[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17195-17196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7807]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR120-01-7122-9028; GP1-08805]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and 
Scoping On a Road Right-of-Way Application, Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION:  Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Coos Bay 
District, will be directing the preparation of an EIS to be prepared by 
a third party contractor on the impacts of a temporary road right-of-
way on public land on the North Spit of Coos Bay, Oregon. BLM received 
a right-of-way application under Section 501 of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of October 21, 1976, (43 U.S.C. 1737) on January 24, 
2001. The proposed project involves improvement of an existing road and 
construction of a temporary spur road and trestle across public land to 
access the remains of the wreck of the New Carissa ship, mired in the 
surf of the beach. Following the deconstruction and removal of the 
wreck, the spur road and trestle would be removed and the areas 
rehabilitated.

DATES: This notice constitutes the beginning of the 30-day public 
scoping process. Interested individuals, organizations, and other 
agencies are encouraged to review the proposal and provide written 
comments by April 30, 2001. A public scoping meeting is scheduled at 
the following time and place: 7 p.m., April 12, 2001, North Bend 
Library, 1800 Sherman Ave., North Bend, OR

ADDRESSES: Please address questions, comments or concerns to the BLM, 
Coos Bay District Office, attn: Sue Richardson, 1300 Airport Lane, Coos 
Bay, OR 97459, fax: 541-751-4303.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Petterson at the above address, 
or phone: 541-751-4207, or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 4, 1999, the New Carissa ran 
aground on the North Spit of Coos Bay, Oregon. Numerous attempts to 
remove the ship from the beach failed, leaving the stern section mired 
in sand in the surf. Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber has ordered the 
removal of the ship from the state owned beach.
    On January 24, 2001, BLM received an application from Donjon/Devine 
to improve an existing road and construct a new spur for the 
deconstruction and removal of the remainder of the wreck. Approximately 
two miles of road would be improved and approximately one-quarter mile 
of road and trestle would be constructed on public land located in:

Williamette Meridian

T.25S., R.13 W.,
    Sec. 7 Lot 14, 15, 16, 17, 18;
T. 25S., R. 14 W.,
    Sec. 12 Lot 1;
    Sec. 13 Lot 1, 2, 3, 4

    Road improvements would consist of grading, realignment and 
turnouts.
    The EIS will consider the impacts of the Proposed Action, 
Alternative Actions and No Action Alternative. The no action 
alternative is required to be evaluated as part of the EIS and will be 
fully addressed in the EIS as one of the alternatives. Other 
alternatives may include marine-based removal.
    If you have specific concerns about these issues, or have other 
concerns or issues that BLM should consider in processing this proposed 
right-of-way, please address them in writing to the above individual or 
state them verbally at the public scoping meetings scheduled at the 
time and location shown above. BLM will accept written comments at the 
address shown above until April 30, 2001.
    The issues and concerns identified during the scoping process will 
be considered in the preparation of the draft EIS. The preliminary 
issues identified include: water resources and wetlands; vegetation; 
endangered and threatened species; wildlife; soils and geology; 
recreation, cultural resources; noxious weeds; land use. Those 
individuals, organizations, and agencies with a known interest in the 
proposal have been sent a scoping letter requesting comments on the 
proposal. Persons wishing to be added to the mailing list for this EIS 
may do so by contacting BLM at the above address.
    The comment period on the draft EIS will last 60 days from the date 
the U.S. EPA Notice of Availability appears in the Federal Register. 
The draft EIS is expected to be available for review in Fall 2001. 
Because of recent court rulings, it is very important that those 
interested in the proposed action participate during the scoping and 
draft EIS review processes, so that any

[[Page 17196]]

substantive comments are provided at a time when the BLM can 
meaningfully consider them. Comments, including names and addresses of 
respondents, will be available for public review at the Coos Bay 
District office during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday to Friday, except holidays) and may be published as part of the 
EIS or other related documents. Individuals 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 promptly at the beginning of your written comment. 
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: March 13, 2001.
Terry A. Richards,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 01-7807 Filed 3-28-01; 8:45 am]
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