[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 29, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 52436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21989]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-68086-1020-01]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an EIS Proposed Renewal of Ord 
Mountain Grazing Lease in Critical Habitat

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in coordination with the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish 
and Game will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to 
consider alternatives for the proposed renewal of cattle grazing 
privileges within the Ord Mountain Grazing Allotment, located 
approximately 20 miles south of Barstow, California. This allotment 
includes public rangelands in San Bernardino County that have been 
designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as critical habitat 
for the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a species State and 
federally listed as threatened.
    The lessee, Dave Fisher, has applied to the Bureau of Land 
Management for renewal of his grazing lease for a period not to exceed 
ten (10) years under the same terms and conditions as those under which 
he has been grazing livestock in this area for the reasonably 
foreseeable past.
    A range of alternatives to be analyzed, include the no action 
alternative (no lease renewal), to renewal under the existing terms as 
modified to consider new policies and changing conditions, including 
additional alternatives that address seasonal grazing restrictions, 
modifications of range improvements and other changes to the existing 
lease, primarily to address critical desert tortoise habitat issues and 
areas not meeting proper functioning condition.
    Public Participation: A public scoping meeting will be held at the 
Barstow Field Office of BLM, 2601 Barstow Rd., Barstow, CA, on 
September 21, 2000 at 7 p.m. Comments presented during this meeting 
serve to provide additional issues for the EIS. If you would like to 
get formal comments into the record, please provide them in writing at 
the meeting or within thirty days of this notice. Issues identified to 
date include the requirement to consult with the lessee, impacts to 
desert tortoise and the Ord-Rodman Critical Habitat Unit (CHU), health 
of native vegetative communities and proper utilization, proliferation 
of exotic invasive species, the relationship to other land uses; 
impacts to wilderness qualities, potential for accelerated soil 
erosion, water quality impacts and effects to riparian and wetland 
habitat values.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: BLM, Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow 
Road, Barstow, CA 92311, Attn: Larry Blaine. For further information on 
this proposal, or to be placed on the mailing list for the EIS contact 
BLM at the above address or by telephone at (760) 252-6079.

    Dated: August 23, 2000.
Harold Johnson,
Acting Field Manager, Barstow Field Office.
[FR Doc. 00-21989 Filed 8-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-M