[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 175 (Monday, September 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22388]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 12, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WY-017-4331-08]

 

Availability of the Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area Environmental 
Assessment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for public review and comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Assessment for the planning review of the 
Brown/Howe Dinosaur Area documents the analysis of four alternatives 
for managing the area, including the Bureau of Land Management's 
preferred alternative. The planning review area encompasses 5,457 acres 
of BLM-administered public land in the Cody Resource Area of the BLM's 
Worland District in Big Horn County, Wyoming.
    The planning review is being conducted to evaluate the management 
needs and issues associated with the discovery of an Allosaurus 
skeleton in the review area. The discovery was made approximately 1 
year after the approval of the Cody Resource Management Plan (RMP) and 
a review of the RMP is needed to evaluate the adequacy of existing 
management decisions for the management and protection of 
paleontological resources in the review area. Management actions being 
considered include designation of the review area as an Area of 
Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and closure of the area to the 
staking and development of mining claims and closure to entry under the 
land laws.
    Based on preliminary analysis, BLM has established a temporary 
closure to the staking of mining claims in the planning review area. As 
part of the planning review, BLM has collected information and 
conducted analyses described in this Environmental Assessment to 
determine whether a long-term closure is necessary for the protection 
of paleontological resources. Based on the results, the Cody RMP will 
be amended, if necessary.

DATES: Comments must be received by November 14, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Hare, Team Leader, Cody Resource 
Area, P.O. Box 518, Cody, Wyoming 82414-0518, 307-587-2216; or Bob 
Ross, Worland District Planner, P.O. Box 119, Worland, Wyoming 82401-
0119, 307-347-9871.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Following the discovery of the Allosaurus 
skeleton, the BLM completed a temporary management plan for the lands 
in and around the fossil discovery area. Protective measures have been 
initiated and have been in effect pending completion of this planning 
review. This planning review includes opportunities for public 
participation.
    The steps followed for this planning review are:
    1. An interdisciplinary planning team described and analyzed the 
existing management in the planning review area and described the 
affected environment.
    2. A notice was published in the Federal Register informing the 
public of known and anticipated issues and of opportunities for public 
participation and comment.
    3. Public contracts and meetings were held for scoping and 
development of the preliminary issues and alternatives.
    4. With the help of the public, management alternatives for the 
area were formulated and analyzed and the BLM's preferred alternative 
was identified.
    5. The alternatives, including the BLM's preferred alternative, and 
their environmental consequences are described in the EA and the EA is 
now being issued for public review and comment.
    6. A 60-day period will be provided for reviewing and commenting on 
the EA and for submitting protests on any proposed decisions to be 
added to or changed in the Cody RMP.
    7. The EA will then be revised, as necessary, and a decision record 
will be issued. If necessary, this decision record will identify and 
include any needed amendment to the Cody RMP.
    Based on the public's input and analysis by the BLM 
interdisciplinary team, the following issues were identified:
    1. Whether or not there is a need to protect important 
paleontological resources from being damaged by potential surface-
disturbing activities in the planning review area, including closure to 
and withdrawal from possible mining claim and mining-related activities 
and from possible entry under the land laws (for example, Desert Land 
Entry).
    2. Whether or not the area should be designated an ACEC with 
management emphasis primarily for research, public education, and 
recreation, associated with the significant paleontological resources 
in the area.
    The four alternatives analyzed in the EA are:
    1. No Action (continuation of existing management).
    2. Designating an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) of 
about 5,457 acres with management emphasis on protection of fossils for 
scientific research and public education.
    3. Designating an ACEC of about 5,457 acres with management 
emphasis on protection of fossils for scientific research and public 
education, and with mineral location and land law withdrawals of the 
known fossil concentration area (120.9 acres).
    4. Designating an ACEC of about 5,457 acres with management 
emphasis on protection of fossils for scientific research and public 
education, and with mineral location and land law withdrawals of the 
fossil concentration areas and adjacent lands (approximately 4,182 
acres). The BLM's preferred alternative is Alternative 3.
    Designating the planning review area an ACEC with a 120.9-acre 
mineral withdrawal under the 1872 Mining Law and withdrawal from 
operation of land laws represents what the BLM believes is the best 
balance between the public land and resource uses and environmental 
protection in the planning review area. The various impacts that would 
be expected from implementing each of the Alternatives is also 
presented in the EA.
    At the end of the comment/protest period, any of the decisions 
mentioned above or similar decisions based on public comment would 
amend the Cody RMP at the time a Decision Record is issued.
    Based on the analysis of potential environmental impacts contained 
in the EA, it has been determined that impacts are not expected to be 
significant and an Environmental Impact Statement is not needed.

    Dated: September 1, 1994.
Robert A. Bennett,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 94-22388 Filed 9-9-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-M