[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 93 (Monday, May 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11653]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

36 CFR Part 222

RIN 0596-AA35, 0596-AB42

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

43 CFR Parts 1780 and 4100

[WO-220-4320-02 24 1A]
RIN 1004-AB89

 

Administration of Grazing on Public Lands and National Forest 
System Lands

AGENCIES: Forest Service, USDA and Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of hearings and informational meetings.

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice of public hearings in which the 
public is invited to comment on regulations proposed by the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service, relating to the 
administration of grazing on the public lands administered by the BLM 
and on National Forest System lands. These hearings will also provide 
the public an opportunity to comment on a draft environmental impact 
statement (EIS) for Rangeland Reform '94. Immediately preceding the 
hearings, BLM and the Forest Service will sponsor informational 
meetings on the proposed regulations.

DATES: All hearings will be held on June 8, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Hearings will be held at the facilities listed in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Otteni (BLM), 202-208-7701 or 
Jerry McCormick (Forest Service), 202-205-1746.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The United States Department of the Interior is proposing to amend 
the regulations which govern how the BLM administers livestock grazing 
on the public lands. A proposed rule was published in the Federal 
Register on Friday, March 25, 1994 (59 FR 14314). The proposed rule 
provides for a public comment period that runs until July 28, 1994.
    On April 28, 1994, the United States Department of Agriculture 
published similar proposed rules in the Federal Register (59 FR 22074, 
22094) which govern how the Forest Service administers livestock 
grazing on National Forest System lands. These proposed rules also 
provide for public comments to be received by July 28, 1994.
    In addition to the proposed rules, the Bureau of Land Management 
and the Forest Service, as cooperating agencies, have prepared a draft 
EIS. The draft EIS is currently being printed and prepared for 
distribution. Notice of availability of the draft EIS will be made 
through a separate publication in the Federal Register.
    During the preparation of the BLM proposed rule, Interior Secretary 
Bruce Babbitt met on a number of occasions throughout the West with 
governors, State and local officials, ranchers, environmentalists and 
other public land users. These meetings resulted in many useful 
suggestions that are reflected in the proposed rule. In order to 
continue this important communication with user groups and members of 
the public, and to further elicit valuable comments on the proposed 
rules of both Departments and the draft EIS, the BLM and Forest Service 
have jointly scheduled 49 public hearings to be held throughout the 
United States on June 8, 1994.

Hearing Procedures

    The purpose of the hearings is to provide the public an alternate 
method by which to comment on the proposed rules and the EIS. The 
hearings do not replace the public comment period described in the 
proposed rules. All members of the public may submit comments in 
accordance with the procedures set forth in the proposed rules and are 
encouraged to do so.
    The hearings will be preceded by informal general information 
sessions which will begin at 8 a.m. in each location. The purpose of 
these sessions is to allow the public an opportunity to learn more 
about the proposed rules and EIS. BLM and Forest Service personnel will 
be present to describe the key elements of the proposals, and to answer 
questions so that those who wish to testify at the hearings will fully 
understand the proposals. These sessions are not part of the hearing 
and will not appear as part of the hearing record.
    The hearings themselves will begin at 10:30 a.m. and continue until 
5 p.m., with a lunch recess to be determined by the Hearing Officer. 
The hearings will resume at 7 p.m. and will continue until 10 p.m. or 
thereafter until all speakers have been heard.
    In order to have productive and meaningful hearings and to ensure 
that those who wish to speak at the hearings are able to do so in a 
fair and orderly manner, the following procedures will be observed:

--Persons wishing to testify must register at the hearing site between 
8 a.m. and 9 p.m. Speakers will be heard in the order in which they 
register, with the exception of elected Federal, state or local 
officials, who will speak first at the beginning of each session or as 
otherwise arranged with the Hearing Officer.
--Each person may present testimony only once. However, if time 
permits, the Hearing Officer may allow each speaker additional time 
after all other witnesses have had the opportunity to speak. When 
provided, such additional time will be granted to speakers in the same 
order in which they originally testified.
--Because a large number of speakers is anticipated, it will be 
necessary to limit the amount of time of each speaker. Since the number 
of speakers may vary greatly from location to location, the time 
allocated to each speaker may also vary among the hearings. However, 
within any one hearing, all speakers will be allocated an equal amount 
of time. The amount of time allocated to each speaker will be left to 
the discretion of the Hearing Officer. Time limitations will be 
strictly followed.
--The purpose of the hearings is to elicit comments from the public. A 
technical representative from the BLM and Forest Service will be 
present to ask clarifying questions of witnesses. Time spent asking and 
answering these questions will not count against the time allocated to 
the speaker. Because of the time constraints and the desire to maximize 
public input, the technical representatives will not respond to 
questions from or otherwise engage in discussions with the speaker. 
Speakers who wish to ask questions should do so during the informal 
information session.
--A transcript of the hearing will be made and become part of the 
rulemaking record. Speakers are encouraged to submit a written copy of 
their statements to be included in the hearing record. The record of 
the hearing will remain open through June 13, 1994 for submission of 
supplemental written statements or other exhibits. The name and address 
of the designated official to receive these statements or exhibits will 
be announced at the hearing.

Location

    The hearings are to be held at the following locations:
ARIZONA
Fountain Suites Hotel, 2577 W. Greenway, Phoenix, AZ, on the 
Southeast Corner of the Black Canyon Freeway.
Eastern Arizona College, Student Activity Center, Highway 70, 
Thatcher, AZ

CALIFORNIA

Red Lion Inn, 1830 Hilltop Drive, Redding, CA 96002
Red Lion Inn, 3100 Camino del Rio Court, Bakersfield, CA 93308
Barstow Community Center, 841 Barstow Road, Barstow, CA 92311
Lassen Community College, Room H221-222 (Humanities Building), 
Highway 139, Susanville, CA 96130

COLORADO

Holiday Inn Denver West, 14707 West Colfax Avenue, Golden, CO
Holy Cross Abbey, Community Center, 2951 East Highway 50, Canon 
City, CO
Moffat County Fairgrounds Pavilion, Craig, CO
Two Rivers Convention Center, 159 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO
The Montrose Pavilion, 1800 Pavilion Road, Montrose, CO

IDAHO

Weston Plaza, 1350 Blue Lakes Blvd., N., Twin Falls, ID 83301
Senior Citizens Center, Rt. 2 Truck Route, Grangeville, ID 83530
Quality Inn of Pocatello, 1555 Pocatello Creek Road, Pocatello, ID 
83201
Boise Center On-the-Grove, 850 Front, Boise, ID 83702
Salmon Valley Center, 200 Main Street, Salmon, ID 83467

MONTANA

Copper King Inn, 4655 Harrison Ave. S., Butte, MT 59701
Exhibition Hall, Custer Co. Fairgrounds, Garryowen Rd., W. of Miles 
City, Miles City, MT 59301
Fergus High School, 201 Casino Creek Dr., Lewistown, MT 59457

NEVADA

Elko Junior High School, 770 Country Club Drive, Elko, NV 89801
Humboldt County Fairgrounds, Exhibition Hall, Fairgrounds Road, 
Winnemucca, NV 89445
Peppermill Hotel and Casino, 2707 S. Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89502
Bristlecone Convention Center, 150 6th Street, Ely, NV 89301
Cashman Field, 850 N. Las Vegas Blvd., Room 103-104, Las Vegas, NV 
89101
Austin High School, Highway 305 North, Austin, NV 89310

NEW MEXICO

UNM Continuing Education Conference Center, 1634 University Blvd., 
NE, Main Auditorium, Albuquerque, NM 87131-4006
The Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn, Aspen Room, 901 Avenida de 
Mesilla, Las Cruces, NM 88005
Pearson Auditorium, New Mexico Military Institute Campus, Roswell, 
NM 88201
Farmington Civic Center, 200 West Arrington, Farmington, NM 87401

NORTH DAKOTA

Hospitality Inn, Remington-Winchester Rooms, Highway 22 and I-94, 
Dickinson, ND

OREGON

BLM Salem District, Lobby Level Conference Room, 1717 Fabry Road SE, 
Salem, OR 97306
Vale Catholic Church, Parish Hall, 690 A Street West, Vale, OR 97918
Harney County Fairgrounds, Memorial Building, South Egan Road, 
Burns, OR 97720
BLM Medford District, The Oregon Room, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, OR 
97504
Central Oregon Community College, Hitchcock Auditorium, 2600 NW 
College Way, Bend, OR 97701
Lake County Courthouse, Lakeview, OR 97630
LaGrande Senior High School, High School Auditorium, 708 K Avenue, 
LaGrande, OR 97850

UTAH

Holiday Inn, 1575 W. 200 N., Cedar City UT
Sevier County Courthouse, 250 North Main Street, Richfield, UT
Uintah County High School, Little Theater, 1880 W. 500 N., Vernal, 
UT
Star Hall, Center Street, Moab, UT
Salt Lake City Public Library, Third Floor Lecture Hall, 209 E. 500 
S., Salt Lake City, UT
Dixie High School, 350 East 700 South, St. George, UT

WASHINGTON

Wenatchee Convention Center, South Ball Room, 201 Wenatchee Avenue, 
Wenatchee, WA 98801

WASHINGTON DC

Eastern States Office, 7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 
22153

WYOMING

Elks Lodge BPOE II 1908, 601 Coburn Avenue, Worland, WY 82401
While Mountain Junior High School Auditorium, 2550 Foothills Blvd, 
Rock Springs, WY 82901
Jeffrey Center, 3rd and Spruce St., Rawlins, WY 82301
Natrona County Agricultural Building, 2011 Fairground Road, Casper, 
WY 82604

    Dated: May 5, 1994.
Mike Dombeck,
Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management.
Mark A. Reimers,
Acting Chief, Forest Service.
[FR Doc. 94-11653 Filed 5-13-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P