[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 9, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-2913]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 9, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[ES-020-04-4410-02; 4-00157 ILM]

 

Availability of Draft Florida Resource Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Eastern States, Jackson 
District, announces the availability of the Draft Florida Resource 
Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for public 
review. This document, prepared in accordance with section 202 of the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and section 202(c) of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, presents alternatives 
for managing BLM-administered public lands throughout the State of 
Florida.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Reading copies will be available at the following 
public libraries:

Lykes Memorial Library, 238 Howell Avenue, Brooksville, FL.
Staffordene Foggia Library, 6335 Blackbird Avenue, Brooksville, FL.
State Library of Florida, Documents Section, R. A. Gray Building, 500 
S. Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL.
Walton--De Funiak Library, 100 Circle Drive, De Funiak Springs, FL.
West Florida Regional Library, 200 West Gregory Street, Pensacola, FL.
Palm Beach County Public Library, Reference Section, 3650 Summit Blvd., 
West Palm Beach, FL.

    Copies will be available from the Jackson District, 411 Briarwood 
Drive, suite 404, Jackson, MS 39206, phone (601) 977-5400. Public 
reading copies will be available for review at the following BLM 
locations:

Office of External Affairs, Main Interior Building, 18th and C Streets, 
NW., Washington DC 20240.
Office of External Affairs, Eastern States, 7450 Boston Blvd., 
Springfield, VA 22153.

    Comments on the Draft RMP/EIS must be submitted or postmarked no 
later than May 19, 1994. Comments may be submitted at three public 
meetings to be held:
April 5, 1994, 7-10 p.m., Florida National Guard Armory, Post of 
Brooksville, 16386 Spring Hill Drive, Brooksville, FL.
April 6, 1994, 7-10 p.m., Department of Environmental Protection, 
Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., 
Tallahassee, FL.
April 7, 1994, 7-10 p.m., De Funiak Springs Community Center, 505 N. 
10th Street, De Funiak Springs, FL.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Duane Winters, RMP Team 
Leader, Bureau of Land Management, Jackson District, 411 Briarwood 
Drive, suite 404, Jackson, Mississippi 39206.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Duane Winters, RMP Team Leader, (601) 977-5400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft RMP/EIS presents and analyzes four 
alternatives for managing BLM-administered public lands throughout the 
State of Florida. These lands include approximately 395,000 acres of 
split-estate federal mineral ownership (where federal ownership is 
limited to mineral interests and the surface estate is owned by either 
the State of Florida or private interests) and several hundred acres of 
public land, comprised of small surface tracts, located in seven 
counties throughout the State.
    The RMP/EIS evaluates three tracts for Area of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACEC) designation.
    Under the Preferred Alternative, a portion (approximately 60 acres) 
of the Jupiter Inlet tract, located in Palm Beach County, would be 
designated an ACEC. The ACEC would be managed to maintain a viable 
scrub vegetation community and improve habitat conditions for Florida 
scrub jay, gopher tortoise, and other endemic scrub species, and to 
interpret natural and cultural resources to provide recreation 
opportunities.
    Motorized vehicle use would be limited to designated routes. The 
ACEC would be withdrawn from entry under the 1872 mining law, closed to 
mineral material sales and mineral lease, and would be an avoidance 
area for rights-of-way. The ACEC would be available for cooperative 
management with other government agencies and/or private organizations, 
or for conveyance under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, 
provided that the proposed use would follow the stated management 
objectives and land-use allocations.
    The Walton Beach tracts, located in Walton County, are considered 
for designation as the Walton Beach ACEC in Alternative 3. Under the 
Preferred Alternative, however, these three tracts would not be 
designated an ACEC. Under ACEC designation, as considered in 
Alternative 3, these tracts would be managed for the protection and 
enhancement of the dune system and associated habitat, and to provide 
opportunities for non-motorized recreation. The tracts would be 
classified as an avoidance area for rights-of-way, would be closed to 
motorized vehicle use, would be withdrawn from entry under the 1872 
mining law, and closed to mineral material sales and lease of solid 
minerals. Oil and gas leasing would be subject to a no surface 
occupancy stipulation. The tracts would be available for cooperative 
management with other government agencies and/or private organizations, 
or for conveyance under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, 
provided that the proposed use would follow the stated management 
objectives and land-use allocations.
    The Cape San Blas tract, located in Gulf County, is considered for 
ACEC designation in Alternative 3. Under the Preferred Alternative, 
however, it would not be designated an ACEC. Under ACEC designation, as 
considered in Alternative 3, the tract would be managed to protect the 
coastal dune habitat. The tract would be closed to motorized vehicle 
use, would be classified as an avoidance area for rights-of-way, would 
be withdrawn from entry under the 1872 mining law, and closed to 
mineral material sales and lease of solid minerals. Oil and gas leasing 
would be subject to a no surface occupancy stipulation. The tract would 
be available for cooperative management with other government agencies 
and/or private organizations, or for conveyance under the Recreation 
and Public Purposes Act, provided that the proposed use would follow 
the stated management objectives and land-use allocations. A tract of 
public land adjacent to the Peace River was evaluated to determine if 
it was eligible to be studied for possible inclusion in the National 
Wild and Scenic River System. It was determined that it was ineligible 
for further study because it would be unmanageable due to the lack of 
other public lands adjacent to the river. The 37-acre tract of BLM-
administered land adjacent to the river comprises only one percent of 
the land area within a corridor of one-quarter mile on either side of 
the River for the nine-mile segment evaluated. The remaining acres in 
the corridor are predominantly under private ownership and are used for 
agricultural or ranchland purposes.

    Dated: February 3, 1994.
Robert V. Abbey,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 94-2913 Filed 2-8-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GJ-M