[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 100 (Friday, May 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 28494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13301]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CA-930-06-1020-00 [4000/1790]]


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
and Proposed Plan Amendment to Land Use Plans in the Development of 
Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Management on 
Public Lands in California and Northwestern Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in California has 
available a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) to address 
Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Grazing Management as 
provided in BLM's grazing regulations (43 CFR part 4100) and to amend, 
as necessary, existing Land Use Plans in the State. The Draft EIS is 
prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. This 
notice announces the availability of the Draft EIS for public review 
and comment.

DATES: Comments concerning the Draft EIS must be received by August 31, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments to the Draft EIS and requests to receive a copy of 
the Draft EIS should be mailed to Rangeland Health Coordinator, Bureau 
of Land Management, 2135 Butano Drive, Sacramento, CA 95825-0451.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Morrison at (916) 979-2830.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM opened an initial scoping period on 
March 25, 1996, closing on April 24, 1996 and due to public desires, 
reopened the scoping period on August 5, 1996, closing September 4, 
1996. Information taken during the scoping periods, information 
developed from BLM's Resource Advisory Councils (RACs), and other 
information, both existing and new, were used to formulate alternatives 
and to analyze the impacts to the environment as documented in the 
Draft EIS.
    As indicated in the previous notices of intent, BLM is required by 
grazing management regulations (43 CFR part 4100), effective August 21, 
1995 to develop state-wide Standards for Rangeland Health and 
Guidelines for Grazing Management. The final selected Standards and 
Guidelines (S&Gs) will be incorporated into existing Land Use Plans as 
plan amendments. The draft EIS is tiered to the national EIS which was 
completed in early 1995 during the development of the above referenced 
regulations. The development of rangeland S&Gs for the public owned 
rangelands in Southern California are not included in this effort and 
will be developed later in conjunction with the development of 
coordinated management plans.
    There are four alternative sets of rangeland S&Gs considered in the 
Draft EIS including: (1) a set of S&Gs from each of three RACs which 
constitutes the proposed action, (2) a consolidated state-wide set of 
S&Gs, (3) a set of fall-back S&Gs as references in the regulations and 
constitutes the no action alternative, and (4) a set of S&Gs for rapid 
improvement and recovery of rangeland health. The Draft EIS analyzes 
the environmental, social, and economic impacts for each alternative.
    The public is invited to comment on the Draft EIS as to the 
adequacy of the analysis, suggest modifications and provide 
recommendations to consider in finalizing EIS and development of plan 
amendments. No formal public hearings or meetings are anticipated.

    Dated: May 12, 1997.
Carl Rountree,
Acting Deputy State Director,Ecosystem Sciences and Lands.
[FR Doc. 97-13301 Filed 5-22-97; 8:45 am]
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