[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2258-2259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-846]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WY-030-1990-00]


Environmental Statements; Availability Etc: Carbon County, 
Wyoming

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment for a 
Planning Review of the Shirley Mountain Area, Carbon County, Wyoming, 
and Proposed Changes to the Off Road Vehicle Designation Decisions for 
the Area.

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SUMMARY: The Shirley Mountain planning review area contains 
approximately 44,380 acres of public land administered by the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) and located approximately 40 miles northwest of 
the town of Medicine Bow, all in Carbon County, Wyoming. The planning 
review is being conducted to determine the advantages and impacts to 
the public land, and resource management and uses resulting from a 
proposed amendment to the Great Divide Resource Management Plan (RMP). 
The proposed plan amendment would change the current Off Road Vehicle 
(ORV) designation in the area from ``limited to existing roads and 
trails'' to ``limited to designated roads and trails.'' Depending upon 
resource management needs, the actual roads that would be open to 
travel would be subsequently identified and, as necessary, periodically 
modified by future management actions and needs.

DATES: The 30 day comment/review period for the environmental 
assessment will begin the day following the publication of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed in writing to the Great Divide 
Resource Area, Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Karla Swanson, Area

[[Page 2259]]

Manager, 1300 North Third Street, Rawlins, Wyoming, 82301.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested parties may direct 
questions or concerns to and obtain further information from either 
Sarah Crocker or John Spehar, who can be visited at the above address 
or reached by telephone (307) 328-4200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The need for an ORV designation change 
within the planning area is based upon recommendations made by the 
Shirley Mountain Technical Committee and previously completed studies/
plans. In 1985, the BLM completed a Habitat Management Plan (HMP) for 
the Shirley Mountains. The HMP recommends that several two-track trails 
be closed to motorized vehicle travel because they are fragmenting 
wildlife habitat, are unnecessary for adequate public access to public 
lands, and/or had associated erosional problems. In 1994, the Wyoming 
Game and Fish Department completed a habitat analysis for the Shirley 
Mountain area identifying habitat problems impacting wildlife 
populations and potential solutions. The study found that the majority 
of hiding cover for large game animals was heavily dissected by a 
system of roads and trails. Security areas for these animals during 
hunting season were very limited. The study recommended that future BLM 
management restrict the construction of new roads and that a plan be 
developed to manage recreational road and trail use and reduce their 
proliferation.
    Included in the planning review is a Wild and Scenic Rivers (WSR) 
review of the planning area. The preliminary findings of the WSR 
review, documented in the appendix of the subject environmental 
assessment, are that one parcel of BLM administered public land meets 
the WSR eligibility criteria; however, none of the public lands in the 
planning review area have been found to meet any of the WSR suitability 
factors. Therefore, none of the public lands in the planning review 
area should be given further consideration for inclusion in the Wild 
and Scenic Rivers System.

    Dated: January 5, 1998.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 98-846 Filed 1-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P