[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 217 (Thursday, November 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57697-57698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27675]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CA-017-1920-00-4686]


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

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Plan Amendments to the Bishop Resource 
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) 
proposes two plan amendments to the Bishop Resource Area Management 
Plan.
    The first proposed plan amendment would correct the administrative 
status and release from further wilderness review eight Section 202 
Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) in the Bishop Resource Area. The WSAs 
would no longer be managed under Wilderness Interim Management Policy 
and would be subject to prescriptions in the Bishop Resource Management 
Plan (1993).
    The second proposed plan amendment would identify a parcel of land 
in Inyo County, CA for disposal to the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and 
Power as part of the land exchange to acquire the Manzanar National 
Historic Site. The parcel, known as the Owens River parcel, is 259.03 
acres. In addition, the proposed Manzanar exchange includes one of the 
Section 202 WSA parcels to be released from wilderness review.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The eight WSAs are comprised of twenty-seven 
separate parcels. On their own merit, none qualify for wilderness 
study. All but one parcel is less than 5,000 acres, which is the 
minimum required for wilderness study. This one exception fails to meet 
the outstanding opportunities criterion for solitude or primitive and 
unconfined types of recreation which is also required for wilderness 
study status.
    In 1979-80, the eight areas were designated as WSAs in association 
with adjoining Forest Service WSAs. The BLM areas met the criteria for 
wilderness study status only because they were considered in 
combination with adjacent Forest Service WSAs. The Forest Service has 
subsequently removed their WSAs from wilderness study status. The 
recent Forest Service action has compelled the Bureau to undertake a 
plan amendment to release the eight WSAs from further wilderness study.
    The Section 202 WSAs to be released lie in Inyo and Mono Counties. 
Several contain multiple land parcels. The WSAs include the following:

1. CA-010-060--Paiute WSA--(3 parcels)
2. CA-010-063--Coyote Southeast WSA--(6 parcels)
3. CA-010-065--Black Canyon WSA--(3 parcels)
4. CA-010-068--Wheeler Ridge WSA--(2 parcels)
5. CA-010-072--Laurel-McGee WSA--(1 parcel)
6. CA-010-075--White Mountain WSA--(9 parcels)
7. CA-010-077--Benton Range WSA--(2 parcels)
8. CA-010-103--Sweetwater WSA--(1 parcel)
    The Owens River parcel, identified for inclusion in the Manzanar 
Land Exchange is located in Inyo County, east of the Owens River, and 
south of Tinemaha Reservoir. The legal description is: T.11S, R.35E., 
Sec. 30, Lots 5, 8, 9, 12, and 13; Sec. 31, Lots 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 
SE\1/4\NW\1/4\. The area measures 259.03 acres.
    The Bishop Resource Area will send out copies of the amendment(s) 
if requested. Review copies of the document(s) are available at public 
libraries in the communities of Lone Pine, Independence, Bishop, 
Mammoth Lakes, and Bridgeport.

DATES: These proposed plan amendments may be protested only by parties 
who participated in the process. Protests must be sent to the Director 
(480), Bureau of Land Management , Resource Planning Team, 1849 C 
Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20240. Protests must be postmarked within 
30 days of the date of this proposed decision. Protests must minimally 
contain the following information: (1) The name, mailing address, 
telephone number, and interest of the person filing the protest; (2) A 
statement of the issue or issues being protested; (3) A statement of 
the

[[Page 57698]]

part or parts being protested; (4) A copy of all documents addressing 
the issue(s) for the record; and (5) A concise statement why you 
believe the BLM State Director's decision is incorrect.
    At the end of the 30 day protest period, the proposed plan 
amendments excluding any portion under protest, will become final. 
Approval will be withheld on any portion of the plan under protest 
until final action has been completed on such protest.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Genivieve D. Rasmussen, Bishop 
Resource Area, 785 N. Main., Ste E, Bishop, CA 93514. Telephone (619) 
872-4881.
Genivieve D. Rasmussen,
Area Manager, Bishop Resource Area.
[FR Doc. 96-27675 Filed 11-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P