[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 64 (Friday, April 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16570-16571]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8781]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[OR-050-1610-00; GP8-0139]


Criterion/Tenmile Creek Resource Management Plan Amendment for 
the Two Rivers Resource Management Plan, Wasco County, OR

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an amendment to the Two Rivers 
Resource Management Plan.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with 43 CFR 1610.2, the Deschutes Resource Area 
of the Prineville District, announces that a proposed plan amendment 
and associated environmental impact statement to address management 
options for the Criterion Ranch area is being prepared. The proposed 
management plan will provide long term direction, allocate resources 
and provide a basis for authorizing, restricting or prohibiting land 
use on approximately 15,000 acres of Bureau managed lands. Public 
comments on the scope of the analysis, planning issues, alternatives to 
be considered, analysis techniques and further public participation 
activities and forums will be accepted for 60 days from the date of 
this notice at the address shown below.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Description of the proposed planning action: To amend the 1986 
Two Rivers Resource Management Plan (RMPA). The planning amendment will 
be based on existing statutory requirements and policies, and will 
carry out the requirements of the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976 (FLPMA). The Criterion RMPA and Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) will provide a basis for modifying the Two Rivers RMP 
to provide specific management direction for approximately 13,000 acres 
of newly acquired land adjacent to or associated with the lower 
Deschutes River. The actual plan amendment planning area will also 
address management options on an additional 2,000 acres of public land 
contiguous with the acquired tracts. The amendment will include 
identification of closed vehicular areas; clarification of the type and 
seasons of livestock use, if any; management for diverse and healthy 
ecosystems; and identification for the types of recreational use that 
will be authorized and restrictions of the same. In addition, portions 
of the consolidated federal lands will be evaluated for potential 
suitability as areas of special designation, such as Wilderness Study

[[Page 16571]]

Areas or Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.
    2. Identification of the geographic area involved: The planning 
area involved within the Two Rivers RMP amendment includes 
approximately 13,000 acres of public lands near the Criterion Summit, 
midway between Shaniko Junction (junction of Highways 197 and 97) and 
the City of Maupin, and approximately 2,000 acres along Tenmile Creek, 
just west of Shaniko Junction in southern Wasco and northern Jefferson 
counties.
    3. General types of issues anticipated: Issues expected to be 
addressed in the plan amendment would include access, vegetation 
management, and areas of special designation.
    4. Disciplines to be represented and used to prepare the RMP 
amendment will include: botany, cultural resources, range, fire 
management, fisheries, recreation, noxious weeds, wildlife, hydrology, 
economics, and land use planning.
    5. The kind and extent of public opportunities provided: Several 
public scoping meetings will be held in the spring of 1998 and will be 
announced through news media and a mailed scoping document. Two field 
tours of the acquisition are also planned for the spring of 1998 and 
will be announced through the media. Public participation will be 
carried out through document and public review periods to be announced 
through the Federal Register and local newspapers. Interested parties 
will receive a scoping mailer. Estimated mailing time is April 1998. 
Additional copies will be available at: Prineville District Office, 
3050 NE 3rd St., Prineville, Oregon 97754, phone 541-416-6700.
    6. Times, dates and locations for anticipated public meetings and 
field tours: When scheduled, pertinent information will be published in 
local newspapers such as The Bend Bulletin, The Central Oregonian, The 
Oregonian, The Redmond Spokesman, The Dalles Chronicle and others. 
Public input through written comments and public workshops will be 
emphasized.
    7. Name, title, address and telephone number of the Bureau of Land 
Management official who may be contacted for further information: J.C. 
Hanf, Project Lead, 3050 NE 3rd St., P.O. Box 550, Prineville, Oregon 
97754, phone 541-416-6700. The responsible line official is Jim Kenna, 
Deschutes Resource Area Manager, who may be reached at the same address 
and phone number.
    8. Location and availability of documents relevant to the planning 
process: Many, if not all, of the planning documents and supporting 
records are expected to be available in both paper and an electronic 
format, including a District Internet address (to be determined). 
Additional copies of published documents and the supporting record will 
be available at: Prineville District Office, 3050 NE 3rd St., 
Prineville, Oregon 97754, phone 541-416-6700 during normal working 
hours. Published documents will also be available for public review in 
the Public Room at the Oregon State Office, 1515 SW 5th Ave., Portland, 
Oregon 97201, phone 503-952-6000. Public and interagency comments on 
the plan amendment and associated analysis, including names and 
addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the 
above address as part of the supporting record. Individual respondents 
may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or 
street address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom 
of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent 
allowed by law. All submissions for organizations or businesses, and 
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials 
of organizations or business, will be made available for public 
inspection in their entirety.

    Date: March 26, 1998
James L. Hancock,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-8781 Filed 4-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M