[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71978-71979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30498]


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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT-060-1610-DU]


Notice of Intent

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare two Environmental Assessments (EAs) 
and consider amending the Grand Resource Area Resource Management Plan 
(RMP); Moab, 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 Utah 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Moab Field Office, is considering 
amending an

[[Page 71979]]

existing planning document. The BLM will prepare two Environmental 
Assessments (EAs) to consider amending the 1985 Grand Resource Area 
RMP. Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) categories in the Utah Rims and Cameo 
Cliffs areas will be re-evaluated to create potential opportunities for 
sustainable motorized recreation. In addition, mountain bike travel 
will be addressed. This action is being considered in response to 
recent and anticipated increases in visitor use.

DATES: The comment period for this proposed plan amendment will 
commence with publication of this notice. For 30 days from the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register, the BLM will accept 
comments on this potential action. There will also be an opportunity 
for public comment during the planning process.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to the BLM Moab Field Office, 82 
East Dogwood Avenue, Moab, Utah 84532. Comments, including names and 
street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at 
the Utah BLM Moab Field Office and will be subject to disclosure under 
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). They may be published as part of 
the EA and other related documents. Individual respondents may request 
confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street address 
from public review and disclosure under the FOIA, 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 will be made available for public 
inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katie Stevens (Cameo Cliffs) or Chad 
Niehaus (Utah Rims) at the above address or telephone (435) 259-2100. 
Existing planning documents and information are also available at the 
Moab Field Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: After interdisciplinary review, no specific 
planning criteria were determined necessary for this proposed plan 
amendment. OHV designations and mountain bike travel have been 
identified as the preliminary issues for the proposed plan amendments, 
representing the BLM's knowledge to date on the existing issues and 
concerns with current management.
    Utah Rims is a 15,337 acre area located in Grand County, Utah just 
west of Rabbit Valley (the motorized portion of Colorado Canyons 
National Conservation Area) between the Colorado River and Interstate 
70. The 1985 Grand RMP divided the Utah Rims Recreation Area into two 
OHV designations. The central portion of Utah Rims (2,560 acres) was 
``limited to existing roads and trails'' to reduce saline soil 
discharge into the Colorado River, while the remainder (12,771 acres) 
was placed in the ``open'' category.
    On January 22, 200l, 5,756 of these open acres were designated as 
``limited to existing roads and trails for motorized and mechanized 
use'' on an interim basis through a Federal Register notice to 
facilitate management of increased recreational use.
    The Cameo Cliffs area is located in San Juan County, Utah, south of 
Moab along the east side of U.S. Highway 191 between Utah State Route 
46 and San Juan County Road 114 and includes the Casa Colorado Rock 
area. The 1985 Grand RMP designated the entire Cameo Cliffs area 
(24,666 acres) as ``open.''
    As a result of the proposed action, existing OHV designations and 
mountain bike management could change for both Utah Rims and Cameo 
Cliffs Recreation Areas.

    Dated: November 22, 2002.
Sally Wisely,
State Director, Utah.
[FR Doc. 02-30498 Filed 12-2-02; 8:45 am]
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