[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 94 (Friday, May 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 27102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12586]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

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


Notice of Availability of Final 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 Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final 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 Final EIS is 
prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. This 
notice announces the availability of the Final EIS for public review.

DATES: Protests concerning the Final EIS must be received by June 15, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Protests concerning the Final EIS should be mailed to 
Director (210), Bureau of Land Management, Attention: Brenda Williams, 
1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240. Requests to receive a copy of 
the Final EIS should be made to Jim Morrison, Rangeland Health 
Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, 2135 Butano Drive, Sacramento, 
CA 95825-0451 or phone (916) 978-4642.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jim Morrison at (916) 978-4642.

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 a Draft 
EIS. A Draft EIS was issued May 27, 1997 and provided 90 days for 
public review and comment. The comments received were analyzed and 
considered in the development of the Final EIS. The comments and BLM's 
response are included in the Final EIS document.
    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 Final 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 five alternatives sets of rangeland S&Gs considered in 
the Final 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, (4) a set of 
S&Gs for rapid improvement and recovery of rangeland health and (5) a 
set of S&Gs as the preferred alternative. The Final EIS analyzes the 
environmental, social, and economic impacts for each alternative.
    This document will also amend 19 existing land use plans in 
California and portions of Northwestern Nevada. The proposed plan 
amendments may be protested only by parties who participated in the 
planning and analysis process and may only protest issues that had been 
previously raised on the Draft EIS. Protests must be sent to the 
Director (210), Bureau of Land Management, Attention: Brenda Williams, 
1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240. Protests must be postmarked 
no later than June 15, 1998. Protests must minimally contain the 
following information.
    1. The name, mailing address, telephone number, and interest of the 
person filing the protest.
    2. A statement of the issue or issues being protested.
    3. A statement of the part or parts being protested. Cite pages, 
paragraphs, maps, etc. of the proposed action where practical.
    4. A copy of all documents addressing the issue(s) that the 
protestant submitted during the draft EIS process, or a reference to 
the date when the protestant discussed the issue(s) for the record.
    5. A concise statement why the protestant believes the BLM State 
Director's proposed action is incorrect.
    At the end of the 30-day protest period, the proposed action, 
excluding any portion under protest will become final. A Record of 
Decision will be issued for non-protested portions of the proposal, 
amending land use plans. Approval will be withheld on any portion of 
the proposal under protest until a final action has been completed on 
such protest.
    No formal public hearings or meetings are anticipated.

    Dated: May 6, 1998.
Carl Rountree,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources.
[FR Doc. 98-12586 Filed 5-14-98; 8:45 am]
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