[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 155 (Friday, August 11, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 41097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19847]



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


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Cowhead/Massacre Management Framework Plan; California

AGENCY: Surprise Resource Area Office, Bureau of Land Management, 
Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent--proposed amendment of Cowhead/Massacre 
Management Framework Plan.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to 43 CFR 1601.3 and 40 CFR 1501.7, notice is hereby 
given that the Surprise Resource Area, Cedarville, California of the 
Susanville District, Bureau of Land Management, Susanville, California, 
will consider an amendment to the Cowhead/Massacre Management Framework 
Plan (MFP) adopted in 1983. This amendment will consider domestic sheep 
grazing and reintroduction of California bighorn sheep on an area known 
as the Massacre Mountain grazing allotment.
    The Cowhead/Massacre MFP has several decisions related to domestic 
sheep grazing and bighorn reintroduction in the Massacre Mountain 
Allotment. These decisions allocated adjacent portions of the allotment 
to existing cattle and domestic sheep operations and for the future 
reintroduction of California bighorn sheep. A Habitat Management Plan 
for a portion of the allotment was completed by the Bureau in 
cooperation of the Nevada Division of Wildlife in 1984 and provided for 
the reintroduction of California bighorn sheep into an area known as 
High Rock Canyon. Since the Cowhead/Massacre MFP was adopted in 1983, 
the general consensus among wildlife biologists and veterinarians 
working with domestic and bighorn sheep disease issues is that direct 
contact between the two types of sheep should be avoided to prevent 
transmission of diseases. The current Bureau of Land Management policy 
regarding domestic and bighorn sheep calls for a nine mile buffer 
between the two species.
    Early in 1995, the grazing privileges associated with domestic 
sheep use of the Massacre Mountain Allotment were relinquished by the 
permittee to the Bureau of Land Management. The Nevada Division of 
Wildlife has requested permission to reintroduce bighorn sheep into the 
allotment during the winter of 1995-1996. The Reno Chapter of Nevada 
Bighorns Unlimited has requested that the Cowhead/Massacre be amended 
to prevent future licensing of domestic sheep grazing within the 
allotment to ensure that no direct contact between reintroduced bighorn 
and domestic sheep occurs in the future.
    At least two alternatives will be considered in an Environmental 
Assessment: (1) Amend the Cowhead/Massacre MFP to only allow for cattle 
use on the Massacre Mountain Allotment. (2) Do not amend the MFP (No 
Action). Other alternatives may be developed as a result of comments 
received through the scoping process. An interdisciplinary team 
consisting of specialists in wildlife biology and rangeland management 
will consider the environmental issues of livestock/bighorn 
interactions and the appropriate class of livestock for the allotment 
in the analysis.
    Dates: The preparation of the Environmental Assessment will be 
completed by September 1995 and the amendment, including public and 
Nevada Governor's review would be complete by November 1995.
    Public Participation: Opportunities for public input and comments 
will be solicited through the media, a mailing, and personal contacts.
    For Further Information Contact: Susan Stokke, Area Manager, 
Surprise Resource Area, Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 460, 
Cedarville, California 96104, Telephone (916) 279-6101.
Susan T. Stokke,
Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-19847 Filed 8-10-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-M