[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 170 (Friday, August 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45981-45982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22146]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[OR-015-96-1610-00: G6-0204]


High Desert Management Framework Plan Amendment and Record of 
Decision for Lake Abert Area of Critical Environmental Concern, Notice 
of Availability

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, DOI.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act, section 202(f) of the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act, and 43 CFR part 1610, the Lakeview District has completed the plan 
amendment process covering a proposal to designate the Lake Abert and 
the surrounding vicinity as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern 
(ACEC). The final decision and special management actions to be 
implemented have been documented in a combined Approved Plan Amendment/
Record of Decision (ROD) document and are available for review.
    The Approved Plan Amendment addresses resource management over the 
next 10-15 years for approximately 123,000 acres of public land and 
101,700 acres of reserved mineral estate administered by the BLM 
located approximately 30 miles north of the town of Lakeview, Oregon. 
That portion of the planning area officially designated as an ACEC 
includes approximately 49,900 acres of BLM-administered lands.

DATES: The ACEC designation and management direction specified in the 
Approved Plan Amendment/ROD is effective August 30, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Whitman, BLM, Lakeview District 
Office, P.O. Box 151, Lakeview, Oregon 97630 (Telephone: 541-947-6110). 
Copies of the Approved Plan Amendment/ROD may also be obtained by 
contacting this person at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Approved Plan Amendment/ROD focuses on 
management goals, objectives, and special management direction for BLM-
administered lands within about 49,900 acres of public lands designated 
as an ACEC. Four resource values (wildlife, visual, cultural, and 
ecological processes) were found to require special management 
attention within the ACEC area. Major management changes include: 
restricting off-highway vehicle (OHV) use (to existing roads and 
trails), salable and locatable mineral extraction, and new rights-of-
way (ROW) location within the entire ACEC. Additional seasonal or 
temporary OHV closures could occur within the ACEC in the future, but 
would require the publication of separate Federal Register notices. OHV 
use has previously been restricted within approximately 14,500 acres of 
the ACEC area by earlier Federal Register notices (dated December 28, 
1981, and January 22, 1988). This OHV designation represents a net 
change of approximately 35,400 acres formerly classified as open within 
the Lakeview Resource Area in these Federal Register notices, now being 
classified as limited. This notice fulfills the requirements of 
Executive Orders 11644 and 11989 and 43 CFR Part 8340.
    Livestock grazing would continue to be restricted within that 
portion of Abert Rim Wilderness Study Area (WSA) falling within the 
ACEC (approximately 7,500 acres), as well as within most riparian zones 
and ecologically sensitive areas (approximately 1,500 acres) within the 
ACEC. Mineral leasing would be closed within the northern portion of 
the ACEC (approximately 18,000 acres) and restricted within the 
remainder of the ACEC (approximately 31,900 acres).
    With the exception of visual resource management (VRM), management 
activities within the remainder of the planning area (approximately 
73,100 acres) would not change from that specified in the existing land 
use plan.

[[Page 45982]]

VRM classifications for the entire planning area would be more 
accurately categorized as follows: Class I (approximately 22,925 
acres), Class II (approximately 57,690 acres), and Class III 
(approximately 42,380 acres).
    Those individuals, organizations, native American tribes, and 
agencies with a known interest in the plan have been sent a copy of the 
Approved Plan Amendment/ROD. Reading copies of the document are 
available at the Lake, Klamath, and Harney County, Oregon, libraries 
and at the following BLM locations: Office of External Affairs, Main 
Interior Building, Room 5600, 18th and C Streets, NW, Washington DC 
20240, and Public Room, Oregon State Office, 1515 SW 5th, Portland, 
Oregon 97201. Persons desiring a copy of the document should contact 
the point of contact listed above.

    Dated July 22, 1996.
Mark Lawrence,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-22146 Filed 8-29-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P