[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 188 (Thursday, September 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 49396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24302]



[[Page 49396]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ES-030-01-1610-DO]


Notice of Intent To Prepare Douglas Point, Maryland Land 
Acquisition Planning Analysis/Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Eastern States, will 
prepare a Planning Analysis and Environmental Assessment (PA/EA) to 
consider acquisition of approximately 600 acres of land known as the 
Douglas Point tract, located in Charles County, Maryland. These 
documents will fulfill the requirements of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 and the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969.
    The public has 30 days from the date of publication of this notice 
to send its ideas regarding the proposal described below under 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. These comments should be written to help 
focus the plan on substantive issues and develop appropriate management 
alternatives. These comments may include specific resource data or 
information or locations where these data or information may be found.

DATES: The public scoping period commences with the publication of this 
notice. Comments must be postmarked no later than October 29, 2001 to 
ensure the issues they raise are considered in the plan.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the following addresses: Jim 
Dryden, Field Manager, Milwaukee Field Office, P.O. Box 631, Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin 53201-0631 or Ed Ruda, Project Leader, Eastern States Office, 
7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 22153.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed Ruda, (703) 440-1663, or by 
electronic mail at [email protected], or Howard Levine, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator, (414) 297-4463, or by electronic mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BLM proposes to acquire a portion of the 
Douglas Point tract for recreation and other purposes. The PA/EA 
addresses only the acquisition of the property. Another on-going 
planning effort, known as the Lower Potomac River Coordinated 
Management Plan (CMP), will address long-term management of the 
property and develop criteria to guide future BLM acquisitions (66 FR 
21412-3). Congress appropriated a total of $3 million derived from Land 
and Water Conservation Funds for the acquisition of lands by the BLM 
for the Douglas Point project. (Emergency Defense Appropriations Act of 
2000 (Public Law No. 106-246) and the Department of the Interior and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001 (Public Law No. 106-291).)
    Prior to expending Federal money for acquisition BLM must fulfill 
the requirements of Sections 202 and 205(b) of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1701, et seq.). Under 
these requirements any land acquisitions by BLM must conform with 
applicable land use plans. Currently, BLM has no land-use plans in the 
State of Maryland. The Douglas Point PA/EA will fulfill that 
requirement. This analysis is for acquisition purposes only and does 
not constitute a comprehensive land-use plan.
    The Lower Potomac River CMP will serve as the comprehensive land-
use plan and will be prepared with full public participation. It is 
envisioned the land would eventually be used for low impact recreation, 
sightseeing and nature tourism. Other possible uses and permanently-
excluded uses will be considered in the CMP.
    Complete records of all phases of the planning process will be 
available at the Milwaukee Field Office and are available upon request.

    Dated: August 13, 2001.
James W. Dryden,
Milwaukee Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 01-24302 Filed 9-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GJ-P