[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28593-28594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14009]



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

[[Page 28594]]


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[CO-050-1610-00]


Notice of Availability; Royal Gorge Resource Area Approved 
Resource Management Plan and Record of Decision

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Canon City District provides announces the availability of 
the approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) and Record of Decision 
(ROD) for the Royal Gorge Resource Area. This RMP/ROD supersedes the 
existing management framework plans and other related documents for 
managing BLM-administered public lands located in southeastern 
Colorado. The approved RMP contains decisions for managing 653,000 
acres of Federal surface estate and 2,566,000 acres of Federal 
subsurface mineral estate within Baca, Bent, Chaffee, Crowley, Custer, 
El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Kiowa, Lake, Las Animas, Otero, Park, 
Prowers, Pueblo and Teller Counties.

DATES: The effective date of the RMP/ROD was May 13, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the RMP/ROD are available upon request by writing 
to the Bureau of Land Management, Royal Gorge Resource Area, 3170 East 
Main Street, Canon City, CO 81212 or by calling (719) 269-8500.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Levi Deike, Area Manager or Pete 
Zwaneveld, Land-Use Planner at the above address and phone number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Royal Gorge RMP/ROD is essentially the 
same as the Royal Gorge Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (PRMP). No changes to the proposed 
decisions have been made. Some clarifying language, however, has been 
included as a result of four protests that were received on the PRMP. 
Approval of the plan resulted in the designation of nine Areas of 
Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). The following lists the ACECs, 
the acreage designated, and the area's significant resources: (1) 
Arkansas Canyonlands--23,921 acres--botanical, cultural, recreational, 
visual and wildlife resources; (2) Beaver Creek--12,081 acres--
recreational, visual and wildlife resources; (3) Browns Canyon--11,697 
acres--cultural, recreational, visual and wildlife resources; (4) 
Cucharas Canyon--1,866 acres--cultural, riparian and visual resources; 
(5) Droney Gulch--705 acres--sensitive plants; (6) Garden Park--2,728 
acres--cultural, paleontological, riparian and wildlife resources and 
sensitive plants; (7) Grape Creek--15,978 acres--riparian, 
recreational, visual and wildlife resources; (8) Mosquito Pass--4,036 
acres--visual resources and sensitive plants; and (9) Phantom Canyon--
6,096 acres--cultural, recreational, riparian, visual and wildlife 
resources.
    Special management will be provided to minimize surface disturbing 
activities (e.g., motorized vehicle limitations, mineral development 
restrictions, etc.) that would adversely affect the significant values 
within these nine areas. Integrated Activity Plans will be prepared to 
detail these protective measures.
Kenneth L. Smith,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-14009 Filed 6-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P