[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 34773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16888]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[ID-035-1110-00]


Revised Notice of Intent To Amend the Medicine Lodge Resource 
Management Plan (RMP)

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Revision of the original Notice of Intent to amend the Medicine 
Lodge RMP, and to prepare the supporting environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: In November, 1996, the BLM received requests from Fremont and 
Jefferson Counties to modify the terms and conditions of their existing 
rights-of-way for the Egin-Hamer Road. On December 19, 1996, the BLM 
published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent to consider 
amending the Medicine Lodge RMP. The scoping process officially ended 
on January 31, 1997. The right-of-way modifications proposed by the 
Counties would eliminate the existing seasonal closure from December 1 
through March 31 and allow the road to remain open year-round, subject 
to terms and conditions appropriate for protecting wintering elk. 
Modifying the seasonal limitations of the rights-of-way would require 
amending the Medicine Lodge RMP. An environmental assessment will be 
prepared to analyze the effects of the proposed right-of-way 
modifications and land use plan amendment.
    Based on formal scoping a new alternative was developed following 
collaboration among the Idaho Department of Fish & Game, BLM and both 
Counties. The new alternative to be analyzed is based upon (a) 
eliminating the current seasonal road closure as the Counties desire, 
(b) seasonally restricting human entry to existing main roads only 
within approximately 200,000 acres of BLM-administered land on both 
sides of the Egin-Hamer Road and (c) terms and conditions appropriate 
for protecting wintering elk. Securing a seasonal, area-wide closure on 
federal, state and private lands would require a combined effort by the 
BLM, Idaho Department of Lands and the Counties involved. County 
ordinances would be needed to enforce a closure on private lands. The 
contention is that such an alternative would allow year-round use of 
the road for the general public without increasing the net disturbance 
to wintering elk. Seasonal closure of land adjacent to the Egin-Hamer 
Road would also require amending the current land use plan and will, 
therefore, be considered in this Proposed Amendment/EA.

DATES: Although the scoping period has officially ended, several open 
houses are scheduled. Should unanticipated events require rescheduling 
any or all of the open houses, the changes will be noticed in local 
newspapers and letters to interested parties no less than 1 week prior 
to the revised date(s). Public open houses are scheduled to be held at 
the following locations and times:
    (1) 7/17/97 (Thursday)--Fremont County Courthouse, 1-5 p.m. and 7-9 
p.m.
    (2) 7/18/97 (Friday)--Jefferson County Courthouse, 1-5 p.m. and 7-9 
p.m.
    (3) 7/21/97 (Monday)--Clark County Courthouse, 1-5 p.m. and 7-9 
p.m.
    The open houses will allow the Counties, IDF&G and BLM to 
collectively provide information about the proposal to the public and 
to answer questions about the Counties' proposal prior to BLM 
completing and mailing the Proposed Amendment/EA. When completed 
(current time frame of August, 1997) the BLM will mail the Proposed 
Amendment/EA to members of the interested public for a 30-day review 
and comment period.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Gardetto, Bureau of Land 
Management, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401. (208) 524-
7545.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1988, rights-of-way were issued to 
Fremont County and Jefferson County for use along the Egin-Hamer Road. 
The 10-mile gravel road connects the communities of Egin and Hamer in 
southeastern Idaho (T.7N., R.38E., Boise Meridian). As early as 1983 
concerns about effects of vehicle travel on wintering elk populations 
prompted an eventual amendment to the Medicine Lodge Resource 
Management Plan. The September 1987 amendment closed the area to 
vehicle use from December 1 through March 31 of each year. The current 
seasonal closure of the Egin-Hamer Road, itself, was incorporated as 
one of the terms and conditions to the rights-of-way issued to the 
Counties.

    Dated: June 19, 1997.
Joe Kraayenbrink,
Area Manager, Medicine Lodge Resource Area.
[FR Doc. 97-16888 Filed 6-26-97; 8:45 am]
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