[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 107 (Monday, June 5, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 29704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13618]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[UT-046-05-4210-0-03-5]


Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed 
Plan Amendment to Virgin River Management Framework Plan, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for a proposed plan amendment to the Virgin River Management 
Framework Plan (MFP).

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SUMMARY: This notice is to advise the public that the Bureau of Land 
Management is preparing an EIS to consider proposed amendments to the 
land use plan that guides management of public lands within the Dixie 
Resource Area located in Washington County, Utah. The proposed 
amendment would consider alternatives for additional opportunities for 
land tenure adjustments.

DATES: The comment period for the preliminary issues and planning 
criteria identified for the proposed plan amendments will commence with 
publication of this notice. Comments must be submitted on or before 
July 5, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Crisp, Area Manager, Dixie 
Resource Area, 345 E. Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84770. Existing 
planning documents and information are available at the above address 
or telephone (801) 673-4654, Ext. 201. Comments on the proposed plan 
amendment should be sent to the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Dixie Resource Area of the Cedar City 
District, BLM, is proposing to amend the Virgin River MFP, to allow for 
land tenure adjustments not previously identified in the MFP. The main 
purpose is to identify and analyze lands that could be exchanged and 
result in acquisition of special status species habitat including 
desert tortoise habitat and to consider exchange criteria under which 
future land exchanges could take place. Lands transferred out of 
Federal ownership to private, state and municipal interests, as a 
result of the exchanges would be available to meet the various needs of 
the respective parties. Where there are specific uses proposed on lands 
identified for exchange, those uses will be analyzed. This would 
include the potential use of public lands as an area for water overflow 
storage associated with the Sand Hollow Reservoir that is proposed to 
be built on adjacent private land. An Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) will be prepared to analyze the impacts of this proposal and 
alternatives. This notice begins the BLM planning scoping process. 
Additional public meetings and scoping will occur during the 
development of this EIS.
    Preliminary planning issues have been identified to consist of 
possible adverse impacts to public lands once removed from public 
ownership, conflicts or controversy surrounding the use of public lands 
for the ``overflow'' of water from adjacent private lands, economic 
impacts, impacts on other natural resource and special status species 
from land disposal.
    The following preliminary planning criteria have been identified 
and set the parameters under which land exchanges may take place:
    1. The action results in a net gain of important and manageable 
resource values on public land such as Desert Tortoise and other T&E 
species habitat, crucial wildlife habitat, significant cultural sites, 
high quality riparian area, live water, or areas key to the maintenance 
of productive ecosystems.
    2. The action ensures the accessibility of public lands in areas 
where access is needed and cannot otherwise be obtained.
    3. The action is essential to allow effective management on public 
lands in areas where consolidation of ownership is necessary to meet 
resource management objectives.
    4. The action results in acquisition of lands that serve a national 
priority as identified in Federal policy directives.
    The following disciplines will be utilized for interdisciplinary 
input through out the NEPA process: Archeologist, Lands and Realty 
Specialist, Wildlife Biologist, Range Conservationist, Botanist, 
Mineral Specialist and Geologist, Certified Appraiser, Engineer, 
Planning Specialist, Soils Scientist and Hydrologist.
    The present land use plan for the Dixie Resource Area is the Virgin 
River Management Framework Plan (MFP) prepared in 1977. This land use 
plan is being revised and updated through preparation of a newer and 
more comprehensive Dixie Resource Management Plan (RMP) but the 
completion date is uncertain at this time. The planning amendment now 
being initiated will amend either the Virgin River MFP or the Dixie 
RMP, which ever is the current document at the time this amendment is 
completed.
G. William Lamb,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 95-13618 Filed 6-2-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P