[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63249-63250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30278]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR-027-1220-DG; G 2-0019]


Steens Mountain Advisory Council; Meetings

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

ACTION: Meetings notice for the Steens Mountain Advisory Council.

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SUMMARY: The Steens Mountain Advisory Council (SMAC) will meet at the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Burns District Office, 28910 Hwy 20 
West, Hines, Oregon 97738, on December 17 and 18, 2001; January 24 and 
25, 2002; February 28 and March 1, 2002; April 4 and 5, 2002; June 13 
and 14, 2002; October 21 and 22, 2002; and December 2 and 3, 2002; and 
will meet in Frenchglen, Oregon 97736 on August 15 and 16, 2002. All 
meeting sessions will begin the first day at 8 a.m., local time, and 
will end at 5 p.m., local time. The second day of each session will 
begin at 8 a.m., local time, and will end at approximately 3 p.m., 
local time. The April 4 and 5, 2002; June 13 and 14, 2002; and August 
15 and 16, 2002, meeting sessions will consist of meetings on April 4, 
June 13, and August 15, followed by tours of the Steens Mountain 
Cooperative Management and Protection Area (CMPA) on April 5, June 14, 
and August 16, 2002, weather dependent. Topics to be discussed by the 
SMAC at the December 17 and 18, 2001, meeting include selection of a 
chairperson; facilitation needs; Subbasins, Analysis of the Management 
Situation, Interim Management Policy, and Special Recreation Permit 
Policy review; Federal Advisory Committee Act; cooperative agreements/
incentives; winter recreation; signs; and other matters as may 
reasonably come before the SMAC. Future meetings will cover categories 
such as education; transportation; recreation/public use; special 
designated areas; cultural resources; watersheds; projects; wildlife; 
partnerships/programs; volunteer-based information; adaptive 
management; planning process; science committee/consultants; and 
socioeconomics. All meetings and tours are open to the public in their 
entirety. Information to be distributed to the SMAC is requested 10 
days prior to the start of each SMAC meeting. Public comment is 
scheduled for 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., local time, the first day of each 
meeting session. The amount of time scheduled for public presentations 
and meeting times may be extended when the authorized

[[Page 63250]]

representative considers it necessary to accommodate all who seek to be 
heard regarding matters on the agenda.
    The SMAC was appointed by the Secretary of the Interior on August 
14, 2001, pursuant to the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and 
Protection Act of 2000 (Act). The SMAC's purpose is to provide 
representative counsel and advice to the BLM regarding (1) new and 
unique approaches to management of the land within the bounds of the 
Steens Mountain CMPA, (2) cooperative programs and incentives for 
landscape management that meet human needs, maintain and improve the 
ecological and economic integrity of the area, and (3) preparation and 
implementation of a management plan for the Steens CMPA.
    Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act management regulations (41 
CFR 102-3.15(b)), in exceptional circumstances an agency may give less 
than 15 days notice of committee meeting notices published in the 
Federal Register. In this case, this notice is being published less 
than 15 days prior to the meeting due to the urgent need to meet 
legislative deadlines to complete the Steens CMPA management plan and 
to avoid additional delays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning the 
SMAC may be obtained from Rhonda Karges, Management Support Specialist, 
Burns District Office, 28910 Hwy 20 West, Hines, Oregon 97738, (541) 
573-4433, or [email protected] or from the following Web site 
http://www.or.blm.gov/Steens.

    Dated: October 25, 2001.
Thomas H. Dyer,
Burns District Manager.
[FR Doc. 01-30278 Filed 12-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P