[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13681-13682]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7332]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CA-066-08-1610-00]


Proposed South Coast Resource Management Plan Amendment, Palm 
Springs-South Coast Field Office, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and 
the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2), notice 
is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will prepare 
an environmental assessment and proposed

[[Page 13682]]

South Coast Resource Management Plan amendment affecting public lands 
within the Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office management area. The 
proposed plan amendment would consist of three separate amendments. 
Amendment One would change the disposal categories of two parcels of 
BLM public land from R for retention to P for protective disposal. 
Amendment Two proposes to designate three existing Stephens' Kangaroo 
Rat core reserves in western Riverside County as Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACEC). Amendment Three proposes to adjust the 
boundary of the Santa Ana River Wash ACEC from 755 to 595 acres.

DATES: Citizens are requested to help identify significant issues or 
concerns related to the proposed plan amendments. Recommendations from 
citizens regarding additional plan amendments may also be considered, 
for example, new ACECs or changing land use designations. Comments must 
be submitted no later than April 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Please submit your comments in writing to the following 
address: Ms. Julia Dougan, Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management, 
Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, P.O. Box 1260, North Palm 
Springs, CA 92258-1260. Citizens submitting comments will automatically 
be included in the mailing list to receive a copy of the Proposed Plan 
Amendments and Environmental Assessment when available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elena Misquez, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Palm Springs-
South Coast Field Office, telephone (760) 251-4800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The affected public land parcels in 
Amendment One are located in Township 5 South, Range 4 West, Section 22 
(19.8 acres; BLM parcel No. 176-221), and in portions of Sections 29, 
31, 32, Township 8 South, Range 2 West and part of Section 6, Township 
9 South, Range 2 West (970.94 acres; BLM parcel No. 219-291). The BLM 
is proposing to change the disposal category of these two parcels from 
R for retention to P for protective disposal, in which these lands 
would be made available for disposal from BLM stewardship provided the 
new land owner will compensate or protect any sensitive resources 
contained on those lands. If the proposed amendment is approved, these 
lands would then be transferred to the Bureau of Indian Affairs by Act 
of Congress for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission 
Indians.
    Amendment Two. In 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service granted 
a Section 10(a) permit to the Riverside County Habitat Conservation 
Agency (RCHCA) which allowed take of the federally-listed-as-endangered 
Stephens' kangaroo rat (SKR) thereby facilitating new construction in 
western Riverside County. To compensate for the loss of the SKR, seven 
core reserves were established by the RCHCA for the protection of SKR 
habitat. Negotiations are in progress such that BLM may take 
responsibility for managing three of these core reserves. To be 
consistent with the management objectives for which the SKR reserves 
were established, BLM proposes to designate the three core reserves as 
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. The three core reserves are 
located as follows: (1) Estelle Mountain Reserve in portions of 
Sections 13, 14, 22-24, Township 4 South, Range 6 West; in portions of 
Sections 18-20, 29-33 Township 4 South and 5 West; in portions of 
Sections 4-8, Township 5 South, Range 5 West; (2) Badlands Core Reserve 
in portions of Sections 2, 4 and 10, Township 3 South, Range 2 West; 
(3) Steele Peak Reserve in portions of Sections 4, 9, 20, Township 5 
South, Range 4 West, and portions of Sections 27, 32, Township 4 South, 
Range 4 West.
    Amendment Three. The Santa Ana River Wash ACEC contains an 
illegally created pit in the NE \1/4\ of Section 10, Township 1 South, 
Range 3 West. This quarter section (160 acres) does not contain 
pristine Alluvial Sage Scrub habitat. The BLM proposes to drop this 
quarter section from the ACEC and to make this land available for 
exchange to acquire more biologically viable areas.
    Nothing in this Proposed Plan shall have the effect of terminating 
any validly issued rights-of-way or customary operation, maintenance, 
repair, and replacement activities in such rights-of-way in accordance 
with Sections 509(a) and 701(a) of the Federal Land Policy Management 
Act of 1976.

    Dated: March 13, 1998.
Julia Dougan,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-7332 Filed 3-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P