[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 74 (Monday, April 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 20483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9423]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-050-1610-DG]


Notice of Intent To Revise the Nellis Air Force Range Resource 
Plan and Prepare a New Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in 
cooperation with the Department of Defense, Nellis Air Force Base and 
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

ACTION: Notice of Intent. The Bureau of Land Management is proposing to 
revise the existing Nellis Air Force Range Resource Plan based on 
specific direction within Public Law 106-65, section 3014. The BLM will 
include an amendment to the Tonopah Resource Management Plan which will 
prescribe management of the lands identified for return to public land 
management, all in one action.

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SUMMARY: New issues have surfaced which require additional analysis to 
determine the best use of the existing resources. New issues include: 
(1) The Nellis Range is located in the serious non-attainment for PM 10 
and Carbon Monoxide; (2) management of the Wild Horses on the range has 
caused much controversy over the past 10 years; (3) approximately 
30,000 acres may be returned to public land management status provided 
it is hazardous materials free. The Bureau is interested in other 
issues the public will present as part of the record.
    Due to an accelerated timeline set forth by Congress and the 
President, for completion of this revised Nellis Range Resource Plan, 
October 5, 2001, the BLM will ensure the process proceeds as quickly as 
possible.

Cooperating Agency Status: This plan revision is being completed in 
full cooperation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and 
the Department of Defense. Based on other express interest by other 
State and Federal agencies as well as all three county's affected by 
this action, we anticipate additional interest in cooperating agency 
status. We will either wait until the Notice of Availability is sent to 
identify those additional cooperators or issue a separate Federal 
Register notice in the next 2 to 3 months.

DATES: Public scoping meeting are set for the week of May 1-5 as 
follows: Monday, May 1, 2000; 3-5pm at the Beatty Community Center, 
Beatty Nevada, 100 A Avenue South. Monday, May 1, 2000; 7-9pm at the 
Tonopah Convention Center, 301 Brougher Avenue, Tonopah, Nevada. 
Tuesday, May 2, 2000; 7-9pm at the Bob Ruud Community Center, 150 N. 
Highway 160, Pahrump, Nevada. Wednesday, May 3, 2000; 7-9pm, at the 
Amargosa Valley Community Center, 821 E. Farm Road, Amargosa, Nevada. 
Thursday, May 4, 2000; 7-9pm at the New Alamo High School Multi-purpose 
Room, 151 S. Main, Alamo Nevada. Friday, May 5, 2000; 7-9pm at the BLM 
Las Vegas Field Office, 4765 W. Vegas Drive, Las Vegas Nevada. Other 
meetings may be planned in the future if a need is expressed.

ADDRESSES: For further information contact Jeffrey G. Steinmetz, Las 
Vegas Field Office Environmental Protection Specialist and Team Lead 
for the BLM at Bureau of Land Management, Las Vegas Field Office, 4765 
W. Vegas Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89108, telephone (702)-647-5000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff Steinmetz, RMP Team Leader, at 
BLM's Las Vegas Field Office listed above or telephone (702) 647-5097.

    Dated: April 5, 2000.
Mark T. Morse,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 00-9423 Filed 4-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P