[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 15 (Monday, January 24, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3734-3735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1609]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR


Bureau of Land Management

[ID-015-1610-DG]

AGENCY:  Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:  Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the 
Owyhee Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (RMP/EIS).

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SUMMARY:  Pursuant to section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management and section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a Record of 
Decision (ROD) for the Proposed Owyhee Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
and Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The ROD documents 
approval of BLM's plan to manage the public lands within the Owyhee 
Resource Area during the next 15 to 20 years and beyond. The Owyhee RMP 
establishes direction for management on about 1.3 million acres of BLM 
administered public lands in the Owyhee Resource Area in southwest 
Idaho. The Owyhee RMP is the same as the Proposed Owyhee Resource 
Management Plan (Alternative E) published in July 1999.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  The Owyhee Resource Management Plan is effective 
December 30, 1999. Implementation of the Owyhee RMP will begin 
immediately. Some RMP decisions require immediate action while other 
decisions are identified for implementation during

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the life of the RMP. Some decisions will require action only when an 
activity is initiated.

ADDRESSES:  Copies of the Record of Decision are available at the BLM, 
Lower Snake River District Office, 3948 Development Avenue, Boise, ID 
83705.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Daryl Albiston, Field Manager; or 
Fred Minckler, Team Leader at telephone (208) 384-3300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The Owyhee Resource Area includes 1,320,032 
acres of BLM administered public lands in western Owyhee County, Idaho. 
The Owyhee RMP is a general land use plan that establishes guidance for 
managing a broad spectrum of land uses and allocations and contains 
resource objectives, land use allocations, management actions and 
direction needed to achieve program and multiple use goals. The Owyhee 
RMP replaces the BLM's land management guidance for the Owyhee Resource 
Area contained in the Owyhee Management Plan (MFP) which was approved 
in 1981. The record of decision documents selection of Alternative E 
(the Proposed Owyhee RMP) as presented in the Proposed Owyhee Resource 
Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement issued July 
1999, with associated Appendices, Tables and Maps, as the approved 
Owyhee RMP.
    The following are the major components of the approved RMP:
    Manage land uses and activities to ensure properly functioning 
watershed conditions.
    Manage vegetation to achieve healthy rangelands
    Meet State of Idaho water quality standards.
    Provide habitat for special status plants and animals and habitat 
for a high diversity of wildlife.
    Provide habitat for a wild horse herd appropriate management level 
of 192 wild horses.
    Provide for a sustained level of livestock use. Initially allocate 
135,116 livestock AUMs.
    Manage livestock grazing activities so goals for rangeland health 
are achieved.
    Use fire as a management tool to improve rangeland health.
    Manage Douglas-fir communities to emphasize forest health.
    Recommend and manage nine river segments (163 miles) as suitable 
for designation as Wild and Scenic Rivers. Sixty (60) miles of eligible 
river segments were determined to be non-suitable and are released from 
further Wild and Scenic River consideration.
    Designate 13 areas totaling 167,372 acres as Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern (ACECs).
    Continue management of 298,630 acres as Wilderness Study Areas 
(WSAs). 195,980 acres were previously recommended to Congress as 
suitable for Wilderness designation.
    Designate off-highway motorized vehicle (OHMV) use as ``Open'' on 
192 acres, ``Limited'' on 1,217,805 acres and ``Closed'' on 101,994 
acres.
    Identify 325,000 acres potentially available for disposal, subject 
to further review.

    Dated: January 3, 2000.
Howard Hedrick,
Associate District Manager.
[FR Doc. 00-1609 Filed 1-21-00; 8:45 am]
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