[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68294-68295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32807]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[ID-040-1610-00]


Availability of the Challis Proposed Resource Management Plan 
(RMP) and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Idaho.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976, section102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, and BLM Planning Regulations (43 CFR part 1600), 
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Upper Columbia--Salmon Clearwater 
Districts has prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan/Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (Proposed RMP/Final EIS) for the Challis 
Resource Area. The Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS has been published 
and is available for public review by requesting a copy from the 
address indicated in the ADDRESSES section below.
    The Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS describes and analyzes the BLM's 
proposed plan for managing approximately 792,657 acres of BLM public 
lands in the Challis Resource Area, located in Custer and Lemhi 
counties of east-central Idaho. When implemented, the Challis RMP would 
replace the three Management Framework Plans currently used by the 
Challis Resource Area. The Challis RMP would also amend the Little 
Lost-Birch Creek Management Framework Plan (BLM 1981) by designating 
the Donkey Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), which 
includes 4,714 acres managed by the Upper Snake River District--BLM in 
Butte County, Idaho.

DATES: Written comments on the Final EIS for the Challis Proposed RMP 
must be submitted or postmarked no later than Tuesday, January 19, 
1999. Written protests on the Challis Proposed RMP must also be 
submitted or postmarked no later than Tuesday, January 19, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS may be obtained 
upon request by contacting the Bureau of Land Management, Route 2, Box 
610, Salmon, Idaho 83467; phone (208) 756-5400. Written comments on the 
Final EIS should be addressed to Kathe Rhodes, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Route 2, Box 610, 
Salmon, Idaho 83467. Protests of the Challis Proposed RMP must be filed 
with the Director, Bureau of Land Management; Attention: Ms. Brenda 
Williams, Protests Coordinator; WO-210/LS-1075; Department of the 
Interior; Washington, DC 20240. A description of protest procedures may 
be obtained from Kathe Rhodes, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, 
Bureau of Land Management, Route 2, Box 610, Salmon, Idaho 83467; phone 
(208) 756-5440.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kathe Rhodes, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, Bureau of Land 
Management, Route 2, Box 610, Salmon, Idaho 83467; phone (208) 756-
5440. Documents relevant to the Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS planning 
process are available for public viewing at the Salmon BLM office on 
Highway 93 South, Salmon, Idaho.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS describes 
and analyzes the BLM's proposed plan for addressing the planning issues 
and management concerns identified through public involvement and BLM 
input. The Proposed RMP proposes resource condition objectives, land 
use allocations, and management actions and direction to guide resource 
management of the Challis Resource Area on a long term, sustainable 
basis during the next 15 to 20 years.
    The Proposed RMP/Final EIS describes changes from and corrections 
to the Challis Draft RMP/EIS (BLM, May 1996), updates the discussion of 
the affected environment, provides an analysis of environmental 
consequences for the Proposed RMP, records public comments on the Draft 
RMP/EIS, and documents the BLM's responses to those comments. The 
Proposed RMP is based on the Preferred Alternative (Alternative 2) 
described in the Challis Draft RMP/EIS, as modified in response to 
public and tribal comments and internal BLM recommendations. When 
compared with the Preferred Alternative, the Proposed RMP increases the 
level of protection to aquatic, riparian, and upland resources by 
limiting off-highway vehicle use to exisitng roads, vehicle ways, and 
trails thorughout the Resource Area. The Proposed RMP also clarifies 
numerous decisions, and thereby improves the BLM's ability to implement 
effective management in order to address resource concerns and improve 
resource conditions. Finally, the Proposed RMP includes an emphasis on 
integrated resource activity planning and watershed assessment, in 
order to ensure that individual project proposals are considered within 
the context of broader landscape issues.
    The Proposed RMP includes decisions related to two types of 
designations: (a) The Proposed RMP describes the BLM's Wild and Scenic 
River suitability findings for rivers within the Challis Resource Area; 
and (b) the Proposed RMP designates public lands as Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACECs). The Proposed RMP would continue to 
designate approximately 13,968 acres within existing ACECs, in order to 
highlight unique plant communities, paleontological resources, fragile 
soils and a bighorn sheep population for management and protection; 
these existing ACECs include 5,975 acres of existing Research Natural 
Areas (RNAs). The Proposed RMP would expand one existing ACEC by 322 
acres. The Proposed RMP would also designate approximately 73,916 acres 
within seven additional ACECs, in order to highlight the following 
resources for management and protection: unique plant communities; 
fragile soils; a geologic area of interest; unique riparian habitats; 
fisheries habitats; roadless primitive and scenic values; crucial 
bighorn sheep and elk habitats; and unique cultural resources. 
Approximately 3,871 acres of Research Natural Areas would be designated 
within these seven additional ACECs.
    Following a 30-day public review period, a concurrent 30-day 
protest period, a concurrent 60-day Governor's review, and resolution 
of written protests or concerns raised during these protest and review 
periods, the BLM will prepare a Record of Decision for the approved 
RMP. The public will be notified in the Federal Register when the 
Record of Decision for the Challis RMP becomes available.
    Comments on the protests of the Challis Proposed RMP/Final EIS, 
including the names and street addresses of respondents, will be

[[Page 68295]]

available for public review at the Salmon BLM Office on Highway 93 
South in Salmon, Idaho during regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 4:15 
p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents 
may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or 
street address from public review or disclosure under the Freedom of 
Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your written comment or protest. Such request will be honored to the 
extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be 
made avaialble for public inspection in their entirety.

    Dated: December 4, 1998.
Fritz U. Rennebaum,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-32807 Filed 12-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-M