[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 52 (Friday, March 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10783-10784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6166]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[CA-066-06-1610-00]


Proposed California Desert Conservation Area Plan Amendment, Palm 
Springs--South Coast Resource Area, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and 
the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR1610.2), notice 
is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared 
an environmental assessment and proposed California Desert Conservation 
Area plan amendment affecting public lands within the Palm Springs--
South Coast Resource Area, southern California. Citizens are requested 
to review and provide comments on the proposed amendment and 
environmental assessment. BLM proposes to expand the boundaries of two 
existing Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC): the Big 
Morongo Canyon ACEC (No. 50) and the Salt Creek Pupfish/Rail Habitat 
ACEC (No. 60). The Salt Creek ACEC would be renamed the Dos Palmas 
ACEC.


[[Page 10784]]

DATES: Citizens are requested to provide written comments on the 
proposed amendment and environmental assessment no later than May 14, 
1996 to the following address: Ms. Julia Dougan, Area Manager, Bureau 
of Land Management, Palm Springs--South Coast Resource Area, 63-500 
Garnet Avenue, North Palm Springs, CA 92258-2000.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like to receive a copy 
of the Proposed Plan and Environmental Assessment, contact Ms. Elena 
Misquez, Bureau of Land Management, Palm Springs--South Coast Resource 
Area, 63-500 Garnet Avenue, North Palm Springs, CA 92258-2000; 
telephone (619) 251-4826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Big Morongo Canyon ACEC currently 
includes 3,705 acres of public land just east of Highway 62, and 7 
miles north of Interstate 10, San Bernardino County. BLM proposes to 
expand the ACEC to approximately 29,000 acres to establish a corridor 
between the BLM-managed public lands and Joshua Tree National Park, 5 
miles due east. The proposed ACEC expansion would protect sensitive 
plant and wildlife habitat and wildlife movement corridors. The legal 
description for the Big Morongo Canyon ACEC expansion is as follows:

Lots 1, 2, 5, 6, SE\1/4\ NE\1/4\, W\1/2\ NW\1/4\, S\1/2\ above 
boundary of San Gorgonio Wilderness Area, Sec. 36, T.1 N., R.4 E., 
SBM. S\1/2\ SE\1/4\ SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\ SE\1/4\, Sec. 13; E\1/
2\ SE\1/4\ SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\ SE\1/4\ SE\1/4\, Sec. 22; SE\1/4\ NE\1/
4\, S\1/2\ SW\1/4\, E\1/2\ SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\ SE\1/4\, Sec. 23; E\1/2\ 
NE\1/4\, S\1/2\ NW\1/4\, S\1/2\, Sec. 24; Sec. 25-26 All; NE\1/4\, 
S\1/2\ SW\1/4\ NE\1/4\ NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\ NE\1/4\ NW\1/4\, S\1/2\ 
SE\1/4\ NW\1/4\ NW\1/4\, S\1/2\, Sec. 27; S\1/2\ SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, 
SE\1/4\, Sec. 28; S\1/2\ SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\, E\1/2\ NE\1/4\ 
SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\ SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, S\1/2\ NE\1/4\ SE\1/4\, 
S\1/2\ SE\1/4\, Sec. 32; N\1/2\ NE\1/4\, E\1/2\ SW\1/4\ NE\1/4\, 
E\1/2\ NW\1/4\ SW\1/4\ NE\1/4\ SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\ NE\1/4\, E\1/2\ NE\1/
4\ NW\1/4\, E\1/2\ W\1/2\ NE\1/4\ NW\1/4\, S\1/2\ SE\1/4\ NW\1/4\, 
S\1/2\, Sec. 33; Secs. 34-36 All, T.1 S, R.4 E SBM. Secs. 1-5 All; 
N\1/2\, E\1/2\ SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\ Sec. 9; Secs. 10-12 All, T.2 S, R.4 
E SBM. Sec. 6-7 All; W\1/2\ NE\1/4\ NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\, W\1/2\ NW\1/4\ 
NE\1/4\, N\1/2\ NW\1/4\, E\1/2\ NE\1/4\ SE\1/4\ NW\1/4\, W\1/2\ W\1/
2\ SE\1/4\ NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\ NW\1/4\, W\1/2\ NW\1/4\ NE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, 
NW\1/4\ SW\1/4\, N\1/2\ SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\, 
Sec. 8; Sec. 16-17 All; Lots 4, 11, 16, 17, 22, 23, 28, 29, 34, 35, 
40, E\1/2\, E\1/2\ NW\1/4\, E\1/2\ SW\1/4\ Sec. 18; Secs. 19-21 All; 
Secs. 28-33, T.1 S, R.5 E SBM. Secs. 4-9 All; Secs. 16-18 All; NE\1/
4\ above aqueduct Sec. 19; N\1/2\, E\1/2\ SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\ Sec. 20; 
Sec. 21
    All; Lots 1-5 Sec. 26; Sec. 27 All below aqueduct; N\1/2\, N\1/
2\ SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\ SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\, N\1/2\ NW\1/4\ SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\, 
SE\1/4\ NW\1/4\ SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\, N\1/2\ SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\, 
N\1/2\ SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, N\1/2\ SW\1/4\ SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\ 
SE\1/4\ SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\, Sec. 28, T.2 S, R.5 E SBM.
    The following management prescriptions are proposed: The 
powerline access road in Little Morongo Canyon leading to the 
southwest end of Yucca Valley will remain open to motorized vehicle 
use, bicycles, equestrian use, hunting, and pets on a leash. Vehicle 
travel will be limited to the existing road. OHV use off that road 
will be prohibited. Big Morongo Canyon will remain closed to public 
motorized vehicle use, bicycles, pets and hunting. Equestrian use 
will be allowed on designated trails in Big Morongo Canyon. Due to 
the low mineral material value and sensitive resources contained 
therein, mineral material sales would not be in the public's 
interest and will not be offered. The ACEC would continue to be 
closed to livestock grazing.

    The Salt Creek Pupfish/Rail Habitat ACEC (4,288 acres) is located 
northeast of the Salton Sea and Highway 111 in Riverside County. The 
ACEC would be renamed as the Dos Palmas ACEC. The ACEC boundary would 
be expanded to 14,880 acres to include additional public lands and 
lands acquired by The Nature Conservancy for the protection of 
sensitive plant, wildlife and cultural resources. The legal description 
for the Dos Palmas ACEC is as follows: Sec. 34 All T.7 S, R.11 E SBM.; 
Secs. 2-4, 9-16, 21-28, 35--All, T.8 S, R.11 E, SBM. Secs. 18, 19, 30--
All, T.8 S., R.12 E. SBM. The following management prescriptions are 
proposed: The width of the utility corridor which runs through the ACEC 
will be reduced to one mile to avoid areas with sensitive resources and 
still allow room for any future utility line development. The ACEC will 
be closed to public motorized vehicle use except along Dos Palmas Road 
to allow public access. Due to the low mineral material value and 
sensitive resources contained therein, mineral material sales would not 
be in the public's interest and will not be offered. The ACEC will 
remain closed to livestock grazing. The discharge of firearms will be 
disallowed except for the legal take of game. Pets shall be kept on a 
leash at all times. The palm oases within the ACEC will be closed to 
bicycles and equestrian use.
    Nothing in this Proposed Plan shall have the effect of terminating 
any validly issued rights-of-way or customary operation, maintenance, 
repair, and replacement activities in such rights-of-ways within the 
ACEC boundaries in accordance with Sections 509(a) and 701(a) of the 
Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976.

    Dated: March 8, 1996.
Julia Dougan,
Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-6166 Filed 3-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P