[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)] [Notices] [Page 65352] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-30731] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management Notice of Availability of the Proposed Planning Criteria for Amending Idaho Land Use Plans for Rangeland Health Standards and Guidelines AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability of the proposed planning criteria for amending Idaho land use plans to adopt standards for rangeland health and guidelines for grazing management in Idaho and to adopt ecosystem- based management strategies from the Upper Columbia River Basin (UCRB) EIS. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Pursuant to 43CFR 1610.4-2, the Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Office, announces the availability of proposed planning criteria for amending Land Use Plans in Idaho to include standards and guidelines for Rangeland Health as directed in 43 CFR 4180.2. And to adopt ecosystem-based management strategies from the Upper Columbia River Basin (UCRB) EIS. The public is invited to review and comment on the proposed criteria. DATES: Comments on the proposed criteria will be accepted through January 31, 1996. ADDRESS: Comments should be sent to the Idaho State Director, Attn: Dave Brunner, 3380 Americana Terrace, Boise, Idaho 83706-2500. Copies of the proposed criteria may be obtained from and Idaho, BLM office. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Planning criteria, a requirement of the BLMB Planning Regulations, will guide the development of appropriate land use plan modifications and associated NEPA compliance documentation to incorporate standards and guidelines being developed to ensure rangeland health (as required by BLM Grazing Regulations, 43 CFR Part 4, 1780 and 4100, effective August 21, 1995) and other appropriate recommendations which may be included in the Upper Columbia River Basin Environmental Impact Statement (UCRB EIS), currently being prepared. The following general planning criteria will be used for this process: * All planning actions and decisions will consider the goals of BLM's Grazing Regulations; improve rangeland health, help build stable economies, and enhance stakeholder participation. * All planning actions will ensure that the following established fundamentals for rangeland health are incorporated: 1. Watersheds are in, or are making significant progress toward properly functioning physical condition. 2. Ecological processes are maintained or there is significant progress toward their attainment. 3. Water quality complies with state water quality standards. 4. Habitats are, or are making significant progress, toward being restored or maintained for threatened or endangered species. * Planning actions will be driven by the statements of purpose and need from the UCRB EIS and the NEPA compliance process used to analyze the proposed rangeland standards and guidelines. * Standards proposed for incorporation into land use plans will be measurable and used to assess progress toward achieving the goals and fundamentals related to rangeland management. * Planning actions will be responsive to the issues identified by the public during the UCRB EIS formal scoping process and other comments received concerning the development of rangeland standards and guidelines. * Planning actions resulting from the UCRB EIS will be based upon the data provided in the Scientific Assessment for Ecosystem Management in the Interior Columbia River Basin and on other published, peer- reviewed scientific literature. * The detail and specificity of the alternative management strategies will be limited to that necessary to address the identified needs for the action. Dated: December 12, 1995. J. David Brunner, Deputy State Director for Resource Services. [FR Doc. 95-30731 12-18-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 1020-GG-M