[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13947-13948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-5302]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[OR-110-6332-DQ; HAG-02-0284]


Notice of Availability of the Proposed Hellgate Recreation Area 
Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the 27-
Mile Section of the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River (From the 
Mouth of the Applegate River to Grave Creek)

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Medford District Office, Grants Pass 
Resource Area.
SUMMARY: In accordance with section 202 of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 and section 202 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act of 1976, a Recreation Area Management Plan and FEIS have 
been completed for a portion of the Medford District. The FEIS 
describes and analyzes future options for managing the 27-mile section 
of the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River (from the mouth of the 
Applegate River to Grave Creek) in southern Josephine County, Oregon.
    The Rogue River was one of eight rivers identified as part of the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System when the Wild and Scenic Rivers 
Act was passed in 1968. Designated rivers are classified as wild, 
scenic, or recreational. The 27-mile stretch of the Rogue National Wild 
and Scenic River Hellgate Recreation Area from the confluence of the 
Applegate River to Grave Creek was classified as a recreational river.
    The need for action is based on BLM visitor use reports that show 
increases in water-based visitor use activities, a recreation use 
study, and public scoping efforts, which identified visitor use 
conflicts, particularly between jet boaters and floaters during the 
summer months and between jet boaters and anglers during the fall 
fishing season. The purpose of the action is to: (1) Replace the 1978 
Rogue National Wild and Scenic River Activity Plan for the Hellgate 
Recreation Section of the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River, (2) 
provide management direction and guidance on the management of the 
Hellgate section pursuant to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (Public Law 
90-542, October 2, 1968, (3) conform with management direction 
contained in the 1995 Medford District Record of Decision and Resource 
Management Plan, and (4) maintain a mix of river recreation uses and 
users common to the river since its designation in 1968 as a National 
Wild and Scenic river.
    The FEIS analyzes five alternatives ranging from fewer watercraft 
and less visitor use to maximum watercraft and visitor use. The 
Proposed Action (Alternative E) manages the level of recreational use 
while protecting the environment and the outstandingly remarkable 
values. The Proposed Action minimizes potential impacts to the 
fisheries resource and increases fishing opportunities. The Proposed 
Action also maximizes floating opportunities. Except for commercial 
motorized tour boats, commercial motorized angling boats, and special 
boating events, overall recreational use levels would be unregulated 
and continue to increase until the use limit is reached. The number of 
permits for commercial motorized tour boats, commercial motorized 
angling boats, and special boating events is unchanged from the

[[Page 13948]]

current level, however, limited changes are recommended to reduce 
visitor use conflicts.

DATES: Release of the FEIS initiates a 30-day review period.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Chris Dent, Rogue River 
Manager, Grants Pass Resource Area, Bureau of Land Management, Medford 
District Office, 3040 Biddle Road, Medford, Oregon 97504. Individual 
copies of the FEIS may be obtained by contacting the Planning Team 
Leader, Cori Cooper, at (541) 618-2428.
    Comments, including names and addresses, will be available for 
public review. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If 
you wish to withhold your name and/or address from public review or 
from 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.

    Dated: November 13, 2002.
Lynda L. Boody,
Acting, District Manager, BLM Medford District Office.
[FR Doc. 03-5302 Filed 3-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-AG-P