[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]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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