[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 211 (Monday, November 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58749-58750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-29285]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[UT-069-1990-00]


San Juan and Grand Resource Management Plans; Notice of Intent


AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) and amend the San Juan Resource Management Plan (SJRMP)and the 
Grand Resource Management Plan (GRMP). Call for information on 
potential Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) and Wild and 
Scenic Rivers (W&SR).

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[[Page 58750]]

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement to consider proposed amendments to the 
SJRMP and the GRMP in the Lockhart Basin Area of San Juan County, Utah.

DATES: Public comment opportunities for identification of issues for 
the proposed plan amendment will commence with the date of publication 
of this notice. Comments must be submitted on or before December 2, 
1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent Walter, Monticello Field Office 
Manager, Bureau of Land Management, 435 North Main Street, P.O. Box 7, 
Monticello, Utah 84535, telephone (801) 587-1500. Comments on issues to 
be addressed in the proposed plan amendment should be sent to the above 
address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 10, 1997, the San Juan Resource 
Area (SJRA) of the Moab District published in the Federal Register, a 
Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) level plan 
amendment for the SJRMP. This EA level amendment was originally 
proposed in order to provide additional recreational guidance for 
portions of the SJRMP in the Indian Creek Area and Canyon Basins 
Special Recreation Area, citing that since the completion of the SJRMP 
in March 1991, significant increases in recreation use has led to 
degradation of sensitive resources including riparian areas, cultural 
sites, visual resources etc. Upon publication of the Federal Register 
Notice, a public scoping effort was intiated.
    Additionally, on January 13, 1998, the Moab and Monticello Field 
Offices, published in the Federal Register, a second Notice of Intent 
to prepare an EA level plan amendment for the Lockhart Basin area. The 
preliminary issues for this amendment involved visual resources, 
wildlife relative to current oil and gas categorization and resulting 
conflicts with other sensitive resource values.
    It is the determination of the Bureau of Land Management that the 
public scoping efforts for both of these proposed amendments have 
identified significant concerns that should be addressed in an EIS 
amendment format and should include cross jurisdictional issues between 
the two BLM Field Offices. Issues that have been identified to be 
addressed in the new EIS level amendment are as follows:
    (a) Livestock re-classification and forage reallocation for bighorn 
sheep to enhance bighorn sheep management and reduce interspecies 
conflict.
    (b) Potential reclassification of current oil and gas categories to 
enhance wildlife habitat protection and visual resource management,
    (c) The implication of increased recreation use on BLM administered 
public lands in relation to Canyonlands National Park,
    (d) The potential designation of Areas of Critical Environmental 
Concern, and inventory/classification of Wild and Scenic Rivers,
    (e) Potential Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) closures in areas known to 
cause degradation of sensitive resources,
    (f) Review and possible incorporation of Utah Rangeland Health 
Standards as appropriate,
    (g) Re-evaluation of Visual Resource Management (VRM) Classes.
    (h) Consideration of the need for mineral withdrawal in certain 
portions of the area.
    (i) Special management considerations in support of long term 
research and monitoring.
    A separate activity level (site specific) camping facilities plan 
for the Indian Creek area is still under preparation and will continue. 
This plan is considered in conformance with the current SJRMP and will 
be incorporated by reference into the proposed SJRMP Amendment.
    This notice provides an opportunity for the public to participate 
in the revised EIS level plan amendment. Additional comment 
opportunities on the revised scope of this project will be available as 
the planning/NEPA process continues.
    No additional planning criteria are proposed for this effort beyond 
those previously identified in the SJRMP or GRMP.
    This notice is also to advise the public that the BLM is seeking 
additional public input regarding potential areas that could be 
considered for either ACEC designation and or W&SR study and 
evaluation, as well as to seek additional public input on those areas 
that have already been nominated within the Lockhart Basin area. The 
Bureau of Land Management will determine what areas, if any, should be 
designated as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC). To be 
considered as a potential ACEC, and analyzed in a management plan 
alternative, an area must meet the criteria of ``relevance and 
importance'' as established and defined in 43 CFR 1610. An area meets 
the ``relevance'' criteria if it contains one of more of the following: 
(1) Significant historic, cultural, or scenic values, (2) fish and 
wildlife resource (including sensitive species, or it's relative 
habitat or habitat essential for maintaining species diversity), (3) 
natural processes or systems (including rare, endemic, relic plants or 
communities and riparian areas), and (4) natural hazards such as severe 
avalanche, flooding, seismic activity, etc.
    The ``importance'' criteria is used to insure that a specific 
resource or value, process or hazard has substantial significance and 
values. Importance can be characterized as follows: (1) Being more than 
locally significant, having special worth, (2) having qualities or 
circumstances that make it fragile, sensitive, rare, irreplaceable, 
unique, endangered or threatened, meaningful or distinctive, (3) has 
been recognized as warranting protection in order to satisfy national 
priorities or to carry out the mandates of FLPMA, and (4) has qualities 
which warrant concern to satisfy public or management concerns 
regarding public welfare and safety.
    All ACEC nominations will receive a preliminary evaluation by an 
interdisciplinary team to determine if the area meets the ``relevance'' 
and ``importance'' criteria. Nominations should include descriptive 
materials, detailed maps and evidence supporting the relevance and 
importance of the resource. Additionally, public nominations are also 
being sought for those river segments which may be eligible for 
inclusion into the National Wild & Scenic River System.
    In order to be considered, the body of water must be free flowing. 
A river segment can be determined free flowing if it is a flowing body 
of water, estuary, or section, portion, or tributary thereof including, 
rivers, streams, creeks, runs, kills, rills, and small lakes. River 
segments can be any size and must be existing or flowing in natural 
conditions without major modification. All nominations should be 
accompanied by detailed maps and descriptions.

    Dated: October 27, 1998.
Douglas M. Koza,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 98-29285 Filed 10-30-98; 8:45 am]
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