[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 208 (Friday, October 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 55313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27271]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[AZ-050-96-1610]


Notice of Availability of a Proposed Yuma District Resource 
Management Plan Amendment, Finding of No Significant Impact, and 
Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability, notice of comment period, notice of 
protest period.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, the Bureau of Land Management, Yuma District, Havasu Field 
Office, has prepared a Yuma District proposed plan amendment and 
environmental assessment (EA) that assesses the impacts of a proposed 
transmission line between Kingman, Arizona and Lake Havasu City, 
Arizona. The 230 kV transmission line has been proposed to go through 
the Crossman Peak Natural Scenic Area. This EA describes and analyzes 
the proposed project and project alternatives, including the no action 
option. Furthermore, the route through the Crossman Peak Natural Scenic 
area, if approved, will involve amending the Yuma District Resource 
Management Plan. This notice is intended to invite the public to 
comment on the analysis of impacts presented in the proposed plan 
amendment and EA.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted for up to 30 days following 
the publication of this notice. Any comments received by the close of 
the comment period will be evaluated and those letters that identify 
issues, where clarification or discussion is required, will be 
addressed in the Decision Record (DR). Copies of this DR will be 
provided to any person or agency commenting, or to other interested 
parties, upon written request. Furthermore, the resource management 
planning process includes an opportunity for administrative review 
through a plan protest to the BLM Director. Only those persons or 
organizations who participated in the planning process leading to this 
proposed plan amendment may protest. The subject of the proposed plan 
amendment is the route through the Crossman Peak Natural Scenic Area, 
therefore, this is the only route that may be protested. The protest 
period extends for 30 days from the date of publication of this notice. 
Protest must be made in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR 
1610.5-2. Comments on the overall project should be sent to the Havasu 
Resource Area office at the address listed below. Protest letters 
concerning the route across the Crossman Peak Natural Scenic area 
should be sent to the Director of the BLM, Department of the Interior, 
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C Street N.W., Washington D.C. 20240.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the overall project to: Bureau of Land 
Management, Kingman Field Office, 2475 Beverly Avenue, Kingman, 
Arizona, 86401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Wadsworth Realty Specialist, 
Kingman Field Office. Telephone: (520) 757-3161.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area is located in northwestern 
Arizona. The proposed plan amendment is part of an overall project 
which proposes construction of a transmission line between Kingman and 
Lake Havasu City. Based on the issues and concerns identified during 
scoping, the EA focuses on impacts to wildlife management, visual 
quality, unique vegetation, Native American religious concerns, access, 
and urban planning. The proposed plan amendment is needed because one 
alternative route goes through the Crossman Peak Natural Scenic Area. A 
portion of another alternative route is within the city limits of Lake 
Havasu City, Arizona. The primary concerns for the route through the 
Scenic Area are the impacts on visual quality and the potential impact 
to Native American religious concerns. The issues for the other 
alternative deal mostly with the proximity of the route to Lake Havasu 
City, Arizona. For all routes it is anticipated that a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) will be issued. The rationale for issuing a 
FONSI will be based on the analysis and mitigation measures described 
in the Proposed Plan Amendment and Environmental Assessment.

    Dated: October 17, 1996.
Michael A. Ferguson,
Acting State Director, Arizona.
[FR Doc. 96-27271 Filed 10-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P