[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 210 (Tuesday, October 31, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55380-55381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26968]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[UT-934-95-1610-00]


Dixie Resource Area Draft Resource Management Plan and 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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ADDRESSES: Copies of the Dixie Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DRMP/DEIS) may be obtained from the 
following Bureau of Land Management (BLM) locations: BLM, Utah State 
Office, 324 South State, Information Access Center (4th Floor), Salt 
Lake City, Utah, telephone (801) 524-4110; Cedar City District Office, 
176 East DL Sargent Drive, Cedar City, Utah 84720, telephone (801) 865-
3053; Dixie Resource Area Office, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, 
Utah 84770, telephone (801) 673-4654.
    Comments must be received by the Dixie Resource Area Office at the 
above address by Wednesday, January 31, 1996.

SUMMARY: In accordance with section 102 of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1970, section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 and 43 CFR part 1610, a draft resource 
management plan/draft environmental impact statement for the Dixie 
Resource Area, Cedar City District, Utah, has been prepared and is 
available for review and comment. The DRMP/DEIS describes and analyzes 
future options for managing 629,005 acres of public land and an 
additional 49,130 acres of Federal mineral estate in Washington County, 
Utah. The DRMP/DEIS also examines the potential for designations of 
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) and Wild and Scenic 
Rivers. Decisions generated during this planning process will supersede 
land use planning guidance presented in the Virgin River Management 
Framework Plan and subsequent amendments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Everett, Team Leader, or Jim 
Crisp, Area Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Dixie Resource Area 
Office, 345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84770, telephone 
(801) 673-4654.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DRMP/DEIS analyzes four alternatives to 
resolve the following three major issues: (1) What is the most 
appropriate use of public lands where rapid urban development is 
generating problems with the management of natural resources? (2) What 
will the future management be for outdoor recreation on public lands? 
(3) How will proposed water storage projects influence natural resource 
management? Each alternative represents a complete management plan for 
the area. The alternatives can be summarized as (A) no action or change 
from current management, (B) emphasis on development and production, 
(C) the preferred alternative, which is a balanced mix of management 
choices, and (D) emphasis on preservation of biological systems and 
scenic values.

Areas of Critical Environmental Concern Considered

    Eleven potential ACECs were considered. The proposed acreage of 
these units varies by alternative and is displayed on the following 
table:

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                                                                                                                    Proposed acreage by alternative     
                   Area name                                           Critical concern                      -------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                  A          B          C          D    
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Red Bluff......................................  Endangered plant species (dwarf bear-poppy); saline soils..          0          0      6,185      6,185
Warner Ridge-Fort Pearce.......................  Endangered plant species (dwarf bear-poppy, siler cactus);           0          0      4,200      4,200
                                                  saline soils; riparian system; candidate animal species                                               
                                                  (spotted bat, gila monster); waterfowl, raptors, and non-                                             
                                                  game species.                                                                                         
Santa Clara River-Gunlock......................  Cultural resources; candidate fish (Virgin River                     0          0      2,015      2,015
                                                  spinedace); riparian systems; wildlife habitat (including                                             
                                                  southwestern willow flycatcher habitat).                                                              
Santa Clara River-Land Hill....................  Cultural resources; candidate fish (Virgin River                     0          0      1,605      1,605
                                                  spinedace); riparian systems; wildlife habitat (including                                             
                                                  southwestern willow flycatcher habitat).                                                              
Lower Virgin River.............................  Riparian system; endangered fish (woundfin minnow and                0          0      1,825      1,825
                                                  Virgin River chub); cultural resources (Virgin River                                                  
                                                  Anasazi riverine sites); wildlife habitat.                                                            
Little Creek Mountain..........................  Cultural resources (Virgin Anasazi upland sites)...........          0          0     19,405     19,405
Canaan Mountain................................  High scenic values; cultural resources (Virgin Anasazi               0          0     31,395     31,395
                                                  sites).                                                                                               
Red Mountain...................................  High scenic value..........................................          0          0      4,960      4,960
Beaver Dam Slope...............................  Threatened animal species (desert tortoise); National                0          0     27,440     25,240
                                                  Natural Landmark; scientific research; desert ecosystem.                                              

[[Page 55381]]
                                                                                                                                                        
City Creek.....................................  Threatened animal species (desert tortoise); wildlife                0          0      2,605     22,790
                                                  habitat; scientific research; desert ecosystem.                                                       
Upper Beaver Dam Wash..........................  Watershed; riparian values.................................          0          0     33,125     33,125
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    Management prescriptions for the proposed ACECs vary by alternative 
and are described in the DRMP/DEIS.

Wild and Scenic Rivers

    In Alternative A (No Action Alternative), BLM would not make a 
determination as to the suitability of the eligible river segments. In 
Alternative B, no eligible river segments would be recommended as 
suitable for Congressional designation into the National Wild and 
Scenic River System. In Alternative C (Preferred Alternative), six 
segments, totalling 49.81 public land river miles, could be determined 
suitable. In Alternative D, all of the eligible river segments could be 
determined suitable. The following table outlines the river segments, 
totalling 62.63 public land river miles, that were determined eligible 
for Congressional designation. The table also identifies, by 
alternative, which eligible river segments could be determined suitable 
and recommended to Congress for designation into the NWSRS.
      

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                                                                                                                           Potential suitability by     
                                                                     Length in                                                    alternative           
    Eligible river segments     Segment description public lands     miles \1\         Tentative classification      -----------------------------------
                                                                                                                         A        B        C        D   
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West Fork of Beaver Dam Wash..  Segment from the Nevada State              12.79  9.31 miles Wild...................  N        N        Y        Y      
                                 line to near Motoqua.                            3.48 miles Recreational...........  N        N        Y        Y      
La Verkin Creek/Smith Creek...  La Verkin Creek from where the             13.98  12.98 miles Wild..................  N        N        Y        Y      
                                 creek enters public lands to                     1.00 mile Recreational............  N        N        Y        Y      
                                 the north boundary of Zion                                                                                             
                                 National Park; then from below                                                                                         
                                 the Park boundary to near the                                                                                          
                                 confluence with the Virgin                                                                                             
                                 River. Smith Creek from Red                                                                                            
                                 Butte to confluence with La                                                                                            
                                 Verkin Creek.                                                                                                          
Virgin River..................  Segment A Virgin River--public             10.07  10.07 miles Recreational..........  N        N        N        Y      
                                 lands from the River's                                                                                                 
                                 beginning near Springdale, Utah                                                                                        
                                 to the Washington Fields                                                                                               
                                 Diversion.                                                                                                             
                                Segment B Virgin River--near                7.67  211 miles Wild....................  N        N        Y        Y      
                                 Atkinville south to the Arizona                  4.46 miles Scenic.................  N        N        Y        Y      
                                 state line.                                      1.10 miles Recreational...........  N        N        Y        Y      
Deep Creek/Crystal Creek......  Deep Creek from where the creek            11.69  11.69 miles Wild..................  N        N        Y        Y      
                                 enters public lands to the                                                                                             
                                 north boundary of Zion National                                                                                        
                                 Park. Crystal Creek from where                                                                                         
                                 the creek enters public lands                                                                                          
                                 to the confluence with Deep                                                                                            
                                 Creek.                                                                                                                 
Fort Pearce Wash..............  Fort Pearce Wash from near the              0.50  0.50 mile Scenic..................  N        N        N        Y      
                                 historic site downstream to                                                                                            
                                 where the free-flowing section                                                                                         
                                 ends.                                                                                                                  
Moody Wash....................  Segment B of Moody Wash below               0.25  0.25 mile Recreational............  N        N        N        Y      
                                 private lands and above its                                                                                            
                                 confluence with the Santa Clara                                                                                        
                                 River.                                                                                                                 
Santa Clara River.............  Segment B of the Santa Clara                2.00  2.00 miles Recreational...........  N        N        N        Y      
                                 River south and east of the                                                                                            
                                 Paiute Indian Reservation.                                                                                             
North Fork of the Virgin......  The North Fork of the Virgin                0.88  0.64 mile Wild north of Park......  N        N        Y        Y      
                                 River from where it enters                       0.24 mile Recreational south of     N        N        Y        Y      
                                 public lands in Washington                        Park.                                                                
                                 County to the confluence of the                                                                                        
                                 Virgin River.                                                                                                          
Oak Creek/Kolob Creek.........  River segments north of Zion                2.80  2.80 miles Wild...................  N        N        Y        Y      
                                 National Park.                                                                                                         
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\1\ Lengths are approximate and include public land only.                                                                                               

    Public meetings will be held on the following dates at the 
following locations: December 12, 1995, St. George, Dunford Auditorium, 
Val Browning Building, Dixie College, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; December 
13, 1995, Hurricane, Senior Citizen Center, 95 North 300 West, 7:00 
p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; December 14, 1995, Salt Lake City, Main Branch Salt 
Lake City Public Library Auditorium, 209 East 500 South, 6:30 p.m. to 
8:30 p.m.

    Dated: October 24, 1995.
G. William Lamb,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 95-26968 Filed 10-30-95; 8:45 am]
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