[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 250 (Friday, December 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 68289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-32924]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[CA-060-7122-00-D063; CACA 35800]


California Desert District; Availability of Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS); U.S. Army's Land Acquisition Project for the 
National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California; Proposed Withdrawal 
of Public Lands and Proposed Amendment to the California Desert 
Conservation Area Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of draft environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) Department of the Interior has prepared, by third 
party contractors to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles 
District, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) analyzing the 
impacts to the human environment of the U.S. Army's proposed expansion 
of the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin. The NTC is located 
approximately 35 miles northeast of Barstow in north-central San 
Bernardino County, California. The proposed action is (1) the 
withdrawal and transfer of jurisdiction to the U.S. Army of 
approximately 310,296 acres of public lands managed by the BLM, and (2) 
an amendment of the California Desert Conservation Area Plan. This DEIS 
analyzes environmental impacts of the proposed action, five 
alternatives and the no action alternative, and identifies mitigation 
measures. This DEIS was prepared to comply with the Council on 
Environmental Quality's regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) for 
implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 43 U.S.C. 
1701.

DATES: A ninety (90) day public review and comment period on the DEIS 
and proposed plan amendment begins on January 3, 1997. Written comments 
relating to the DEIS will be accepted until April 4, 1997. Written or 
oral comments may also be presented at the five public meetings to be 
held in February 1997 at the following locations and times:

San Bernardino, February 6, 1997, 7:00 p.m.--County Government 
Center, County Supervisors Hearing Room, 385 North Arrowhead Avenue, 
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Victorville, February 13, 1997, 7:00 p.m.--Victorville City Hall, 
City Council Chambers, 14343 Civic Drive, Victorville, CA 92392
Barstow, February 18, 1997, 7:00 p.m.--Barstow City Hall, City 
Council Chambers, 220 East Mountain View Avenue, Barstow, CA 92311
Baker, February 20, 1997, 2:00 p.m.--Baker Community Center, Baker 
Blvd., Baker, CA 92309
Sacramento, February 24, 1997, 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.--Sacramento 
City Hall, City Council Chambers, 915 ``I'' Street, Sacramento, CA 
95814

    The public meetings will be conducted in two parts. At each 
location, a one-half hour ``open house'' will precede the formal public 
hearing. During the open house, information about the proposed action 
and the environmental review process will be provided by the Army and 
BLM representatives. Comments on the DEIS will be recorded only during 
the public hearing part.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the BLM, Barstow Resource Area 
Office, Attention: Mike DeKeyrel, Project Manager, 150 Coolwater Lane, 
Barstow, CA 92311. Written comments relating to the DEIS will be 
accepted if postmarked no later than April 4, 1997.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Army proposed action was developed from 
an Army Land Use Requirements Study (LURS) completed in 1985 and 
updated in 1993, which determined that an additional 222,000 net 
maneuverable acres are needed for the National Training Center's combat 
training mission.

    The BLM has not selected a lead Federal agency preferred 
alternative in this DEIS. After public review and consideration of the 
comments to the DEIS, the BLM will select a preferred alternative in 
the Final EIS.
    Under the Engle Act of February 28, 1958, 43 U.S.C. 155-158, 
military withdrawals of over 5,000 acres are subject to Congressional 
review. This DEIS and the public review will enable the BLM and the 
Army to develop recommendations on the proposed action through 
completion of a Final EIS and Records(s) of Decision. The 
recommendations will be reviewed by the Secretary of the Interior in 
coordination with the Department of Defense.
    Copies of an executive summary of the DEIS, and the entire DEIS 
document including technical appendices, are available for review at 
the BLM Barstow Resource Area Office at the above address; at the BLM 
California Desert District Office, 6221 Box Springs Blvd., Riverside, 
CA 92507; and at the BLM California State Office, 2135 Butano Drive, 
Sacramento, CA 95825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike DeKeyrel, Project Manager at the 
above Barstow Resource Area address and at (619) 255-8730.

    Dated December 20, 1996.
Molly S. Brady,
Assistant District Manager, Planning and Renewable Resources.
[FR Doc. 96-32924 Filed 12-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-M