[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 15, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 49824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20648]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO-931-1220-PA]


Invitation of the Public To Review and Comment on Recommended 
Recreation Guidelines To Meet Land Health Standards

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The BLM has recommended recreation guidelines to meet land 
health standards for lands administered by BLM in Colorado. This notice 
serves to announce that the recommended recreation guidelines are 
available for review and comment by the public.

DATES: The deadline for comment on the recommended recreation 
guidelines is September 22, 2000.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: In February 1997, Standards for Public Land 
Health in Colorado (Standards) were approved by the Secretary of 
Interior and adopted as decisions in all of BLM's land use plans, 
commonly referred to as Resource Management Plans (RMP). The Standards 
describe natural resource conditions that are needed to sustain public 
land health. The Standards encompass upland soils; riparian systems; 
plant and animal communities; special, threatened, and endangered 
species; and water quality. The Standards relate to all uses of the 
public lands, including recreational use.
    Guidelines are tools, methods, and techniques that can be used by 
managers to maintain or meet the standards as they implement various 
programs on the public lands. Previously, livestock grazing guidelines 
were developed concurrent with the Standards. Colorado BLM now has 
recreation guidelines designed to meet public land health standards.
    In 1999, all three of Colorado's BLM Resource Advisory Councils 
(RACs) hosted a series of open houses throughout the state to solicit 
public comment on draft recreation guidelines. The draft guidelines, 
developed in consultation with the RACs, addressed problems and issues 
caused by all recreational activities. A major concern that surfaced 
during the development of the guidelines was that of the adverse 
impacts from improperly managed off-highway vehicle (OHV) travel. The 
RACs sent a clear message to BLM in the draft guidelines that 
addressing OHV issues needs to be a high priority.
    In January 2000, BLM formed an implementation team to analyze 
public input and RAC recommendations for adopting recreation guidelines 
and addressing OHV use on public lands. The team used the 
recommendations from the RACs as the framework for preparing the BLM-
recommended version of the guidelines. The team is also developing a 
strategy, to be announced later, that will address issues related to 
OHVs.
    With an awareness and understanding of the social and environmental 
impacts of outdoor recreation, the recreation guidelines were developed 
to help achieve and maintain healthy public lands as defined by the 
Standards. The guidelines are tools, methods, and techniques that can 
be used by managers to meet the Standards as they implement recreation 
action and decisions on the ground.
    The intent of the recreation guidelines is to encourage and permit 
a variety of recreational opportunities and enjoyable experiences that 
are managed to avoid conflicts and serve diverse recreational 
interests, while at the same time minimizing and preventing adverse 
impacts to land health, ecosystems, and cultural or natural resources, 
including historic and archaeological sites, soils, water, air, 
vegetation, scenery, wildlife habitats, riparian areas, endangered or 
threatened species, and wilderness areas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Zachman, Project Management 
Specialist, Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield, Lakewood, Colorado 
80215 (303) 239-3883.
    A summary of the recommended recreation guidelines is available 
upon request. Persons can also access this information on the Colorado 
BLM internet website (www.co.blm.gov).

    Dated: August 4, 2000.
Ann J. Morgan,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 00-20648 Filed 8-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P