[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 201 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64130-64131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-26390]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-660-02-1610-DT]


Notice of Availability of the Proposed California Desert 
Conservation Area Plan Amendment for the Coachella Valley, and the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 
California Desert District.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) Proposed California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan 
Amendment for the Coachella Valley (Coachella Valley Plan) and 
associated Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), and initiation 
of the 30-day protest period.

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SUMMARY: The Coachella Valley Plan amends the CDCA Plan for a 1.2 
million-acre planning area encompassing the Coachella Valley, 
California. The BLM administers approximately 28 percent, or 330,516 
acres, of the planning area. The Coachella Valley Plan is being 
developed in coordination with the Coachella Valley Association of 
Governments in support of their efforts to prepare a Coachella Valley 
Multiple-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (CVMSHCP).
    The Coachella Valley Plan includes goals, objectives, and 
management prescriptions in accordance with the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) for comprehensive management of desert 
ecosystems, including actions supporting recovery of ten species listed 
under the federal Endangered Species Act: Peninsular Ranges Bighorn 
Sheep (Ovis Canadensis nelsoni), Arroyo Toad (Bufo microscaphus 
californicus), Desert Pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius macularius), 
Desert Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps aridus), Desert Tortoise 
(Xerobates [or Gopherus] agassizii), Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii 
pusillus), Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), 
Yuma Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris yumanesis), Coachella Valley 
Milk Vetch (Astragalus lentiginousus coachellae), and Triple-ribbed 
Milk Vetch (Astragalus tricarinatus). The

[[Page 64131]]

FEIS evaluates the Proposed Plan Amendments and three alternatives. The 
FEIS also includes public comments on the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) and BLM's response to those comments.

DATES: The protest shall be in writing and shall be filed with the 
Director. The protest shall be filed within 30 days of the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency published the notice of receipt of the 
final EIS containing the plan or amendment in the Federal Register. For 
an amendment not requiring the preparation of an EIS, the protest shall 
be filed within 30 days of the publication of the notice of its 
effective date. The BLM will issue a press release citing the actual 
date for closure of the protest period when determined, including 
publication on the BLM California's Internet site. Instructions for 
filing protests are contained in the Coachella Valley Plan cover sheet 
just inside the front cover, and are included below under 
``Supplementary Information.''

ADDRESSES: Mailing address for filing a protest:
    Regular mail--U.S. Department of the Interior, Director, Bureau of 
Land Management (210), Attn: Brenda Williams, P.O. Box 66538, 
Washington, DC 20035.
    Overnight mail--U.S. Department of the Interior, Director, Bureau 
of Land Management (210), Attn: Brenda Williams, Telephone (202) 452-
5045, 1620 ``L'' Street NW, Rm. 1075, Washington, DC 20036.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Foote at (760) 251-4836 or 
[email protected]. Copies of the Coachella Valley Plan are being mailed 
to those who received the DEIS or provided comments on the DEIS. The 
document is available for review via the Internet at http://www.ca.blm.gov/palmsprings and is also available in hard copy at the 
following addresses and telephone numbers:
    BLM, 690 West Garnet Ave., P.O. Box 581260, North Palm Springs, CA 
92258; (760) 251-4800.
    BLM, 6221 Box Springs Blvd., Riverside, CA 92507; (909) 697-5200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Following are the instructions from Title 43 
Code of Federal Regulations 1610.5-2 for filing protests:
    (a) Any person who participates in the planning process and has an 
interest that is or may be adversely affected by the approval or 
amendment of a resource management plan may protest such approval or 
amendment. A protest may raise only those issues that were submitted 
for the record during the planning process.
    (1) The protest shall be in writing and shall be filed with the 
Director. The protest shall be filed within 30 days of the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency published the notice of receipt of the 
final EIS containing the plan or amendment in the Federal Register. For 
an amendment not requiring the preparation of an EIS, the protest shall 
be filed within 30 days of the publication of the notice of its 
effective date.
    (2) The protest shall contain:
    (i) The name, mailing address, telephone number and interest of the 
person filing the protest;
    (ii) A statement of the issue or issues being protested;
    (iii) A statement of the part or parts of the plan or amendment 
being protested;
    (iv) A copy of all documents addressing the issue or issues that 
were submitted during the planning process by the protesting party or 
an indication of the date the issue or issues were discussed for the 
record; and
    (v) A concise statement explaining why the State Director's 
decision is believed to be wrong.
    (3) The Director shall promptly render a decision on the protest. 
The decision shall be in writing and shall set forth the reasons for 
the decision. The decision shall be sent to the protesting party by 
certified mail, return receipt requested.
    (b) The decision of the Director shall be the final decision for 
the Department of the Interior.

    Dated: September 13, 2002.
James G. Kenna,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 02-26390 Filed 10-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P