[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 60252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24300]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT-03000-1430-ER]


Notice of Intent To Consider a Plan Amendment and Prepare an 
Environmental Analysis for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National 
Monument Management Plan

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Grand 
Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah.

ACTION: Notice of intent to consider a plan amendment and prepare an 
environmental analysis for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National 
Monument (GSENM) Management Plan to allow certain road improvements on 
the Hole-in-the-Rock Road.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Planning 
Regulations (43 CFR part 1600) this notice advises the public that the 
BLM, GSENM is considering amending the GSENM Management Plan in 
response to a proposal from Kane County to widen and upgrade the travel 
surface of the road known as the Hole in the Rock Road in Kane County, 
Utah. In addition, in accordance with the existing Monument Management 
Plan, consideration will be given to stabilization of washout prone 
areas, preventing erosion and sediment loading, and improving safety 
along the road. These proposed actions will be initially addressed 
through an environmental assessment. The scoping process will be used 
to help determine the appropriate level of environmental analysis 
(environmental impact statement (EIS) or environmental assessment.) If 
an EIS is warranted, the written comments in response to this notice 
may be used to help determine the scope of alternatives and analysis in 
the EIS. This notice initiates a 30-day public scoping period.
    If you have information, data, or concerns related to the potential 
impacts of improving the Hole-in-the-Rock-Road, have comments on the 
planning criteria, or suggestions for alternatives, please submit them 
to the address below.
    The Kane County Road Department has proposed improvements including 
widening the running surface of the road to a width of 26 feet with cut 
and fill slopes as needed, installing drainage structures (ditches, 
culverts etc.) as needed, and applying a gravel surface to the road. 
The improvements would be on the segment of road starting at the Kane/
Garfield County line and south for approximately 18 miles.

DATES: Scoping comments must be received at the address below by 
October 25, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments should be sent to: Monument 
Manager, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, 190 East Center 
Street, Kanab, Utah 84741. 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 future planning documents, please send your name and address to 
the address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Chapman, Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument, 435-644-4309, or Dave Hunsaker, Acting 
Monument Manager, 435-644-4330.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action is a cooperative effort 
between Kane County, Utah Department of Transportation, Federal 
Highways Administration, and BLM. BLM is the lead agency for this 
action. Kane County received a grant from Federal Highways 
Administration for engineering, design, environmental analysis 
preparation, and construction of the project. The environmental 
analysis is being prepared by a third party, EarthTouch of Layton, Utah 
with guidance from the BLM and Federal Highways Administration.
    The BLM has identified the following planning criteria, which will 
guide development of the amendment:
    1. The environmental analysis and any plan amendment will be 
completed in compliance with the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and all other applicable 
laws.
    2. The environmental analysis and any plan amendment will be 
developed using an interdisciplinary approach (e.g., a team approach 
using a variety of skills and perspectives such as biologists, 
archaeologists, etc.) with input from interested public, State and 
local governments, and other Federal agencies.
    3. Any action that would affect a Wilderness Study Area will not be 
permitted.
    4. Analysis and decisions in the environmental analysis and any 
plan amendment apply only to this action and will provide for the 
balance of long term sustainability with short-term uses.

    Dated: August 13, 2002.
Robert A. Bennett,
Associate State Director, Utah.
[FR Doc. 02-24300 Filed 9-24-02; 8:45 am]
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