[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 42052]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20562]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[ID-015-06-1610-00]


Owyhee Resource Area, ID; Resource Management Plan, etc.

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Draft Resource Management Plan and 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS); and Proposed Area of 
Environmental Concern (ACEC) Designations.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management and section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a draft Resource 
Management Plan (RMP) and associated draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Owyhee Resource Area. The draft RMP/EIS 
addresses alternatives for management on 1.3 million acres of BLM 
administered public lands in southwest Idaho. Consideration of 19 areas 
for Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) designation, 
including one area located partially in Oregon, is addressed in the 
draft document. This notice, therefore, is also issued pursuant to 43 
CFR Part 1610.7-2(b) of the BLM Planning Regulations. The draft 
document also addresses suitability of wild, scenic and recreational 
designations on 223 miles of stream segments determined to be eligible 
for such designations under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Members of 
the public, other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and 
Indian Tribes are invited to review and comment on the draft document. 
Written comments received during the comment period will be considered 
in preparation of the Proposed RMP and Final EIS. Public information 
meetings will be announced at a later date.

DATES: The 90-day comment period provided for in 43 CFR Part 1600 (BLM 
Planning Regulations) will remain open until November 15, 1996. Written 
comments may be submitted at any time during the comment period to the 
Boise Field Office.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: Owyhee Area Manager, 
Bureau of Land Management, Boise Field Office, 3948 Development Avenue, 
Boise, ID 83705. Copies of the draft RMP/EIS are available at this 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Carlson, Area Manager; or Fred 
Minckler, Team Leader at the address above. Telephone (208) 384-3300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Owyhee draft RMP/EIS describes and 
analyzes four alternatives for managing 1,319,651 acres of BLM 
administered public lands in western Owyhee County, Idaho. The Owyhee 
Resource Area encompasses 1,779,405 acres including State and private 
lands. The land use planning effort addresses a broad spectrum of land 
uses and allocations including wild horse management, land tenure 
adjustments, off-highway motorized vehicle (OHMV) designations, wild, 
scenic and recreational river designations, and areas of critical 
environmental concern (ACECs). Nineteen areas ranging in size from 113 
acres to 148,360 acres and totaling 291,868 acres are being considered 
for ACEC designation. Two of the areas are currently designated as 
ACECs. One of the areas under consideration totaling 2,393 acres 
contains 775 acres in Oregon. Designation of this area in Oregon as an 
ACEC requires amending the Northern Malheur Management Framework Plan, 
the land use plan prepared by the BLM Vale District in Oregon. 
Documentation for amending that plan is incorporated into the Owyhee 
RMP/EIS. Resource use limitations vary among alternatives for each area 
and pertain to OHMV designations, rights-of-way, livestock management, 
juniper control, fire management and minerals activities.

    Dated: August 6, 1996.
David Vail,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-20562 Filed 8-12-96; 8:45 am]
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