[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 237 (Friday, December 8, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 77039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-31283]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO-250-01-1220-PA]


Notice of Availability and Comment Period for the Public Review 
of the Draft, BLM National Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Management 
Strategy

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The BLM is developing a Strategy to improve management of 
vehicle access on the public lands. In response to the first public 
comment period, BLM has developed a draft strategy document. A public 
review copy will be available by December 4, 2000 at BLM's website 
http://www.blm.gov. All members of the public who submitted comments, 
or signed in at a ``listening meeting,'' and provided a legible 
address, will receive a copy of the draft Strategy. Copies will also be 
available at all BLM offices.

DATES: The draft strategy was released on December 4, 2000 via the 
internet. Public comments should be submitted to BLM's Washington 
Office by close of business, January 3, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Return comments in writing to: OHV Comment Manager, Bureau 
of Land Management, Room 204 LS, 1849 C Street NW, Washington D.C. 
20236; via the Internet by clicking on the OHV Strategy Link on http://www.blm.gov; or via e-mail at: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Keeler at (202) 452-7771, Rodger 
Schmitt at (202) 452-7738, or Bob Ratcliffe at (202) 452-5040. Persons 
who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the 
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 24 hours a 
day, 7 days a week.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   

I. Public Comment Procedures
II. Background

I. Public Comment Procedures

    If you wish to comment, you may submit comments by any one of 
several methods:
     You may mail comments to: OHV Comment Manager, Bureau of 
Land Management, Room 204 LS, 1849 C Street NW, Washington D.C. 20240;
     Comments may be delivered to Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW, 
Washington, DC, 20236;
     A self-addressed mailer is available in printed copies, 
being sent to all members of the public who submitted comments during 
the initial comment period, and additional copies of the mailer are 
available at all BLM offices:
     You may comment via the Internet by following the Links 
from the BLM Homepage (http://www.blm.gov) or by sending comments to 
[email protected]. Please submit Internet comments as an 
ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption. Please include ``Attn.: OHV Comment Manager, and your name 
and return address in your Internet message.''

II. Background

    Proper management of America's Public lands is vital for the 
natural ecosystems that they support and for the activities and 
resources they provide. The use of off-highway vehicles (OHVs) on BLM-
administered public lands has increased substantially in recent years, 
and there has been an increasing concern about the impact of all types 
of recreational activities, including OHV use, on the 264 million acres 
of public land resources. The management challenges posed by OHV use in 
the fast-growing West have become very apparent, especially since the 
BLM's land-use plans, budgets, and staffing levels have not kept pace 
with OHV technology and popularity. These factors, along with 
litigation over OHV management issues, have created the need for a 
National OHV Management Strategy.
    In August 2000, the BLM asked the public for ideas and proposed 
solutions for improving management of the OHV program. We are again 
requesting your participation to review this document and give us 
substantive comments. Because of the immense interest the public has 
shown in the OHV management on BLM-administered public lands, we are 
requesting that your comments specifically relate to this document. All 
comments will be fully considered and evaluated in making any necessary 
changes in the development of the final National Off-Highway Management 
Strategy.
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents will 
be available for public review at the Bureau of Land Management, Equity 
Building, Room 204, 1620 L Street NW, Washington, DC from 8:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individual 
respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your 
name or address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom 
of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your comments. Such requests 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 available for public 
inspection in their entirety.

    Dated: December 4, 2000.
Henri Bisson,
Assistant Director Renewal Resources and Planning.
[FR Doc. 00-31283 Filed 12-7-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M