[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 150 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40717-40718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19500]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AZ 070-00-1610-DG-241E-082A]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan for the 
BLM Lake Havasu Field Office

AGENCY: United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 
Management, Lake Havasu Field Office, Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Resource Management Plan, with an 
Environmental Impact Statement, for portions of Mohave, La Paz, 
Yavapai, and Maricopa Counties, Arizona; and

[[Page 40718]]

portions of San Bernardino County, California.

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice that the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) intends to prepare a Resource Management Plan (RMP) 
with an associated Environmental Impact Statement for the Lake Havasu 
Field Office. This field office is currently managing the resources 
under portions of four different Land Use Plans (LUP): Yuma District 
RMP 1985, Kingman RMP 1995, Lower Gila North Management Framework Plan 
(MFP) 1983, and Lower Gila South RMP 1988. The proposed plan will meet 
the needs and obligations set forth by the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), 
and BLM management policies. This notice initiates the public scoping 
process to examine proposed issues and planning criteria.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The modification of the Lake Havasu Field 
Office boundaries has necessitated creation of the Lake Havasu RMP. 
Currently the office is managing resources under four different Land 
Use Plans (LUP): Yuma District RMP 1985, Kingman RMP 1995, Lower Gila 
North MFP 1983, and the Lower Gila South RMP 1988. The proposal is to 
revise and update the previous plans and combine them into one RMP for 
the Lake Havasu Field Office. This action requires an EIS level 
analysis, followed by an approved RMP and Record of Decision (ROD). 
Public meetings will be held throughout the plan scoping and 
preparation period. Meetings will be held in the communities of Parker, 
Lake Havasu City, and Bullhead City, Arizona, to ensure local 
participation and input. At least 15 days public notice will be given 
for meetings/activities where the public is invited to attend. Written 
comments will also be accepted throughout the planning process at the 
address below. Meetings and comment deadlines will be announced through 
the mailings, local news media, and the BLM web site (www.az.blm.gov). 
Additional public participation and input will be provided through 
comment on the alternatives and the BLM Draft RMP/ Draft EIS. Documents 
pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Lake Havasu Field 
Office located in Lake Havasu City, Arizona or via the BLM web site. 
Early participation by all those interested is encouraged and will help 
determine the future management of the Lake Havasu Resource Management 
Area.
    Preliminary issues and management concerns have been received 
internally from BLM personnel, other agencies, tribes and at meetings 
with individuals and user groups. This input represents the BLM 
understanding to date on issues and concerns with current management 
practices. Major issues to be addressed in the plan include, but are 
not limited to: 1) Protection of natural and cultural resources; 2) 
Management of public activities and uses; 3) Consistency with other 
agencies and community plans; 4) Facilities and infrastructures to 
provide visitor services and administration; 5) Transportation and 
access management.
    After gathering public comments on what issues the plan should 
address, the suggested issues will be placed in one of three 
categories:
    1. Issues to be resolved in the plan
    2. Issues resolved through policy or administrative action.
    3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
    Rationale will be provided for each issue in Category 2 or 3. In 
addition to the preceding major issues, questions and concerns to be 
addressed include: ecosystem health, riparian condition, threatened and 
endangered species habitat, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, 
reintroduction of native species, wilderness values and management, 
cultural resource protection and interpretation, recreation/visitor 
use, rangeland management, and minerals management. The following 
disciplines will be represented on the BLM planning team: recreation, 
wildlife, range management, fire ecology, wilderness, geology, realty, 
cultural resources, soils, hydrology, Geographic Information Systems 
(GIS), and engineering.

Background Information

    The plan will address and incorporate BLM policies, regulations and 
management directives. The BLM Lake Havasu Field Office manages 
approximately 1.3 million acres of Public Land in Arizona and 
California. The mission statement is: ``Provide quality outdoor 
recreation opportunities and meet community expansion demands along the 
Colorado River, managing resources wisely. Foster responsible 
stewardship of the Public Lands through resource protection, public 
outreach and education.'' The BLM intends to conduct formal scoping 
until January 31, 2002, to formulate alternative management strategies. 
During the winter of 2002, the team will hold field discussions and 
public meetings on each management alternative. The Draft RMP/Draft EIS 
will be issued for public comment by January 2003. The proposed RMP and 
Final EIS will be published by September of 2003, the approved RMP and 
ROD will be published by December 2003.

Comments

    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will 
be available for public review at the address below during regular 
business hours (7:45 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 street address from public review or from 
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this 
prominently 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.

ADDRESSES: For further information, future mailings, and to register 
comments, contact Catherine L. Wolff-White, Planning and Environmental 
Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management Lake Havasu Field Office, 2610 
Sweetwater Drive, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406. Phone: 928-505-1309, Fax 
520-505-1208.

    Dated: July 9, 2001.
Donald Ellsworth,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 01-19500 Filed 8-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-P