. Little Rockies ACEC Values: Outstanding scenery, wildlife, special status species, riparian areas. Limitations: Designate scenic areas outside WSAs as VRM II, open to oil and gas leasing with no surface occupancy and propose withdrawal from mineral entry. Change class of livestock from sheep to cattle 0 0 0 49,200. Lower Muddy Creek ACEC Values: Outstanding scenery, special status plants, riparian areas. Limitations: Designate scenic areas as VRM Class II and close to oil and gas leasing 0 0 0 16,200. No Man Mesa ACEC Value: Relict vegetation. Limitations: Close to OHV use, close to oil and gas leasing, and propose withdrawal from mineral entry 0 0 0 (Included in Henry Mountains ACEC). North Caineville Mesa ACEC Value: Relict vegetation. Limitations: Close to OHV use, open to oil and gas leasing with no surface occupancy, close to livestock grazing, identify as unsuitable for coal leasing, and propose withdrawal from mineral entry 3,800 0 3,800 (Included in Badlands ACEC). Old Woman Front ACEC Value: Relict vegetation. Limitations: Close to livestock grazing, close to OHV use, close to oil and gas leasing and propose withdrawal from mineral entry 0 0 330 330. Parker Mountain ACEC Value: Sagebrush-steppe habitat, special status species. Limitations: Limit off-highway vehicles to designated routes, suppress unwanted wildfires, and implement proper grazing practices 0 0 0 107,900. Quitchupah Creek ACEC Values: Cultural resources, Native American values, riparian areas. Limitations: Limit off-highway vehicles to designated routes 0 0 0 180. Rainbow Hills ACEC Values: Wildlife habitat and special status plants. Limitations: Suppress unwanted wildfires, close to OHV use, and open to oil and gas leasing with no surface occupancy 0 0 0 4,000. Sevier Canyon ACEC Values: Wildlife habitat, special status species, riparian areas. Limitations: Suppress unwanted wildfires, limit off-highway vehicles to designated routes and close routes seasonally 0 0 0 8,900. South Caineville Mesa ACEC Value: Relict vegetation. Limitations: Close to OHV use, open to oil and gas leasing with no surface occupancy, close to livestock grazing, propose withdrawal from mineral entry 5,300 0 0 (Included in Badlands ACEC). Special Status Species ACEC Values: Special Status Species and habitat. Limitations: Close or limit OHV use to designated routes and open to oil and gas leasing with controlled surface use stipulations 0 0 0 15,100. Thousand Lake Bench ACEC Values: Cultural resources, special status plants and riparian areas. Limitations: Close to off-highway vehicles or limit to designated routes 0 0 0 500. Total 16,200 0 4,130 886,810. The application of the Federal coal unsuitability criteria to the Henry Mountains and Emery Coal Fields is included in Appendix 8 of the DRMP/DEIS. 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 application process used. The criteria are listed under 43 CFR 3461.5. Additionally, the BLM will conduct a public hearing on coal leasing potential in the DRMP/DEIS before it is finalized, if such a hearing is requested by any person who may be adversely affected by adoption of the proposed plan. Selma Sierra, Utah State Director. [FR Doc. 07-5283 Filed 10-25-07; 8:45 am]
Connectionstraces to 4
Traces to 4 documents
4 references not yet in our index
- 43 CFR 2810
- 43 CFR 1610.7-2(b)
- 43 CFR 3461.2-1(a)(2)
- 43 CFR 3461.5
Citation graph
cites case law
Notices
Notice and request for comments
Cite43 CFR 2810
Cite43 CFR 1610.7-2(b)
Cite43 CFR 3461.2-1(a)(2)
Cite43 CFR 3461.5
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