[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 135 (Friday, July 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 36755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17704]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[CA-017-05-1220-00]


Proposed Resource Area Management Plan Amendment, Bishop Resource 
Area, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to amend the Bishop Resource Area Management 
Plan.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) 
and the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.5-5), 
notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will 
consider a proposed amendment to the Bishop Resource Area Managment 
Plan.
    The proposed plan amendment would evaluate the potential wilderness 
suitability of eight Section 202 Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) in the 
Bishop Resource Area. An environmental assessment would be prepared to 
identify the environmental consequences of this action and determine 
whether an Environmental Impact Statement is needed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bishop Resource Area proposes to 
determine if eight Section 202 WSAs potentially qualify for wilderness 
designation based on the mandatory criteria of the Wilderness Act of 
1964 (PL 88-577). The WSAs were designated in 1979. They qualified for 
WSA designation only when considered in combination with similar 
wilderness values of adjacent United States Forest Service wilderness 
study areas. The Forest Service referred to their study areas as ``RARE 
II Further Planning Areas''.
    Without the adjoining Forest Service lands, the Bureau's Section 
202 WSAs would not have met minimum size requirements and outstanding 
opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation opportunities.
    The Forest Service RARE II areas were identified as nonsuitable for 
wilderness and released from further wilderness review.
    The Bureau proposes to determine each Section 202 WSA's wilderness 
suitability potential as per the Wilderness Act criteria, recommend an 
administrative land use designation based on wilderness suitability 
potential, and prepare an environmental assessment.
    The Section 202 WSAs to be evaluated are located in Inyo and Mono 
Counties. Several contain multiple land parcels. The WSAs include the 
following:

1. CA-010-060--Paiute WSA--(3 parcels--7,600 total acres)
2. CA-010-063--Coyote Southeast WSA--(5 parcels--3,211 total acres)
3. CA-010-065--Black Canyon WSA--(3 parcels--total 6,518 acres)
4. CA-010-068--Wheeler Ridge WSA--(2 parcels--3,197 total acres)
5. CA-010-072--Laurel-McGee WSA--(1 parcel--110 acres)
6. CA-010-075--White Mountain WSA--(9 parcels--1,260 total acres)
7. CA-010-077--Benton Range WSA--(2 parcels--4,052 total acres)
8. CA-010-103--Sweetwater WSA--(1 parcel--960 acres)

    Public participation is an integral part of the planning and 
environmental review process. For 30 days commencing the date of this 
notice, citizens are formally requested to identify issues related to 
wilderness value identification, including designation recommendations 
for the Section 202 WSAs. Relevant comments will be incorporated into 
the planning process and environmental assessment. Upon completion of 
the draft plan amendment and environmental assessment, a 60 day public 
comment period will take place.

DATES: Citizens are invited to submit or provide any information that 
may help the Bureau prepare this amendment and environmental 
assessment. Written comments must be submitted no later than August 12, 
1996, to the following address: Ms. Genivieve D. Rasmussen, 785 N. Main 
Street, Ste. E, Bishop, CA 93514. Citizens submitting comments will 
automatically be included on a mailing list to receive a copy of the 
Proposed Plan and Environmental Assessment when available.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Genivieve D. Rasmussen, Bishop 
Resource Area, 785 N. Main St., Ste. E, Bishop, CA 93514. Telephone: 
(619) 872-4881.

Genivieve D. Rasmussen,
Area Manager, Bishop Resource Area.
[FR Doc. 96-17704 Filed 7-11-96; 8:45 am]
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