[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19222-19223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9710]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-610-03-1610-DU]


Notice of Intent To Designate Routes of Travel and Prepare an 
Associated Plan Amendment and Environmental Assessment in a Portion of 
the Northern and Eastern Mojave Desert (NEMO) Planning Area of the 
California Desert Conservation Area Plan (CDCA) Managed by the Bureau 
of Land Management

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

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to designate Routes of Travel and 
prepare associated Plan Amendment and Environmental Assessment (EA).

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice that the BLM intends to amend 
the routes of travel designations in the NEMO area of the CDCA Plan 
area. The planning area is located in Inyo, San Bernardino, and a small 
portion of Mono Counties, California. This planning activity 
encompasses approximately 2.75 million acres of public land. The plan 
will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA), BLM planning regulations, and other BLM management 
policies. The BLM California State Director recently approved the 
Record of Decision for Northern and Eastern Mojave Desert (NEMO) 
Management Plan. NEMO designated Routes of Travel within the Shadow, 
Ivanpah, and Piute-Fenner Valley Desert Tortoise Conservation Areas and 
conformed Congressional wilderness areas to the CDCA Plan. Route 
designations will be amended on the remaining BLM lands within the 
planning area (approximately 2.75 million acres) in the California 
Desert Conservation Area with the appropriate

[[Page 19223]]

NEPA analysis and documentation, consistent with the CDCA Plan and BLM 
planning regulations (43 CFR 1600 et seq.). Route designations include 
``open'', ``closed'' and ``limited'' and will be in accordance with BLM 
route designation criteria outlined in 43 CFR 8342.1. The BLM will work 
collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management 
decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs 
and concerns.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process. Comments on 
issues and planning criteria can be submitted in writing to the address 
listed below and will be accepted throughout the creation of the Draft 
Routes of Travel designations. All public meetings will be announced 
through the local news media, newsletters, and the BLM Web site http://www.ca.blm.gov/cdd/ at least 15 days prior to the event. The minutes 
and list of attendees for each meeting will be available to the public 
and open for 30 days to any participant who wishes to clarify the views 
they expressed.
    Public Participation: Public meetings will be held throughout the 
plan scoping and preparation period. Early participation is encouraged 
and will help determine the future management of the California Desert 
District public lands. Dates of scoping meetings are as follows: 
Monday, May 5, 2003, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., Yucca Valley, CA; Wednesday, May 7, 
2003, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., Las Vegas, NV; Monday, May 12, 2003, 4 p.m.-7 
p.m., Tecopa, CA; Tuesday, May 13, 2003, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., Ridgecrest, CA; 
Thursday, May 15, 2003, 4 p.m.-7 p.m., Independence, CA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roxie Trost, BLM, 2601 Barstow Road, 
Barstow, CA 92311; (760) 252-6020.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NEMO planning process began in 1994. The 
NEMO Plan was approved on December 20, 2002 with the Record of 
Decision. The document is also available for review on line at http://www.ca.blm.gov/cdd/landuseplanning.html. Within the NEMO planning area, 
routes of travel were designated for Desert Tortoise Wildlife 
Management Areas in Shadow, Ivanpah and Piute-Fenner Valleys and 
surrounding bioregions (about 0.45 million acres). The current plan 
amendment addresses the remaining area in NEMO. Congressional 
wilderness areas within the planning area total approximately 1.2 
million acres. The remainder of the planning area includes Wilderness 
Study Areas, the Dumont Dunes Off-Highway Vehicle Open Area and route 
networks through various multiple-use classes and Areas of Critical 
Environmental Concern.

Linda Hansen,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 03-9710 Filed 4-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P