[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 88 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24970-24971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11852]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[UT-080-07-1990-00]


Notice of Intent To Amend the Diamond Mountain Resource 
Management Plan

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, DOI.

ACTION: Notice of intent to amend the Diamond Mountain Resource 
Management Plan.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to amend the 
Diamond Mountain Resource Management Plan (DMRMP) to define the 
appropriate level of management prescriptions for the BLM administered 
acreage located to the west of the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge in 
Uintah County, Utah. An environmental assessment would be prepared to 
address the potential impacts that activities allowed under the current 
RMP decisions may have on the adjoining wildlife refuge. The EA would 
be prepared by an interdisciplinary team and would address issues 
including but not limited to, land use, mineral development, wildlife, 
cultural resources, and special status plant and animal species. The EA 
and accompanying plan amendment would provide the basis for redefining 
the management prescriptions determined necessary to maintain viable 
use and management of the public lands by the BLM and to avoid creating 
an impediment to the management objectives of the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (USFWS) in managing the wildlife refuge.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed plan amendment will commence 
with the date of publication of this notice. All comments must be 
submitted on or before June 6, 1997.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM administers approximately 4,907.05 
acres of land located west of the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, 
including approximately 815 acres which are submerged under Pelican 
Lake. The Ouray National Wildlife Refuge encompasses an area of 
approximately 11,827 acres and is managed by the USFWS for the purposes 
of producing waterfowl and providing habitat for migratory birds. 
Management objectives of the refuge have been impaired by high levels 
of selenium which accrue in the ponds within the refuge. Studies 
conducted by the USFWS assert that the high selenium levels result from 
water seepage through shale formations which underlie the surrounding 
area and that various types of land uses on the BLM administered 
acreage west of and upgradient to the refuge induce increases in 
selenium levels. The EA would address those activities currently 
allowed under the decisions of the DMRMP which could contribute to 
increased selenium and the plan amendment would serve to redefine which 
uses may continue to be authorized and which actions may continue to 
occur on the public land acreage. The decisions being reviewed pertain 
only to the following described public lands:

T. 7 S., R. 20 E., SLM, Utah
    Sec. 19, lots 3, 4, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 20, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 21, SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, E\1/2\;
    Sec. 28, N\1/2\N\1/2\;

[[Page 24971]]

    Sec. 29, N\1/2\, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, lots 1-4, NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, SE\1/
4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 31, lots 1-4, E\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 33, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 35, lots 1-4, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/4\.
T. 8 S., R. 20 E., SLM, Utah
    Sec. 3, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 4, lot 1, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 5, lots 3-7, SE\1/2\NW\1/4\, SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, lots 1-4, N\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 9, S\1/2\;
    Sec. 10, N\1/2\;
    Sec. 17, lots 1, 2.

    Public participation will be actively sought to ensure that the EA 
addresses all issues, problems, and concerns from those interested in 
the management of the public lands described above. The development of 
the EA is a public process and the public is invited and encouraged to 
assist in the identification of issues. Formal public participation 
will be requested upon the completion of the EA and the publishing of 
the notice of availability in both the Federal Register and local 
newspapers.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David E. Howell, District Manager, 
Vernal District Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah 84078; 
telephone (801) 781-4400. Existing planning documents and information 
are available for review at the above address. Comments on the proposed 
plan amendment should be sent to the above address.

    Dated: April 30, 1997.
G. William Lamb,
State Director, Utah.
[FR Doc. 97-11852 Filed 5-6-97; 8:45 am]
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