[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 231 (Friday, November 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 59812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29729]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT-030-1020-00]


Notice of Intent To Amend Plan for the Grand Staircase-Escalante 
National Monuments, et al.

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a plan amendment for the Grand 
Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan, the Escalante 
Management Framework Plan, and the Paria Management Framework Plan with 
associated Environmental Assessments (EA). The planning area is located 
in southern Utah.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Planning 
Regulations (43 CFR 1600) this notice advises the public that the BLM, 
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM) is considering 
amending the GSENM Management Plan, the Paria Management Framework Plan 
to reallocate a portion of the Willow Gulch allotment, and the 
Escalante Management Framework Plan to reallocate the Clark Bench 
grazing allotment. These amendments will be addressed through two 
separate EAs. This notice initiates a 30-day comment period on the 
planning criteria and draft amendments/EAs.

ADDRESSES: For further information, to review the planning documents 
and to submit written comments, contact: Monument Manager, Grand 
Staircase-Escalante National Monument, 180 West 300 North, Kanab, Utah, 
84741, (435-644-4300). Planning documents and letters received, 
including names and street addresses of respondents, will be available 
for public review at the GSENM Office in Kanab, Utah during regular 
business hours (8 a.m. to 5 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 and 
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. If you are not currently on our mailing list and wish to 
receive a copy of the planning documents, please send your name and 
address to the address listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The livestock grazing permittee has 
voluntarily relinquished all of the existing grazing privileges on the 
Clark Bench allotment. The Paria Management Plan amendment considers a 
proposal to close the Clark Bench allotment to grazing and to re-
allocate the relinquished animal unit months (AUMs) for wildlife, 
watershed conservation, and riparian values. One livestock grazing 
permittee has voluntarily relinquished all of his existing grazing 
privileges on the Willow Gulch allotment. Grazing privileges held by 
the other livestock grazing permittee on the Willow Gulch allotment 
will not be affected. A proposal to re-allocate the relinquished AUMs 
on the Willow Gulch allotment for wildlife, watershed conservation, and 
riparian values will be considered through the Escalante Management 
Framework Plan amendment. The EAs will be prepared by an 
interdisciplinary team to analyze the impacts of these proposals and 
alternatives.
    The BLM has identified the following planning criteria, which will 
guide development of the amendments:
    1. These plan amendments/EAs are initiated in response to the 
voluntary relinquishment of the sole grazing preference/permit for the 
West Clark Bench grazing allotment. Analysis and decisions in the plan 
amendment/EA apply only to that allotment.
    2. These plan amendments/EAs will be completed in compliance with 
the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the National Environmental 
Policy Act, and all other applicable laws.
    3. These plan amendments/EAs will be developed using an 
interdisciplinary approach (e.g., a team approach using a variety of 
skills and perspectives such as rangeland management specialists, 
riparian specialists, etc.), with input from interested public, the 
State of Utah, local governments, and other Federal agencies and 
entities.
    4. Decisions in the plan amendments/EAs will provide for the 
balance of long-term sustainability with short-term uses.
    5. These plan amendments/EAs will incorporate and comply with the 
Fundamentals of Rangeland Health and Standards and Guidelines for 
Grazing Administration.

Robert A. Bennett,
Assistant Utah State Director.
[FR Doc. 01-29729 Filed 11-29-01; 8:45 am]
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